Board Diversity and Inclusion: Disability Perspectives
Board Diversity and Inclusion: Disability Perspectives
Develop a foundational understanding of how to effectively invite people with diverse disabilities into meaningful board participation.
This workshop equips board members with definitions and key concepts related to diverse forms of disability including persons experiencing immuno-compromised systems and/or chronic illness. Participants will explore common barriers to creating truly accessible and inclusive board roles and identify practical next steps to building a more inclusive and accessible culture.
Suggested Participants:
Non-profit board members, Executive Directors/CEOs, or other senior staff who have prior knowledge and experience related to board diversity and inclusion and want to advance that work.
Note: As this workshop builds on prior knowledge and experience with board diversity and inclusion, intermediate knowledge and experience related to these topics is highly recommended. We suggest starting with our other board diversity & inclusion workshops: Introduction to Key Concepts and Deepening Foundations and Embedding Actions, or equivalent, prior to enrolling in this workshop.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:
- Explore key concepts and definitions related to disability.
- Identify actions to develop an inclusive board culture and create safer spaces for people with diverse disabilities.
- Identify practical ways to support accessibility.
Workshop Benefits:
- A space to learn about complex concepts such as ableism.
- Gain perspective on what it takes to build accessible board opportunities.
- Meet and learn from other non-profit leaders who are on a relatable journey with their board.
Facilitator
Erin Leckie
Erin has over 10 years of people, organization and project management experience and 20 years facilitating environmental education and inclusivity work. She is a settler of Celtic ancestry who has grown up on and fallen in love with xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, elílwitulh, andsḵwx̱wú7mesh lands and waters.
Erin continues to learn how to decolonize work and co-create environments and programs that support individual, collective and organizational thriving. She has done this through management roles, as a non-profit Executive Director, Board member, strategic advisor and intentional collaborator. Erin recently trained in restorative justice facilitation and collaborative conflict resolution.
In her spare time, she can be found canoeing rivers, scaling mountains or participating in cultural gatherings.
Facilitator
Sowmya Baskar
Sowmya has 12+ years of progressive human resource management experience in conceptualizing, planning and delivery of complex, large-scale, mission and value-driven initiatives across technology and finance sectors. Her areas of focus include recruitment, HRBP, culture, change management, policy, employee relations, diversity and employee development.
Sowmya is skilled in conducting policy research and analysis,, program evaluation, project design and management, and strategic communications, with a Masters in Human Resource and CPHR designation.
She is passionate about creating an enabling and inclusive work environment where employees can find choices and opportunities to improve their work and feel empowered to make positive impact. She has worked in multi-cultural teams, collaborated with diverse stakeholders and combined analytical and management skills to craft creative solutions for complex organization challenges.
Sowmya has also been recognized with several awards during her career. She’s a TEDx Speaker and has delivered keynote speeches in industry forums. She has worked closely with non-profits sector to help them build capacity, workforce, train and coach staff and in fund raising.
