Is Your Local Government Including People with Disabilities in Developing and Implementing Reopening Plans?
On By In Uncategorized
by Bob Goldstraw
“Only the vulnerable will be at risk. Your ‘only’ is my everything.” That was the last post that April Dunn put on her Facebook page. A fierce advocate for the rights of people with disabilities in Louisiana, Ms. Dunn died from complications of COVID-19 on March 28 at age 33. She was a senior coordinator in the Governor’s Office of Disability Affairs. Born with fetal alcohol syndrome and cerebral palsy, Ms. Dunn knew well that while not all people with disabilities are at greater risk for complications or death from COVID-19, she was among the many who were.
Unfortunately, Governor Edwards didn’t get to benefit from the thoughtful guidance that April Dunn would have no doubt provided him as he developed his plans to reopen Louisiana. It’s certainly reasonable (and smart) to include those so disproportionately affected by this pandemic in developing and implementing these phased plans. And as states and communities around the country begin to return to some new version of “normal”, the mantra “Nothing About Us Without Us” remains as relevant as ever. Getting input from the disability community [...]