At DAWN, every one of our staff members is taught that we are all DAWN Ambassadors. Whether we are in our offices on calls or in meetings, or out in the community representing our organization, each one of us strives to raise awareness about the Independent Living Philosophy, which states that people with disabilities should have the same rights, opportunities, and choices as do people without disabilities. We are each charged with a duty to create informed communities that better understand the wants and needs of people with disabilities, which of course means we continually have to be sure we understand these sometimes changing wants and needs, too. Considering that we work with people of any age with any kind of disability in Morris, Sussex, and Warren counties in NJ, this is a tall order, but we work conscientiously every day to meet this responsibility. A big part of doing so is showing up anywhere where we can advance our mission and learn about resources, services, initiatives, legislation, and anything that can benefit people with disabilities.
Since 2015 marks the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), we have made special efforts to include the ADA in our meetings and conversations among our fellow community members. Filmmaker Woody Allen once said, “Eighty percent of life is showing up.” Well, on May 15, 2015, several of our DAWN staff members showed up at the Warren County Disabilities Resource Fair to spread the word about resources available to people with disabilities (and those who care about them) so they can realize the same rights, opportunities, and choices as everyone else in the community. There, we debuted a video montage with clips contributed by our DAWN Independent Living staff members that gained a lot of very positive attention (and raised a lot of awareness). We look forward to sharing the montage and other “goodies” at the upcoming Morris County ADA celebration at the inclusive, accessible Central Park of Morris County on June 28, 2015, when we also will announce the winners of our student contest, “What the ADA Means to Me.” (All students’ entries will be on display.) We also plan to show up at the New Jersey State Fair at the Sussex County Fairgrounds, taking place between July 31 and August 9, where we will be disseminating information about resources for people with disabilities and raising awareness about the ADA. Of course, we will be showing up at a lot of other community outreach events as well, committee meetings, and more, raising awareness, making connections, and sharing information.
Being able to show up (to work, recreate, participate, advocate, contribute, and be counted) is a privilege I hope every one of us takes advantage of as often as we can. As we do, let’s be sure to remember that if 80% of life is showing up, it’s vitally important that everyone has an equal opportunity to do so. Creating communities where everyone can show up requires accessible transportation and accessible places of public accommodation (parks, restaurants, stores, medical offices, places of employment, etc., etc.). Moreover, we need to eliminate not only the physical barriers to inclusion that keep people from showing up, but attitudinal barriers, as well. We need to give everyone a chance to show up…and we hope you will show up at some of the ADA celebration events going on throughout New Jersey and beyond to show your support for one of the most important historic events in the history of the Independent Living and Disabilities Civil Rights movements. Let’s come together to honor their living legacy and to make a commitment to continuing our progress towards full inclusion and equal rights for people with disability.