On January 17th we celebrate Dr. Marting Luther King, Jr. and his work in the advancement of civil rights in the U.S. As we look at the progress we have made for Americans with disabilities, including mobility challenges, we are reminded that we still have a way to go to realize equity for all.
The reality is that people with disabilities face systems that were not designed to accommodate all people, ranging from employment to education and other systems including healthcare.
In the US, 1 in 4 americans report a disability. And mobility related disabilities affect nearly 14% of all US adults with disabilities. A consequence of a mobility related disability is decreased access to healthcare, an important issue that impacts health outcomes for millions of Americans.
For People w/Disabiliies
When you have a challenge related to mobility or another kind of disability one of the best things you can have is the support of a loved one or access to supports or a support system.
In addition to needing daily support and ensuring that the spaces you go into are friendly to your needs you may need help navigating.
Resources like the Centers For Independent Living can help you find the resources you need for the challenges you face and the support you need.
Other organizations that advocate for civil rights, equity and the needs of people with disabilities include:
Michigan Disability Rights Coalition
Michigan Department of Civil Rights
For Caregivers
Family caregivers are important to the quality of life of their loved one. A caregiver’s own quality of life is at stake as well and it is extremely important that you, as a caregiver, get the support you need. A few tips:
Be Informed, Be an Advocate
Get education on your family member’s health, specific challanges and disability. Get the information you needs to involve others who can help to provide care. But most importantly, get the knowledge you need to be your loved one’s advocate so that the best care is provided on all levels.
One way you can do so is by shoring up your knowledge on local and federal policy. Start with the Americans w/Disabilities Act. Learn what provisions are included and how they are to be realized in the spaced your loved on lives and goes into.
Get Support
- Join a local or online support group. Your emotional and mental health are important. So, seek out folks who share similar experiences that can help you navigate what you’re going through.
- Make sure you care for your own physical and mental health. Also, make sure to take out a few minutes, hours or days to focus on your own self care.
- Utilize those around you who want to give support. Say, yes! when support is offered.
For a list of caregiver resources, visit:
For Allies
As we move through the rest of January and the rest of this month, reflect on how you can be a part of the solution to impacting equity for Americans with disabilities.
A good way is to look at ways to be an ally.
The CDC looks at allyship in this space as:
A – Acknowledge & respect individual experiences and abilities.
L – Learn about different disabilities.
L – Leverage your influence to promote accessibility and inclusion
Y – Yield the floor to people with disabilities to help identify and eliminate barriers.
Check out the link below for more information on how you can be an Ally in the community.
Whether you are an ally, caregiver, or a person who desires equity and inclusion as it relates to your disability, we hope these resources can be of use and that equity for you and your loved one is top of mind in our communities now and until disparities are eliminated.AuthorXpress TransportationPosted onCategoriesUncategorized
