DESCRIBER: Minnesota Council on Disability logo. Montage of black and white photographs depicting the disability rights movement.
NARRATOR: We’ve been here before. We must stick together.
DESCRIBER: Members of the disability community and allies. Many people are using wheelchairs and holding signs and flags.
NARRATOR: When disability rights are threatened, what gives you hope?
DESCRIBER: Large title with the word “HOPE” appears. A series of testimonials in the Council on Disability State Fair booth. Photographs of people with disabilities displayed in the background. Kaylynn from Minneapolis. A person standing wearing a t-shirt and shorts. An ASL interpreter is signing.
KAYLYNN: Something that gives me hope is that you can never take away a community built by people that have always had a community, and will continue to have a community, and will continue finding group connections and like connections with each other.
DESCRIBER: Molly from Saint Paul. A person standing using a cane, wearing glasses and a dress. An ASL interpreter is signing.
MOLLY: What gives me hope is the resilience in the disability community. I find a lot of hope, from being able to come together as a community, and being able to share our experiences and to be able to be a voice during those times. And without community, it really threatens our ability to have our own rights, but also to advocate for others, and for those that we love, and those that cannot advocate for themselves.
DESCRIBER: Desi from Wisconsin. A person standing wearing colorful embroidered attire and hat. An ASL interpreter is signing.
DESI: Well, off top, I automatically think of my family because they are the first ones I turn to when I’m having an emotional, tumultuous situation. And the second would be just community, right? And specifically about communities, having conversations. Having a conversation just like this to even expand my perception of what’s happening, and to understand, like, other people have feelings just as much as mine, and they matter just as much as mine. So the conversations and getting to know people brings me hope.
DESCRIBER: Graphic sequence.
NARRATOR: We’ve been here before. We must stick together. Stay in touch via social media, Facebook. On our website at www.disability.state.mn.us. By phone at (651) 361-7800 or email council.disability@state.mn.us. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter.
DESCRIBER: Black and white photo credit. Used by permission. Copyright Tom Olin Collection MSS-294. Ward M. Canaday Center for Special Collections, The University of Toledo Libraries.
Video: What Gives You Hope – Episode 1 [Audio Described] (YouTube)