Disability Rights DC at University Legal Services’ Post

As we embrace the vibrant colors of autumn and the crisp coolness in the air, it's also a time to shine a spotlight on a significant and often overlooked aspect of our society: special needs law. This October, we celebrate National Special Needs Law Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness and understanding of the legal rights and challenges faced by individuals with disabilities and their families. This month is an opportunity to learn about the various laws and regulations in place to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 are just a few of the key pieces of legislation that provide essential protections and opportunities. Families and caregivers of individuals with special needs often face extraordinary challenges. This month is an opportunity to highlight the importance of support systems, from legal professionals to healthcare providers, and the need for accessible resources and services. National Special Needs Law Month is a time to celebrate the achievements of those who have worked tirelessly to advance the rights and well-being of individuals with disabilities while recognizing the ongoing challenges. Let's use this month as a catalyst for positive change, and together, we can create a more inclusive and equitable society for all. 💙🧡 #SpecialNeedsLawMonth

Get to know the dedicated individuals serving on the Board of Directors for the Ohio Provider Resource Association! Meet Tim Menke, Chief Executive Officer of Lott and District 4 OPRA Board Member.   How many years have you served people with disabilities? 12 years   How long have you been an OPRA member? 4 years   How long has your tenure been on the OPRA Board? 3 years   What is one reason that inspired you to serve on the OPRA Board? To be engaged and more informed about our industry, and to help serve people at Lott to the best of my ability.   How did you get started in our field of work? God’s direction and I obeyed.   What's your dream for Ohioans with disabilities? To be able to enjoy their lives without all the restrictions, guidelines, and rules that regulate their daily lives.   What's one thing you'd like the OPRA Community to know about you? I love serving people in this industry and would love to see them freed from over-regulation. 

Today marks the 47th anniversary of the end of the 1977 Section 504 protests, a historical effort between people with different disabilities coming together in support of legislation that affected the overall disability population. The sit-in was pivotal in getting strong 504 regulations signed that embodied concepts of equality and integration, and the affirmative steps that must be taken to achieve that for people with disabilities. DRC would like to highlight and thank Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer for introducing resolution ACR 179, a measure that would provide that members of the legislature organize a group to advance visibility, access, opportunity, and equity for individuals with disabilities by centering their voices and experiences. The measure would also proclaim April 28, 2024, as a day for all Californians to acknowledge the contributions of individuals with disabilities, to honor the changes achieved in the past to establish the rights of disabled individuals, and to recognize the work remaining in the future to secure equity for disabled individuals. Learn more about ACR 179 here: https://lnkd.in/g7b_irg8

**July is Disability Pride Month!** ✊🏾 We're celebrating the history, achievements, and perseverance of the disability community by highlighting the unique struggles faced by Black disabled people. Throughout history, many Black leaders' disabilities have been erased or overlooked. Harriet Tubman, who had epileptic seizures, and Thomas Wiggins, a blind pianist, are just two examples of the rich, yet often hidden, legacy of Black disabled leaders. As Black disabled people, we navigate the compounded challenges of racism and ableism. This double marginalization leads to disparities in our education, employment, healthcare, and justice. For instance, over 50% of Black disabled people are arrested by age 28, and a significant number of us end up victims of police violence. During disasters, our needs are frequently neglected, leading to worse outcomes compared to our white counterparts. Recognizing the history and struggles of Black disabled leaders like Fannie Lou Hamer, Brad Lomax, and Audre Lorde is crucial. Their stories provide a comprehensive perspective on civil rights and disability rights movements. We will continue to work towards a future that acknowledges and includes the experiences of Black disabled individuals by sharing our stories, challenging ableism and racism, and striving for a truly inclusive society. #DisabilityPrideMonth #BlackDisabledLeaders #Intersectionality #ADA #DisabilityJustice #bwinhinc #blackwomxnlead

I am excited to share my co-authored article titled "Healing from Intersectional White Supremacy Culture and Ableism: Disability Justice as an Antidote". Here's a link to the published article: https://lnkd.in/g7XCqkeY My amazing co-author Adana Protonentis and I had a brilliant experience as we explored the lessons from disability justice movement framework to imagine alternate possibilities and counters to our dominant organizational cultural norms and practices that are embedded in scarcity mindset, domination, and savior complex. We argue for the need to engage in alternative organizational cultural norms and practices rooted in core values and the ten principles of disability justice. These can help us cultivate an abundance mindset, center the margins, and be in the practice of decolonizing solidarity. Social justice movement frameworks such as disability justice can guide organizational change agents in exploring anti-oppressive and liberatory pathways.

Black people with disabilities have been overlooked in our history books, or if their contributions were highlighted, their disability was erased. Prominent figures such as Harriet Tubman, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Mary Davidson were disabled, but their disabilities were either erased or downplayed in mainstream historical accounts. It is important to recognize the complete narratives of these pioneers, including their disabilities. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gNDcfyxD #blackhistorymonth #BlackHistoryMatters #disabilitypride #Disabilities #BlackHistory

Celebrate 34 years of progress and inclusion with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 🎉 At Myers and Stauffer, we stand strong in our support of the rights and opportunities it champions. Interested in learning about the ADA's impact, benefits, state compliance challenges, and how we can help? Gain valuable insights from Director Julia Kotchevar of our Consulting team in our latest blog post: https://okt.to/6OHVfs

#DidYouKnow we host BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and disability affinity groups that are led by peer facilitators? If your AmeriCorps program or service commission is an ASC member and your staff would like to learn more about affinity groups, email info [at] statecommissions [dot] org! Image Description: Decorative. A blue gradient background with white text that reads Affinity Groups. Includes ASC logo.

Join OMA&D Tuesday, Oct. 15, as we presents Dr. Joanne Woiak for the 2023 Samuel E. Kelly Distinguished Faculty Lecture. Find out more about Dr. Woiak and this lecture, and how to register at https://lnkd.in/gDcyq3Gk. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Section 504, the first disability civil rights law enacted in the United States. In this lecture, Dr. Woiak will explore questions about how the histories of disabled people and the concept of disability are remembered and forgotten. When society, academia, and historical records marginalize and erase disability, whose stories are left untold? And what are the consequences for people with disabilities today? Disability historians examine the archives through the critical lenses of disability studies and intersectionality, producing and making accessible new knowledge about lived experiences and cultural beliefs around disability. Drawing from the example of studies of the Black Panther Party’s role in the fight to implement Section 504, the lecture will address the impacts of engaged and empowering directions for historical inquiry into disability activism, politics, and community.

🌐✨ "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." - Martin Luther King Jr. This powerful quote resonates deeply with our #DocsWithDisabilities Team, particularly in addressing disability injustice within the Black community. Let's explore its relevance to #DisabilityJustice #MLKJr The idea that "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" emphasizes the interconnected nature of oppression. When Black individuals with disabilities face discrimination or lack of accessibility, it impacts our collective well-being. 🤝 "We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality." Addressing disability injustice is a shared responsibility. The barriers faced by Black people with disabilities affect us all, calling for solidarity and collective action. 🤲🌍 "Tied in a single garment of destiny." These words highlight that the well-being and justice for Black people with disabilities are intertwined with the well-being and justice of all marginalized groups. Ignoring the struggle for disability justice unravels our shared destiny. 👥🌈 "Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly." When a Black person with a disability faces discrimination, it sends ripples through society, affecting our collective conscience and progress. 🔄💙 Reflecting on MLK Jr.'s words, let's recognize that the fight against disability injustice is a battle for the soul of a just and inclusive society. Let's address these oppressions in a united way, advocating for a world that leaves no one behind. 🌐✊ In the spirit of MLK Jr., let's be champions for equality, understanding that justice is indivisible. The eradication of disability injustice is not just a goal; it's a necessity for building a society that honors the dignity and rights of every Black individual with disabilities. 🌍🌈 #EqualityForAll #MLKJrLegacy #DocsWithDisabilities #MLKDay2024 #DisabilityJustice