Barry Rosenberg, Denver, Co - Why this project is important

First thing that comes to mind in maybe it will tie together During the 60s people who black , Aftican American saw their color as a source of shame They were by dominance standards, white America, they saw their color their hair their features as being inferior. It wasnÕt until the late 60s that they were proud of their blackness. Felt good about who they were. I think people with disabilities it is hard for non-disabled people but people with disabilities like who they are. It is not like because you are disabled your life is tragic or meaningless. But people like who they are and given the choice, a colleuge of mine that I work with, a quad, I am satisfied with who I am. I am not interested in stem cell research I am fine. I donÕt need to be changed or reconstructed. That there is a value and we as Americans miss the value of people with disabilities when we close our eyes or walk away. We all talk about inclusion and diversity and the greatness of America. I think too long Americans have discounted the contributions of people with disabilities and it has become a silent revolution. I think people miss out on the abilities of people with disabilities. And we are not talking about those few stories of people that overcome all the obstacles it is the day to day heroes of people who that just feel good about who they are and go about whether they are on their Medicaid, SSIs, and who live independently there is value in all peoples and I think the disabled. It is so interesting that people who have been involved in civil rights you would think they would get it everyone. I have not seen in Newsweek anything about anytime there is a trend Newsweek and Time fight to get that trend. I have not seen anything related to the disabled group, not so much a disease or procedure but the disabled as a group and how the media has missed the bulk on this. I think there are valuable contribution and we as Americans who are non-disabled who will more likely experience a disability somewhere in our life or have a family member. I worked in this field since 1973 and I used to work with parents. Again I say parents are the biggest barrier to independent living and they were hysterical and crying. And they change their mind everyday about things and I would say Oh these people are crazy. In 1992 I had a daughter diagnosed with a terminal disease and I became the craziest of the parents. I think none of us our immune to being disabled or having a child with a disability. Sooner or later it may effect us and even if it doesnÕt we would be better citizens by honoring inclusion.