The Long Road Towards Equality for People with DD

The Long Road Towards Equality for People with DD

Before 1970 the road for people with DD was clutter with debris and the path unclear

The Long Road Towards Equality for People with DD

The main road without supports was rough for us. Many were left on the side watching life go by.

Then came some supports to make this main road smoother for people with DD

and their families

The Long Road Towards Equality for People with DD

At that time, while we began to receive the supports to meet our unique needs, for

whatever reason, these supports were not to be used on the main road

The Long Road Towards Equality for People with DD

So we had to start our own path, which unwittingly led towards separateness,

inequality and lack of choice

The Long Road Towards Equality for People with DD

The American’s with Disabilities Act, IDEA, Fair Housing Act and Olmstead paved our backroad

The Long Road Towards Equality for People with DD

Pretty nice road now! However, separate does not lead to Equality

The Long Road Towards Equality for People with DD

Just to keep it real; the road that the non-disabled take to freedom, opportunity and equality is not perfect, but it is the road we

want to travel with them

The Long Road Towards Equality for People with DD

Fairy Tale Reality

How do we not only get on the main road, but navigate it?

The Long Road Towards Equality for People with DD

We need to merge carefully

Bring our appropriate supports

The Long Road Towards Equality for People with DD

And with:

The vision is:Not just to be included, but to be an integral part of society - Equal worth with an equal

opportunity to contribute

The Long Road Towards Equality for People with DD

Separate Roads One of many traveling towards a desired destination together

The Way to Equality

The Long Road Towards Equality for People with DD

• Early intervention in lest restrictive environment (Daycare/home)

• Employment First• Community Housing &

neighborhood involvement• True self-determination

(freedom of speech, freedom of expression, and to have dreams realized)

• The dignity of risk• Financial stability

• Early intervention in medical settings

• Sheltered Employment• Nursing Homes, ICF/mr, Long-

term residential DD centers• ISP’s that don’t reflect true

desires• Overprotection, imbalance of

supports which shelter persons from experiencing society and vice-versa

• “Supported poverty” for life

Dead End RoadVs.

The Long Road Towards Equality for People with DD

It’s less costly to keep most people in their community!

The Long Road Towards Equality for People with DD

What do we need?

The Long Road Towards Equality for People with DD

CreatedBy,

Renee Wood