Building Bridges: DCM and Libraries

What Libraries and Centers for Independent Living Can Learn from Each Other

By Christina Clift

Last week, Karie Doss and I traveled to Montgomery, Alabama, to attend the Association for Rural and Small Libraries Conference. It was an eye-opening opportunity to step into the world of librarians and learn more about the challenges they face every day. I came home with an even greater appreciation for libraries—and with a stronger belief that libraries and Centers for Independent Living have much more in common than we might realize.

We were there as part of Disability Connection Midsouth’s participation in the Collaborative Access for Rural Empowerment, or CARE, Project. CARE brings together rural librarians, Centers for Independent Living, the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living, the Association for Rural and Small Libraries, and the Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities. During the first year, participants have worked together to develop resources that will help libraries and Centers for Independent Living form stronger partnerships and better serve people with disabilities in rural communities.

As we end year one, we are moving from planning and developing ideas toward putting those ideas into practice. Beginning in October, the project will enter an exciting new phase as we begin implementing, testing, and learning from the resources we have created. The CARE materials are designed to help organizations assess their communities, build relationships, share expertise, improve accessibility, and develop programs together.

More Alike Than Different

One of the things that struck me during the conference was how similar libraries and Centers for Independent Living really are. At Disability Connection Midsouth, we call the people we work with consumers. Libraries call them patrons. Whatever word we use, both organizations are trying to create places where people know they belong.

Libraries connect people with books, technology, information, programs, internet access, and community resources. Centers for Independent Living connect people with information, advocacy, peer support, independent living skills, transition assistance, and community resources. We both believe people should have access to the information and tools they need to make their own choices and participate fully in their communities. Those shared  goals—serving the community, connecting people with information, promoting inclusion, building relationships, and creating opportunities for participation—are at the heart of the CARE partnership. 

Andrew Carnegie once said that a library “outranks any other one thing that a community can do to benefit its people.” After spending several days with rural and small-library professionals, I understand that statement in a new way.

My Complicated Relationship with Libraries

Growing up, libraries were places that I loved and disliked at the same time. I have always loved to read. I loved the idea of being surrounded by shelves filled with stories, information, history, and possibilities. But as a blind person, most of those shelves were not really available to me.

Other people could walk through the stacks, pull a book from a shelf, read the back cover, flip through a few pages, put it back, and choose another one. I couldn’t browse independently in that same way. Most of the books were in regular print, so my choices were often limited to a much smaller section of large-print books or audiobooks.

The library welcomed me, but the collection itself often reminded me that being present is not the same thing as having equal access.

That experience is one reason accessibility matters so much to me today. Inclusion is not simply opening the door. It is asking whether everyone who comes through that door can actually participate, explore, communicate, learn, and make choices.

As Maya Angelou said, “In diversity there is beauty and there is strength.” That strength only grows when diversity is not merely acknowledged but included.

Libraries Are More Than Books

Libraries are also safe places. For a period of time, I waited for my ride every day after work at the Frayser Library. It was a dependable place where I could sit safely until my transportation arrived.

For many people, libraries serve that same role in ways the rest of us may never notice. They are places to warm up on a cold winter day or cool down when the Memphis summer becomes unbearable. They provide internet access to someone applying for a job, a quiet place for a student to study, help for someone trying to navigate an online form, or simply a welcoming place for a person who has nowhere else to go.

Centers for Independent Living often serve a similar purpose. People may initially come to us looking for housing information, help understanding a service, assistance with transportation, or someone who understands what it is like to live with a disability. Sometimes what they need most is a place where they are treated with dignity and where disability is understood as part of the human experience rather than something that makes them less valuable.

Shared Challenges—and Shared Opportunities 

Unfortunately, libraries and Centers for Independent Living also share many of the same challenges.

We struggle with staffing. We compete for limited funding. We constantly look for better ways to reach people who may need our services but do not know we exist. Rural communities face additional barriers related to transportation, distance, limited resources, and fewer service providers.

We also operate at a time when organized efforts in communities across the country are challenging diversity, inclusion, equity, and access. Libraries may experience those pressures through challenges to books, programs, displays, or efforts to welcome historically excluded communities. Disability organizations continue working against barriers that limit whose voices are heard and who gets to participate.

Both of our movements understand something important: community spaces should belong to the whole community.

That is why the CARE Project makes so much sense. Disability Connection Midsouth is based in an urban area, but our service area extends beyond Memphis. Through CARE, we hope to strengthen our presence and relationships in Tipton, Fayette, and Lauderdale Counties, where rural residents with disabilities may have fewer opportunities to connect with disability-specific resources.

A local library may already know people we have not been able to reach. We may have disability expertise that can help a library improve accessibility or create a new program. Rather than building separate systems, we can build something stronger together.

As Helen Keller put it, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”

That sentence captures what CARE is really about. Year one has been about listening, learning, sharing ideas, and building the tools. October begins the next chapter: putting those ideas to work in real communities. The project will also begin connecting people through the Rural Independent Living and Libraries Peer Network. We are excited to see what happens when librarians, disability advocates, consumers, patrons, and community partners begin building those bridges together.

Because sometimes the resources a community needs are already there.

We just have to connect them.

Looking Back 25 Years Ago Today

Disability Rights Activists Demand Jerry Lewis Stop the Pity Routine. 

A dozen people with disabilities picketed the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Telethon outside the Libertyland Creative Arts Building.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Twenty-five years ago today, Deborah Cunningham, the Executive Director of DCM (at the time called the Memphis Center for Independent Living) led a protest for the dignity of people with disabilities. “Our community has changed a lot because of progressive ideas that brave activists had back then,” said Tim Wheat who was at the protest 25 years ago. “Respect and the inherent right of everyone be valued was not as clear as it is today, but we still have barriers to overcome.”

By Tim Wheat 

9/3/2001 

A dozen people with disabilities picketed the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Telethon outside the Libertyland Creative Arts Building. Activists in Memphis and around the U.S. are asking that Lewis be removed from his position as chairman of the MDA, and asking the MDA stop using misleading stereotypes of people with disabilities in its fundraising.

 

"If it's pity we'll get money," said comedian Jerry Lewis in a national television interview. "Pity? You don't want to be pitied because you're a cripple in a wheelchair? Stay in your house." 

Both the MDA and Jerry Lewis apologized for those comments, yet the annual telethon did nothing to modernize their fundraising model. 

"[Jerry Lewis speaks as if] without these charity events we wouldn't have much hope," said Deborah Cunningham in an interview with Channel 13. "I resent that." 

Demonstrators held that pity is not necessary to raise money for medical research and it is only the force of Mr. Lewis' personality that keeps the MDA using outmoded exploitation of children and an appeal to pity to raise money. 

"Pity is an outdated and condescending approach that hurts all people with disabilities; it contributes to our being underestimated by employers, educators, and society at large," said Alan A. Reich, President National Organization on Disability this past August. "I hope that soon the MDA Telethon will be an event that celebrates potential and urges people to donate for the right reasons -- educating the public, research for new treatments, providing opportunities, and breaking down negative stereotypes -- but that disavows the harmful approach of giving money based on sentiments of pity or guilt." 

Security Director Leonard Porter gave the protestors an ultimatum that they will have to move from the Libertyland property. "Okay," responded Deborah Cunningham, the Executive Director of the Memphis Center for Independent Living, "we are not moving." Director Porter consulted with Libertyland staff for approximately 10 minutes before he returned to tell the group that he is withdrawing the ultimatum. 

"I respectfully suggest that Mr. Lewis will raise more money and make a greater contribution to the culture by eliminating pity from his appeal, and by emphasizing the empowerment of people with disabilities to work and to contribute," said Justin Dart, the founder, Justice For All on August 21. "FDR never ran on pity." 

Do you want to live in a Smart Home?

DCM is looking for people who have information about smart home applications or questions about how technology can help you. 

Smart home technology is adding accessibility to many home decisions. It seems that almost every feature of your home can be controlled remotely. And not with just any remote, like the old garage door opener, the remotes may be automated and voice activated. Like in the past when many of us collected three remotes simply to control the TV, cable and VCR, you can have a handful of remote controls to manipulate from afar.

In the late 1980s and 1990s, the Center was a progressive leader in helping to bring remote technology to people with disabilities. In his book, Shielded By God, Franklin Forester tells how he set up a controlling device for people with disabilities. Some people could control multiple appliances with a single switch, or they could make selections with a sip-and-puff control. 

Now, however, there are many additional applications around the home that may be controlled remotely. It is easy to see how these can have an impact on accessibility. And the type of control can add to accessibility. With items connected to the Internet, you can control them from anywhere and with smartphones and applications it may be more accessible than ever. 

Many home tasks that are automated for convenience, can also be accessible for people with disabilities.  Voice-activated assistants like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant allow individuals with limited physical mobility or dexterity to operate overhead lighting, trigger smart plugs, and adjust window shades hands-free. The convenience for people without disabilities can be access for people with disabilities and accessibility can also be convenient. There is no reason our community cannot also enjoy the convenience that smart home technology can provide. In entertainment and making routine the things you like to do. But, also helping to make the things you do not like to do simpler and easier. 

Midsouth summers bring intense heat and high humidity. Smart thermostats may enable residents to schedule automatic cooling or adjust indoor temperatures. This feature is intended to save energy and money for most homeowners, but for people with disabilities, the convenience becomes access. 

Smart locks and video doorbells are becoming common. They may also eliminate the physical struggle with traditional keys and door knobs. Residents can view visitors on a phone or tablet screen and unlock the front door remotely. Seeing, hearing and speaking to people at your door is becoming very familiar. Unlocking remotely can be the accessible feature of the remote door. But you need the ability to see or hear who you are unlocking the door for. While many people use audio and visual doorbells and the price is coming down, it is the unlocking feature that is typically the most expensive. 

Smart smoke detectors, water leak sensors, and bed-exit monitors provide immediate, automated alerts to off-site caregivers. These applications can help during an emergency, or be part of a safety net while respecting the user's personal privacy.

Planning for access can help you avoid having a different remote or app for each item you add to your home. Some providers will merge accessible smart devices with local support networks.  Smart home technology can offer Memphians of all abilities greater autonomy, peace of mind, and more independence in their own homes.

If you are looking into smart home applications, whether for accessibility or convenience, let us know. We hope to help Memphians find the access they need with independence in mind. Call the Center (901-726-6404) or email us at info@disabilitymidsouth.org

Federal Grant Changes Could Put Independent Living Services at Risk

DCM and Independence adds value to the community

 

By Christina Clift

At Disability Connection Midsouth, federal funding helps us provide services that allow people with disabilities to live independently, advocate for themselves, and participate fully in their communities. A proposed change to federal grant rules could make that work much harder.

The Office of Management and Budget has proposed major changes to the rules governing federal grants. If finalized, the new rules could make it easier for federal agencies to end grants during a funding period, even when an organization is meeting its requirements. They could also allow funding decisions to be influenced more heavily by changing federal priorities. The National Council on Independent Living has warned that the proposal could create instability for Centers for Independent Living, increase administrative burdens, and create uncertainty around advocacy, accessibility, and outreach activities. (National Council on Independent Living)

For Disability Connection Midsouth, this is more than a funding issue. It could affect our ability to plan programs, maintain staff, conduct community outreach, and provide consistent services. It could also make organizations more cautious about speaking up when policies or systems create barriers for people with disabilities. Very simply, the insecurity with the IL grant makes DCM less of a community resource for other programs that develop independence, produce greater self-reliance and save state and local taxpayers money. 

One of the guiding principles of the disability rights movement is:

“Nothing about us without us.”

Centers for Independent Living were created so that people with disabilities could have a strong voice in the decisions that affect their lives. Advocacy is not an extra service—it is a central part of independent living.

Uncertainty in federal funding ultimately affects the people we serve. When community organizations cannot depend on funding that has already been awarded, they may have to delay programs, reduce services, postpone hiring, or make other difficult decisions.

The proposed rule has not yet taken effect, and discussions about its implementation are continuing. Disability Connection Midsouth will continue following this issue and working with our state and national partners to protect the Independent Living Program.

Stable federal funding allows Centers for Independent Living to focus on what matters most: removing barriers and helping people with disabilities have greater choice, independence, and control over their lives.

MATA, Groove and Memphis

Our Expectations of the Memphis Area Transit Authority

By Allison Donald

As taxpayers and registered voters, we expect our elected officials to use our tax dollars to provide quality public services that meet the needs of the people they serve.

MATA's limited fleet consists of older, high-mileage buses that frequently break down or fail to show up on scheduled routes. Many riders experience wait times of up to two hours when transferring between buses, and some are left stranded. During days when temperatures exceed 90 degrees, passengers are exposed to extreme heat. Riders have become sick, fainted, suffered heat stroke, experienced seizures, and other medical emergencies while waiting for transportation.

These conditions make it difficult to get to work, school, daycare, medical appointments, grocery stores, shopping, church services, pay bills, and other essential destinations.

Groove On-Demand

Riders may spend up to an hour trying to book a ride through the Groove On-Demand service. Even after a ride has been confirmed, they may wait another 30 minutes to an hour for pickup, or the trip may be rescheduled or canceled.

I have personally waited more than an hour for a Groove On-Demand ride after it had already been confirmed. Once picked up, riders often spend additional time while the driver picks up and drops off other passengers before reaching their destination. Because there are so few drivers and vans available, even trips with only three or four passengers can take up to two hours from pickup to destination.

Insufficient public transportation places citizens at risk. It contributes to health-related emergencies, prevents people from getting to medical appointments, causes workers to lose jobs or turn down employment opportunities, and forces some employees to shorten their work shifts because they cannot depend on reliable transportation.

Currently, neither the fixed-route bus system nor the Groove On-Demand service can be relied upon to consistently meet the transportation needs of Memphis residents.

Our expectation is simple: the citizens of Memphis deserve safe, adequate, reliable public transportation.

MATAplus and the future of Public Transit in Memphis

By Allison Donald

For years, the disability community has fought to ensure that MATAplus remains a priority in conversations about public transportation. We have shown up, spoken up, and pushed for improvements because we understand that for thousands of Memphians with disabilities, MATAplus is not a convenience—it is a lifeline to employment, healthcare, education, community involvement, and independent living. The quality, reliability, and future of this service help determine whether people with disabilities can fully participate in the life of our city. Too often, advocacy has focused not on building a stronger system, but on keeping an essential one from slipping beneath the surface. That is why continued engagement matters.

For years, MATAplus has been living on just enough to stay above water. Riders knew it. Drivers
knew it. Advocates knew it. There has always been an understanding within the disability
community that the system was operating from a place of survival rather than growth. Much of
the advocacy surrounding MATAplus has not been about innovation or expansion, but about
preservation—making sure a service that thousands of people depend on would still be there
when they needed it.

That reality affects not only current riders but also people who hope to use the service in the
Future.

Recently, I spoke with Jacoby Yarboro, who hopes to be able to use MATAplus. His perspective
reflects something often missing in transit conversations: transportation is not just about
mobility, it is about opportunity. For Jacoby, like many people with disabilities, major life
decisions are shaped by a simple question: how will I get there? A job opportunity loses its
meaning if transportation is unreliable. Healthcare becomes harder to maintain when access is
uncertain. Community participation becomes limited when every outing depends on someone
else’s schedule or availability.

Jacoby’s story is not unusual. It reflects the experience of many people with disabilities in
Memphis who must plan their lives around transportation rather than having transportation
support their lives.

Despite those challenges, people continue to rely on MATAplus because there is no alternative
that provides the same level of access. That is what makes recent developments so important.
In a recent meeting with Trustee Rodrick Holmes and City Council Transportation Committee
Chair Edmund Ford Sr., Trustee Holmes stated that he believes the system has stabilized after
years of uncertainty. If that assessment proves accurate, it marks an important turning point.
For riders, stability is not simply about budgets or operations. It is about trust—confidence that
transportation will be available when it is needed.

Recent improvements suggest real progress in that direction. New bus shelters are being
installed, new bus stop signage is planned, and riders can now schedule MATAplus trips
through the MATAgo901 app—something advocates have sought for years. For riders who have
long depended on phone calls and rigid scheduling processes, this shift represents more than
convenience. It means greater independence, flexibility, and control over daily life.

These improvements deserve recognition. They are meaningful, and they reflect years of
persistence and advocacy from riders and community supporters.

These changes are also evidence that advocacy works. They are not accidental—they reflect
sustained engagement from riders and advocates, and they demonstrate that continued
participation can lead to real, visible change.

But progress should raise expectations, not lower them.

Success should not be measured by survival alone.

If MATA has moved beyond survival mode, then the conversation must also move forward. The
focus can no longer be solely on keeping the system operating. It must also be on ensuring that
riders have a meaningful voice in the future.

One of the most significant unresolved issues is the absence of the Specialized Transportation
Advisory Committee. For years, the committee provided MATAplus riders and advocates with a
formal avenue to share concerns, identify barriers, and offer solutions. Without it, riders lose an
important mechanism for influencing decisions that directly affect their daily lives.

That absence matters because the people who use MATAplus every day understand the system
in ways that no report or consultant ever can. They know where barriers exist, where
improvements are needed, and they deserve a seat at the table when decisions are made.
The progress we are seeing today did not happen by accident. It happened because riders,
advocates, and community supporters remained engaged even when progress felt slow or
uncertain. Change happened because people continued to show up, speak up, and insist that
accessible transportation remains a priority.

Now, at a moment when transit leadership is expressing confidence in the system’s future, the
disability community cannot afford to step back. This is precisely when engagement matters
most. The future of MATAplus is being shaped right now, and the decisions being made today
will influence accessibility, independence, and opportunity for years to come.

For people like Jacoby Yarboro and thousands of other Memphians with disabilities, those
decisions are not abstract. They determine whether opportunity is within reach, whether
independence is supported, and whether Memphis becomes a city where people with
disabilities can fully participate in community life.

That is why I encourage riders, advocates, and supporters to attend the Memphis City Council
meeting on June 22 at 4:00 p.m. Show up, ask questions, share your experiences, and be part
of the conversation.

Follow the DCM blog for the latest updates and upcoming advocacy efforts. Join us and become
a member of the Better Transit for a Better Memphis Transit Equity Task Force. Together, we
can continue pushing for a more accessible and equitable transit system.

These are not separate efforts, but connected pathways for staying informed and staying
involved—whether through following updates on the DCM blog or actively participating in the
Better Transit for a Better Memphis Transit Equity Task Force, each offers a way for the
community to remain engaged in shaping what comes next.

For years, the disability community has worked to keep MATAplus above water. Now there is an
opportunity to help decide where it goes next.

The question is no longer whether MATAplus can survive. The question is whether we will help shape what comes after survival.

DCM Staff Update

Disability Connection Midsouth Welcomes Two New Independent Living Specialists

Disability Connection Midsouth welcomes Jacoby Yarbro and Karie Doss-Bond as Independent Living Specialists.

Both specialists bring a combination of personal advocacy and professional development expertise to the organization, where they will focus on connecting community members with resources to foster independence.

Advocacy Backgrounds and Expertise

Jacoby, a Knoxville native who later relocated to Memphis, joins the team with a professional background spanning communications, leadership, community engagement, and disability advocacy.

As an individual who is totally blind, Jacoby noted that his career path is driven by an understanding of the barriers faced by people with disabilities in securing employment and achieving full community participation.

“I believe that every person deserves the opportunity to live the life they choose,” Jacoby said. “I am passionate about helping individuals identify their strengths, overcome barriers, and build confidence in their abilities.”

“Whether assisting someone in accessing community resources, developing independent living skills, or exploring new opportunities, I am committed to providing support that empowers individuals to thrive,” Jacoby added.

Karie joined the DCM staff bringing a history of civic service from central Arkansas, where she volunteered with housing security non-profit Our House and the Arkansas Food Bank.

In addition to her civic advocacy, Karie spent a substantial portion of her career in the automotive industry specializing in corporate finance, accounting, and adult education. Her work as an educator primarily focused on training professional leadership cohorts and developing emotional intelligence curricula.

“I am excited to bring these worlds together,” Karie stated. “My background in finance will help our community members build practical budgets, prioritize their financial needs, and gain independence. I look forward to working alongside everyone and helping individuals reach their personal independent living goals.”

Advancing Accessibility in Mid-South

“I am honored to be part of the DCM team and look forward to working alongside clients, community partners, and fellow staff members as we continue building a more inclusive and accessible community for all,” Jacoby said. “I look forward to creating opportunities and breaking barriers.”

Beyond the Office

Outside of their professional roles, both specialists are active community members. Jacoby is an avid patron of local Memphis restaurants and spends time with his Boston Terrier, Jasper. Karie lives with her wife, and their two dogs, Henry and Maddie. They enjoy spending time with their extended family, gardening and travel.