Memphis Disability Summit 2024

Reflections on the MACCD Disability Summit: Building a More Inclusive Memphis

I recently attended the Memphis Advisory Council for Citizens with Disabilities (MACCD) Disability Summit at Orange Mound, and the energy in the room was palpable. Although 50 people were signed up, I’d estimate about 75 attendees came together for this important event.

The summit opened with remarks from Mayor Paul Young, who spoke candidly and passionately about the theme of inclusion. He pledged to lead the most inclusive administration in Memphis history—a bold and encouraging commitment to a city striving for equity.

Voices of Advocacy and Expertise

The summit showcased diverse voices from the MACCD, each focusing on critical areas of concern:

• Kim Dourghty, chair of the Disability Awareness Committee, emphasized the importance of raising awareness.
• Carlene Leaper, from the Arc and Christina Clift, of Disability Connection Midsouth, addressed the persistent challenges in transportation.
• Mr. Calvin Poole spoke about the pressing need for accessible and affordable housing.
• Jolanna Chapman highlighted barriers and opportunities in education and employment.

Their insights painted a comprehensive picture of the systemic changes needed to make Memphis more inclusive for its disability community.

Rethinking Safety and Inclusion

As I listened, I found myself reflecting on the intersection of safety, poverty, and implicit bias. Often, we frame safety as a standalone issue, imagining it as something solvable through police or government intervention. Yet, “safety” is deeply intertwined with economic disparities and societal biases. True safety requires addressing these root causes, not just their symptoms.

Personal Stories and Calls to Action

Councilwoman Jerri Green, a parent of three children on the autism spectrum, shared her personal and professional perspective. Transportation, she noted, is the number one complaint she hears from the disability community. She briefly mentioned accessible rideshare options but stressed that listening to people with disabilities must be central to shaping solutions.

One of the most moving moments came from Kia Shine, a father of a child with autism, rapper and actor in the movie Red One. Speaking from the heart, he challenged everyone to embrace inclusion:

“We have to work together to create a better scenario of inclusion. We are the inclusion. I stand here not as a rapper, actor, but as a father of a child with autism, a caregiver. I live it every day. Your life is a testimonial. Awareness, inclusion, acceptance!”

Moving Forward

The summit was a reminder of the power of collective action and lived experience in driving change. It underscored the importance of listening to those directly impacted and working collaboratively toward solutions. As Mayor Young emphasized, inclusion isn’t just an idea; it’s a commitment.

If Memphis is to become a truly inclusive city, we must all play a role in turning these conversations into action. It’s not just about disability awareness—it’s about ensuring equity and opportunity for everyone.

What steps can we each take to build a more inclusive Memphis? How can we elevate the voices of those who have too often been unheard? Let’s continue these conversations and turn them into meaningful change.

Rep. Cohen Asks for a Vote on Disability Freedom

 

LRFA Discharge Petition is being filed! A Discharge Petition signed by 218 members of the House moves a bill directly to the House floor for a vote!  Tomorrow morning (11/13), Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN-9) plans to file a Discharge Petition for the Latonya Reeves Freedom Act (HR2708) to send the bill directly to the floor of the House of Representatives for a vote. Even though a majority of the House signed on as cosponsors of the Latonya Reeves Freedom Act and the Chairwoman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee was open to holding a hearing, Republican Leadership in the House did not allow the bill to move forward.  That means, even with broad-based bipartisan support, the bill has been “stuck” in Committee. A Discharge Petition is a mechanism the House of Representatives uses when a bill is not able to move through the committee process even though a majority of the members of the House support it.  When 218 members of the House sign the Discharge Petition, the bill bypasses the committees and goes directly to the floor of the House for a vote.Congressman Cohen began the process to initiate the Discharge Petition in October. He intended to file the petition before Congress left for its break, but the House went out of session two days early.  Now that Congress is back in session, Congressman Cohen plans to file the Discharge Petition tomorrow morning. When we get 218 members of the House on the Discharge Petition, the legislation will bypass the committee and markup, going to the House floor for an up-down vote.   If every House Democrat supports the Discharge Petition, we only need to secure the support of a handful of the 15 Republican cosponsors who are still in Congress to move the bill to the floor for a vote. It is almost certain that the legislation would pass the House if we secure enough signatures to move the bill to the floor.  This demonstrates that even when a party doesn’t control the House, it can still advance bipartisan legislation! Although the bill will not pass the Senate during this Congress, moving the Freedom Act to the House floor and getting passed by the House of Representatives in a bipartisan vote would be a major milestone for the bill, our decades-long fight to FREE OUR PEOPLE, and our movement.  It would also demonstrate to Republican Leadership that we are ready to fight for Disability Freedom. How to get involved and help! Ask your Representative in the House to sign the Discharge Petition and vote for the bill when it gets to the floor. Publicly urge Members of Congress to sign the Discharge Petition and publicly express appreciation for the Members who do.  Consider publishing a letter to the editor or a blog post supporting the legislation and Disability Freedom, urging its swift passage in the House.  Explain the importance of this legislation.  We all know people whose lives would be impacted by this legislation.  Eliminating the fundamental alteration defense is a huge step forward for those who cannot currently access services to remain in the community. Pushing back against the ableist idea that some of us are “too Disabled” for freedom promotes the framework that all Disabled people have value and deserve freedom.  Disability Freedom can propel us and our entire movement forward.  We need to communicate that and mobilize our community. Join us in DC to advance the Discharge Petition and support Disability Freedom. ADAPTers are hosting a Legislative Reception with the House sponsor and have begun planning for people to be in DC when the bill would move to the House floor. The legislative reception will be in the Transportation Committee Room, 2167 Rayburn, on November 19th and begin at 5:00 PM. If you want more information email us at: LRFA@adapt.org

 

Voting Experience

Election in Memphis

EDITOR'S NOTE: Below are two of the staff at Disability Connection's experience voting this election. 

 Kendra Brown:

Voting has always been important to me. I have been voting since 2000. I am amazed by how technology has improved over the years. When I first started, if there was more than one  visually impaired person  trying to vote at the same time somebody had to wait  until the other person was finished so they could be able to vote. There was only one machine. 

Today the machines are two in one.  I like this  method better  because it saves on cost for the county, and this way allows more than one visually impaired person to vote at the same time. I took my kids and I went to vote on a Saturday. The process took about 20 minutes. A poll worker assisted me in verifying  my info was correct, presented me with my ballot and assisted me to a machine.  After I completed the process I printed the ballot  and a poll worker assisted me to the ballot box to drop mine in. I felt comfortable in using the machine independently to make my voice be heard. 

Christina Clift:

As I stood in line waiting to vote this morning, I enjoyed watching people. That’s one of the reasons I like to vote on Election Day. You might find that weird considering I am blind, but you’d be amazed by what you can learn about a person just by pointing your ears in the right direction. As the line moved along, I kept a running tally of who I thought was voting for which party. This pastime kept me occupied so waiting wasn’t so boring and after 15 minutes it was my turn. 

In 1957, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr delivered his speech “Give Us the Ballot” at the Lincoln Memorial which advocated for giving African Americans the right to vote in the United States.  His speech is as relevant today as it was sixty-seven years ago.  In recent years voter suppression has become more rampant through passage of voter identification laws, closing polling locations, and by access barriers for people with disabilities the right to a fully accessible voting process. I was hopeful that my voting experience would go smoother than it did four years ago. Amazingly, it did. I was able to cast my vote independently and secretly without any assistance.

When I stepped up to the table with my cane and photo ID in hand, I met a volunteer that knew exactly how to help me. After all, it is not too often someone knows how to help a blind person sign their name in the correct spot. But he did. 

He asked me whether I wanted assistance in voting and I replied no that I would use the audio ballot. He gathered up what I needed and sent me down to the next station where I signed my name once again but without the same level of help. Finally, I made it to my machine. The poll worker was a bit too helpful, assuming that I didn’t know where to insert my ballot or plug in the headphones. But I looked over it because I knew she didn’t get to see too many blind voters using the machines by themselves.

I worked my way through the ballot, selecting my choice for president, U.S. senator, the House of Representatives, Millington alderperson, and school board representatives. I simply used the arrow keys and pushed the square button with the “letter S” in braille on the controller when I reached my choice. 

I reviewed my ballot and cast my vote. Next, I headed to insert my ballot into the ballot box. I plucked my “I voted” sticker off the wall and headed for the door.