33 Years and No More Asylums

Today marks 33 Years of equality. Today marks a celebration of eons of fighting. Today marks the beginning of excellence and a remembrance of those who have lost their lives, freedoms, and opportunities because they were disabled in the eyes of a discriminatory society. Today goes down in history; hold strong, and steadfast. Let's get real:

During the administrations of George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama, the rights of disabled people were RADICALLY expanded. Laws and acts were put into place to force the inclusion of the disabled through systems that gave equal access to healthcare against pre-existing condition qualifiers, equitable access to IEP and 504 accommodations, and affirmative entry orders into colleges and universities to disabled people across the United States. These systems have been put in place only over the past three decades, as disabled people have just recently been given access to a world of opportunity they were barred from before.

Presidents Ford, Carter, Reagan, and Bush were at the forefront of this movement because, in the 1970s and 1980s, all four administrations oversaw the closure of massive insane asylums . These Asylums were used to house both the extremely disabled and incapacitated, as well as 'unruly' women and the elderly who would not submit to their husbands and caregivers. These asylums are known for their egregious abuses and violations against women, the elderly, and the incapacitated in todays world as the last of their kind was abolished and closed under the Obama administration in 2015, just 8 years ago.

Affirmative Action has long been used to protect African Americans, Latinos, Afro-Latinos, other Black Americans, and indigenous populations as they navigate their way into community colleges, technical schools, universities, medical schools, and other forms of higher education. In tandem, Affirmative Action, along with other regulations also helped to ensure disabled people have equal access to jobs and can gain admission into university. Not many people know that Affirmative Action is not just about race and gender, but about all legally protected classes. This is a hot-button topic right now, but it is necessary to tell, so that the majority can truly understand fully encompass the struggles of minorities throughout history, particularly disabled populations.

This world is a wonderful place with so much beauty. This anniversery is one day we should remember for the rest of this nation's history, and hopefully it will go into the history books long after we are gone. I pray that my children and future generations will know the importance of diversity, and the importance behind the laws that protect me and so many others. These laws and regulations are the only things that protect the minorities from becoming either non-existent or severely oppressed once again.We've got so much farther to go to win this fight, but everything worthwhile takes a little bit of work. In the meantime, we must push to show others love and fight our battles toward equality with reason, understanding, and kindness. No one truly wins an argument with shouting or anger; that's never been done in the history of man. Fights won with pure brute are never truly over. In such a polarized time, I think that that is an important assertion to make: love is the key to truly conquering struggles and making friends.

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 was first commemorated in 2005 . The history behind that is quite complex, so I'll save you the details. Simply put, it has been 18 years since the act was commemorated and officially put on the nation's celebration docket. Its passage and commemoration were the first true step to writing over the terrible history that all cultures have imposed on differently-abled populations. This is good, but it's not over yet. Still today, discrimination against the disabled populace is rampant, specifically in the social sphere of things; let me tell you a story:

When I was in high school, I watched a video on Instagram posted by this well-known cheerleader at a high school in my state. The student recorded themself asking a fellow student with severe downs-syndrome to the prom. In later videos, the student explained that she wanted to be nice and give the disabled student an "experience of a lifetime". While this was founded in kindness, it makes a mockery of the romantic lives disabled people can, and often do have. It was clear that she was asking the disabled student out only as a kind gesture, and not because of any genuine romantic feelings. The video exploded and her account's popularity shot through the roof. This was for the popularity of being kind, and not because of a crush- and that's the problem. While many disabled people do fall in love, get married, have children, and live fruitful lives with many abled-bodied people, it is crucial that we must walk with caution. This is because we have to be sure that relationships, including those with friends and significant others, aren't brought on for popularity stunts, out of pity, or just because someone thinks it is good to be kind. We are not to pity. We are a community.

We want to be included because we are your friends, family, lovers, coworkers, neighbors, and community, not because of pity or publicity stunt. We want to be hired because of our skills, of which there are many; don't hire us for your diversity quota. Our work ethic and loyalty may surprise you. I write this article to bring lived and shared experiences to the awareness of the general public. I write this with a smile, to show kindness through knowledge. All people have good in them, and it is crucial to state this and make intentions crystal clear. All people have value and deserve equality and equitability under the law. This includes just and fair treatment in the public sphere, both formally and informally. This is because all people are entitled to their God-given and inalienable rights.

As we celebrate the passage of the ADA and its enactment under the Bush Administration , we must also commemorate the struggles our predecessors suffered under the cruel systems in place. We must acknowledge that discrimination against the disabled populace still stands today. In the state of North Carolina and at the federal level, in accordance with the FLSA, it is legal to pay disabled people less than the federal minimum wage on the grounds that they are less productive. See the federal Fair Labour and Standards Act for more details. This should not be happening in 2023, but it does on a frequent basis; this lower pay practice is especially enacted against those with mental disabilities. This is a travesty and an outrage.

Disability rights were a corporate issue at large, not simply a political battle. The Republicans, Democrats, and Socialists in the United States have not questioned the atrocities against the disabled populace in many years. The failures of the system have been clear for over 5 decades. Rather, the fight truly stood between the People and big pharma. It was a moral versus corporate issue. Simply put, the system so many have been fighting to dismantle ran off of the following motto: the more people in the private asylums, the more money goes to the pharmaceutical and private medical monopolies. This in turn lines corporate America's pockets, which is still happening today.

Knowledge is power, and education breaks generational curses and cures ignorance. In today's world. It is crucial to understand the struggle of our neighbors and be kind to everyone. It is vital in this republic to protect the rights of all people and root out discrimination at its core: in all forms. I believe the only way to do this is by calling on all people to spread the knowledge of history so that all people can understand the struggles of the past. Today is a good day and should be remembered as one. Mark it in your calendars, and don't forget to be kind!

"Independence is my happiness, and I view things as they are, without regard to place or person; my country is the world, and my religion is to do good.?Whatever is my right as a man is also the right of another; and it becomes my duty to guarantee as well as to possess." - Thomas Pain, The Rights of Man

Hard work pays off. Be diligent and have ethics engrained in your character. Help everyone. What they bring to the table may surprise you. Go be great.

#neverstopgrowing #cerebralpalsyawareness #equalrights #america #ada1990 #disabilitysupport #disabilitypride #disabilitypridemonth #buildbridges