Dan Wilkins Speaks at IRCIL's 2008 Annual Meeting

The Indiana Resource Center for Independent Living (IRCIL) held its 2008 annual meeting in Indianapolis this evening at the at the Easter Seals meeting auditorium. Aside from conducting business at hand such as revision of its bylaws and the election of committee members, IRCIL invited several speakers who provided a very human insight into issues surrounding the inclusion of disabled citizens.

Dan Wilkins - Guest Speaker

Among these speakers was Dan Wilkins, an independent business owner and recognized advocate for inclusion rights of disabled citizens in a world designed for able-bodied people.

Below is a transcript of the words that Dan shared with the attendees of tonight's meeting.

Dan's Words

"In the summer of 2001, during the time of the annual NCIL (National Centers for Independent Living) conference, I had the pleasure of having lunch with Justin Dart at his favorite restaurant in Washington, DC. Our CIL (Center for Independent Living) was just about to come into a large bequest and, as I shared this information with him, and what I, as Board Chair, hoped to begin to do with it, a big smile lit up his face and his eyes twinkled over the top of his glasses. "You know," he said, "It has always been my dream that the NCIL's ultimately and collectively drive the movement."

"We went on to discuss the original intent for centers and how they had evolved and diverged over the forty years, taking many a varied path, paths determined by a multitude of factors: leadership, vision, talent, funding partners, community need and support.

"But, more than anything, I remember his words, said with both humility and conviction: "It has always been my dream that the CIL's ultimately and collectively drive the movement."

"How important are we as a Center, as a collective of like-minded, passionate people? How important is the work that we do?

"Speaking about myself, I have been a chair-user since 1980, and for all but the first two years, I've had The Ability Center, it's place, programs and, most importantly, people, as an integral part of my life. I can honestly say that I am a better, more well-rounded, pride-filled and enlightened human being, more progressive and inclusive in my thinking because of the seeds watered within me there. I cannot imagine who or where I'd be today had our paths not crossed so long ago.

"And I am only one person ... one of approximately 60 million, just in America. I am the proverbial "starfish on the beach". Connecting with others who knew what I was going through, knew the oppression I faced and felt; who had real answers to my questions, well, it mattered to me.

"Centers, like ours, yours and mine, need to drive the movement, to be sure, but before that, as part of that, we must be the rock upon which the IL philosophy finds purchase; an island touting a paradigm of pride and high- expectation in an ocean of pity, paternalism and low-expectation. While we've seen significant change, we still live in a time where the predominant mindset of society sees us as broken, less than, non-contributory and, therefore, unworthy of equity in education, housing, transportation, employment and healthcare.

Seldom do people come to us without issue. We must be a safe harbor to which consumers can flock when their world crashes around them. And when they come, we must welcome them unconditionally, listen to them intently, share with them our stories and understanding of what it is to live life with a disability and, in so doing, reinvest in them dignity and self-respect, give them the answers and support that they need, in short, water in them seeds that have always been there: seeds of self-awareness and confidence and belief in what is possible.

"We, as a center, need to be the loud and righteous voice of our culture. a beacon of truth: truth born out of experience, an expertise one acquires over a lifetime, not from a book. Each of you in this room has a story worthy of telling, and it is an important story, important, first and foremost, because it is your story and by sharing it, you stand strong in your truth, aware of your journey, of what you know so far. And, hopefully, you come to know and appreciate the gifts granted you by your disability: the places it has taken you, the people you have met and befriended along the way, and, most importantly, what it has taught you about what it means to be human, and humane. How unique and valuable are you? You are the heart and soul of the Center. You give it life. Without you it is just another box, another building. And as the heart of a Center, you should beat with pride, made strong by these gifts that come from struggle; the wisdom gained from the challenge, from facing adversity; from sometimes winning and sometimes losing .. .but growing and learning either way.

"In my mind, like our board members who have a fiduciary responsibility to the center and consumers, we, as a center have a cultural and advocational responsibility to those who come through our doors, or call us on the phone or live in our service area.

"When we help a parent see in their child worth and infinite potentiality when they've been told to expect little or to put their child "over there" somewhere, it doesn't get much more powerful than that.

"When you help a person to understand that, after an injury, life goes on and can be filled with quality and love and contribution when they've always believed otherwise, it doesn't get much more powerful than that.

"When you help someone to get out of a nursing home and into their own home when they've been robbed of their dignity and choice, told they had no other option, well, it doesn't get much more powerful than that.

"When we, as a Center, lead by example, we become the argument for employing people with disabilities, for placing them in leadership roles, rather ignoring their value, talent and potential. We become role models for people with disabilities, young and old, and it doesnt get much more powerful than that.

"And when we gather these stories, these successes and alternative outcomes and share them with our community, our efforts become transformative. We begin to change the way the community thinks and feels and acts toward people living with disabilities. We begin to move society's mindset from the paradigm of low-expectation mentioned earlier to one of high-expectation and it doesn't get any more powerful than that.

The work you do as advocates, as a center, is so vital, so important. Not only are you manifesting Justin's dream by driving the Disability Rights Movement in Indiana, every day you have to opportunity and potential to change someone's life for the better, possibly forever. It's the change Gandhi speaks of so highly: the change we wish to see in the world. Ram Dass says, "We are all just walking each other home" and my friends, it doesn't get much more powerful than that.

"Congratulations on another successful year and all good wishes for a passion-filled, change-full year to come. Thank you for having me; for giving me this opportunity to share a little of what I know so far. "

*****

About Dan Wilkins

Aside from being a dad, husband, friend, chair-user, artist, writer, graphic designer, humorist, Brown's fan and a million other things, Dan Wilkins, is an outspoken advocate, story teller and visionary for people living with disabilities and the culture to which they belong.

Since 1989, he has been sharing stories and ideas in workshops, breakouts, keynotes, chautauquas and roundtables, formal and informal, for students from pre-school (tough crowd) to doctorate, parents, professionals in business, human service and allied health, educators and administrators, and folks with disabilities on a broad range of topics from disability and diversity awareness, advocacy and self-advocacy, to the importance of humor, inclusion, community and seeing through bigger eyes.

Dan currently sits on several boards and advisory committees including being Chairman of the Board of Directors for The Ability Center, a Center for Independent Living serving northwest Ohio and the Greater Toledo area.

Dan also operates The Nth Degree, a progressive, forward-thinking graphic design company geared toward issues related to the independent living movement, inclusion, diversity, and disability rights movements.

*****

About IRCIL

The Indianapolis Resource Center for Independent Living (IRCIL) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity dedicated to building advocates and inclusive communities in the Indianapolis and surrounding areas. Click here for more information on IRCIL.

Read more about IRCIL and its Marketing & Development Manager, Dani Blanchard, by clicking here.

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