Response to the Capitol Riot

January 8, 2021

TASP strongly condemns the riot that took place at the US Capitol Building earlier this week. The assault on the nation’s democracy was yet another example of white privilege at its worst.
 
It was also a day in which we saw record voter turnout driven by Black voters that resulted in the election of the first Black and Jewish senators from the state of Georgia.
 
Those two Americas exist on a daily basis.
 
TASP works every day to ensure that parents with intellectual disabilities have the same rights as all parents, and specifically, that they have the right to parent. Those guiding principles, our ongoing fight for equality for a marginalized group, guide us now and in the future. Individuals with disabilities have always known the divide of our nation that was on display earlier this week. Two nations: one of privilege, and one of bias.
 
The foundation of our nation is built on democracy: the voice of and the will of the people. Every election has winners and losers, and the peaceful transfer of power is the bedrock of democracy. Win or lose, joyful or angry, we will not let violence override the will of the people. TASP values the voices of all people and will continue to fight to make sure the voices of all are heard.

Sincerely,

Julie Clockston, DSW

TASP Board President

Chelsea Tighe, M.Ed.

TASP Executive Director

Statement of Solidarity from TASP

June 5, 2020

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” Martin Luther King, Jr.

Like so many in this country, we are appalled and disgusted by the recent killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Aubrey, and so many Black people before them.  The ongoing racist violence against, and oppression of, Black people in this country is long rooted in the history of our country and needs to end.

TASP emphatically stands in solidarity with Black and Brown people calling for racial justice and equality, and an end to senseless and brutal violence against people of color.  Just as in the work we do every day, we know that “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” and we must actively work to dismantle the systemic oppression and racism in our country.

On top of the unique challenges that individuals, and specifically, parents who are diagnosed with DD/ID face, discrimination of their racial and ethnic identity is a significant factor that can increase their barriers, challenges, and vulnerability.  Extensive studies have supported that there is a proportionately higher representation of specific racial and ethnic individuals who are Black and Indigenous people that make up the foster care and child protection system.  In addition, studies have shown that individuals who are diagnosed with I/DD tend to be disproportionately subjugated to increased criminal and capital punishments.

TASP works every day to ensure that parents with intellectual disabilities have the same rights as all parents, and specifically, that they have the right to parent.  Those guiding principles, our ongoing fight for equality for a marginalized group, guide us now and in the future.  We are committed to listening to the voices of those who face racial inequality every day and learning to become better allies and better advocates.

Today, right now, we can all listen and learn, we can donate to causes fighting for change, sign petitions, share resources, protest (safely), register to vote and vote to make our voices heard, because Black lives matter, today and every day.

Together we will be better.

Sincerely,

Chelsea Tighe, M.Ed.
Executive Director
Dr. Julie Clockston, LCSW
TASP Board President

 

 

 

 

Resources

This is by no means a comprehensive list, just a few places to start: