True Inclusion for Individuals with Disabilities and/or Special Health Care Needs
The how, when, & why to making inclusion work for you and your family.
March 16th, 2022 via Zoom
Sessions will be recorded and available for viewing after the conference.
Parent Panel
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Join us to have a conversation with 4 parents who have worked to get their children included in school and community.
“Building a Roadmap for an Inclusive Life”
Dan and Samuel Habib
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Before Samuel Habib was diagnosed with a disability at age 1, the Habib family rarely thought about the inclusion of people with disabilities. Since then, they have advocated for Samuel’s inclusion nearly every day in their schools, city, and even in their extended family. Now Samuel is leading the advocacy charge for his own life. Samuel, 21, is a student at his local community college in Concord, New Hampshire. In high school, Samuel was on the school yearbook staff, the school television station, and played Unified Sports track, basketball, and soccer. Samuel is working towards a career as a multi-media storyteller in film and other mediums. Yet he still faces challenges on many levels due to his rare GNAO1 neurodevelopmental disorder, including periodic seizures, movement disorders, hospitalizations, fatigue and the inaccessible homes of his extended family and friends.
Samuel and Dan Habib will share a short preview of their new work-in-progress film, the Disability Road Map, and discuss how they have tried to build a culture of inclusion in their family, school district, and community, and plan for a full adult life as Samuel enters his 20’s.
Disability Road Map film summary: Samuel Habib, a young man with complex disabilities, navigates the path to work, college, relationships, and moving out of his family home, while he seeks out wisdom from a diverse mix of remarkable people across the country.
When Academics Become a Barrier to Inclusion
Dr. Kate MacLeod
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Kate is an Assistant Professor of Special Education at the University of Maine at Farmington and a charter member of Maine Coalition for Inclusive Education. A former high school special education teacher in New York City, she has expertise working with adolescent students with complex support needs. She is an educational consultant who works with schools and families to create more inclusive practices for all. Her research is focused on best practices for the inclusion for students with complex support needs and understanding the culture of inclusive schools.
When Behavior Becomes a Barrier to Inclusion
Courtney Angelosante
2:45 pm – 3:45 PM
Courtney is the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) initiative coordinator with the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Maine. Courtney is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with experience teaching elementary education and special education. Before joining the faculty at UMaine, she spent years as district level behavior consult.
Learn about Assistive Technology which can create better inclusive opportunities.
MaineCite
4:00 PM -5:00 PM
MaineCite is the Maine Department of Education’s program designed to help make assistive technology more available to Maine children, adults and seniors who need them. Assistive Technology (A.T.) is any device, piece of equipment or product that makes it easier for someone with a disability to live more independently and safely, work at a job, learn in school, get about their community or pursue play and leisure.