Editor's Column
by
Tim Benjamin
In several different connections
recently, I have heard speakers, with and without disabilities, talk
about how fear can control how we think and act. So I’ve been thinking
about fear. In the disability community there are lots of fears that put
a damper on our independence; for instance, many of us do not have much
of a backup plan to cover our personal care needs. We depend on caretakers,
or on provider agencies, to watch our backs and cover for us—and
then, sooner or later, a personal care emergency arrives. Even the best
caretakers have unexpected needs, and provider agencies have difficulties
finding replacements on short notice. So in our everyday lives, how often
do we feel that we do not have control over situations related to our disabilities?
And how many times does feeling out of control create a feeling of inadequacy?
Living with the risks of dependency on others can create fear and what
the psychologists call “learned helplessness” in us.
What one of the speakers
said was that we should not allow ourselves to fall into a cycle
of learned helplessness, that we should step out of it by becoming
angry: “It’s their inadequacy,
not ours. Don’t take responsibility, and don’t feel guilty!” Of
course, the feeling of inadequacy was the root of the independent
living movement. What Ed Roberts taught us is that we are adequate
and deserving and that we should not feel guilty, that it is not
our fault when something in life fails. It is our responsibility
to take control. Ed Roberts also talked about anger, saying that
getting angry at the education system was how he got his education.
He knew he was not inadequate; the system was inadequate. Also, he
knew that if he directed his anger and the anger of his fellow students
with disablities, it could motivate them to make changes in the education
system. He said, “Anger is a powerful energy. We don’t
need to suppress or get over our anger, we need to channel it into
making change for the greater good. We need to make sure that we
don’t turn our anger in on ourselves or our loved ones, but
focus it on removing obstacles and making things happen.” People
with disabilities are less likely to be highly educated than are
people without disabilities, yet the disability community is one
of the highest educated minorities. That’s thanks to Ed Roberts
and his ability to direct his anger toward changing access in higher
education. As schools and colleges open later this month, let’s
be there. And if we have to, let’s get angry! Let’s fulfill
our needs and desires and work for the greater good.
The front-page article
on direct-support
professionals is a step in the right direction.
If our PCAs are viewed as professionals and are asked to provide
or develop the credentials for a professional position, their wages
could increase to reflect professional status and compare with
other professions carrying the same responsibility. If legislation
governing personal care attendants and home health aides is strengthened,
it could even help legislators themselves by the time they need
PCAs. Maybe we should remind them that if they don’t want
to go into a nursing home, they will want plenty of competent,
appropriately compensated direct-support professionals to live
in their communities.
Of course legislators,
and the governor, are the subject of elections that are just around
the corner. As we do for each election, Access Press recently sent
out a survey asking the candidates to introduce themselves and
explain their thoughts on government’s responsibility
to the disabled and aging. We delivered the survey the first week
in July. One candidate from a major party responded without a follow-up
call and actually had a campaign worker hand-deliver the 700-word
response. Several others responded within the first week and were
very eager to address the concerns of the disability community. In
the second and third week in July, I spent time calling and asking
for responses. As you will see in their comments, some of the candidates
see the disability community as a serious voting block and want our
votes. The nonre-spondents, on the other hand, seemed to be telling
us—well, you decide for yourself what they may be telling us.
Please read the responses and cast an informed vote in the September
12th primary. ![]()
