A look at ableism as we prepare for a new year.

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BY BRENNA O’SULLIVAN

PALS Volunteer Associate

Reflecting on 2020 as a PALS family, we have many reasons to be grateful. We are grateful to our volunteers and families for working hard to stay connected during a time of isolation and fear. We are grateful to our community partners, donors, and all who stepped up to support our organization to ensure we could keep working toward creating a world of belonging. We are grateful to our loyal medical volunteers and all PALS family members working on the frontlines of the pandemic. We are even grateful for the ways that the events of 2020 have reminded us about the importance of our mission of inclusion and belonging – something the world needs now more than ever.

While 2020 has brought so much for which to be grateful, there is no denying that it was a particularly challenging, and in many cases devastating, year. We have heard from PALS participants who are feeling isolated from loved ones, friends, school, jobs, and community activities. The wider disability community was hit hard in many ways that are not typically highlighted in mainstream media. For example:

  • Nearly 200,000 disabled adults died of COVID, making 60% of the American death rate.

  • During the presidential election, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled against reasonable accommodations that the ADA mandates for disabled voters.

  • Roughly 450 disabled individuals were killed by law enforcement, making 50% of all fatal police encounters in America.

  • Over one million disabled adults lost their jobs permanently, and 5 million remained unemployed.

  • 25 states tried to deem those with disabilities as poor candidates for ventilators and other life-saving care during COVID rationing.

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These events underscore the importance of PALS’ mission of inclusion and belonging. We recognize that the disability community experiences ableism, which is the discrimination of and social prejudice against people with disabilities based on the belief that typical abilities are superior, on a daily basis. At its core, PALS’ mission is one of anti-ableism. In our hope to change attitudes and inspire a world of belonging, we are working daily to create opportunities for more young people to become advocates for the disability community.

This year, the leadership development curriculum for PALS volunteer camp directors includes learning modules about the history of the disability rights movement, anti-ableism, and what it’s like to live with a disability in US society today. PALS volunteer directors are learning about how ableism affects the Down syndrome community, working to be anti-ableist as they represent PALS, and setting an example for their home communities all over the country.

We believe that a world of belonging is possible, because we see it happen every summer at PALS camps across the country. We are wired for connection and belonging, and as we reflect on 2020, we realize these things are more important than ever.

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Year 2021 will bring new adventures for PALS participants. We will be hosting our first hybrid programs this spring, with plans in the works for summer programming as well. As we work hard to develop innovative ways to connect, have fun, and create PALS Magic, we are overwhelmed by gratitude for our PALS volunteers and families who have chosen to join us, to lean in and continue working toward the PALS mission. Together, in 2021, we will continue to get closer to the world of belonging for which we are striving.

Interested in learning more about anti-ableism? Here are some resources to check out!