Proud and Included is an initiative developed to serve individuals in Cook County with intellectual developmental disabilities who identify as LGBTQ. The initiative—coordinated by Marie A. Gandy—is designed to empower adults and assist in their integration into the larger LGBTQ community through self advocacy and event participation. Gandy said early on to the audience, “You are here to bridge the gap.”
In this event, tips for including and welcoming adults with IDD were covered for organizations—but the night really belonged to the ambassadors who spoke about the assumptions, barriers, frustrations and dreams they share. One ambassador, Nina Singleton, said, “I wish more people in the LGBTQ community could understand about people with disabilities and to understand, you are who you are.” Eddie Harriel spoke about having the opportunity to show his talent as an entertainer and how he fears he may never get the chance to do so. And Janice Agnew said, “Joining Proud and Included is not just joining a group, its like joining a family.”
A highlight of the evening came with a segment on role playing in which the ambassadors—along with Linda Sandman of Blue Tower Solutions and the audience—demonstrated through skits some of the ways that persons with IDD are excluded.
A major initiative with Proud and Included is that the ambassadors are paid to find people who need assistance and help. Proud and Included started May 1 and now includes 64 participants, with the number growing constantly. Gandy said, “The plan is that, in five years, the ambassadors will run it and I will step aside.”
Among the businesses and organizations present at the event were Indie Boots Theater Company, Victory Gardens Theater, Circle Support and the University of Illinois at Chicago. Co-sponsors of the event included Blue Tooth Solutions, Neauman Family Services and the Center on Halsted, with participation from Rebirth Garments.
For more information on Proud and Included, visit ProudAndIncluded.org.