Webinar series celebrating 34 years of civil rights for people with disabilities to launch July 9

The Oregon Disabilities Commission (ODC), Northwest ADA Center and Disability
Rights Oregon will co-host a free Lunch and Learn webinar series in July in recognition and celebration of the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The informational series will launch on Tuesday, July 9. The series will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Pacific Time on Tuesdays throughout July. Members of the public are welcome to participate.

Topics by date are:

• July 9: History and success of the Olmstead Case
• July 16: Spotlighting the talents of Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing
  communities
• July 23: History of the ADA, current wins and ongoing efforts
• July 30: Boards and Commissions in action: information, awareness and
  impacts

More information about the series will be shared on the Oregon Department of
Human Services ADA event web page.

REGISTER 

FACT Oregon: Family Data Leadership Training

July 16,17, 18 and 19 | 10:30 am – 12: 00 pm | Virtual

The Power of Data:
Join us for a four (4) session learning series to help family members to:

• Learn about the importance of data
• Participate in important data discussions that impact children with disabilities and their families
• Create positive change at the local and state level

Who Should Attend:
Parents and caregivers of children Birth – 5 who receive or who are eligible to receive early intervention or early childhood special education (EI/ECSE). If your child is older and you are interested, please let us know and we will add you if space is available.

Participants are expected to attend all four sessions.

 Register!

Inclusion in Early Learning 

Children with disabilities are in our families, communities, and in our child care and early learning environments. Decades of experience and research show that inclusion benefits everyone! By necessity we need each other to learn, grow, and thrive. 

Oregon Early Childhood Inclusion Initiative uses Practice Based Coaching to implement effective and equitable practices through program-wide implementation of the Indicators of High Quality Inclusion and the Pyramid Model Framework. 

Practice-Based Coaching (PBC) is a key method to teach education staff about intentional strategies for inclusion. This evidence-based coaching approach supports staff to use effective teaching practices to promote positive outcomes for all children. PBC can be implemented in a variety of programs and settings using different coaching formats, including group, peer, and expert coaching. Coaching for highly individualized teaching may be embedded in a program-wide coordinated coaching plan, where all education staff are trained on the use of these practices. Coaching may also be provided for individual staff on an as-needed basis when a specific child requires more support. To learn more about Oregon's emerging coaching system and about becoming a coach visit Oregon State University's Hallie Ford Center's Early Learning Systems Initiative (ELSI).

Take a Look 

PBC to Support Inclusion
In this video, learn how PBC practices can be used to ensure the full and effective participation of children with disabilities or suspected delays. Explore ways DSCs can promote the PBC approach.

Coaching to Support Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Hear about strategies to create a sense of belonging for children with disabilities or suspected delays and their families. Explore how these practices can be applied through a case study focused on equitable and inclusive practices. 

Coaching to Support Highly Individualized Practices
Explore instruction and support strategies represented in the “roof” of the Framework for Effective Practice. Learn more about the process of supporting education staff to select, use, and evaluate the effectiveness of highly individualized teaching practices.

Including Disability In Early Childhood Curricula: Evaluating and Using Children's Books

The world of children's literature is an incredible way to ensure that everyone of the students in your classroom is fully represented. Yet, with so many wonderful books, how do you choose? Providing books that project disability in a meaningful way also helps with conversations on disability, critical understanding and acceptance of difference. In the Winter Issue 2021 of Young Children, Lori Erbrederis Meyer discusses how to evaluate books on disability for inclusion in your programs library or read aloud routines. 

Bonus: 

Looking for books that can be enjoyed by young and old alike? Publishers, Penguin Random House, invite readers to delve into a wide range of topics on disability and disabled experiences, offering unique insights into disability history and culture.

Actively confront ableism and bias by engaging with a diverse mix of voices from the disabled community with collections like Disability Pride and Disability Visibility. Read powerful personal accounts of figures like Selma Blair and Lucy Webster, and discover the past, current, and future struggles of the disability movement with activists like Alice Wong and Judith Heumann.

Introduce little ones to conversations about disabilities with A Kids Book About Disability or the Mr. Rogers classic Extraordinary Friends, and show them that our differences are our strengths with Alexandra Thompson’s I am a Masterpiece or Lucas at the Paralympics.

For more information and to find out more about books from and about disabled people, visit the blog post: Disability Pride for All Ages

Looking for Other Ways to Celebrate Disability Pride?

Here are five ways you can honor the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act and celebrate disability pride.

1. Read a book listed above or attend a talk by a disabled author.
2. Host a movie night or watch a short about disabled lives. Films and stories with disabled actors and characters bring to life experiences. For young adults and adult viewers: Watch CripCamp or My Disability Roadmap by Dan Habib. There are many short films and other stories about disabled lives that you can watch with your child or family. One such short, Loop, features a young autistic child who is non-speaking. 
3. Hire or promote hiring of individuals with disabilities. Businesses and Employers can partner with Oregon Department of Human Services Programs to identify and support qualified individuals for employment. For more information visit the ODHS website.
4. Shop at stores run and owned by disabled individuals or supporting disability rights and inclusion. Check out Oregon Coffee Roasters, Happy Cup Coffee, offering employment to individuals with disabilities
5. Get involved: Find local organizations or community-wide initiatives and volunteer, donate, and advocate. 

Events in Oregon: 

July 13: Expedition Bridge To Inclusion: An all abilities urban challenge celebrating disability pride- Happy Valley, OR

July 20- PHAME Disability Pride Celebration in Portland, OR