Thanksgiving Blog
I was blessed to have a wonderful holiday last week, as one who was raised in New England, Thanksgiving has always been a holiday I enjoy. Well, at least I blame it on that because it sounds better than just saying I love any day that revolves around food.
People often ask how I maintain hope and seeing the good in people when I am constantly bombarded by negativity and even hateful actions and attitudes towards people with disabilities and other disenfranchised populations. It is not easy and I certainly do not always manage to maintain a hopeful attitude. However, if I allow myself to sink into negativity and assuming the worst of everyone I will become those whose actions oppress us. When people start losing services because those in power believe horrible things about us such as a belief that families of the disabled are getting “too many” services or that staying home and taking care of a disabled child is easy—regardless of any compensation—we must be able to fight back and defend these outrageous accusations. When we hear people at the state level –in highly paid jobs—try to redefine what nursing home level of care means by looking at regulations that govern nursing facilities and then saying that anyone not using that level of services in the community should not get HCBS we know that not only do they not get the context of various regulations but that they really don’t get our lives. We don’t have a choice about who gets hired at the state, or who trains them but we do have a choice about how we react. It is absolutely overwhelming to receive more desperate calls from people with very real issues every day than we can possible handle. It is terrifying to be confronted by what certainly feels like hatred from those tasked (and paid) with regulating services that affect our daily lives.
So—how to maintain hope and why do I feel so thankful? It is the pure ingenuity and determination that I see in our community that keeps me going. It is all of you, who give of your time and energy—and yes your money to keep our movement going. It is the families who refuse to allow the state to intimidate them, the providers who stand up to bullying, and the individuals who will fight discrimination even when it is scary and even when they feel alone. It is the advocates out there who give of themselves to make sure that their/our brothers and sisters are protected and have basic human rights and dignity. It is people like Dawn Russell and Anita Cameron who don’t balk at trying to organize a March and Rally to save Medicaid in two weeks, but “just do it” and have amazing results. It is the amazing CCDC staff, many of whom were still in the office when I left around 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday (the day before Thanksgiving). It is the members of the groups around the state such as the tenants that are organizing in Fort Collins, those who serve on disability related boards, including the CCDC Board, who do so because they want to make things better for others. It is the politicians who get it on disability. It is also the other organizations with whom we work who share our goals and the foundations and donors who support us.
It is also seeing the incredible strength in our members. I think of someone who was bullied horribly at a job he loved, but instead of sitting home full of self pity came out and took an active role in the My Medicaid Matters Rally. It is another young person who cannot himself get any benefits due to silly rules, but who was chanting the loudest at the rally. It is someone who lives on next to nothing but figured out how to get food and drinks donated for an event. The stories go on and on and I get to see and hear this stuff every day as Director of CCDC. We are a community of people who incredibly giving and always seeking to give more and improve life for everyone. We are an accepting community. We are a community of people that many in society would just as soon ignore but who will not buy into the stereotypes.
I say these things not because there is something amazing about people with disabilities –but something amazing about the DISABILITY RIGHTS MOVEMENT. Disability itself does not make one a good person. However, the kind of people who are invested in social justice are good people and being part of a social justice movement allows one to always be able to juxtapose the good with the bad—and be part of all that is good and that is something about which it is easy to be thankful.
This coming Thursday, December 01, 2011 we will be showing a few of our heroes how grateful we are at our annual Memorial Awards. These awards are all named after members who have gone before us and honor their memory and passion. Last year as Anne Marie Martin won the “Jerry Urban Memorial David versus Goliath” Award she said that this was “like the Oscars of the disability rights movement.” Mother Jones said “Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living.” This celebration is a chance to do that –while seeing old friends, making new ones and eating some really great food. Please come on Thursday 12/1 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. at the MS Society at 900 South Broadway Suite 200.
