through the same doors - micah fialka-feldman
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8/9/2019 Through the Same Doors - Micah Fialka-Feldman
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Micah
Fialka-Feldman
www.throughthesamedoor.com
Throughthe
Same Doors
...forinvitingmeto
speakinUtah!
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What I will be talking about today. . .
1.My life in school andin my community.
2. Doors Ive openedfor myself and others.
3. What Ivelearnedfrom my journey
4. Community isimportant!
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I have a dad, mom and my sister,
Emma. We love to travel.
I live inMichigan.
Screenreader
(readsoutloud)
DragonNaturall
y
Speaking.
(voicetotext)
Icansend
emails&
usethe
Internetw
iththis
software.
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I love politics
In 2003
I did an internshipwith my
StateRepresentative
Andy Meisner.
My sister calls me apolitical junkie
I got to vote for the first time in 2002.I was very proud.
I had a first-timevoting party and
was in the
newspaper.
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In 6th gradefor Halloween, Idressed up as
President Clinton
Whos cooler?
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I started school in a:
separate classroom with separate doors.
Special Ed Studentswent in this door
General Ed Studentswent in this door
That was when I toldmy parents . . .
I want to go in the
SAME DOOR
as all the otherkids.
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That was the first doorI opened!
I had agreat
Circle ofFriendsfrom 3rdgrade
until 12thgrade!
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What I did in My Circle of Friends
Played basketball Pizza lunches Visited senior citizens. Played cards with them. In high school: I went to dances but..
I only hung out with my teachers.My Circle of Friends said
at the next dance
I had to dance with at least 5 girlsDIDIT!
I participated in my I.E.P meetings Beginning in 5th grade I.E.P stands for Individual Education Plan My teacher helped me plan for my
meetings and think about my DREAMS
Some of my friends came to my meetings.They talked about what I was doing well
I used PowerPoint slides to share myideas.
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I told my teachers what I needed
to learn. Communication:
Talk to me. Show me pictures. Send me e-mails so I can hear it on
my computer
Ask me questions and give mechoices.
Reading
Give me lots of new sight words Let me use the Internet to learn
Writing
I use Dragon Naturally Speaking andtalk out my writing.
I had Peer Tutors called
LINKS
! The LINK is a studentwho:! Worked side by side
with me
! Earned ! credit forhelping me classes
Noah, my LINK,
helped me learnto swim.
What is a LINK?
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Oliver was my first LINK. He taught me
about science . . .
I taught him about teaching
WE are still friends . . .
Hiswedding
Come to my workshop &youll see Olivertalking in my DVD!!
Trips toChicago
Phone calls, lunch
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Examples of my modifications &
accommodations:
I made PowerPoint slidesrather than write a paper. Iscanned in the pictures.
I interviewed people andmake an audio or videotape instead of writing a
paper.
I did this for my History ofVietnam class.
In 9th
grade I joined the cross country team I ran ONE block
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I practiced and practiced andpracticed.it wasnt easy for me.
By my senior year I ran2 miles in 23 minutes!
I got my Varsity Letter for Cross County.
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That was the next doorIopened.
orran through!!!
I was on the Berkley High School2002-2003 Homecoming Court
Why do you think I am smiling?
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I went to my senior prom with16 other kids
--in a stretch limo WITH a fireplace!
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I applied to be on the KASA Board:Kids as Self Advocates
of Family Voices.
KASA is a national organization
created by youth with disabilitiesto educate society about the
rights of youth with disabilities all
over the USA.
I got on the Board.
Thats why I amsmiling!
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Go to our web site forlots of information
and resources.www.fvkasa.org
We are disabled and proudYouth leaders from across the CountrySpeaking out on our own behalfSupporting each otherChanging systems to include usProviding Information to other youngleadersCreating future opportunities
PLEASE read this OUT LOUD with ME.
Here we are at the first
Disability Pride Paradein Chicago in 2004
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I am on the NYLNEducationTeleconferenceCommittee.
We planteleconferences &
web casts for youngpeople w/ disabilities
Other Leadership Activities:
Michigan & National Youth Leadership Forums(nyln.org).
..on sexuality, voting, disability history, and how to improveschools..
Nothingaboutm
e
withoutme!
What I learned . . .
I learned about ourDisability history and culture,
Heres ONE example:
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ifyouknowwhoRosaParksi
s?Pleaserai
seyourhand,
ifyouknowwho
JustinDartis?Pleaseraiseyourh
and,
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Justin Dart:A Leader of the
Disability Movement
1930 - 2002
is known as thefounding father
of the A.D.A.
(Americans withDisabilities Act)
NOW,howmanyofyou
knowwhoJusti
nDart
is?
Learn about leaderswho open doors.
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I have an IEP with theBerkley School District.
I enrolled inOakland
University,through the
OPTIONSRPOGRAM
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Classes I Have Taken
*Social Movements *Theatre *Psychology
*Public Speaking *U.S. History *Persuasion
*Sociology *Group Dynamics *Politics
Ihavegreatpeertutorswhohelpme
Talking with Professor Dulio.We are planning my political science homework.
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Student Organizations
I was a memberofHillel
I am a memberof Alpha PhiOmega
I also raisedmoney for St.Jude Hospital
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Dreams can
happen!
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Opening the door to the dorm: . . . not easy,but worth it!
In October 2007, I applied to live in the dorm. My application was accepted and my $$$ and a
tour
Move-in date: January 6 2008. Then OU changed and said, You cant live inthe dorm.
They said, I was NOT a student.
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I AM a Student
So I met withthe
Vice PresidentOf StudentAffairs and
said,
I AM a
student.I pay full tuition.I take a full load of classes each semester.My housing application was accepted.
The Vice President still said,I was NOT a student.
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In September 2009,I spoke at the
University Board ofTrustees Meeting.
I wasnt going to stop. Heres what I did next . .
I said, I AM a Student!
They still said,I was NOT a student.
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Petition
I wasnt going to stop.
Heres what I did next . . . With my friends, I wrote a
petition.
I got ONE THOUSANDsignatures from students.
I got over 300 letters andemails from friends, family,
professors & disability
rights leaders.
The student newspaper & radio
covered my story
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Students held forums andrallies to support my right
to live in the dorm.
In November 2008 I presented for the
SECOND time to OU Board of Trustees
More than 150 came to the Board meeting Over 20 people spoke on my behalf. Speakers included the Student Body President and Vice-
President, professors, and many other voices in thecommunity.
Speakers even came from Canada and Nevada!
A student congress representative said it was the largestmovement of student action he had seen ever oncampus.
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They still said,I was NOT a student.
Michigan Protection & Advocacy
Service took on my case The case took a
looooooong twoyears.
We had 3 hearings inU.S. District FederalCourt.
My deposition took5 hours!
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On December 23, 2009, JudgeDuggan ordered the University to
let me live in the dorm.
He understood that
I AM a student!
National Coverage
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On January 4, 2010 I moved into the dorm!
I AMa studentand I live in the dorm
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It wasnt always easy for me.
Some days I was upsetbut I always said,
If I give up,most thingswon't changehere.
We have aright to DREAM BIG We have aright to belong! We have a responsibility to
support each other!
We must tell our stories and bePROUD!
As Harriet Tubman said, If youare tired, keep going.
What I am learning
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It is important to ask for help.
We cant make change alone.
Wehavetoaskforhelp.
Wecantmakechangea
lone.
Work together to
open ALL doors forALL of us!
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Make Way for the Graduate!
I had a specialceremony from theOPTIONS program onApril 19, 2010
One other studentgraduated with me
Time to Celebrate!
I had a BIG party withall my friends andfamily at my house onMay 2, 2010
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So What Now?
Now I am traveling around the country toshare my story about my journey throughschool
I would love to come speak to:Your SchoolYour StaffYour StateYour Region
What doordo YOU want to open?
www.throughthesamedoor.com
Email me youranswer.
I want to hear fromyou!
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Please read the last slideout loud with me.
A community that excludeseven one of its members,
is no community at all.
-Dan Wilkins