Equity and Cultural & Linguistic Competence - Resources to Consider

Family Stories

Taking time to listen to the lived experiences of culturally and linguistically diverse families and the barriers they face accessing and participating in dispute resolution is critical. Awareness and understanding of individual experiences leads to more equitable dispute resolution systems and practices. The following resources offer potential insight into family perspectives.

• Getting the Family Involved – Engaging in Education in Native Communities, Presented by: Priscilla Maynor. Ed.D, Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina
• Visiting a House on the Other Side of Town , Presented by: Johnny Lake, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Northwest Christian College
• Shifting Your Perspective: Lessons and Insights from Spanish-Speaking Families, National Center on Deaf-Blindness
• La Sopa de la Abuela: Special Education Telenovela, Arlington Public Schools

Knowledge and Skills

Anyone interested in improving their interactions and relationships with culturally and linguistically diverse individuals and communities will benefit from ongoing knowledge and skill development. Having the knowledge and skills necessary to respond in more culturally and linguistically appropriate ways improves access and participation in dispute resolution processes. The following resources provide content for continued growth and development.

• Beyond the Dotted Line: Empowering Parents From Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Families to Participate, Ya-Chih Chang, Mariela Avila, and Hannah Rodriguez, Teaching Exceptional Children
• Exploring the Cultural Dimensions of Conflict, Presented by:  Sukhsimranjit Singh, Associate Director, Willamette University Center for Dispute Resolution
• Promoting Equity in Education Through Family Engagement, Formed Families Forward
• VIDEO: Parent Engagement in the Early Years, Part I (link is external), Presented by: Dr. Marilyn Chipman, Equity Specialist Coordinator, The Region III Equity Assistance Center
• VIDEO: Parent Engagement in the Early Years, Part II (link is external), Presented by: Dr. Marilyn Chipman, Equity Specialist Coordinator, The Region III Equity Assistance Center
• https://www.multiculturalfamilies.org/resources/professional-webinars/
• Responding Racial Bias and Microaggressions in Online Environments, CORA Learning
• Disproportionality in Special Education | IDEA Part B | Module 5, Center for Parent Information and Resources (CPIR)
• Race and Ethnic Background in Special Education, Exceptional Children's Assistance Center
• Leading by Convening: A Blueprint for Authentic Engagement

Language Access

When information is communicated in plain language, in the spoken language of the families served, and in accessible formats, families can make informed decisions, and barriers to access and participation in dispute resolution processes are reduced. The following resources provide strategies for improving language access.

• Working Together with Interpreters, Open Doors for Multicultural Families
• How Language Can Impact Accessibility and Inclusion, RAISE Center

System Improvement

Culturally and linguistically competent dispute resolution systems are aware of barriers, biases, and disparities existing within their system which lead to inequitable outcomes for users. They prioritize engaging with their stakeholders from diverse communities, challenging norms and assumptions, and embracing new ways of functioning to create more equitable and accessible systems. The following resources provide content to assist with cultural and linguistic system improvement efforts.

• Gain a Better Understanding of Your Dispute Resolution System Utilizing CADRE’s CLC Self-assessment Process, Webinar introducing key components of CADRE's CLC Self-assessment Tool, and how it can lead to system improvement.
• Getting Buy In and Implementing Cultural and Linguistic Competence Organizational Assessments, Presented by: Andy Arias, Policy Advisor U.S. Department of Labor, Tawara D. Goode, Principal Investigator Leadership Institute for Cultural Diversity and Cultural and Linguistic Competence Georgetown University National Center for Cultural Competence Director, Vivian Jackson, Senior Policy Associate Leadership Institute for Cultural Diversity and Cultural and Linguistic Competence Georgetown University National Center for Cultural Competence Elizabeth Weintraub, Advocacy Specialist Association of University Centers on Disability
• Cultural Competence: What it Means for Person-Centered Thinking, Planning, & Practice, Presented by: Georgetown University National Center for Cultural Competence and the National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems (NCAPPS)
• Pieces of the Same Puzzle: The Role of Culture in Person-Centered Thinking, Planning, and Practice, Tawara D. Goode: July 9, 2019 - PowerPoint; Recording; Spanish Language Transcript
• Community-Led Systems Change in a Public School District through Parent Participatory Evaluation, Presented by Amanda Dionne and Maren Gelle Henderson, Minneapolis Public Schools
• Pursuing Equity at the Intersection of Language, Culture, and Disability Thought Leader Conversation (TLC) Series, NCSI