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

A note from our Director, Alan Holdsworth:

Towards a global movement.

The idea of a Disability Inclusive Curriculum, in my view, is the most progressive, significant change the disability rights movement has had for decades because it attacks fundamental attitudes that are part of the discrimination that we disabled people face.

It’s not a local concept but a global one. “Teach disability in schools everywhere.”

Disability Inclusive Curriculum, led and designed by disabled people, could be a major fundamental tool to create the attitudinal change which could then drive systematic change, innovation, and improvement in all environments.

DEE is creating a potential model for action in your community, wherever you are. Something to build on and modify to your own environment, culture, and place.

How you can help support and grow the movement for a disability inclusive curriculum.

You may be aware that most of Disability Equality in Education’s (DEE) funding has come from grants. Our most recent grant, and one we have been expecting to have renewed, came from the State of Pennsylvania. Because of the delay in passing the Pennsylvania budget which has recently been resolved, that decision on our future funding has been delayed, and our funds are running low. This means we’ve had to make reductions across the board while maintaining the website and core staff at reduced pay.

We need your support not only to survive but to develop and grow this concept of a Disability Inclusive Curriculum everywhere. 

While we wait for upcoming grants we have applied for, your support will directly sustain our work and help us remain available to provide training, guidance, and support for educators.

Here’s how you can help:

Donate:

You can contribute any time at: www.DisabilityEqualityEducation.org/donate

Advocate:

If you work in education or policymaking, inside or outside Pennsylvania, we’d love to partner with you to bring our work into more schools and advance Disability Inclusive Curriculum legislation in your state. Share our website and social media links located at the bottom of the newsletter.

Fundraise:

Share your ideas, leads, or connections. If you have fundraising and/or grant writing experience you are willing to share with us, we would be quite grateful. 

Every bit of support helps us continue this vital, groundbreaking work.

Thank you for supporting our work. Together, we can ensure that disabled people remain in control of Disability Inclusive Curriculum, and that every student learns about disability as part of our shared human story.

What we have achieved in the last year.

Doubled the resources 

Over the past year, as promised, we have doubled the free resources for teachers on our website. 

We thank and acknowledge Sharon, our Educational Resources Coordinator, and the 30+, mostly disabled, educational writers for helping us achieve this.

These resources have been a combination of new lesson plans written for previously unexplored subjects and underrepresented disabled identities. We also review and include lessons that other organizations have created that fit into our vision of Disability Inclusive Curriculum.  During this time period we have also developed standalone guidance documents for teachers that offer practical support to help navigate this work with confidence. This helps to recognize and address common misconceptions that can unintentionally exclude or harm disabled people.

We acknowledge that teachers come to this work from many different backgrounds, and we are proud to provide support that meets each teacher wherever they are in their journey to facilitate better conversations about disability in their classrooms.

Although our website is already the most comprehensive, free, and easy to navigate that exists, we realize that the more choices that teachers have, the more likely they are to use it. Though extensive, there is still so much more we know we need to develop. 

Professional Development

DEE continues to develop and run professional development courses online and in person, as location and travel expenses allow.

Recently, we have developed and tested, with great feedback, an assembly model that can be used from Kindergarten through 12th grade.

We continue to get excellent feedback about our website, Professional Development, video, and courses.

This professional development video is an introduction to Disability Inclusive Curriculum.  It covers concepts including Nothing About Us Without Us, the Social Model of Disability, disability history, language and action planning.  It also provides an overview of our website, and includes interactive elements. 

Individuals can rent our introductory video for just $20, while schools can rent it for an entire year for their entire staff. Pricing varies depending on the size of the school. You can watch a preview and learn more about rental options here:

https://www.DisabilityEqualityEducation.org/video-course

Assemblies

In September, Alan, Sharon, Stacy and our board member Christian provided an assembly for the Council Rock Middle School in Bucks County Pennsylvania. The assembly included a “Myths & Misconceptions” game show for the 400 seventh graders. 

Disability History Timeline

Our Disability History Timeline tiles were displayed at The Disability Summit at Temple University in September. If you’d like to sponsor an exhibition or have the tiles displayed, please contact us.

Find out how you can sponsor this exhibit and/or have it displayed in your community.  Email info@DisabilityEqualityEducation.org or fill out this Google Form: bit.ly/DisabilityHistoryTimelineForm

DEE In Action

DEE continues to attend and present at conferences both virtually and in person and is deepening our relationship with disabled people, parents and educators. Please let us know of any events you would like DEE to be involved with. Email us at: info@DisabilityEqualityEducation.org

Events DEE attended over the past year:

• DEE appeared as a guest on Think Inclusive Podcast produced by MCIE - Maryland Coalition Inclusive Education Episode: Disability Inclusive Curriculum: Changing Mindsets in Pennsylvania Schools and Nationwide

• DEE participated in PaTTAN’s summer conference in State College, PA. “Bridging Knowledge to Know How”: Empowering Educators and Partners 

• DEE attended “Education Unlocked” in Bristol, PA

• DEE attended The Disability Summit at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA

• DEE took part in a virtual 3-part webinar hosted by PENNTASH Education Committee, “The Basics, The Myths & The Possibilities” for more information visit: https://bit.ly/4hu7FDb

• DEE visited a Philadelphia School District fair

• DEE visited the Tacony Community Center and shared DEE’s lessons in Art with members of the Autistic Art Coalition.

• DEE attended the Next Generation Conference hosted by PEAC and PEAL at Arcadia University, Glenside PA.  Lisa gave a presentation, “The Next Step to Inclusive Education.”

Image descriptions:

Left - Alan sits in his wheelchair in front of a table, Stacy sits behind it. The table has a black tablecloth with the DEE logo. There is a colorful spinning wheel on the table. Other booths are visible to the sides.

Center - Lisa stands behind the table, Alan is in front of the table. Both are talking to two people facing them. A tall trifold display board is on the table as well as the colorful spinning wheel.

Right - Lisa stands facing a room with long tables in a U shape with people sitting facing her.

Support Our Work

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.

Please consider donating even a small amount as a one-time and/or monthly donation, so we can create more and more diverse resources for educators.

You can donate at any time using the tools on our website at: www.DisabilityEqualityEducation.org/donate

Donations can be made via PayPal, Venmo, credit or debit card or check.

Thank you for supporting our work. Together, we can ensure that disabled people remain in control of Disability Inclusive Curriculum, and that every student learns about disability as part of our shared human story.

Giving Tuesday is coming up December 2nd. We appreciate that you keep us in your giving plans.

Thanks to a grant from the PA Department of Education and other funders for helping us to achieve this, not just for Pennsylvania but for all students everywhere.

Follow us on Social Media:

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LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/disability-equality-in-education-a75155291