through the same doors - micah fialka-feldman

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?

[email protected]

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

through the same doors - micah fialka-feldman

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