Disability Access News

Steve Blum of Fairport has Down's syndrome, and has worked at a hardware store for six years. He said he's never had a bad interaction with people he has met at his workplace or in the community.

"I like to talk to them like people," Steve said. "Because that's how I see people in general, just as people. Not with disabilities, race, color or whatever, I just see them as people and hopefully they'll see me in that same way."

Though Steve feels a sense of acceptance in society, the same is not always the case for other persons with disabilities – which is why disability advocates are working to remind the community that people with disabilities are people first.

"If I'm sitting with an individual that has a disability, I think that people automatically see a disability," said Fanny Furgiuele, service coordinator for ARC of Monroe. "And they focus on me, or they try to communicate with me, to communicate with them."

Advocates say speak directly to a person with disabilities, make eye contact, and when describing someone, remember that a disability is only a diagnosis. It's something a person has, it's not what a person is.

"Just keeping in mind how your words affect others and what you say is very important," said Furgiuele.

As Steve likes to say, it all comes down to the "Golden Rule."

"Treat others as you like to be treated," he said.

The ARC of Monroe is holding an upcoming open house at their new Institute for Social Inclusion. For more information on this event, check out the Related Link to this story.