At Joshin, we are concerned about what’s happening to our community. Since January 20th, many policies are now directly at stake, and several statements have been harmful.
From the devastating aircraft collision near Washington DC, for which the disability community was not directly responsible, due to commentary following the tragedy, stigma perpetuates (Source: The Washington Post)
To talk of closing the Department of Education, which has a direct impact on funding equitable education for students with disabilities through special education programs and IEPs (Source: NPR) - many of which you could have benefited from without realizing it in some form.
To most recently, a lawsuit of 17 states versus the US government to get rid of Section 504, which prohibits discrimination of people with disabilities applying to programs involving federal financial assistance (Source: DREDF)
Joshin condemns these actions. These statements and potential reversals rewind the progress made for people with disabilities which ensure we, they, our children, belong and can participate fully in America - and the impact is profoundly harmful.
To the Disability and Neurodivergent community, this is a lot. Find kinship in one another - feel the feelings and continue to foster those spaces to grieve, share stories, and press on. We are resilient, we are worthy, and we can and will get through this with one another. We cannot do this alone.
To companies, leaders, and allies, what can you do?
✔ Address the elephant in the room: your disabled and neurodivergent employees are not okay. Check-in with them. Create spaces for safe, confidential self-disclosure even if the highest position of power prefers otherwise, and don’t do it to be performative.
✔ Talk with, and empathize with your disabled and neurodivergent employees: More and more, companies on a macro-scale are excluding us. Whether it’s folding to the latest leadership, pivoting on DEI, or fear of getting it wrong, your intent has impact. Engage in unfamiliar conversations, learn from people you don’t normally interact with, and build bridges with communities you’re not part of.
Joshin is deeply appreciative of policy educators and resources through National Organization on Disability (NOD), Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF), American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), National Disability Rights Network, and so many more doing this meaningful work at the local, state, regional, and national level.
We’re in this together.
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Image Description: A photo of Disability Rights Advocate, Judy Heumann speaking into a microphone with the quote, “When other people see you as a third-class citizen, the first thing you need is a belief in yourself and the knowledge that you have rights.
