Florida Developmental Disabilities Council
A Civil Rights Movement
• Civil Rights Movement (1960s)
• Struggle to end segregation
Source: (above) Abbeyville Press
http://www.abbeville.com/Products/InteriorImages/0789206560Interi
ors.htm
Source: (above) Florida Memory Project, http://www.floridamemory.com/
Florida Developmental Disabilities Council
A Civil Rights Movement
• Significant gains made by strong leaders
Sources:
(above) San Diego State University
http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/~cerna/protests.htm
(right) Carl Vinson Institute of Government at University of Georgia
http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/tl24frame1.htm
Florida Developmental Disabilities Council
A Civil Rights Movement
• Disability Rights Movement (1970s – today)
• Struggle to end segregation
Source: (above and right) Smithsonian National Museum of American History
http://americanhistory.si.edu/disabilityrights/exhibit_menu.html
Florida Developmental Disabilities Council
A Civil Rights Movement
• Despite some gains by vocal activists
• Developmental Disabilities
Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (’75)
• Education for All Handicapped
Children Act (’75)
• Americans with Disabilities Act (‘90)
• Segregation still exists
Source: (above) AP Photo by Tetona Dunlap
http://www.pww.org/article/articleprint/9620/
Florida Developmental Disabilities Council
History
• The Middle Ages
– “idiot cages”
– “ships of fools”
• The Protestant Reformation
– subhuman organisms
– “filled with Satan”
Florida Developmental Disabilities Council
History
• The 19th and 20th Centuries
– Growth of institutions for disabled
– Training schools  asylums
– Pupils  inmates
Source: The Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities,
www.mncdd.org, www.museumofdisability.org
Florida Developmental Disabilities Council
Inclusion
• The time to end segregation is NOW.
• All people deserve to be valued as
contributing community members.
NOW is the time for inclusion.
Florida Developmental Disabilities Council
Inclusion
What is inclusion?
• “Inclusion” means all individuals – with and
without disabilities – live, learn, work, play
and participate together in all life
experiences.
• Supports are provided to meet individual
needs, and everyone is accepted and
regarded as a valued member of society.
Florida Developmental Disabilities Council
Inclusion
Three Key Spheres of Inclusion:
Education
Business
Community
Florida Developmental Disabilities Council
Inclusion in Education
Barriers:
• Denial of access to
mainstream education
• Lack of access to fair
curriculum
• Shortage of opportunities for higher
education
• Untrained and uninformed instructors
(above) West Hernando Middle School, Brooksville
Florida Developmental Disabilities Council
Inclusion in Education
Inclusion NOW:
• More inclusive classrooms
• Modifications to regular
curriculum
(above) Joseph Benito, student in an inclusive
classroom
– e.g., State Reading Initiatives
• Higher education  better job opportunities
• Diverse classrooms
• All teachers qualified to teach all students
Florida Developmental Disabilities Council
Inclusion in Business
Barriers:
•
•
•
•
Lack of job opportunities
Health benefits cut
Insufficient transportation
Untrained and uninformed employers
Florida Developmental Disabilities Council
Inclusion in Business
Inclusion NOW:
•
•
•
•
•
Untapped resources
Reliable health benefits
Transportation options
Highly dedicated and professional employees
Tax incentives and a diverse workplace
(above) Juan “Papo” Pollo, owner of “Pop’s Vending”
Florida Developmental Disabilities Council
Inclusion in the Community
Barriers:
• Lack of access to affordable housing
• Insufficient transportation
• Need for expansion and equality in
necessary waiver programs
• Untrained and uninformed citizens and
leaders
Florida Developmental Disabilities Council
Inclusion in the Community
Inclusion NOW:
• Opportunities for rental or
home ownership
• Transportation options
• Sufficient access and
availability of needed services and support
• All benefit in inclusive communities
• Inclusive communities = strong communities
(above) Jonathan Hughes, homeowner
Florida Developmental Disabilities Council
Inclusion NOW!
A Civil Rights Movement
• Equal rights for all
• Right to experience life as equal and active
members of society
NOW is the time to break down barriers.
Florida Developmental Disabilities Council
Getting Involved
Where can I learn more?
• The National Inclusion Network
www.inclusion.org
Photo
• The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council
www.fddc.org
Florida Developmental Disabilities Council
Take Action…NOW!
• Start the dialog.
• Contact your local legislator.
– www.flsenate.gov
– www.myfloridahouse.gov
– Call 1-800-342-1827
• Become an advocate.
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Inc., and distributed for the purpose of educating the public about the need for “Inclusion NOW!” It is forbidden to change or
alter this presentation in any way without the expressed consent of the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc. For
more details, or to obtain clarification, please contact the Council toll-free at 800-580-7801.
Florida Developmental Disabilities Council