Randi Phelps

FMP Op Ed
4/13/2020

Lawmakers Need Personal Experience with Disability

Lawmakers are customarily people with identities that symbolize privilege and often do
not have personal experiences related to bills that they vote for or against. This means that
decisions are being made about how you and I live our lives by people who have never walked a
day in our shoes. While many of us can relate to the financial implications enacted by
lawmakers, it is critical to think about individuals in our society whose opinions, historically, are
not valued. Individuals with disabilities are heavily impacted by the decisions made by
lawmakers, and often are not directly or indirectly given a voice at the table. It is pertinent for a
portion lawmakers to have personal experience with disability in order to combat implicit bias
and lack of knowledge related to disability, increase diverse representation in lawmakers, and
create a more equitable environment.
In this case, the desired impact of governmental agencies is to help individuals with
disabilities; however, the laws that have been put forth are frequently irreconcilable with what
individuals with disabilities actually need. This does not occur out of malice, but instead because
of implicit bias and lack of knowledge. While implicit bias can negatively impact one’s actions
and decisions about another group, the more damning thing is when representatives believe they
are making the best decisions for others, but instead are making decisions that are in direct
conflict with a population’s needs and desires. Lacking knowledge and insight into one’s own
beliefs and experiences can decrease the likelihood of seeking outside input or consulting with
others. This, sadly, creates a setting where one group of powerful people is making life-changing
decisions for people who are historically unheard.
This is not to say that people without personal experiences with disability should not hold
a position at the legislative table, but rather they should not make up the entire party. It is crucial
for the structure of our lawmakers to statistically depict the community they represent. Not only
should this shift occur at the representative level but should also include increasing diversity in
staffers. Moreover, the expectation of a representative is not to know all about all people, but to
listen to its constituents. With more diverse perspectives at varying levels of power, listening and
advocating for all populations within a community will be much easier and more effective. It is
often the case that persons with disabilities are caught in a ‘catch 22’ as their representatives aim
for equality rather than listening to their needs and desires to create an equitable playing field.
I, alone, cannot change how persons with disabilities or those with personal experience
with disability are represented in the legislative process. It is all of our moral responsibility to
make our lawmakers a more diverse group in order to challenge implicit bias and lack of
knowledge as well as advocate for the voices of the underrepresented to be heard. Persons in
power positions should no longer be making decisions for groups of people without having that
group represented during lawmaking procedures. In order to create a more equitable society, we
need to have all persons, including persons with disabilities, at the legislative table.