Issue 14: Community Inclusion and Supports

Goal: Advocate that individuals with psychiatric disabilities have the same community resources to live, learn, work and play as do non-disabled persons.

Discussion

Individuals with psychiatric disabilities should use the same community resources to live, learn, work and play as non-disabled persons and participate in the same local communities activities as non-disabled persons.

As long as people with disabilities remain segregated, non-disabled people do not get to know them. Segregation - whether the result of stairs or attitudes - creates harmful myths and stereotypes or worse, sets up a self-fulfilling prophecy for failure. Among many people, there is still a "stigma" attached to having a psychiatric disability. As a society we have made progress in accepting people with physical disabilities, however, we have much to do to eradicate the stigma that follows those who have psychiatric disorders.

Actions

262. Fully support anti-stigma and anti-discrimination programs such as those of National Association for the Mentally Ill and the National Mental Health Association.
Responsible party: All mental health stakeholders

263. Enforce existing anti-discrimination laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Responsible party: Department of Health and Social Service, Disability Law Center, advocacy groups