Charting the Cs: Cooperation, Communication and Collaboration. Statewide Professional Development to Support the Workforce and Low Incidence Disability Areas. Charting the Cs Conference 2024 Empowered to Make Change: My Journey as a Person with a Disability Provided by Vicki Stewart Personal Story Breaking Down Barriers Achieving Success Awareness and Advocacy Motivation and Inspiration My Personal Story A picture of a toddler with blonde hair in a white shirt and red pants standing in a room with orange carpet and a rocking chair in the background. 2 Years Old – When I could walk A toddler in a hospital bed with both legs lifted in traction. 2 Years Old – in traction with two broken legs Fast Facts about Osteogenesis Imperfecta Definition: Genetic disorder characterized by bones that break easily, often from little or no apparent cause. A classification system of different types of OI is commonly used to help describe how severely a person with OI is affected. Prevalence: Exact number is unknown, but the best estimate suggests a minimum of 20,000 and possibly as many as 50,000. Diagnosis: Caused by genetic defects that affect the body’s ability to make strong bones. Graphic with text: "Wishbone Day" "Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a rare and complex disorder of the collagen that is often characterized by bones that break easily." with OI Foundation logo at the bottom. Background is yellow with white squiggled lines. Text is in black. Clinical Features Type III Bones fracture easily Fractures often present at birth X - rays may reveal healed fractures that occurred before birth Short stature Sclera have a blue, purple or gray tint Loose joints and poor muscle development in arms and legs Barrel - shaped rib cage Triangular Face Spinal curvature Respiratory problems possible Bone deformity, often severe Brittle teeth possible Hearing loss possible Collagen improperly formed Small Town USA In 1980 the population of Larchwood, IA was 700 people. Notable People: Cheri Blauwet – Paralympic Athlete Kyle Vanden Bosch – Defensive End for the Detroit Lions LeVar Woods – Special Teams football coach for University of Iowa Shape of Iowa with a red star over the top left corner to indicate Larchwood's location. "Larchwood" in navy cursive lettering across the center with small "IA" below in typed font. Family A group of people getting in canoes near a bridge on the Big Sioux River. Annual Big Sioux River canoe trip An outdoor photo of a large number of people sitting and standing with green grass and green trees around them. Extended Family Photo -2020 A group photo of 8 people standing and sitting with a maroon background. Family Photo - 1972 Education Country School – made up of 4 towns, built in 1975, all one level, K-12 Not on an IEP Accommodations : Family/Friends drove me to school Used nurses' office for bathroom Had helper for recess and between classes Did not participate in PE classes A brick school building with a blue roof, a flagpole, blue sky and green grass. West Lyon School Extracurricular Activities Band Vocal Volleyball Manager Future Homemakers of America School Plays Speech Club National Honors Society A person in a wheelchair wearing a bonnet and prairie style dress next to a person standing in a long yellow dress. Vicki with her cousin in their school play “Tumbleweeds”. A photo of a marching band with red tops and black pants and drums. A person in a wheelchair is in the foreground playing the bell tree. Vicki in Marching Band playing the bell tree. Breaking Down Barriers Accessibility Attitude Acceptance Daily Living College Independent Living Driving Employment Community A black and white photo of a person in a wheelchair reaching to open a freight elevator. A photo from the Augustana student newspaper showing Vicki using the freight elevator in the Commons. A single story house with a garage to the right of the entrance. Vicki’s Home made with specific modifications for accessibility. Attitude Not receiving sign of peace at church Ordering for myself at a restaurant Business Owner asking, “Do I have to hire those kind of people?” Text on a speech bubble graphic saying "Don't DIS my ability" Acceptance Five Stages of Grief (Kubler - Ross) 1.Denial and Isolation 2.Anger 3.Bargaining 4.Depression 5.Acceptance A book cover that reads "Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, On Death and Dying, What the dying have to teach doctors, nurses, clergy, and their own families. "A profound lesson for the living" - Life" Achieving Success Personal Professional Personal Travel Marriage Circle of friends Music Owning own home Right: Vicki at Disneyland with Pluto. A young child in a wheelchair next to a Pluto meet and greet character at Disneyland. Right:Vicki riding a camel in Jericho with a fellow tourist. A camel with two people sitting on the back, and one person standing holding a rope at the front of the camel. The sky is blue and there are green trees in the background. Vicki in a white wedding dress, sitting in Alma's lap. He is wearing a gray vest over a white shirt with a gray tie and a boutonniere. The background is green with trees and sunshine. Vicki and Alma on their wedding day. Professional Employment History Board Involvement Windmills Certification Ms. Wheelchair South Dakota Remarkable Women 2023 Governor’s Award 2000 Stewart in a red dress, smiling for the camera, holding an award with a pink star on a black background. On the star is Stewart's name in Black with a gold medallion with a retro video camera symbol. Below is a plaque that reads "2023 Remarkable Women Nextstar Media Group, Inc." Stewart holding her Remarkable Women 2023 Award. Awareness and Advocacy Representation Accessibility Inclusion for All Representation Rare by Design Style Show: A Runway to Empower Refocus Local Media Outreach Keloland Living “Tradition of Caring” Commercial Other News Stories Vicki Stewart in a red dress and her husband in a button down shirt and jeans in wheelchairs in a room with other people getting ready for a style show. Vicki with her husband, Alma, backstage at the Style Show. Accessibility ADA Assessments ADA Celebration A group of people in wheelchairs posing in front of a sign that has the ADA symbol and says Americans with Disabilities Act Vicki with ADA Celebration Planning Committee at the 31st Anniversary Celebration. Inclusion for All Human Relations Commission “Pathways to Inclusive and Equitable Workplaces” National Disability Employment Awareness Month Events Poster for NDEAM - Advancing Access Equity, National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Celebrating 50 years of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. dol.gov/odep 2024 NDEAM poster Motivation and Inspiration Sharing resources to create a more inclusive society Inspiring others to reach for their dreams, no matter their circumstances Sharing Resources Disability Etiquette Presentations Encouraging groups to include people with disabilities as panelists, board members and volunteers, etc. Disabilities don’t define us, but they are an integral part of us! White text on a black background that says "I am more than my disability" Inspiring Others Push your students to achieve Remember you are a strong voice in your students’ lives…use it well! The student is your best teacher – learn from them and encourage them to share their experiences! Let them make mistakes and learn from them. Help them to know their strengths (volunteering, extracurricular activities, work, chores at home & mentoring) Encourage interaction, not isolation. You are changing the world, one student at a time. Q&A? Thank you! Vicki Stewart, Executive Director Employment Disability Resources Phone: 605 - 215 - 1760 Website: Employment Disability Resources Email: Vicki@edrsd.org