Item 17 10/19/2021 — Santa Clara County

Rescheduled from 9/28/2021

This item will be heard on 10/19/2021. The Board of Supervisors of Santa Clara County will be hearing 2 important issues about disability and ableism. The first item, the Disability Equity and Inclusion Pledge (Item pending) is covered in this blog and the review of the June 22, 2021, referral to create the Office of Disability Affairs (Item pending) will be in another blog. The meeting agenda will be shared once posted.

Your support is needed to help:

• Improve inclusion for residents with disabilities in the County’s broader equity efforts
• Adopt a Disability Inclusion Equity Pledge
• Approve a referral to improve services and representation of disabled people to advance equity, uplift communities, and ensure justice and prosperity for all residents.

Please write a letter of support and speak out during the meeting. Meeting details pending.

People with disabilities and families with children with disabilities were one of the hardest hit groups during the pandemic. Families of color (Black, Indigenous, Latino/a/e, Asian, Pacific Islander, and other people of color) were hit harder because of the systemic inequities that exist. Santa Clara County needs this pledge to improve their understanding of ableism in the government and start to address these inequities.

Feel free to use the template below or add your own words to support this referral.

Email your letter to:

Otto Lee (supervisor.lee@bos.sccgov.org)
Mike Wasserman (district1@bos.sccgov.org)
Cindy Chavez (cindy.chavez@bos.sccgov.org)
Susan Ellenberg (supervisor.ellenberg@bos.sccgov.org)
Joe Simitian (supervisor.simitian@bos.sccgov.org)
BoardOperations@cob.sccgov.org

Template:

I am a resident in District X in Santa Clara County. I am writing to express my support for the referral of the Disability Equity and Inclusion Pledge to be added to the Board Resolution regarding the use of principles of equity in policy and budget decisions adopted on August 25, 2020.

The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed more than 30 years ago which gave disabled people rights and recognized them as a marginalized group. These disability rights gave people with disabilities improved access to public spaces including schools and medical facilities. However, equity has not been achieved with people with disabilities facing greater risks of poor health outcomes, adverse social outcomes, greater unemployment, and more. These risks are increased by the lack of data that exists and the structural inequities that still exist.

To advance equity for people with a disability, Santa Clara County needs to adopt a framework to explore ableism and expand understanding inside and outside of the government structures. One small step in this process is to set their intention to build better systems and address the inequities that exist.

It is beyond time for the inclusion of disability in the County’s broader equity efforts such as investing in structural changes necessary to meaningfully advance equity, uplift communities, and ensure justice and prosperity for all residents.

I strongly support this referral to amend the Resolution of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Santa Clara regarding the use of principles of equity in policy and budget decisions adopted on August 25, 2020, to include the principles outlined in the Disability Inclusion Equity Pledge.

Signed: Name