July 2018

A message from President Obama

There are just 99 days between now and November 6, 2018

That's how long we have until these critical midterm elections -- until Americans go to the ballot box, and decide what kind of country we want to be.

We can choose leaders who don't answer to lobbyists, but to families. We can choose a politics built not on gerrymandering and voter suppression, but on fair representation and stronger voting rights. We can choose an economy that works not just for a shrinking few, but for everybody -- with better wages, more secure health insurance, and Medicaid expansion that covers...read more

Capers & Casper

By Leroy Moore

 

East Oakland can I shake your hand

Black, disabled & proud, do you understand

Our history goes through our fingers like sand

Capers & Casper they are the man

 

Art & music studios we must know

How much they changed Oaktown

Visuals and sounds

 

The community tried to hold them

Capers & Casper opened their homes

To beautify Oaktown on canvas and in music

1980’s & 1990’s before gentrification

 

Casper’s obsession ...read more

Select the image link to learn more about NDC's director.

Inaccessible Justice

The National Black Disability Coalition assists families and individuals with disabilities in times of crisis.  This work is done while protecting the privacy of the families.  What we have experienced over the years is that most often families who have a disabled child where an injustice has occurred are unable, for various reasons, to do the work to obtain justice for their child.

We received an inquiry from a support person assisting an African immigrant family. Their middle school child with developmental delays was found in school unconscious on the floor of the boys' bathroom with a belt around his neck. The child survived.

The child was bullied because of his skin color, being a special education student and accused of being “gay.” What we don’t know: was the occurrence a suicide attempt or a lynching?

The occurrence happened over a month ago.  Today there still has been no public account of the incident by the school or family.

What we know is the disability supports did not come to the aid of the family. It was a civil rights organization who came to the aid of the family.  The supports have had a difficult time getting the family to understand the need to meet time lines.

This story is not new.  Too many Black families are unable to obtain justice for their disabled children.  For most Black families to dedicate the time to the work for justice there is the real threat of interrupted employment  who then find their delicate financial balance in jeopardy.  How do we, the Black disability community, support each other when these injustices happen?

 

Jane Dunhamn

Director, NBDC