Welcome!!
Inclusive Leadership in Action
Please Stand by for the Presenters
Pennsylvania’s University Center for Excellence
in Developmental Disabilities
Education, Research and Service
VISION
A society where all people are valued and
respected, and where all people have the
knowledge, opportunity and power to improve
their lives and the lives of others.
MISSION
The Institute on Disabilities leads by example,
creating connections and promoting networks
within and among communities so that people
with disabilities are recognized as integral to
the fabric of community life.
Today’s Webinar
How to Accommodate Individuals with Disabilities on Your
Board of Directors
Kathy Miller, Director of Community Services
Jaclyn Nagle, Children and Youth Services Coordinator
Abilities in Motion, Reading, PA
Lynette Savoy, Vice President, Speaking for Ourselves
Diversity Includes Disability
Webinar Series
A three part program designed to support meaningful connections
and leadership opportunities between individuals with disabilities
and your Board of Directors.
Considering Individuals with Disabilities as
Members of your Board of Directors
0
Guy Caruso, Ph.D., Western Coordinator
John Tague, JT Consulting
disabilities.temple.edu/programs/leadership/ilia.shtml
Diversity Includes Disability
Webinar Series Part 3
Creating a successful group culture on your
Board of Directors
Registration Link:
http://ow.ly/LAZxw
Greg Crowley, Ph. D and Una Martone
June 10, 2015
12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Housekeeping Issues
Please type your questions in the
Chat box section found on the
lower right hand corner of the
screen.
Housekeeping Issues
We will answer your questions at
the end of the Webinar.
Please take a few moments at the end of the
webinar…….
…to complete this brief
evaluation.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ILAAccommodate
Thank you!
Inclusive Leadership in Action (ILA)
The vision of the ILA project is that community
organizations include qualified individuals with
disabilities as fully participating members of their
decision-making bodies, boards and committees.
Inclusive Leadership in Action (ILA)
The mission of ILA is to identify, develop and
disseminate evidence-based resources, materials
and techniques on including individuals with
disabilities to decision making bodies of
community organizations.
Inclusive Leadership in Action (ILA)
This Project is funded by the Pennsylvania
Developmental Disabilities Council.
Inclusive Leadership in Action (ILA)
Technical assistance will be provided to community organizations in order to :
• recruit,
• promote and
• sustain qualified individuals with disabilities
as fully participating members of their decision making bodies, boards and
committees.
ILA Community Partners
Self-Advocates United as 1
Leadership Harrisburg
The Coro Center for Civic
Leadership: Pittsburgh
JT Consulting Services
ILA Group Model Structure
ILA’s Advisory Committee and Work Group structure is
designed to:
• Model successful diverse decision making; and
• Demonstrate the value of individuals with disabilities
actively participating and serving as leaders on decision
making bodies.
ILA Advisory Committee and Work Groups
The Advisory Committee is comprised of 16 individuals
from across Pennsylvania representing:
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Community Leadership Development Organizations
Disability Organizations
Disability Leaders
Board Members of community organizations
50% of ILA Committee members are individuals
experiencing disabilities
Presentation Objectives
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Define accommodations
Illustrate some typical accommodations
Highlight Personal Stories
Discuss Low-cost accommodations
Discuss why accommodations assist all board
members
Accommodations
There’s No Need To Be Awkward Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=UUrd8W0u23ND2XxxjqHq5-aA&v=Gv1aDEFlXq8
odr.dc.gov
WHAT IS AN ACCOMMODATION?
Accommodations are any modification,
change or adjustment made to an
environment to support individuals with
disabilities so they can fully participate
with their contemporaries on a decision
making body such as a committee, work
group or an Organization’s Board of
Directors.
Accommodations Are Good Business
• The Willingness to Accommodate People:
– Attracts Diverse Board Members
– Enhances Community Presence
– Increases Board Sensitivity
Jackie’s Story
Jackie’s Story
Served on many boards as a member and president:
Therapeutic Horse
National Independent Living Council Committees
Board President Project Reach
Board President Miss Wheelchair Pennsylvania
Accommodations I Provided to Others
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Preparing minutes and agendas ahead of time
Communication via email
Small breaks in the meeting (3-5 minutes)
Reading the information on handouts aloud
Some Accommodations for Me
• Larger computer screen that allows:
– Reading of minutes
– Effective use of a web-based “meeting” that
fosters participation from a remote location
More Accommodations…
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Distance participation
Conference calls
Wheelchair access
Higher tables (to allow wheelchair to fit
under)
• Email reminders
Examples of Accommodations from Job
Accommodation Network (JAN )
The following situations are examples of
accommodations made for board members
across a wide array of Businesses and
Community Organizations
Situation & Solution
• Situation : The Facility for board member
meetings had an accessible restroom;
however, a board member with post-polio
syndrome has weakness on her left side and
requested that an additional grab bar be
installed.
Situation & Solution
• Solution: The board worked with the facility
manager and had the extra grab bar installed.
• Reported cost: $30
Situation & Solution
• Situation: A board member with cancer was
having difficulty working full-time and
attending meetings due to fatigue.
Situation & Solution
• Solution: As a reasonable accommodation,
the board allowed her to attend board
meetings at home via Skype.
• No cost.
Situation & Solution
• Situation: A board member was having
difficulty sitting for long periods due to his
back impairment.
Situation & Solution
• Solution: The board purchased an ergonomic
chair and a foot rest.
• Reported cost: $300.
Situation & Solution
• Situation: A board member with low vision
needed access to documents submitted for
review.
Situation & Solution
• Solution: The board required that the
documents be submitted ahead of time to the
board member in electronic format so that
they could be converted to large print.
• No cost.
Situation & Solution
Job Accommodation Network
http://AskJAN.org/media/lowcosthighimpact.html
Lynette’s story
Lynette’s story
• Served on the following Boards as a member
and president:
– Speaking for Ourselves President
– Pennsylvania’s Office of Developmental Programs
Planning Advisory Committee
– Philadelphia’s Behavioral Health and IDS Public
Awareness Committee
Lynette’s story
• Requested accommodations:
– Meals (Help getting food from Buffets and/or
cutting meat)
– Transportation Reimbursement
– Materials given ahead of time to Review
– Assistance before and After the meeting to
prepare for the meeting and for follow up
assignments after the meeting
Low Tech Accommodations
Handheld magnifier
Pen & pencil Grips
Sloped writing Board
Low Tech Accommodations
Some low technology accommodations:
• Handheld Magnifier
• Provide easy grip pens and pencils
• Provide materials in large print
Low Tech Accommodations
Some low technology accommodations:
• Clip on Book light for folks that have low
vision
• Provide Microphone
No Tech Accommodations
A few things to consider that require little
effort:
• Remove Chair from the Board Table
• Move barriers such as chairs and boxes to create
an accessible path of travel
• Seat Individuals with a disability near the door
• Elevate an existing table so that a person using a
wheelchair has easy access
Mentoring Tips
• Mentor can be a more senior board member
• Shadowing committee before full board
membership
• Person directs the accommodations
Accommodations
are
GOOD BUSINESS!
Accommodations are Good Business
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The Majority are Low Cost
Directed by the Person
May change over time
Set a Positive Example and a Powerful
Message
Accommodations are Good Business
• Enhances the Diversity of Decision Making by :
– Creating Responsiveness & Open-Mindedness
– Increases Better Strategic Decision-making
– Improves the Ability to Attract & Retain Talent
– Advances varying Opinions, Approaches,
Attitudes & Solutions
Questions
Diversity Includes Disability Webinar Series
Archived Webinar :
Considering Individuals with Disabilities as
Members of your Board of Directors
Diversity Includes Disability Webinar Series
Creating a Successful Group
Culture on your Board of
Directors
June 10, 2015, 12 to 1:00 PM
http://ow.ly/LAZxw
Please take a few moments at the end of the
webinar…….
…to complete this brief
evaluation.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ILAAccommodate
Thank you!
For more information about ILA
Contact:
Denise Beckett
ILA Project Coordinator
215-204-4979 (voice)
215-204-1805 (TTY)
215-204-6336 (FAX)
Denise.Beckett@temple.edu
disabilities.temple.edu/programs/leadership/ilia.shtml