ASK Resource Center’s Post

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

At Liberty, we are proud to partner with Maryland Department of Health Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) to improve services for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. Through the National Core Indicators (NCI) surveys, we gain valuable insights into what’s working and where we can grow together. Key Findings from the Latest Surveys: ✅ Over 1,700 surveys completed, amplifying the voices of families and participants! ✅ 94% of families said services help their loved ones live a good life. ✅ 54% of participants without a job expressed the desire to work, highlighting opportunities for better community employment support. ✅ 63% of participants reported doing activities they enjoy in their communities. We remain committed to ensuring that all services are person-centered, empowering individuals and fostering inclusion in every way possible. Learn more about the surveys here: https://lnkd.in/eGzaQ_ZU

REMINDER Alternatives to Guardianship: Supported Decision Making virtual seminar. Registration available at https://go.hawaii.edu/nLv Presenter Che Silvert Thursday, April 11th, 2024 from 1:00pm to 2:00pm HST, via Zoom. --- The goal of the presentation is to educate our community of what Supported Decision Making is and how it is an alternative to Guardianship/Conservatorships. In this talk we would fully break down how SDM works, what the benefits are, and where Hawai'i is today with implementing it. ✔️ Attendees of this session will be able to address the following prompts: ✔️ What is Supported Decision Making and how does it work? ✔️ What are the benefits of Supported Decision Making? ✔️ Where is Hawai'i in terms of implementing Supported Decision Making? Che Silvert, a Community and Legislative Liaison for the Department of Developmental Disabilities, is born and raised in Hawaii and has worked for the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities since 20218. --- Interested in getting updates on upcoming partner seminars? Sign-up for our news email listserv at https://go.hawaii.edu/yVn

Reflections on connecting with the Inclusion Langley Society community 🩵 Inclusion Langley provides services that improve quality of life for children with developmental or support needs and adults with intellectual disabilities or autism spectrum disorder. The organization received a Community Engagement Grant from BC’s Ministry of Children & Family Development to support the engagement of their community in discussions around creating a better network of services and supports for children and youth with disabilities or support needs and their families. Roots & Rivers was engaged to design and facilitate community engagement sessions with children, youth, caregivers, and service providers. Team members Janani Ravikularam and Kareen Wong created spaces for accessible engagement where participants felt comfortable sharing meaningful insights into their nuanced experiences with services and supports for children and youth with disabilities or support needs. The team also supported the Inclusion Langley team with analysis of input they collected through a survey and community engagement sessions hosted by their team in Chinese and Korean. What we heard from the engagement was synthesized into a clear, plain language report which was shared back to the community and the Ministry of Child, Youth & Family Development to contribute to the design of future systems. Our gratitude goes out to Jenilee Woods, the team at Inclusion Langley and to all the community members and service providers who contributed to this project🩵

In today's complex work environments, problems rarely exist in isolation. Systems thinking allows us to see the bigger picture by understanding how different parts of an organization interact and influence one another. By adopting a systems perspective, we can identify root causes rather than just addressing symptoms, leading to more effective solutions and sustainable change. Unfortunately, the way organizations are structured often promotes what Peter Senge refers to as Learning Disabilities, which hinder organizations from fully understanding their systems. One example is the learning disability called "I am my position," where individuals are not collaborating to resolve complex challenges because they identify more with their position or job than with the organization as a whole. We might typically label these individuals as troublemakers or selfish, but that's rarely the case. Often, the benefits of fulfilling their individual roles outweigh the perceived benefits of supporting the organization as a whole—especially when factors like target-based incentives are at play. Making these Learning Disabilities visible is crucial for decision-makers. By recognizing them, we can address underlying issues and foster a more collaborative, holistic approach to problem-solving. #SystemsThinking #ProblemSolving #OrganizationalDevelopment #HolisticApproach #LearningDisabilities

Have you heard of Intensive Interaction? It's a pathway to fostering genuine connections with individuals with severe learning disabilities. It's all about meeting them where they are, following their lead, and embracing their unique communication style. Through simple yet profound acts like commenting on their actions, joining in with their activities, and playfully imitating them, we build trust and rapport. 💛 By allowing them to set the pace, we create a safe space where they feel valued and understood. Every interaction becomes an opportunity to affirm their worth and celebrate their abilities. 🌈 Let's embrace Intensive Interaction as a beacon of inclusion and empowerment, illuminating the path to meaningful connections and mutual joy. Together, let's make every interaction a testament to the beauty of acceptance and connection. 👉 The next run of our Thriving Child Challenge is happening next week, 4th November. Sign up through our website now! #intensiveinteraction #learningdisabilities #communicationmatters #SENDparenting #parentcarer #specialneedsparent

Accommodations in college aren’t the same as high school. You’ll need to advocate for yourself and connect with the disability services team early. 💡 For many Black autistic students, sensory-friendly spaces or flexible schedules are game-changers. Have you started thinking about what accommodations will help you thrive? Share your thoughts below! #BlackAutismMatters #DisabilityAwareness #CollegeSuccessJourney

Educate The "E" in CARE stands for Educate. Making discussions about invisible disabilities and how to support each other should be a regular part of your team meetings. When you do this, you remove the stigma. One person might need extra breaks because of their invisible disability. Another may need to work in a quiet and low-lit space. Still others need extra time to do certain tasks. When you provide education around the multitude of invisible disabilities and how to support each other, you are creating an environment that individuals can feel free to be themselves in. Don’t audit life. I can help. Queens of Moxie is all about finding joy, purpose and community. Want to learn more? Reach out! Book me for my keynote speech: Stop Auditing Life: Reclaim Your Moxie Plus, I provide several training programs: Invisible Disabilities: Show You Care Wallflower to Connector: Networking 101 Crush Your Speech: Public Speaking for Everyone #Moxie #Mindset #Resilience #Speaking #Networking #InvisibleDisabilities

Empowering Individuals Through the GATES Program At Goodwill of Central and Coastal Virginia, our mission is changing lives…helping people help themselves through the power of work. The GATES program, which stands for Goodwill Academy Transition to Employment Sponsorship, creates life-changing opportunities for individuals with disabilities, including those on the autism spectrum. As a nonprofit, we are honored to partner with fellow organizations like the VIRGINIA AUTISM FOUNDATION to support our community. Mark Llobell, founder and CEO of the foundation and grandfather of one of our GATES graduates, shares how critical programs like GATES are helping people with disabilities thrive in employment. His dedication highlights the importance of building inclusive opportunities that benefit individuals, their families, and our communities. The GATES program provides: - Job training tailored to individual needs - Opportunities to earn a paycheck while developing workplace skills - Life skills that build confidence and independence This video shares the inspiring stories of individuals like Mark and Sean, showcasing how GATES is not only helping participants grow but also fostering stronger, more inclusive communities. From learning responsibility to building confidence, these opportunities are opening doors to brighter futures. We are grateful to contribute to the journeys of individuals seeking independence and meaningful employment.

At first, starting Your Safe Space NG was about connecting with others who have siblings with special needs—but it’s grown into something so much more. Beyond support and care, it has become a powerful platform to educate and drive awareness for the special needs community. In 2023, I had the theme 'Awareness to Acceptance to Inclusion,' a reminder that people are curious to learn about autism and other disabilities but fear asking the wrong questions. Our role is to create a space for open, honest conversations about disabilities—breaking down barriers and building understanding. This year, I asked, 'What’s your role in a neurodiverse world?” Alongside fellow siblings and advocates, we highlighted the impact of kindness and empathy on the lives of individuals with special needs. It’s not just about knowing they’re here; it’s about understanding how to communicate and connect meaningfully. Additionally, Your Safe Space NG has a prayer group called “Seeking strength from the infinite one” where we pray for ourselves and also for our loved ones with disorders and disabilities. I have amazing and exciting plans for 2024. If you’re interested in partnering with us, reach out at toyinodunuyi@yahoo.com and copy yoursafespaceng@yahoo.com. Let’s work together to make a difference!