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.