Launched Autism Inclusion Workshop for Elementary Schools’ 4th Graders Genesee County Public School District
This post was updated to reflect numerous developments since November 2023 for both the foundation and for Humanities 101’s Executive Director Dr. Adam Hazlett.
Not long after paperwork was filed to incorporate Humanities 101 and apply for tax exempt status did local outreach on behalf of the foundation begin.
Board members turned to the local school district of Genesee County, where both the President Dr. Adam Hazlett and the Secretary Vera Hazlett are not only members of the community but Mrs. Hazlett has taught and Dr. Hazlett is a former chair of the Fenton-Winegarden Library in Genesee County. Dr. Hazlett has also “had the pleasure of serving as Fenton School district representative on the Genesee County Intermediate School District Parent Advisory Council.”
Aiding organizations in fostering an inclusive lived experience for their target communities is at the forefront of Humanities 101’s mission.
On November 15, 2023 Humanities 101 began working with the Genesee School District to bring Autism Inclusion Workshops to the classroom, and later the local libraries in the county. The initial classroom where Dr. Hazlett offered the workshop included the neurodivergent focus group of elementary kids who helped develop the Nonspeaking Communication Aide Sticker.
Shortly after this initial collaboration with the Genesee Country Dr. Hazlett found himself in another classroom for a presentation in February. The Autism Inclusion Workshop this time was presented to a Genesee High School for a Future Teachers Day Class.
Making the world more neuro-inclusive is a daunting task, however, starting with your own community is often the first step to social changes. Humanities 101 found this to be absolutely true with working with the school district of Genesee and the county’s local libraries.
Dr. Hazlett sold out an event in April, Autism Acceptance and Empowerment Month, at the Grand Blanc Library titled Autism: Helping Family and Friends with Micro-Accommodations.
People in the neuro-divergent community and who care about someone in that community turned out in mass to hear how small, nuanced, and adaptable adjustments in environments, behaviors, or communication styles could help cater to the diverse needs of individuals.
Most recently Dr. Hazlett offered the Autism Inclusion Workshop at the Cilo Library of Genesee County in September and the upcoming events of 2025 for Humanities 101 include more direct outreach for the neurodivergent community in Genesee.
Every act of outreach for the community brings us “one step closer to making Genesee County Neuro-Inclusive by 2035.”
This is a personal goal of Dr. Hazlett’s that is shared by the entire board of Humanities 101 and Self-Advocates of Michigan, a statewide organization with the mission “to help people with developmental disabilities take charge of their lives and advocate for themselves.” Dr. Hazlett was recently elected to the Board of Directors of SAM.
As individuals connected to Humanities 101 continue to collectively work to create more inclusive environments for all communities, the mission of neuro-inclusivity remains a deeply personal goal for Dr. Hazlett.
“I know what it’s like to be lonely and to feel alone. I don’t want other people to experience that loneliness. It’s my personal and professional mission. When I teach humanities, I talk about quality of life and being a good human; I want to create that bridge for all people to become better humans.”
Over the next decade Humanities 101 pledges to help build metaphorical bridges and other metaphorical structures to ensure that everyone in Genesee County feels seen, heard, and welcomed. It’s not enough to build a ramp to the door to make it accessible, the door has to have a welcome mat that lets everyone know it’s safe to come inside.