Mc Adam Mc Creedy Journey Of Inclusion

Michigan Community Service Commission

Statewide Inclusion Team

Slide 1© 2008 McCreedy, McAdam All rights reserved


Statewide Inclusion Team

Promotes and supports full participation of people with disabilities in all aspects of national service programs

through collaboration between individuals with disabilities; disability advocacy and service organizations; and Michigan's national service programs.

Embracing the Talent and Diversity People with Disabilities

People with disabilities bring unique life experiences and perspectives, both of which positively impact the diversity and quality of services provided by nonprofit organizations.


organizations.

Using a partnership with Michigan’s AmeriCorps as an example, this workshop will provide information about the benefits of inclusion, outreach strategies, and how to assure successful inclusion of people with disabilities in the organization.

Our Fundamental Belief

You will better achieve your organization’s mission when you have volunteers, service members,

and staff members with disabilities.

Purpose of this workshop


Purpose of this workshop

You’ll discover some new ideas that may help you achieve more successful inclusion of people with disabilities

in your organization.

Disability Culture- Dr. Carol Gill, U-Il, Chicago

The elements of our culture include, certainly,

our longstanding social oppression,

but also our emerging art and humor,

our piecing together of our history,


our piecing together of our history,

our evolving language and symbols,

our remarkably unified worldview, beliefs and values,

and our strategies for surviving and thriving.

"Values that undergird our political struggles,that are reflected in our art, conversations, goals and behaviors.”

1) An acceptance of human differences (e.g., physical, functional, racial, intellectual, economic/class).

2) A matter-of-fact orientation toward helping; an acceptance of human

Disability Culture- Alternative Core ValuesDr. Carol Gill, U-Il, Chicago

http://www.independentliving.org/docs3/gill1995.html


2) A matter-of-fact orientation toward helping; an acceptance of human vulnerability and interdependence as part of life.

3) A tolerance for lack of resolution, for dealing with the unpredictable and living with unknowns or less-than-desired outcomes.

4) Disability humor - the ability to laugh at the oppressor and our own situations, to find something absurdly hilarious in almost anything, however dire.

"Values that undergird our political struggles,that are reflected in our art, conversations, goals and behaviors."

5) Skill in managing multiple problems, systems, technology and assistants.

6) A sophisticated future orientation; an ability to construct complex plans taking into account multiple contingencies and realistically anticipated

Disability Culture- Alternative Core ValuesDr. Carol Gill, U-Il, Chicago

http://www.independentliving.org/docs3/gill1995.html


taking into account multiple contingencies and realistically anticipated obstacles.

7) A carefully honed capacity for closure in interpersonal communication; the ability to read others' attitudes and conflicts in order to sort out, fill in the gaps and grasp the latent meaning in contradictory social messages.

8) A flexible, adaptive approach to tasks; a creativity stimulated by both limited resources and experience with untraditional modes of operating.

• Implicit biases are pervasive.• People are often unaware of their implicit biases.• Implicit biases predict behavior.• People differ in levels of implicit bias.

– Implicit biases vary from person to person - for example as a function of the person’s group memberships, the dominance of a person’s membership group in society, consciously held attitudes, and the level of bias existing in the immediate environment.

– This last observation makes clear that implicit attitudes are modified by experience.

Slide 8© 2008 McCreedy, McAdam All

rights reserved

http://www.projectimplicit.net/generalinfo.php

Diversity helps you achieve your mission

1. Organizations will be positively changed when people with disabilities are in all roles—volunteers, service members, staff, and leadership.

2. Increased success when organizations reflect the groups they are serving.


they are serving.

3. People with disabilities bring unique strengths, skills, and perspectives to the workplace, reflecting the core values of disability culture.

4. Disability pride developed in youth is a keystone to future success—is this important to your organization?

Disability Outreach• Make the commitment• Think about your culture • Review descriptions of your service opportunities

or jobs


or jobs• Recruiting• Preparefor success• Disclosure, Accommodations, and Undisclosed

DisabilitiesLearn as you go!

Antoinette Adkins

Downriver CARES AmeriCorps


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Downriver CARES AmeriCorps

“My first challenge was to pick a placement that could accommodate me. Fortunately, there were many to choose from.

With the help of a great program director, I was able meet the challenge head on and find incredible placements! I have enjoyed being a part of the AmeriCorps family. Serving adults with various severe mental illnesses - teaching them life skills - has increased my desire to go back to school to achieve my Ph.D. I have formed friendships I never expected, helping me to grow and learn about myself too! AmeriCorps is an experience I will never forget.”

• Membership diversity training that includes disability issues promotes awareness - we need to move beyond awareness - interactive exercises are key.

• Building community relationships are key for recruitment and ongoing support for members with disabilities, service teams, and management.

• Awareness, values, and experiences are fluid, impacting each of us throughout the journey.

• Vision - Members with disabilities make the commitment to service and move into organizational leadership.


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www.DiverseAbility.com

Cathy McAdam and Ginger [email protected]

313-563-1412

Kathy McCreedy [email protected]

989-631-8867


Megan SargentTraining and Inclusion Coordinator


[email protected]

(517) 241-3494

MCSC Statewide Inclusion Team

http://www.michigan.gov/mcsc/0,1607,7-137-8074_22503---,00.html

DiverseAbility is registered service mark of DiverseAbility LLC

Mc Adam Mc Creedy Journey Of Inclusion

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