Dr. Stephen Gilson
As we prepare and plan for the Annual Meeting in Denver and the 20th anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act, critical challenges to equality of access still face us.
These issues have become particularly evident in recent discussions and planning with APHA. One key challenge is to increase membership and administrative awareness of the meaning of access, that moves beyond merely asking the Disability Section to make its own spaces, presentations and materials available and accessible. We are currently negotiating with the APHA Executive Board to review and change policy and practice regarding accessibility of all section booths. This effort is currently under way as we ask APHA administration and staff to rethink and practice access beyond minimal ADA requirements to an expansive social justice approach. Expanding policy to all presentations, events and spaces in APHA will open the opportunity for all members to benefit from the full range of APHA activities, knowledge and initiatives.
There are two other related issues for our section to consider. First, we need to expand our interdisciplinary approach so that we are not simply preaching to the choir. Increasing awareness and meaningful response to limited access can only be done if those who are not yet knowledgeable about the issues become informed. Second, this year’s Chair’s Forum focuses on critical policy analysis and implementation. I would urge us to stretch beyond disability specific policy and use this forum to explore innovative solutions to bring disability policy within the human rights policies that govern all people.