Dreaming of Equality by Guest Blogger Shirley Paceley

I am one of those people who get goose bumps when I think about the words, “with liberty and justice for all.”  It is a dream I have held onto since I was a young girl and discovered that some people were not treated well, or even hated, because of a characteristic they had.  For nearly 40 years, I have had the privilege to know many people with disabilities, both through my family and through my work.  I know people who were locked up at birth or shortly afterwards because they were different.   These folks were denied access to family and community and the very basics of human dignity.   I have marched beside people with disabilities calling for freedom as recently as 2009. 

We know that people with disabilities experience violence at alarming rates.  In recent months, five men in Milwaukee were charged for forcing a 17 year old female with intellectual disabilities to perform sex acts.  In Alhambra, California, a 6-year old girl in Special Education was sexually assaulted by fellow students in the restroom during lunch and recess.  And in Somerset, New Jersey, a staff member at a group home for people with disabilities was charged with sexually assaulting one of the residents.   There are countless voices and faces of people with disabilities who have experienced various forms of violence.  When does the ‘liberty and justice for all’ become a reality?

We need to stop treating people with disabilities as separate.  We need to stop trying to fix people who are just fine the way they are.  We need to stop focusing on what people can’t do and focus on what people can do.  ALL people have abilities, talents, dreams and contributions to make.  There is a huge difference between oppression and protection.  

So, what can one person do?   Invite people with disabilities to participate in collaborative teams that address violence issues.  Reach out to people with disabilities when you recruit for new employees and volunteers.  When you plan events, consider how to make the event accessible to the largest number of people possible.  When you see or hear someone being treated with disrespect, speak up. When you look at a person with a disability, see someone who has abilities.  When you think about someone with a disability, think about their abilities.    Join the dreamers who believe in the dream of “with liberty and justice for all” and know that all means ALL.

Shirley Paceley has worked with people with disabilities for 39 years and has a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology.  Shirley is the founder and director of Blue Tower Training in Illinois which has resources in 48 states and 16 countries.  Shirley serves on the Board of Directors of End Violence Against Women International and the Editorial Board of Sexual Assault Report.  Shirley is a published author, international trainer, advocate, counselor, and visionary.  Shirley is a survivor of childhood incest and has several siblings with disabilities.