Parent Organization: Illini Union Student Programs and Activities Office
MISSION STATEMENT
"Revolutionize the universal, false perception of disability."
In creating this mission statement, each word choice was
chosen very carefully and for a specific reason:
Revolutionize
People with disabilities are the last remaining, substantial,
minority group which is unfairly marginalized and severely restricted in contemporary society. While it is true the ADA has been responsible for widespread changes in construction standards, transportation systems, academic curricula, etc; it has not been
enough. It is one thing to change buildings, buses and schools, that's easy; it is anther thing entirely to change people"s attitudes, that"s a little more difficult. As of right now, not many have attempted this feat and those who have, haven't been very
successful. We find this unacceptable. After all, what is the point of giving people with disabilities access to the world if that world doesn't particularly like, understand or care to understand them. What we aim to do is set in motion a social revolution;
nothing violent resembling the turbulent nature of the civil rights movement. Instead, it will be a widespread, all-encompassing campaign for disability awareness and advocacy. When it is all said and done we would like to see a substantial positive shift
in the overall attitude toward people with disabilities; including the elimination of the common disability stereotypes. Only after changing people"s attitudes will the treatment and perception of disability truly be able to change.
Universal
Except for a slim few, pretty much all people have the wrong
idea about disability. Able-bodied people are taught to believe people with disabilities are not on the same intellectual plane as them and an overwhelming majority adopt severely prejudiced and aversive attitudes about them. We feel this is unacceptable
and something needs to be done about it. Though we are not bitter about such ignorance because it is not solely nondisabled people who are the ignorant ones. Even most people who actually have disabilities don't fully understand how they currently fit into
society. The role of disability in society is more or less insignificant and i