over the rainbow: the lgbtqia idd - movement comes out …...over the rainbow: the lgbtqia idd -...

Over the Rainbow: The LGBTQIA - IDD Movement Comes Out Of The Closet!

NACDD Conference – July 2018Follow us on Facebook @PrideAbility

• Rick Banner, Advocacy Coordinator, People Inc• Alex Jusko, Advocate, People Inc• Claire Miller, Advocacy Coordinator, Family Residences and

Essential Enterprises, Inc.• Dennis Murphy, Advocate, Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc.

rideAbility Team

Claire Miller, Advocacy Coordinator Dennis Murphy, Advocate and President

FREE To BE, Western LI & Queens

2010

Rick Banner, Advocacy Coordinator Alex Jusko, Advocate and President

20182013

Matthew Kuriloff, Advocacy CoordinatorEast End Disability Associates

Eastern Long Island GSA2015

Advocate

Marching in PRIDE Parade every year in June.

FREE To BE invites internal and external advocac groups to join our monthly meetings.

Educate

Educational trip to LGBT landmark Stonewall Inn with informational

session and personal story shared by former FREE Support Team Member,

Shane Fallacara.

Support Team member’s mother shared her personal story and the meaning behind the LGBT Pride

Rainbow.

Celebrate

FREE To BE has fun at LGBT Network’s Gala celebrating

partnership.

EEDA & FREE celebrate the first Eastern Long Island GSA

meeting.

ARTNERS

5 Year State Plan

1 - Help build the capacity of and connection between current and future Disability LGBTQ advocacy and support groups.

2 - Educate and train support team members, people with disabilities, and families about sexuality and being LGBTQ with a disability.

3 - Support inclusive community and social opportunities for those with disabilities who identify as LGBTQ.

1st Area of Work

#1 - Help build the capacity of and connection between current and future Disability LGBTQ advocacy and support

groups.- Outreach to Provider agencies, Regional Pride Centers and OPWDD;

- Assemble a consortium of agencies working with the LGBTQ community and advocates to discuss establishing organizations and offering peer-to-peer support.

- Establish Informational Social Media/Website.

People IncBuffalo

Albany Law School

PrideAbility Outreach

2nd & 3rd Areas of Work

2 - Educate and train support team members, people with disabilities, and families about sexuality and being LGBTQ with a disability.

3 - Support inclusive community and social opportunities for those with disabilities who

identify as LGBTQ.

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK

@prideability

Contact Information

Claire B. MillerAdvocacy CoordinatorFamily Residences & Essential Enterprises, Inc.191 Sweet Hollow RoadOld Bethpage, NY 11804(516) 870-1645CMiller02@familyres.orgwww.familyres.org

Matthew KuriloffAdvocacy CoordinatorEast End Disability Associates, Inc.107 Roanoke AvenueRiverhead, NY 11901(631) 461-8322MatthewK@eed-a.orgwww.eed-a.org

Rick BannerAdvocacy CoordinatorPeople, Inc.533 Tenth St., Suite 100ANiagara Falls, NY 14301(716) 247-1382 Rbanner@people-inc.orgwww.people-inc.org

Creating Community & Inclusion for LGBTQ Adults with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities

Presenters: Jamece Agnew (Ambassador)Eddie Harriel (Ambassador)

Marie A Gandy (Project Manager)

Welcome &

Introductions

Poll: Have you had any experience working with LGBTQ adults who also have I/DD in your current agency?

Objectives:

● Project overview

● Learn about barriers to inclusion for people with I/DD who identify as

LGBTQ

● Testimonial from a Proud & Included Ambassador

● Discuss inclusion as it relates to this population

● Practical tips for agencies, staff and family members

● Resources for support

Proud & Included Partners:

Sprout ● Build community with people labeled with intellectual

disabilities across Ontario

● Provide education & support to providers & educators

● Improve best practices

● Link sexuality, gender and critical disability perspectives

Just like anyone else, people with developmental disabilities have the right to:

● Sexuality and sexual expression

● Dignity and respect

● Privacy, confidentiality and freedom of association

● Access to sexual education reflective of their cultural, religious and

moral values

● 74% of people with developmental disabilities do not have knowledge

of LGBTQ issues, and that 70% have been shown to have negative

attitudes towards individuals who identify as LGBTQ

● Many people with developmental disabilities who identify as LGBTQ

have difficulty accepting their identify

● Many staff supporting people with developmental disabilities do not

feel comfortable or equipped in discussing sexuality

● Many people still assume people with developmental disabilities are

asexual

● Suicidality and mental health issues are seen more commonly in

LGBTQ+ youth than heterosexual youth

McCann, E., Lee, R., & Brown, M. (2016). The experiences and support needs of people with intellectual disabilities who identify as LGBT: A review of the literature. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 57, 39-53.

Proud & Included Overview: ➔ Serving LGBTQ adults in Cook County with

Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDD)

● Outreach and Engagement● Community Building● Community Education

Overview Continued● Meetings● Self Advocacy Training● Resource Education and Utilization● Community Inclusion Training● Inclusive Event Participation● Volunteerism

1st Annual P&I Stats

● 152 Participants

● 13 pending

● 9 Ambassadors total

● 3 Ambassadors currently

● 37 Trained Self-advocates

● 263 Allies

● 27 LGBTQ events

● 32 LGBTQ organizations

or groups have received

inclusion training

Long-term Project Goals: ● Seek 4 Year Plan for funding

● Replicable (Other counties in IL, nationwide)

● Year 2: Intensive work with 20+ Self-Advocates on

intimate longterm relationships with desired LGBTQ

organizations of choice

● Year 4: Fully managed by Self-Advocates

● LGBTQ/IDD Community Based Service Center

What Does Inclusion Look Like?● People with IDD participating in LGBTQ events

and programs● Using the services of LGBTQ providers● Joining other LGBTQ people as equals in the

social, cultural, and economic activities that happen every day in the LGBTQ community

Andersonville Midsommarfest/Equality Rally

Disability Pride Parade

Present at ICDD Conference

Rebirth Garments

Inclusion Training

Speak Up Speak Out Summit

Poll: What do you think the biggest barrier to inclusion is for this population?

Barriers to Inclusion: ● Employment/Limited Financial Resources

● Harassment/Bullying/Shaming

● Accessibility (refused services)

● Equal protection

● Guardianship/Care Givers Conflicting Belief System

● Invisibility in the LGBTQ Community

● Transportation

● Knowledge of & Access to Resources

● Lack of sexuality education

Are there any barriers we are missing?

Ambassador Testimonial:

Promoting Inclusion:

Ways to Promote Inclusion at your Agency ● Invite Proud & Included to visit your site, agency,

organization or group for all staff trainings

● Sexuality classes & trainings for the people

● Sexuality classes & trainings for staff

● Fine tune agency protocols & policies

● Implement 0 tolerance policies for

bullying/shaming/violence/harassment

The importance of language...

Language● Be conscious of pronouns… ASK!

● Don’t assume anything

● Recognize your own values about sexuality & own it

Tips for Agencies

● Ask, don’t assume

● Be patient and listen

● Put yourself in their shoes

● Don’t ignore these issues or pass them off as a phase

● Do what it takes to create change in your agency

● Demand professionalism of staff regardless of

personal beliefs

Ideas: ● Share knowledge with someone in your network

● Put knowledge into practice

● Give classes on healthy sexuality & relationships

● Bring in outside trainers

● Partner with Proud & Included

● Bring in Consultants to steer your group/project

Brainstorm!

Speak Up and Speak Out, sharing one bright idea from today’s training that you will implement in the future.

Contact InformationMarie A. Gandy, BASW, QIDP, MHP

Proud & Included Project Manager

Envision Unlimited

Mgandy@neumannfamilyservices.org

708-268-0793

Resources: http://www.proudandincluded.org

Queerability, a LGBTQ and disability rights advocacy organization. You can read more about them on Tumblr:http://queerability.tumblr.com/

Impact newsletter, 2010, article on Coming Out; available here https://ici.umn.edu/products/impact/232/18.html

Impact newsletter, 2010, sidebar about DSPs supporting GLBT individuals; https://ici.umn.edu/products/impact/232/19.html

http://www.icasa.org/index.aspx?pageid=1044

http://griffin-centre.org/reachout.php

https://www.hrc.org/

Thank you!

Questions?