Diversity & Equity Newsletter

November is National Native American History Month. On May 13, 1916 the governor of New York declared for his state "American Indian Day." This was a year after Red Fox James, a member of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) People, rode on horseback from state to state looking to get approval for a national holiday honoring Native Americans. Red Fox James presented approval from 24 state governments to the White House in 1915.

President George H. W. Bush approved a joint resolution in 1990 proclaiming November “National American Indian Heritage Month." Each year since, the White House has designated November to be a month honoring and celebrating Native American Heritage.

• Prior to colonization, indigenous people in the US spoke approximately 500 different languages (including signed languages!)
• There are currently 574 federally recognized tribes in the United States.
• Indigenous farmers in both North and South America are considered responsible for the domestication of beans, squash, tomatoes, and corn.
• An estimated 60% of the world's current food supply came from crops originating in North America.
• The Haudenosaunee Confederacy, formed of 5 tribal nations, is one of the oldest living democracies in the world.
• The first newspaper in a Native American language began publishing in 1828. It was bilingual, written in both English and Cherokee.

Ableism is discrimination in favor of abled people. Ableism is negative attitudes and prejudice towards someone based on their disabilities.

A micro-aggression is a statement, action, or incident regarded as an instance of indirect, subtle, or unintentional discrimination against members of a marginalized group.

• "Helping" a disabled person when they do not need help.
• Assuming a disabled person is less capable.
• Redoing a task that a disabled person has already successfully completed, because you think it couldn't be done correctly.
• Using euphemisms or outdated terminology for disability, such as:
• Differently-abled, Diff-ability, or Different-Ability
• Handicapped
• Crouching to talk to a person with Dwarfism or a wheelchair-user.
• "So-and-so overcame their disability and now do ___."
• Using baby talk or a high-pitched voice to talk to a disabled person.
• "We're all a little autistic." or "You don't look disabled."
• Telling someone they are "brave" or "an inspiration" for doing something that wouldn't be seen as brave or inspirational if a abled person did it.
• Using symbolism or language about a group of disabled people when the community has asked those symbols or language not be used anymore. (Using a puzzle piece for autism when the autistic community has asked that that symbol no longer be used)

Stella Young was an Australian comedian, journalist, and disability activist. In her TedTalk, "I'm Not Your Inspiration, Thank You Very Much," she discusses the impact of ableism and inspiration porn. Inspiration porn was coined by Stella Young as an informal term to refer to the objectification and portrayal of disabled people as inspirational, simply due to their life circumstances. Stella Young's TedTalk, shared below, is a powerful and informative look into the every-day ableism that disabled people experience.

You can watch the TedTalk by pressing play on the video embedded below, or by clicking this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8K9Gg164Bsw

• What is Inspiration Porn? - Rea Strawhill
• How to Avoid Inspiration Porn - Forbes
• Ableism and Ableist Microaggressions - Emtrain
• 3 Disability Microaggressions and Why They Matter - Forbes
• Online Microaggressions Strongly Impact Disabled Users - Cornell
• 39 Ableist Microaggressions You May Encounter at an IEP Meeting - E4C Tech
• Diversity in the Classroom: Why Representation Matters - DiverseEducation.com
  
• Jim Thorpe, America's Original Multi-Sport Athlete - History.org
• NativeAmericanHeritageMonth.gov

Email: Ev@AStepUpAcademy.org
Website: www.AStepUpAcademy.org/Diversity-Equity-Inclusion
Location: 520 Meetinghouse Road, Jenkintown, PA, USA
Phone: 215-885-1075