Time: 5:00 – 7:00 pm

Join on Zoom

Meeting ID: 922 2816 4121
Password: advocate

The post Calling all Self-Advocates (CASA) first appeared on The Arc Minnesota.

The post Calling all Self-Advocates (CASA) appeared first on The Arc Minnesota.

IDEA

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, is the federal law that requires states to provide early intervention and special education services to children with disabilities, from birth through age 21. The Arc played a big part in passing the law in the year 1975.

There are 6 principles of IDEA. Click on each principle to learn more.

• Eligibility
• Evaluations
• Individualized Education Program (IEP)
• Least Restrictive Environment
• Parent and Student Participation
• Procedural Safeguards

Transition

Starting at grade 9, transition planning needs to be part of a student’s IEP (Individualized Education Program.) Transition planning means that the student and their team begin to think about the change from school to adult life. Some of the things that are focused on during transition planning are daily living activities, education after high school, and employment. Check out The Arc Minnesota’s GetSet! for Transition Checklist.

The West Central Regional Quality Council Transition Work Group wants to hear from parents and teachers to help students transition to adulthood. Scan the QR code to help them understand.

Inclusive Higher Education

The Minnesota Inclusive Higher Education Consortium defines inclusive higher education as a viable and legitimate pathway to and through higher education for students with intellectual disability (ID). It is very important that people with disabilities have the opportunity to attend college, vocational schools, and other post-secondary programs.

Inclusive higher education helps people:

• Earn meaningful credentials
• Have a career that is important to them
• Gain work experience
• Live a fulfilling life
• Make more money

There are nearly 200 colleges and universities in Minnesota. Four of these schools offer enrollment to students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). That means less than 3% of people with IDD can have access to post-secondary opportunities.

Expanding access to higher education statewide was a goal of The Arc Minnesota’s 2023 legislative agenda. We are excited that the Minnesota Higher Education Act has passed! This means that there will be money for schools across the state to start or improve inclusive higher education programs. A center that helps schools with best practices for inclusive higher education will also be created.

Disability Justice Principles

Disability justice is a social justice movement that builds off the disability rights movement and centers the leadership of people with disabilities who historically were not included in the disability rights movement, like LGBTQ+ people, BIPOC, women, and immigrants.

The disability justice collective, Sins Invalid, made principles that guide their work. To help people understand how disability justice drives the work we do, self-advocate leaders and staff with The Arc Minnesota made plain language definitions of the principles.

The post Education first appeared on The Arc Minnesota.

The post Education appeared first on The Arc Minnesota.

Resources and Articles

• Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault
• The Arc US – Talk About Sexual Violence
• Sexual Violence and the Disability Community
• Sexual Violence and the Disability Community Discussion Guide
• The Sexual Assault Epidemic No One Talks About
• People with Intellectual Disabilities and Sexual Violence
• The Disabled Community and Sexual Violence 

The Sexual Violence Center

The Sexual Violence Center’s (SVC) vision is “that no one impacted by sexual violence will navigate alone.”

Below there is a list of resources from SVC.

• Outreach Flyer
• Sexual Abuse of Children with Disabilities: A National Snapshot
• Understanding Sexual Violence
• Presentation and Training Fee Schedule

The post Sexual Assault Awareness Month first appeared on The Arc Minnesota.

The post Sexual Assault Awareness Month appeared first on The Arc Minnesota.

• Meaningful connections
• Powerful ways of self-expression
• Opportunities to share talents and gifts
• Self-Determination
• Much More

Check out the stories of these creators!

• Dupree Edwards 
• Kristina Tollefson

Creative Self-Advocacy Activities

Below you can find activities to channel your creativity this month!

• Minnesota Accessible Events Calendar
• Theater Games with Open Arts MN
• Your Values Creative Collage
• Self-Advocacy Coloring Sheets

The post Creative Self-Advocacy Theme Guide first appeared on The Arc Minnesota.

The post Creative Self-Advocacy Theme Guide appeared first on The Arc Minnesota.

Q: Can you tell us a little about the art that you create and how you got started? 

A: Well, how I started getting writing was just for something to do. I’ve written – well first thing I wrote was a book for school – a project we did for school. It was about my fish. And then I wrote a book for 4H called “The Search”– kind of based on hide-and-seek. And then I wrote about sharing and I used sock puppets – that was also a 4H project. I’ve been writing a story since my oldest nephew was born in 2005. I added characters after another niece and nephew were born. Leif, Tryg, and Arya. Arya’s character got hit by a comet – that’s how she got her powers. The other two were hit by lightning. In the story we have evil robots, we have aliens, there’s music in each story – from classic rock, to eighties music, to pop. I always end it with an end-of-the-world party – it’s the end of the book and my favorite part to write. We had three weddings in the last chapter – eventually we’ll add new characters in the story. We are on page 31 in this story!

I’ve written a couple of plays – one was about cooking and one was about friends. I’ve created puppet shows. My best friend is blind and Brailled her part – and then I got a Braille version of The Search. I still have the puppets – even though they’re not in the best shape anymore! They’ve lost a lot of cotton. I do change up their voices a little bit too. I volunteer at the YMCA and worked at daycares so I’ve done puppet shows there. I write Harry Potter fan fiction too. 

Q: What inspires and motivates you to create? 

A: Just my imagination – just something to do. It’s a lot of fun writing the story for my nieces and nephews. I always try to watch a story when I’m watching TV – I try to do something when I’m watching TV. 

Q: Does your art tell a story about yourself? What is that story? 

A: Yeah – kind of! I always end the stories with, “This is the end of the story for now, I’d like to say a couple thank you’s to a couple people. The first is to the music – eighties pop and tv theme songs. The second is my mom and dad – especially my dad and the love of music. The third one goes to the tv show Supernatural – especially season 4 and 5 – for the end of the world chapter. The last goes to my brother and sister-in-law – without those three kids these stories wouldn’t happen.”

The kids have a lot of fun reading the stories. And I have a lot of fun writing and reading the stories too. And then I share the upcoming themes. It’s been a lot of fun to write the weddings! I go on baby-naming websites and I have baby-naming books to come up with names of characters. I was an eighties baby – I was born in 1981, so we have some eighties themes. I also go to this writing thing at the library on Wednesdays to meet fellow writers – I’ve been doing that for a couple years. It’s been going on at the library for 30 years or so. 

Q: What are you most proud of as an artist? 

A:

The story for my nieces and nephews and writing the “sharing” puppet show. And the writing the story about The Search. The story I’m writing now is rated G and PG – there’s little bit of romance – but it’s not rated NC-17 like my Harry Potter fan fiction! Because this story is really written for children too. It’s more sweet and simple. Picking out the music for the wedding parts was really fun. I write in what the music is too. “The Last Party” by Mika will be for the end-of-the-world party chapter. When Ariya finds out she is pregnant, the song is “Circle of Life” by Elton John. I find a song and think “Yes! This song will totally work for this chapter.” I shared the Spirit theme song from Spirit for chapter 34 for the story I’ve been writing – when one of my nephews finds out he’s going to have kids. And we bring characters back from earlier parts of the book. I get names from the songs too like Sara by Jefferson Starship and Lola by The Kinks. My pen name ended up being Kiss M. Tollefson because it was supposed to be Kris but my computer wrote it wrong! 

I always print in color ink – and certain chapters are certain colors, and the interlude is a different color, and the end-of-the-world party chapter is in its own color and font through the end. 

Q: Have there been any challenges you have had to overcome as an artist? 

A: My hands get tired after a while – but that’s due to my cerebral palsy – it mostly affects my hands and my feet. My hands get tired if I write for a long time. So, I shake my hands out when I’m typing or writing. Sometimes I number the chapters wrong, so then it’s just okay there are more than I thought there would be. I always proofread it at the end. 

Q: Is there a relationship between your art making and community. If so, could you tell us about this? 

A: Yeah – I enjoyed doing presentations for the puppet shows. I’ve met new people from writing – I say “hi” to people at the library and have a met a few people from that. One of the librarians before (they are retired now) had told me about it. And then I got to meet other people that write. 

Q: Why is creating art important? 

A: It shows your imagination – it’s just an outlet to write down your thoughts. I have a really good imagination – I started making stories as a kid. I love my imagination. I would make stories with stuffed animals, and Barbies, and horses. 

Q: What advice would you give to someone who wants to start creating? 

A: Just write what your favorite genre is – write what your thoughts are. If you’re having a bad day, it’s just fun to write something down. I always get a kick reading my stories out loud when I get a chance. I always laugh! There’s this one chapter – it’s one of my favorites – when Leif finds out he’s going to be a father. He actually runs away and goes to a bar and Joe the bartender gives him advice. And then another character is so excited to become a father! But my nephews have totally different personalities – so things might happen in different ways. 

Check out some of Kristina’s song picks for some of the story chapters! 

“The Last Party” by Mika

“Circle of Life” by Elton John 

“Sara” by Jefferson Starship

“Lola” by The Kinks 

The post Self-Advocate Creator Spotlight: Kristina Tollefson first appeared on The Arc Minnesota.

The post Self-Advocate Creator Spotlight: Kristina Tollefson appeared first on The Arc Minnesota.

Q: Can you tell us a little about the art that you create and how you got started? 

A: It all started when I was in transition plus school. It started to unlock different gifts about me. Whether it’s hosting and doing radio shows and things like that. Later I found out that I could rap. I just try to use that in the best way I can and in a positive way. I use my hosting abilities, my radio voice, to speak up for people with disabilities and mental health. I use that to create some awareness. I kind of use my gifts towards self-advocacy in the beginning when I started.  

Right now, I am working on my album. I do gospel rap. I have made three songs already and am working on the fourth. I’ve amplified my self-advocacy voice. I have my music on Spotify and Apple Music which is getting a lot of good numbers. With my music right now, I am being patient and working on the foundation.   

Q: What inspires and motivates you to create?  

A: Telling my story. Back in the day, I felt like a lot of people didn’t really listen to me or take me seriously. When I perform, when I’m on stage, or when I do music, I feel like that is where people listen and really understand. I felt like I had two sides of me. One Dupree that people don’t understand, but the performing side Dupree they be like, “I like this Dupree, I can understand where he is coming from, I can understand what he is saying.” That’s what inspires me. Just making sure that I can tell my story, that I can get my point across, I feel like people listen to me. This was more back in the day. Right now, I feel like I can talk to people where I don’t have to put on my creativity to make people listen to me, but that’s still the inspiring thing, to tell my story and make sure that I get my point across in my music. To answer your question, I guess it’s really just telling my story. Just making sure my voice is heard and use my gifts to really get my message out there.  

Q: Does your art tell a story about yourself?  

A: It really just talks about how I went through different things in my life of different obstacles that I have learned. I really try to tell that in my music. I really try to think about what I’ve learned in my life. There is a song that tells what I have been through and what I go through today and the things I overcome. There were a lot of things in my childhood that were not really the best, but I really overcame some things. It’s all about growing, maturing, getting better, and learning from my mistakes. I try to incorporate that into my music. In my radio, speaking, or podcast that I do, sometimes I just tell my story like that. It’s just based on what I have been through. I feel like back in the day, every day was a learning experience. I had to prove people wrong to know that yes, I can do this, yes, I’m capable of making it. I feel like I don’t have an obligation to do that anymore, because I know that it’s about me and it’s about my growth and it’s about what I want. There’s a lot if things in my art that tell people, “Oh wow, you’ve been through a lot, but how far you have came, how far you have accomplished.” In my earlier rapping, you could just tell that I was still going through a lot of stuff in my music. Today, you can just see the growth and how I can tell it in a greater way where people can understand it.  

Q: What are you most proud of as an artist?  

A: That I don’t do it to be the center of attention anymore, or I don’t do it just get people to listen to my side. I do it because I love to do it. This is what I was meant to do. I don’t have to prove to anybody that I can do this or do that. I’m proud that I can just say “yeah, this is what I am creating, this is what I am working on. Whether you want to listen to it or not, whether you want to support it or not, I just know that it all matters to me.” If they don’t support it or don’t like it, it doesn’t bother me as much as it used to back in the day. I do music, my creativity, and my podcast just to amplify my voice and make my voice heard. What I’m really most proud of is that I’m not doing it just because they like that side of Dupree. A lot of people are big fans of my performing side. I try to put my performing side and myself into one category. You’re getting both sides; you’re getting all of me in one type of category. That’s what I’m proud of, that I do it because I love to do it and I’m not trying to impress anybody.  

Q: Have there been any challenges you have had to overcome as an artist? 

A: I guess just trying to get somebody that really wants to listen to my music. The radio type thing I just do that on the side. It’s not something I really want to pursue right now, but I’ve been to radio stations. It’s really hard to create your own show there. But my music, really just trying to find a label. Finding somebody that’s going to try to enhance my writing skills. I just found a label three years ago. It was really good, and I have been happy with that. I’m not doing it in a negative way, it’s a positive way. I’m rapping about God and doing it in a better way where I feel good about it. The challenge was just trying to get fans, just trying to get exposure. I think I find ways to bring my music out and when I do put my music out and promote it, a lot of people listen to it and like it. It’s still a challenge to get more listeners. It costs money to get your name out there.  

Q: Is there a relationship between your music and community. If so, could you tell us about this?

A: I really don’t know because I haven’t really gone out and performed in a while or every day. That’s something I’m really working towards to actually see if my music will actually reach the community. But that’s the goal one day! I just have to go to different gigs and shows to build fans and connections like that. I’m working on trying to build that community, that fan base, that connection with the community. It’s in the works. If you’re talking about the disability community, yeah, the disability community knows my music very well. A lot of people listen to it. That’s where I usually get my exposure in the disability community, because a lot of disability advocates or leaders ask me to do my music.  

Q: Why is creating art important? 

A: It makes me feel good when I perform, when I rap, when I write something. It just makes me feel good about myself. It’s pretty much like therapy. Like relieving my stress, relieving my anxiety. When I do it, I also have fun, even if I’m going through a little bit of challenge when I’m writing or when I’m recording. It’s all about to be real, not to be fake about it. That’s why I like to rap. It’s my gift. All of these talents came natural to me. I didn’t practice rapping; it just came natural to me. I didn’t practice dancing; it came natural to me. I didn’t practice radio stuff; it just came natural to me. I’m still trying to unlock my talent, unlock my rapping ability, unlock my creative voice. I’m really still trying to learn because I’ve only been rapping for 11 years now, so I’m still trying to learn new ways about things. When I first started rapping, man, my voice sound good. I just want there lyrically yet, but I was feeling it. I was on the beat; I was doing good. Now I’m a lot better. I’m a lot smoother now in my craft. I continue to work on my craft each and every day. I guess just growth is part of the answer of the question. It makes me feel good. It makes me release a lot of stress, release a lot of anxiety. It makes me forget about what’s around me. If I have a bad day and I go write something, or go perform, I forget about that bad day. Music makes me happy. It gets me in my element every time.  

Q: What advice would you give to someone who wants to start creating? 

A: I would tell them, “Is it something that you are passionate about? Is it something that you really want to do?” I would say really try to work on your craft. Really try to believe that you can do it. Nowadays people just think they can rap and talk on it, but it’s all about your delivery. It’s all about your passion that you want to put it through. A lot of people could just listen to anything and just make a crazy song that you could get so popular off of it.  If you want to be creative and be true to yourself, really think about what you want your message to be, what you really want your story to be. In my rapping, I want a positive outlook so I can reach the community and make the community better. That’s my motto, that’s why I rap, that’s why I do that. I want to reach the community and give back to the community. I’d just tell somebody that if you really want to be artist, just try to make sure you’re passionate about it. You’re not just doing it to be famous. You’re doing it because you really like it. That’s what I try to do. I just do it because I like and I love it. It’s a purpose why I do it.  

Podcasting, just write something that you’re really passionate about. Whether it’s about the disability community, whether it’s about something you’re really interested in. Really try to stick to those topics and stick to what you do. But really my message to all artists, it’s all about believing in yourself and being yourself. Stay true to yourself. Stay true to who you are. Don’t let anybody tell you that you can’t do something, that you’re not good enough. You’ve got to know that you are good enough with your art and creativity.  

The post Self-Advocate Creator Spotlight: Dupree Edwards first appeared on The Arc Minnesota.

The post Self-Advocate Creator Spotlight: Dupree Edwards appeared first on The Arc Minnesota.

Ice Breakers

• Health and wellness means different things to different people. What does it mean to you?

Health and Wellness Challenge

Are you ready for more health and wellness in 2023? Take on the January 2023 Health and Wellness Challenge! Check in with your peers in a month to find out how it went!

Food and Nutrition

The food and drinks we choose impact our health and wellness. Check out Arc Cooks for recipes, videos, and more.

What are things to consider when making choices about nutrition?

Breathe In, Breathe Out

Life can be stressful! What does self-care mean and why is it important? Ty out these activities for more self-care:

• Guided Meditation Video from Madhatter Wellness
• Meditation and Stretching with Nate Clark
• Mindfulness Journal
• Chair Yoga

Let’s Get Active

Check out ways to get moving in 2023!

• Hope Adaptive Sports and Recreation
• Minnesota State Parks All-Terrain Track Chairs
• AccessABLE Recreation
• The Miracle League
• Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute Adaptive Sports & Rec

The Arc Minnesota’s 2023 Legislative Agenda & Social Determinants of Health

The Arc Minnesota’s 2023 legislative agenda focuses on the social determinants of health. Learn more about social determinants of health by reviewing the 2023 legislative agenda.

• Legislative Agenda
• Social Determinants of Health

Additional Resources to Explore

• 10 Body Positive Advocates with Disabilities you Should Follow on Instagram
• The Trauma Stewardship Free Resources
• National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability
• Adaptive Wellness from Disability Partnerships
• Moorhead Community Education – New Year, New You!
• Mad Hatter Wellness
• Recreation, Sports, and Camps List from PACER Center
• The Accessible Chef

Contacts and Organizations to Contact to Learn More

• The New Ulm Wellness Collective, Danielle Deopere
  • Julia Lutz-Lawlor is happy to connect you. Contact Julia by email at  julialutzlawlor@arcminnesota.org
• Aging and Older Adults

The post Health & Wellness Resources and Theme Guide first appeared on The Arc Minnesota.

The post Health & Wellness Resources and Theme Guide appeared first on The Arc Minnesota.

Here are some tops and tools for you:

Online Dating:

• I have made a new friend online, but I am worried—What do I do? (English-PDF)
• Online dating tips for people with disabilities (English-PDF)
• Tips for downloading apps (English-PDF)

Healthy Relationships:

• Defining healthy relationships
• 10 signs of a healthy vs unhealthy relationship
• Sex Ed for people with IDD –  Consent (Youtube)
• What does a healthy relationship look like?

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health created a series of videos called RESPECTfully. RESPECTfully videos cover having a health relationships, and the different parts of that.

Relationships don’t automatically mean a romantic relationship. Friends and family are also people you have relationships with. It’s important to learn how to have healthy relationships with all of the people in your life.

The post Healthy Relationships and Safe Relationship Resources first appeared on The Arc Minnesota.

The post Healthy Relationships and Safe Relationship Resources appeared first on The Arc Minnesota.

A self-advocate is someone with a disability who advocates for their wants, needs, and rights. They also help advocate for other people.

“Being a self-advocacy leader gives you an amazing feeling that you are making a difference in the world for people who have disabilities and making sure everyone has equal opportunities as everyone else,” says Karli, who helped create the course.

Self-Advocates Karli, Katie, Jeff, and Lea Sue wanted to share their leadership skills to help children, teens, and young adults become self-advocates and develop their skills.

Karli’s story 

I have been a Self-Advocate for about 13 years. Throughout this time, I have learned so much. Not only have I learned to speak up for myself, but also for others. I noticed that speaking up just for the little things that you want in your life can make a big impact.  

I wouldn’t be who I am today if not for self-advocacy. After getting involved with self-advocacy, I went from a being in a cocoon—in my own little world—to a beautiful butterfly that spread its wings. I was able to find the power within myself to state what I wanted and needed.  

Now, I am speaking up for myself, living in my own apartment, and have my dream job. I finally have what I always wanted and am completely happy and free to do what I would like.

I was one of the Self-Advocates who helped create this workshop. If I had a workshop like this growing up, I would have learned to become a powerful self-advocate earlier by using the power that I had inside myself. By helping to create this course, I am happy I can share resources for people to find the power within themselves to become their own superhero! 

Being a leader gives you a powerful feeling. When we make a positive change, we are superheroes. 

The post Being a Self-Advocate Superhero with Karli first appeared on The Arc Minnesota.

The post Being a Self-Advocate Superhero with Karli appeared first on The Arc Minnesota.

Below, we list the ten principles of disability justice along with their Sins Invalid and plain language definitions.

Go to principle: Intersectionality | Leadership by the most impacted | Anti-capitalist politics | Cross-movement solidarity | Recognizing wholeness | Sustainability |  Cross-disability solidarity | Interdependence | Collective access | Collective liberation

Intersectionality

Sins Invalid Definition:

Simply put, this principle says that we are many things, and they all impact us.

We are not only disabled, we are also each coming from a specific experience of race, class, sexuality, age, religious background, geographical location, immigration status, and more. Depending on context, we all have areas where we experience privilege, as well as areas of oppression.

The term “intersectionality” was first introduced by feminist theorist Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989 to describe the experiences of Black women, who experience both racism and sexism in specific ways.

We gratefully embrace the nuance that this principle brings to our lived experiences, and the ways it shapes the perspectives we offer.

Plain Language Definition:

• The lives of people who have disabilities are shaped by:
  • Their race
  • Gender expression
  • Where they live
  • Our time in history
  • And more
• All of these parts of a person’s life make up their identity.
• Sometimes, people are treated unjustly because of their identities. The way that people experience oppression because of their identities is called “intersectionality.” Kimberle Crenshaw was the first person to use that term.

Leadership of Those Most Impacted

Sins Invalid Definition:

When we talk about ableism, racism, sexism and transmisogyny, colonization, police violence, etc., we are not looking to academics and experts to tell us what’s what—we are lifting up, listening to, reading, following, and highlighting the perspectives of those who are most impacted by the systems we fight against.

By centering the leadership of those most impacted, we keep ourselves grounded in real-world problems and find creative strategies for resistance.

Plain Language Definition:

• Leadership of people who have disabilities is powerful. Together, they can take on and break down barriers while learning from each other and building community.
• The disability justice movement is led by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color who have disabilities. Some leaders are lesbian, gay, transgender, and more.
• Learning from and being led by diverse people who have disabilities is important. They are experts who have experience that must be respected.
• People who have disabilities must lead change in systems and society because they have power and know what is best for them. When people who have disabilities lead and share their own stories, other people understand it is possible for them, too.

Anti-Capitalist Politics

Sins Invalid Definition:

Capitalism depends on wealth accumulation for some (the white ruling class), at the expense of others, and encourages competition as a means of survival.

The nature of our disabled bodyminds means that we resist conforming to“normative” levels of productivity in a capitalist culture, and our labor is often invisible to a system that defines labor by able-bodied, white supremacist, gender normative standards.

Our worth is not dependent on what and how much we can produce.

Plain Language Definition:

• Some people have more money than others. Having more money often gives people more power.
• Many people who have disabilities do not have much money, because our system is set up in a way that does not value who they are and what they can do. This leads to low wages and less opportunity for people who have disabilities.
• The value and worth of people who have disabilities is not connected to how much money they make, whether they work, and how much they can “get done.” We need to reimagine a world where their power, value, and worth is respected.

Commitment to Cross-Movement Solidarity

Sins Invalid Definition:

Disability justice can only grow into its potential as a movement by aligning itself with racial justice, reproductive justice, queer and trans liberation, prison abolition, environmental justice, anti-police terror, Deaf activism, fat liberation, and other movements working for justice and liberation.

This means challenging white disability communities around racism and challenging other movements to confront ableism. Through cross-movement solidarity, we create a united front.

Plain Language Definition:

• People who have disabilities have not always been included in the fight for justice. People who have disabilities have been left out of the fight for:
  • lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights
  • racial justice
  • environmental justice
  • and other work to end oppression
• People who have disabilities need to be included as leaders of all justice movements. Disability justice also needs to include all other types of work to create positive change in society. This is called “cross-movement solidarity.”
• Movements have to be “intersectional” to make sure that all parts of people’s lives are honored and respected.
• We have to work to change many systems at the same time to address the different challenges and barriers that people experience. White people who have disabilities need to:
  • work to end ableism and racism
  • advocate for freedom for all people

Recognizing Wholeness

Sins Invalid Definition:

Each person is full of history and life experience.

Each person has an internal experience composed of our own thoughts, sensations, emotions, sexual fantasies, perceptions, and quirks.

Disabled people are whole people.

Plain Language Definition:

• It is important to accept everyone for who they are on the inside and outside, without judgement.
• People who have disabilities must be respected and valued for all of who they are. It is important to honor and embrace disability as part of a person’s identity that gives them power.
• Leaders in the disability justice movement use the word “bodymind” as a way to show that our bodies and our minds are connected. Our body and our mind can’t be separated. The bodyminds of people who have disabilities are whole, valued, and worthy.

Sustainability:

Sins Invalid Definition:

We learn to pace ourselves, individually and collectively, to be sustained long-term.

We value the teachings of our bodies and experiences, and use them as a critical guide and reference point to help us move away from urgency and into a deep, slow, transformative, unstoppable wave of justice and liberation.

Plain Language Definition:

• Advocating for ourselves and others will help create real change in our communities.
• Change can be hard and does not happen overnight. It can take a long time.
• We need to make sure we have energy, drive, and patience. We need to work for change and advocate for disability justice, no matter how long it takes.

Commitment to Cross-Disability Solidarity

Sins Invalid Definition:

We value and honor the insights and participation of all of our community members, even and especially those who
are most often left out of political conversations.

We are building a movement that breaks down isolation between people with physical impairments, people who are sick or chronically ill, psych survivors and people with mental health disabilities, neurodiverse people, people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, Deaf people, Blind people, people with environmental injuries and chemical sensitivities, and all others who experience ableism and isolation that undermines our collective liberation.

Plain Language Definition:

• Each person, no matter their disability, must have the option to be part of the disability justice movement.
• When people who have different disabilities work together, nothing can stop us from creating change.

Interdependence

Sins Invalid Definition:

Before the massive colonial project of Western European expansion, we understood the nature of interdependence within our communities.

We see the liberation of all living systems and the land as integral to the liberation of our own communities, as we
all share one planet.

We work to meet each other’s needs as we build toward liberation, without always reaching for state solutions which inevitably extend state control further into our lives.

Plain Language Definition:

• Everyone needs support sometimes. We must work together to meet each other’s needs.
• We must create a community that helps one another. This is called “interdependence.”
• People who have disabilities must be able to choose the types of support they need and want.
• People should have lots of options for how they get support – not just what is offered by the government.

Collective Access

Sins Invalid Definition:

As Black and brown and queer Crips, we bring flexibility and creative nuance to our engagement with each other.

We create and explore ways of doing things that go beyond able-bodied and neurotypical norms. Access needs aren’t shameful — we all function differently depending on context and environment. Access needs can be articulated and met privately, through a collective, or in community, depending upon an individual’s needs, desires, and the capacity of the group.

We can share responsibility for our access needs, we can ask that our needs be met without compromising our integrity, we can balance autonomy while being in community, we can be unafraid of our vulnerabilities, knowing our strengths are respected.

Plain Language Definition:

• Each person’s bodymind works differently.
• Everyone must be included in ways that are accessible for them.
• Access needs are part of life and must be respected.

Collective Liberation

Sins Invalid Definition:

We move together as people with mixed abilities, multiracial, multi-gendered, mixed class, across the sexual spectrum, with a vision that leaves no bodymind behind.

Plain Language Definition:

• Leaders of the disability justice movement are working to build a world where every bodymind is free, respected, and valued for exactly who they are.
• This is called “collective liberation.” It is our responsibility to make sure everyone has a chance to live the life they want. We must make sure that no one is left behind.

Other resources

To learn more about Sins Invalid:

Visit their website here to learn about the organization, and learn more about their ten principles of disability justice here.

To learn more about The Arc Minnesota’s Resources:

Visit our Self-Advocacy page here to find resources, learn new skills, and find ways to connect.

The Arc Minnesota believes that systems and social change must be:

• Led by people who have disabilities – especially those who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color
• Focused on freeing people who have disabilities from discrimination
• Connected to all other movements for freedom and justice

We will:

• Learn from people who have diverse lived experience
• Challenge ourselves and others to confront racism and ableism
• Be allies in disability and racial justice movements led by people who have disabilities
• Fight for justice in society and systems
• Fight injustice within and across communities

Review all of our values.

The post The Arc Minnesota Plain Language Disability Justice Principles first appeared on The Arc Minnesota.

The post The Arc Minnesota Plain Language Disability Justice Principles appeared first on The Arc Minnesota.