Section X: Progress Toward Inclusion

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This is a Companion Training Manual to accompany the Corporation for National and Community Service publication Creating an Inclusive Environment: A Handbook for the Inclusion of People with Disabilities in National and Community Service Programs. The Inclusion Handbook is available on-line at www.serviceandinclusion.org, or you may call the National Service Inclusion Project at 888-491-0326 (voice/TTY) or email at nsip@umb.edu.

Overview

Key Words and Terms

  • Accessibility Survey
  • Inclusive Service Environment
  • Interpreter
  • Relay Service
  • TTY/TDD

 

Introduction

Progress towards creating a successful inclusive service environment includes incorporating universal design features into your organization and service program. Universal design allows for the creation of environments that have been built from the ground up to be utilized by everyone. A space is considered universally designed when it is readily available and useable by both people with a wide range of disabilities and people without disabilities.

An universally designed service environment recognizes and uses individual skills and strengthens their abilities. The contents of this section will discuss strategies for developing and expanding inclusion efforts at your organization and national service programs. It supports understanding of a number of ways in which programs can promote and sustain progress in creating inclusive service environments which benefit everyone.

 

Trainer notes

Objectives for this Section

At the completion of this unit, each participant will:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the significance and benefits of developing, sustaining and expanding an inclusive service environment for a universal and diverse workplace
  2. Evaluate inclusion in organizational areas of: physical environment, administration and management, collateral material, recruitment, accommodations, and collaborations
  3. Demonstrate knowledge of and understand the impact of key terms such as Accessibility Survey, Inclusive Service Environment, Interpreter, Relay Service, TTY/TDD.

 

Suggested audiences

  • Members in service
  • Members involved in capacity-building
  • Service and volunteer program managers and staff
  • Organization staff
  • Organization Board of Directors
  • Disability organizations



Visuals and Power Points recommended for this Section

Slides with Notes pages are found at the end of this section.

 

Activities included for this Section

  • Mingo
  • Universal Design in Service Environment
  • Whose Responsibility Is It? Activity

 

Handouts recommended for this Section

  • Ensuring Programmatic and Facility Accessibility
  • Applying Universal Design in Educational Settings
  • Making your Presentations Accessible to Everyone
  • National Service
  • Universal Design Inclusive Policies Fact Sheet
  • Universal Design Principles Fact Sheet
  • Accessibility Checklist

 

Supplies/equipment needed: (e.g. markers, flipcharts, LCD)

Use depends on your personal preferences, availability, and the activities chosen. Each activity lists any unique needs.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How do I get started?
  • How do I know my efforts toward creating an inclusive environment have been successful?
  • What are some ways I can evaluate my progress?

 

Useful references and resources for this section

Assessing the accessibility of your organization

http://www.nationalserviceresources.org/epicenter/practices/index.php?ep...

Tracking the participation of volunteers with disabilities http://www.nationalserviceresources.org/epicenter/practices/index.php?ep...

Preparing people with disabilities for evacuation, shelter, and recovery during national emergencies

http://www.nationalserviceresources.org/epicenter/practices/index.php?ep...

Exit interviews Exit interviews and knowledge transfer -tips for employees and employers, sample questions and answers

http://www.businessballs.com/exitinterviews.htm

 

Helpful hints:

  • Inclusive statements like these indicate an inclusive organizational attitude.
    • “Qualified individuals with disabilities and those from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. We provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals and conduct all activities in fully accessible settings.” Or ­
    • “We are an equal opportunity organization and conduct all of our programs and activities in accessible settings.”
  • The longest journey starts with the first step. Even small increments toward increased inclusion move your organization forward.
  • How are we doing in inclusion? Ask this question in each of your organizational Building Blocks.
  • Just do it! 

 

Assessment

Training Survey

Date: _________________________

After each numbered statement, indicate your current level of knowledge about the following topics on a scale of 1 - 5.  1= nothing, 2 = not much, 3 = somewhat, 4 = some, 5 = a lot

  1. Why an inclusive service environment is an universally welcoming and diverse workplace
  2. What it means to be inclusive-
    1. In the physical environment
    2. In administration and management
    3. In outreach and recruitment
    4. In workplace accommodations
    5. In community collaborations
  3. The meaning of key terms such as:
    1. Accessibility Survey
    2. Inclusive service environment
    3. Interpreter
    4. Relay Service
    5. TTY/TDD

Primary links