Gabe Martinez Represents the Sonoran Center at the White House
On Monday, October 2, the Sonoran Center’s Gabriel “Gabe” Martinez visited the White House for a celebration and summit commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Rehabilitation Act and 33rd Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Gabe is a Peer Mentor and Project Assistant at the Sonoran Center, and he has served as a member of The President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID) for nearly a year. The event also served as an opportunity for members of the committee from around the country to meet in person and discuss issues relevant to the disability community.
Gabe first became involved with the President’s committee after being nominated by the Sonoran Center’s former director, Wendy Parent-Johnson. After being nominated, Gabe, like the 20 other citizen members, was appointed to the committee directly by the president. The committee consists of 21 citizen members and 13 federal government members.
Established in 1966, the PCPID’s stated mission is to, “Provide advice and assistance to the President of the U.S. and the Secretary of Health and Human Services on a broad range of topics that impact people with intellectual disabilities as well as the field of intellectual disabilities. The foundation of this mission is a goal to improve the quality of life experienced by people with intellectual disabilities by upholding their full citizenship rights, independence, self-determination, and lifelong participation in their communities.”
“We talk about working, job shadowing, programs like Project SEARCH, and different ways to support individuals [with disabilities],” Gabe said of his duties on the committee.
Gabe outlined the events of his October 2nd White House visit:
“I got there on Sunday. Then on Monday, I got myself ready, all spiffy with my suit,” Gabe said. “We had to go through security twice. Then they got seats all lined up and they had a guide to guide you to your seat. Then the president came out and gave a speech. After he was done with his speech, a lot of people wanted to greet the president. I came up to the president, shook his hand, and he said he liked my tie! I said thank you, and we took a picture together,”
In his speech to the committee and guests, President Biden said, “You all not only have the courage to deal with whatever your disability is… but you stood up. You spoke for everybody else…You've given people hope and allowed them to regain their pride, their dignity to be able to do what they want to do as best they can.”
Gabe agreed that the event was an important opportunity to advocate for people with disabilities at the highest levels of government.
“One thing I heard at the event: People with disabilities need to be respected and their rights to travel and have a job and attend any events,” Gabe said.