"The Nothing About Us Without Us Act: WA HB 1802", produced by Rooted in Rights

[audio description]: Disabled advocates share their opinions on the Nothing About Us Without Us bill over video call.

- The Nothing About Us Without Us bill will make it so that people with disabilities can be  fully represented on task-force work-groups or committees that make policy decisions that affect our everyday lives  as citizens with disabilities.

- Which is very important because too many laws-- too many bills have gone--  have been created without us.

- We don't expect people without disabilities  in the legislature, or state officials, to automatically somehow know what we need.

- We are best to speak on that  because we are living it.

- I've always told my legislators, I'm here for you, reach out to me, I'm here to support you, too.

- Historically when we're not at the table, a lot of bad policy comes out, you know, forced institutionalization, forced sterilization, a lot of force and control being put on people with disabilities, that people with disabilities never asked for.

- It's time. It's well overdue for us to be involved  in creating these bills.

- because then and only then can we make a difference by having a law  that supports our civil rights

- and prevent those times that can happen when well-intentioned efforts end up having an unintended impact.

- I believe better legislation will be made because you now will have people at the table that have various backgrounds with various disabilities giving that perspective.

- So Nothing About Us Without Us is where equity begins.

End of transcript.