The Watertown Free Public Library, the Watertown Commission on Disability, and World in Watertown will two community events focused on disability rights. See the announcement below.
What is the status of disability rights in the United States? How do national policies impact people with disabilities in our community? This month, the Watertown Commission on Disability, the Watertown Free Public Library, and World in Watertown are hosting a special two-night look at the past and present fight for disability rights.
Documentary Screening: Crip Camp [R]
Mon. October 20 | 6:30 PM | at WFPL | Film shown with audio description and open captioning.
Synopsis: A summer camp for teens with disabilities inspires a group of alumni to join the disability rights movement to advocate for historic legislation changes. (This film is also on Netflix.)
Democracy Talks: Advocates Respond to Disability Rights Under Attack
Tue. October 21 | 6:30 PM | at WFPL | ASL & CART Provided | Learn about the current status of disability rights on the federal, state, and local levels from a panel of experts, including MA disability rights leader Charlie Carr, Perkins Library Executive Director and Global Accessibility Advocate Kim Charlson, intersectional disability activist Finn Gardiner, Jennifer Lee-Rambharose from the Brandeis Heller Lurie Institute for Disability Policy, and Jenna Bancroft, Watertown’s first Human Services Director. After the panelists speak, there will be opportunity for audience Q&A.
About WFPL
The Watertown Free Public Library provides access to a wide variety of popular materials, resources, services, and programs that fulfill the informational, cultural, and recreational needs of Watertown and surrounding communities. Our Library works to create an environment that attracts and welcomes users of all ages and abilities. For more, visit watertownlib.org.
I will be attending Democracy Talks: Advocates Respond to Disability Rights Under Attack on Tuesday. I am very glad that the Library is holding it and framing it properly. Disability is a democracy issue, and right now these individuals are being attacked. During this shutdown, the administration quickly cut funds for special education. These indviduals are the canary in the coal mine and if we don’t look out for them then we have no right calling ourselves decent.
Remember, the first people to be persecuted in 1933 Germany were individuals with disabilities and LBGTQ+. The murdered 6 million Jews does not include the 1 million disabled, LBGTQ+, political dissidents and opponents, black Germans, Roma, Poles and other Slavic groups, POWs and resistance groups. In the Nazi regime, these human beings were not worthy enough to live. Never again, means never again for every single human being then, now and forever.
I hope a lot of people attend.
Once again Democracy Talks delivers. These panelists were amazing and provided so much information about what is happening at the federal level and what people can do now, especially at the municipal level. I was happy to hear that Jenna Bancroft, Watertown’s first Human Services Director, is already working on a list of resources, everything from special needs needs to food insecurity. Thanks again!