December 3: International Day of People with Disabilities

Letter to a Politician. By Lic. María de los Ángeles Muñoz.

In these times of change in the Legislatures and Executives throughout Argentina and, faced with such sensitive and always current challenges – linked to people with disabilities – I want to welcome those people who come to occupy roles of enormous responsibility, sharing some experiences and thoughts. In the 10 years that I have been accompanying political teams from the Honorable Deliberative Council of San Isidro, so that they understand the reality of people with disabilities, I have been able to accompany many evolutions. Processes of great patience and mutual will.

Beyond valuable Ordinances, such as help to access reasonable adaptations in housing without bureaucratic obstacles or achieving accessibility of many public spaces, my greatest success is having accompanied people with great responsibilities and who were not close to understanding disability, until they became true champions and convinced of inclusion.

Many times, the political class seems to make decisions that are far from – and even contrary – to the reality and needs of people with disabilities; in many cases, it is simply a matter of time and information, so that they can make the correct decisions.Today I have many legislators and officials nearby who are capable of recognizing a ramp that is not right, without me having to go show it to them.

Of course, the path is not straight, and many times, frustration appears when noticing that the maximum objective was not reached, that political times often mean that the solution does not arrive with the urgency that one expects. That only means that the road is longer, but you will get there. I always insist that accompanying politicians to work for inclusion, as a person with a disability, is a brave and necessary act: It puts people with disabilities in a position to work and expose a reality that obviously hurts us: That a vehicle blocks a ramp.

But it is necessary that those who have the responsibility and the possibility of helping us see and understand this problem. Getting involved is helping others to help me.

A politician is a communicator. Referring to people with disabilities correctly elevates society, links, access to rights for all people. There are many documents available that clearly and simply explain basic guidelines for talking about disability without falling into incorrect terminology. It is very important that every person who has a role in politics understands this. Maybe it is due to “professional deformation”, but I think this is the starting point. A politician does not need to memorize the Articles of the International Convention of Persons with Disabilities or the National, Provincial or Local Legislation of his City.

You need to be deeply convinced that people with disabilities do not fly or breathe underwater. That we are neither special nor different. That – if the ramp is poorly made – we can seriously injure ourselves. Understanding that there are more similarities than differences (between people with and without disabilities), the path is seen much more clearly. Establish contact with an institution,

In case personal life does not propose more direct contact, it is essential to argue and inspire the political and social approach to disability.

In inclusive policies, the simple thing is to make a Project 100% focused on a problem to be solved: Art center for people with disabilities, Sports tournament for people with disabilities, Day of reflection on x disability. That level of political work is correct, but it falls halfway. It is talking about the “world of disabilities”, as if it were a separate entity, a bubble. The difficult thing is to include disability in a Project that is not specifically inclusive. Thinking about how projects and political actions affect people with disabilities, thinking about how to “incorporate” the inclusive perspective into Projects that apparently do not relate to people with disabilities, is really overwhelming: For example, if I ask to value a park, I incorporate the construction of ramps and signage in Braille. That is including people with disabilities in everyone’s world, having disability on the daily political agenda.

If life experience did not put the need on the path until today, there are many tools to approach the reality of people with disabilities. It is vital that every person with political responsibilities work and reflect 365 days a year, as a team and with openness, with and for better inclusion and full coexistence of people with disabilities.

The author has a degree in Communication, an advisor on inclusive policies, an activist and a wheelchair athlete.

by CONTENT NEWS