I want to share my experience of attending a mandatory DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) training. I felt really upset during the session because I strongly believe that every person should be treated equally, regardless of their background. However, the training didn’t cover the topic of disability which was disappointing. We need to see everyone as human beings and treat them with respect.
Why is this necessary to put people with disabilities, especially developmental disabilities, in the DEI conversation? Here is an example. I work in an acute care hospital. There was a patient with cerebral palsy. When I asked nursing if it was ok to see him (you know medically) she gave a snarky comment about how annoying he had been all shift and good luck with an eye roll. I went in and the reason he was “annoying” is no one understood what he was trying to communicate. All he wanted was to complete his morning routine of shaving and calling his sibling on the phone. No one bothered to take a few extra seconds and figure out what he was communicating. I lost it after on the RN. I do know she went on to become an NP and hoped she learned something that day. Its hard to fight for people with disabilities when we have a former president who mocked a reporter with CP.
I was speaking to a same-sex couple who had been married for decades and they have the same fears I do with for my brother. Any marginalized community is in fear especially in Florida. Watching this video set off all trauma triggers. Why are people so ignorant? Why are people filled with so much hate? Why do we have to have these conversations?
Having a sibling with a disability will make you look at the world differently. I have witnessed behavior techs, RBTs, CNAs, teachers, and RNs yell at children and adults with disabilities. Check yourself and go work somewhere else.
*Fun fact- AI won’t even help with this topic.
