Disability Rights United States Project #21168

Enabling People with Disabilities to Have Equality

by RespectAbility

Summary

RespectAbility works with leaders, employers, media, faith-based organizations, nonprofits, and the disability community to enable and empower people with disabilities to have a better future. This includes educating employers about the fact that people with disabilities can be extremely talented and loyal employees, non-partisan voter education and political participation, and advocating that negative stigmas against people with disabilities - and the hate crimes against us - should stop.

$50,000
total goal

$25,834
remaining

134
donors

0
monthly donors

2
fundraisers

8
years

Challenge

One in five people has a disability, yet 70% of working-age people with disabilities don't have a job. People with disabilities are far more likely to live in poverty, be victims or perpetrators of crime, and face prejudice. Leaders largely ignore us, despite the fact that the majority of people with disabilities are striving for work and acceptance. Stigma, low expectations, and ignorance are major obstacles that cause people with disabilities to be denied the opportunities to succeed.

Solution

With your support, RespectAbility will work to empower people with disabilities, overturn false myths, and ensure that disability issues are a priority for our leaders and our communities. We will educate leaders, the media, employers, and other stakeholders on facts and realities about people with disabilities -- overturning stigmas and fighting for our rights. We will also host many free webinars on best practices for creating a better future for us all. See www.RespectAbility.org.

Long-Term Impact

Prejudice and low expectations towards people with disabilities will be dramatically reduced. People with disabilities will be seen for the talents and values that they have, and not by what they cannot do. Crimes against people with disabilities -- including police brutality and hate crimes -- will be dramatically reduced. People with disabilities will have the opportunity to have the dignity and income that comes from a job, while being a fully valued and equal part of our communities.