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Plymouth Meeting, PA - On Thursday, February 22, members of the Planning Advisory Committee (PAC) to the Office of Developmental Programs stood together to protest hypocrisy on the committee which provides input that impacts the lives of 25,000 Pennsylvanians with developmental disabilities.
Wearing t-shirts emblazoned with the slogan “Office of Developmental Tokens, You Never Asked Me,” committee members who live with developmental disabilities voiced their concerns with the new department name, Office of Developmental Programs (ODP), which is for them, the last straw in an ongoing battle for a full seat at the table. Recently changed from the Office of Mental Retardation, the new name is hardly an improvement. As Bill Krebs, a Speaking For Ourselves member, put it, “We are people, not programs. We make your jobs possible. Without us you’d be out of work.” Not one member of the committee acknowledged his statement, moving along with business as if Mr. Krebs had never uttered a word.
The situation perfectly exemplifies the lack of respect for the input of people living with developmental disabilities in the state policies that define their lives. Invited to serve on the PAC and charged with representing the interests of Pennsylvanians living with developmental disabilities, they are led to believe they are full participating members on the committee. Yet their contributions are frequently disregarded, overlooked, and dismissed. Comments by committee members with developmental disabilities are often not recorded in meeting minutes. And no audio tapes exist of previous meetings for reference on contested minutes.
Sitting on a committee whose members include the executive staff of ODP, providers, and family members, it is doubly insulting to members living with developmental disabilities to find their perspective, insight, and suggestions are not valued. Aren’t these the very people who should be experts in ensuring the full inclusion of all committee members?
As Debra Robinson, executive director of Speaking For Ourselves (SFO) says, “Right now these meetings are a colossal waste of my time. If they’re not going to use our suggestions, I’d rather they just tell me. I can use that time to work with my chapters and members on their needs.” Since taking the helm in January 2006, she has worked hard to revive the 25-year old organization. Her efforts are paying off, and there is still much to accomplish. But the last thing she needs is to waste time. It’s too precious a commodity in her work with SFO members as they speak out for the lives they want and deserve.
PAC members who live with developmental disabilities will wait to see if their concerns are acknowledged. Is change just around the corner? Will the PAC become what it claims to be? Will it embrace the diversity and perspective these members bring? Members will wait to see.
Not for long. Without prompt changes, members living with developmental disabilities will turn to other sources for support, taking their case to nationally-known foundations, activists, and celebrities. They’ll seek out organizations and individuals who actually practice what they preach, backing up their words with their actions. Which is all this group of Pennsylvanians is asking of their state government.
Speaking For Ourselves is an independent, grass roots advocacy organization run by and for people with developmental disabilities. Our purpose is to help our members run their organizations, develop leadership skills through real-life experiences, learn to work together collectively to address their own issues, and increase their own self-sufficiency and self-determination.
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Media Contact:
Sharon Ferry
Speaking For Ourselves
phone: 215-896-0292
email: sharon@speaking.org
February 22, 2007
Self-Advocates Protest the New Name:
Shirts with "Office of Developmental Tokens"
on the front -
"You NEVER Asked ME!" on the back -
SFO Executive Director, Debbie Robinson -
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