Strategies for Achieving Broad-based Diversity

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Strategies for Achieving Broad-based Diversity

• ADD Perspectives
• Jennifer G. Johnson, Ed.D.

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ADDs Perspective on Diversity

• Extremely important
• One of the elements for defining excellence
• Required by DD Act

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DD Act of 2000Section 101(a) Findings

• (8) there is a need to ensure that services,
  supports, and other assistance are provided in a
  culturally competent manner, that ensures that
  individuals from racial and ethnic minority
  backgrounds are fully included in all activities
  provided under this title
• (15) there needs to be greater effort to recruit
  individuals from minority backgrounds into
  professions serving individuals with
  developmental disabilities and their families

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DD Act of 2000Section 101(b) Purpose

• PURPOSE. -The purpose of this title is to assure
  that individuals with developmental disabilities
  and their families participate in the design of
  and have access to needed community services,
  individualized supports, and other forms of
  assistance that promote self-determination,
  independence, productivity, and integration and
  inclusion in all facets of community life,
  through culturally competent programs authorized
  under this title,

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DD Act of 2000Section 101(c) Policy

• (4) services, supports, and other assistance
  should be provided in a manner that demonstrates
  respect for individual dignity, personal
  preferences, and cultural differences
• (5) specific efforts must be made to ensure that
  individuals with developmental disabilities from
  racial and ethnic minority backgrounds and their
  families enjoy increased and meaningful
  opportunities to access and use community
  services, individualized supports, and other
  forms of assistance available to other
  individuals with developmental disabilities and
  their families
• (6) recruitment efforts in disciplines related to
  developmental disabilities relating to
  pre-service training, community training,
  practice, administration, and policymaking must
  focus on bringing larger numbers of racial and
  ethnic minorities into the disciplines in order
  to provide appropriate skills, knowledge, role
  models, and sufficient personnel to address the
  growing needs of an increasingly diverse
  population

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DD Act of 2000Section 102 Definitions

• (7) CULTURALLY COMPETENT.-The term ''culturally
  competent'', used with respect to services,
  supports, or other assistance, means services,
  supports, or other assistance that is conducted
  or provided in a manner that is responsive to the
  beliefs, interpersonal styles, attitudes,
  language, and behaviors of individuals who are
  receiving the services, supports, or other
  assistance, and in a manner that has the greatest
  likelihood of ensuring their maximum
  participation in the program involved.

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DD Act of 2000Section 102 Definitions

• (32) UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED. -The term
  ''unserved and underserved'' includes populations
  such as individuals from racial and ethnic
  minority backgrounds, disadvantaged individuals,
  individuals with limited English proficiency,
  individuals from underserved geographic areas
  (rural or urban), and specific groups of
  individuals within the population of individuals
  with developmental disabilities, including
  individuals who require assistive technology in
  order to participate in and contribute to
  community life.

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DD Act of 2000Section 154 Applications

• (E) establish a consumer advisory committee (iii)
  that reflects the racial and ethnic diversity of
  the State

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ADD Perspectives on Diversity

• Expect UCEDDs to demonstrate in various ways that
  they are engaging people from racially and
  ethnically diverse backgrounds in meaningful ways
  in the work of the UCEDD.

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ADD Perspectives on Diversity

• Examine strategies implemented
• Crossing cultural barriers
• Clearly defining diverse populations and in turn,
  how that definition defines the UCEDD

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ADD Visions for the Future of the UCEDD Network

• Diversity is a natural part of the UCEDD
  operations
• UCEDDs have racial and ethnic diversity in
• staff
• faculty
• partners
• UCEDD directors are a more diverse racially and
  ethnically group of leaders
• UCEDDs are viewed as diversity experts

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Challenges

• Recruitment practices
• Search committees
• Knowing which strategies work

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Opportunities

• AUCD Technical Assistance Contract
• Minority Partnership Grants
• Focus on Knowledge Exchange and Transfer
• Must partner with a recognized Minority Serving
  Institution unique to the UCEDD Network
• Applications due July 20