Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)


Who We Are

The Sienna Ranch Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Council  consists of Ranch Administration, Teachers, and Parent volunteers whose mission is to advocate for DEI at Sienna Ranch. Sienna Ranch is a primary source of socialization for our students. As an organization founded without an equity plan, we have played and continue to play a role in the maintenance and reproduction of social inequality. We are working to unlearn what we have been taught to be true and question the often oppressive values we have adopted. Collectively we must ask ourselves what barriers to inclusivity are embedded within our program or organization? Sienna Ranch is committed to building a culturally diverse community. We welcome youth from every race, national origin, ability, gender identity, religion, political belief, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, and culture.

What We Do

The DEI council helps to inform our instructor trainings, hiring questions, scholarships, and curriculum development, as well as reflect and respond to feedback we receive from families. We meet monthly to further the growth of Sienna Ranch’s DEI mission. We welcome any questions and feedback you may have about DEI. You can email admin@siennaranch.net and it will get passed onto the DEI council. 

Actions we are taking:

  • Added a donation option to our registrations that go to the Scholarship Fund
  • Donate all late fees and lost & found gear sale money to the Scholarship Fund
  • Held an anti bias training for our staff with Victor Lewis
  • Added time in our weekly meetings for instructors to share and workshop DEI scenarios in an effort  to identify growth opportunities. 
  • Awarded $2,900 in Scholarship funds for the 2021/2022 school year. 
  • Awarded $4470 in Scholarship funds for the 2022/2023 school year.

Neurodiversity

Read more about our Seed Social Group Here.

Scholarships

See our Scholarship Page for more information.

Resources

Read More Resources below.

DEI Resources

Books:

Autism and Neurodiversity:

  • Neurotribes – Steve Silberman
  • Uniquely Human – Barry Prizant
  • The Reason I Jump – The Inner Voice of a Thirteen Year Old Boy with Autism– Naoki Higashida

Inclusion and Strengths-Based Educational Approaches: 

  • “You’re Going to Love This Kid”: Teaching Students with Autism in the Inclusive Classroom – Paula Kluth
  • Including One, Including All – Wanerman, Roffman, & Britton
  • Understanding Your Child’s Sensory Signals – Angie Voss
  • Neurodiversity in the Classroom: Strength-Based Strategies to Help Students with Special Needs Succeed in School and Life – Thomas Armstrong 

Outdoor Education Lessons and Curriculum:

  • Woodland Explorers: Lesson Plans for Teaching Outdoor Education to Students with Autism or Developmental Delays  – Linda Susan Amy
  • Gardening for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Special Education Needs: Engaging with Nature to Combat Anxiety, Promote Sensory Integration and Build Social Skills – Natasha Etherington

Web Articles and Websites:

Resources to Listen to:

Resources to Watch:

  • 13th (Ava DuVernay) – Netflix
  • Just Mercy (Destin Daniel Cretton) – Amazon Prime
  • The Hate U Give (George Tillman Jr.) – Hulu with Cinemax