A Statement from MISILC Executive Director Steve Locke on the Trump Administration’s DEI Attack
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are not bad words. In fact, diversity, equity, and inclusion are life-changing for people who have historically been discriminated against, denied the accommodations they need to participate in public life, and left out of the decision-making process, even when the decisions being made directly affect their lives.
This includes the over 40 million people with disabilities in the United States. Each one of these Americans deserves respect and dignity, especially from the President who has the ability to radically shape public perception and opinion.
Instead, President Trump has chosen to denigrate people with disabilities, even going so far as to blame the deadly plane and helicopter crash in Washington D.C. on Jan. 29 on DEI hiring policies that include people with disabilities.
It is difficult to express the fear, frustration, and anger that people in and working with the disability community are feeling right now. In the short time since Trump was sworn in as President for the second time, the Trump Administration’s disdain for DEI initiatives has been cause for alarm. The announcement of a freeze on all federal funding in order to weed out any programs that involve or promote DEI caused widespread alarm across the many programs that exist to serve people with disabilities as many of them receive federal funding. Everything from the essential services these programs provide to employee paychecks was suddenly in doubt. While this funding freeze has been blocked twice now by a federal judge, the Trump Administration has made it clear that this is something they are determined to do.
Then came the completely baseless accusation that hiring people with disabilities caused the deadly crash in D.C. which prompted at least a dozen disability organizations to issue a statement calling the accusation “baseless” and "irresponsible."
As Executive Director of the Michigan Statewide Independent Living Council, I’ve seen the harm that results when people with disabilities are dismissed and discounted, if they are even thought of at all. MISILC promotes the integration and full inclusion of people with disabilities into the mainstream of American society. We do not accept the premise that people with disabilities have less to offer or are less worthy. In fact, we strongly reject such notions as ignorant and dangerous.
The fact is, disability is not a partisan issue. Or, at least, it shouldn’t be. Any one of us could become disabled at any moment due to circumstances outside of our control. A car accident. Slipping on ice. A blood clot. An illness. Any one of our children could be born with a disability. When I advocate for disability rights, when I advocate for the care, accommodations, and opportunities people with disabilities need and deserve, I am advocating for all of us.
At MISILC, we deeply believe in the value of people with disabilities and their undeniable rights, including their rights to make decisions for themselves and live as independently as possible. This includes the right to employment. The President’s baseless remarks about people with disabilities could very well make finding employment even more difficult, causing further harm.
MISILC’s vision is for a world with inclusion, equity, and accessibility for people with disabilities in all communities. We know, too, that disability is intersectional. Everyone, including people with disabilities, have a number of different identities.
MISILC’s vision is for a world with inclusion, equity, and accessibility for people with disabilities in all communities. We know, too, that disability is intersectional. Everyone, including people with disabilities, have a number of different identities. There are people with disabilities of all races, all nationalities, all education levels, all ages, all religions, all income levels, all genders, and sexual orientations.
We all benefit from a diverse community with various perspectives and life experiences. We all benefit when equitable accommodations are offered to give everyone the chance to succeed. We all benefit by living in a world that values inclusion over exclusion. That is a world worth fighting for.
Sincerely,
Steven Locke
MISILC Executive Director