Community Awareness & Outreach Support
Helping our communities become better by including people with developmental and intellectual disabilities through our Achieve with Us campaign targeting community, the Together We’re Better Inclusive Education Awareness Campaign and Poster Contest reaching Maryland State Elementary Schools, and through Special Events. The Arc also educates the greater community on best practices and issues that impact people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
"Together Were Better" is an awareness campaign to assist schools in celebrating the diverse abilities of all students. The Campaign and Poster Contest highlight the importance of providing equal opportunities for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The Campaign and Poster Contest will kick-off in October to celebrate "Disability History & Awareness Month". "Together We're Better" is conducted in partnership with the Maryland State Department of Education, Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council and the Maryland Department of Disabilities.
The Arc Maryland will provide teachers, guidance counselors and other staff suggestions for activities, The Arc Maryland's "R" Word Toolkit, ideas for lesson plans, and book/video recommendations to conduct activities during October.
Classes (grades K-5 only) will be invited to create and submit a poster that demonstrates why inclusion is important and how students with disabilities contribute to their communities in a positive way- or something they have learned during Disability Awareness & History Month activities.
The Arc Maryland wishes to acknowledge our sponsors, especially the Maryland State Department of Education, Maryland Department of Disabilities, Maryland Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education and our planning committee:
The Arc Maryland and Local Chapters
Katie Collins-Ihrke, Advocacy Events Coordinator
Heather East, Director of Campaign Management
Carolyn Fiume, The Arc Central Chesapeake Region
Maryland State Department of Education
Bernard J. Sadusky, State Superintendent of Schools
Karla M. Saval, M.Ed., Interagency Staff Specialist
Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services
Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council
Rachel London, Esq., Director, Children and Family Policy
Maryland Department of Disabilities
Cathy Raggio, Secretary of Disabilities
Rachael Faulkner, Interagency Liaison
Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education
Judith Terle, Family Advisor
"Together We're Better"
Inclusive Education Awareness Campaign and Poster Contest Materials
2011-2012
INCLUSIVE EDUCATION in the LEAST RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENT (LRE)
The individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that students with disabilities be educated to the maximum extent possible with students who are not disabled. Despite this law, many students remain segregated within self-contained classrooms or separate schools, with limited to no opportunities to participate academically and socially in general education classrooms. Many students with disabilities do not have access to the same academic and extracurricular activities and services provides to other students.
"Blueprint on Inclusive Education in Maryland" provides information and recommendations for advocates and families.
See the latest state and national action alerts.
THE "R" WORD TOOLKIT
The Arc Maryland has created a step-by-step guide to planning an interactive student demonstration to help negate the power of the “R” word. This guide can be used by schools or community groups looking for creative ways to address bullying and raise disability awareness. Please CLICK HERE for a copy of Shredding The “R” Word Toolkit. The Arc Maryland staff are available to assist with planning a demonstration and to serve as guest speakers. A copy of the video used during the presentation (“Offense Taken”) may be borrowed at no charge by contacting Katie Collins-Ihrke kihrke@thearcmd.org.
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