“What
you seek is seeking you.” -- Rumi
Week
three…The past few days have been filled with so much excitement that I can
hardly figure out what to say in less than 300 words. I know such a task is not
even possible so I will only give a taste of what my third week as an AAPD
intern was like.
The week started off with an IDAC
meeting. It was the first time I met some of the coalition members. My task for
the summer is to work on the Statement of Solidarity, and I presented several
possible strategies for increasing the number of sign ons.
Once the meeting ended, I raced to
the Grand Hyatt for the National Council on Independent Living’s annual
conference. I attended the conference from Monday until Thursday afternoon. It
was an amazing opportunity to meet disability rights advocates, and to catch up
with friends from DisabilityLink located in Atlanta. On Tuesday morning, the
conference attendants marched from the hotel to Capitol Hill. We also gathered
in front of the Hotel and Lodging Association for a press conference to make
our voices heard on the issue of accessible pools.
I know that advocacy and activism
requires rest for the soul. I got some of that soul rest when I attended a
community sing facilitated by Dr. Ysaye Barnwell. It was held at the Levine
School of Music. After leaving the gathering my spirit was even more filled
with joy and a sense of community. I miss being able to sing in church because
I can not see the hymnbook, and this event reminded me of the power of voices
in song.
On Friday, I met with a fellow
intern, Jim Crane, for lunch. He is deaf and I am legally blind. He read my
lips and I read his notes! We had a great lunch, which was followed by an
awesome meeting with my mentor, Patrick Cokley from the U.S. Department of
Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy.
I think what was so exciting about
this week was the sense of beginnings and “yet to be.” I look forward to how
the rest of the summer will unfold as I seek opportunities and find myself
being sought by the same.
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