copyright ann d. kirkwood 2005 access and inclusion: people with disabilities in public...

Copyright Ann D. Kirkwood 2005

Access and Inclusion:Access and Inclusion:

People with Disabilitiesin Public Participation

Ann D. Kirkwood, MA


Public Participation DefinedPublic Participation Defined“Any process that includes the public in problem-solving and uses the public input to make decisions.”

International Assn. of Public Participation


Are Wheelchair Ramps Are Wheelchair Ramps Enough?Enough?

To involve people with disabilities in public participation we must make our processes both accessible and inclusive.


What is a Disability?What is a Disability?

► A disability is a condition that limits a A disability is a condition that limits a person’s ability to function fully in everyday person’s ability to function fully in everyday life. life. 48 million in the United States48 million in the United States Est 500 million worldwideEst 500 million worldwide All racial, ethnic, cultural, socio-economic and All racial, ethnic, cultural, socio-economic and

geographic groups. geographic groups. May be physical, mental, cognitive, May be physical, mental, cognitive,

developmental, related to agingdevelopmental, related to aging May be hidden, such as mental illnesses and May be hidden, such as mental illnesses and

brain injuriesbrain injuries


Accessible & InclusiveAccessible & Inclusive

Accessibility means that a person with a disability can physically access our processes.

Inclusive means that a person with a disability can participate meaningfully.


Legal requirements for Legal requirements for participationparticipation

► In the US, government-funded and In the US, government-funded and some private projects must adhere to some private projects must adhere to the Americans With Disabilities Act. the Americans With Disabilities Act.

►Laws in other countries vary. Laws in other countries vary. ►The United Nations Standard Rules on The United Nations Standard Rules on

the Equalization of Opportunities for the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (General Persons with Disabilities (General Assembly resolution 48/96 of December Assembly resolution 48/96 of December 20, 1993) provides guidelines for 20, 1993) provides guidelines for inclusion. inclusion.


What is Community What is Community Integration?Integration?

►Grew out of the U.S. civil rights Grew out of the U.S. civil rights movement of the 1960’s movement of the 1960’s

►Right to live in mainstream of Right to live in mainstream of communitycommunity

►Full rights of citizenshipFull rights of citizenship►““Nothing About Us Without Us”Nothing About Us Without Us”


How do we ensure all voices are How do we ensure all voices are heard?heard?

► Involvement in mainstream participatory Involvement in mainstream participatory processes are essential in two ways: processes are essential in two ways: The needs and interests of peopleThe needs and interests of people

with disabilities are representedwith disabilities are represented

in decision-making; and in decision-making; and All members of the communityAll members of the community

benefit from living, working andbenefit from living, working and

participating with people with participating with people with

disabilities. disabilities.

In short, we enrich each other’s lives. In short, we enrich each other’s lives.


Personal Attributes…Personal Attributes…

► IAP2’s listing of personal qualities for public IAP2’s listing of personal qualities for public participation professionals includes participation professionals includes reference to reference to “core personal attributes.”“core personal attributes.”

► These attributes affect how we think and These attributes affect how we think and act. Our attitudes toward people with act. Our attitudes toward people with disabilities affect how we behave disabilities affect how we behave (G.H. Mead, (G.H. Mead, 1934).1934).

► Examine your attitudes and language to Examine your attitudes and language to ensure positive attributes toward people ensure positive attributes toward people with disabilities.with disabilities.


Standards for EtiquetteStandards for Etiquette

►Ask if you’re unsureAsk if you’re unsure►Offer assistance but wait until it’s Offer assistance but wait until it’s

accepted to actaccepted to act►Talk to people with disabilities (not to Talk to people with disabilities (not to

others around them)others around them)►Get on eye level as much as possibleGet on eye level as much as possible►Talk in terms of abilities, not Talk in terms of abilities, not

disabilities!disabilities!


Etiquette, continuedEtiquette, continued

► Don’t emphasize differences by marginalizing, Don’t emphasize differences by marginalizing, exemplifying, making jokes or calling exemplifying, making jokes or calling uninvited attention to people with disabilitiesuninvited attention to people with disabilities

► People with disabilities are just like everyone.People with disabilities are just like everyone. They have hopes and dreamsThey have hopes and dreams They have good moods andThey have good moods and bad moodsbad moods They are interested in the sameThey are interested in the same things as everyone: recreation,things as everyone: recreation, family, health care, a home, etc.family, health care, a home, etc.


Planning…Planning…

► In planning a public involvement process, In planning a public involvement process, we include an analysis of stakeholderswe include an analysis of stakeholders► Stakeholders are those who will be interested (at Stakeholders are those who will be interested (at

some level) in the decision to be made. some level) in the decision to be made. ► A full outline for providing a Stakeholder Analysis is A full outline for providing a Stakeholder Analysis is

available through the IAP2 certificate training available through the IAP2 certificate training program. program.

► The process outlined assumes an understanding of The process outlined assumes an understanding of the IAP2 guidelines and is designed to supplement the IAP2 guidelines and is designed to supplement them.them.


Activity ScenarioActivity Scenario

►You are planning a public You are planning a public participation process for a participation process for a transportation corridor transportation corridor improvement (including mass improvement (including mass transit and freeway construction). transit and freeway construction). In conducting your stakeholder In conducting your stakeholder analysis, how might you consider analysis, how might you consider involving people with disabilities?involving people with disabilities?


Planning WorksheetPlanning Worksheet

Disability Nature ofInterest

Accessible Inclusion Accommodation

Sight

Hearing

Mental illness

Developmen-tal Disability

OtherPhysical

Other: _________


A Note About A Note About AccommodationsAccommodations

►Making accommodations for people Making accommodations for people with disabilities means providing with disabilities means providing services or materials that help services or materials that help them participate in a meaningful them participate in a meaningful way.way. CommunicationsCommunications FacilitationFacilitation FacilitiesFacilities ……and moreand more


We all benefit when…We all benefit when…

We must banish the patronizing mind-set that disabled people are unable. In fact, they have enormous talent, and

America cannot afford to waste an ounce of it.”

Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) New York Times, June 17, 1999

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