FARMINGTON — The Franklin Volunteer Network will host a unique opportunity to begin Erasing the Lines of “differences” in the community.

Participants will learn strategies for engaging volunteers and others with disabilities through inclusion training planned from 2-5 p.m. Thursday, March 15, in the North Dining Hall of Olsen Student Center at the University of Maine at Farmington.

The facilitator for this training will be Janet May, coordinator of transition and adults at the University of Maine’s Center for Community Inclusion & Disability Studies. This training is free and open to the public.

The training will also address organizational self-assessment strategies to determine the degree to which program/agency policies, procedures and practices promote inclusivity. Participants will be shown examples of best practices and learn about specific tools and methods to assist organizations in offering reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities.

With an overall goal to promote more diversity and inclusion in both the volunteer and employment sectors in Greater Franklin County, Erasing the Lines is a “multi-faceted” inclusion project being held in five phases over the next six months.

Pre-registration is not required but those who do register by March 9 will receive training materials in electronic format.

For more information, contact Nancy Teel, Volunteer Center coordinator, the United Way of the Tri-Valley Area (207) 778-5048 or [email protected]