March 14 (3/14…get it?) is Pie Day at the Arkansas State Capitol! Every year since 2019, disability advocates have converged on the Capitol during Developmental Disability Awareness Month. But this event raises more than just awareness: the goal is to provide an opportunity for people with disabilities to build connections with legislators, to advocate for laws that help to improve the lives of people with disabilities. Disability advocacy organizations will be on hand with information about the work they do in the community. And yes, there really will be pie!
But disability self-advocates want to make sure that decision makers don’t just think about these issues on Pie Day. Leaders in the disability movement know all too well that “if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.” And they’re here to make sure that the voices of people with disabilities are heard and their lived experiences acknowledged and understood. THAT is what they want to bring awareness to on Pie Day: not just one day in one month, but all year long.
People with disabilities feel the impact of policy decisions daily and directly. They’ve got some opinions about that! And they want not only awareness, but acknowledgment and ACTION.
Making sure people with disabilities get their fair piece of the pie: that’s what we’re talking about on this month’s episode. Plus, what’s your favorite pie? Our guests tell us theirs!
Guests include:
- Ally Thomlinson, Director of the Arkansas Alliance for Disability Advocacy
- Tom Masseau, Executive Director, Disability Rights Arkansas
- Shannon Rivas, DRA Board Member and Committee Coordinator/Secretary of Arkansas People First
- Tanner Maxwell, Advocacy Council member for the Arkansas Alliance for Disability Advocacy and Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND).
Tune in to KABF 88.3 FM this Wednesday, February 16 at 5:00 p.m. to hear Speak Up Arkansas. You can also livestream the show at kabf.org. And as always, after the show airs, you’ll be able to listen on our website at DisabilityRightsAR.org/speak-up-arkansas and watch the show on DRA’s YouTube channel.
SHOW NOTES
Pie Day at the Capitol
When: Monday, March 14, 2022
10:00 a.m. in the Capitol Rotunda – program with speakers; vendor booths; pie!
11:30 a.m. on the Capitol Steps – RALLY. Make your voice heard!
Nominate an Outstanding Advocate
For more information about Arkansas People First, contact Shannon Rivas, Arkansas People First Committee Coordinator, (501) 293-5120 (cell phone); or email [email protected]. You can also find Arkansas People First on Facebook at ARPeopleFirst.
If you need help or your rights aren’t being respected, contact Disability Rights Arkansas toll-free at 800-482-1174 or click here.