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Interactive Workshop

Community Organization and Social Administration

From Exclusion to Empowerment: Disability Justice and Holistic Social Support to Uplift Communities

    Presenter(s)

  • Lily Kays, n/a

    MSW Student
    UNC Chapel Hill School of Social Work

  • Travis Albritton, PhD

    Associate Dean for Student Success and Belonging, Clinical Professor
    UNC Chapel Hill - School of Social Work

Children of color face systemic barriers, compounded by ableist policies that limit access to essential resources. Navigating IEPs, accommodations, and disability services within schools is challenging, leaving many families without support. This presentation explores holistic, community-driven solutions to promote disability justice, strengthen families, and ensure equitable educational outcomes for children.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, attendees should be able to:
  1. Participants will identify and assess the systemic inequities that impact children of color with disabilities, including barriers to education, mental health services, and social support.
  2. Explore and apply community-driven, integrated support models that enhance parental advocacy, student success, and family well-being through peer reviewed research models.
  3. Develop actionable strategies for building sustainable, family-centered support systems and look at solutions for implementing disability justice frameworks in social work practice, ensuring inclusive and equitable support for marginalized families.