Rally Against Institutionalization

by Dora Raymaker · 2009-04-04 09:51:00 UTC
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While the public is fed the same old "awareness" messages they've heard before, there are things that the public really needs to be aware of regarding autism and developmental disabilities, but which remain largely invisible if you're not in the middle of them. In Yakima, WA last week, self-advocates and allies rallied in front of the Yakima Valley School, an institution (not a "school") to protest the institutionalization of people with disabilities.

During the rally, Elison excited the crowd as she spoke into a megaphone about why "the person with the disability should decide where they want to live."

"How do you want to live?" she asked the group.

"Free!"

Local service providers brought some developmentally disabled people they work with from throughout the Yakima Valley and as far away as Spokane.

"We believe in self-advocacy, so we can teach people with disabilities that they can speak for themselves," said Tammara Allen, an adviser with People First Spokane Valley [ed. link to People First of Spokane Valley] who brought two women she helps. "They shouldn't be locked away in a closet."

Why does this matter, why should anyone care? This isn't heart-warming or tear-jerking, it's angry developmentally disabled adults shouting for their rights--something many people find terrifying. Aside from the fact that autistic people are among the numbers of those who are "locked away" in institutions, and that institutions are extremely costly, much more so than community-based solutions, there is a deep human ethics concern. The conditions in most institutions are barbaric and inhumane.

The ARC of Illinois, among others, sent out a link to the documentary Voices from Howe, an Illinois institution. This is relatively mild material, but nevertheless appalling.

So what about alternatives? This ABC News video Plan to help integrate disabled people, which highlights a woman who has CP and her autistic brother, gives the sketch of some of what Illinois is considering.

More information on the plan referenced in at the youtube site and in the ABC video can be found at gettoknowtheblue.org.

More awareness of social justice issues, please. No human being should be forced to live in institutionalized conditions. The public needs to be made aware of this issue and action taken to deliver basic human rights to all.

(Note: Both videos are fully captioned.)

Dora Raymaker
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