The Wayfaring Band works to break down isolation and challenge the barriers people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) face. We do this by partnering directly with people most affected by ableism and taking action against the systems that keep it in place.

Through our programs, we support people with I/DD in seeing themselves as whole, capable individuals, able to make their own choices, rather than being defined by negative stereotypes about disability. As people build confidence and shift how they see themselves, this change also spreads into their relationships, communities, and the larger systems that shape how society views disability.

The Wayfaring Band is dedicated to taking ongoing, intentional action to confront and dismantle racism within ourselves, our organization, and the communities we’re part of. We know that systemic racism creates and deepens inequality, and that people with disabilities are especially harmed by these injustices.

Being an anti-racist organization means we:

• Acknowledge racism as a barrier to living out our mission.

• Design programs with cultural awareness and respect.

• Communicate with sensitivity and care to the people we serve and the public.

• Commit to challenging racism and the advantages created by white supremacy.

• Build shared understanding of systemic racism across all areas of our organization.

• Partner with others who are also doing anti-racism work in our communities.

• Practice shared leadership and inclusive decision-making that centers people of color and those most directly affected by the issues we address.

We seek out collaboration with individuals and organizations committed to confronting racism. For us, the work of collective liberation is not just necessary, it is the reward itself.

The Wayfaring Band is committed to building a culture of true inclusion through steady, intentional actions that support social justice in ourselves, our organization, and our community. We understand that forms of inequality such as: racism, ableism, sexism, homophobia, and others often overlap and cause harm. People with disabilities and other marginalized groups are especially impacted, and we are dedicated to challenging and dismantling these injustices wherever they show up.

For us, this commitment means:

• Naming all forms of systemic oppression, whether based on race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, or other identities, as barriers to our mission.

• Creating programs that are inclusive, culturally aware, and responsive to the diverse needs of the people we serve.

• Communicating with empathy and respect, always mindful of the identities and experiences of our community.

• Making a clear and lasting commitment to dismantling structural inequities, including racism, ableism, and other systems of advantage.

• Using strategies that build a shared understanding of oppression across every level of our organization, so everyone is equipped to take part in this work.

• Partnering with other organizations that address the root causes of inequality in our communities.

• Practicing shared leadership, inclusive decision-making, and accountability processes that center the voices and lived experiences of those most directly impacted, especially people at the intersections of multiple marginalized identities.

We welcome collaboration with others who are committed to equity and justice. Together, we work toward collective liberation, creating spaces where every person, no matter their identity, can belong, thrive, and help shape a more just and equitable world.