Tue, Nov 09
|https://bit.ly/MERGEfriendships
Promoting Inclusion, Promoting Friendship
Youth with disabilities experience isolation and loneliness at a greater rate than their non-disabled peers. Having a reciprocal and authentic friend, can make a world of difference for a person who may be surrounded by people, but still alone.
Time & Location
Nov 09, 2021, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
https://bit.ly/MERGEfriendships
About the event
We welcome parents of children without disabilities to take part in this webinar presentation, led by Lisa Drennan, Founder of MERGE Inclusion Consulting, to learn top strategies on supporting your child to consider reaching out to, and extending a welcome to get to know a peer with diverse abilities. Together we can start to break down barriers, imagine what’s possible and begin to focus on similarities, not differences.
Lisa has a 36-year career supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to be active and engaged with in their community.
Starting as a direct support professional at New England Village, a residential community for adults with developmental disabilities, she climbed the ranks and expanded her experience to be named the Director of the Sollar Wellness Center, a first-of-it-kind building offering aquatics, fitness, music, art and education specifically designed to meet the needs of persons with developmental disabilities.
In 2014, she joined the South Shore YMCA as the first-ever Association Director of Inclusion. Through innovative program development, creation and execution of comprehensive staff training and building community partnerships she was recognized as a leader in the field of social and recreational inclusion for persons with diverse abilities. Lisa was appointed as the National Chairperson of the YUSA’s Diverse Abilities Working Group providing a platform of learning and sharing of best practices for Y’s across the country. In 2018 Lisa started her own company, MERGE Inclusion Consulting where she provides comprehensive consultation, staff training and systems implementation to community entities committed to recreation, sport and social program inclusion. MERGE consulting and trainings also focus on providing support for agencies and family members of persons with disabilities in helping them to access inclusion programming and becoming valued members of their community.
She graduated from Saint Michael's College in Vermont with a Psychology degree. She lives with her family in Pembroke, Massachusetts and is an avid fitness enthusiast who enjoys outdoor adventure activities.