By
JERRY WOLFFE
The
social justice movement of this century is likely to focus on acquiring equal
rights and opportunities for the 57 million people in the United States and 1
billion globally who have a disability.
People
with disabilities are the largest minority group in America and anyone can
become a member at any time, according to Disability Funders Network.
The DFN is a national
membership and philanthropic advocacy organization that seeks equality and
rights for individuals with disabilities.
The
economic data uncovered by the DFN, which was established in 1994 to be a
catalyst for creating new understanding of how funders can promote inclusion of
those with disabilities in grant-making programs, is disheartening.
More
than 65 percent of working age adults with disabilities is unemployed, it says.
Of those working, one-third earn an income below the poverty level. The jobless
rate of people with disabilities also is 10 times greater than the U.S.
unemployment rate, the DFN found.
The
number of people “living with a chronic health condition” is expected to
increase to 150 million in the United States by 2030.
DFN
also found:
o Despite the strides made in
the disability rights during the past 25 years, the majority of people with
disabilities are poor, under-employed, and under-educated due largely to
unequal opportunities. This, despite findings by the U.S. Department of Education
which said workers with disabilities are rated “consistently as average or
above average in performance, quality, and quantity of work, flexibility, and
attendance.”
o The Foundation Center
Tuesday (6.3) reported that out of
more than $3 billion spent in philanthropic giving, only 2.9 percent of grants
made by institutionalized philanthropy are directed to programs serving people
with disabilities.
o Disability belongs in any grant-making
program that supports diversity. Or Education. Or employment. Or housing. Arts
and culture. And, any other element of life because the interests of those with
disabilities mirrors those of all groups in the nation.
We
in the disability community call the able-bodied TABS because it means temporarily
Able-Bodied because sooner or later an accident, disease, or old age will force
its way into your life, leaving you less able and perhaps with a severe
disability. So when you fight for those of us with disabilities, you are
fighting to have a good future for yourself and loved ones and to free an
oppressed people.
Jerry Wolffe is the
writer-in-residence/advocate-at-large of the Macomb-Oakland Regional Center. He
can be reached at (586) 263-8950.
