Chapter 7: Ongoing Advocacy

09:12:30:26 - 09:13:46:20

Lisa: And, Judy, your work has really secured the rights and literally the freedoms of maybe tens and, tens of thousands of people with disabilities in Pennsylvania and throughout the country. Enable them to go to school, to work in communities of their choice, these are incredible accomplishments but do you feel that you've accomplished all that you wanted when you started your career?

Judy: Oh no. Oh no there is so much more to be done. In New Jersey where I work now, New Jersey is one of the most segregated states in the nation both in education and in residential services. New Jersey's institutions are still alive and well and have a lot of political support. New Jersey is about third from the bottom in inclusion of children with disabilities in regular classes in the school system. And yet New Jersey is one of the most wealthy and well educated states in the nation so it shows us that we have a long way to go.

09:13:53:00 - 09:14:51:11

Lisa: I wanted to ask you what you're view is of meaningful inclusion.

Judy: Well inclusion to me means that people with disabilities are in the same places that they would be if they didn't have disabilities. For children this means school, for adults it means work, for everyone it means neighborhoods, community and it means that they have the support that they need to flourish in those setting, it means that they have friends, that they have relationships with coworkers, with other children, with people who do not have disabilities and that they are fully valued as participants in those settings.

Lisa: Thank you.