Establishes the state flag for raising awareness of neurodiversity

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Monica Martinez says this is needed

Enfranchisement for individuals with Intellectual/Developmental Disabil- ities (I/DD) and the expansion of civil liberties occurred in 1990 with the Americans with Disabilities Act, which enshrined the rights of the disabled into law. Millions of Americans with I/DD were finally able to live without fear of being denied access to a meaningful life, including work opportunities, education, or transportation, because of their iden- tity. The term neurodiversity was coined in the late 1990s to refer to the fact that individuals with I/DD have a different, but equally normal, way of perceiving the world. While the topic of neurodiversity has become more prevalent in the past thirty years, there is still much work to be done. Neurodivergent individuals still experience significant social isolation, bullying, harassment, and other foul's of ostraciza- tion due to harmful stereotypes present in society. Establishing a State flag for raising awareness of neurodiversity would further the progress that has been made in the past three decades. By developing and designating an official Neurodiversity Flag, the State would be signaling its continued allyship for individuals with I/DD. This flag would act as a symbol for a critical movement and a beacon of steadfast support for neurodivergent individuals not only in the State, but in the rest of the United States and the world at large. Symbols have a powerful place in society and there is meaning imbued in each wave of color and flap of the wind. Flags symbolize movements, and this movement, the movement for equality of rights for those who are neurodiverse, deserves a symbol. There are people in the State who are neurodiverse; they are your family, friends, colleagues, and strangers on the street. Society has long treated individuals who are neurodiverse as second-class citizens. A flag can do much to change the attitude of those unfamiliar with the struggles of the neurodiverse and would foster great pride in the neurodiverse community. This bill would designate a State flag for neurodiversity to raise awareness to the issue of neuro- diversity.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.