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Increasing Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion for Students with Disabilities

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Overview

Belongingness occurs at the intersection of equity, diversity, and inclusion. Healthy educational systems seek to ensure all students, including those with disabilities, enjoy this experience.  Unfortunately, many years of Colorado and National data identify many inequities for these students. This website is designed to provide resources for school and district personnel to close opportunity gaps for youth with disabilities.  Resources, training, opportunities to collaborate with others, and links to other sources of information regarding equity, diversity, and inclusion are available below. 

What is a Community of Practice (CoP)?

Communities of practice are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly!

The purpose of this Community of Practice is to facilitate connections, awareness, and access to information, learning opportunities, and resources that will improve the lives of students with disabilities and benefit the families, communities, and professionals who support them. Sharing of information is encouraged; however, it is at the discretion of the CDE what information will be posted. This service is chat-free and does not include advertisements from vendors or contract-based companies.

To subscribe to the EDI CoP Listserv, please follow the directions below. 

Advancing Equity for Students with Disabilities in Schools

This equity-focused community of practice (CoP) is designed to bring together people who share a passion for addressing the opportunity gaps experienced by students with disabilities. Education leaders committed to making meaningful systemic change and promoting equitable learning opportunities will benefit from participating in this quarterly, one-hour virtual meeting. 

Sessions are co-hosted by:

  • Dr. Michael Ramirez, Supervisor, Equity Projects Specialist, Exceptional Student Services at the Colorado Department of Education
  • Dr. Bryn Harris, Professor / Faculty Fellow for Strategic Initiatives, Office of Faculty Affairs, School of Education and Human Development and Department of Pediatrics, at the University of Colorado Denver.

Register to participate in future sessions no later than two weeks before each event.   All sessions are scheduled between 8:30-9:30 am:

  • September 10, 2024     
  • November  12, 2024 

  • February  11, 2025
  • May 13, 2025

Education leaders and advocates dedicated to fostering equitable learning environments for students with disabilities are welcome to join future sessions.

Topic for 2023-24: 

Community of Practice Kickoff Meeting

Purpose: Give participants an overview of the CoP process and topics, build relationships among CoP participants, and increase buy-in and excitement for participant engagement and advancing equity. 
 
 
Additional Learning about Communities of Practice:
Examples from other Communities of Practice:

Topics for 2024-25: 

Session 1: Using Data to Dismantle Educational Inequalities

Session 1, Pre-work (September 10, 2024)

Using Data to Dismantle Education Inequities (PDF), 9/10/2024

Additional Learning about Data for Equity Work

Session 2:  MTSS to Advance Equity

Session 2, Pre-work (November 12, 2024)
(PowerPoint will be posted after session)
 
Additional Learning about MTSS to Advance Equity
(Resources posted after session)

Session 3:  Advancing Equitable Evaluation Practices

Session 3, Pre-work (February 11, 2025)

  • If you are not familiar with special education evaluations and eligibility for the IEP (Individualized Education Program), consider watching a IEP parent-facing overview webinar (35 mins). This may be a useful resource for sharing with families as well. 

Watch:

(PowerPoint will be posted after session)
 
Additional Learning about MTSS to Advance Equity
(Resources posted after session)

Session 4: Promoting Equitable Disciplinary Practices

Session 4, Pre-work (May 13, 2025)

(PowerPoint will be posted after session)
 
Additional Learning about MTSS to Advance Equity
(Resources posted after session)

Please register to attend the virtual CoP

Stay Tuned for topics and dates for 2025-2026 school year

To subscribe to the EDI CoP Listserv, please follow the directions below. 


Join The EDI CoP Listserv

The purpose of this Community of Practice is to facilitate connections, awareness, and access to information, learning opportunities, and resources that will improve the lives of students with disabilities and benefit the families, communities, and professionals who support them. Sharing of information is encouraged; however, it is at the discretion of the CDE what information will be posted. This service is chat-free and does not include advertisements from vendors or contract-based companies. To subscribe to the EDI CoP Listserv, please follow the directions below. 

To subscribe to the EDI CoP listserv:

To unsubscribe from the EDI CoP listserv

Disclaimer: A variety of learning opportunities, information, and resources are provided on this listserv.  These materials do not represent an exhaustive list, nor are they required or endorsed by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE).  The identification or description is to provide information and resources and does not constitute CDE's endorsement.  Every effort has been made to identify the citation for the resource; please maintain the citation and/or authorship when adapting or modifying these materials.


For more information, please contact:

Michael Ramirez
Equity Projects Specialist
Phone (720) 460-6251

Email Michael Ramirez


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If you have problems with broken links or accessing the content on this page, please contact the Exceptional Student Services Unit at ESSU@cde.state.co.us. Please copy the URL link for this page into the email when referencing the problem you are experiencing.