The document summarizes a presentation given at the 2009 Michigan Superconference titled "Taking the Journey of Inclusion in Your Non-Profit Organization". The presentation discussed the benefits of including people with disabilities in nonprofit organizations. It provided strategies for recruitment and ensuring the successful inclusion of people with disabilities. It also shared experiences from disability training done with Michigan's AmeriCorps members. The presenters emphasized that organizations are more effective when they have staff and members with disabilities, as people with disabilities bring unique experiences and perspectives.

1. 1 Michigan Superconference 2009, McAdam, McCreedy, DiverseAbility LLC
Michigan Superconference, 2009
Taking the Journey of Inclusion in Your Non-Profit Organization
Cathy McAdam, Kathy McCreedy, DiverseAbility LLC
Abstract- People with disabilities bring unique life experiences and perspectives which
positively impact the quality of services provided by nonprofit organizations. In this
interactive session, participants will learn about and share their own experiences of
inclusion of people with disabilities in their organizations. The presenters will share
experiences from disability training they have done with Michigan’s AmeriCorps
members, emphasizing the value of inclusion in an organization, as well as the challenges
an organization may face as they move along the journey of inclusion. Building
community relationships is critical to successful recruiting and to supporting the success
of individuals with disabilities who join your organization.
Hand-out
Title - Embracing the Talent and Diversity that People with Disabilities Bring to Our
Organizations
At top- DiverseAbility, Three Overlapping Circles- Awareness, Experience, Valuing
People with Disabilities
Our mission
The Question: How would we be a more effective organization if we had more staff and
members with disabilities?
Down left hand side of page, categories are:
Make the commitment; Think about your culture; Position or job descriptions;
Recruiting; Prepare for success; Disclosure, Accommodations, and Undisclosed
Disabilities; Learn as you go.
Slides
On each slide, in the bottom left hand corner is the Michigan’s AmeriCorps logo and in
the bottom right hand corner is the DiverseAbility logo.
Slide 1
DiverseAbility
Integrate diverse individuals
Creating corporate success employee growth
Creating organization success and individual growth
Michigan Community Service Commission Statewide Inclusion Team
Promotes and supports full participation of people with disabilities
in all aspects of national service programs through collaboration between individuals
with disabilities; disability advocacy and service organizations; and Michigan's national
service programs.
DiverseAbility is a registered service mark of DiverseAbility LLC
© 2009 McCreedy, McAdam All rights reserved

2. 2 Michigan Superconference 2009, McAdam, McCreedy, DiverseAbility LLC
Slide 2
Embracing the Talent and Diversity People with Disabilities
People with disabilities bring unique life experiences and perspectives, both of which
positively impact the diversity and quality of services provided by nonprofit
organizations.
Using a partnership with Michigan’s AmeriCorps as an example, this workshop will
provide information about the benefits of inclusion, outreach strategies, and how to
assure successful inclusion of people with disabilities in the organization.
Slide 3
Our Fundamental Belief
You will better achieve your organization’s mission when you have volunteers, service
members, and staff members with disabilities
Purpose of this workshop
You’ll discover some new ideas that may help you achieve more successful inclusion of
people with disabilities in your organization.
Slide 4
Three Overlapping Circles- Awareness, Experience, Valuing People with Disabilities
Slide 5
Disability Culture- Dr. Carol Gill, U-Il, Chicago
The elements of our culture include, certainly,
our longstanding social oppression,
but also our emerging art and humor,
our piecing together of our history,
our evolving language and symbols,
our remarkably unified worldview, beliefs and values,
and our strategies for surviving and thriving.
Slides 6 & 7
Disability Culture- Alternative Core Values
Dr. Carol Gill, U-Il, Chicago
http://www.independentliving.org/docs3/gill1995.html
quot;Values that undergird our political struggles,
that are reflected in our art, conversations, goals and behaviors.quot;
1) An acceptance of human differences (e.g., physical, functional, racial,
intellectual, economic/class).
2) A matter-of-fact orientation toward helping; an acceptance of human
vulnerability and interdependence as part of life.
3) A tolerance for lack of resolution, for dealing with the unpredictable
and living with unknowns or less-than-desired outcomes.
4) Disability humor - the ability to laugh at the oppressor and our own
situations, to find something absurdly hilarious in almost anything, however
dire.
5) Skill in managing multiple problems, systems, technology and assistants.
DiverseAbility is a registered service mark of DiverseAbility LLC
© 2009 McCreedy, McAdam All rights reserved

3. 3 Michigan Superconference 2009, McAdam, McCreedy, DiverseAbility LLC
6) A sophisticated future orientation; an ability to construct complex plans
taking into account multiple contingencies and realistically anticipated
obstacles.
7) A carefully honed capacity for closure in interpersonal communication;
the ability to read others' attitudes and conflicts in order to sort out,
fill in the gaps and grasp the latent meaning in contradictory social
messages.
8) A flexible, adaptive approach to tasks; a creativity stimulated by both
limited resources and experience with untraditional modes of operating.
Slide 8
Project Implicit logo
Implicit biases are pervasive.
People are often unaware of their implicit biases.
Implicit biases predict behavior.
People differ in levels of implicit bias.
Implicit biases vary from person to person - for example as a function of the person’s
group memberships, the dominance of a person’s membership group in society,
consciously held attitudes, and the level of bias existing in the immediate environment.
This last observation makes clear that implicit attitudes are modified by experience.
http://www.projectimplicit.net/generalinfo.php
Slide 9
Diversity helps you achieve your mission
1. Organizations will be positively changed when people with disabilities are in all roles-
volunteers, service members, staff, and leadership.
2. Increased success when organizations reflect the groups they are serving.
3. People with disabilities bring unique strengths, skills, and perspectives to the
workplace, reflecting the core values of disability culture.
4. Disability pride developed in youth is a keystone to future success--is this important to
your organization?
Slide 10
Disability Outreach
Make the commitment
Think about your culture
Review descriptions of your service opportunities or jobs
Recruiting
Prepare for success
Disclosure, Accommodations, and Undisclosed Disabilities
Learn as you go
DiverseAbility is a registered service mark of DiverseAbility LLC
© 2009 McCreedy, McAdam All rights reserved

4. 4 Michigan Superconference 2009, McAdam, McCreedy, DiverseAbility LLC
Slide 11
At top, Corporation for Community and National Service and NSIP logos; picture of
Antoinette with workgroup
Antoinette Adkins, Downriver CARES AmeriCorps
“My first challenge was to pick a placement that could accommodate me. Fortunately,
there were many to choose from. With the help of a great program director, I was able
meet the challenge head on and find incredible placements! I have enjoyed being a part of
the AmeriCorps family. Serving adults with various severe mental illnesses - teaching
them life skills - has increased my desire to go back to school to achieve my Ph.D. I have
formed friendships I never expected, helping me to grow and learn about myself too!
AmeriCorps is an experience I will never forget.”
Slide 12
Membership diversity training that includes disability issues promotes awareness - we
need to move beyond awareness - interactive exercises are key.
Building community relationships are key for recruitment and ongoing support for
members with disabilities, service teams, and management.
Awareness, values, and experiences are fluid, impacting each of us throughout the
journey.
Vision - Members with disabilities make the commitment to service and move into
organizational leadership.
Slide 13- Contact info
www.DiverseAbility.com
Cathy McAdam and Ginger
mcmcadam@comcast.net
313-563-1412
Kathy McCreedy
kmmccreedy@chartermi.net
989-631-8867
Megan Sargent
Training and Inclusion Coordinator
Michigan Community Service Commission
sargentm1@michigan.gov
(517) 241-3494
MCSC Statewide Inclusion Team
http://www.michigan.gov/mcsc/0,1607,7-137-8074_22503---,00.html
DiverseAbility is a registered service mark of DiverseAbility LLC
© 2009 McCreedy, McAdam All rights reserved