Social Disability Policy Practice and Advocacy Strategies for Advancing the Rights of Persons with Neurodevelopmental & Related Disabilities

Social Disability Policy Practice and Advocacy Strategies for Advancing the Rights of Persons with Neurodevelopmental & Related Disabilities  

(Michael Shafer, PhD)

• Develop a deeper awareness of the foundational role that social disability policy played in articulating and embedding the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion into the mainstream of social policy
• Gain a deeper appreciation of advocacy, including self-advocacy, in influencing US disability policy.
• Gain an awareness of the roles that litigation and legislation have played in establishing a rights-based framework in US disability policies.
• Gain an awareness of current Federal & state disability-related policy initiatives and their potential impact on the rights of people with disabilities and their access to government mandated services.
• Reflect on your professional-personal ethical framework(s) to advocate in support of the rights and services for persons with neurodevelopmental disabilities. 

5 Key Points or Most Important Terms

1. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are values that are woven throughout Federal policies guaranteeing the civil rights of all people with disabilities.
2. Advocacy, especially self-advocacy is a set of tools and strategies for fighting for rights and policies.
3. Advocacy includes grassroots organizing and community mobilization, administrative and legal strategies that engage courts and litigation; and legislative awareness-raising and lobbying.
4. Current lawsuits and Federal policy proposals seek to eliminate or restrict the rights and services for people with neurodevelopmental disability.
5. Each of us has a right and responsibility to advocate for persons with neurodevelopmental and related disabilities.