04/13/2021 MASHPEE INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY COMMITTEE Minutes

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2. Conflict of Interest Training- Verification of completion of training was required by April 2. Kim Landry will check on who needs to complete. It is required every two years 3. Member Sharing-The Chair referred to Conversations That Matter, a site run by Marie Younger Blackburn. She was introduced to a photographer/author who depicts the immigrant experience in New Hampshire. She and Effie Purdy, Human Rights Club Advisor, will meet with Chairwoman in June to learn how to possibly mirror this concept for Mashpee Middle High School. Gail Wilson expressed appreciation for the invitation to view Picture a Scientist and the speech by Robert Barrows on policing. She and Kim Landry attended. NEW BUSINESS Our guest speaker was Marie Younger Blackburn.As a way of introduction, the Chair referenced her own experience 60 years ago when she visited the Belchertown School For the Feeble Minded and was horrified by the warehousing of children and adults with disabilities. She recommended the documentary Crip Camp, which shows one of these institutions. The documentary goes on to show how handicap laws came into being and how our country has come a long way. Ms. Blackburn stated that she has lived on Cape Cod for 36 years and is the parent of 3 sons of varying ages. She has been involved in many committees and events including the Mashpee Housing Authority, the Human Service Committee, the YMCCA Board, and the College Light Opera. She is a community activist. Ms. Blackburn told the story of giving birth to her last child at age 41 and gave him a name of prominence, Chase Bradford Blackburn. Chase was born with Downs Syndrome and she has taken on a journey finding space for a child with special needs. She prefers to use the term "Diversabilities". Her primary focus is on accessibility. In his preschool years Chase was enrolled in an inclusive classroom in North Falmouth. When he was to enter first grade, she was told that the school could not accommodate him, causing her team experience to become adversarial. She was given a list of possible placements and ended up in the Mashpee Schools where she felt an immediate affinity. A teacher, Mrs. Green, approached her remembering her other son from years before and she felt immediately at home. "Mashpee gets him". Ms. Blackburn described the many issues of care for a Downs Syndrome child: physical, heart, feet, weight, orthopedics, toileting, behavioral, etc. She feels that Chase has a right to a meaningful life. He wants to embrace the world. Music is his language, and he knows the words to Opera, Jazz, Country and Rock and Roll. She uses the social media post "Chasing Music, Chasing Chase" But all of this comes at a cost. Ms. Blackburn expressed appreciation to Superintendent DeBoer and the Mashpee Schools for creating an accepting and inclusive Community. When she sees a potential issue, such as being triggered as a black woman and parent by the presence of a police officer in the 4