The fists of defiance and FBI raids. The marches and megaphones. The critics and the protests.
Over my more than 30 years in the Tennessee Legislature, I’ve seen a lot — I’ve seen humanity at its best, and I’ve seen it at its lowest.
But underneath it all lies a common truth: no amount of prestige, private equity, fancy consultancies, tribalism or political career advancement can protect us.
Here’s a fact that has remained true since the dawn of humanity: At some point in your life, your body will change. Your body will not change in the same way as other people’s, or in the way that it once did.
Regardless of how you feel about the subject, this is a reality for 15% of the world’s population, and here in the Volunteer State, that’s double that number – one in three Tennesseans (1.7 million people).
Disability Pride Month runs throughout July
In Tennessee, and around the world, there’s a month to acknowledge that reality: July is Disability Pride Month. Like other celebrations throughout the year, the month is a time to reflect and honor the unique culture, contributions, identity and history of a very large group of people who have come a long way.
As I work to advocate for people with disabilities in Tennessee for 35 years and prepare to choose my successor, July is the perfect time to share with you some lessons I’ve learned along the way.
I learned lessons as I watched a system change from one that was entirely dependent on notorious state-run institutions to one that funds the supports and services needed to keep families and communities together.
It’s a lesson that doesn’t have much to do with disability, but with finding unity in this polarized place we call home.
Five lessons about disability
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Disability is not a partisan issue and should not be portrayed as such. Disability transcends all demographics, all religions, all races, all genders, and of course all political ideologies. Attempts to downplay disability as partisan always backfire, and backfire spectacularly. When lawmakers begin to listen and understand the broad range of experiences of disabled Tennesseans (and imagine what life is like in someone else’s shoes), better policies will result for all Tennesseans. Good policy takes time and requires patience. It took nearly two decades of tireless advocacy to transform Tennessee’s long-term care system. A system that was entirely dependent on institutions was transformed into one that not only incorporates home- and community-based services, but also shifts tax dollars to support them. We are still far from perfect, but our community knows the power of the long game. We cannot forget our history, our accomplishments, or the work that remains to be done. Good policy is only as effective as its implementation.The Legislature can pass bills and raise funds, but it is state agencies and commissioners who implement them. The home and community-based services we fought so hard for face numerous challenges that must be formally addressed by the leaders of those agencies. The same can be said about other public systems in Tennessee, such as education, health care, and employment. If we forget where we have come, we avoid accountability and fall into the status quo. Or, worse, we miss out on what we have gained. It took decades of learning from the civil rights movement of the 1960s to finally pass the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990. Most Tennesseans often want the same things. We just can’t agree on how to get them. The needs of Tennesseans with disabilities, like other Tennesseans, are not “special” but essential. Access to education, housing, health care, employment, and voting are not special. They are essential to our lives and are often forgotten when the topic of “disability” is discussed. We want to go to school, to our place of worship, to our doctor. We just want to live in our communities and go about our daily lives. Pro Tip: Start with areas you agree with, surround yourself with people with diverse life experiences, and actively listen to them. Budgets reveal a lot. The old adage “Show me the kids, and I’ll show you the parents” really rings true here. We elect leaders who choose how to spend our limited resources, and those choices reveal a lot. They reveal the state’s true priorities and commitment to supporting and strengthening families, people, and communities. How? Tennesseans with disabilities feel these consequences every day. Policy decisions, budget priorities, and even staff appointments can and do affect the lives of Tennesseans with disabilities. For many, these decisions are even a matter of life and death. In other words, when you want to measure the authenticity of an individual or organization’s declared values, simply look at how they spend their money.
I invite you to take a moment to think not only about the disability community, but also about the areas in which you agree with your fellow Tennesseans. I promise you, there’s more you agree on than you might think.
When we choose to embrace our commonalities over our differences, we don’t just choose to find unity in polarized places; we choose to find truth. Celebrate disability pride, everyone!
Carol Westlake is the founder and executive director of the Tennessee Coalition for People with Disabilities.