https://www.dailycal.org/2018/04/12/compulsion-complexity
Showing posts with label Disability. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Disability. Show all posts
504 sit in
Remembering the disability rights leaders and the landmark 504 sit in, that laid the path for today's generation.
An utter lack of accountability
Today there was a news article about a 7 year old autistic boy who went missing from his school during the school day. This was during a snowstorm, and he was found shivering and soaked in the middle of a busy traffic intersection by good neighborhood samaritans - and wearing just a thin t-shirt.
The school of course insisted that the child had been missing a mere 2-3 minutes, though investigations show him having walked through a patch of woods and being outside for over 35 minutes.
There had already been a plan in place as this autistic kid frequently eloped (a term used for kids who wander away). The police and parents were to be informed but neither happened. The good samaritans saw a kid darting about in traffic, stopped the traffic, rescued him, took him home and wrapped him in blankets.
Unfortunately the school district missing an autistic child during the school day is more common that you would think. As is the practice of gaslighting parents on the details (fear of being sued!!). The fear of being sued apparently more critically important than any safety concerns of disabled children.
When I was younger (~grade 3-4) I was in a classroom simply known as Room 20 in Dilworth Elementary. An autistic kid in my class did go missing for several hours. The school went into a lockdown as they searched for him. We were all asked to come indoors and stay inside.
Later that afternoon, an old man who lived a few streets away returned the kid as he had found him wandering around.
Of course, there was a lot of discussion in the class that day between the teacher and the classroom aides about how to downplay or not report this incident to the parents at all. I don't know the end result of how much the parents were told, but those overheard conversations about how to avoid revealing the truth about a missing child to its parents by educators are deeply disturbing.
How can we autistics fully put our trust and faith in an education system if we don't believe educators (the ones supposed to nurture and help us) will only will watch their own back and not your back.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJBoKDEUJy4
Ed Roberts Day
Ed Roberts Day, celebrated annually on January 23rd, marks a significant moment to reflect on the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of a trailblazer in disability rights. Ed Roberts, an alumnus of the University of California, Berkeley, was not just a figurehead but a formidable force in the movement for the rights and recognition of people with disabilities.
Born in 1939, Roberts' journey into activism began with his personal battle with polio at the age of 14. Despite being paralyzed from the neck down and dependent on a respirator, his indomitable spirit led him to challenge societal norms and barriers. His admission to UC Berkeley in 1962 marked the beginning of a transformative era, both for himself and for the university.
At Berkeley, a place known for its spirit of revolution and change, Roberts ignited a movement that would reshape the landscape of disability rights. He became the first student with severe disabilities to attend the university, living in Cowell Hospital (now the site of Haas Business School) since the dorms were not accessible. This experience was not just a testament to his resilience, but also a stark indicator of the need for systemic change.
Roberts' most notable accomplishment was the founding of the Physically Disabled Students Program (PDSP), the first program of its kind in the country. This initiative, which began as a small, student-led effort, evolved into the Disabled Students' Program, a model replicated by universities and colleges nationwide. The program not only provided essential services but also fostered a community and a sense of belonging among disabled students, offering academic guidance, peer support, and advocacy.
Beyond Berkeley, Roberts' impact continued to grow. He became a key figure in the independent living movement, advocating for policies and practices that promoted autonomy and equality for people with disabilities. His work culminated in the development of the Berkeley Center for Independent Living, a groundbreaking model for disability services and advocacy.
Ed Roberts' life is a beacon of inspiration, demonstrating the power of resilience, advocacy, and the relentless pursuit of equality. His legacy at UC Berkeley and beyond continues to resonate, reminding us of our collective responsibility to build a more inclusive and equitable world. Ed Roberts Day is not just a commemoration but a call to action, a day to honor a visionary leader and to recommit ourselves to the principles he championed.
Born in 1939, Roberts' journey into activism began with his personal battle with polio at the age of 14. Despite being paralyzed from the neck down and dependent on a respirator, his indomitable spirit led him to challenge societal norms and barriers. His admission to UC Berkeley in 1962 marked the beginning of a transformative era, both for himself and for the university.
At Berkeley, a place known for its spirit of revolution and change, Roberts ignited a movement that would reshape the landscape of disability rights. He became the first student with severe disabilities to attend the university, living in Cowell Hospital (now the site of Haas Business School) since the dorms were not accessible. This experience was not just a testament to his resilience, but also a stark indicator of the need for systemic change.
Roberts' most notable accomplishment was the founding of the Physically Disabled Students Program (PDSP), the first program of its kind in the country. This initiative, which began as a small, student-led effort, evolved into the Disabled Students' Program, a model replicated by universities and colleges nationwide. The program not only provided essential services but also fostered a community and a sense of belonging among disabled students, offering academic guidance, peer support, and advocacy.
Beyond Berkeley, Roberts' impact continued to grow. He became a key figure in the independent living movement, advocating for policies and practices that promoted autonomy and equality for people with disabilities. His work culminated in the development of the Berkeley Center for Independent Living, a groundbreaking model for disability services and advocacy.
Ed Roberts' life is a beacon of inspiration, demonstrating the power of resilience, advocacy, and the relentless pursuit of equality. His legacy at UC Berkeley and beyond continues to resonate, reminding us of our collective responsibility to build a more inclusive and equitable world. Ed Roberts Day is not just a commemoration but a call to action, a day to honor a visionary leader and to recommit ourselves to the principles he championed.
Metaphorical Mic Drop!
https://time.com/6551520/loneliness-autism-essay/
Hari what a wonderful piece in Time - every paragraph was a metaphorical mic drop!
Really good points - you put into words a lot of what I’ve been thinking about as a self advocate and as a clinician
My other articles in Time: https://time.com/author/hari-srinivasan/
Changing of the Guard
DREDF Executive Director Susan Henderson to Retire in 2024
We will miss you Susan Henderson. Thank you for being at DREDF for 26 years (WOW!!) and steering the ship. I've enjoyed getting to know you as a member of DREDF's board. Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) is now on the hunt for a new Executive Director. https://dredf.org/2024/01/02/dredf-executive-director-search-profile/
The Loneliness Epidemic
https://time.com/6551520/loneliness-autism-essay/
My latest article in Time drew inspiration from a Keynote by US Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy at the fall PD Soros conference. Dr Murthy has highlighted the growing Loneliness Epidemic in the United States. This got me thinking about loneliness in another overlooked population - the disability community, especially autism.
A Complex Discord
A Complex Discord
Autism and ADHD, a complex discord.
In one mind-body how do both strike a chord?
Autism seeks a world slow, steady and same.
Routine's embrace, stability it claims.
ADHD bored by routine, seeks a rapid pace.
Mind, chasing change, an endless race.
Risk averse autism craves the comfort of the known.
Risk taker ADHD, seeker of the unexplored zone.
Autism insists on the same tasks - present, future, past.
Autism and ADHD, a complex discord.
In one mind-body how do both strike a chord?
Autism seeks a world slow, steady and same.
Routine's embrace, stability it claims.
ADHD bored by routine, seeks a rapid pace.
Mind, chasing change, an endless race.
Risk averse autism craves the comfort of the known.
Risk taker ADHD, seeker of the unexplored zone.
Autism insists on the same tasks - present, future, past.
ADHD craves for 10 new things each moment, a whirlwind cast.
Autism attention zooms inward- seeking comfort within.
ADHD attention flits externally - from thing to thing to thing.
In one mind-body, a battlefield unseen.
Autism's order, ADHD's ever-changing scene.
How can these opposites coexist?
Prefrontal Cortex, all in a twist?
Constant tug of war in this mind-body.
An unanswered quandary, how do I find clarity?
Autism attention zooms inward- seeking comfort within.
ADHD attention flits externally - from thing to thing to thing.
In one mind-body, a battlefield unseen.
Autism's order, ADHD's ever-changing scene.
How can these opposites coexist?
Prefrontal Cortex, all in a twist?
Constant tug of war in this mind-body.
An unanswered quandary, how do I find clarity?
A Dual Approach to Autism
I signed up today for a Twitter (X?) account for the first time because I read the Newsweek article "A Dual Approach for Autism." I'm married to an autistic man and my grandson is also autistic, and my hopes and wants for/from them are vastly different. I loved your perspective.
And here is the article https://www.newsweek.com/dual-approach-autism-opinion-1818062
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)