Many people are eager to put 2020 in the rear-view mirror, and perhaps rightly so. It’s been a year filled with incredible hardship, with some of that hardship magnified for people with disabilities. But we must look back on 2020 to reflect on what we’ve learned from our experiences – as hard as they may be – to help shape a brighter future.
2020’s challenges reaffirmed my personal belief in the extraordinary power people can generate when we work together.
This reaffirmed belief gives me great hope for brighter days in 2021.
There are three life-saving examples related to the pandemic and our strength as an Association of provider agencies and advocates, and as a nation of people united that emerge:
1) Collaboration among I/DD provider associations and their members resulted in a uniquely sustained collection of data about the impact of Covid-19 on people with I/DD in certified residential settings. This data and the research it produced convinced policy makers to prioritize people with I/DD in certified residential settings and their staff for vaccine distribution. This will save thousands of lives of people we support and our staff in 2021 and beyond,
2) The simple, but important act of sharing our individual provider organization experiences on managing Covid-19 spread and monitoring symptoms among members of this Association early on in the pandemic caused others to adopt these best practices and save lives. And, it continued right through to our exit of 2020 in our December 30th Executive Briefing discussion of vaccine distribution experiences and best practices, and
3) Unprecedented collaboration among scientists, pharmaceutical companies and governments led to the research, development, and distribution of vaccines for Covid-19 at record smashing speed that will result in millions of lives saved in 2021 and beyond.
We often talk about the strength of the NY Alliance being embedded in the diversity and strength of our membership. Indeed, 2020 has reaffirmed that belief for me as well, and that provides me great hope for the future, despite what are likely to be trying times still yet to come.
Mahatma Gandhi is credited with once saying, “Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.” We see this indomitable will demonstrated in your perseverance to provide supports and services despite an economically flawed system; portrayed in the work we do together to improve the system of supports for people with disabilities; and, shining brightly in our collective unwillingness to never give up the “Soul Of Our Work.”
On behalf of the entire NY Alliance team, I thank you for your trust in us and your commitment to the NY Alliance. We look forward to continuing to represent your organization and the interests of those you support in 2021 and beyond. Together, with a renewed strength and indomitable will, I look to 2021 with a sense of hope and a knowledge that we can accomplish great things.
Best wishes for a happy and healthy new year!
