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 Erin Thompson likes her days full, brimming with opportunity. At 22, Thompson juggles a college career at George Mason University, volunteerism, and an active social life. Thompson, who has Down syndrome, was born in Fairfax and has strived to impact her community ever since. “I like to tell people not to be afraid to stand up for their rights,” explains Thompson, an avid volunteer for the Arc of Northern Virginia and the Down Syndrome Association. “People need more education,” she says, pointing to the Commonwealth of Virginia as an example, a state that ranks 46th for community based options for people with disabilities. Thompson represents approximately 20% of Virginia’s population that has a disability. She demonstrates that people with disabilities of all types and degree can and do live successfully in communities of their own choice when individually appropriate services and supports are available to them. She says that these facts reinforce the need for the Commonwealth to abandon its state institution approach and to adopt a strategy for transitioning away from large, segregated state institutions. The shift to community supports has been happening in Virginia and in every other state for the past 40 years. Thompson explains that her hopes, dreams, and goals are no different than anyone else that she shares a George Mason classroom with on any given busy day. “I want to find a good job, I want to have my own family, and I want to have children.” In her free time, which is limited due to her volunteerism, she plays the piano, and enjoys movies and going out to eat with friends. Despite her many successes, Thompson says that barriers to community participation are still abundant in the Commonwealth. She points to attitudinal barriers, lack of transportation, lack of awareness, lack of income, and lack of encouragement from community organizations. Thompson stresses that Virginia’s citizens overwhelming believe that persons with disabilities have a right to choose to live in the community. She says that we all have a right and responsibility to commit to a true community-based system of support. |
The year was 1982 and Edward Ziegler was involved in an automobile accident that left him with traumatic brain injury shortly before Mother’s Day. He was in a coma for two months. What he had taken for granted up until that point in life -- talking, swallowing, eating, rolling over in bed, using the bathroom, and walking -- had to be relearned and modified.
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Virginia Still Is Playing Catch-Up in Disability-Rights Arena
"Each Virginian with a disability deserve to enjoy the same benefits of society and freedoms of every day life that Virginians without disabilities enjoy."
- Gov. Tim Kaine
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College Bound 2009
College Bound 2009 Registration deadline May 31, 2009
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| Able to Choose A public awareness campaign funded in part by Virginia Board for People with Disabilities |
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Toll Free Voice/TTY: 800-846-4464 Info@VBPD.virginia.gov Copyright 2009 |
