‘Inclusion Imperative’ Conference kicks off School of Education centennial

‘Inclusion Imperative’ Conference kicks off School of Education centennialApril 12, 2006Patrick Farrellpmfarrel@syr.edu

Syracuse University’s School of Education is hosting “Inclusion Imperative,” a two-day national conference on diversity that will mark the official beginning of the school’s centennial year celebration. The conference will explore issues involving representation, human rights and diversity and will feature nationally known speakers, including broadcast journalist John Hockenberry.

Co-sponsored by the Facilitated Communication Institute and the Center on Human Policy, Law, and Disability Studies at SU, the event will take place at the Sheraton University Hotel and Conference Center, April 21-22. Registration is required for all conference events. (The registration fee is waived for SU students and School of Education staff and faculty members.) For details about registration and fees, visit http://soeweb.syr.edu/inclusioninfo.doc.

“As diversity, inclusion and interdisciplinary collaboration increasingly have become driving forces at both the School of Education and SU, it seemed entirely appropriate for the school to explore all these themes by making them the focus of our inaugural centennial event,” says School of Education Dean Douglas Biklen. “We’ve invited the leading academics and activists in these areas to help us examine the issues and to share in our centennial celebration.”

Keynote speaker John Hockenberry will take a critical look at the current state of inclusion initiatives in his presentation, “We’re Not There Yet!? Fulfilling the Civil Covenant of Inclusion.” Hockenberry, a nationally known journalist, interviewer and talk show host, has reported on social justice issues for NBC, ABC and National Public Radio. The conference also features presentations by author, academic and arts consultant Simi Linton on reading and writing disability, and film producer and director Gerardine Wurzburg on her career as a documentary film maker.

In addition, conference attendees will have the opportunity to take part in about 30 presentations and panel discussions on such topics as disability studies of music, autism and communication rights for deaf people.

A number of organizations closely affiliated with the school over the years are participating as co-sponsors, in particular, the Facilitated Communication Institute, the Study Council at SU and the Center on Human Policy, Law and Disability Studies. A grant from the Nancy Lurie Marks (NLM) Family Foundation helped underwrite the event.

For additional information about Inclusion Imperative, visit http://soeweb.syr.edu/centennial, or call 443-4696.

“Inclusion Imperative” Schedule of Events

Friday, April 21

9:00-10:30 a.m. Opening/Concurrent Sessions 10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Concurrent Sessions12:15-1:30 p.m. Lunch break1:30-3:00 p.m. Concurrent Sessions3:15- 4:30 p.m. Plenary Presentation: John Hockenberry, “We’re Not There Yet!…” Regency A-B-C7:30 p.m. Plenary Presentation: Gerardine Wurzburg, “From ‘Regular Lives’ to ‘Autism is a World,'” Regency A-B-C

Saturday, April 22

9:00-10:30 a.m. Opening/Concurrent Sessions10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Concurrent Sessions12:15-1:30 p.m. Lunch break1:30-3:00 p.m. Concurrent Sessions3:15-4:30 p.m. Plenary Presentation: Simi Linton, “Reading and Writing Disability,” Regency A-B-C

In addition to the featured speakers, the conference will include the following workshops and panel discussions:

Concurrent Sessions Schedule for Friday, April 21 & Saturday, April 22

Blurred Distinctions: The Politics of Metaphor in Life Writing by Blind, Epileptic and Autistic AuthorsFriday, April 21Ralph Savarese, Grinnell CollegeEmily Savarese, University of Florida9 a.m., University Sheraton, Comstock A

Making Deja vu Work for You: The Communicative Power of Repetitive LanguageFriday, April 21Jamie Burke, Westhill High SchoolDavid Smukler, St. Bonaventure University9 a.m., University Sheraton, Comstock B

“My Classic Life as an Artist: A Portrait of Larry Bissonnette”Friday, April 21Larry Bissonnette, Vermont ArtistPascal Cravedi-Cheng, Howard Community Services9 a.m., University Sheraton, Regency A

Non-speaking Doesn’t Equal Non-Verbal: Building Literacy in Inclusive ClassroomsFriday, April 21Emily Savarese, Ralph Savarese 9 a.m., University Sheraton, Comstock A

The Cycle of Exposes and Reforms of InstitutionsFriday, April 21Steve Taylor, Syracuse University9 a.m., University Sheraton, Regency B

Using Multiple Intelligence Theory Approaches for Teaching Students with Special NeedsFriday, April 21Edward Fierros, Villanova University9 a.m., University Sheraton, Regency C

Building an Inclusive Classroom Through Children’s Literature and MusicFriday, April 21Mara Sapon-Shevin, Syracuse UniversityRobin Smith, SUNY New Paltz10:45 a.m., University Sheraton, Regency C

Children in Foster Care: New Frontier for Inclusion in Health and Educational ServicesFriday, April 21Steven Blatt, Upstate Medical UniversitySheryl Dicker, Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children10:45 a.m., University Sheraton, Comstock A

“King Gimp”: The Film and the ArtistFriday, April 21Dan Keplinger, Maryland Artist, WriterMichael Smoot, Associate10:45 a.m., University Sheraton, Regency A

Rowing Upstream in SilenceFriday, April 21Anne McDonald, Rosemary Crossley, DEAL Communication Centre Inc.10:45 a.m., University Sheraton, Regency B

The Inclusion Imperative: Troubling the OtherFriday, April 21Linda Ware, City University of New York10:45 a.m., University Sheraton, Comstock B

International Perspectives on Inclusion and EqualityFriday, April 21Eric Rosenthal, Mental Disability Rights InternationalArlene Kanter, Syracuse University 1:30 p.m., University Sheraton, Regency C

Moving and Dance for ALLFriday, April 21Mara Sapon-Shevin, Syracuse University1:30 p.m., University Sheraton, Regency A

Pimp or “Gimp?” Explorations of Race and Disability in Lynn Manning’s “Weights”Friday, April 21Beth Ferri, Syracuse University1:30 p.m., University Sheraton, Comstock B

Presuming Competence: Full Citizenship and Local UnderstandingFriday, April 21Chris Kliewer, Janet Sauer and Jill McCarthy, University of Northern Iowa1:30 p.m., University Sheraton, Regency B

Useful Ideas for Teaching and Supporting All Learners in the Inclusive ClassroomsFriday, April 21Julie Causton-Theoharis, Syracuse UniversityChristy Ashby, Syracuse University 1:30 p.m., University Sheraton, Comstock A

A Disability Studies of Music Saturday, April 22Alex Lubet, University of Minnesota9 a.m., University Sheraton, Regency C

The Meaning of Inclusion for Deaf Children Across the Globe: A Traveler’s PerspectiveSaturday, April 22Bernard Bragg, California State University at Northridge 9 a.m., University Sheraton, Regency A&B

Real Homes, Not InstitutionsSaturday, April 22Julie Morse, Legal Services of Central New York, Inc./Center for Human Policy, Law and Disablity Studies at Syracuse UniversitySusan M. Young, Legal Services of Central New York, Inc.9 a.m., University Sheraton, Comstock B

Terrains of Struggle: Schools, Teachers, Youth and Popular CultureSaturday, April 22Jeff Mangram, Syracuse University9 a.m., University Sheraton, Comstock A

At the Margins: Reflections on InclusionSaturday, April 22Johnson Cheu, Michigan State University10:45 a.m., University Sheraton, Comstock A

“Without Apology:” A FilmSaturday, April 22Susan Hamovitch, Independent Film Producer10:45 a.m., University Sheraton, Regency C

Autism and the Myth of the Person Alone: “Mountains of Practical Moments”Saturday, April 22Douglas Biklen, Syracuse University10:45 a.m., University Sheraton, Regency B

Deaf Patients Talk to Their Doctors: A Sign of CompetenceSaturday, April 22Michael Schwartz, Syracuse University10:45 a.m., University Sheraton, Regency A

Self-Determination as a PuzzleSaturday, April 22Liz Obermayer Weintraub, The Council on Quality and Leadership10:45 a.m., University Sheraton, Comstock B

The Making of “Autism is a World”Saturday, April 22Gerardine Wurzburg, State of the Art, Inc.Sue Rubin, Whittier College 1:30 p.m., University Sheraton, Regency C

The Myths that Make for Exclusion: A Critical Disability Perspective on EducationSaturday, April 22Marcia Rioux, York University 1:30 p.m., University Sheraton, Regency A

Popular People Do HomeworkSaturday, April 22Cheli Paetow, Nicole DeClouette, and Manny Guenther, Syracuse University1:30 p.m., University Sheraton, Comstock A

Pushing the Limits: Cultural Signs of Queerness and DisabilitySaturday, April 22Robert McRuer, George Washington University1:30 p.m., University Sheraton, Comstock B

Snow White and the Seven “Dwarfs”–QueercrippedSaturday, April 22Santiago Solis, Columbia University1:30 p.m., University Sheraton, Regency B