California Policy Center for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Please join us for this incredible film!

BEING MICHELLE follows the astonishing journey of a Deaf and Disabled woman who survived incarceration and abuse under unimaginable circumstances by a system that refused to accommodate her needs as a deaf person with autism. Michelle’s trajectory changed when she met Kim Law, a blind volunteer life coach who teaches classes to people in prison. Today, outside of prison, Kim and Michelle are doing difficult work of unraveling Michele’s history, of telling the story of Michelle’s traumatic childhood and her adverse experiences in the criminal justice system. With the support of Kim, Michelle realizes her own voice and strength. Throughout the film Michelle’s artwork provides her own depiction of the trauma she survived as well as a means to her recovery. Ultimately, BEING MICHELLE is a story of redemption. It is about bonds between women committed to thriving in a broken system, who are forging a path to healing that can only come through facing the truth and communicating it, together. https://lnkd.in/gczRj6fb #DisabilityRightsAreHumanRights #DisabilityRights #disabilityjustice #DisabilityAwareness

The California Policy Center for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (CPCIDD) is studying the impact of the direct support professional (DSP) workforce shortage on people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). CPCIDD is conducting surveys, focus groups and 1:1 interviews with services providers, individuals served, family members, DSPs, and regional center service coordinators as part of the larger study. The purpose of the study is to gain a better understanding of the limitations imposed by, and the consequences of, the unprecedented shortage of direct support professionals on individuals served by the regional center system. If you are a self advocate (someone who identifies as a person with an intellectual and/or developmental disability), please take three minutes to complete the survey below. If you are a family member, loved one, or otherwise connected to a person with IDD, please share the survey with them and ask them to complete it. Thank you! In English: https://lnkd.in/gepXUZGQ In Spanish: https://lnkd.in/gAGppfw7 #DisabilityInclusion #DisabilityAwareness #DisabilityRights

Kudos to Syracuse University for their leadership and vision that led to their students' accomplishments and advances in support for those with IDD: "As part of the course, students learn about steps taken at the University to help address accessibility and neurodiversity across campus. Myers says the fact that students come from a range of majors and programs helps widen the understanding of access, disability and inclusion needs and abilities. “We’re thinking about disability, accessibility and disability language and content, as well as the possibilities [for] disability and neurodiversity. We’re designing not for disabled people, but with disabled people, so it’s really meaningful,” says Myers." https://lnkd.in/gsp4MfBS #DisabilityInclusion #DisabilityAwareness #DisabilityRightsAreHumanRights

@AsmNguyen presents ACR 150 and offers an eloquent and powerful presentation on the importance of embracing #DisabilityInclusion, #DisabilityAwareness and #DisabilityJustice https://lnkd.in/g_Gx45mm

"Employing someone with a disability and bringing them into your workforce adds such a great deal of benefit to the workplace that it far outweighs any difficulties that might be perceived by an employer. Diverse teams are generally more innovative and successful, with accelerated problem-solving perspectives, increased learning opportunities and enhanced morale all playing a role. Meaningful change in the workplace ultimately comes from the top down. It is up to leaders within an organization to ‘set the tone’ for inclusivity and to create a culture where people with disabilities are valued and respected." #DisabilityInclusion #DisabilityRights #DiversityMatters #RepresentationMatters #DisabilityAwareness https://lnkd.in/gVi3dgKz

At CPCIDD, we hold immense respect for the self-advocates, family members, loved ones, and allies within the IDD community who persistently raise their voices and strive for recognition, understanding, and resolution of their concerns. While we do not partake in advocacy efforts directly, we take pride in supporting their endeavors, as well as the efforts of various government, nonprofit, and other entities that address these advocacies by offering a reliable, independent, and unbiased source of data, research, and analysis that adheres to best practices. The article below excellently outlines the role of advocates and underscores the significance of their contributions. https://lnkd.in/gVBdHUwt

“Bakersfield Arc levels the playing field for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities by helping them secure jobs through training and coaching” https://lnkd.in/g28kTnHC #DisabilityRightsAreHumanRights #DisabilityAwareness #DisabilityInclusion

“This April, the government finalized a lot of federal rules that matter to our community. Federal rules are made by the executive branch to make sure people and groups follow laws. Some of the rules finalized this month make it easier to get and keep Medicaid, SSI, and other benefits. Others make sure that the services and supports that we get are useful and will help us. These are both important ways to make sure that disabled people are able to use the programs that let us live in our communities. Some of these rules also say what the government, hospitals, or other people need to do to respect our rights and not discriminate against us. This helps make sure that people with disabilities’ rights are protected wherever we go. Here is a look at some of the important rules that have been finalized this month.” https://lnkd.in/gCZADZU7

""We know that people with disabilities have a constitutional right…to live in the community," she told CBS News, pointing to the 1999 Supreme Court ruling in Olmstead v. L.C. "The promises made to make that transition to the community successful and possible for people with disabilities have never truly been fulfilled." https://lnkd.in/gT2qF9FC