All posts by Diane Storman

Diane has contributed to the fields of developmental disabilities and mental health as a program manager, trainer and consultant for nearly 30 years. Her perspective combines lived experience with academic and professional expertise. She has worked with non-profit organizations that offer peer-based support, parents and provider education, and support to advocacy efforts.
Authors R-Z, Healthcare, Immigration

DEI Cutbacks and Immigrant Mental Health – by Diane Storman

Research increasingly links the erosion of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, alongside rising anti-immigrant rhetoric, to a significant decline in the mental health of immigrant populations (Lopez et al., 2017). This crisis is the direct result of a convergence of systemic hostility, and the withdrawal of institutional safeguards converge. The impact manifests as increased discrimination, reduced access to culturally competent care, and a pervasive fear of law enforcement intervention. As vital safety nets are dismantled, immigrants are left to navigate a landscape where institutional support is replaced by the constant threat of detention or deportation.

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Authors R-Z, Disability

Dismantling DEI and Special Education – by Diane Storman

How anti-DEI initiatives
may impact students

We typically view Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs through the prism of race and culture. However, there is a profound connection between DEI principles and the progress made in Special Education over the past 50 years, especially in the context of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), passed in 1975, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), passed in 1990. Expanding rights and opportunities for students with disabilities is deeply intertwined with broader shifts in thinking about inclusion and access.

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