Disability & The LGBTQ Community
This past Sunday, December 3rd, was International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Did you know that 1 in 4 Americans have a disability? Disabilities include many things, including both physical and mental health conditions, as well as learning disabilities. Many disabilities are also “invisible” - meaning they may not be obvious to other people. This is often the case for disabilities such as chronic pain and mental illness. You can’t always “tell” if someone has a disability or not.
Disabilities are even more common among the LGBTQ community, with 1 in 3 (36%) LGBTQ adults reporting a disability. This is highest for transgender adults at 52%. LGBTQ people are also more likely to acquire a disability during their lifetime, as experiencing higher rates of discrimination and trauma can greatly impact a person’s physical and mental health.
There is also notable overlap between the LGBTQ community and neurodivergence. “Neurodivergent” is an umbrella term to describe conditions where someone’s brain may function differently than what is commonly expected. It can include conditions such as ADHD, autism, OCD, or PTSD. Unfortunately, this overlap also means that people may be more likely to question a person’s LGBTQ identity if they’re neurodivergent. In a small study from 2018, a third of participants said their gender identity had been frequently questioned by others because they were autistic.
It’s important that we tackle the stigmatization associated with having a disability, and both recognize and advocate for the autonomy of ALL people.
Our dear friends at Access to Independence in Cortland provide a variety of advocacy services for folks with any and all disabilities. Their mission is to help people live their own independent lives. They can help you with:
· Housing
· Employment
· Budgeting
· Transportation
· Knowing your legal rights
· Referrals to other resources, such as NY Connects
· Training for life skills that help you be independent!
If you are looking for specific advocacy help, you can reach out to their Advocacy Specialist (and one of our Advisory Board members!), Erin Vallely: erin.vallely@aticortland.org
They also have social events for building community. Follow them on social media!
https://www.instagram.com/aticortland/
https://www.facebook.com/CortlandATI
Access to Independence also has a monthly newsletter; sign up here.