Our Vision and Framework for the Next Five Years
Although it is proven that disabilities in no way diminish a person’s right to fully participate in all areas of life, many people with disabilities have been kept from doing so because of discrimination. In addition, society continues to isolate, congregate, and segregate individuals with disabilities. Due to strong work by self-advocates, volunteer advocates, and advocacy organizations, some positive changes have taken place. But too often, discrimination continues to deny people with disabilities the access and opportunities necessary to live the lives they would choose. For more than forty years, Disability Rights Nebraska has worked alongside and on behalf of people with disabilities to help make sure the legal rights, human rights, dignity, and worth of all individuals with disabilities are recognized, promoted, and defended. Our work together has shown all of us the importance of sharing our individualized gifts, talents, competencies, and life experiences with each other and with society. Disability Rights Nebraska’s Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2024 through 2028 is a continuation of our commitment to this important work.
Three simple but powerful focus areas emerged that will provide a focus for our efforts during the next five years.
Freedom from Harm:
Image of the Future: People with disabilities have legal and human rights that protect their health, safety, personal integrity, and self-determination. Disability Rights Nebraska will protect and advocate for vulnerable people with disabilities, beginning with those living in congregated, isolated, and segregated settings, to ensure their rights are not violated and they are free from abuse, neglect, exploitation, and untimely death.
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Goal 1: Identify, monitor, and advocate for change in places where people with disabilities learn, live, and work.
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Goal 2: Investigate and respond to allegations of abuse, neglect, and exploitation using a range of approaches to ensure that vulnerable people with disabilities are free from harm.
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Goal 3: Support and sustain a network of local and independent citizen advocacy programs to keep vulnerable people free from harm.
Most Inclusive Settings:
Image of the Future: We recognize disability as a natural part of the human experience. People must be able to live the lives that they choose, and their lives must be free from abuse, discrimination, exploitation, harm, isolation, and neglect. Disability Rights Nebraska envisions a society where all people have the supports they need in order to experience self-determination by making their own real and meaningful choices — a society where all people are free to pursue opportunities in order to live culturally valued lives in fully integrated communities that are free from barriers, exploitation, and stigma.
- Goal 1: Advocate for people with disabilities to learn, live, and work in the most inclusive settings.
- Goal 2: Support and sustain a network of local and independent Citizen Advocacy programs to advocate for vulnerable people to live in the most inclusive settings.
Engaging People with Disabilities in Advocacy:
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Goal 1: Provide opportunities for people with disabilities to learn about becoming effective advocates. Then, support them in advocating about things that impact their lives.
