Toward "a More Enlightened Standard"

The joint conference of the National Organization of Women and the American Association of People with Disabilities gave me the chance to meet women from all over the country, both those with and without disabilities. It is helpful to me to have the many examples of what a determined woman can do.

Since I had just participated in the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride, I came to the conference with a bias for giving attention to those things that would apply to working with the immigrant community particularly. I heard a lot about the need for an active interface between the activists in both the women's and the disability communities and realize that the same sort of cooperation and support is needed for the women and those with disabilities within the immigrant community.

We must be there modeling the differences between business as usual as "the American Way" and a more enlightened standard of treatment for both women and people with disabilities within the immigrant population. We must not condemn those who come to this country who have not had the chance to raise their sights above survival; we must make sure that when they are secure enough to look about them they see good examples and can find the help needed to integrate those models into their own lives and families.

Only by practicing inclusiveness will we achieve the vision we looked towards in this conference for our immigrant populations and ourselves.

Thank you.