People with Developmental Disabilities Speak Up for Equality in New Jersey

Thursday, 02 July 2009 14:59

Newsbrief - State

To address this, the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities (NJCDD) is using Independence Day as the backdrop to announce a campaign to bring these issues to the forefront. The "Just Say Something" campaign urges people with developmental disabilities and their families to assert their independence and be vocal about the injustices they see.

"Too many people with developmental disabilities continue to live in outdated state institutions," said Dr. Alison Lozano, executive director of the Council. "Thousands more are waiting for housing.  Many sit for years on state waiting lists for support services. We want the public to recognize that people with developmental disabilities are equal citizens and need to be treated fairly."

The message of the ongoing campaign is simple: New Jerseyans are encouraged to take notice of situations that speak positively or negatively to the issue of full inclusion of people with disabilities.

Researchers estimate that nearly 20 percent of New Jersey's population has a disability. Yet issues related to people with developmental disabilities and their families receive little attention in mainstream media and the halls of the State House. They are under-represented in advertising campaigns and are often not considered by elected officials, business leaders and community leaders to have a relevant voice in public debates and discussions, Lozano said.

To foster change, the Council is calling on people throughout the state and beyond to speak up and publicly discuss issues affecting and influencing the lives of people with disabilities.

"For years, people with developmental disabilities have been an afterthought," Lozano said. "This campaign is aimed at ending that injustice, encouraging thousands of New Jerseyans to speak up."

Last fall, the Council polled its constituents on this issue. The responses confirmed what they and many others with developmental disabilities, their families and colleagues have been saying for years.

• People with developmental disabilities do not have full access to public events, such as street fairs, parks and concerts (86%).

• People with developmental disabilities do not have full access to public buildings (more than 88%).

• People with developmental disabilities do not receive fair and balanced news coverage (98%).

• Most Americans without disabilities do not consider people with developmental disabilities to be productive members of society (more than 92%)

To lay the groundwork for the "Just Say Something" campaign, the Council hosted a series of coffeehouse meetings this spring across the state, including people with developmental disabilities, family members and professionals they work with, as well as community leaders and elected officials. There was candid discussion about public perceptions of people with disabilities, as a first step towards encouraging full community participation.

Guidelines for the "Just Say Something" Campaign grew from what was learned in the Community Conversations.

For example:

• When leafing through a sales circular, if it's noticed that people with developmental disabilities are portrayed in a positive way, write a letter or pick up the phone and share favorable impressions with the business owner. Urge others to shop in that business and tell them why.

• If a TV show or movie portrays people with disabilities in a negative way, people should share their views with the producer and with others. Use blogs or Twitter to share concerns; write letters to the editor or write to the production company. If it is a movie, post an online review on prominent websites.

The Campaign has three distinct components: Local grassroots outreach, media relations, and social networking strategies, including a new blog under the URL of www.justsaysomething.org.

"This campaign encourages and supports positive dialogue," Lozano said. "Good advocacy is not only about changing those things that are not working, it is about noticing and supporting those things that are. Community leaders, business leaders and lawmakers need to know that we are here, we are paying attention, and we have a lot to say."