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We CAN make our cities universally accessible. In Long Beach, the City unveiled ADA-accessible mats at three popular beaches. This is an excellent example of how we can make our streets, beaches, parks, and schools open to all.
While accessibility in infrastructure is key, we must also make our institutions and systems accessible so that people with disabilities can fully participate in our communities.
Some of you may not know that I am fluent in American Sign Language (I almost earned a second degree in ASL 20 years ago – just four courses short!). As an active parent in schools, I am disappointed that we’re still not teaching ASL to children as part of public education. Signing has enriched my life – I know all children would benefit from learning how to sign. But beyond the benefit to people who are hearing, teaching children to sign would make our schools and our society much more inclusive. Students that are deaf and students that can hear would be able to independently communicate (and play) with each other. Parents with children that are deaf and parents with children that can hear would be able to expand their village. That’s the community, city, state, and country that I want to live in. That’s the kinder world that I envision.
In office, I’ll partner with Disability Justice advocates and follow their lead. I’ll go after loopholes that give housing providers, employers, and other institutions the ability to discriminate against people with disabilities. I’ll fight to ensure that when we get Universal Healthcare (because we WILL make this happen for our communities), the diverse needs of people with disabilities are covered, included, and funded.
I hope to utilize the levers of government to ensure that everyone in California lives with dignity, self-determination, and security. But the work of transforming our state will not happen only in Sacramento and not only in July - it requires all of us, all year round. Wherever we are, whatever space we’re in, it’s our responsibility to always ask, “Who’s not in this room? Who’s locked out from participating?” Whether you’re an elected official (or a hopeful candidate!) or a high schooler, all of us have power to make our neighborhoods more inclusive and welcoming.
In Solidarity,
Mia
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