NEWS FROM DAC NEW
There is a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson where he states, “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” Whether it is cultural, religious, political, or identity-driven, people seek out community. They want to belong. They want to fit in. They want to feel like they are a part of something larger than themselves. Unfortunately, communities can sometimes end up setting barriers and expectations within the community that can make it hard for those with disabilities to join.
Those that don’t fit the community tend to be pushed to the outer edges. When this happens, a “us versus them” could form and cause fractures within the community. This inevitably leads to infighting and the community will either fall apart, banish those who have been othered, or splinter into different community groups that are smaller from the original. The individual can get lost in this battle to create and maintain community.
Not everyone has the same understanding of what “community” means. What makes a community a community? Basically, a community is a group of people with shared characteristics or interests who interact and form relationships, creating a sense of belonging and shared identity. This shared identity and sense of community is often fostered by shared values, goals, or experiences, and can be based on geography, online spaces, or even shared interests.
One of the communities that welcomes everyone with disabilities is the Independent Living Movement. This movement arose during the Civil Rights Era. The Independent Living Movement was born out of people with disabilities wanting to be given the same rights, the same access, and the same opportunities as anyone else.
The Independent Living Movement is really about interdependence. We can’t do this alone. We need each other. We need a community that doesn’t “other” people simply because they are considered different or don’t adhere some sort of predetermined path.
The Independent Living Movement supports and advocates for the individual while encouraging community-based support. Every disability (including mental health), every person, every religion, every political belief, every culture, every sexuality, every gender, every race, and every ethnicity are welcomed in the Independent Living Movement. Centers for Independent Living (CIL) are nonprofits that welcome all those with disabilities.
Disability doesn’t care who you are or what your personal beliefs are or what community you have chosen to be a part of. More than 1 in 4 – over 70 million – adults in the United States eported having a disability in 2022 and this number continues to rise as more and more people develop Long COVID. In 2021, Long COVID became listed as a disability under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act. A person with Long COVID can request reasonable accommodation to help support them in a workplace and school setting.
“Public K-12 schools in the United States educate about 7.3 million students with disabilities –
a number that has grown over the last few decades. Disabled students ages 3 to 21 are served
under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which guarantees them the
right to free public education and appropriate special education services.” – By Katherine Schaeffer
The disability community encompasses a wide range of individuals with diverse physical, mental, sensory, and cognitive disabilities, as well as those with chronic illnesses and substance use challenges. It’s important to recognize and support the individual diversity within the disability community, including the variations in experiences, needs, and perspectives.