Cultural Competence and Inclusion Webinar: Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) 

Apr 29, 2022

Cultural Competence and Inclusion Webinar: Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) 

When: May 11, 2022 7:30-8:30 am  

Please register in advance for this Zoom webinar. 

Disability as a construct has been defined from multiple perspectives. How people with disabilities have been viewed and served throughout Maine and the United States has shifted and changed from living in institutions to living in the community. Many people with I/DD and their families have experienced trauma by the systems that care for them. One way to mitigate the potential for such trauma is to ensure that professionals understand the concepts of civil rights, self-advocacy, and self-determination in relation to disability inequality. Webinar participants will also gain skills to ensure published materials are in plain language and will be introduced to other commonly used communication strategies. 
 
Learning Objectives: 
1. Participants will be educated regarding aspects of the stigma, bias, civil rights movement, self-advocacy, and self-determination related to disability and social inequality. 
2. Participants will learn the basics of developing plain language materials. 
3. Participants will be introduced to commonly used communication strategies such as social stories and Picture Exchange Communication Systems. 

Presenter: Nancy Cronin, Executive Director, Maine Developmental Disabilities Council   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bio: Nancy Cronin is the Executive Director of the Maine Developmental Disabilities Council (MDDC) which she has led for the last 14 years. Nancy has focused on improving healthcare, education, early intervention, and other efforts by facilitating systems change to achieve a cost-effective and efficient comprehensive system of care for persons with DD. Nancy joined the staff of the Maine Developmental Disabilities Council in January 2008, having previously served for over four years as the Executive Director of the Autism Society of Maine.