The latest updates from Disability Equality In Education (DEE) and the Coalition On Disability Inclusive Curriculum

Greetings from Alan Holdsworth

(Director and founder of DEE and The Disability Inclusive Curriculum)

Welcome & Happy Summer! In the last 2 years, since the great grant from the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council ended and since the legislation in Pennsylvania was passed led by Jason Oritay and Joe Hoenstein, we have been so thankful to PADDC for the help they could give us, and all the smaller sponsorships but most importantly for the incredible voluntary effort and the support and advocacy from many organizations across the State and the Nation.

I also want to thank Pennsylvania’s Department of Education for their willingness to listen, work and co-produce the pilot with us. We are also thankful for the opportunity to offer the support that teachers need to open conversation in their classrooms.

We are pleased to share that DEE has secured some funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Education which is attracting funds from other organizations interested in our work. This means DEE has a more secure future and will pave the way for broader engagement in Coalition work and the expansion of our movement.

Advocates across the country are beginning to coalesce around this and other disabled-led initiatives that both complement and challenge the status quo. DEE believes that disabled people need a distinctive voice in education separate from parents and professionals otherwise, the conversation excludes us.

Here are some of the goals you can help us achieve in the next year:

• Developing and expanding the curriculum

  Although it has been noted that our website has the most comprehensive resource for teachers to have conversations in their classrooms, we realize that many subject areas are not represented. For instance, what resources do we provide for a geography or science teacher to open the conversation? We would also love to work with people with intellectual disabilities more to bring their experiences into classroom conversations and similarly, we want to expand our resources to include influences from the mental health and psychiatric disability community.

• Creating a National Coalition from a Statewide Coalition

  The idea that having disabled-led and approved conversations in the classroom is catching fire, both nationally and internationally. We want to utilize all the resources, knowledge, time, and expertise to bring this about as well as opening classroom conversations about a Disability Inclusive Curriculum to a wider audience. We are examining policies in other states that could bring disabled-led trainings to education majors as part of their certifications before they enter the classrooms. 

  • Although DEE is a typical 501c3 with a small lean but mean board, we want to expand the involvement across all identities by the mechanism of sub-committees which would report to the board.

  • The rest of this newsletter offers wonderful ways you can join and support the growth of this movement toward full equality for all. 

Go Boldy…

- Alan Holdsworth, Director 

There are many ways to contribute to and join this movement:

Contact us at: info@DisabilityEqualityEducation.org

There are tons of ways you can get involved in the movement for a Disability Inclusive Curriculum.

First, we will be holding monthly meetings starting in September to share what’s going on and support each other.

Second, we are looking for educators to work with us to write a more comprehensive, diverse and representative Disability Inclusive Curriculum.

Third, help us to draft comprehensive legislation that all states can pass - start by joining our monthly meeting.

Fourth, let’s network the network. Help us grow the network by introducing DEE and the curriculum to your networks, your school district and your local schools.

What is DEE doing at the moment?

We just completed a “Training the Trainers” course in order to build the capacity for spreading our message and presenting to schools across the country. We anticipate that the demand for Introduction to the Disability Inclusive Curriculum training will continue to grow. Our first group was brilliant, and we met some wonderful new activists and advocates and new co-trainers who can continue to spread the word and we’re so excited to have them as part of our network.

We continue to discuss our own on-demand video course and how to help more educators have access to it. Here is the promo trailer for training video and the information on how it can be rented. We hope you will watch and share it with those in your network. We have also been working with the Department of Education in PA to contribute to a course that they will make available to all educators in the state and will be part of the training of pilot participants. 

Although DEE remains focused on students in K through 12 and their teachers, we are getting more and more requests from colleges, universities, and other agencies who seek to educate their students and staff about disability from a disabled-led perspective, and how this perspective can be applied to their daily work practices. For instance, recently we have trained architecture, interior design and social work students in the fundamental principles of a collective disabled people’s movement.

If you think you can help us in our work and our campaign using your skills, experience and connections, please send us an introductory email to info@DisabilityEqualityEducation.org letting us know how you’d like to help us.

Phone: 724-726-1155

Support DEE with Time & Treasure:

Your donation is so important in order for disabled people to remain in control of developing a Disability Inclusive Curriculum.

We are an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Help us fundraise for a national campaign for a Disability Inclusive Curriculum. Go here: www.DisabilityEqualityEducation.org/donate

Let's stay connected and let DEE know:

• If there are things happening in your state and if we can help workshop on what great legislation could look like.

• About upcoming events/presentations or virtual meetings DEE could take part in.

• About funding opportunities, grants, and potential partnerships

• About podcasts, newsletters or other media outlets DEE can be a guest on.

• Are there any books or videos you know of that we should add to the list of ones we recommend on our website?

• If you have an idea for a lesson topic or a story to share that could lead to the creation of a lesson? 

  Let us know by emailing us at info@DisabilityEqualityEducation.org or calling/texting 724-726-1155.

Our next Coalition meeting will be in September. Please look for the details as the date approaches.

Please share this newsletter with interested activists within your state. We would love to have them help us grow the movement for a Disability Inclusive Curriculum. 

Together we can do great things!