Why Not?

Yes, we have laws that provide for handicapped access to public buildings. Yes we have laws to help handicapped people who suffered discrimination. We have codes that require sidewalks to be wheel chair accessible. All these things are good.

But what we don’t have is physically disabled people serving on policy making boards and commissions. For example, look at the State Board of Education. Having a physically handicapped person on the board would help educate others on the board and would go a long way in providing awareness of existing obstacles, not just physically, but also emotionally.

There are literally hundreds of boards on the State level where members are appointed by the Governor or some other public official. Boards like the Governor’s Commission on Physical Fitness and Sports, the Commission for Volunteer Service, the Mississippi Commission on the Status of Women, The Mississippi Arts Commission, the Mississippi Humanities Council, Mississippi Library Commission, Mississippi Authority for Educational Television, State Board for Community and Junior Colleges, Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, Mississippi State Personnel Board, Pearl River Valley Water Supply District, and more.

Every Community and Junior College in the State has an appointed Board of Trustees. Every community has a Planning and Development Board, a Zoning Commission or Board, and an Architectural Review Board.

Banks and newspapers have citizens serving in some advisory capacities. Hospital volunteer organizations should be able to reach out to get disabled persons involved.

These are just a few of the boards, commissions, or organizations which could benefit from having a physically disabled person as a member. And by having such a member, they will become acutely aware of the needs and challenges facing our productive, tax paying citizens who just happen to have a physical disability.

Would it be an imposition to ask that one position on each of the boards and commissions be filled by a person with a physical disability?