Over the Rainbow: The LGBTQIA - IDD Movement Comes Out Of The Closet!
NACDD Conference – July 2018Follow us on Facebook @PrideAbility
• Rick Banner, Advocacy Coordinator, People Inc• Alex Jusko, Advocate, People Inc• Claire Miller, Advocacy Coordinator, Family Residences and
Essential Enterprises, Inc.• Dennis Murphy, Advocate, Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc.
rideAbility Team
Claire Miller, Advocacy Coordinator Dennis Murphy, Advocate and President
FREE To BE, Western LI & Queens
2010
Rick Banner, Advocacy Coordinator Alex Jusko, Advocate and President
20182013
Matthew Kuriloff, Advocacy CoordinatorEast End Disability Associates
Eastern Long Island GSA2015
Advocate
Marching in PRIDE Parade every year in June.
FREE To BE invites internal and external advocac groups to join our monthly meetings.
Educate
Educational trip to LGBT landmark Stonewall Inn with informational
session and personal story shared by former FREE Support Team Member,
Shane Fallacara.
Support Team member’s mother shared her personal story and the meaning behind the LGBT Pride
Rainbow.
Celebrate
FREE To BE has fun at LGBT Network’s Gala celebrating
partnership.
EEDA & FREE celebrate the first Eastern Long Island GSA
meeting.
ARTNERS
5 Year State Plan
1 - Help build the capacity of and connection between current and future Disability LGBTQ advocacy and support groups.
2 - Educate and train support team members, people with disabilities, and families about sexuality and being LGBTQ with a disability.
3 - Support inclusive community and social opportunities for those with disabilities who identify as LGBTQ.
1st Area of Work
#1 - Help build the capacity of and connection between current and future Disability LGBTQ advocacy and support
groups.- Outreach to Provider agencies, Regional Pride Centers and OPWDD;
- Assemble a consortium of agencies working with the LGBTQ community and advocates to discuss establishing organizations and offering peer-to-peer support.
- Establish Informational Social Media/Website.
People IncBuffalo
Albany Law School
PrideAbility Outreach
2nd & 3rd Areas of Work
2 - Educate and train support team members, people with disabilities, and families about sexuality and being LGBTQ with a disability.
3 - Support inclusive community and social opportunities for those with disabilities who
identify as LGBTQ.
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK
@prideability
Contact Information
Claire B. MillerAdvocacy CoordinatorFamily Residences & Essential Enterprises, Inc.191 Sweet Hollow RoadOld Bethpage, NY 11804(516) [email protected]
Matthew KuriloffAdvocacy CoordinatorEast End Disability Associates, Inc.107 Roanoke AvenueRiverhead, NY 11901(631) [email protected]
Rick BannerAdvocacy CoordinatorPeople, Inc.533 Tenth St., Suite 100ANiagara Falls, NY 14301(716) 247-1382 [email protected]
Creating Community & Inclusion for LGBTQ Adults with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities
Presenters: Jamece Agnew (Ambassador)Eddie Harriel (Ambassador)
Marie A Gandy (Project Manager)
Welcome &
Introductions
Poll: Have you had any experience working with LGBTQ adults who also have I/DD in your current agency?
Objectives:
● Project overview
● Learn about barriers to inclusion for people with I/DD who identify as
LGBTQ
● Testimonial from a Proud & Included Ambassador
● Discuss inclusion as it relates to this population
● Practical tips for agencies, staff and family members
● Resources for support
Proud & Included Partners:
Sprout ● Build community with people labeled with intellectual
disabilities across Ontario
● Provide education & support to providers & educators
● Improve best practices
● Link sexuality, gender and critical disability perspectives
Just like anyone else, people with developmental disabilities have the right to:
● Sexuality and sexual expression
● Dignity and respect
● Privacy, confidentiality and freedom of association
● Access to sexual education reflective of their cultural, religious and
moral values
● 74% of people with developmental disabilities do not have knowledge
of LGBTQ issues, and that 70% have been shown to have negative
attitudes towards individuals who identify as LGBTQ
● Many people with developmental disabilities who identify as LGBTQ
have difficulty accepting their identify
● Many staff supporting people with developmental disabilities do not
feel comfortable or equipped in discussing sexuality
● Many people still assume people with developmental disabilities are
asexual
● Suicidality and mental health issues are seen more commonly in
LGBTQ+ youth than heterosexual youth
McCann, E., Lee, R., & Brown, M. (2016). The experiences and support needs of people with intellectual disabilities who identify as LGBT: A review of the literature. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 57, 39-53.
Proud & Included Overview: ➔ Serving LGBTQ adults in Cook County with
Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDD)
● Outreach and Engagement● Community Building● Community Education
Overview Continued● Meetings● Self Advocacy Training● Resource Education and Utilization● Community Inclusion Training● Inclusive Event Participation● Volunteerism
1st Annual P&I Stats
● 152 Participants
● 13 pending
● 9 Ambassadors total
● 3 Ambassadors currently
● 37 Trained Self-advocates
● 263 Allies
● 27 LGBTQ events
● 32 LGBTQ organizations
or groups have received
inclusion training
Long-term Project Goals: ● Seek 4 Year Plan for funding
● Replicable (Other counties in IL, nationwide)
● Year 2: Intensive work with 20+ Self-Advocates on
intimate longterm relationships with desired LGBTQ
organizations of choice
● Year 4: Fully managed by Self-Advocates
● LGBTQ/IDD Community Based Service Center
What Does Inclusion Look Like?● People with IDD participating in LGBTQ events
and programs● Using the services of LGBTQ providers● Joining other LGBTQ people as equals in the
social, cultural, and economic activities that happen every day in the LGBTQ community
Andersonville Midsommarfest/Equality Rally
Disability Pride Parade
Present at ICDD Conference
Rebirth Garments
Inclusion Training
Speak Up Speak Out Summit
Poll: What do you think the biggest barrier to inclusion is for this population?
Barriers to Inclusion: ● Employment/Limited Financial Resources
● Harassment/Bullying/Shaming
● Accessibility (refused services)
● Equal protection
● Guardianship/Care Givers Conflicting Belief System
● Invisibility in the LGBTQ Community
● Transportation
● Knowledge of & Access to Resources
● Lack of sexuality education
Are there any barriers we are missing?
Ambassador Testimonial:
Promoting Inclusion:
Ways to Promote Inclusion at your Agency ● Invite Proud & Included to visit your site, agency,
organization or group for all staff trainings
● Sexuality classes & trainings for the people
● Sexuality classes & trainings for staff
● Fine tune agency protocols & policies
● Implement 0 tolerance policies for
bullying/shaming/violence/harassment
The importance of language...
Language● Be conscious of pronouns… ASK!
● Don’t assume anything
● Recognize your own values about sexuality & own it
Tips for Agencies
● Ask, don’t assume
● Be patient and listen
● Put yourself in their shoes
● Don’t ignore these issues or pass them off as a phase
● Do what it takes to create change in your agency
● Demand professionalism of staff regardless of
personal beliefs
Ideas: ● Share knowledge with someone in your network
● Put knowledge into practice
● Give classes on healthy sexuality & relationships
● Bring in outside trainers
● Partner with Proud & Included
● Bring in Consultants to steer your group/project
Brainstorm!
Speak Up and Speak Out, sharing one bright idea from today’s training that you will implement in the future.
Contact InformationMarie A. Gandy, BASW, QIDP, MHP
Proud & Included Project Manager
Envision Unlimited
708-268-0793
Resources: http://www.proudandincluded.org
Queerability, a LGBTQ and disability rights advocacy organization. You can read more about them on Tumblr:http://queerability.tumblr.com/
Impact newsletter, 2010, article on Coming Out; available here https://ici.umn.edu/products/impact/232/18.html
Impact newsletter, 2010, sidebar about DSPs supporting GLBT individuals; https://ici.umn.edu/products/impact/232/19.html
http://www.icasa.org/index.aspx?pageid=1044
http://griffin-centre.org/reachout.php
https://www.hrc.org/
Thank you!
Questions?
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