Working on a mural in Downtown Fort Wayne.
Definition of Community integration: the process of ensuring that all people—especially individuals with disabilities, chronic illnesses, or those recovering from injuries—can fully live, work, and participate in mainstream society rather than being segregated.
You are most likely hearing the word community integration a lot recently with Medicaid Waivers at risk and the Olmstead Act being re-interpreted. Community integration and access should be a given, a right, not something someone else chooses whether I deserve or not.
My take this month is not going to be further explanation, it is going to be on what access for all people in our community looks like, how it benefits all of us, and how it makes a community better. (names are changed, but stories and situations are real)
Let’s talk about Taylor who is 47 years old and has an intellectual disability. She lives at home with her parents and works part time in her home community in a job where she interacts with a lot of people. In addition, Taylor attends activities and events throughout the community, either with family, friends, or support staff. In other words – she fully lives, works, and participates just like everyone else – with minimal, but much needed, supports. She also contributes economically and socially. She knows the names of all the regular customers and increases the likelihood of everyone she meets having a good day. What happens if Taylor’s family is no longer able to care for her? Does she have to give up her full community participation for a different, segregated living situation?
Daniel has an intellectual disability and grew up in a foster-like living situation. With help from his provider, his support staff, and his community Daniel lives independently in a small home (that he owns and pays taxes on). Daniel works part time at a minimum wage job. With supports he shops weekly, prepares his meals, does his laundry, manages his money, and enjoys the independence that any 30 year-old would love. He rides his bike or walks everywhere he goes or relies on natural supports from neighbors and friends. IF Daniel loses his waiver (which he is at risk of right now), how will he remain independent? Where will he end up?
And last, but not least, Cameron. Cameron is 12 years old and attends middle school. He has autism with high support needs and fully loves life. He spends most of his day in a general education classroom, with supports from special education staff throughout the day. He also receives speech, occupational, and physical therapy daily. Outside of school, Cameron requires supervision and care that he gets through a combination of family and provider support. There are 3 other children in his family, who also contribute to his care, but still need care of their own. His parents use his Waiver dollars for respite care, music therapy, and recreation therapy. Cameron’s support staff is trained to understand and meet his needs. Cameron does not need to be segregated from his family or community. He thrives with his siblings and his friends and family. He just needs an extra dose of support that Medicaid is supposed to provide. What does the future look like for Cameron as our state falls down this slippery slope?
There are thousands more Taylors, Daniels, and Camerons. All are facing losing some level (or all) of their supports – potentially limiting their community access and all that goes with it. The value that each person with a disability brings to a community cannot be measured by a stranger with a checklist. We need to continue to stand up and recognize how important it is to have disability diversity within our community and how critical it is that individual levels of support are provided.
Why is it that whenever we are at the verge of losing something,
we realize how important it is.
Working on a mural in Downtown Fort Wayne.
Self-advocates from Bi-County Services award a donation in their community on Pay it Forward Day
IWU Impact student serves up food from their food truck.
