Decatur Teen To Push For Disability Rights In D.C.

DECATUR, GA — A teenager from Decatur is on her way to Washington to advocate for disability rights with the nation's political leaders.

Martha Haythorn will fly to the U.S. Capitol this month to meet with members of Congress with the help of The Arc Georgia. With 650 chapters across the country, The Arc advocates for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including Down syndrome, autism, fetal alcohol disorders and cerebral palsy.

Haythorn won a statewide contest in which people with disabilities and their family members were asked to share why they want to advocate for disability rights.

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A senior at Decatur High School, she is a member of the schools swim team and competes in local Special Olympics events. She is co-president of Partnerships for Success, a group at the school founded to promote the inclusion and participation of students with disabilities in all of the school's extracurricular and social activities.

Haythorn volunteers at the Ellis School of Atlanta, a school for children with communication needs and other disabilities, and is a deacon at her church.

"Martha is already a powerful voice in disability advocacy. Just this week she addressed, with ease, her local Board of Commissioners," said Stacey Ramirez, state director of The Arc Georgia. "I’m honored to play a small role in setting the stage for our federal legislators to hear from her also."

In a news release, Haythorn called winning the award "a great honor."

"Advocacy is important because every person with a disability has a voice that should be heard," she said. "I believe that all people with disabilities want to be part of their community. I hope this experience will create awareness and change."

Ramirez will accompany Haythorn to D.C. for the 2018 Disability Policy Seminar, a 40-year-old event that offer people with disabilities the opportunity to come together with other advocates, self-advocates, experts, and professionals in the field to learn about key political issues. It is set for April 23-25.

At the end of the event, attendees converge on Capitol Hill to speak directly with their representatives about their top issues.

Photo via Shutterstock/Richard Smart