Renee Thompson's Contact Details

Renee Thompson's Company Details

Disability Advocates of Kent County

Grand Rapids, MI, US • 50 - 99 Employees
City Government/Municipal Government

Disability Advocates' mission is to advocate for, and facilitate action by, persons living with disabilities and our community in order to achieve equal access for all. We are guided by the Independent Living Philosophy, which has two core beliefs: •"Disability is a natural part of the human experience." These words appear in the Americans with Disabilities Act and are a revolutionary change of thinking from the old belief that people with disabilities were defective and needed to be "fixed. •The focus of policy should be to "fix" the environment, not the person. Discriminatory physical, programmatic and attitudinal barriers keep people with disabilities from being more independent. Disability Advocates of Kent County believes that all persons: •Have the right to live as independently as possible •Have worth, dignity and the capacity to contribute •Have the right to affect decisions that impact upon the successes or failures in their lives •Have the right to make choices and to have a voice •Have the right to share and participate in community activities Disability Advocates of Kent County was founded in 1981 by persons with disabilities who sought to help themselves and other persons with disabilities gain control over their own lives. We continue to do our best each day to help persons with disabilities live full and exciting lives in our community. We are a dynamic collection of people supporting people with disabilities in achieving their independent living goals and working toward an accessible and inclusive community for all.