They Don’t Hear Us…Yet
People with developmental disabilities have no voice. That’s not true, you might say. They have families, caregivers, doctors, service providers, like BARC, and the protection of the Lanterman Act. How could that be possible with so many looking out for their rights? It’s very simple – the people with the power (the State of California) do not hear the voices of the developmentally disabled community. Though our voices are many, they have not been in unison, and without that unity, there is no strength. That must change.
Thanks to an advocacy partnership with United Cerebral Palsy, a growing community organizing effort and a lawsuit against the State of California, things are beginning to change. But more must be done. In order for our clients to continue their quest for independent, productive lives, it is incumbent upon all of us to stand together and become one voice. A voice stronger and more powerful than those who seek to undermine client rights and services.
Information and education are key components. The statement, “knowledge is power” could not be more true as when speaking of the developmentally disabled community. Learn about the importance of the Lanterman Act, know what the rights of the disabled are and how the State is working to whittle those rights and services away. There are a great many resources out there and we highly recommend visiting the Keeping the Lanterman Promise website (www.ktlp.org). Although the entire site is brimming with relevant information, of particular interest are the following posts:
- We should not allow California to adopt a policy saying that every adult with a developmental disability should work in integrated competitive employment
- Do you know your Lanterman Act rights? Here’s why knowing them is more important than ever.
There is a wealth of valuable information available for all of us to learn and then to SHARE with others. A critical aspect of building that strong voice is to involve as many people as possible – share what you know, what you’ve learned, your own personal story or struggle with friends, families and colleagues. Help build that strong voice to protect our developmentally disabled community.
