Kathie's Belief: “When we think differently, we’ll act differently!”

UNIQUE…INSPIRING…MOTIVATIONAL…VALUABLE…LIFE-CHANGING

These are some of the words others have used to describe my presentations. For 20 years, I've challenged conventional wisdom and encouraged others to embrace new ways of thinking about disability issues.

I'm enthusiastic, positive, and passionate about children and adults with disabilities having opportunities to live real lives, fully included in their homes, schools, workplaces, and communities. The commonsense strategies I share can help achieve this critically important goal.

"Disability is Natural" is my signature presentation. Thousands of conference participants have been inspired to change the way they think and talk about people with disabilities; "ah-ha" moments are routine when audience members realize that when we change our attitudes, great changes are possible in the lives of children and adults with disabilities!

For your event, I can present one or more topics below for keynotes and/or break-out sessions, or I'll work closely with you to create a custom-designed workshop that will leave participants enthused and recharged. If you’re ready for provocative questions, positive solutions, and innovative thinking, mixed with humor and real-life experiences, my presentations deliver!

Disability is Natural and Other Revolutionary Common Sense
Yes, like gender, ethnicity, and other traits, disability is one of many natural characteristics of being human! What can happen when we deconstruct disability, use People First Language, and focus on people’s strengths and abilities? Awesome change is possible when we think differently and talk differently!

Living Real Lives and Dreaming Big Dreams
The services and assistance provided to children and adults with disabilities can lead to a life of dependency and hopelessness in Disability World and other unintended, negative consequences. But this can change: children and adults with disabilities can enjoy real lives—self-directed lives—and achieve the lives of their dreams when they have three important tools for success. Everyone has the right to live a real life included in the real world!

Create Synergy with Style, Substance, and Words
What if our interactions with others could result in greater success for all? We can eliminate frustration, fear, misunderstanding, anger, and other barriers, when we embrace improved communication, move beyond two-dimensional thinking, and utilize negotiation skills. Imagine the possibilities when you create synergy (and more allies in the process). Try it, you’ll like it!

Kathie’s presentation helped me discover a newfound sense of comfort in claiming my disability.
Person with a disability from Iowa

Inclusive Education
What does it take to embrace inclusive practices and why is inclusion important? A variety of topics can be covered for parents and educators, such as inclusion and IDEA, characteristics and values of an inclusive school, improved parent/educator partnerships, effective IEPs using activity-based goals, the role of paraeducators, informal assessments, and more.

From Clienthood to Citizenship:
Creating Community With Natural Supports and Generic Services
Isn’t it time for people with disabilities to move from clienthood, isolation, and dependence in the system to citizenship, inclusion, and interdependence in the community? It can happen when we use the abundant supply of our communities’ natural supports and generic services to meet people’s needs while simultaneously ensuring their inclusion!

Cooperative Advocacy
Too often, traditional advocacy leads to anger, arguments, and worse. We don’t need more adversaries—we need more allies! New strategies for relationship-building, proactive partnerships, improved communication, and negotiation can ensure win-win outcomes for all.

Inclusive Communities—Organize for Change
What needs to change to ensure businesses, non-profits, community activities/services, and other entities are accessible to people with disabilities? Let’s go beyond ADA compliance, and ensure all are welcome and included! (Note: This presentation is for community, civic, business leaders, etc.)

As a manager of a group home, I'm always striving to help my guys reach their dreams. Kathie's presentation helped me see where I may have gone wrong sometimes, and how I can do better.
Illinois conference participant

Assistive Technology—Tools for Success
Assistive technology devices—from low-tech to high-tech—can enable children and adults to live the lives their dreams, achieve self-determination, succeed in inclusive environments, and more. And everyone—parents, people with disabilities, teachers, and others—can easily become AT experts!

Creative Collaboration
Waiting lists, budget cuts, too many people to serve! Even under the best of circumstances, the service system and disability organizations cannot meet the needs of all. But when disability and non-disability organizations collaborate, extraordinary outcomes are possible! (Note: This presentation is for human services agencies.)

Other Topics
inclusive post-secondary education, history of disabilities, legislative advocacy, working with the media, and more.

Click here to learn what others are saying about my work.

Presentation costs include a negotiated honorarium, plus travel expenses to include airfare, meals, ground transportation, hotel costs, etc. I'd love the opportunity to present New Ways of Thinking and Revolutionary Common Sense for your event. Click here to contact me.

©2009-10 Kathie Snow, www.disabilityisnatural.com