We’d like to extend our thanks to everyone who joined us at the Spring Inclusion Symposium earlier this month. Whether you were able to join us live or not, your support is greatly appreciated.
For those who could attend, it was wonderful to share the experience with you. For those who couldn’t, we have made several resources available below to ensure you don’t miss out on the valuable insights and discussions from the event.
We will continue to add events and resources, so be sure to bookmark this page and check back soon for updates! If you have any events/resources you’d like for us to include, please contact Deven Stepney: devens@wustl.edu.
Department’s inaugural Spring Inclusion Symposium ignites commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility
Duo Dogs Event Feedback Survey
In an effort to better meet the needs of our supporters, and gain feedback about the impact of our services, we ask that you complete a brief survey after your event. This information is beneficial for the continued evaluation and improvement of our programs. Personal information will not be collected, and all survey responses remain anonymous.
IDD Gateway Resource Guide
The IDD Gateway Resource Guide was developed as a resource for service providers, individuals, and families to have access to information about regional resources in one place. This tool is designed to be interactive and will often link users to other agency sites to gain a deeper understanding
The power of inclusion: Aaron DeVries at TEDxHoracePark
A passionate advocate for full inclusion for students with disabilities, DeVries shares stories of failure and success. He shares that we have come along way but there are still things that need to be done.
Rick Guidotti’s inclusive art exhibit will be featured throughout the medical campus at the below dates and locations. If interested in having art displayed in your space, please contact Deven Stepney: devens@wustl.edu.
June 10 – June 21, 2024
Center for Advanced Medicine
1st floor and 3rd floor lobby
May 22 – July 12, 2024
Department of Anesthesiology
Northwest Tower – 12th floor
Peter’s Lounge – 2nd and 3rd floors
CSRB – 5th floor
NRB – 9th floor
June 1 – July 5, 2024
Department of Emergency Medicine
Renard – 1st floor
June 1 – July 5, 2024
Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Mid-Campus Center
Event Schedule
Interactive Exhibition and Reception
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Enjoy light appetizers and beverages while engaging with the artistic expression of inclusive representation, and networking with attendees and community partners.
DeafInc is dedicated to providing effective communication access to the deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing individuals in the St. Louis metro area.
DUO Dogs is a national nonprofit organization that trains and connects dogs with people to cultivate positive change in individuals, families, and communities.
Artists First is an inclusive, non-profit art studio empowering artists of all abilities. Artists First uses creative self-expression to build equity, equality, and empowerment in the Saint Louis region and beyond.
Paraquad champions equity and independence for people with disabilities through services, partnerships, education, and advocacy.
Starkloff Institute is focused on building inclusion through disability-led programs that advance economic opportunity and transform lives.
St. Louis Arc empowers people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families to lead better lives by providing a lifetime of high-quality services, family support, and advocacy.
St. Louis Society of the Blind provides low-vision services to the blind and visually impaired with a focus on helping individuals regain and maintain their independence.
TinySuperheroes through Capes and Community, TinySuperheroes is on a mission to change the way the world sees illness or disability.
Unlimited Play is an award winning non-profit organization that builds universally accessible playgrounds to promote health and wellness while transforming communities by providing the freedom of play for ALL children and families.
Keynote #1: Inequities in Healthcare and Ableism in Medical Education
1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy and Neurology
Kerri Morgan, PhD, OTR/L, ATP, Assistant Professor in the Program in Occupational Therapy and Neurology at Washington University School of Medicine, earned a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy and a PhD in Movement Science from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. Most recently, she earned a certificate in Implementation Science through the University of California, San Francisco. She is actively involved in conducting research and mentoring health professional students. Prior to working at Washington University, Dr. Morgan served as an intern at the White House in the Presidential Personnel Office and at Devonshire Hospital in the Occupational Therapy Department in London, England. She is a certified Assistive Technology Professional (ATP). She has served on many organizational and state boards (e.g., Paraquad Independent Living Center, St. Louis City Office for the Disabled and the American Occupational Therapy Foundation). Dr. Morgan is also an avid wheelchair athlete and distinguished Paralympian. In 2009, she was the first woman to be selected to represent the U.S. National Wheelchair Rugby team. She has competed in three Paralympic Games on the U.S. Track and Field team that included Beijing in 2008, London in 2012 and Rio in 2016. She has won four Paralympic medals and 10 World Championship medals in distances ranging from 100m to 800m.
Panel Discussion on Inclusive Workplaces
2:10 – 3:20 p.m.
This panel discussion will feature experts sharing insights and strategies aimed at fostering inclusive workplaces and promoting diversity, equity, and belonging within organizational settings.
Moderated by Brian Wessman, MD, Professor, Anesthesiology & Emergency Medicine, parent advocate.
Panelists:
- Aimee Wehmeier, MBA, President at Paraquad, Inc.
- Thy Huskey, MD, FAAPMR, Professor, Orthopaedic Surgery and Neurology
- Peppar Cyr, MPhil, MD/PhD Candidate, Neonatal Development Research (WUNDER) Lab
- Chris Stone, EdD, Director, WashU’s Office of Disability Resources
- Robyn Rosenberger, Founder & CEO at TinySuperheroes
Keynote #2: Visual Humanity and Representation in Healthcare
3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Rick Guidotti, an award-winning photographer, has spent more than twenty-five years collaborating internationally with nonprofit organizations, hospitals, medical schools, educational institutions, museums, galleries, advocacy groups, and communities to effect a sea-change in societal attitudes towards individuals living with genetic, physical, behavioral, or intellectual difference; his work has been published in newspapers, magazines and journals as diverse as Elle, GQ, People, the American Journal of Medical Genetics, The Lancet, Spirituality and Health, the Washington Post, Atlantic Monthly and LIFE Magazine.
Rick is the founder and director of POSITIVE EXPOSURE, a non-profit organization that promotes a more inclusive world through award-winning photography, film, and educational programs. POSITIVE EXPOSURE has significantly impacted the field of human rights, mental health, medicine, and education by providing new opportunities to see each individual as a human being and valued member of our society.
In June 1998, Guidotti’s work was featured in LIFE Magazine’s cover story entitled, Redefining Beauty. In collaboration with the Genetic Alliance and the National Human Genome Research Institute, Rick Guidotti premiered a photographic exhibition for the People’s Genome Celebration at the Smithsonian’s Museum of Natural History in 2001. Since then, he has continued to develop exhibitions, lectures, workshops, educational programs, and initiatives around the globe.
In 2019, Rick and his team opened their new Headquarters in East Harlem on New York City’s Museum Mile that embraces individuals at risk of stigma and exclusion and serves as a central hub for showcasing the work of visual, performing, literary, and multi-sensory artists as well as providing educational, cultural, and artist-in-residency programming.
Rick remains committed to collaborating with individuals, families, and communities around the world, celebrating the beauty and richness of our shared humanity.