Inclusion Conference

KEYNOTE AM: HOPE LEET DITTMEIER (pictured above)

In 2017, under Hope’s leadership, the Board of Directors at The Mattingly Center made the bold decision to end their day program services. They decided to focus all of their energies on supporting people who experience disabilities in their own homes and in the community and changed their name to Mattingly Edge.     

Hope will be sharing the story of Mattingly Edge’s journey to provide community supports that increase the chances that people with disabilities will experience the good things in life many people take for granted. Hope will be sharing the story of the transition to this work and highlighting some of the many successes and challenges along the way.

Breakout 1 Presenters: 

Jeana Koerber, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA - Great Lakes Center for Autism Treatment and Research a program of Residential Opportunities, Inc.

In this presentation an overview of trauma informed care and applied behavior analysis (ABA) treatment will be provided. The presenter will discuss how these two treatment approaches work together to provide individualized care and help individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)live independently. 

Miranda Grunwell - Disability Network Southwest Michigan: How to Make a Difference in your Community

Are you ready to “be the change you want to see in the world” but are not sure where to start? Join us for this webinar as we talk about finding ways to put your passion into action! This workshop is geared toward people with a disability but is open to friends, family, and allies as well as other community members.

Dessa Cosma, MA - ED of Detroit Disability Power:  Building Intersectional Disability Justice Focused Social Movements

We will talk about the creation of Detroit Disability Power as part of an effort to ensure local movements for social change are rooted in disability justice analysis and practice. We’ll discuss ways to diversify leadership and perspective, and increase chances of winning issue campaigns, through an intentional and strategic disability consciousness.

Breakout 2 Presenters: 

Jan Lampman, BA, QIDP, Independent Facilitator - Independent Facilitation

We will explore the benefits of Independent Facilitation in the Person Centered planning process.  With a facilitator, teams can take planning to a whole new level, fostering new connections and improving outcomes.

Rickie Kreuzer, OutFront Kalamazoo - Living Within the Intersections: When Ally Isn't Enough

This presentation will be an in-depth discussion on Intersectionality, with an emphasis on the disabled community. We will look at interconnected characteristics of race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation & disability, which when "lived" by one person with several of these characteristics can create systems of overlapping discrimination & disadvantage. After listening to the stories of those who live within the intersections, we will learn what it means to truly be an ally, and how to transition from ally to accomplice and impact change in our communities. 

Breakout 3 Presenters: 

Tamiko Garrett, Ph.D., Parents for Transition - How Caregivers and School Professionals can Assist Children with Invisible Disabilities

Participants of this workshop will be able to define invisible disabilities, learn why school professionals are sometimes reluctant to provide accommodations to children with invisible disabilities, and be exposed to what it is like to have an invisible disability.

Cheryl Levine, Special Education Mediation Services - How to Build Trust in School and Family Partnerships

Mastering the unique dynamics of Special Education requires establishing reservoirs of trust. Once trust exists, doors are opened, and essential, creative collaboration is possible. However, due to the unique dynamics in special education, establishing trust requires even more hard work and ongoing effort. In this session we will discuss the five pillars of building trust, barriers to trusting relationships, teamwork that requires authentic collaboration, and that trusting relationships, once established, require ongoing nurturing.

Grace Smith, Oasis Community of West Michigan Group

Oasis is a family-led, non-profit organization that empowers individuals with physical, developmental, and/or intellectual disabilities to create sustainable housing alternatives, social connections, and live full lives.  We do not cater to a specific disability but embrace all disabilities and all combinations of disabilities.  The Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council estimates that only 19% of people with disabilities are actually receiving benefits through Medicaid.  As adults, thousands of them live with family because they have no other option.  When parents/guardians die or become incapacitated, the disabled adult often ends up in an adult foster care home or nursing home with little or no independence. Oasis is trying to reach those disabled family members at a much younger age; to teach them to be more independent and to create more opportunities for them to live in the community like everyone else.