As a public policy specialist for MI-UCP, Barb is closing the

disability divide for herself and others.

 

Barb has cerebral palsy, but that didn’t stop her from getting a bachelor’s degree in sociology, a master’s degree in public policy and a job at MI-UCP. 

 

“I started there in 2013… as an administrator. I assisted. I got hired outright by MI-UCP as a public policy specialist. It was the first time in my life that I had an outright job.”

 

Barb says about her job,“I represent people with disabilities.”

 

She continually works to change the climate of public opinion and promote sound economics and better policy ideas around services and supports.

 

“I've gotten quite familiar with the state of Michigan. I deal with (the) Michigan Disabilities Council. From there, we have to go into the capital if there's legislation that isn't going to favor people with disabilities. We have to sit down with them and chit chat with them and tell them that this isn't good…”

 

Barb loves her work at MI-UCP, “It’s a great organization that advocates for people…” Yet, she is always ready for the fight.

 

“People with disabilities have been left on the outside for centuries…we have made great strides, but we still have far to go.Because of the disability divide, I can't get a meaningful job being seen as equal-- equal medical care. I don't know if you know this, but we don't have equal medical care. It's such a long way to go, but we’ll get there. It may not be in my lifetime, but we're going to get there.”

At MI-UCP, we believe everyone has the right to live to the best of their abilities and go as far as their ambitions will take them. Now is the time to help Barb and more than a million other Michiganders to close the disability divide.