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Hi, this is Theo Braddy, the Executive Director of the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL). I wanted to share a few things with you that have been on my mind and I’m calling this “Why we are stuck”.
I have been pondering why we, the Independent Living Movement and other disability-led organizations and associations, are not working together as we should be, and so far, this is what I came up with.
We are doing more speaking than we are listening;
more defending than we are receiving;
more retaliating than forgiving;
more shouting than softly speaking;
more retreating than taking a stand;
more leaving people vulnerable than safeguarding them;
more bringing problems than bringing solutions; and
more focusing on personal concerns than collective community concerns.
We are pointing out others’ shortcomings rather than self-introspection;
more keeping than giving;
more hating than loving;
more hurting others than healing others;
more associating with the same folk than different folk;
more indifference than concern;
and more working separately than working together.
We are more fearful than brave;
more money-driven than people-driven;
more unfair than fair;
more excluding than including;
more unwilling than willing;
more unwelcoming than welcoming;
more judgmental than non-judgmental; and lastly more unhearing than hearing.
These are just a few of the things that keep us stuck, fighting amongst ourselves, while people with power and influence continue not to hear us!
This is Theo Braddy from the National Council on Independent Living.
