Why People of Color Change Providers/Agencies/ Organizations and develop community run disability organizations

Why People of Color Change Providers/Agencies/ Organizations and develop community run disability organizations

  • Hurtful, insensitive remarks
  • Do not feel good or safe
  • Not missed if left
  • Tired of being the only person
  • No one to turn to when feeling troubled
  • Opinions and abilities are constantly challenged or disregarded

Standards for Diversity – General

  • Respond to racism, classism, ageism, homophobia, sexism, ableism
  • Demonstrate efforts to cultivate a diverse, multi-cultural, multiethnic and multiracial environment
  • Cultivate and promote a diverse multicultural, multiethnic and multiracial environment
  • Identify culturally affirmative community resources

Standards for Diversity – Overall

  • Definition of cultural diversity
  • Respect for all people as individuals
  • Provisions for celebration and expression of cultures
  • Accommodation of cultural needs
  • Recognition of existence of institutional and personal discrimination
  • Anti-discrimination statement

Characteristics of Inclusive Organizations

  • Committed Executive Director
  • Long term, holistic approach of inclusiveness
  • Recognition of the potential contributions of people of color
  • Recruiting and retaining staff of color
  • Creation of inclusive programs in stages
  • Two-way communication with communities of color

Quick Fix vs. Real Change

  • Long-term commitment
  • Understanding from top to bottom of the organization
  • Training – a lot and often
  • valuate policies and behaviors
  • Create new values, requirements, approaches and assessment tools
  • Develop a three-to five-year plan
  • Develop an evaluation tool

Develop questions to evaluate

  • Interviewing for inclusion
  • Two-way outreach to communities of color
  • Focus groups to assess agency services and outreach to communities of color
  • Workplace policies and practices that reduce racial discrimination
  • Training and Advancement
  • Retention and Termination
  • Glossary of Terms on Diversity