National Disability Employment Awareness Month l 5

National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Did you know that the month of October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month? Well, if you didn’t know, now you know.

From the Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy, “The theme for NDEAM 2021, ‘America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion.”

This year’s theme is quite resounding and I believe there is a strong reason behind it. We are just coming out of the temporary recession, and right now it is so easy for people with disabilities to be forgotten in the mix.

Additionally, the theme reflects the importance of ensuring that PWDs have full and equal access to employment opportunities and that they are equally engaged in community efforts to recover from the Covid-19 Pandemic.

“NDEAM is held each October to commemorate the many and varied contributions of people with disabilities to America’s workplaces and economy. Browse our website for ideas and resources for employers, community organizations, state and local governments, advocacy groups and schools to participate in celebrating NDEAM through events and activities centered around the theme of ‘America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion.’ ”

So let’s talk about the Pandemic and how it has changed lives for the marginalized communities. Its been 50 years since disability activists in San Francisco took over a federal building just to air their grievances. The activists took over the building for 28 days forcing the signing of the Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

This is a critical piece of legislation as it seeks to establish the rights of the people iith disabilities who for a long time have been discriminated against especially in programs where they are to receive federal funding.

By the 90s, disability activists were still in some sort of tag of war with the US Capital demanding civil rights legislation for disabled people. And soon enough, this paid off as the Americans with Disabilities Act passed. It celebrated its 31st anniversary on July 2021.

The journey to equality and the fight for freedom for the people living with disabilities hasnt been an easy one, yet even with these laws and the many drafted protection legislations, the lack of access and equity for the people with disabilities, especially those who are multiply marginalized was brought forth by their treatment during the Covid-19 pandemic.

We all know that the pandemic has been indiscriminate, but despite this fact, the impacts have been disproportionate. The pandemic killed thousands of people mostly because ofthe vulnerabilities created in the system as a result of continued inequities in the distribution of resources and services especially for the marginalized groups.

That being the case, you would expect that by now there have been changes in the system to address these disparities, well, little has been done to make permanent changes to decrease these fatalities and better and more equitably protect the people with

Despite there being several passages passed to better support people in the united states which includes but not limited to economic support, acces to better health care, eviction and foreclosure protections, basic necessities have yet to be determined as basic flights to maintain public health and safety. Still, people are still working minimum and subminimum wage jobs. As the country continues to face challenges especially in health care, housing and the economy, just a few things have changed in any permanent way in the governing of lives, yet everything seems to have permanently changed for the people who have been directly impacted by the pandemic.

HOUSING FOR THE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

People with disabilities face somany barriers to housing. Without affordable, accessible housing in their communities, many face the risk of being institutionalized or even homeless. It is no surprise that in many states, people with disabilities are facing the affordability crisis, and not just in housing, but in everything (health care, and economic stability). Approximately 4.8 million non-institutionalized people with disabilities rely on the federal government for monthly Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and have an average income of about $9,156 per year which is extremely low that they are priced out of every rental housing market in the nation.

Research also shows that many people with I/DD live under the care of aging caregivers and as this population of caregivers continue to age, many of these people with I/DD are at a severe risk of being institutionalized or become homeless.

And even though to some extent these marginalized group of people are able to find a home, it is not as friendly. Many of the accessible homes do not offer specific features or even technologies that would make living for the people with disabilities easy. Features such as kitchen counters, sink, widened doorways, and wheel in showers are just non-existent, and the few that do exists, they are unaffordable.

Availability of affordable, accessible housing remains top concern and far less than the need, leaving too many people with I/DD institutionalized, homeless or in the worst housing situation where they are forced to pay higher rents than they can afford.

Have they tried to lobby for their needs? In deed they have. One of the critical legislation that needs further revision and attention is the Fair Housing Act which prohibits discrimination against people on the basis of their race, color, religion, sexual orientation, family status and national origin. Yet, people with disabilities often make up the majority of discriminamtion complaints received by HUD’s Fair Housing Enforcement Office and many other fair housing agencies.

SO WHAT CAN WE DO?

People with I/DD have as much right to accessible, affordable housing everywhere. I would ask you to support the following key legislations meant to increase the affordable housing options for the people living with disabilities.

Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities Program. Section 811 is the only HUD program dedicated to producing affordable, accessible housing in the community for non-elderly, very lowincome people with significant disabilities.

Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers. HUD’s Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program helps very low-income families, the elderly, and people with disabilities afford rental housing in the private market. About 1 in 3 households using Section 8 vouchers are headed by a non-elderly (under age 62) person with a disability.

National Housing Trust Fund. The National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF) is a new, dedicated fund that provides grants to states to build, preserve, and rehabilitate housing for people with the lowest incomes.

It is not impossible making more homes accessible but right now, it seems that there arent enough incentives to make this a priority. Many landlords arent interested in investing in this kind of housing unless they are receiving the federal funds. During this month, lets support the people with I/DD.

Sources: https://ncd.gov/publications/2010/jan192010 https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/disability/reports/2021/08/05/502242/ ada-31-access-housing-health-care-must-meet-rise-disability-u-s/ https://thearc.org/policy-advocacy/housing/ https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/12/renting-with-adisability/420555/ https://www.census.gov/newsroom/stories/disability-employment-awareness-month.html

HOME OWNERSHIP

by Eric Lawrence Frazier MBA

Home ownership brings stability to individuals and families who have never had a dwelling place that they could call their own. There is something special about owning real estate that is unlike anything else on earth you can own.

Real Estate you own is not like cars that decay over time and you have to replace them. Real Estate you own is not like clothes that go out of style and you have to buy new ones. Real Estate you own is not like expensive vacations or experiences that only last a moment in time. Real Estate you own is not like an apartment where the landlord may increase the rent until it’s no longer affordable. Real Estate you own is not like staying at your parents house where you know can’t stay forever.

Home ownership is the beginning of wealth that increases over time and becomes your estate & legacy Home ownership is the pride of a mother nurturer and the kitchen her domain Home ownership is the pride of a father provider and protector of his territory and family. Home ownership is the foundation of permanence and the place where life happens, birthdays celebrated, deaths mourned.

Home ownership is the place you build memories that can never be taken from you. Memories etched in walls and concrete, experienced in rooms and floors, Memories living in trees and shrubs planted by your hand. Howe ownership is the manifestation of you - your style, your colors, your smell, your stuff, your junk, your memories, your yard and your spaces, your life.

It’s the height markers on your first child’s bedroom wall. It’s the hearts drawn in the concrete slabs when you pour your patio floor

It’s the birthday parties, and anniversaries in the living room and kitchen. It’s the back yard barbecue with friends, neighbors and family contentions it’s the high school and college graduation, and wedding receptions Its’ the family nights and block parties and the fellowship of family connections

Home ownership

It’s more than real estate. Land, brick and mortar, wood frame construction and chicken wire. It’s more than money saved, gifts recieved and grants obtained It’s more than the debt you incur to buy it. It’s more than the payments you make to own it. It’s more than the appreciation that comes with keeping it over time.

It’s memories, it’s family, and it’s life that can happen in one place Until you say it’s time to move.