BE WHO YOU ARE BECAUSE OF WHO YOU ARE NOT DESPITE

Views of being an autistic, African-American woman

Rotary Disabilities Advisers Group

This is the first in a Disability Awareness Series produced by the Rotary Disabilities Advisors. Each segment will feature a different person in the group discussing disabilities matters. In this first video Victoria Handy, Mississippi discusses the Autistic African-American Experience from a woman's perspective. She has a B.A. in Psychology and is an honor student working toward her Masters. Both she and her daughter have been diagnosed with Autism

As she says in this video "Be whomever you are because of who you are not despite."

For more information on the Rotary Disabilities Advisers write to daurotary@gmail.com

Maybe It is time to consider a few things: What do we see

By Jeremy Opperman

Newlands Rotary Club, South Africa

When disaster strikes, why do we only pay attention to the death toll? asks Jeremy Opperman, a member of the Rotary Club of Newlands (D9350) What do we see? Maybe it is time to consider a few things

Notwithstanding the enormity and generosity of Rotary activity, as Rotarians, are we prone to overlooking a significant segment of the most vulnerable in our communities?

Before we get started, it is time for a short general knowledge quiz.

 1. How many people were killed in the recent attack on the Capitol in Washington DC?

 2. How many people were killed in the Christchurch shooting in 2019?

 3. Who was Breonna Taylor?

 4. Who was George Floyd? 

Well done! I am sure most people reading this were correct in their answers. But, give this one a try. How many people were seriously injured in those attacks? And for the bonus prize. Who is Jacob Blake? I am willing to bet that less people got this one without looking it up. The difference between the first four questions and the last two, of course, is that the first four involved death while the last two were about serious injury and very possibly permanent disability. 

The point I am getting to is that for some reason we tend to direct our attention, horror and outrage toward death, while almost never showing lasting interest in those that get seriously or permanently injured or disabled in these kinds of horrific incidents.

The point I am getting to is that for some reason we tend to direct our attention, horror and outrage toward death, while almost never showing lasting interest in those that get seriously or permanently injured or disabled in these kinds of horrific incidents. Interestingly, media, not just our own, but globally, perpetuate the ghoulish fascination by repeating over and over again the death toll of a tragic event. Soon, after about a day, the numbers of those who have died are still high on the agenda, while for some reason, details of injured fall away from view and are almost immediately forgotten. 

To me, the greatest illustration of this, is the comparison between George Floyd and Jacob Blake. They were both involved in high profile incidents, one was killed, Floyd, while Blake was terribly injured (no surprise as there were seven bullets in his back) and left paralysed. Yet who is the more famous

s? 

So what? you may ask. Is there an Economist in the house? Ask yourself, what is costlier to a family, community or economy, death or disability? With the greatest respect to those who have lost someone and those who have died, death is pretty finite. Tragic, certainly for those left behind, but they have no choice but to move on and deal with the aftermath, emotionally and perhaps financially, should the person have been a breadwinner. 

However, if you have just been “lucky” enough to have “survived” a gang shooting, taxi or bus accident or some other trauma and have been left with a serious and lasting

What if the only disability of this century is slow internet? | Maitri S...

Making meetings fully accessible for disabled people with fluctuating conditions.

Iggy Patel

Branston, England, United Kingdom

I do a lot of volunteering work, and often get invited to various meetings. A number of times the meetings have become inaccessible for me due to my disabilities. I also often hear from people organising the meetings that they find it difficult to engage with those who are disabled.

Now I’m not talking about issues at the venue or facilities at the place the meetings are held, the majority of times these can be easily catered for with a little advanced thinking and planning.

No my issues and having spoken to a number of disabled colleagues who I have the pleasure of working with, issues for other disabled people stem from just not knowing how I or they are going to feel on the day of the meeting. The meeting may start first thing at 9 - 10am in which case, I just won’t be able to attend, as by the time my carers have got me up and dressed it’s gone past 10. Getting up too early and I’ll be tired at the end of the day which will have a knock-on effect the rest of the week.

This isn’t insurmountable and usually requests for meetings to start later in the morning say bout 11ish or better still after lunch can and will be accommodated, but it is something for organisers to think about when organising accessible meetings.

This isn’t insurmountable and usually requests for meetings to start later in the morning say bout 11ish or better still after lunch can and will be accommodated, but it is something for organisers to think about when organising accessible meetings.

Even then there is still no guarantee that I can make it on the day. I may just feel to unwell! So what to do? Well I may not have all the answers but I can suggest a couple of ideas;

Firstly consider making meetings virtual with technology and a number of different free packages Which are available such as skype, google hangouts it’s not to difficult to allow access to the meetings via the use of these programs. Now I know not everyone may have access to these. So as an alternative, if the agenda with a one or two-line explanation of the subject matters could be sent out say a week or so before the meeting. This allows those who might not be able to participate ( this includes able-bodied participants) a chance to get a brief idea. If they have comments on the subject area this can be emailed back to the chair or the secretary. This then, when the item In question is open to the meeting as a whole if relevant the chair or secretary can make the others aware of the disabled persons' views on the subject. These are then included in to the minutes and distributed, ensuring the disabled person still has his say.

After the meeting, a further grace of a week should be given so that the disabled non-attendee can add anything else that may be relevant that can be added.

A full copy of the minutes then gets sent out and recorded as such.

It’s only an idea, but for me it’s worked a number of times I’ve used it when I’ve wanted to participate and haven’t been physically able to. I’ve still managed to have my say or ensured others at least both disabled and non-disabled get to participate and contribute.

I’d be happy to hear from others who may have any other ideas on ensuring inclusion for disabled people.

As Rotarians, Do We Consider Accessibility As Much As We Should? 

By Jeremy Opperman

Newlands Rotary Club, South Africa

As a relatively new R 2020 Rotarian, inducted only a few months ago, I am aware that I am pushing my luck and cannot possibly know the answer to the above question.

However. as an experienced, blind Disability Inclusion Consultant, I feel more comfortable in asking the question and inspired to know the answer and to raise the flag for this cause.

I am aware that many of you reading this article might raise your own hand and ask, what on earth is he waffling on about and what exactly is accessibility?

It’s a fair question and one that I have heard way more times than I care to count. 

In this essay, I will try unpacking some key points about this often totally overlooked human rights concept.

I will illustrate, literally, how we too often miss the point of accessibility’s very existence.

I will highlight other avenues germane to access, other than the stereotypic wheelchair consideration.

Lastly, I will ask the question again in the context of Rotary International’s guiding principle, the Four-Way Test.

For those who might struggle to see the above cartoon:  Two people are pictured speaking inside an hotel. The hotel manager says to an official: “Why should we make our hotel accessible?  We never have disabled guests staying with us.”

So what is access?

Question: Is it all about wheelchair users, and providing ramps into buildings?

Answer: I am afraid not…it is way broader than that. Access is the practical consideration towards, not only persons with many varieties of disabilities, but to many more people that could benefit from better, more considerate access. The term Universal Access describes it best.

 

Does Your Rotary District Have People With Disabilities On The Social Equity Task Force?

By Ken Masson

Lowell Ma, District 7910

Many Rotary Districts have a Social Equity Task Force. Social Equity Task Forces work on a wide range of diversity, equity, and inclusion activities (DEI), and are often staffed by Rotarians from different minority communities.

However, many Task Forces do not have a representative from the disability community on the committee. even though people with disabilities are the largest minority group in the world. There are several reasons for this. One reason is that many Rotary Districts don't have or don't know that they have members with disabilities.

Why are there so few people with disabilities in Rotary? Often the answer is because of accessibility. Lack of accessibility at in-person and virtual meetings may discourage some people with disabilities to join Rotary. Also, many people have the misconception that it would be a hardship for people with disabilities to go to meetings or attend events. Which in most cases is not true.

Rotarians should encourage people with disabilities to join their club. There are many benefits to having members with disabilities. These benefits include increased membership, better morale, more diverse thinking, greater community activities, and improved membership retention. 

Rotarians should encourage people with disabilities to join their club. There are many benefits to having members with disabilities. These benefits include increased membership, better morale, more diverse thinking, greater community activities, and improved membership retention. For these reasons and more, it is important that Rotary Districts add to their Task Force priorities people with disabilities.

For Districts that are interested in learning more, Rotary has formed a Disability Advisory Group that can help Districts add people with disabilities to their DEI plans and goals. The Advisory Group can be reached by writing to daurotary@gmail.com.

However, many Task Forces do not have a representative from the disability community on the committee. even though people with disabilities are the largest minority group in the world. There are several reasons for this. One reason is that many Rotary Districts don't have or don't know that they have members with disabilities.

Regardless Of A Person's Disability Everyone Has Abilities And Value

Ken Masson

Merrimack Valley Rotary, Massachusetts

 People with disabilities are highly employable.  They are talented, they have many skills, they are reliable, dedicated, and appreciate working.  Yet, the unemployment rate for this group is higher than in many other groups.  Why?  Because of many reasons but none has anything to do with their abilities.

These reasons include:

-Employers are biased or naïve about hiring someone with disabilities.
-Employers have fears that hiring someone with a disability will be a liability
- The person or support team doesn't have the expertise to find a job in this specialized field
-Job seekers try but get discouraged because they get no results.

-The Support team is not confident that the person can do or get a job                                               .

"But just because the challenges are greater does not mean that achieving the goals is impossible. It is very possible." 

The first two reasons are the most challenging.   Why? Because the person with disabilities has to work harder than everyone else to get a job because of employer attitudes.