DISES President’s Letter – June 2025

Dear DISES Community,

As we near our annual conference in Nairobi and Lake Naivasha Kenya, we continue to embrace the Swahili principle of “harambee” - “all pull together” or “let’s unite”. This concept of collective action continues to drive our ongoing efforts to dismantle barriers and promote equity and access through inclusive practices for students with disabilities around the globe. At the close of the conference, we will share the much-anticipated announcement of the location and theme for our 2026 conference. For those unable to attend in person, we will share the announcement with our entire community shortly!

Transition and change are a natural part of any organization’s journey, and DISES is currently undergoing some significant changes that bring both celebration and a touch of sadness. Alice Farling, who has served tirelessly for more than 16 years in various board leadership positions, including the presidential chain and most recently eight years as the Executive Director of DISES, has announced her retirement. Alice has traveled the globe with DISES, advocating for inclusive education and building lasting partnerships that have strengthened the DISES mission. Her leadership and unwavering dedication will be greatly missed. I am excited to welcome Nicole DeClouette as the new Executive Director of DISES. Nicole brings a wealth of experience and a strong commitment to DISES and inclusive education, having served previously as Secretary, President, and other roles. We are confident she will continue to lead DISES with compassion and purpose.

We also express heartfelt gratitude to Ritu Chopra, who has served as DISES treasurer since 2014. Ritu’s financial stewardship and expertise have been invaluable to our organization. As we say goodbye to Ritu, we warmly welcome Chanita Jones as the new Treasurer and look forward to having her join the DISES board in this role.

As we move forward, I encourage each of you to stay connected and inspired and continue to advocate for inclusive education in your communities. This work can be challenging and exhausting at times, but we continue to persevere in the spirit of harambee. DISES continues to thrive because of your commitment, collaboration, and the shared belief that every learner deserves access and opportunity. Thank you for being part of this family and our journey. I look forward to what we will continue to accomplish together.

As always, I want to extend sincere gratitude to our members and volunteers. Without you, this work would not be possible. Thank you for your continued engagement and dedication to DISES.

With Gratitude,
Jennifer Ward, DISES President