you [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
hello it’s great to be with you so I’ve
hello it’s great to be with you so I’ve spent my entire life fighting for
spent my entire life fighting for
spent my entire life fighting for disability rights and I can tell you
disability rights and I can tell you
disability rights and I can tell you that the challenges that I face are the
that the challenges that I face are the
that the challenges that I face are the same challenges that disabled people
same challenges that disabled people
same challenges that disabled people face around the world it shouldn’t be a
face around the world it shouldn’t be a
face around the world it shouldn’t be a big deal that I am here on this stage
big deal that I am here on this stage
big deal that I am here on this stage coming up a ramp having a sign language
coming up a ramp having a sign language
coming up a ramp having a sign language interpreter who I can’t see but I know
interpreter who I can’t see but I know
interpreter who I can’t see but I know is out there and being as the
is out there and being as the
is out there and being as the introduction said a disabled woman
introduction said a disabled woman
introduction said a disabled woman wheelchair rider who had polio from
wheelchair rider who had polio from
wheelchair rider who had polio from Brooklyn and can in fact be a diplomat
Brooklyn and can in fact be a diplomat
Brooklyn and can in fact be a diplomat but that’s not the way it’s always been
but that’s not the way it’s always been
but that’s not the way it’s always been so let me please take you back in time I
so let me please take you back in time I
so let me please take you back in time I was born in 1947 a long time ago and
was born in 1947 a long time ago and
was born in 1947 a long time ago and when I was 18 months old I had polio in
when I was 18 months old I had polio in
when I was 18 months old I had polio in one of the last epidemics in the United
one of the last epidemics in the United
one of the last epidemics in the United States of polio in 1949 my mother was
States of polio in 1949 my mother was
States of polio in 1949 my mother was pregnant with my brother Joseph eight
pregnant with my brother Joseph eight
pregnant with my brother Joseph eight months pregnant was when I contracted
months pregnant was when I contracted
months pregnant was when I contracted polio and then I was in an iron lung for
polio and then I was in an iron lung for
polio and then I was in an iron lung for three months and in and out of the
three months and in and out of the
three months and in and out of the hospital for three years now we had lots
hospital for three years now we had lots
hospital for three years now we had lots of neighbors in our Brooklyn
of neighbors in our Brooklyn
of neighbors in our Brooklyn neighborhood and some of them were
neighborhood and some of them were
neighborhood and some of them were really very helpful for my parents some
really very helpful for my parents some
really very helpful for my parents some of them were really afraid of contagion
of them were really afraid of contagion
of them were really afraid of contagion and they wouldn’t even walk in front of
and they wouldn’t even walk in front of
and they wouldn’t even walk in front of our house they would literally walk
our house they would literally walk
our house they would literally walk across the street I think this was a
across the street I think this was a
across the street I think this was a time when my family really began to
time when my family really began to
time when my family really began to realize what disability meant to some
realize what disability meant to some
realize what disability meant to some people fear and it wasn’t even a sure
people fear and it wasn’t even a sure
people fear and it wasn’t even a sure thing that I would live at home although
thing that I would live at home although
thing that I would live at home although I didn’t learn about this till I was 36
I didn’t learn about this till I was 36
I didn’t learn about this till I was 36 years old I was having a discussion with
years old I was having a discussion with
years old I was having a discussion with my father one night and he said you know
my father one night and he said you know
my father one night and he said you know when you were two years old one of the
when you were two years old one of the
when you were two years old one of the doctors suggested to your mom and I that
doctors suggested to your mom and I that
doctors suggested to your mom and I that you live in an institution that they
you live in an institution that they
you live in an institution that they could just go ahead with their lives
could just go ahead with their lives
could just go ahead with their lives raise their kids and kind of be done
raise their kids and kind of be done
raise their kids and kind of be done with having to deal with all the
with having to deal with all the
with having to deal with all the disability related things I didn’t
disability related things I didn’t
disability related things I didn’t believe my father not because he was a
believe my father not because he was a
believe my father not because he was a liar but I had never heard this story
liar but I had never heard this story
liar but I had never heard this story and my mother in fact validated that she
and my mother in fact validated that she
and my mother in fact validated that she never wanted to tell me but in reality I
never wanted to tell me but in reality I
never wanted to tell me but in reality I don’t know why I was really surprised by
don’t know why I was really surprised by
don’t know why I was really surprised by this story because when I was five years
this story because when I was five years
this story because when I was five years old and my mother like mothers and
old and my mother like mothers and
old and my mother like mothers and fathers all across the United States was
fathers all across the United States was
fathers all across the United States was taking me to school to enroll she pushed
taking me to school to enroll she pushed
taking me to school to enroll she pushed my wheelchair to the school in walking
my wheelchair to the school in walking
my wheelchair to the school in walking distance to our house pulled the
distance to our house pulled the
distance to our house pulled the wheelchair up the steps into the school
wheelchair up the steps into the school
wheelchair up the steps into the school and we were greeted by the principal not
and we were greeted by the principal not
and we were greeted by the principal not really greeted but the principal said no
really greeted but the principal said no
really greeted but the principal said no I couldn’t come to that school because
I couldn’t come to that school because
I couldn’t come to that school because it wasn’t accessible but he told us not
it wasn’t accessible but he told us not
it wasn’t accessible but he told us not to worry because the Board of Education
to worry because the Board of Education
to worry because the Board of Education in fact would send a teacher to my house
in fact would send a teacher to my house
in fact would send a teacher to my house and they did for a total of two and a
and they did for a total of two and a
and they did for a total of two and a half hours a week but for good behavior
half hours a week but for good behavior
half hours a week but for good behavior they threw in an occupational therapist
they threw in an occupational therapist
they threw in an occupational therapist who taught me that very essential skill
who taught me that very essential skill
who taught me that very essential skill of cross stitching and a cross stitch
of cross stitching and a cross stitch
of cross stitching and a cross stitch today I didn’t actually get to go to
today I didn’t actually get to go to
today I didn’t actually get to go to school in a real building until I was
school in a real building until I was
school in a real building until I was nine years old and then I was in classes
nine years old and then I was in classes
nine years old and then I was in classes only with disabled children in a school
only with disabled children in a school
only with disabled children in a school that had mainly non-disabled children
that had mainly non-disabled children
that had mainly non-disabled children and in my classes there were students up
and in my classes there were students up
and in my classes there were students up to the age of 21 and then after 21 they
to the age of 21 and then after 21 they
to the age of 21 and then after 21 they went to something called sheltered
went to something called sheltered
went to something called sheltered workshops with menial work and earning
workshops with menial work and earning
workshops with menial work and earning either nothing or below minimum wage now
either nothing or below minimum wage now
either nothing or below minimum wage now that was pretty terrible we were in a
that was pretty terrible we were in a
that was pretty terrible we were in a completely segregated environment not
completely segregated environment not
completely segregated environment not even able to eat lunch with the children
even able to eat lunch with the children
even able to eat lunch with the children who were eating lunch literally down the
who were eating lunch literally down the
who were eating lunch literally down the hall and although this school was a
hall and although this school was a
hall and although this school was a 15-minute drive from my house it took me
15-minute drive from my house it took me
15-minute drive from my house it took me an hour and a half each way to get to
an hour and a half each way to get to
an hour and a half each way to get to and from school
and from school
and from school because we would pick up other disabled
because we would pick up other disabled
because we would pick up other disabled students along the way that was a long
students along the way that was a long
students along the way that was a long amount of time in a bus but we didn’t
amount of time in a bus but we didn’t
amount of time in a bus but we didn’t waste time so we talked with each other
waste time so we talked with each other
waste time so we talked with each other about things that kids speak about but
about things that kids speak about but
about things that kids speak about but we also started talking about why were
we also started talking about why were
we also started talking about why were we on these buses and why would we not
we on these buses and why would we not
we on these buses and why would we not in the same schools as others and even
in the same schools as others and even
in the same schools as others and even though at that point it was 10 11 or 12
though at that point it was 10 11 or 12
though at that point it was 10 11 or 12 years old we were recognizing that
years old we were recognizing that
years old we were recognizing that changes needed to be made in our
changes needed to be made in our
changes needed to be made in our communities it wasn’t us that needed to
communities it wasn’t us that needed to
communities it wasn’t us that needed to be making the changes society needed to
be making the changes society needed to
be making the changes society needed to be making these changes so I understood
be making these changes so I understood
be making these changes so I understood discrimination my parents understood
discrimination my parents understood
discrimination my parents understood discrimination my parents came from
discrimination my parents came from
discrimination my parents came from Germany they were German Jews who left
Germany they were German Jews who left
Germany they were German Jews who left in the 1930s escaping the Holocaust my
in the 1930s escaping the Holocaust my
in the 1930s escaping the Holocaust my parents lost family and they lost
parents lost family and they lost
parents lost family and they lost parents both my parents lost their
parents both my parents lost their
parents both my parents lost their parents in the Holocaust and so they
parents in the Holocaust and so they
parents in the Holocaust and so they realized that they could not be silent
realized that they could not be silent
realized that they could not be silent as things were going wrong for me in my
as things were going wrong for me in my
as things were going wrong for me in my life not me personally but what was
life not me personally but what was
life not me personally but what was going on around me they learned that
going on around me they learned that
going on around me they learned that because I used a wheelchair none of the
because I used a wheelchair none of the
because I used a wheelchair none of the high schools in New York City in the
high schools in New York City in the
high schools in New York City in the entire city were wheelchair accessible
entire city were wheelchair accessible
entire city were wheelchair accessible so what was supposed to happen is I was
so what was supposed to happen is I was
so what was supposed to happen is I was supposed to go back onto home
supposed to go back onto home
supposed to go back onto home instruction along with many other
instruction along with many other
instruction along with many other students so my parents banded together
students so my parents banded together
students so my parents banded together with other parents they went to the
with other parents they went to the
with other parents they went to the Board of Education and they demanded
Board of Education and they demanded
Board of Education and they demanded that the Board of Ed makes some of the
that the Board of Ed makes some of the
that the Board of Ed makes some of the high schools accessible and they did and
high schools accessible and they did and
high schools accessible and they did and so I and many others were finally able
so I and many others were finally able
so I and many others were finally able to go to high school a regular high
to go to high school a regular high
to go to high school a regular high school and take regular classes so what
school and take regular classes so what
school and take regular classes so what happened next
happened next
happened next I was learning more and more about what
I was learning more and more about what
I was learning more and more about what discrimination was and equally important
discrimination was and equally important
discrimination was and equally important I was learning that I needed to become
I was learning that I needed to become
I was learning that I needed to become my own advocate I was entering college
my own advocate I was entering college
my own advocate I was entering college Long Island University and I had always
Long Island University and I had always
Long Island University and I had always wanted to be a teacher and so I minored
wanted to be a teacher and so I minored
wanted to be a teacher and so I minored in education and I took all the
in education and I took all the
in education and I took all the appropriate
appropriate
appropriate and then when it was time for me to go
and then when it was time for me to go
and then when it was time for me to go for my license I had to take a written
for my license I had to take a written
for my license I had to take a written exam an oral exam and a medical exam at
exam an oral exam and a medical exam at
exam an oral exam and a medical exam at that time all three of those exams
that time all three of those exams
that time all three of those exams were given in completely inaccessible
were given in completely inaccessible
were given in completely inaccessible buildings so I had friends who carried
buildings so I had friends who carried
buildings so I had friends who carried me up and down the steps for these exams
me up and down the steps for these exams
me up and down the steps for these exams not in a motorized wheelchair in a
not in a motorized wheelchair in a
not in a motorized wheelchair in a manual wheelchair but I’ve passed my
manual wheelchair but I’ve passed my
manual wheelchair but I’ve passed my oral exam
oral exam
oral exam I passed my written exam my medical exam
I passed my written exam my medical exam
I passed my written exam my medical exam was something completely different one
was something completely different one
was something completely different one of the first questions the doctor asked
of the first questions the doctor asked
of the first questions the doctor asked me was could I please show her how I
me was could I please show her how I
me was could I please show her how I went to the bathroom I was 22 years old
went to the bathroom I was 22 years old
went to the bathroom I was 22 years old and you know when you go for any kind of
and you know when you go for any kind of
and you know when you go for any kind of an interview we think about all the
an interview we think about all the
an interview we think about all the kinds of questions people could ask you
kinds of questions people could ask you
kinds of questions people could ask you that was not one of them and I was like
that was not one of them and I was like
that was not one of them and I was like freaked out in the first place because I
freaked out in the first place because I
freaked out in the first place because I had heard that there were actually no
had heard that there were actually no
had heard that there were actually no disabled people using wheelchairs who
disabled people using wheelchairs who
disabled people using wheelchairs who were teachers in New York so each step
were teachers in New York so each step
were teachers in New York so each step along the way I was expecting something
along the way I was expecting something
along the way I was expecting something bad so I said to her is it a requirement
bad so I said to her is it a requirement
bad so I said to her is it a requirement that teachers show their students how to
that teachers show their students how to
that teachers show their students how to go to the bathroom if it is I can do
go to the bathroom if it is I can do
go to the bathroom if it is I can do that so no surprise I was failed because
that so no surprise I was failed because
that so no surprise I was failed because I didn’t cast the medical the official
I didn’t cast the medical the official
I didn’t cast the medical the official reason that I was denied my job was
reason that I was denied my job was
reason that I was denied my job was paralysis of both lower limbs sequela of
paralysis of both lower limbs sequela of
paralysis of both lower limbs sequela of polio mellitus honestly I didn’t know
polio mellitus honestly I didn’t know
polio mellitus honestly I didn’t know what the word sequela I went so I went
what the word sequela I went so I went
what the word sequela I went so I went to the dictionary and it meant because
to the dictionary and it meant because
to the dictionary and it meant because up so I’d been denied my license because
up so I’d been denied my license because
up so I’d been denied my license because I couldn’t walk so what was I going to
I couldn’t walk so what was I going to
I couldn’t walk so what was I going to do this is a really important time in my
do this is a really important time in my
do this is a really important time in my life because it would be the first time
life because it would be the first time
life because it would be the first time that I really would be challenging the
that I really would be challenging the
that I really would be challenging the system me and although I was working
system me and although I was working
system me and although I was working with a lot of other friends who had
with a lot of other friends who had
with a lot of other friends who had disabilities who were encouraging me to
disabilities who were encouraging me to
disabilities who were encouraging me to move forward with this it was
move forward with this it was
move forward with this it was nonetheless quite frightening
nonetheless quite frightening
nonetheless quite frightening but I was really very lucky I had a
but I was really very lucky I had a
but I was really very lucky I had a friend who was a disabled student at
friend who was a disabled student at
friend who was a disabled student at Long Island University and was also a
Long Island University and was also a
Long Island University and was also a stringer at the New York Times and he
stringer at the New York Times and he
stringer at the New York Times and he was able to get a reporter to write a
was able to get a reporter to write a
was able to get a reporter to write a really good piece about what had
really good piece about what had
really good piece about what had happened and why he thought what had
happened and why he thought what had
happened and why he thought what had happened was wrong the next day there
happened was wrong the next day there
happened was wrong the next day there was an editorial in The New York Times
was an editorial in The New York Times
was an editorial in The New York Times with the title of human versus the Board
with the title of human versus the Board
with the title of human versus the Board of Education and the New York Times came
of Education and the New York Times came
of Education and the New York Times came out in support of my getting my teaching
out in support of my getting my teaching
out in support of my getting my teaching license that very same day I got a call
license that very same day I got a call
license that very same day I got a call from the Today Show to ask me if I would
from the Today Show to ask me if I would
from the Today Show to ask me if I would go on the program to tell my story
go on the program to tell my story
go on the program to tell my story well again I was about 22 years old and
well again I was about 22 years old and
well again I was about 22 years old and I’ve never done a radio show and I’d
I’ve never done a radio show and I’d
I’ve never done a radio show and I’d never done a television show I certainly
never done a television show I certainly
never done a television show I certainly knew what the Today Show was but I said
knew what the Today Show was but I said
knew what the Today Show was but I said what’s the hell I said sure
what’s the hell I said sure
what’s the hell I said sure and then the same day I got a call from
and then the same day I got a call from
and then the same day I got a call from an attorney who was writing a book about
an attorney who was writing a book about
an attorney who was writing a book about civil rights and he was calling me to
civil rights and he was calling me to
civil rights and he was calling me to interview me and I was interviewing him
interview me and I was interviewing him
interview me and I was interviewing him he didn’t know that and at the end of
he didn’t know that and at the end of
he didn’t know that and at the end of our discussion I said would you be
our discussion I said would you be
our discussion I said would you be willing to represent me I want to sue
willing to represent me I want to sue
willing to represent me I want to sue the Board of Education and he said yes
the Board of Education and he said yes
the Board of Education and he said yes and the next day my father had a small
and the next day my father had a small
and the next day my father had a small butcher shop with his brother in
butcher shop with his brother in
butcher shop with his brother in Brooklyn and one of their customers came
Brooklyn and one of their customers came
Brooklyn and one of their customers came in and said that he would be willing to
in and said that he would be willing to
in and said that he would be willing to represent me pro bono so we were on our
represent me pro bono so we were on our
represent me pro bono so we were on our way to court now sometimes I say that
way to court now sometimes I say that
way to court now sometimes I say that the stars were aligned around this court
the stars were aligned around this court
the stars were aligned around this court case because we had an amazing judge the
case because we had an amazing judge the
case because we had an amazing judge the first african-american female federal
first african-american female federal
first african-american female federal judge Constance Baker motley and she
judge Constance Baker motley and she
judge Constance Baker motley and she knew discrimination when she saw it
so she strongly encouraged the Board of
so she strongly encouraged the Board of Ed to give me another medical exam which
Ed to give me another medical exam which
Ed to give me another medical exam which they did and then I got my license and
they did and then I got my license and
they did and then I got my license and while it took a number of months for me
while it took a number of months for me
while it took a number of months for me to actually get a principal to offer me
to actually get a principal to offer me
to actually get a principal to offer me a job I finally did get a job and I
a job I finally did get a job and I
a job I finally did get a job and I started teaching that fall in the same
started teaching that fall in the same
started teaching that fall in the same school that I had gone to second grade
school that I had gone to second grade
school that I had gone to second grade but I was learning as my friends were
but I was learning as my friends were
but I was learning as my friends were and people I didn’t know around the
and people I didn’t know around the
and people I didn’t know around the country that we had to be our own
country that we had to be our own
country that we had to be our own advocates that we needed to fight back
advocates that we needed to fight back
advocates that we needed to fight back people’s view that if you had a
people’s view that if you had a
people’s view that if you had a disability you needed to be cured that
disability you needed to be cured that
disability you needed to be cured that equality was not part of the equation
equality was not part of the equation
equality was not part of the equation and we were learning from the civil
and we were learning from the civil
and we were learning from the civil rights movement and from the women’s
rights movement and from the women’s
rights movement and from the women’s rights movement we were learning from
rights movement we were learning from
rights movement we were learning from them about their activism and their
them about their activism and their
them about their activism and their ability to come together not only to
ability to come together not only to
ability to come together not only to discuss problems but to discuss
discuss problems but to discuss
discuss problems but to discuss solutions and we decided that we have to
solutions and we decided that we have to
solutions and we decided that we have to emulate that movement and we recognized
emulate that movement and we recognized
emulate that movement and we recognized that the banner under which we had to
that the banner under which we had to
that the banner under which we had to fight as disabled people was
fight as disabled people was
fight as disabled people was discrimination ending discrimination and
discrimination ending discrimination and
discrimination ending discrimination and regardless of the type of disability
regardless of the type of disability
regardless of the type of disability that we had we were fighting against
that we had we were fighting against
that we had we were fighting against discrimination and we had to band
discrimination and we had to band
discrimination and we had to band together so we did and what was born is
together so we did and what was born is
together so we did and what was born is what we call today the disability rights
what we call today the disability rights
what we call today the disability rights movement so I’d like to tell you a
movement so I’d like to tell you a
movement so I’d like to tell you a couple of riddles how many people do you
couple of riddles how many people do you
couple of riddles how many people do you think it takes to stop traffic on
think it takes to stop traffic on
think it takes to stop traffic on Madison Avenue during rush hour in New
Madison Avenue during rush hour in New
Madison Avenue during rush hour in New York City fifty people and there were no
York City fifty people and there were no
York City fifty people and there were no accessible paddy wagons so they had it
accessible paddy wagons so they had it
accessible paddy wagons so they had it just kind of deal with us
and just to point avid it was four days
and just to point avid it was four days before the Nixon election and it was
before the Nixon election and it was
before the Nixon election and it was right outside his office and they sent
right outside his office and they sent
right outside his office and they sent someone out to find out what we wanted
someone out to find out what we wanted
someone out to find out what we wanted and I said we wanted a public debate on
and I said we wanted a public debate on
and I said we wanted a public debate on television about why he had vetoed a
television about why he had vetoed a
television about why he had vetoed a particular piece of legislation the guy
particular piece of legislation the guy
particular piece of legislation the guy left scratching his head thinking we
left scratching his head thinking we
left scratching his head thinking we were completely crazy but let me tell
were completely crazy but let me tell
were completely crazy but let me tell you another riddle how many people does
you another riddle how many people does
you another riddle how many people does it take to stop a bus in New York City
it take to stop a bus in New York City
it take to stop a bus in New York City when they refuse to let you on because
when they refuse to let you on because
when they refuse to let you on because you’re in a wheelchair one that is the
you’re in a wheelchair one that is the
you’re in a wheelchair one that is the right answer so what you have to do
right answer so what you have to do
right answer so what you have to do though is take your wheelchair saddle in
though is take your wheelchair saddle in
though is take your wheelchair saddle in the right place right in front of the
the right place right in front of the
the right place right in front of the steps and give it a little push
steps and give it a little push
steps and give it a little push underneath and then their bus can’t move
any of you who want to learn how to do
any of you who want to learn how to do that talk to me after this so we knew
that talk to me after this so we knew
that talk to me after this so we knew discrimination when we saw it and we
discrimination when we saw it and we
discrimination when we saw it and we were not going to sit idly by any longer
were not going to sit idly by any longer
were not going to sit idly by any longer in 1972 President Nixon vetoed the
in 1972 President Nixon vetoed the
in 1972 President Nixon vetoed the Rehabilitation Act we protested he
Rehabilitation Act we protested he
Rehabilitation Act we protested he signed it then the regulation that
signed it then the regulation that
signed it then the regulation that needed to be promulgated to implement
needed to be promulgated to implement
needed to be promulgated to implement that law had not in fact been signed we
that law had not in fact been signed we
that law had not in fact been signed we demonstrated they were signed and when
demonstrated they were signed and when
demonstrated they were signed and when the Americans with Disabilities Act the
the Americans with Disabilities Act the
the Americans with Disabilities Act the ADA a our Emancipation Proclamation act
ADA a our Emancipation Proclamation act
ADA a our Emancipation Proclamation act looked as though it might not in fact be
looked as though it might not in fact be
looked as though it might not in fact be passed in the House or Senate disabled
passed in the House or Senate disabled
passed in the House or Senate disabled people from all across the United States
people from all across the United States
people from all across the United States came together and they crawled up the
came together and they crawled up the
came together and they crawled up the Capitol Steps that was an amazing day
Capitol Steps that was an amazing day
Capitol Steps that was an amazing day and the House and Senate passed the ad a
and the House and Senate passed the ad a
and the House and Senate passed the ad a and then President Bush signed the ad a
and then President Bush signed the ad a
and then President Bush signed the ad a on the lawn of the White House it was an
on the lawn of the White House it was an
on the lawn of the White House it was an amazing day and there are about 2,000
amazing day and there are about 2,000
amazing day and there are about 2,000 people
people
people there it was July 26 1990 and one of the
there it was July 26 1990 and one of the
there it was July 26 1990 and one of the most famous statements he had in his
most famous statements he had in his
most famous statements he had in his speech was let the shameful wall of
speech was let the shameful wall of
speech was let the shameful wall of exclusion finally come tumbling down so
exclusion finally come tumbling down so
exclusion finally come tumbling down so where are we today today we’ve seen that
where are we today today we’ve seen that
where are we today today we’ve seen that the Americans with Disabilities Act
the Americans with Disabilities Act
the Americans with Disabilities Act coupled with many other important us
coupled with many other important us
coupled with many other important us pieces of legislation with good
pieces of legislation with good
pieces of legislation with good regulations and strong enforcement and
regulations and strong enforcement and
regulations and strong enforcement and technical assistance and the education
technical assistance and the education
technical assistance and the education of people all across the United States
of people all across the United States
of people all across the United States we are seeing dramatic changes for any
we are seeing dramatic changes for any
we are seeing dramatic changes for any of you in the room who are 50 or older
of you in the room who are 50 or older
of you in the room who are 50 or older or maybe even 40 or older you remember a
or maybe even 40 or older you remember a
or maybe even 40 or older you remember a time when there were no ramps on the
time when there were no ramps on the
time when there were no ramps on the streets when buses were not accessible
streets when buses were not accessible
streets when buses were not accessible when trains were not accessible where
when trains were not accessible where
when trains were not accessible where there were no wheelchair accessible
there were no wheelchair accessible
there were no wheelchair accessible bathrooms and shopping malls well you
bathrooms and shopping malls well you
bathrooms and shopping malls well you certainly did not have a sign language
certainly did not have a sign language
certainly did not have a sign language interpreter or captioning or Braille or
interpreter or captioning or Braille or
interpreter or captioning or Braille or other kinds of supports these things
other kinds of supports these things
other kinds of supports these things have changed and they have inspired the
have changed and they have inspired the
have changed and they have inspired the world and disabled people around the
world and disabled people around the
world and disabled people around the world want laws like we have and they
world want laws like we have and they
world want laws like we have and they want those laws enforced and so what
want those laws enforced and so what
want those laws enforced and so what we’ve seen is something called the
we’ve seen is something called the
we’ve seen is something called the Convention on the Rights of persons with
Convention on the Rights of persons with
Convention on the Rights of persons with disabilities it is a treaty that was
disabilities it is a treaty that was
disabilities it is a treaty that was adopted in 2006
adopted in 2006
adopted in 2006 it’s celebrating its 10th year
it’s celebrating its 10th year
it’s celebrating its 10th year anniversary more than 165 countries have
anniversary more than 165 countries have
anniversary more than 165 countries have joined this treaty it is the first
joined this treaty it is the first
joined this treaty it is the first international human rights treaty fully
international human rights treaty fully
international human rights treaty fully focused on disabled people but I am sad
focused on disabled people but I am sad
focused on disabled people but I am sad to say that our US Senate has failed to
to say that our US Senate has failed to
to say that our US Senate has failed to recommend to our president that we
recommend to our president that we
recommend to our president that we ratify the treaty we signed it in 2009
ratify the treaty we signed it in 2009
ratify the treaty we signed it in 2009 but it doesn’t come into force until
but it doesn’t come into force until
but it doesn’t come into force until ratification and the president no
ratification and the president no
ratification and the president no president can ratify a treaty without
president can ratify a treaty without
president can ratify a treaty without the consent of the Senate so we feel
the consent of the Senate so we feel
the consent of the Senate so we feel really strongly that our US Senate needs
really strongly that our US Senate needs
really strongly that our US Senate needs to do its job
to do its job
to do its job that our Senate needs to enable us as
that our Senate needs to enable us as
that our Senate needs to enable us as Americans not only to be able to assist
Americans not only to be able to assist
Americans not only to be able to assist disabled people and governments around
disabled people and governments around
disabled people and governments around the world to learn about the good work
the world to learn about the good work
the world to learn about the good work but it’s equally important that disabled
but it’s equally important that disabled
but it’s equally important that disabled people have the same opportunities to
people have the same opportunities to
people have the same opportunities to travel study and work abroad as anyone
travel study and work abroad as anyone
travel study and work abroad as anyone else in our country and as long as many
else in our country and as long as many
else in our country and as long as many countries don’t have the same laws as we
countries don’t have the same laws as we
countries don’t have the same laws as we do and don’t enforce them if they have
do and don’t enforce them if they have
do and don’t enforce them if they have them opportunities for disabled people
them opportunities for disabled people
them opportunities for disabled people are more limited we have a lot more to
are more limited we have a lot more to
are more limited we have a lot more to do in the United States and laws like
do in the United States and laws like
do in the United States and laws like this would really help us make those
this would really help us make those
this would really help us make those advancements I know discrimination when
advancements I know discrimination when
advancements I know discrimination when I see it and I see it every day both
I see it and I see it every day both
I see it and I see it every day both here in the United States and when I
here in the United States and when I
here in the United States and when I travel abroad I’m always meeting with
travel abroad I’m always meeting with
travel abroad I’m always meeting with disabled women and those women tell me
disabled women and those women tell me
disabled women and those women tell me stories about how they experience
stories about how they experience
stories about how they experience violence and rape and how in many cases
violence and rape and how in many cases
violence and rape and how in many cases these forms of violence occur from
these forms of violence occur from
these forms of violence occur from family members and people that they know
family members and people that they know
family members and people that they know who in fact may be working for them and
who in fact may be working for them and
who in fact may be working for them and frequently these cases are not
frequently these cases are not
frequently these cases are not adjudicated I meet people who are
adjudicated I meet people who are
adjudicated I meet people who are albinos in countries where they are
albinos in countries where they are
albinos in countries where they are fearful for their lives because in some
fearful for their lives because in some
fearful for their lives because in some countries people believe that their
countries people believe that their
countries people believe that their bones are magical
bones are magical
bones are magical I meet disabled people who have been
I meet disabled people who have been
I meet disabled people who have been offered jobs by businesses because they
offered jobs by businesses because they
offered jobs by businesses because they live in a country where there’s a quota
live in a country where there’s a quota
live in a country where there’s a quota system and in order to avoid a fine they
system and in order to avoid a fine they
system and in order to avoid a fine they will hire you and then tell you you
will hire you and then tell you you
will hire you and then tell you you don’t need to come to work because we
don’t need to come to work because we
don’t need to come to work because we really don’t need you in the facility I
really don’t need you in the facility I
really don’t need you in the facility I have visited institutions with a stench
have visited institutions with a stench
have visited institutions with a stench of urine is so strong that before you
of urine is so strong that before you
of urine is so strong that before you open the door of your vehicle you’re
open the door of your vehicle you’re
open the door of your vehicle you’re kind of pushed back and then God into
kind of pushed back and then God into
kind of pushed back and then God into those institutions where people should
those institutions where people should
those institutions where people should be living in the community with
be living in the community with
be living in the community with appropriate supports and seeing people
appropriate supports and seeing people
appropriate supports and seeing people almost naked people who are chemically
almost naked people who are chemically
almost naked people who are chemically drugged
drugged
drugged and people are living lives of despair
and people are living lives of despair
and people are living lives of despair these are some of the things that the US
these are some of the things that the US
these are some of the things that the US needs to be doing more to correct
needs to be doing more to correct
needs to be doing more to correct we know discrimination when we see it
we know discrimination when we see it
we know discrimination when we see it and we need to be fighting it together
and we need to be fighting it together
and we need to be fighting it together so what is it that we can be doing
so what is it that we can be doing
so what is it that we can be doing together I encourage you all to
together I encourage you all to
together I encourage you all to recognize that disability is a family
recognize that disability is a family
recognize that disability is a family you can join at any point in your life
you can join at any point in your life
you can join at any point in your life how many of you have ever broken a bone
how many of you have ever broken a bone
how many of you have ever broken a bone and then I like when you leave today to
and then I like when you leave today to
and then I like when you leave today to maybe write a couple of sentences about
maybe write a couple of sentences about
maybe write a couple of sentences about what that period of time has been like
what that period of time has been like
what that period of time has been like for you because frequently I hear from
for you because frequently I hear from
for you because frequently I hear from people you know I couldn’t do this I
people you know I couldn’t do this I
people you know I couldn’t do this I couldn’t do that people talk to me
couldn’t do that people talk to me
couldn’t do that people talk to me differently they acted differently
differently they acted differently
differently they acted differently towards me and that’s what I see and
towards me and that’s what I see and
towards me and that’s what I see and other disabled people see in flashing
other disabled people see in flashing
other disabled people see in flashing letters there are about 1 billion people
letters there are about 1 billion people
letters there are about 1 billion people with disabilities that’s the size of
with disabilities that’s the size of
with disabilities that’s the size of China but we you in this room together
China but we you in this room together
China but we you in this room together we can make a difference together we can
we can make a difference together we can
we can make a difference together we can speak up for justice together we can
speak up for justice together we can
speak up for justice together we can help change the world thank you I have
help change the world thank you I have
help change the world thank you I have to go catch my bus
”
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