Adult and Community Learning Services (ACLS) provides adult educators with the charge to create inclusive program environments:

“We envision a future where every adult in Massachusetts has the knowledge, skills, and support they need to lead the life they aspire to live.”

The SABES Program Support PD Team offers ADA & Disability Inclusion resources and training on topics such as: the definition of disability; disability rights; ADA compliance; reasonable accommodations; the role of the ADA Coordinator, disability screening and referrals, and program practices that increase inclusion.

Read below for a summary of our offerings, check out resources in the Resource Library, view all ADA and Disability Inclusion offerings in the Canvas catalog by selecting ADA & Disability Inclusion in the ‘topic’ dropdown menu, and view the SABES calendar for upcoming professional development offerings.

Basic Disability Screening for Adult Educators (BDSAE)

This Basic Disability Screening for Adult Education document is a resource to help adult educators increase the inclusion and effective support of persons with disabilities in their programs. The BDSAE includes the following forms:

• The Basic Accessibility Checklist for ADA Coordinators and Administrators is the instrument that helps programs evaluate their program’s ADA compliance and disability-conscious program administration.
• The Basic Disability Screening is designed to help program staff begin the conversation with students about their disability-related accommodation needs and to guide the process of development of a Preferred Accommodations Plan for each student who discloses disabilities.
• The List of Common Accommodations for Adult Learners helps staff identify possible accommodations for the student.
• Staff then use the Preferred Accommodations Plan to summarize preferred accommodations for teaching and learning.

Professional Development Opportunities

These courses empower adult educators and programs by enhancing the knowledge and expertise of ADA Coordinators and embedding BDSAE tools into standard practices. They deliver targeted resources and strategies to foster greater inclusion of individuals with disabilities across all programming.

View upcoming events and register for courses using the SABES Calendar. To view all available ADA and Disability Inclusion offerings, visit the SABES Canvas catalog. 

Coaching and Program-Based PD

The SABES Program Support PD team offers coaching to help your program become more disability inclusive. Coaching is responsive and tailored, and is focused on what is realistic for your program. For more information and to express interest, please visit the ADA and Disability Inclusion Coaching page. Program-based PD allows us to come present and work with your program on a specific ADA & Disability Inclusion topic. Be in touch with Dani Scherer (dani.scherer@jsi.org) with questions.

Resources

Find all resources from the SABES Program Support Team – including research, reports, and course materials – by navigating to the Resource Library. Filter for “ADA and Disability Inclusion” under “PD Area,” or search by topic or keyword.

Contact Us

Please be in touch with questions and requests:

• For technical support (including program-based PD and coaching), please reach out to Dani Scherer (dani.scherer@jsi.org) 
• For general support (including registration and accessing PD), please contact Sovanna Carnell Guyon (sovanna.carnellguyon@jsi.org)