Programs & Sessions
2008 Keynote Speaker, Dan Habib
Dan Habib is the director, producer and cinematographer of the new documentary, Including Samuel. The film recently won the annual Positive Images in Media award from TASH, an international group committed to the full inclusion of people with disabilities.
Habib has been the photography editor of the Concord Monitor since 1995, where he was a staff photographer from 1988 to 1992. In 2006 he was named the national Photography Editor of the Year for papers under 100,000 circulation.
Between his stints at the Monitor, Habib freelanced and created a multi-media documentary project titled “Teen Sexuality in a Culture of Confusion.” The project was widely disseminated in video, print and website formats (www.DanHabib.com). His freelance work has appeared in numerous publications, including Time, Newsweek, Yankee, Life, Boston Magazine, Mother Jones and the New York Times.
Habib has been named New Hampshire Photographer of the Year six times. He has been a judge of Pictures of the Year and White House News Photographer's Association, and on the visiting faculty of the Poynter Institute and the Atlanta Seminar.
Habib and his wife, Betsy, live in Concord, New Hampshire, with their sons Isaiah, 11, and Samuel, 8.
2008 Featured Presenter, Keith Jones
Keith Jones is the President and CEO of SoulTouchin’ Experiences, an organization aimed at bringing perspective to the issues of access, inclusion and empowerment, topics which affect him as well as others who are persons with a disability. Mr. Jones is also extremely active in multi-cultural, cross-disability education and outreach efforts and conducts trainings (including train the trainer) with the purpose of strengthening efforts to provide services and information to people with disabilities. Most recently Mr. Jones was recognized by the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, with the 2006 Moro Fleming Consumer Involvement Award. Mr. Jones is also a recent graduate of the inaugural class of Initiative for Diversity in Civic Leadership.
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Pre-conference Workshop: Wednesday, April 2nd 9am-2pm
Moving Toward Inclusion: Planning for Sustainability
Whether you are new to the process of inclusion or have been practicing inclusion for a while, it is important to think about how to sustain your inclusive practices. A thoughtful process ensures that children of all abilities will be welcomed into your organization both now and in the future. Staffing changes, inconsistent funding streams and demographic changes in your community can all threaten your agency's commitment to inclusion. Join your colleagues from around the country for a one-day intensive workshop designed to help you define what you hope to sustain, decide who and what to include in the strategic planning process and create a work plan. Participants will use KIT tools developed specifically for planning for inclusion in out-of-school time programs and receive a notebook of planning templates. Individuals and teams of participants representing organizations are welcome to participate. All participants will receive a pre-workshop planning packet prior to attending. This workshop will by highly interactive.
General Session: Interactive Panel Presentation
Thursday, April 3rd
The Thursday afternoon general session will feature an interactive panel of practitioners with extensive experience including children with disabilities in community recreation, and child and youth development programs. Conference participants will explore focus areas within the broad topic of inclusion through Open Space Technology. Open Space connects individuals through passion and responsibility, leaving room for creativity. Using Open Space, thoughtful questions for panelists will be developed. Connect with individuals from across the country and gain insight from a panel of professionals with experience working in programs supporting children with and without disabilities.
Break-out sessions*: Thursday and Friday, April 3rd & 4th
A Blended Approach to Professional Development
The Director of KIT's new National Training Center on Inclusion (NTCI) will demonstrate KIT's eLearning process and teach providers how to use distance learning in combination with live training and other professional development experiences to support a highly-trained staff.
Accommodations for Children with Autism
This workshop will equip providers with the tools needed to successfully include children with autism spectrum disorders in out-of-school time programs. Participants will learn the “bare facts” about autism and dispel the myths, and learn how to provide environmental and interpersonal accommodations for children with autism. The workshop also presents ways to develop strategies that support positive behavior, communication and sensory needs, as well as meaningful inclusion.
Creating an Ability Awareness Celebration
This session will provide tips and techniques for creating an ability awareness celebration in your setting that is both dignifying and empowering. Use the information provided to create an event, or to infuse ability awareness into your program on a daily basis.
Examining the Physical and Sensory Environment
This workshop will focus on aspects related to the physical and sensory environment in out-of-school time programs. Participants will have a chance to experience different environments, discover environmental influences on behavior, and gain strategies for designing a supportive environment. Ideas for how to make environmental accommodations for children with and without disabilities will be presented.
Including Children with Low Vision
Discover how a child with low vision (below 20/50 acuity) sees, plays, and learns in different ways. Walk away with strategies to help other children become inclusive peers to children with low vision. Discuss the trials and successes of trying to include children with visual impairments in your own program.
Inclusive Outdoor Programs and Activities
In this active session for program leaders, you will experience fun and functional inclusive activities that can be done indoors or out. Learn more about inclusive leadership techniques, universal program design, and the nuts and bolts of some simple accommodations for accessibility from Kate Gottlieb, Disabilities Consultant for Girl Scouts of America and Amy Sandeen, Youth and Family Program Coordinator for Wilderness Inquiry. Take away tools and knowledge that you can use in your programs.
Introduction to Inclusion
This training is provided as an overview of inclusion, and is the first module in KIT’s Opening Doors to Inclusive Programs Series. The objective is to provide the participant with a basis of the history of support for children with disabilities and with a philosophy of inclusion. Person-first language and the benefits of inclusion are also covered. If you are new to inclusion, this is the session for you!
Journey to Inclusion: Braxton’s Story
This workshop will outline the inclusion process for Braxton, who experiences autism, and the impact his journey has in his community. This presentation will include challenges, successes and strategies that are helpful in many settings. Hear about the journey from an Inclusion Consultant and YMCA provider who have worked together to include many children in community programs.
Make and Take Accommodations
Making your program accessible to children with disabilities requires creative and responsive accommodations. This workshop will provide insight into what constitutes a “respectful accommodation.” A discussion about different types of accommodations will be accompanied by concrete examples from the field using inexpensive and easy to obtain materials. Participants will leave this hands-on workshop with a sample accommodation kit to take back to their programs.
Partnering with Community and Families: A Model for Supporting Inclusion in Early Childhood and School Age Settings
This presentation will focus on the consultation and training model used by Community Partnerships, Inc. in North Carolina to build the capacity of providers to support children with special needs in two distinct communities. Individualized consultation and training are integrated into each program’s structure; ensuring inclusive practices are a natural part of programming.
Partnering with Funders for Inclusive Outcomes
Community organizations can serve as unique funders and supporters for inclusive youth programming. This session will focus on the distinctive collaboration between Lanterman Regional Center, a state funded disability case management agency and Kids Included Together Los Angeles. This partnership supports training and technical assistance in youth programs in diverse communities, as well as continually developing case management practices at the regional center that support inclusion.
Supporting Social-Emotional Needs
Children with social-emotional disorders often experience instability in their moods, energy, thinking and behavior. Some children experience difficulty in a group setting, and there are ways to support these children. The out-of-school time setting is an ideal place to implement stress, relaxation, and behavior support techniques. Specific techniques for supporting children with social-emotional challenges and strategies for facilitating healthy social interactions will be discussed.
Talking Inclusion with the Disability Funders Network
Representatives from three foundations who are part of the Disability Funders Network will participate on a panel with their grantees. This workshop will be simulcast as a teleconference with participants calling in with questions from all over the country. The focus of the session will be on collaboration between funders and non-profits serving children with disabilities. A great way to learn what foundations value!
The Care and Feeding of One’s Self
Staff working in the human service field tend to utilize most of their talent and energy in assisting others resulting in insufficient time to take care of personal needs. Working in the child care field can be stressful as well. This interactive workshop assists participants to explore and set personal goals for better balance.
Transforming Our Passion into Organizational Buy-In: How It is Working at the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park
Come join in on a lively discussion with the Access Advisory Group from the San Diego Zoo. Together we’ll explore the journey to move an organization from a grass roots movement of inclusion, to a sustaining corporate value that becomes instinctive to the entire staff. Expect some laughter and emotion as this group shares some of the practical tools and strategies they developed along the way. Be ready to share your challenges and victories too!
Experience the Many Benefits of Inclusive Yoga
This experiential workshop will demonstrate ways to include and adapt Yoga style activities for children of ALL abilities in out-of-school time programs. Yoga is a fun way to encourage children to exercise and promote wellness. It’s also a great way to promote gross and fine motor coordination. Participants will also get to experience some of the many benefits for themselves and relax as the workshop winds down.
Facilitating Preschool Friendships through Movement and Meaningful Play
Come and join experienced occupational and physical therapists for many ideas about including ALL children together through movement and meaningful play activities. Using a dynamic PowerPoint filled with children “in action”, the presenters will demonstrate cooperative art projects, games, and other activities. Session participants will also have the opportunity to experience some interactive movement activities.
