I have been appointed to the New York State Independent Living Council (NYSILC) for a two year term commencing the first of this year. I cannot tell you how humbled and overwhelmed I am at the opportunity to add my voice to a group of extraordinary men and women who understand that each and every human being deserves to be able to be who they are safely and indepently in the world they live in and, lest anyone forget, be the captain of their own ship.
According to its website (www.nysilc.org), NYSILC is, among other things, responsible for developing the State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL) "in partnership with New York State Education Department/Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID) and the Office of Children and Family Services/Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped CBVH."
I am not at all unique when I say that all too often health care providers and others treat people with disabilities as if they have somehow lost their humanity and thus have little if any cognitive awareness of the world they live in. They couldn't be more wrong.
As the voice of the disability community continues to grow in this country and throughout the world, a quote attributed to the Japanese admiral after the bombing of Pearl Harbor comes to mind. "I fear we have awakened a sleeping giant" he said of the American people. Very true. And so it is with those in the disability community. We are awake. There is more good news too once those of you who misunderstand people with disabilities grow past your histories into the light, you will realize that we are you.
What a wonderful way for me to begin this year.
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According to its website (www.nysilc.org), NYSILC is, among other things, responsible for developing the State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL) "in partnership with New York State Education Department/Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID) and the Office of Children and Family Services/Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped CBVH."
I am not at all unique when I say that all too often health care providers and others treat people with disabilities as if they have somehow lost their humanity and thus have little if any cognitive awareness of the world they live in. They couldn't be more wrong.
As the voice of the disability community continues to grow in this country and throughout the world, a quote attributed to the Japanese admiral after the bombing of Pearl Harbor comes to mind. "I fear we have awakened a sleeping giant" he said of the American people. Very true. And so it is with those in the disability community. We are awake. There is more good news too once those of you who misunderstand people with disabilities grow past your histories into the light, you will realize that we are you.
What a wonderful way for me to begin this year.
__________________________________________________________
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