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CDCI Connects: A monthly newsletter from the Center on Disability and Community Inclusion
CDCI Connects Issue 8, March 2019: Developmental Disability Awareness Month
#DDawareness19 Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

Welcome

This has been an exciting month for CDCI! While we still had plenty of snow and cold in Vermont, we also got our first tastes of warm sun and daylight on our commute home from the office. If that's not reason enough to celebrate March, it's also Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month! As the world outside started to hum a little more, at CDCI we also noticed an uptake in our activities around campus and the state, and it was really neat to see so many of them connect back to this month's theme of Developmental Disability Awareness.

We've gained a lot of momentum on our pursuit for Inclusive Excellence with special help from Jesús Treviño from the Leadership in Diversity (LinD) Group, with training opportunities for both CDCI and Organizations around the state. UVM's fantastic Blackboard Jungle also took place this month, bringing in vibrant and diverse speakers including Tarana Burke, Jose Antonio Vargas, Kate Bornstein, and Dr. Robert D. Bullard and offering an impressive array of professional development opportunities, including one on disability and inclusive excellence co-facilitated by CDCI's own Jesse Suter. Blackboard Jungle has done a lot to bring more understanding and training around diversity and cultural competence to the UVM community and we are honored to have played a part in bringing disability into that conversation. 

We also had the opportunity to bring this conversation about disability and inclusion to the Statehouse this month through a screening of Intelligent Lives at the Statehouse. It was a wonderful opportunity working with the Lieutenant Governor's Office and our Community of Practice partners to present this screening and hold a discussion with a panel of experts afterward, and we can't wait to do it again on April 3rd in South Burlington! We'll have Lt. Gov. Zuckerman, a panel of Vermont self-advocates, and the filmmaker Dan Habib joining us for that screening (taking place right after Vermont Family Network's Annual Conference), and while it's not in March, it will be a great opportunity to increase awareness around Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities. 

If you want to find out more about how people celebrated DD Awareness month, seach #ddawareness19 on your favorite social media platform and don't be afraid to contribute to the conversation!

We hope you enjoy this month's news!

Jeanne Nauheimer
Dissemination Coordinator

Jesse Suter and Jesús Treviño

Community Partner: Dr. Jesús Treviño

While we usually feature local individuals or community organizations, this month we're including Dr. Jesús Treviño, who visited Vermont from Arizona to teach and train the Vermonters, including CDCI employees, on Inclusive Excellence.
 
Read about Treviño's Time in Vermont
Panelist in front of audience

UVM Partners: Blackboard Jungle & Workshop Panelists

It is pretty incredible feeling when some of your best college and university partners all get together to do one activity together. We were lucky enough to see it come together for a university-sponsored event, to boot! 

At this year's Blackboard Jungle, some of UVM's biggest accessibility and inclusion superstars got together to create a workshop called Building Wider Doors for Inclusive Excellence: Disability in Our Classrooms, Campus, and Community.
Learn more about the Workshop
Stirling Peebles, Meghan Polyte, Kris Medina, Crista Yaglian

Community Partners: Intelligent Lives Screening at the Statehouse

CDCI, along with other members of Vermont's Community of Practice, have worked to set up screenings of Intelligent Lives throughout the state in order to create more awareness and advocate for change for those who face discrimination, including people who experience disability. Especially since it's Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, we were thrilled to have Intelligent Lives be March's film choice in the Lieutenant Governor's Monthly Movie Series!

People around tables watching a screenAfter the 70-minute film by Dan Habib was played for community members and legislatures at the Vermont State House, Meghan Polyte, Chief of Staff for Lt. Governor Zuckerman, introduced the panel of speakers (Stirling Peebles, Kris Medina, and Crista Yagjian) who all told the audience about their experiences with disability and inclusion before opening up the floor to questions and comments. Conversations focused on how to make changes across our state to do ensure more opportunity and access for people who test low on standardized assessments and who exhibit emotion and intelligence in different ways. Polyte and others at the statehouse urged community members to talk to local lawmakers and share their stories. Others reinforced how important it is to be involved in community events like this film series to increase awareness and get more communities to connect.  Crista holding mic speaking sitting at a table in front of audience

We want to thank the Office of the Lt. Governor for putting on this series and offering spaces for Vermonters to learn and engage with one another. We are also very excited to have Lt. Gov. Zuckerman come to our April 3rd showing of Intelligent Lives to keep this conversation going!​

CDCI Summer courses

With the help of Academics Coordinator Dr. Winnie Looby, CDCI will be offering two new courses this summer for professionals looking for professional development opportunities and credit hours or increasing their knowledge. Register now and receive 30% off tuition!
 

Supported Employment for Young Adults with Disabilities (1 Credit)

View Supported Employment Flyer (PDF)
This course is part one of three credit-bearing opportunities designed to parallel the UVM Supported Employment Training Series. The series is designed for Direct Service Providers, family members, and students who work or study in the field of employment for people with disabilities. Through online discussions, readings, and individual assignments, students will gain knowledge and skills within the employment services competencies as defined by the Association of Community Rehabilitation Educators (ACRE) The four broad competency areas as defined by ACRE, are:
  • Application of Core Values and Principles to Practice
  • Individualized Assessment and Employment/Career Planning
  • Community Research and Job Development
  • Workplace and Related Supports
 

BEST/MTSS Summer Institute Student (3 Credits)

View BEST/MTSS Summer Institute Course Flyer
The BEST/MTSS Summer Institute will have teams of educators sharing and learning strategies for improving positive supports for students in their classrooms, schools, and communities. Students enrolled in the course will have many opportunities to interact with professionals who are in their fields of interest. This course will expose students to the components necessary to implement a successful multi-tiered system of supports framework within an academic or social context area. This course is for individuals who are participating in the BEST/MTSS Summer Institute.
Check out UVM's Summer Courses

Upcoming Events

Interested in more events hosted by CDCI, our partners, or others of interest to our community? Check out CDCI's Event Calendar to find out about more opportunities to learn, connect, and have fun!

We'd like to let our readers know about the events of our friends and partners! If you would like to get the word out about an upcoming event, please email Jeanne Nauheimer.


Vermont Family Network Annual Conference

April 3, 2019, 8:00am-3:00pm
DoubleTree Hotel, South Burlington VT

Save the date for the Vermont Family Network annual conference. Conference Details.
 

Intelligent Lives Film Screening with Dan Habib

April 3, 2019, 3:00pm-6:00pm
DoubleTree Hotel, South Burlington VT

We are excited to announce that Intelligent Lives and its creator, Dan Habib, are coming to Vermont. This new film captures an emerging paradigm in which people who have accessed supports can successfully participate in general education, college, integrated employment, and relationships. Make sure to save the date and RSVP on Facebook!
Watch Intelligent Lives trailer.
 

Green Mountain Self-Advocates Voices and Choices Conference

April 29-30, 2019
DoubleTree Hotel, South Burlington VT

Register for the Voices and Choices Conference.
 

Think College Vermont Graduation

Saturday, May 11, 2019, 10:00am-12:00pm
Davis Center, University of Vermont

Get ready to celebrate! Our Think College students will be celebrating the end of the school year and recognizing those who have completed their Certificate of Professional Studies. Family and friends of the students and program are welcome to attend!

Oakledge for All Kickoff Party!

Saturday, May 18, 2019
Oakledge Park, Burlington VT

After having to postpone the celebration in October due to inclement weather, Oakledge for All! will be having a kick-off party on Saturday, May 18, 2019. Hopefully you've had a chance to visit Oakledge and check out the installation of universally accessible swings, a sway glider (that includes a ramp crafted from locally sourced materials), and accessible surfacing – all overlooking the lake. It's truly beautiful! And it's just the beginning of what's to come at Oakledge Park.
For more information, please visit Oakledge for All's website.
Copyright © 2019 Center on Disability and Community Inclusion, University of Vermont, All rights reserved.


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