Learning Library for Parents
Webinars & Past Events
Education Week: Disability & BIPOC Youth in the Week of the Young Child
On April 5th, 2022, Easterseals and Education Week hosted a candid conversation on health and education equity, and the disparities amongst young children of color in observance of the Week of the Young Child and Autism Acceptance Month. Speakers include: Erika Watson, Donna Davidson, Carol Watson, Paula Pompa-Craven, and Simeon K. Sessley.
Education Week: Addressing Needs at the Intersection of Race and Disability
Students with disabilities, especially students of color, have long faced myriad challenges in navigating classrooms, Individualized Education Program (IEP) protocols, and advocating for their needs across the education system. The Easterseals Collaborative on Racialized Disabilities (CORD) initiative is developing solutions to address these disparities through advocacy and action by developing effective, culturally appropriate resources to support students with disabilities – from cradle to college or career – at the intersection of disability and race. Easterseals is committed to closing the gaps in educational attainment, health, and social wellbeing by enriching education and ensuring equitable access to opportunity for these students by elevating the cultural competence of parents, educators, advocates, and practitioners that love and support students of color. Easterseals National Director of Child Development, Education, and Equity Erika Watson was joined by representatives from the National Education Association (NEA) and CORD in this insightful discussion.
Training for Parents and Advocates: Easterseals and researchers at the Collaborate on Racialized Disability (CORD) are offering a free, online training to serve families of Black youth with disabilities through special education advocacy. This training is for special education advocates and parents looking to understand how anti-Black racism interferes with educational supports. The curriculum also explores services for Black students with disabilities. Sign up here.
Did you know?
- Black children with autism are less likely to be identified at an early age, according to research by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Black children with autism were five times as likely to have been misdiagnosed with behavior disorders.
- Parents of Black children in special education programs often do not know their rights in negotiating Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or representing their interests during IEP meetings with their school district.
- Black parents that suspect that their child may not be developing on par with their peers can have a difficult time securing appropriate educational and medical resources to address their concerns.
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