August 26, 2024
Listen to the audio version of this message
Hello, this is Theo Braddy, the Executive Director of NCIL, coming to you again with another message. This a short one and it’s a little early, but I had to share it. This one I am calling “That’s My Dad”.
There are very few speeches I give where I don’t mention that ableism is one of the greatest challenges facing people with disabilities in the United States.
Currently, many are commenting on the event of the Governor Tim Walz and his son at the Democratic National Convention.
It was one of the rare, genuine displays of love and acceptance within a family that I haven’t seen in real time. A truly beautiful expression of love.
I wish I could end my thoughts there, but I can’t. You all know me by now.
There’s something important to point out: this moment of genuine family love likely wouldn’t have made the news if Tim Walz’s son didn’t have a disability.
This again points to ableism by many. Why can’t it just be an awesome loving family — a father who expresses love for his family and his son and a son letting his father know he loves him and is proud of him?
It is us who need to point out the son has a disability and somehow it becomes news, it becomes newsworthy. It becomes a story. It becomes “special”. It becomes “ableism”.
Will there ever come a day when a family like the Walzes that steps into the limelight, and the only thing anyone notices is that they’re a loving family — full stop?
Will this ever be possible?
I commend Governor Walz. Before the DNC, I didn’t even know he had a son with a disability.
I got a good feeling he never knew it either. He just had a son.
This is Theo Braddy, Executive Director of the National Council on Independent Living.
Theo Braddy
Executive Director
National Council on Independent Living
About NCIL
NCIL is the longest-running national cross-disability grassroots organization, driven by and dedicated to people with disabilities. Since its founding in 1982, NCIL has represented thousands of organizations and individuals, advocating tirelessly for the human and civil rights of people with disabilities across the United States.