Disability Awareness - Person First Language

Event Status: Registration Closed

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Presenter:

Sonja Williams-Richardson
Director of Training

Sonja Williams-Richardson is the Director of the Training Department at YAI, which includes YAI’s Center for Professional Development and YAI’s International Program. She oversees training for over four thousand staff at YAI, ensuring their 300+ programs meet the state and federally mandated trainings, as well as skill enhancement trainings to enhance the quality of support staff provides to people with I/DD. Sonja has worked with people with I/DD for over 25 years, starting her career at YAI as a direct support professional. 

Who Should Attend:

All staff levels

Session Objective:

Have the opportunity to be educated on how to support community members with I/DD.  Over the past few years there has been intense I/DD advocacy to help shift the mindset of society. Mainly, the language used when talking about I/DD. Many people working in this field have been loyal employees who have watched the language shift over their career. This can lead to some confusion. In this course we will put the confusion to rest as we explore person first language. The person first mindset has helped change the landscape of the way we work with people with I/DD, ensuring everyone is respected and treated like they are more than a disability.