A quiet revolution

The country heard the roar of people with disabilities in the late 1980's and early 1990's for equal access to the rights and privileges of being an American.  I remember the "Deaf President Now" movement at Gallaudet University in 1988; I even presented a "speech" (delivered in Signed English) on the movement in my sign language class about what was called "The week the World Heard Gallaudet.

The noisiest movements go even further back to the movements for equal education (I.D.E.A) and equal access to employment (Section 504) in the 1970's, with people making noise in every way they could.

I am bearing witness now to a new movement - the rising up of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to take their place in the national consciousness.  This revolution is not marked by marches or by occupying buildings (or Wall Street), but it is happening, even if the country isn't taking much notice.

Every time a person with a developmental disability walks into a college classroom, gets an employee ID, walks down the aisle to marry the person of their choice, moves into a house or apartment, advocates for their rights, gives a speech, or writes a letter to Congress, the revolution moves forward.  Don't be fooled by the silence.  The change is more profound than you may think.

I want to live to see the time when a person with a developmental disability steps into the life of a workplace, a community, a governing board, or what have you without comment.  Except maybe from someone who didn't pay attention to the silence; when his or her eyebrows go up, I want the rest of us in the room to say, "What?".  And then, let's introduce ourselves.