MIPTA Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
April, 2020
I hope that everyone is doing well as we navigate this trying time in our living history. What we, as a society, should strive to become cognizant of is our empathy toward others.
Merriam-Webster defines empathy as follows:
The action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another of either the past or present without having the feelings, thoughts, and experience fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner also : the capacity for this.
Thankfully, we have individuals and groups in our society who exhibit this trait. As child advocates, we should embody this trait and a large majority of us do. Everything that we do, as PTA members, is for children and their families- ALL children. It is for this reason that our National PTA has a Diversity and Inclusion Committee and a toolkit for State, Local Councils and Units to use as a guide for planning and development of key programs, that will benefit all children.
As an organization, National PTA strives to have "genuine community representation". This means that as "an organization, we recognize that diversity values differences and similarities among people through its actions and accountability".
Thank you for all that you do for children- ALL children!
Kind regards,
Jennifer Johnson
Vice President for Student Involvement
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee Chairperson
POST SECONDARY and TRANSITIONAL DEIC RESOURCES
DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION HELPFUL RESOURCES
The following resources have been gathered to be of use for our wonderfully diverse community. The information below is a broad cross section for everyone, but with a primary focus on the following populations:
Minority
Underserved
Special Needs
Vulnerable
Gender
Sexual Orientation
Please use these as you need. The page will be routinely updated.
CONSORTIUM FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES
On April 3, 2020, the Consortium for Children with Disabilities and their members and allies, inclusive of National PTA, sent a letter in response to the directive that the Secretary of Education regarding the enactment of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act report to Congress. The statement, in part, includes the following:
The undersigned organizations are unwavering in our pursuit of educational equity and stand unified in the strong conviction that NO ADDITIONAL waivers are necessary under either the IDEA or the Rehabilitation Act.
Please access the statement by clicking the following link:
SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING SOURCE INFORMATION
Many of our Michigan PTA members continue to give rise to the concerns of access for learning for students in special education, remote learning and nutrition sources for children with food insecurity. On April 2, 2020, National PTA called upon Congress to provide such in the next COVID-19 relief bill. Access to this statement is available via the following link:
Michigan PTA Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee
Email: johnsonj@michiganpta.org
Website: https://www.michiganpta.org/
Location: P.O. Box 510535 Livonia, MI 48151
Phone: 7349759500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everychildonevoice/
Twitter: @MichiganPTA1