Comments on inclusion of diverse,marginalized,people
About 20% of people in the US are handicapped in some significant way: cognitively, physically, degenerative conditions etc. And many of these people are marginalized, poor, have limited political influence, extra emphasis must be placed on including these people in the discussion.
General comments like full inclusion and democratic process are not sufficient. With the impact of aging populations and the fiscal realities of medicaide, social security it is increasingly important that society recognize the gifts and contributions that labeled individuals can make in community life and economy. There are many good examples locally of successful inclusion of all kinds of people. The big disconnect is on the larger systems level where departments and agencies continue to compete for scarce resources with out regard to the quality of outcomes for individuals. It seems that too many agencies have low or no expect ions for labeled individuals. It seems easier to keep a client living in a group home or SRO owned by others and going to day activity or no activity programs rather than develop a career and skills to participate in the economy.
The principals of universal design and green construction are still seen as fiscal burdens that jack up the unit cost of housing so that funders will not support proposals that could really make a difference in a positive economic sense in the short term.
Young people with physical, challenges and a college degree are limited where they can live, most frequently, a nursing home or elderly housing. The waiting list for accessible section 8 housing in many areas is 2 years or more. Not a big help with job mobility.
Reflecting on the “wisdom of crowds, included individuals with severe disabilities in planning and discussion almost always results in important contributions that would other wise be missed.
Respectfully submitted, Mike Shields