Message from AHEAD
The Association of Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) is a leading professional organization in the field of post-secondary disability service providers and SOU DR always aims to align our practices with what comes out of this respected organization and on the issue of Black Lives Matter, this remains true. It is important to recognize that our campus community is predominantly white, and we have the responsibility to educate ourselves in allyship and anti-racism. SOU DR would like to contribute to these vital conversations by hosting free webinars as they are available, dates TBA. AHEAD has also compiled Resources on Racial Equity with a list of Books, Movies, Podcasts, Web Resources and organizations to donate to.
As AHEAD releases their free webinars on dialogue and learning we will ensure to host them for our campus community’s continued learning.
In alignment with AHEAD, we would like to pass on their message of support, and resources for our campus community.
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The AHEAD leadership mourns the recent tragic deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor. We recognize that while their deaths anger and sadden us all, the cumulative impact of the many losses of Black lives to police brutality and the overt and covert racism take a tremendous emotional toll on our Black colleagues and other colleagues of color. These tragic losses have happened during a time when communities of color are already being disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and its impact on their physical, social, and emotional well-being.
We are heartbroken and we extend our heartfelt concern and support to you and to the Black students and staff within your campus communities.
But for those of us who are white, grieving must not be done silently. White supremacy protects and benefits white people, while it simultaneously creates disparities and inequities in every aspect of life for Black and Brown people. For white folks, there is much work to be done to shift the power and privilege imbalance Americans of Color experience. Ignoring or denying that work only further perpetuates systemic racism. Listening patiently and empathetically to those directly affected by these atrocities without defensiveness or centering whiteness can go a long way to help others but we must not stop there.
It is time for tough conversations with corresponding action. We express our solidarity and reaffirm our commitment to doing the important work of disrupting the systemic racism that is at the root of these horrendous injustices. We challenge all of our members to work collectively within and outside our organization to examine our own racial biases, learn more about the actions that perpetuate racism and oppression, and to become a part of the solution - a more inclusive and equitable society.
AHEAD, led by the Racial and Ethnic Diversity and Disability Knowledge and Practice Community, will be offering upcoming opportunities for dialogue and learning:
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Free Webinar: Cultural Humility and Implicit Bias
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Free Webinar: What Can I Do? Leveraging White Privilege to Disrupt Racism
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Open Dialogue: An Invitation for Black and African American AHEADMembers to Connect and Initiate Progressively Meaningful Change in their Higher Education and Local Communities
In addition, the AHEAD Board will begin discussions at this summer’s board meeting about how we can address bias and racism in our organization. We are committed to continuing conversations and action surrounding this topic.
