Happy
to Pay for Full Integration
New survey reveals shift in public attitudes;
advocates celebrate as they call for continued changes
by Bret Hesla
If
you think too much public money is spent on people with developmental
disabilities, you’re in a huge minority.
Only 6% of Minnesotans would agree with you.
Disability activists
celebrated a new survey by the Minnesota Governor’s
Council on Developmental Disability, which shows that Minnesotans’ attitudes
toward people with developmental disabilities have changed markedly
in the last 45 years toward favoring full integration into the community
and use of public money to assist families.
The survey results were released
February 22nd at a special event on the St. Paul Campus of the University
of Minnesota. After researcher Tom Pearson presented the findings,
which showed, among other things, that the public believed people
belong in the community, living with their families as much as possible.
“Whatever
the public place—you name it—Minnesotans believe
that people with developmental disabilities should be there.”
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The survey was conducted
in January and February 2007 (see survey results below).
Afterward, representatives
of several organizations were invited to give their responses.
Most of the speakers reacted to the new survey with a mix of celebration
and determination to press onward for more change. “I’m here to celebrate these results,” said
Seamus O’Meara, Chairperson of MNGCDD. “Whatever the public
place—you name it—Minnesotans believe that people with
developmental disabilities should be there.” O’Meara,
himself a parent of child with a disability, cited the work of countless
families to achieve these shifts in public attitude, saying, “We
owe those who came before us our deepest gratitude and thanks.” Tim
Moots, a self-advocate and member of a local self-advocacy group,
also offered
“People
with disabilities can be employed. People with disabilities
want to be employed. People with disabilities are the best
employees you can have.”
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his gratitude for the pioneering
self-advocates of the past. “I would like to inspire future
self-advocates, just as people before me inspired me.”
The power of committed parents and professionals to make life better
for people with developmental was especially evident at the event.
Three parents of children with developmental disabilities also spoke,
all of whom have worked for years to promote inclusion and new understandings
of people with disabilities, and all of whom now represent key organizations:
Les Bauer (The Arc of MN), Mary Powell (The Autism Society of MN),
and Jo Erbes (United Cerebral Palsy of MN).
Integration in the employment
sector was strongly endorsed in the 2007 survey, with 91 percent
agreeing (“agreeing strongly” or “agreeing
somewhat”) that with the right training people with developmental
disabilities could be very productive workers. Companies offering
jobs were seen in a positive light, with 85 percent of 2007 respondents
saying they have a lot of respect for companies that employ people
with developmental disabilities. Moots highlighted the critical issues—beyond
public acceptance—that people with developmental disabilities
still face. “I would like to have a
“.
. . the struggle that brought about these changes has been
an “arduous journey.”
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good job. What’s
really important is friends and, CHCHING, money.” Like Moots,
Erbes stressed results as the best measure of the public’s
new, inclusive attitudes. In particular, she called for channeling
these new attitudes toward building competitive employment opportunities. “People
with disabilities can be employed. People with disabilities want
to be employed. People with disabilities are the best employees you
can have. … We need to put into practice what we say we believe.”
Bauer, president of
the Arc of Minnesota, said the Arc was “delighted
to see these changes” in public attitudes. At the same time,
he cautioned that there is still much work to do. Bauer, in noting
that this is the first generation of people with developmental disabilities
that will outlive their parents, called for improved support services
from birth through all of life.
The survey showed a
huge majority of Minnesotans in favor of government and taxpayers
providing a range of services and supports for people with developmental
disabilities. Powell celebrated the survey as a tool to leverage
lawmakers, saying, “I’m gonna take
this survey and march right up to the capitol.”
When asked whether people
with developmental disabilities should be kept in an institution,
just 3 percent agreed strongly or somewhat, as compared to a total
of 35 percent agreeing strongly or agreeing somewhat in 1962, when
state institutions were common. Powell, a parent of a child with
autism spectrum disorder, noted that the struggle that brought
about these changes has been an “arduous journey.” In
the 60s, 95 percent of people with autism were in institutions. Noting
the continued journey ahead, she called on parents and professionals
to further let go of control of people with developmental disabilities,
and give them the
“No
matter who we are, or what we are or where we come from, we
are one. We’re all cut from the same cloth.”
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opportunity to develop self-determination
through living it, mistakes and all. In particular, she cautioned
that amidst the struggle for inclusion and opportunity for people
with disabilities, parents and professionals need to be careful to
make sure that the goals represent “their dream, not our dream.”
Erbes opened her remarks
by questioning a one-size-fits-all label like developmental disability.
She noted that people with cerebral palsy are not happy being lumped
with people who have intellectual disabilities under the label “developmental disability” and
see it as “a putdown.”
In closing, Moots appealed
to our common humanity as stronger than our differences. “No
matter who we are, or what we are or where we come from, we are
one. We’re all cut from the same cloth.” ![]()
1962/2007 Minnesota Survey of
Attitudes Regarding Developmental Disabilities
The following are selected
survey results, showing the statement read and the numbers agreeing
with the statement (either “agreeing
somewhat” or “agreeing strongly”).
• People with developmental
disabilities should be cared for by the immediate family as much
as possible.2 (77% agree in 2007, 20% in 1962)
• People with developmental disabilities should be kept in an
institution. (3% agree in 2007, 35% in 1962)
• People with developmental disabilities are mentally ill. (15%
agree in 2007, 40% in 1962)
• People with developmental disabilities should be able to use
public playgrounds and beaches. (98% agree in 2007, 72% in 1962)
• People with developmental disabilities should be able to attend
movie theaters. (96% agree in 2007, 75% in 1962)
• People with developmental disabilities should be allowed to
drive a car. (32% agree in 2007, 22% in 1962)
• People with developmental disabilities should be allowed to
drink alcohol.3 (25% agree in 2007, 9% in 1962)
• People with developmental disabilities should be allowed to
vote.4 (71% agree in 2007, 46% in 1962)
• People with developmental disabilities should be allowed to
have children just like everybody else. (47% agree in 2007, no
data for 1962)
Survey conducted by MarketResponse International. The survey findings
were based on the responses of 806 randomly selected Minnesota
heads of households, with either listed or unlisted telephone numbers,
that reflects the distribution of Minnesotans in terms of age,
race and income level. The survey has a 3.5 percent margin of error
at a 95 percent confidence level. For complete results, go to www.mncdd.org.
1 Choices were “Agree
strongly, agree somewhat, neutral, disagree somewhat, or disagree
strongly.”
2 1962 wording: “… should be cared for at home.”
3 1962 wording: “… should be allowed to drink liquor.”
4 1962 wording: “… vote for president.”
Using Taxpayers' Money? Yes!
In 2007, over 80% of Minnesotans agreed that it's important
for government to use taxpayers' money to provide these services:
• Centers where people
with developmental disabilities can learn job skills
• Special [sic] classes
to educate and train people with developmental disabilities
• Assurance of access
to quality health care services
• Protection services
to prevent abuse of people with developmental disabilities
• Research to learn
about the causes of developmental disabilities
• Specialized training
for people with developmental disabilities, and/or their advocates,
on how to exercise rights and speak up for oneself
• Provision of personal
care attendants, who assist people with developmental disabilities,
to enable them to live more independently, or as they choose
• On the job assistance,
so people with developmental disabilities can work in regular businesses
• Subsidies to families
to pay for extra costs of caring for children with developmental
disabilities
• Individual teaching
assistants who would enable children with developmental disabilities
to attend regular public school classes
Selected Results of the 1962/2007 Minnesota Survey of Attitudes
Regarding Developmental Disabilities.
