Each week in March provides for a coordinated opportunity to increase awareness about what real inclusion looks like for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. March 19 – 23, 2018 has been dedicated to See Me As Your Neighbor and what it means to be truly living in neighborhood of your choosing and valued as a community member by your neighbors. Think for a minute what it means to be a neighbor and what your experience is being a neighbor and having neighbors. Do you say hi when you see them outside? Maybe take in their mail or feed their cat when they are away? Perhaps you look out for them and they look out for you in a variety of ways, one could say that is a natural thing to do. When we think of natural supports a neighborhood is a big part of it – the local market, the doughnut shop or the public transit route to work are all part of how relationships develop and strengthen individual connections to the neighborhood.

Recognizing the value of being a good neighbor and having good neighbors leads the conversation right to the center of HOUSING! Access to safe, affordable and accessible housing is a must in order to really be included in a community or neighborhood. You can’t really be a good neighbor or have good neighbors if your community or neighborhood options are high risk for crime or so isolated that it limits your ability to interact in the community. See Me As Your Neighbor also means see the need for me to have safe, affordable and accessible housing. We at The Arc/UCP California Collaboration support and advocate for inclusive housing options in a wide variety of neighborhoods that truly meets the needs of people with IDD. To learn more about this week’s awareness events visit: https://nacdd.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/DD-Awareness-Month-Resource-Guide-2018.pdf