Application Period Extended for New County Committee to Address Disability Issues, End Ableism
The deadline for community members to apply to serve on the Disability Community Advisory Group is now 5 p.m. on Wednesday, December 13
SANTA CLARA COUNTY, Calif. – The application period for community members to apply to serve on a new County of Santa Clara advisory group on disability issues has been extended to December 13. Members of the public – particularly those within the disabled community – are being sought to serve on the Disability Community Advisory Group, which will hold regular meetings on disability issues and ultimately guide the work of the County and the Office of Disability Affairs.
The goal is for the group to include representatives from a broad representation including individuals who are Deaf/hard of hearing, blind/visually disabled, physically disabled, developmentally/intellectually disabled, as well as advocates and caregivers including families, parents and community-based organization workers.
In the course of their participation in the Disability Community Advisory Group, members will:
- Learn about and explore potential systems innovations to better address disability access and inclusion in Santa Clara County.
- Help shape policy recommendations to send to the Office of Disability Affairs and/or other County leadership entities.
- Provide other valuable contributions and support, as needed.
There will be six meetings per year, with additional subcommittees and self-paced learning between the meetings. The total estimated annual time commitment is 60 hours. Members can receive a $1,000 stipend for participating, paid out quarterly.
“One by one we must start removing barriers for everyone, from autistic children to adults who cannot walk or see,” said Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez, who championed the creation of the Office of Disability Affairs in 2022. “The county needs to include disabled children and adults in all of its equity policies and programs. People with disabilities are more likely to experience poverty, food insecurity, health problems, discrimination and exclusion from built environments and inadequate social services.”
The purpose behind the Office of Disability Affairs and the new advisory board is to ensure that the County is a leader in equity inclusion and accessibility for individuals with disabilities. The advisory group will focus on the creation of inclusive policies, with an advisory body made up of people with disabilities and advocates in the spirit of the disability rights principle: “Nothing About Us Without Us.”
One in four adults in the United States is living with some form of disability. That’s about 61 million people, including more than 3 million children. Disability cuts across all demographic groups and identities, and ties into other forms of marginalization such as racism and gender bias.
Those interested in serving on the panel – and who are in the disability community – are encouraged to self-nominate at https://desj.sccgov.org/disability-community-advisory-group. Community members who do not want to serve on the advisory board but still want to weigh in on disability issues will be encouraged to provide insight and feedback during the public comment portion of disability board meetings, which are anticipated to start in Spring 2024.
ABOUT THE COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA OFFICE OF DISABILITY AFFAIRS
The County of Santa Clara, Office of Disability Affairs (ODA) is part of the Office of the County Executive in the Division of Equity and Social Justice. As a local government policy office, ODA works to create bridges to communities in an effort to end ableism in Santa Clara County and influence others to do the same. Our vision is that all people in Santa Clara County can participate equitably in every aspect of public and private life, with bodily autonomy and self-determination, and with nobody left behind. All bodies and minds are recognized as unique, essential, and whole. People with disabilities are integral community members.
ABOUT THE COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA
The County of Santa Clara government serves a diverse, multicultural population of 1.9 million residents in Santa Clara County, Calif., making it more populous than 14 states in the United States. The County provides essential services to its residents, including public health protection, environmental stewardship, medical services through the County of Santa Clara Health System, child and adult protection services, homelessness prevention and solutions, roads, park services, libraries, emergency response to disasters, protection of minority communities and those under threat, access to a fair criminal justice system, and many other public benefits.
Visit the County of Santa Clara at: www.santaclaracounty.gov
Like us on Facebook: Facebook.com/County.of.Santa.Clara
Follow us on Twitter: Twitter.com/sccgov
###
MEDIA CONTACTS: Laurel Anderson / Eric Kurhi, Office of Communications and Public Affairs, 408-299-5119, [email protected]