May 5-9, 2025 - Virtual via Zoom
May 5-9, 2025 - Virtual via Zoom
Washington state has a long and proud history of disability rights advocacy and inclusion. We have passed laws and policies that reflect a shared commitment to ensuring people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have the opportunities and supports they need to fully participate in all parts of life, from school, to work and in the community. While there has been great progress over the past 50 years, many students in our public schools are still educated separately from peers with and without disabilities, especially students with intellectual and developmental disabilities and Black students with IEPs. We know that inclusion is possible, and at DDA we are excited to partner with individuals with IDD, parents, advocates and educators to advance inclusion from preschool through elementary, middle and high school, and beyond. Join parent and advocate Elizabeth Johnston, DDA's Community Collaborations Program Manager, Ivanova Smith, DDA Case Resource Manager and parent, Christa Hewitt, and DDA’s Educational Liaison Program Manager, Rose Spidell for a panel discussion on how we can all collaborate to advance inclusion in our state’s public schools. Add your voice to the discussion with this group that reflects lived experiences of individuals with IDD, parents of children with IDD and DDA staff who have the opportunity to work with them.
Christa’s disability advocacy work is rooted in her family’s lived experience. Christa has published articles on Autism acceptance, presented on Autistic liberation to WA state's Equity, Diversity & Inclusion ambassadors, and promoted Neuro-inclusive hiring practices to DSHS’ Employer of Choice workgroup. Christa holds a bachelor’s degree in human services from WWU and is an enhanced case manager for DDA. Previously she served on the Governor’s Committee on Disability & Employment Issues. Christa recently started a meet up group for Autistic kids and families in Bremerton. She lives in beautiful Kitsap County with her neurodiverse family.
Elizabeth Johnston, goes by Lizzy, and pronouns are she/they. Lizzy is a self-advocate and a parent advocate. In 2023, Lizzy was appointed Secretary of the State Board of People First and now is the State Board Historian. They also serve as the Pierce County chapter President.
mx. Ivanova Smith is a former special education student. Ivanova recently was hired by DDA as Community Collaboration Program Manager. Ivanova has over 10 years experience being a disability civil rights activist. They are happily married and have two beautiful daughters. They are passionate about civil rights of all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Rose Spidell joined the DSHS’s Developmental Disabilities Administration in fall 2022 to serve in the role of DDA Educational Liaison Program Manager. Rose joined DDA after a decade at the Washington State Office of Education Ombuds where she collaborated with families, students, educators and community partners to support full access to school for all students. Now at DDA, Rose works with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, DDA case managers, educators and other community partners, continuing the collaborative effort of building inclusive school communities where all students have opportunity to engage and thrive.
