WithinReach's DEI Newsletter: October 2022 | |
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“No body or mind can be left behind – only moving together can we accomplish the revolution we require.” - 10th principle of Disability Justice, Sins Invalid
Disability History and Awareness Month takes place during October to increase awareness, respect, and acceptance for people with disabilities, and to bring a greater sense of pride to people with disabilities. In 2008, Washington state legislature passed a law declaring October as Disability History Month. This legislation also requires all public schools to “promote educational activities that provide instruction, awareness, and understanding of disability history and people with disabilities.”
This month, and always, we encourage everyone to expand their understanding of disability awareness, respect and acceptance to include “Disability Justice”. As mentioned in September’s Affinity Groups, Disability Justice was created to “centralize the needs and experiences of folks experiencing intersectional oppression.” Disability History and Justice is exciting work—we encourage all to use this month as an opportunity to learn, grow, heal and much more!
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Resources for Disability History and Awareness Month | |
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10 Ways To Be A Good Ally to Disabled People – “It’s only other disabled people nodding along with me, having the same conversations about how much we want change. It’s getting frustrating now and I wish that abled people were better allies to all minorities so, here’s a list of things you can do to become a good ally to disabled people.”
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Ableist Words and Terms to Avoid – “Language is *one* tool of an oppressive system... Ableism is systematic, institutional devaluing of bodies and minds deemed deviant, abnormal, defective, subhuman, less than.”
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Museum of Special Art – The Museum of Special Art (MOSA) is a nonprofit developed to meet the current needs of children and adults with disabilities by providing access to the visual arts, educational opportunities, and career development for artists with disabilities.
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Disabled Hikers – Disabled Hikers is an entirely Disabled-led organization. We celebrate disabled people’s experiences in the outdoors. We help facilitate those experiences with information, resources, and events, including trail guides and group hikes.
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Crip Camp (available on Netflix) – Crip Camp is the story of one group of people and captures one moment in time. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of other equally important stories from the Disability Rights Movement that have not yet received adequate attention.
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Vote for Access – In this five-part series, host Imani Barbarin addresses the problems with voting for people with disabilities, and some solutions that everyone should know about.
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Buy books and learn from disabled authors
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Alice Wong
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Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha
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Elsa Sjunneson
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What's happening in October? | | |
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Filipino American History Month - Oct. 1 - 31 | |
The celebration of Filipino American History Month in October commemorates the first recorded presence of Filipinos in the continental United States, which occurred on October 18, 1587. In 2009, U.S. Congress recognized October as Filipino American History Month in the United States.
Learn More
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The Day of Atonement is considered the most important holiday in the Jewish faith. Falling in the month of Tishrei, it marks the culmination of the 10 Days of Awe, a period of introspection and repentance that follows Rosh Hashanah.
Learn More
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Indigenous People's Day - Oct. 10 | |
Indigenous Peoples' Day advocates say the recognition helps correct a "whitewashed" American history that has glorified Europeans explorers who have committed violence against Indigenous communities.
Learn More
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National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day - Oct. 15 | |
This observance is a community mobilization effort that helps promote the effective ways to prevent, treat, and stop the transmission of HIV among Hispanic/Latinx people.
Learn More
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Mental Health Resources and Events | |
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) Team Updates | | |
Temporary Pause on Affinity Groups | |
Thank you to our staff for showing up to September’s affinity groups and to our facilitators for holding these spaces! September’s affinity groups mark our 6-month point in this journey, as well as a temporary pause on affinity groups, at least until the end of the calendar year. During this break, the DEI Team will evaluate and assess these affinity groups based on feedback we received with the intent to share these findings with the rest of the staff. Our goal is to resume these affinity groups in a way that best serves staff.
Please take a few moments to complete this survey to share any thoughts, feelings or feedback about your experience in these affinity groups. This survey will remain open until the end of October.
We appreciate every single person’s participation in these affinity groups, and we hope that your commitment to DEI work has deepened. We hope that these groups will continue to serve as a space for staff to learn, grow, grieve, make mistakes, be held and be heard. We will try our best to keep staff updated and in the loop during this process. Thank you!
| Do you have any DEI-related/DEI Newsletter feedback, resources or ideas? Email us at DEI@withinreachwa.org or utilize our DEI Feedback Form. This is a space for you to use your voice and be heard. This form gives you the opportunity to submit feedback anonymously as well. |
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WithinReach would like to acknowledge that we occupy the ancestral lands of the Coast Salish Peoples, in particular the Tulalip, Snohomish, Stillaguamish, Suquamish and Sauk-Suiattle Tribes and the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People, past, present and future, and honor with gratitude the land itself. We see you, respect your right to sovereignty and self-determination, and are committed to being better listeners, learners and in lifting Indigenous voices. | | | | | |
