Intentional Inclusion: Cultivating Circles of Support

Who among us doesn’t have a tribe, or a village, or a network of friends and family that supports us? In good times and challenging ones, we use circles of support to help us out. The same goes for people with disabilities, only they are sometimes even more intentional in seeking out just the right people to be part of the Circle. Come hear from a parent (Janice) and sibling (Emma) about how they have used Circles of Support with their son and brother, and how it’s also a model that has been used in schools and communities around the country. Emma has also had great success using Circles of Support with her elementary school students. Objectives: 1. Learn what (and who!) makes up a Circle of Support 2. Hear how families and educators can initiate and sustain Circles at home, in schools, and in the community (at any age). 3. Get valuable tools to invite people, host Circles gatherings, and keep things going.