Partners in Policymaking

“Partners in Policymaking”: People Learning History, Attitudes & Perceptions About Disabilities & People with Them

· Minds are like parachutes- they only function when open.
· Disabilities are a natural part of life; 1 in 5 Americans have one, making people with disabilities the largest minority group in the country.
· A disability is, first & foremost, a medical diagnosis. It simply represents a body part that works differently. Stop using the words “wrong”, “disabled”, “special needs” and DON’T apologize!
· VA is the 6th Richest state, but it ranks 48th. In Medicaid money given to people to support community programs. Instead, most is going to institutions.
· Words like “handicapped”, “suffers from”, “afflicted with”, victim of”, “low/high functioning” or “special needs” are archaic terms (no longer used in federal legislation) that evokes negative images of pity, fear & more. “Handicapped” is often used to describe modified parking spaces, hotel rooms, restrooms, etc. But these usually provide access for people with physical or mobility needs & no benefit to visual or hearing impaired. This is one example of the misuse of the “H”-word as a generic descriptor. “Disabled” is used to describe vehicles. Sports reporters say “the disabled list”; they once said “injured reserve”. Other uses today are “broken/non-functioning”. People with disabilities are NOT broken! If a new toaster doesn’t work, we say it’s “defective” or “damaged” & return it. Shall we return babies with “birth defects” or adults with “brain damage”? The accurate & respectful descriptors are “congenital disability” or “brain injury”.
· 75% of all people with disabilities are unemployed because employers doubt they can have valuable job skills. If merchants saw us as customers with money to spend, we wouldn’t have so many inaccessible stores, theaters, restrooms, and more.