![]() ![]() Participants learn about their state’s systems for disability services, inclusive education, assistive technology, and federal civil rights laws. The program trains people with I/DD and their family members to advocate for themselves and for changes in the systems that support them. Started by the Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities, PIP celebrated its 35th anniversary last year. Partners in Policymaking (PIP) is another example of an ACL program that moves beyond the conversation to give people with I/DD the tools to take action. We also recently funded the National Center for Disability, Equity, and Intersectionality, which includes a focus on building young leaders with disabilities that reflect the diversity of the community. One way ACL and the DD networks are working to change this is by creating more opportunities for people with I/DD to gain the skills to advocate for themselves and make their voices heard through advocacy at the local, state, and federal levels.Ĭontinuing our long-standing work to build strong self-advocacy networks and leaders with disabilities across the country, ACL funds the Self Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center, a national center to strengthen the self-advocacy movement and support self-advocacy organizations. For example, people with I/DD are often presumed to be unable to make choices for themselves, and their rights to self-determination and autonomy are taken away. In many cases, the barriers faced by people with I/DD are the result of stereotypes and biases that have created low expectations and misunderstandings about what they can do and achieve. We must take action to make the phrase “nothing about us without us” more than just words for people with I/DD, and ACL is working hard to do that. As a result, they often have not had a meaningful role in shaping the systems that are meant to serve them. ![]() And who better to share that information than people with I/DD themselves? Yet too often, people with I/DD have not had opportunities to advocate for what is important to them or been at the tables where decisions that impact them are made. People with I/DD are more likely to have opportunities to work, learn, and participate fully in their communities when the public and policy makers understand their abilities, skills, and needs. We must also take action so that all people with I/DD are making their own decisions, living the lives they want, and fully participating in their communities. It is fitting that the theme of DDAM 2023 is “Beyond the Conversation.” It is not enough to simply talk about ways to improve the lives of people with I/DD. People with I/DD who are from historically marginalized or underserved communities or who also have other disabilities (such as mental health needs) face additional barriers. ![]() They have lower rates of employment and education and poorer health outcomes. ![]() In comparison to their non-disabled peers, people with I/DD are more likely to live in poverty and experience homelessness. However, there are still many barriers that keep people with I/DD from being fully included in all aspects of community life. Today, more people with I/DD than ever before live and participate in their communities. We have come a long way over the last several decades. In collaboration with the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD), we celebrate the full inclusion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in our communities. Every March, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) and our networks proudly recognize Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (DDAM). ![]()
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