Arc to Obama: We want change, not just an apology
March 24th, 2009![Peter V. Berns, [UK] Guardian photo](http://www.patriciaebauer.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/20080819_peter-berns.jpg "Peter V. Berns, [UK] Guardian photo")
Peter V. Berns, executive director of the The Arc of the United States, is calling on President Obama to use the controversy around his Special Olympics remark as an opportunity to advance public understanding and acceptance of people with intellectual disabilities. The comments come in a letter to the president posted on the organization’s website.
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities “understand that public attitudes, misinformation and negative stereotypes are the biggest obstacle to their inclusion in the community,” Berns said. “Join us in breaking down the attitudinal barriers that stand in the way of full inclusion.”
Berns called on Obama to convene a White House meeting to address the following:
- The 700,000 individuals and their families on waiting lists for home and community based services;
- Recent reports of abuse and neglect of people with intellectual disabilities in Iowa and Texas;
- The institutional bias of the Medicaid system and the lack of adequate funding for community care; and
- The need to address long term care and support.
(File photo from [UK] Guardian)
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April 6th, 2009 at 10:00 am
I have years of experience working in programs providing services to people who have developmental disabilities. I experienced a job transition from the Reed Project at Harvard in the 70′s and 80′s to an independent living helper job at the ARC in northern NJ.
I transitioned from a Massachusetts program in which client respect and admiration were paramount to one in NJ in which clients were screamed at and maligned. I ran a program at ARC called ‘Intact’ … a program for families in which parents had developmental disabilities.
As you are probably aware, most parents who have developmental disabilities do not give birth to children with the same. The children may not have the language stimulation they could use and for the most part they grow up in poverty. I brought my clients to any parenting events I found in our suburban area and often found my clients had far more common sense parenting approaches than the ‘normal’ parents we met.
I will never forget going to my Arc supervisor with an INTACT program question only to be told….”Don’t ask me this….I cannot even stand the thought of ‘them’ (my clients) having sex.’
It is certainly a good idea to use Obama’s regrettable use of words to draw attention to the needs and rights of people. But sometimes The Arc projects dated and ineffective attitudes and I think you should look at that .