Starfire Learning Network

Starfire’s Learning Network is an initiative of Starfire, an organization committed to nurturing inclusive cultures, communities, and organizations.

Our Learning Network is shaped by the wisdom and lived experience of people with developmental disabilities, their families, neighbors, and those who support them.

Why Inclusion Matters

Regardless of size, organizations that build diverse, inclusive workplaces win. They realize less turnover, better recruitment results, and happier employees.

A recent survey conducted by Interact for Health showed that 63% business leaders and staff respondents felt they did not have the training, resources, or contacts to operate an inclusive workplace.

Sometimes, even the knowledge of whether employees have loved ones with a disability or are connected with someone with a disability is lacking, and yet, one in four families has a disability.

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Creating a Culture of Inclusion

Building an inclusive workforce or organizational team starts with building a culture of inclusivity. And that starts with the acknowledgement that it’s everyone’s responsibility. It’s no longer simply about ADA compliance, and it depends on your ability to make your organization more supportive, engaging place to work.

Learning Experience

Starfire supports people and organizations at any point in their mission to be more inclusive with education, tools, and resources to help create sustainable, life-making change.

Our courses are designed to:

meet organizations where they are in their inclusion learning journey
invite action-based learning that invites all into “discovering while doing”
help create a culture of vitality and inclusion
help establish life-making supports for individuals to live life to the fullest

Inclusion Programs For Adults With Disabilities

Inclusion Series

Starting with Inclusion is our four-part series designed to increase learners’ engagement by identifying systemic barriers, attitudes, and social exclusion to develop strategies that turn stumbling blocks into cornerstones of community building. Designed with beginners in mind, the series fuels foundational learning!

The first steps to practicing inclusivity is recognizing the impact of patterns we experience around disability. This session explores patterns within our community and social service system and the effect on people with disabilities, their families, support workers, and neighbors.

How we think about and act toward disability has been shaped by our past. This session explores our shared historical experiences and ways to resist harmful historical narratives to shift toward a more inclusive future by focusing on strengths-based identities.

One of the most critical steps in the series is building a network of connections that have the potential to grow deeper and add meaning, safety, and support to life. This session explores strategies for discovering and catalyzing new connections on a personal level.

Designing a better community with the people in our lives strengthens connections and creates experiences that add to our lives. This session explores tangible tools and practical planning elements that unlock the creative potential of any group, family or team to build a more inclusive culture and world for all.

Who should enroll?

Business leaders responsible for an organization’s success

Human Resource professionals

Anyone interested in creating an inclusive culture

Each Session is:

Approximately 60 minutes

Delivered as a half-day or four-week experience

In-person or online

Learner Feedback

“Starfire’s community-building methodology is helping us foster an inclusive culture among our nonprofit cohort. Thank you.”

Rachel McKinney | Senior Director, Education & Facilities Management | Interact for Health

“The partnership between JCFS Chicago and Starfire has elevated our agency’s expectations for community inclusion and belonging while providing tools to shift culture.”

J. Marlies Gramann MA, CC-SLP, Vice President, Disability Services & Chief Program Officer | JCFS

“When we recognized a need to focus more effort to support people in making meaningful connections, we went looking for an organization that had already taken that successful journey.

Starfire’s strategies, practical tools, and mentorship of our team helped us focus more effort on supporting people to make meaningful connections within their communities.”

Peter Duff | Director, Community Living Projects | St. Amant

“Starfire’s approach to build equity and inclusion by working alongside disabled communities provided insights to ArtWorks on how we can build a more welcoming environment. ”

Jane Keller | Senior Finance & Talent Director, ArtWorks

“The information, insight, and strategies were valuable, needed resources for our community partners at this year’s Building Equity in Prevention coalition academy.”

Jennifer Bierer | Communications Manager, PreventionFIRST!