D I S A BI L I T Y I S D I V E RS I T Y
Another student shared, “I used to think it
was a bad thing to be disabled. I felt differ-
ent. Now I think that it is okay to be different.
It is okay to tell people about my disability.”
derstanding empowers them to become
change leaders for inclusion of all kinds.
Inclusion is contagious. No matter the dif-
ferences, the more we seek to discover con-
nections with those whose experiences are
unlike our own, the more embedded diver-
sity becomes, until, ideally, it becomes the
standard, benefitting us all. l
In schools, celebrating disability as an im-
portant aspect of diversity and supporting
students in developing awareness and un-
Changing Perspectives founder Sam Drazin is a certified elementary educator and former elemen-
tary school teacher. Sam was born with Treacher Collins Syndrome, a rare congenital disorder
resulting in both facial anomaly and hearing loss. As a child, Sam underwent seven surgeries while
attending his local public school. Sam’s experiences, both as a student with a disability and as
a teacher working in an inclusive classroom, made him recognize the importance of improving
awareness and understanding of disabilities. Sam continues to be amazed by the positive impact
that disability awareness initiatives are having on students and educators around the country.
New CSEE Offerings for 2020-21
New Events
csee.org/eventsbytopic
Reflection: Strategies for
Experiential Learning
Online Course • Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27, 2020 A Life Worth Living • Spring 2021
Middle School Educators’ Summit
Austin, TX • Nov. 12-13, 2020 Building a Community of Dignity
Online Course • Spring 2021
DEI and SEL • Online Course • Fall 2020 Mindfulness Practices in School • Spring 2021
Religion as a Facet of DEI • Spring 2021
New Virtual Departments
csee.org/VirtualDeptMeeting
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
CSEE Connections
• Student Leadership
Summer 2020 Page 19