From Childhood Awareness to Disability Rights Leadership: A Lifelong Commitment to Empowering Communities—Meet Julie Reiskin, Co-Executive Director
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Julie Reiskin is the Co-Executive Director of the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition (CCDC), a Denver-based organization that advocates for the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities.
What is your personal/professional story?
I have been committed to social justice my entire life. I never considered doing anything different. I went to college and graduate school at the University of Connecticut (I grew up in Connecticut). My bachelor's was in Women’s Studies before that was a real major, and my master’s was in Social Work with a concentration in Community Organizing with a minor in Policy. I am currently the Co-Executive Director of the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition . We build power in the disability community and advocate for social justice. Cross-Disability means that we are run by and for people with all types of disabilities. We also focus on how policies affect those with multiple identities. I have been with CCDC in various roles for 30 years. Before that, I worked as a partner in a consulting firm, had a therapy practice, acted as a school social worker, ran a community center, worked with teen parents, and did HIV/AIDS education.
Where does your passion to serve come from?
As a member of the disability community, but one with a lot of privilege (white, highly educated, have a job, etc.), I see so much potential in our broad, diverse community and am infuriated when that potential is not recognized because of systemic barriers. When I see people with disabilities grow, gain confidence, and improve in their own abilities, it sparks my passion. When I see our community come together and win, that is an amazing feeling! As someone who is now a community elder, I find it gratifying to see a new generation of leaders who never lived without civil rights (born after 1990 when the ADA was passed), as they have higher expectations, which is terrific. They have great ideas and they will carry the movement of tomorrow.
What key moments in your life led you to where you are today?
My earliest epiphany was when I was about 5 years old and we had moved from Chicago to Connecticut. We were driving through Hartford and into West Hartford, and I realized that in Hartford, everyone was Black and the housing looked horrible. There were no lawns, and everything was falling apart. In West Hartford, just over a bridge, houses were obscenely huge with beautiful lawns, and everyone was white. I knew immediately that this was unfair, and no adult could explain why this was the case.
Early in my career, I was involved in language justice work, and I remember the local hospital saying that they could not afford an interpreter. The community consisted of about 40% or more Puerto Rican people, who made up the backbone of the economy. We threatened to blockade the emergency room during their re-certification, and they suddenly found the money. That was the first time I saw the power of direct action.
In 1996, we passed a law requiring the state of Colorado to allow those of us who use personal care to be able to direct our care, including having budget authority so we can decide what we pay people (within a budget). Passing the bill was the easy part. Even today, we are constantly having to defend the program and stop sabotage. This has taught me that policy change is a marathon, not a sprint, and ongoing vigilance by a community will always be necessary.
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