Christopher Ripke is an advocate for people with Developmental Disabilities in Nevada. Christopher is also against the use of restraints and seclusion. Christopher is a survivor of restraints and seclusion. As a person with a disability and an advocate, Christopher for the “Keeping All Students Safe Act.” Currently, Christopher works with a non-profit “People first of Nevada” to provide training to our local school district to provide alternative practices. What follows is a story from Christopher about his advocacy journey.

Life Expereience

I joined the disability community when I was hit by a car at the age of 4 and a half. This resulted in frontal lobe damage and removal of the right temporal lobe. This resulted in a seizure disorder.

When I graduated from McQueen High School, I was told by SRC that I “…had a job!” I thought this was amazing. However, when I arrived at the address, I was horrified to find it was a sheltered workshop.

I joined an advocacy group shortly after that and realized from their conversation about other people’s demands for minimum wage that I could quit. I did so the next day and went out to find my own job at the Silver Legacy. I also ended my Social Security rep payee so that I receive my own checks now. I sought out a surgeon in California and had damaged brain tissue from the right frontal lobe removed. I have been seizure-free for two years as of April 19, 2024!

Community Advocacy and Organizing

I was elected President of the Advocacy group. One of our members was in a documentary on Seclusion and Restraints. I suggested an investigation into the use of “Scream Rooms”(isolation closets). I led the investigation, and we found 13 seclusion rooms still in use. I presented our findings with others from the Advocacy Group. We proposed to remove the rooms, but the district refused and claimed they would “repurpose” the rooms.

After this, I became a renowned traveler. I have been to New York, Miami, Denver, Colorado, Las Vegas, Yosemite, Santa Cruz, and Great America twice.

Most recently, I have learned to lobby at the legislature. This was a result of realizing how states all have suicide prevention programs, but for people with disability, Assisted Suicide laws mean making it law that people with disabilities are better off dead than disabled. This reduces funding for home and community-based services.

Feel free to reach out to Christopher if you are interested in learning more about his work.