People with disabilities are part of the fabric of every Maine community! Last summer, Disability Rights Maine (DRM) partnered with the Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies (CCIDS), the Maine Developmental Disabilities Council, and Speaking Up for Us (SUFU) to gather stories from disabled people across Maine about why they value being part of their communities and why everyone should value their disabled community members.
State and federal investments in home- and community-based services (HCBS), transportation, housing, assistive technology, employment, public accommodations, and self-advocacy are critical to ensuring that people with disabilities are not only included, but also empowered to speak up, make choices, and fully participate in their communities.
Access removes barriers, not people.