Office of Administration
Governor's Council on Disability
Missouri Poster & Journalism Contest

First Place – High School Division

Brianna Larson
Washington High School
Washington, Missouri

Inclusion: Today and Tomorrow

Throughout our country's history, inclusion of people with disabilities has improved immensely because of the compassionate people who have devoted their lives to advocating inclusion. In the last 30 years, these people have morphed our society's involvement in the lives of people with disabilities. I have experienced these changes first hand through my mother, Michelle Larson, and my older brother, Tyler Crose. Tyler was born with the genetic defect called Down syndrome. People with Down syndrome have 47 chromosomes instead of the usual 46 chromosomes. This causes mild to severe mental retardation and some physical differences. My mother and Tyler's experiences together have shown me how inclusion of people with disabilities has changes up to today and all that still needs to be done for tomorrow.

When Tyler was born 26 years ago, the United States was a very different place for people with disabilities like Down syndrome. The country had only recently begun using the term "Down syndrome" instead of the crude term, "Mongoloid Idiocy". The Americans with Disabilities Act had not been passed and very little government support was available. It was not uncommon for children born with mental disabilities to be immediately institutionalized. There was very little training for teachers working with children who have disabilities, and even finding a daycare that would accept Tyler, in spite of his disability, proved difficult. Only a few weeks after Tyler's birth, my mother became aware of the challenges that would face her and her son. These overwhelming challenges would confront them for the rest of their lives. When my mother confided to a close friend about her feelings, her friend told her, "A person can spend an eternity looking for his or her mission in life. You have no need to look. Your mission has been placed directly in your arms." Right then, my mother accepted the challenges that faced her and devoted her life to improving the lives of all people with disabilities.

At the time Tyler's future looked dim. It was not uncommon for people with disabilities like Down syndrome to never have a regular job or home of their own. The opportunities for people with disabilities to have a successful, independent life were not available. Inclusion was minimal and people with disabilities often remained completely separated from society. My mother, and many other concerned parents and advocates of people with disabilities, worked to change this. Because of their work, more and more opportunities for inclusion of people with disabilities began forming. Tyler and his little brother Kyle, participated in the Challenger league baseball team made up of disabled and non-disabled players. When I was ready to attend preschool, my mother enrolled me in the country's first reverse mainstream preschool where children with and without disabilities were in the same classes. Tyler played on a regular soccer team alongside his little brother. But all of this did not come easily. My mother worked endlessly, making sure that Tyler had all the opportunities for inclusion possible. When the local school district refused to provide physical and occupational therapy to students who did not have "physically impaired" as their primary diagnosis, my mother took her concerns to the Florida State Department of Special Education and had the policy changed.

When our family moved to Missouri, Tyler remained included in the community where he attended and graduated from a regular education public high school. In high school, Tyler managed the basketball team for three years and had parts in many of the school plays. He worked on the yearbook staff, volunteered regularly at the Red Cross, and had a summer job at the city swimming pool. Tyler was leading a very successful life, thanks to people like my mother who worked tirelessly to promote inclusion of people with disabilities.

Life for Tyler today is very different than what was expected when he was born. He has worked at a local grocery store for almost five years and is a member the Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 355. Tyler is a registered voter and participates in every election. He is involved in "Theater Unlimited", a theater troop located in St. Louis made up of adults with mental and physical disabilities who perform a musical once a year.

Even though his life today is very different than what so many thought it would be, things are still not perfect. Since Tyler does not work at the local Sheltered Workshop for people with disabilities, he cannot get consistent public transportation to and from work. Tyler is also ready to live on his own. He wants to live in St. Louis, closer to his many friends from "Theatre Unlimited" and where there are many housing, recreation, and transportation options, but my mother was told Tyler could not join a group home outside of the county where he currently resides. Because Tyler is disabled, he cannot choose where he wants to live. We cannot sit back and be content with all that has been done so far. There is still improvement to be made for tomorrow.

Inclusion of people with disabilities has come a long way since Tyler was born. Today, there are many opportunities for people with disabilities to be as much a part of the community as anyone. Much has been accomplished, thanks to people like my mother, who have devoted their lives to the improvement of the lives of others, but there is still much to do. I have seen first hand the steps that must be taken and the changes that must be made. Therefore, I accept the challenge of enhancing inclusion of people with disabilities in today's world and continuing inclusion in tomorrow's world. It is time to pass the torch to a new generation who will work to better inclusion of people with disabilities for the future. My mother's work through education, enlightenment, and persistence improved inclusion of people with disabilities in today's society. Now, I accept the challenge of the work that must be done to insure a better and even more inclusive tomorrow.