PROFILES IN INCLUSION
IN CHARGE
Julie Stuckle discusses the importance of being in charge. She doesn’t like anyone intruding in her space, pawing through her possessions, telling her what to do, what her daily schedule should be. She contrasts having her own place with life in a group home and talks about choosing her own support staff. She also discusses her cat.
VARIETY AND INDEPENDENCE
Melanie Miles talks about the importance to her of having variety in her life and the essential role of independence in giving her that variety. She also talks about the importance to her of presenting to people, being included in conversations, adventuring in the city and her exercise routine.
DENIAL OF DIAGNOSIS AND MEDICAL SELF-ADVOCACY
Jacqueline Cuevas talks about the trauma that occurs when family and doctors deny your disability, the self-advocacy it took her to get a correct medical diagnosis and the treatment she needed and her feelings of not having a place, because she was “too abled for the disabled and too disabled for the abled”.
INDEPENDENCE
Stephanie Laird deeply values her independence (even when it entails doing the housework). She discusses the stigma and condescension she faces: people assume that because she uses a walker, she has an intellectual disability as well. Though she says that “Transportation is the biggest barrier of all,” she dedicates the majority of her time talking about the significance of her husband to her and the urgency of eliminating marriage penalty.
THE MARRIAGE PENALTY
“Treat us like people: don’t treat us like we’re different.” (Lilah). Despite being widely known in their community as a couple, Jason and Lilah Baker face the marriage penalty. Additionally they discuss the compensation of their direct support personnel.