American Association of People with Disabilities’ Post

Knowledge is power and the Colorado Arc Network is so powerful!

Friday, I had the pleasure to participate in the event “Voices from the Stanford Disability Community” at the DisCo (Disability Community Space) at Stanford. https://lnkd.in/dby4QiiC The event was a great opportunity to hear from former and present students and faculty with disability/disabled students how they experience(d) their life at Stanford. It was also an opportunity to see the DisCo space, a hang-out room for the disability community at Stanford. At Stanford, there exists many such communities based in how people identify; Latino, Black, Native American or Disabled, just to mention some of them. The centers are supported by Stanford, but also du fundraising for themselves. The centers are used as places to hang out, study or venues for events, like the one I participated in. The event also answered my question: Do Universal Design, Universal Design for Learning and the removal of social barriers make disability disappear? Would it make a space as DisCo irrelevant? One of the panelists answered the question in the following way: “I am a disabled person”. Meaning her disability is an important part of her identity. The opportunity to have a community with other disabled people/people with disabilities matter to her, because she sees disability group as a group with a shared culture and a shared history. This does NOT mean that UD and UDL are superfluous. Anything that creates more opportunities for people with disabilities is welcome – the community and its history is very much about the fight for equal rights and opportunities. But I think the community is also about the feeling of belonging that opens up in a space with people with shared lived experience; the lived experience of being a wheel-chair user, a person living with a specific chronic illness, a person with a specific sensory experience of the world. Universal Design Hub - Bevica Fonden #Bevicascholarshipprogramme #inclusivehighereducation #leavenoonebehind #UDforlearning

Project Ownership : Key for lasting impact In our journey of transforming the lives of kids with intellectual disabilities at our Community Care Center (CCC), I have witnessed something truly remarkable – the parents stepping up without being asked. During our sessions, they lead with passion, organizing themselves effortlessly. Their ownership of the project is very significant. Ownership is the heartbeat of any successful project. It's about seeing a need and taking action, even when not told. At our CCC, parents demonstrate this value. They realize that what's being done isn't to help the organization attain it's goals ; but about building a brighter, more inclusive future for themselves and their loved ones. This level of commitment speaks volumes about the power of ownership. It transforms projects from mere tasks an organization implements into a meaningful undertaking. The parent's leadership and dedication inspire's me everyday. #ProjectOwnership #CommunityCare #InclusionMatters #IntellectualDisability

At the Think Small® organization, I would often hear early childhood educators and caregivers say that children do not see race or color in other people and therefore that there is no reason to teach children how to talk about race—it is a nonissue for them. Another myth I often hear is that if we talk to young children about race, it will make them racist. Rather, we should wait until children get older, perhaps school-aged, when they might be exposed to a more diverse group of people. Talking about race to both young White children and young children of color is important, although for different reasons. White children need to learn that all children are special and there is no one superior race. For children of color, it is imperative to learn that they are capable and special regardless of what they might hear from their peers and adults. In addition, it is imperative to talk about race and racism to young children of color in order to help them process racialized incidents and not internalize racism. READ THE FULL ESSAY: https://lnkd.in/eJ3AEyCW #earlychildhood #racism #antiracism

In an article in The Conversation, Professor Linda J. Graham, C4IE Director, criticises the Australian government's response to the Disability Commission's final report on school segregation for students with disabilities. She highlights the division among commissioners, with some advocating for phasing out special schools due to their devaluing effect, while others support maintaining a dual-track system. Graham criticises the federal government for avoiding a clear stance by deferring to states and territories, despite acknowledging the role of special schools and parental choice. This ambiguity raises concerns about inclusive education, which aims to include all students with appropriate support as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Graham argues that strong political leadership is needed to advance genuine inclusion, warning that the government's current approach risks maintaining the status quo and limiting incentives for mainstream schools to enhance inclusion. Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/gz8exK2k QUT (Queensland University of Technology)

Reason # 4 to vote for our #SXSWEDU panel "Secrets to Success for Disabled Students in Higher Ed" is because our panel features our Student Fellows, bringing their lived experiences with disability in higher education, their passions for advocacy, and their commitment to improving the lives of future students with disabilities. Vote by August 18th! Vote: https://lnkd.in/gmESF-iu Description Over 20% of college students now have at least one disability. This session spotlights disabled college students and what they can teach us about accessibility in higher education. The panelists are Student Fellows at the National Disability Center. Speakers Dr. Stephanie Cawthon, Executive Director Desiree Lama, Coordinator of Student Partnerships Soren Aldaco, Student Fellow Lily Alvarez, Student Fellow This week we're giving you 5 reasons to vote for the National Disability Center for #SXSWEDU! #SXSW #PanelPicker #HigherEd #HigherEducation #Disability #DisabilityResearch #Accessibility #DEI [ID: A bold, vibrant magenta background with a large cream-colored circle on the left side. Inside the circle is the number "4" in a large, bold dark blue font. To the right, the text reads, "Reason 2 Vote # 4 We Focus on Lived Experience" in white bold font. At the bottom of the image, aligned to the left, are the SXSW 2025 logo in white and the National Disability Center’s graphic logo—a white line that loops in a circle with four white spear-shaped leaves arranged in an arc above it. On the right bottom corner, there is a multi-colored "VOTE VOTE VOTE" graphic in purple, coral, and dark blue.]

Creating awareness is not just about speaking up; it's about being heard and inspiring others. It's about using your heart and experience to create change and make a difference in the lives of others. Kindness is the foundation, but it's important to go beyond that. Recently, at the Major League Baseball (MLB) office during the Unlocking Equality event, which commemorated the ADA's 34th anniversary, I had the opportunity to speak about my baseball career as someone with a disability. However, I usually focus on the impact of inclusive education on my success. It has inspired me to share my experiences in college and in the workforce across the country. My goal is to pay it forward and help others with disabilities achieve their goals. I am always seeking opportunities to make a difference. Additionally, when I go to FL, besides working at Shell Bay Club. I plan to get involved in the community and join groups that focus on meaningful causes. One day, I hope to raise money to support people who may not have the same resources as I do, creating more opportunities for them. Sharing my story is just one aspect of my aspirations for my path. Here are some of the events and organizations I have been involved with in advocating for the integration of special needs students on college campuses and in the workplace: - Workplace Inclusion Event, New York, NY (April 2022): The Execu|Search Group (recruiting and staffing agency) - Inclusive Diversity Committee, Stamford, CT (February 2020): Octagon (sports & entertainment marketing and talent management agency) - Through Their Eyes Conference, East Stroudsburg, PA: East Stroudsburg University - Krumm Disability & Media Lecture Series, Durham, NH: University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability - Conference on Inclusive Education, Denver, CO: PEAK Parent Center - State of the Art Conference, Fairfax, VA: Postsecondary Education and Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities National Advocacy Leadership Award recipient - Think College, Boston, MA: Capacity Building Institute - Suffolk University Law School, Boston, MA: Bearing Witness: A Journal on Law and Social Responsibility #InspireChange #MakeADifference #InclusiveEducation #CommunityInvolvement #WorkplaceInclusion #DisabilityInclusion

as someone who is working to open the doors of opportunity to higher education to everyone, Judith’s story is so powerful – but scarily it is still too common in our world. When Judith went to start school, her family were greeted by the principal. But not greeted. The principal said “no”. Judith could not come to school. She was in a wheelchair. But for her parents fighting for her to get an education; But for her fighting to get a higher education; But for her fighting to per mitted to be a teacher; But her for fighting for law reforms; But for her fighting to get regulations passed to enact those laws; but for her fighting to have those laws enacted; Where would she be? Where would we be? Let us create a world where fairness and equality is the norm and the need to fight for everything is confined to the history books. If you wonder if change is possible= It is. Prior to anti-discrimination laws commencing in the 1990s discrimination was lawful. The chance to live with reduced discrimination is here now. Let’s take that and fight for equality. By fighting for this change, perhaps, just perhaps our kids will get a fair go and live lives where they do not need to fight just to get in the front door of school, high school, or law school. When our kids can come to class with everyone and receive an equal education where their faculty and educational leadership reflects the diversity in the student body. Judith Heumann’s TEDx is as powerful as she is! “ Our fight for disability rights” https://lnkd.in/gTeZFjf5   #TED #Education #HigherEducation #university #DisabilityInclusion #DisabilityRights

"Our society's sympathy towards PwD is confined to viewing them as beggars or, at best, not as capable citizens. This mindset restricts the potential of individuals with a disability. It is not disability that makes their journey difficult, but rather society's inability to provide adequate support and accommodations to overcome their challenges." Lubna Ismailee, a mobility champion at YLAC, working with the Nipman Foundation on disability rights, highlights the pressing need to shift societal perspectives on Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). She emphasises the urgent need to build accessible infrastructure, inclusive education systems, accessible information dissemination systems, and a sensitised society. By addressing these issues, we can ensure that individuals with disabilities are represented and valued for their contributions. Read the article here - https://lnkd.in/di3nc8PH Nipun Malhotra

Reason # 5 you should vote for our #SXSWEDU panel "Secrets to Success for Disabled Students in Higher Ed" is because we believe in the power of community to drive change in education. Vote by August 18th! Vote: https://lnkd.in/gmESF-iu Description Over 20% of college students now have at least one disability. This session spotlights disabled college students and what they can teach us about accessibility in higher education. The panelists are Student Fellows at the National Disability Center. Speakers Dr. Stephanie Cawthon, Executive Director Desiree Lama, Coordinator of Student Partnerships Soren Aldaco, Student Fellow Lily Alvarez, Student Fellow This week we're giving you 5 reasons to vote for the National Disability Center for #SXSWEDU! #SXSW #PanelPicker #HigherEd #HigherEducation #Disability #DisabilityResearch #Accessibility #DEI [ID: A bold, vibrant coral background with a large cream-colored circle on the left side. Inside the circle is the number "5" in a large, bold purple font. To the right, the text reads, "Reason 2 Vote # 5 We Believe in the Power of Community To Drive Change in Education" in white bold font. At the bottom of the image, aligned to the left, are the SXSW 2025 logo in white and the National Disability Center’s graphic logo—a white line that loops in a circle with four white spear-shaped leaves arranged in an arc above it. On the right bottom corner, there is a multi-colored "VOTE VOTE VOTE" graphic in purple, coral, and dark blue.]