State Capitol events highlight disabled advocacy

The 37th annual Disability Advocacy Day, held March 4 at the State Capitol in Columbia, is the longest-running disability advocacy event in South Carolina and highlights a spring season of events surrounding March Disability Awareness Month.

Organized by The Arc of South Carolina and the South Carolina Partnership of Disability Organizations, the event featured speeches by disabled self-advocates and other state leaders working toward solutions to a range of issues affecting the empowerment of people with disabilities.

Multiple attendees interviewed reported the event was well attended, with crowd estimates ranging from more than 1,000 to several thousand. With an estimated 40 booths set up, according to organizers, there were representatives from a range of perspectives and areas of focus within the advocacy community.

“We had advocates, families, self-advocates and partner organizations from across South Carolina come together to share their stories and speak directly with lawmakers about the issues impacting people with disabilities,” said Danni Bloom, director of policy and outreach for The Arc of South Carolina.

“One of the most meaningful parts of the day was hearing from self-advocates and families about their lived experiences.”

Advocates with disabilities frequently emphasize the importance of self-advocacy and respecting the voices of people with disabilities in all discussions — a principle often summarized as “nothing about us without us.”

Angel Heaven Lee, an advocate and business owner from Columbia who attended Disability Advocacy Day, said this aspect of the event and advocacy in general is among the most important because of the many areas of life it affects.

Speaking of her remarks at the Capitol, she explained:

“My central message was that lived experience is expertise. Too often, policies are developed without the involvement of people with disabilities who live this every day. When these voices are missing, we often end up with policies that look good on paper but fail to address the real needs.”

She said she was glad to have the chance to meet several legislators who attended the event, though her experiences varied, with some lawmakers more receptive than others.

Lee, who hosts the podcast “Breaking Barriers with Angel Heaven Lee,” where she discusses complex topics with a wide variety of guests, said she wants those she invites to understand that the goal is not to make people uncomfortable.

“It’s about making space for honest conversations and better understanding.”

In terms of specific issues, both Lee and Bloom cited disability services, health care, employment, transportation and community inclusion as key areas of focus.

They also advocate a cross-disability approach and view Disability Advocacy Day as primarily focused on people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Bloom said that while Disability Advocacy Day places significant emphasis on intellectual and developmental disability issues — and the bylaws of its partnering organizer, the South Carolina Partnership of Disability Organizations, reference intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism and spinal cord injury — the event remains committed to advocating for all people with disabilities.

Lee reported seeing people with many different disabilities in attendance.

Kopp emphasized they are not opposed to the goals of the organizers of Disability Advocacy Day and believe both events are valuable.

Channing Heiss is a freelance writer and a member of the Beaufort County disAbilities Coalition.