Visualizing Inclusion at KIT's National Conference

Next week hundreds of people from around the world will be traveling to San Diego to attend KIT’s 7th Annual National Conference on Inclusion. As you can imagine, this week is full of the little details that come with hosting such an event. We are packing swag bags, assembling name badges, getting the program to the printer and on and on and on. But, since this is the 7^th annual conference I am familiar with the growing feeling of excitement and anticipation. There is really nothing like gathering so many people devoted to caring for children into one space and exploring the issue of inclusion. It is always such a moving experience for everyone.

One of my tasks this week is to prepare my comments for the first morning of the conference. I always like to use my time at the podium to frame the learning experience for the participants. I want to help them break their pre-occupation with the outside world and settle into a space of openness and curiosity. In the past I have shared the concept of the “beginner’s mind.” This year, I am considering conducting a few moments of subtle activism by asking the group to close their eyes and visualize what inclusion looks like in its truest form. I think that if we can start the conference by envisioning how we want our child care environments and communities to look, feel and be we will be in a more open space for absorbing the knowledge of our presenters. In subtle activism a group of like-minded people come together to positively influence social change, perhaps through meditation, visualization or prayer or some other form of subtle consciousness-raising. Gathering hundreds of inclusion practitioners in a hotel ballroom to visualize inclusion could be very powerful and propel our efforts to change the world!

This year I also have the pleasure of introducing one of my heroes as our keynote speaker, Micaela Connery, Founder and Executive Director of Unified Theatre. Her own activism is a real inspiration, and if you aren’t there to hear her live I hope you check out the virtual version that will be available in November. 

Thinking About the Word Inclusion

It’s two weeks later and I am still ruminating about KIT’s National Conference on Inclusion. First, there is all the busy-ness of preparation- the planning of speakers and sessions, the bag stuffing, the printing of badges, the processing of registration- if you’ve ever planned an event you are very aware of all the details. But then, when the event actually arrives there is all of this incredible energy generated by the participants. I can feel the thoughts and ideas swirling around us throughout the week. Then, when everyone leaves and goes back to their communities to do their great work I find myself still processing what I heard. Still downloading and then integrating everything into my own understanding of what inclusion means. What it means right now. Today. Not a year ago, at the last conference or 8 years ago when I started working at KIT. But in this very moment.

Still in my download process I woke up this morning thinking about the name “National Training Center on Inclusion” and wondering for how long in our history will we need such a place. As I often say in training, selfishly I hope we need it until my retirement kicks in, because there is no place I’d rather work and no work I’d rather be doing. However, the fact that we even have to call what we do “inclusion” is kind of interesting, right? Why don’t we just make sure all people are included as our way of being human? This is a rhetorical question, because of course I know why. I know the history of civil rights in America and while I intellectually know what has happened to bring us where we are today, my heart still doesn’t understand why human nature chooses to focus on differences, rather than our oneness.

So, today I am thinking what would happen if we threw out the word “inclusion.” What if we didn’t call it anything and we just did it. What would we call the National Training Center on Inclusion if the word inclusion did not exist? The National Training Center on Ensuring that All Children Can Successfully Participate in their Communities? The National Training Center on Learning How to Ensure that Your Programs Meet the Needs of All Children? Or, perhaps, The National Training Center on Understanding that All Children are the Same and also Different in All Kinds of Ways that May or May Not Have to Do with a Diagnosis. OK, those are hard to fit on a business card. And I am certainly not suggesting that there is anything wrong or pejorative about the word “inclusion.” Yet, anyway. But, what if we let go of naming our efforts and just embraced the actions of working to make sure that every child feels welcomed, supported and knows that feeling of belonging that we all want. How would our practice change?

I am curious to hear your thoughts. This may be a topic I come back to in the near future.

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The Conference Afterglow

I love a good conference, don’t you? One that inspires you and helps you go back to your real life feeling refreshed and recharged. One that allows you to experience different perspectives, and perhaps even some with which you might not fully agree. And one that gives you the chance to meet incredible people doing their great work all over the world. Yes, if a conference can do all this for me, I am happy. Of course, a pretty location and good food don’t hurt either.

Last week was KIT’s 6th Annual National Conference on Inclusion. Even though our KIT team was in charge of ensuring that the conference happened, I really spent a lot of time feeling like a learner and participant. I listened with rapt attention to our keynote speaker LeDerick Horne, as he shared the experiences that have driven him to be a poetic activist. I attended break-out sessions with passionate, committed people like Micaela Connery of Unified Theatre in Connecticut. And I got to meet incredible practitioners, like the team from Washington PAVE. I truly hope that our presenters and conference attendees feel like they got an inspiring and informational learning experience. Because they all sure taught me a lot!

More photos will be on the new KIT website soon!

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What We Did With Our Summer Vacation

The summer typically means less travel for the KIT staff. You are busy giving kids wonderful summer memories in camps, and we are busy at the KIT office creating new training, resources and materials that will be ready for you when the kids you serve are back in school. So, just when we settled in for the summer and got quite cozy in our office chairs...the phone rang and we were invited to visit the City of Brotherly Love to present at the US Army Exceptional Family Member Program manager's conference.

Of course, we never turn down a chance to talk about inclusion so off we went! Alissa and I flew to Philadelphia for a long (5 day) weekend to meet and mingle with EFMP managers from all over the world. Our session was lively and even though it was right after lunch the participants were very engaged and responsive. We also had a little time to see the historic sites of Philly, and while we did not eat Philly Cheese Steak (sorry, Philly, I am vegetarian) we did enjoy a huge pretzel.

Meanwhile, back at the KIT ranch there are a lot of exciting things going on. Have you heard about our upcoming fundraiser?

We hope your summer is going well and that you are making magic for children with and without disabilities. Remember to be in touch if there is anything we can do to help ensure that all children can enjoy a summer camp experience.