“Fully Included: Empowering Louisiana’s Disability Community!” is a video series navigating topics such as advocacy, education, employment and more while featuring Council members, agency leaders and YOU – people with developmental disabilities, family members, and community members – who share their stories about navigating everyday life in Louisiana.
Episode 1: Meet the Council
Self-advocate Jill Hano, parent advocate Bambi Polotzola, Executive Director of Governor’s Office of Disability Affairs and agency leader Julie Foster Hagan of Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities share about the Council and why it’s important to be involved.
Episode 2: Advocating for What's Important
Karen Artus, parent advocate & LaCAN Region 9 Leader; Lillian DeJean, self-advocate; and Rashad Bristo, parent advocate and Partners in Policymaking graduate speak about their path of advocacy and why speaking up and building relationships is really important to move the needle for the disability community.
Episode 3: Planning for Transition
Kristin Victorian, parent advocate; Charles Michel, executive director of Families Helping Families Bayou Land; and Nicole Trumps, a parent advocate, speak about planning for their children’s transition planning for opportunities after high school.
Episode 4: Navigating IEPs for Students with Disabilities
Parent advocates Temisha Victorian, Nicole Trumps, and Kristin Victorian speak about their experiences on preparing IEPs for their students, the process, and their advice to parents.
Episode 5: Honoring April Dunn
Episode 6: What are Families Helping Families Resource Centers?
Episode 7: Employment and People with Disabilities
Episode 8: Understanding Louisiana's Waivers
Episode 9: Why DSPs are Important for the Disability Community
Episode 10: Navigating an IEP
Meet parent advocate Temisha Victorian, her son and self-advocate Dylan Sonnier, who share their IEP journey, while Ms. Joanette Dunn, special education teacher and April Dunn’s mother, shares the importance of how the IEP can set up students for success post-graduation. And, Meredith Jordan and Dr. Quentina Timoll, of the Louisiana Department of Education, share with us how the state is supporting students with disabilities for success.
Episode 11: Partners in Policymaking
Partners in Policymaking is a long-standing advocacy program with individuals with disabilities and their families that teaches and empowers people to become their own advocates. In this episode, learn about the strong advocacy program from leaders who participated and teach the disability community to become stronger advocates everyday!