SLIDE 1:
2024 Annual Conference on Independent Living
BACK TO THE FUTURE
Presented by the National Council on Independent Living

Alt text: Conference Logo: Black sans serif text says, “BACK TO THE FUTURE”. To the right, digital font in bright, bold orange says, “2024”. Underneath, [NCIL Logo: National Council on Independent Living] Annual Conference on Independent Living.


SLIDE 2:
Engaging the Youth to Unleash the Power of Storytelling in Self-Advocacy 

Date:7/22/2024
Monday, July 22	2:30 PM - 3:45 PM
 
Sefakor Komabu-Pomeyie (Ph.D.)

Alt text: at the bottom corners of all following slides, there is the VCIL (Vermont Center for Independent Living) logo and the conference logo.


SLIDE 3: 
Introduction
Introduction & Icebreaker
Discussing the stone in Schools & Communities
Decoding the Lion Proverb
Ubuntu/ UDL, and other Frameworks
Importance of Self-Advocacy
Sharing our stories
Final Tips & Takeaways
Questions


SLIDE 4: 
Do you believe in this?
A stone with
an inscription:

Behind every person
is a story that gave
Them no choice.

Alt text: an image of a stone with the words "behind every strong person is a story that gave them no choice".


SLIDE 5: 
What does this mean to you?

Alt text: a quote "until the lion learns how to write, every story will glorify the hunter." - african proverb


SLIDE 6: 
The Power of Story Telling
What Strategies or practices have you found most effective in promoting self care?

How important is Self- Advocacy in story telling?

How can storytelling be used as an effective advocacy tool to promote the rights and inclusion of children with disabilities


SLIDE 7: 
The Power of Self-Advocacy
It helps you hold your community leaders & policy makers accountable 
It gives you self- awareness & Resilience skills
It builds you to accept and own your disability to develop Disability Pride
It empowers you to know your rights and the laws very well
It gives one confidence to ask for the tools you need to be successful in the real world.


SLIDE 8: 
Ubuntu Framework
The Power of Africa Proverb
Group Work with Ubuntu sign in 
Yellow circle.

Alt text: Ubuntu Logo


SLIDE 9: 
My Story
A book cover, with the title:

I’M ABLE: A Woman’s Advice to
Disability Change Agents: 

Alt text: A book cover with the title: I'm Able: A woman's advice to disability change agents.
           

SLIDE 10:
Universal Design for Learning

Alt text: A diagram of a learning process


SLIDE 11: 
Working with the Hope Tree
Reflect on what you might include in a personal pledge to create and promote self-advocacy and story telling in your personal or professional life/setting.

Alt text: a green plant.


SLIDE 12: 
Final Tips and Takeaways
What is your takeaway from this discussion?

Any hope?                                                   

Alt text: a green plant


SLIDE 13: 
Contact
Sefakor Komabu-Pomeyie (Ph.D.)
sefakor@vcil.org
Tel: 802-224-1806 or 802-557-8040


SLIDE 14:
Questions?

Alt text: yellow and blue symbols


SLIDE 15: 
Reference

King, R. U., Kamuzinzi, M., & Gasibirige, S. (2022).  Healing life wounds:  Restoring  communities after mass violence.  Tyndale Academic Press,  Canada.

Levey, S. (2023). Universal design for learning. Journal of Education, 203(2), 479-487.

McCoy, R. T., Joseph, R., & Bongar, B. (2023). Americans with Disabilities Act. In Encyclopedia of Domestic Violence (pp. 1-15). Cham: Springer International Publishing.