—
Last week we talked about a neighborhood being built in Phoenix exclusively for the disabled community. The community is called Luna Azul and we discussed the merits of having a neighborhood just for people with developmental disabilities.
Today we’re looking at the downside to such a community and why it may be the first of its kind in the US and the world, and also possibly the last.
Yes, there are some positives to such a community but as a society we, and I say we because I’m autistic, are looking for inclusion—to be one community and to not separate ourselves from the rest of society. A neighborhood such as this is an example of exclusion, separating ourselves from our peers without developmental disabilities.
As an autism and developmental disability advocate, I fight every day for inclusion so that the disabled community can be understood, accepted and integrated into the rest of society and a gated housing community such as Luna Azul stops that integration and puts up literal barriers to an inclusive society.
Sure, it’s great to have neighbors who are like us and who can understand what we go through, but isn’t it also great to have some neighbors who don’t understand us and who we can educate about developmental disabilities?
How can we have one society if we build neighborhoods exclusively for the disabled community? And if we build neighborhoods just for the disabled, what’s next? Will it be neighborhoods where the disabled are excluded altogether?
Now I don’t believe that will ever happen, but if a neighborhood can be built exclusively for the disabled, then it can’t be totally out of the question for a gated community where no one can have a disability.
All we as a group is to be able to live our lives like everyone else, or at least as much as we possibly can. We’re people with disabilities but notice how I said that. The first word I used was, “people.” We’re people first and the disability is simply a part of who we are. It doesn’t encompass our entire self.
The next time someone proposes something that’s exclusively for the disabled, be like Nancy Reagan and Just Say No! Remind those that would propose exclusion that, like them, we’re people and people shouldn’t exclude one another for any reason, be it race, religion, sexual orientation or disability.
If this sounds like a plan that people won’t buy into, keep in mind that for hundreds of years people insisted the world was flat, but now we know better. We never thought we could fly, but the Wright Brothers proved the naysayers wrong.
The moon landing? That’s no conspiracy theory. It actually happened.
One thing about being on the spectrum is we often see both sides of the story and while I do see a small handful of benefits to having a community for the disabled, I also see armfuls of reasons to not have such a community.
I’m not expecting us to all get together, hold hands and sing Kum By Yah, but I think; I hope, inclusion is something those of us on both sides can get behind.
If that could happen, how cool would that be?
—
What’s Next? Talk with others. Take action.
We are proud of our SOCIAL INTEREST GROUPS—WEEKLY PHONE CALLS to discuss, gain insights, build communities— and help solve some of the most difficult challenges the world has today. Calls are for Members Only (although you can join the first call for free). Not yet a member of The Good Men Project? Join below!
RSVP for Intersectionality Calls
—
Photo courtesy Unsplash.
