Call to Action : The National Family for the Advancement of Minorities with Disabilities needs you. We are a private non-profit advocacy organization composed of concerned citizens from all walks of life who are dedicated to the promotion of full inclusion for racial and ethnic minority individuals who are also persons with disabilities.

The Facts : The National Family was born out of frustration with the persistent and pervasive disenfranchisement of minority individuals with disabilities and their families. Despite the significant gains made by some groups within the disability rights movement, we can no longer ignore:

• the over representation of minority group youth in the most restricted special education programs, leading them to nowhere
  
  
• the lack of sustained and meaningful vocational rehabilitation services and entrepreneurial opportunities which continue to perpetuate poverty and hopelessness
  
  
• the absence of advocacy training and support for minority parents and self advocates whose under-trapped talents could enriched all communities
  
  
• lack of cultural competence among service providers and policy makers, leading to their disrespect for beliefs other than their own
  
  
• the absence of significant numbers of minority persons people with disabilities among senior professionals and policy-makers
  
  
• little or no meaningful outreach from federally-subsidized mainstream disability rights organization and parents groups, despite the clarity in disability advocacy law ,
  
  
• the erroneous perception that cultural diversity is a fad in our nation and that the mainstream disability advocacy community is immune from having to be accountable

Background : In February of 1994, a National Summit organized by concerned federal legislator and key disability rights advocates was convened in Washington, DC to review the facts and propose national action strategies. The need for a national non-profit advocacy organization arose as an obvious strategy for mobilizing the legions of citizens who believe that the full inclusion of persons with disabilities is also based upon an unwavering commitment to the inclusion of racial and ethnic minority people with disabilities.

What we intend to do : We intend to be an unwavering and powerful voice in every community in the nation. Through locally - based advocacy education and support for parents and self advocates, we will change the national, state, and community organizational systems which influence the quality of our lives. We will accept nothing less than Social Justice, Full Inclusion, and Self Empowerment.

What your membership will provide

• Newsletter
• Membership Card
• Technical assistance in organizing city/state chapters
• Policy Briefs
• Access to an "800' number for resource information

How you can get in involved : We offer different types of memberships for the National Family for the Advancement of Minorities with Disabilities. Annual membership fees:

Join Us Today!

Membership Form

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