December 20, 2016
Advocates launch collaborative anti-stigma effort
Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016
Chesterfield Township, Mich. – All Michiganders have value and worth and are an important part of our society, said Lt. Gov. Brian Calley today.
Calley joined with disability advocates Tuesday to defend the dignity that all people deserve, especially those with disabilities. The effort was launched after audio recordings were released including dehumanizing language attacking Michiganders with disabilities.
“While we’ve made some progress to end the stigma that keeps Michiganders with intellectual and developmental disabilities from being included in our society, recent events were a sober reminder that we still have a long way to go,” Calley said. “Every single person has value and worth and should be treated with respect and dignity. We will not stand for disrespect and are turning this into an opportunity to do something positive.”
To increase the impact of anti-stigma efforts, Calley has launched a GoFundMe campaign benefiting the ARC of Michigan, raising funds to launch a large-scale effort to defeat stigma and create a more inclusive and accepting society in Michigan. The effort, which hopes to raise $250,000 can be viewed at www.gofundme.com/help-the-arc-of-mi-defeat-stigma.
Advocates pledged collaborate on efforts to ensure all Michiganders receive the respect and dignity they deserve. To learn more about anti-stigma efforts taking place in Michigan, visit www.endingstigma.org.
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