Inclusion and Respect for Different Cultures

SARTAC and SABE are committed to inclusion and support the diversity of our self-advocacy community. There is much work to be done. We will make mistakes. We ask for your suggestions because we know that together we can help one another move forward to true inclusion.

As we work to lift-up people with disabilities, we will take time to make sure our website respects, honors, and represents the beliefs and values of people from diverse cultures and linguistic backgrounds.

Two women looking at a book together.
  • We will collect stories told by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities that are of interest to and reflect the different cultures and languages of individuals living throughout the United States.

 

Four men smiling and looking at the camera. Two of the men are in wheelchairs.
  • Many self-advocates often face the double discrimination of race and disability. Our tools will help self-advocates and allies build welcoming, culturally competent, and supportive self-advocacy groups.
A computer keyboard with a blue button that says "translate" and flags from many countries rising up.
  • We will make sure that information on our website takes into account the various reading levels of individuals belonging to self-advocacy groups.
Five people with disabilities sitting on chairs in a circle having a conversation
  • When using videos and other media resources for teaching about self-advocacy, they will be captioned and reflect the culture and ethnic backgrounds of individuals with disabilities living throughout the United States.
Pride flags being held over a crowd barrier at a Pride Parade
  • We will display graphics, photos and artwork on this website that reflect the cultures and ethnic backgrounds of people living throughout the United States.
A young man facing backwards in a black t-shirt pushing his wheelchair.
  • This website has an easy-to-use program to translate information into another language.

 

  • When SARTAC collects information from people who use this website we will ask them to tell us their diverse characteristics.
  • Resources to support self-advocacy organizations to adopt policies and provide training so that our movement can meet the needs of our diverse communities and so that people and groups do not continue to be left out.

Our movement places a high value on self-determination. We recognize that some people with disabilities grew up in families that make decisions based on what works for the whole family, not just one individual. We will take time to listen to and understand how others are reacting to our advocacy messages.

The SARTAC advisory committee is comprised of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities from diverse backgrounds representing states from all regions of the country as well as representatives from both unserved and underserved groups.

SARTAC thanks the Georgetown University National Center on Cultural Competence for providing guidance and support to ensure the tools promoted by SARTAC respect, honor, and represent the beliefs and values of people from diverse cultures and linguistic backgrounds.