Janice
Fialka -- Bio
Publications
Workshops/Trainings
Micah's Writings
Emma's Writings
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"More
than ever,
professionals and parents of children
with special needs are being asked
to work in partnership."
Learn
about Janice Fialka and her unique approach
to strengthening
Parent-Professional
Partnerships
| Who is Janice? |
|
| Janice Fialka, MSW, ACSW is a national trainer, presenter, and advocate on issues related to disability. She is the author of three books, numerous articles, poems, and the newly produced CD of three of her poems accompanied by original piano music and stunning visuals. (For more on the CD or other writings, click on Publications). Over the past decade Janice has been a presenter or keynote speaker at local, state, and national conferences throughout the United States and Canada on many related topics: inclusive education, secondary transition, sibling issues and most notably about ways to strengthen the parent-professional partnership.
She has been a plenary speaker at DEC (Division for Early Childhood) Conference of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), the International Parent-to-Parent Conference, TASH, and Zero to Three Training Institute (forthcoming ). (For a complete listing of presentations click here.)
SPECIAL RECOGNITION:
On May 17, 2007, Janice was awarded the "2007 Social Worker of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers - Michigan Chapter."
RIGHT:
"Through the Same Door: Inclusion Includes College," the award-winning film about Micah Fialka-Feldman's journey. Available now on DVD.
Premier Showing: The Premier showing of the film Through the Same Door: Inclusion Includes College was attended by almost 500 people.
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Through the Same Door: Inclusion Includes College is now also on YouTube:
 Click here to order this DVD NOW!
(Pay with credit card, PayPal, or check)
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Janice and her husband, Rich Feldman, have two wonderful children, Micah (22 yrs) and Emma (18 yrs) who both also speak nationally and write about disability issues. Micah, who has a cognitive impairment, has been in inclusive education. Janice draws on her experiences as both a parent and an experienced social worker.
Janice and Rich believe in having great expectations, living with the “audacity of hope,” and building strong inclusive communities where no one is excluded and the gifts of every person are nurtured and honored.
Why the "Dance"?
The title of Janice's keynote address and training, “The Dance of Partnership: Why Do My Feet Hurt?," is indicative of her commitment to bring humor, creativity, and compassion to her work. She believes the dance is a perfect metaphor to describe how she is living her life as a mother of two. As she says in her second book, Do You Hear What I Hear? (co-authored with Karen Mikus), “Forming partnerships between professionals and parents with children of special needs is like learning a new dance. At first both “dancers” are often awkward and do not glide together gracefully across the floor. |
| Janice Fialka (front) and her family:
Rich Feldman, Micah Fialka-Feldman and Emma Fialka-Feldman |
| Each partner seems to be listening to different music and moving to different steps. Each seems to have different hopes, expectations, needs, and constraints. Toes -- and feelings -- get stepped on. The real dance of partnership occurs when all partners listen to each other's music, try out each other's dance steps, and work toward a new dance that involves the contributions of all partners.” |
Ms.
Fialka's colleagues say:
“Fialka writes with warmth, experience, and humor on important topics. She is a mom, a crusader for social justice, a poet, and a strong advocate for those who are left out. I recommend her work highly.” -Mary Pipher, author of Reviving Ophelia
"Janice, you were the star of Maryland 's State Department of Education's Annual Conference! Our thanks goes to you for bringing your message to families and professionals in such a compassionate and personal way. You moved an entire room of people to tears, and good tears, for it was through your story that we all made personal realizations, whether we were personally identifying with your processing stages or realizing from the other side how someone in the position of being a parent of a child with disabilities feels. Regardless, it was an opportunity to grow and learn. You did a fabulous job with skill and grace, and contributed greatly to the overall success of the conference." - Valerie Von Behren, Statewide Family Support Services Coordinator, Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services, April 2006
[Janice] "made a profound difference in how I will teach my graduate courses in
infant mental development and infant mental health in the years to
come." - Hiram E. Fitzgerald, Executive Director, World
Association for Infant Mental Health
"She
speaks with passion, wisdom, and heart. She is easily capable of moving
you to tears with her personal stories, but also provides precious
pearls of wisdom for anyone working with the population. An excellent
speaker." - Joseph Manary, LLP Prevention Coordinator, Alpena,
Michigan
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