IncludeNJ

We are thrilled to announce the following applicants as our 2024 New Champions finalists: Extreme Kids & Crew, Inc. Lovisa Brown IncludeNJ Katherine Kelly Intersection Collective Erika Watson Start Lighthouse Rina M. The Lab School of Memphis Coi Morefield The Learning Hamlet Ifeyinwa Anako The New Champion and two runners-up will be announced on July 24, 2024. What is the EALA New Champions Fund? The EALA New Champions Fund will grant an annual unrestricted competitive sub-grant and year-long mentorship to support leaders of color, or allies of the equity in education movement, who are actively working to support students with disabilities, including students who are marginalized or come from underserved communities and those experiencing poverty. The purpose of this sub-grant is to elevate the profile and provide resources for the growth of the organization/initiative of not-yet-recognized leaders doing exceptional work who may struggle to be recognized in traditional national fundraising and communication efforts. What’s included? Funding: A one-year $35,000 unrestricted sub-grant. Mentorship: A one-year mentorship provided to leadership to accomplish strategic goals. Participation in National Events: EALA will work with the New Champions to spotlight their work through various media channels, podcasts, webinars, and national conferences to highlight the work of the organizations Additionally, EALA will provide two additional $5,000 sub-grants per year to runners-up as determined by the panel of New Champions judges.

“See me as a person, not a disability” - Mar Galcerán… What do these 3 people elected to public office have in common? éléonore Laloux, France, 2020 Fintan Bray, Ireland, 2022 Mar Galcerán, Spain, 2024 You guessed it! They all have a genetic difference called Trisomy 21, or “Downs”. Contrary to popular myth, there has never been a better time to be diagnosed with a genetic difference. Thanks to medical progress, people with Downs now live almost 50 years longer than just a century ago, and can live happy, productive, fulfilling lives. Why does this matter? Because today, with surging non-invasive prenatal screening (NIPS / NIPT), detection of differences is exploding. Especially when it comes to the most common currently known type called X&Y variations (1 in 400 people, 4 times more common than having eyes of different colors), such as #Klinefelters or #Turners. Rarely detected in the past due to the often lack of any obvious physical difference, there are likely 10s of millions of people around the world living with an X or Y variation. On one hand, X&Y variations result in more likelihood of #neurodivergence from early childhood like #dyslexia #ADHD and “social-emotional” differences like #autism, as well as more likelihood to face compounding health challenges over time. On the other hand, early detection and intervention in childhood, as well as regular checkups throught life, can prevent and/or lessen the impact of these potential challenges. Yet healthcare provider awareness is low, and public awareness was almost non-existent. I believe it is urgent to take action. That’s why our vision at My XXY | Chromodiversity Foundation is to change the way we consider and support genetic difference. If you or someone you know is pregnant and planning to take a genetic test, you may wish to sign up for free to learn more with ???Chromodiversity Podcast: the science & lived experience of genetic difference. Link in comments. #FlipTheScript #DownsIsUp #chromodiversity Jodi Samuels Jacki Edry Ric Clark Vineet Thapar (He/Heem) Tiffany Boughtwood Alina Blinova Lori Almeida (she/her) Neurodiverse Brains in the Workplace Becca Lory Hector Prof. Amanda Kirby Ludmila Praslova, Ph.D., SHRM-SCP, ?? Brock Vestrum CSPO, A-CSM Elizabeth Beck Kat Alexander Angela Loynd (??DHDys) Priya Tronsgard Dr. Manpreet Kaur Rob O’Donohue, ACC Mattia Riccardo Raimondi Christabel Ikpen Rita SerpaPinto Emanuela Breglia Neoli Natali H. Katherine McCord Michael J. Asquith ?? Janice Smires, MS., LCGC. Candice Christiansen?? Jourdan Saunders, MS, CCC-SLP SIMONE GOMES Theo Smith The Female Quotient Jade Bonacolta