St. Louis Cardinals’ Post

As we become more mindful of how space impacts behavior and culture, we should strive to shift our thinking from “designing for” to “designing with.”

In an article for the Daily Business Review, our Managing Partner, Rebecca L. Palmer, highlights the significance of July 26th, 1990, when the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed. She emphasizes the importance of teaching children that everyone is unique and deserves respect, using this day to instill values of empathy and acceptance. Rebecca suggests immersing children in environments with disabled individuals to help them confront stereotypes and appreciate their contributions. She recommends engaging with nonprofits like Best Buddies International, CIL, or the Special Olympics. "Encourage kids to ask questions and provide honest, age-appropriate answers about disabilities. Open dialogue is key to correcting misconceptions and promoting understanding," Palmer advises. Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/eyZwGabS #HereForYou #NationalDisabilityIndependenceDay #Empathy #Acceptance #RebeccaPalmer #OrlandoFamilyLaw

Statement and Call to Action from AAPD on the 25th Anniversary of #Olmstead v. LC WASHINGTON, DC – Twenty-five years ago today, the U.S. Supreme Court released its decision in Olmstead v. LC. The Olmstead decision affirmed the rights of individuals with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It held that unjustified segregation of persons with disabilities in institutions constitutes discrimination, emphasizing the right to live and receive services in the community rather than in isolated, segregated settings. This landmark ruling has significantly influenced disability rights and the provision of community-based services across the United States. However, twenty-five years after this decision, Olmstead’s promise still remains unfulfilled. Today we honor the important role Olmstead has played in shaping and advancing disability civil rights, and affirm our commitment to the substantial work that remains to achieve community integration and autonomy for all disabled people. https://lnkd.in/gUMzzyQK

"My hope on this anniversary of the ADA is for every disabled child, especially children of color, to know that they are perfect, that they are whole, that they belong, they are powerful, & that true social change cannot happen without them." - Conchita Hernández Legorreta. 34 years ago, the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law. The ADA prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities and ensures equal opportunities for employment, transportation, public accommodations, communications, and government services. 34 years later, the fight for disability rights continues. Today, we Let’s honor the legacy of disability rights activists like Judy Heumann, Ed Roberts, Brad Lomax, Gini Laurie, and the ongoing work of change makers like Alice Wong, Haben Girma, Leroy F. Moore Jr, Vilissa Thompson, Conchita Hernández Legorreta, Lydia X. Z. Brown and so many others by demanding a world where every trail, every park, and every space is accessible, safe, and welcoming. Access to nature is a human right. Let's continue to make some noise. Let's continue to work together to make sure that city parks, county parks, state parks, and national parks, community spaces, and other outdoor spaces are accessible, safe, and welcoming for all. Image Description: Black and White photograph of participants in one of the first Disability Independence Day marches in New York City gather under a banner that reads “‘Injustice Anywhere is a Threat to Justice Everywhere.'—Martin Luther King, Jr.” #DisabilityPrideMonth #AccessIsLove

Large legislative wins like The Americans with Disabilities Act and the passage of Section 504 resulted in obvious public changes to our society. Ramps were built, schools were made accessible and were funded accordingly. The more insidious nature of the disability rights movement and how it has stagnated is because the discrimination that faces this group is much more hidden. And it is invisible by design. It’s easier not facing the fact that minimum wage doesn’t exist and we can pay the disabled anything we want. We don’t have to see the disabled in our everyday lives because we don’t make them feel welcome. We don’t allow for differences to be accepted or families to feel like they can bring their children to spaces. With such purposeful exclusion and no legislative priorities, it falls on us: it falls on communities to create spaces through collaboration. It falls on service providers who need to be supporting families after graduation. It falls on us to make a purposeful intentional shift in the way that we value people with disabilities in our society as worthy of our efforts. Join us as we begin building Indianapolis to support this work and vision. Revolution doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It happens when everyone fights together.

All we are ask, is to be fully included in our communities - just like everyone else. If your child was excluded, denied the right to participate in society fully and effectively on an equal basis with others, would you not fight for their rights? Access is a constitutional right! I AM MORE than my disability; I AM A PERSON FIRST! #DRAM2023 #DisabilityRightsAwareness #DisabilityRightsAreHumanRights #disabilityinfosa #disa #disabilityrights Image Description: Disability Awareness Month - Young boy in wheelchair, with his back to the camera, sitting on the sidelines of a school sports field, watching other children play together and participate in sport. On the image, black text in a yellow block: If this was your child, would you not fight for their rights? Below that, white text in a navy block: Disability rights are human rights! I am a person first. At the bottom of the image, white text on blue, the words, ‘Equality’ Includes “The full and equal enjoyment of rights and freedoms as contemplated in the constitution. Equality is only possible through access and awareness.

Happy Disability Pride Month! For those of you who maybe aren't familiar with this celebration Disability Pride Month is celebrated in July to mark the anniversary of the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act on July 26, 1990. The first celebration was held in Boston that same year. The disability pride flag has a great deal of meaning behind it. The faded black background represents mourning and rage for victims of ableist violence and abuse. Red is for people with physical disabilities. Gold is for neurodiversity, including cognitive and intellectual disabilities. White is for invisible disabilities and disabilities that haven't yet been diagnosed. Blue is for emotional and psychiatric disabilities. Green is for sensory disabilities. Different variations of the flag might show the lines in a zig-zag pattern. This is to represent how people with disabilities maneuver around the barriers they face daily.   Now you might be asking, "Why do we need a Disability Pride Month?" Currently 1 in 4 U.S adults live with a disability according to The Arc. Yet discrimination and ableism still persist. Disabled people are denied promotions, fired or not even hired, they face abuse by caregivers and the public alike. People who are disabled are just as capable, intelligent, and hard-working as an able-bodied person. We strive for acceptance and understanding just like everyone else.   So what are some ways you can help support disabled people? Meet people with disabilities! Learn about what different disabilities are and how they can impact them. If you are a manager or leader, consider hiring disabled people! Ask what you can do to help support them to be the best they can be. Learn about what their challenges are with their disability and help them work through those challenges.   I am a disabled person. I struggle with multiple chronic illnesses that can impact my mobility and my energy. I have generalized anxiety disorder and am a Level 1 autistic. I deal with periodic migraines. I'm also intelligent, funny, sarcastic, and very hard working. I live my life on my own terms and work every day to be fearlessly authentic. Would you be afraid to hire me? Maybe instead look at me (or the disabled person you are considering for a role) and look past the disability at the talented individual you have in front of you. You might be surprised at what you find.   #DisabilityPrideMonth #ActuallyAutistic #Inclusion #DEI

July marks Disability Pride Month, a significant time to recognize the strength, resilience, and invaluable contributions of the disabled community. It's not just a celebration; it's a powerful movement towards a society where everyone is valued and included. Here's why Disability Pride matters: 1) It is important to educate yourself and others by learning about Disability Pride Month's history and significance. Share stories and resources highlighting disabled individuals' experiences. 2) Supporting Disabled Creators and Businesses: By purchasing from disabled entrepreneurs and following disabled creators on social media, you show support and make a tangible difference in their lives and the wider community. 3) Advocating for Accessibility: Your voice matters. By pushing for changes that make spaces more accessible, you can directly impact workplaces, communities, and online spaces, making them more inclusive for everyone. Disability inclusion is a vital part of human diversity. By embracing and celebrating our differences, we can build a more inclusive world where everyone can thrive. The Disability Pride Flag, designed by Ann Magill, represents the following. Red represents physical disabilities. Yellow represents cognitive and intellectual disabilities. White represents invisible and undiagnosed disabilities. Blue represents mental illness. Green represents sensory perception disabilities. The flag's black background mourns victims of ableist violence, and the lightning bolt symbolizes navigating societal barriers. Join us this Disability Pride Month to celebrate and support the disabled community. Together, we can break down barriers and empower everyone to reach their full potential. #DisabilityPrideMonth #InclusionMatters #CelebrateDiversity #DisabilityAdvocacy #AccessibilityForAll #Neurodiversity #MentalHealth #ADHD #Autism #Diversity #WorkplaceInclusion #CelebrateDifferences #CommunitySupport #InclusiveSociety #UniqueAbilities #MentalHealthMatters #ResilientHeartsInc

Disability Pride Month is celebrated every July and is an opportunity to honor the history, achievements, experiences, and struggles of the disability community. Why July? It marks the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), landmark legislation that broke down barriers to inclusion in society. One way you can honor Disability Pride Month is to hire people with disabilities. Right now, 85% of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are unemployed. Many of them want to work and have skills to contribute. Among those who are employed, people with IDD are working fewer than 13 hours a week on average and less than one-fifth of them are getting workplace benefits. But research shows that disability inclusion is a proven good business decision. And here's what the Disability Month flag's colors symbolize, in order of appearance from top to bottom: > Green is for sensory disabilities. > Blue represents emotional and psychiatric disabilities. > White stands for non-visible and undiagnosed disabilities. > Gold is for neurodiversity. > Red represents physical disabilities. The stripes are displayed on a faded charcoal black background which commemorates and mourns disabled people who’ve died due to ableism, violence, negligence, suicide, rebellion, illness and eugenics. The dark background also represents rage and protest against the mistreatment of the disabled community. #disabilitypride #disabilitypridemonth

Wondering how to be a part of Disability Pride Month? Wally Tablit, our Chief Disability Inclusion Officer, suggests these actions: ▷ Share the lived experience! If you are a person with a disability, or know someone who is, share the story of your experience with the community. ▷ Learn more about the disabled community! Meet someone with a disability. The more you know about a person with a disability - their truth and lived experience - the more you can be a part of impactful change. ▷ Educate yourself on the disability rights and justice movement. Watch and read media that has been created by and with people with disabilities such as Crip Camp, CODA, Demystifying Disability by Emily Ladau and Disability Visibility by Alice Wong. ▷ Reach out to elected officials. Find out who your legislators are and connect to help educate them about policies that harm or strengthen the quality of life for people with disabilities. ▷ If you are an employer, hire someone with a disability! According to the Department of Labor, as of May 2024, only 38.3% of persons with a disability are employed. Many want to work and have skills to contribute, and research shows that disability inclusion is a proven good business decision. [ ID: A graphic with the diagonal colored stripes of the disability pride flag. In the lower left corner is a circle with an R, a Relay Resources logo. ] #DisabilityPrideMonth #ADA #DisabilityPride #InclusionOfficer #PDX #Portland #RelayResources