When Andres Gallegos appeared on the screen, I assumed he was just an advocate for people with disabilities. He was confident articulating the general information about the National Council on Disabilities (NCD) mission, history, and disability advocacy work. Then he started telling his story and revealed that he had been involved in an accident in 1996 that resulted in quadriplegia three years into his legal career (St. Cloud State University Rehabilitation Studies, 2021). It was not a revelation that made me feel sorry for him, but rather, it made me more attentive to listen to his rise from that moment to become the chairperson of the National Council on Disabilities agency.
Andres Gallegos mentions the discrimination he faced when attempting to access hospital services and how it inspired him to switch from corporate law. He was finally in their shoes. Having realized how much injustice they felt, he wanted to help them get equal recognition. It was an inspiring part of his story that made me realize how often we underestimate or disregard people, intentionally or not, because they have a disability. The mention of challenges faced when seeking healthcare services was far from my expectations, and it proved an informative session. From his perspective, I learned about the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and his expectation for people with and without disabilities to receive fair treatment worldwide. While it is easy to assume that people with disabilities get special treatment in clinical practice, the saddening truth is that they are barely tolerated. It leads to the state of vulnerability that Andres Gallegos highlights as a higher incidence and prevalence of ailments and death during the pandemic.
Given the dire state of affairs, it makes for a disheartening session listening to him highlight that the NCD has to delay their ratification efforts because there is a chance the Senate could deny this passage. Throughout the interview, Andres Gallegos projects positivity despite the many reasons he should be angry or downtrodden. With a system not recognizing the shortcomings of living with a disability and its unwillingness to change, he remains optimistic that progress continues gradually. It makes me hopeful for a future that aims to do better for itself and all community members, including persons with disability. However, at this point, there has to be a push through legal channels and, hopefully, a positive result.
Reference
St. Cloud State University Rehabilitation Studies. 2021 Ability Event: National Council on Disability with Andrés Gallegos [Video]. YouTube. Web.