Inalienable Rights, and Self-Determination—the Essence of Democracy

This speech is from Tuesday at the Capitol, co-hosted by Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities at the Metropolitan Center for Independent Living 
on Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Sheryl, thank you for your kind introduction. Please allow me the opportunity to thank members of the Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities in allowing Metropolitan Center for Independent Living to be a co-host for the Tuesday at the Capitol event. All of us at Metropolitan Center for Independent Living are very happy to be a co-host for today. We have a wonderful agenda planned for today. 

The Mission of Metropolitan Center for Independent Living, is; “To assist people with disabilities to fulfill their desire to lead productive and self-determined lives.” Our mission, in so many estimable ways, is a prism of light of that great shinning realization made by the founders of our democracy, from our Declaration of Independence, adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4th 1776.

And I quote: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Unquote. 
These certain unalienable Rights, give rise to the self-determination of all people – which profoundly is at the heart of Metropolitan Center for Independent Living in our quest to assist people with disabilities to fulfill their desire to lead productive and self-determined lives.

These time honored immutable truths, these certain unalienable Rights, and this principle of self-determination, of independent living, are the essence of who we are as a Democracy, as Minnesotans, and as Americans. Our journey as a Nation has aspired, through much toil, adversity and yet discovery, that these truths belong to all, and for all. These truths have illuminated our constitution, to landmark laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Reform Act, the Work Innovation and Opportunity Act and shed light for Civil Rights, Human Rights, Affirmative Action and the brightest of recognition that the most noble of civic values of who we are as a society is to advance the ability of people to care for one another. We are compelled, in our era, of our generation, to ask: What can we do on behalf of all, and for all in advancing a civil society? 

Our journey as Minnesotans has led to new realizations such as the commitment we have to one another via Minnesota’s Olmstead Plan. We applaud the Vision Statement of the February 2017 edition of The Olmstead Plan on page 42, which all Minnesotans benefit from: 

“We will provide services to people with disabilities in a way that helps them achieve their life goals. Services will be appropriate to individual needs, will reflect individual life choices, and will enable people with disabilities to conduct their activities in the most integrated setting – one that allows people with disabilities to interact with nondisabled persons to the fullest extent possible.” 

In this light, we also acknowledge the citizenry for advancing public policy for the greater good and for the common good. Please allow me to ask Jeff Bangsberg to speak on an effort that addresses complex care for people with disabilities, please welcome Jeff Bangsberg! (Jeff’s legislation SF393/HF481) 
Darrell Paulsen and Nikki Villavicencio have recognized that parents with disabilities are more likely to have their children removed from them, and for no reason at all, and they are working on public policies that help support families, please welcome Darrell and Nikki to speak on their work! Darrell & Nikki’s legislation SF846/HF898 & MACIL bill SF248/HF369]
​
Metropolitan Center of Independent Living is among eight Centers of Independent Living in Minnesota. Our Centers are what is known as a statutory non-profit organization in that in order for the Center to have been created in 1981, concerned citizens along with the State of Minnesota would have had to ask the Federal government for the creation of such a Center. Minnesota State Statute 268.A.11 provides for Centers of Independent Living to operate in Minnesota. 

Yet there is more to how our centers operate. Let me explain. We have in Minnesota the Minnesota Statewide Independent Living Council also known as MNSILC. The Board of Trustees for MNSILC are appointed by Minnesota’s Governor. Both the Centers of Independent Living and the Statewide Independent Living Councils had originated from the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, but now both the Centers and Statewide Independent Living Council nation-wide are now under the rules and regulations of the 2014 Work Innovation and Opportunity Act. Together, MNSILC and the eight Centers of Independent Living in Minnesota bring an engaged framework to advance self-determination and independent living for people with disabilities throughout Minnesota. 

Thank you for allowing us to spend time with you today as co-host of Tuesday at the Capitol. On behalf of the Board of Directors, employees, the consumers we assist and our volunteers, we thank you! Let me also thank you for your support and all you do in bringing illumination to all, and for all! 

Jesse Bethke Gomez, MMA 
Executive Director, Metropolitan Center for Independent Living

---