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At a March 27, 2001, press conference, DMH/MR Commissioner Kathy Sawyer officially kicked off a statewide community education campaign titled "We are Alabama, Get to Know Us!" The campaign responds to a commitment in the agreement to settle the 30-year-old Wyatt case, approved by Federal Judge Myron Thompson in May 2000. "We are very excited about this campaign, and gratified that plaintiffs’ attorney James Tucker and Judge Thompson agreed with us that public education is a vital component in successful community living for persons with mental illness and mental retardation," said Commissioner Sawyer. The campaign theme, logo and elements were developed by one of 13 work groups appointed by Sawyer to develop plans to comply with terms of the settlement agreement. "We are so appreciative of the time and commitment of Alabamians from all around the state. This campaign is the result of the creative ideas of many people – consumers, family members, professionals, media advisors and others," Sawyer said. Campaign themes include: People with disabilities enrich our lives; misinformation and myths about mental disorders erect barriers to success and equality; choices matter; community inclusion is the right thing to do; residences for people with disabilities add to, rather than devalue, neighborhoods; and persons with disabilities have the same rights as others. According to Melanie Beasley, Director of Public Information and chair of the DMH/MR Community Education Advisory Committee, "People throughout our system – consumers, their families and staff of our facilities and community programs – feel the stigma attached to mental illness and mental retardation every day. We want the public to understand that the brain is a complex organ, susceptible to disease and disorder just like the heart, kidneys or lungs, and that treatment and habilitation work." Beasley encouraged the public to get to know their friends, neighbors and co-workers based on their abilities, not their disabilities The DMH/MR community education campaign will carry through the course of the Wyatt implementation plan, which ends September 30, 2003. The first year of the education campaign uses the mass media, including radio, television, newspapers and outdoor advertising, to communicate campaign themes to the general public. "Years two and three target particular groups such as businesses, physicians, consumers and families, as well as the legislative and judicial branches of government and other stakeholders," said Commissioner Sawyer. For further information, contact the Office of Public Information and Community Relations at (334) 242-3417 or visit the DMH/MR Website @ www.mh.state.al.us.
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