Advocates attend Alabama’s inaugural Governor’s Disability Policy Summit

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — On Tuesday, Governor Kay Ivey joined agencies and advocates at Birmingham’s Lakeshore Foundation for the first inaugural Governor’s Disability Policy Summit.

In a Q&A session, attendees spoke on critical issues facing Alabamians with disabilities such as finding reliable transportation and employment. These recommendations will be presented to the legislature.

“My goal is to create a top-notch workforce,” Gov. Ivey said. “One where everyone’s unique skills are recognized and used to the fullest extent.”

Many of the summit’s attendees spoke on how living in Alabama with a disability has affected their everyday.

“I’m probably not the only person with a disability that has had to prove I was capable before I could be hired at a paying job,” Nakisha Adams with the Accessing Potential Through Assistive Technology (APTAT) said. “Thankfully, I didn’t mind showing them that I was a hard worker.”

Karon Bullock is an amputee advocate. In addition to employment, she said that insurance fairness for amputees is also important.

“For instance, things like prosthetic limbs are not medically necessary in the state of Alabama,” Bullock said. “So if you break your prosthetic leg, it can take up to three months to get it fixed.”

“People need to understand that our needs are not special needs. Our needs are the same as everybody,” Sandy Hanebrink, executive director of Touch the Future, said. “We need access to affordable and accessible housing, effective transportation, education, employment, recreation.”

John Kemp is the CEO of the Lakeshore Foundation. He said that when it comes to finding jobs, people with disabilities work twice as much as those without disabilities.

“Jobs to me is always a very high priority,” Kemp said. “Economic freedom, the ability to own your own way and be appreciated for the talent that you bring.”

Activist Christopher Alvarez said people should start seeing other people with disabilities for their abilities.