Listen to this post:

Check out the Real Choice Initiative Open House this Thursday, March 29th and get to know this great new non-profit. Real Choice Initiative is about housing justice focused on disability access. It’s a peer-led movement: people with disabilities supporting others with disabilities to find and get accessible, affordable housing. This isn’t about those new little villages sprouting up where everyone with a certain diagnosis is put in to live there, sequestered away from the rest of society. Those might not be filled with white-walled buildings with nurses’ stations, but it’s not exactly living in the community if it’s not in the actual community.

The seeds for RCI were planted last year when the political and protest movements to protect Medicaid and stop the ACA repeal exploded. But really, the seeds were planted in 1999 when the Olmstead Decision was passed. This ruling was in favor of having disabled people live in the community with supports instead of in institutions if they wanted to live un-institutionalized and could receive enough support that way. (Actually, the seeds were planted as far back as the first time a disabled person was told they couldn’t or shouldn’t live with their families and got warehoused in an institution.)

At the Open House, they’ll discuss these topics and more:
• Independent living vs. institutionalization
• Housing advocacy and the creation of a Multnomah County accessible housing inventory
• Person-centered service provision, peer counseling, and the mechanics of RCI
• Get to know others in the movement for disability justice!

Thursday, March 29th
6:00 – 8:00 pm
SEIU Local at 6401 SE Foster Rd.
On the TriMet #14 and 17 lines

The meeting space is wheelchair-accessible. ASL interpretation is provided. All genders bathrooms with large stalls and handrails available. If you have questions about accessibility or need other specific accommodations to attend this event, please let them know when you register.

Here’s the Facebook event page.

If you plan to come, please fill in the registration form on the website. That will help them get enough refreshments, and you can let them know access or accommodations needs you have. Hope to see you there!