Public Comment regarding DOJ agreement

This was the public comment given two weeks ago regarding the Department of Justice Agreement to close 4 of 5 institutions in Virginia. There were two DOJ representatives there, and I was shocked that one of them recognized me from a previous conference in August.

Good Evening,

My name is Rachel Loria.

I am from the City of Richmond.                      

My Delegate is Jennifer McClellan, and my Senator is Donald McEachin.

I come to you tonight as a Self Advocate.

While it seems relatively easy to say most days, I guarantee you the journey has been far from easy.

My parents fought for 10 years to try to get an appropriate diagnosis… a correct diagnosis. After 10 years, Doctors continued stating characteristics that I portrayed that reminded them of traits associated with multiple different disabilities.  With no diagnosis in sight, my parents and therapists taught me to compensate for the weaknesses I have and to work to overcome them.  I still work on this every day.

Each milestone that professionals questioned if I would make, I did.

In high school, I was rejected from one private school due to disability and graduated from a different one with honors. While several teachers told me to go to a community college because they thought a four year degree would be too difficult, I graduated in four years  while working and continued towards my Masters in Education (also while working), which I walked with last May. I was told to go to DARS because I would only find supported employment. Today, I am working part time and doing a job I love.

I’m not here tonight to tell you what I have accomplished.

I’m here tonight to say that if I hadn’t been given the chances that people gave me,  I would not have gotten here. This is more a testament to them than to myself.

With that said, people who have disabilities need to be given equal chances towards all of their goals, specifically tonight, independent living.

I say equal chances because if you ask an individual who does not have a disability if they want to live as independently as possible or in an institution, they will, more chances than not, choose independent living.

Independent living is something I am still working towards, and I know I will need support.  

I am not just here for myself tonight though. I work with self advocates and parents on a daily basis, and I am fighting for others who also want to live independently and may or may not need support.                     I come to you tonight to encourage you to follow through with the DOJ agreement and give individuals with disabilities a chance to live as independently as possible. DO NOT let their diagnosis or labels or traits define their futures.

I thank you for your time and for giving me the opportunity to speak with you tonight.