Thursday, April 25, 2013

Disability Rights Legislative Day

Group of Kool Kats from A Walk & Roll Adventure II
Dear Reader:

Last year, when it was first brought to my attention that an annual statewide event called Disability Rights Legislative Day existed, I must admit that a couple visions came to my head:

At the time, I was two months into a program called Partners In Policymaking, an advocacy training program put on by the MO Council for Developmental Disabilities.  Attendance at this event was offered as a homework option. Never having been to any kind of legislative rally, I immediately envisioned a bunch of riotous disabled people in wheelchairs and walkers--with disabilities of various levels-- shouting angry words and canes at our state's lawmakers.   The kind of ruckus one would see on TV that usually ends with someone going to jail.  I wondered if it was the right kind of scene for me.  It didn't sound like it.

Then I thought about it a little more and wondered if it might be the type of situation with a more subdued and/or sedated crowd staring blankly into the faces of more droning state officials. Pretending to be listening to endless rhetoric about waivers and bills and subcommittees didn't do much for me either. I knew I would be nodding off between fits of panic about all the other stuff I needed to be doing.  I still wasn't convinced I could afford to devote an entire day to this.  No way!! Too much to do!!!

Then I came to my senses and looked around the room.  What I saw in the room that I was in at the time, was a room full of people just like myself.  Real people.  Breathing humans.  And it led to an honest conversation with myself.   What was I doing there?  Well... I was in the class to learn how to advocate for my 11 year old daughter's rights as a citizen of the United States.  To help ensure she gets the same considerations as everyone else who lives in this country.  Of course I would advocate for her,  who wouldn't advocate for their own child?  She is my daughter and I better stand up for her.  What kind of mother would I be otherwise?  But what about everybody else? 

I thought about it over lunch and then again I started going over more reasons to not go.  Too busy!!!  It was at the beginning of April and I had to get my taxes done! Then I looked around some more.  I saw the adults with disabilities who were happy to just be acknowledged. I had lunch with people whose own families have disowned them because they are disabled.   It made me very sad.  It made me more than sad.  It made me angry at myself that I was looking for a way out which led to deeper thinking and an even more honest conversation with myself.  Especially after thinking that if something happens to me, my own daughter could very well be one of those lonely, forgotten people.  Granted, I pray to God this never happens, but it has crossed my mind.   Then I started thinking about invisible borders and the universe in general. 

It was at that point I decided to go and it all boiled down to respect, for myself, my daughter and others.  I couldn't afford not to do this.

Advocacy has no borders.   As human beings we are all citizens of the world and entitled to basic human rights.  It's a global term and it's not just about me and my daughter.  The world doesn't revolve around us, it revolves with us. 

My daughter and I ended up going to Disability Rights Legislative Day and we took a bunch of people with us too. And it wasn't like either of the scenes I had in my head. It was a lively day attended by people of all abilities listening to an interesting series of speakers--legislators and civilians. By default it was a tour of our very cool state capitol peppered with visits to our civic leaders at work. It was a picnic outside with friends and a chance to be together doing something different. It was a cultural adventure and in fact, we had such a great time we did it again this year.

Going to Disability Rights Legislative Day makes me realize that we are all looking for the same things in life:  Respect, honesty and consideration. Unfortunately, these three things aren't always easy to come by for some people so they have to be asked for en masse and that is why this day is so important.

It's called civility and that is what it's all about! 



AB