Topic 4: Minority Participation
Kelly: “Ethnic and race representation matter. There are a number of good reasons why people benefit in the short and long term from seeing those who look like them participating in community programs and holding leadership positions. A key reason is that it promotes a sense of belonging.”
Minority participation provides assurance that the State has taken affirmative steps to assure that participation in programs funded under subtitle DD ACT, Sec. 124 (C)(5)(I) is geographically representative of the State and reflects the diversity of the State with respect to race and ethnicity.
This means that if the population of a State is 20% black, then black participation in a DD Council-funded program or State Plan Activity is roughly 20% of all participants.
This ensures that individuals with DD and their families from diverse backgrounds are a part of the design and redesign of the services and supports they need to be included in all facets of community life. In other words, no one is left out of the advocacy, capacity building and systems change work due to race, ethnicity, geographic location, socioeconomic status or other factors.