Including the disabled

Should we connect the dots between the terrible violence in Chicago against a young man with a disability and the continuation of segregated employment for people with disabilities in sheltered workshops (“Protect state services,” Opinions, Jan. 9)?

We shouldn’t. As a parent of a young man with a developmental disability, I was disturbed by the blatant attempt to scare families of people with disabilities.

Instead of discussing the benefits of including people with disabilities in all aspects of our society, including community employment, the article minimized the importance of the new regulations. These regulations finally will undo decades of practices across our nation that have marginalized people such as my son.

Our efforts would be better spent discussing ways to build relationships with our community businesses to allow all people with disabilities the experience of working in their communities.

By investing in ways to be sure that people with disabilities can receive the supports and services to live a full life, including living and working in their communities, we will be increasing the capacity for our society to help safeguard all people. It is the continued lack of high expectations that leaves a person with a disability unprepared to navigate his or her world.

Sally Flaschberger Waukesha