Better Together

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Better Together
Cultivating a Diverse and Effective Service Corps
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Advocates

• Valerie Luther
• Solomon Miles
• Kathleen Vaughan
• Partnership for People with Disabilities at VCU

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Mission of The Partnership for People with
Disabilities

• Our mission is to partner with people with
• disabilities and others to build communities
• where all people can live, learn, work and
• play together.

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• Lets view two very diverse and equally
  provocative commentaries by people with
  disabilities on a recent media portrayal of a
  person with a cognitive disability and the use of
  the word retarded.

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• What messages have you received from your
  culture about the meaning of disability?

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• Is it necessary?
• Is it true?
• Is it kind?

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Facts About People With Disabilities
(Source National Organization on Disability -
2004 Harris Survey)

• Only 35 of people with disabilities reported
  being employed full or part time, compared to 78
  of those who do not have disabilities.
• Compared to their non-disabled counterparts, they
  are three times as many people with disabilities
  living in poverty (annual household incomes below
  15,000).
• Twice as likely to drop out of high school
• Twice as likely to have inadequate
  transportation, and a much higher percentage go
  without needed health care (18 versus 7).
• People with disabilities are less likely to
  socialize, eat out, or attend religious services
• Not surprisingly, only 34 say they are very
  satisfied with their lives compared to 61 of
  those without disabilities.

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Language is Power(Source MPACT handout)

• Our words have the power to inspire, motivate,
  and uplift people.
• They also have the power to hurt, isolate and
  oppress individuals or entire segments of
  society.
• Often times, throughout our history, it has
  become necessary to change our language and the
  way in which we refer to individuals and groups
  to avoid further oppressing those members of
  society.
• The time has come to reshape our language once
  again so that we may refer to people with
  disabilities and the disability community in a
  respectful and inclusive manner.
• Using People First language

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• How can you
• demonstrate an assumption of competence
• while also
• recognizing the challenges
• that are common to people with disabilities in
  your service locations?

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AmeriCorps Manual

• Participation in the Corporation and its programs
  and projects must be based on merit and equal
  opportunity for all, without regard to factors
  such as race, color, national origin, sex, sexual
  orientation, religion, age, disability, political
  affiliation, marital or parental status, military
  service, or religious, community, or social
  affiliations.
• You have a right to reasonable accommodation for
  disabilities. Programs must furnish reasonable
  accommodations for the know physical and mental
  limitations of qualified AmeriCorps members.

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What is your pledge?
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Disability Inclusion Plan
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Disability Inclusion Plan
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Disability Inclusion Plan
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Final Thoughts

• If we can agree that segregation never raises the
  quality of life for any people involved
• what will you do about it?