Disability, Diversity, and Intersectionality in CILs: Creating a Welcoming and Supportive CIL for Diverse Populations (1.5 Hours)

Training Source: 
ILRU
Presenter(s): 
Stanley A. Holbrook
Lee Schulz
Kim Gibson
Beginning Date: 
09/25/2018
End Date: 
09/25/2018
Type of Training: 
On-demand

About the Training

The fourth webinar in a series will continue sharing the findings of the Disability, Diversity, and Intersectionality (DDI) in CILs study conducted by Independent Living Research Utilization (ILRU). The study named nine centers for independent living, chosen from several dozen nominated by their peers, as making progress in how they are designing, implementing, and evaluating culturally and linguistically competent policies and practices to improve services, programs, and outreach.

Leaders at each of the nine CILs are quick to say that they do not consider themselves experts. They recognize that we’re all learning together—but they are eager to share what they have learned with other centers and to continue learning in return.

How your center "feels" to someone when they come in the door will likely determine whether they come back a second time or decide to get involved in any activities you are sponsoring. And what they share with others about how welcoming the CIL is, may well play a role in future referrals.

  • Do they see other consumers who look like themselves and speak their language?
  • Do they have access to translation from staff members or through virtual technologies?
  • Do the pictures, posters, and written materials in the CIL reflect diverse cultures and languages?
  • Do they feel respected and welcomed by the CIL’s staff/volunteers across all of their social identities (racial, ethnic, religious, language, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability)?
  • Are the CIL’s staff and board members consistently visible participants in multi-cultural and social justice community events and organizations?
  • Does the CIL advertise its alliances with the community’s racial, cultural and social justice organizations?

Two of the CILs who are highlighted in the case studies will share their successes and challenges and the progress they’ve made to date.

Join us for this timely exploration of the American (and CIL) journey through a cultural revolution. To learn more about the Disability, Diversity, and Intersectionality in CILs project, check out ILRU’s website at www.CIL-diversity.org.

Target Audience

CIL board members, executive directors, program managers, and IL services and advocacy staff.

Learning Objectives

What You Will Learn:

  • What cultural and linguistic diversity means.
  • What can be done in the physical environment of a CIL to convey a welcoming atmosphere to racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse populations.
  • How to get buy-in from your staff and board, and support them in their proficiency.
  • Some unique considerations.
  • Adaptations that can be done to your CIL.
  • Tips and strategies.

View the Training (01:30:56)

Transcript and Resources

Other Training and Publications on Inclusion and Diversity