How are the RNC and DNC Talking about Disability?
Both Democrats and Republicans reference disability in
their 2008 platforms (their affirmative statements of goals and values).
However how disability is cited and where it is cited (under which categories)
in each platform varies between parties. Each party's disability
"mentions," whether direct or indirect, are quoted below.
from the
Democratic Platform
Health Care (from the section entitled "Affordable, Quality Health Care Coverage for All Americans") - Health insurance plans should accept all applicants and be prohibited from charging different prices based on pre-existing conditions.
…Chronic-care and behavioral health management should be assured for all Americans who require care coordination. This includes assistance for those recovering from traumatic, life-altering injuries and illnesses as well as those with mental health and substance use disorders.
...We should...lower drug costs by allowing Medicare to negotiate for lower prices, permitting importation of safe medicines from other developed countries, creating a generic pathway for biologic drugs, and increasing use of generics in public programs.
Stem Cell / Medical Research (from the section entitled "Affordable, Quality Health Care Coverage for All Americans") - For the millions of Americans and their families suffering from debilitating physical and emotional effects of disease, time is a precious commodity, and it is
running out...We need to invest in biomedical research and stem cell research, so that we are at the leading edge of prevention and treatment. This includes adequate funding for research into diseases such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, breast cancer, diabetes, autism and other common and rare diseases, and disorders. We will increase funding to the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and the National Cancer Institutes.
Social Security (from the section entitled "Retirement and Social Security") - [W]e believe that it is indispensable. We will fulfill our obligation to strengthen Social Security and to make sure that it provides guaranteed benefits Americans can count on, now and in future 14 generations. We will not privatize it.
Long-Term Care (from the section entitled "Affordable, Quality Health Care Coverage for All Americans") - Seniors and people with disabilities should have access to quality affordable long-term care services, and those services should be readily available at home and in the community. Americans should not be forced to choose between getting care and living independent and productive lives.
(from the section entitled "Americans with Disabilities") - We will restore dignity for Americans with disabilities by signing the Community Choice Act into law, which will allow them the choice of living in their communities rather than being warehoused in nursing homes or other institutions.
(from the section entitled "Seniors") - We believe that we must pay caregivers a fair wage and train more nurses and health care workers so as to improve the availability and quality of long-term care.
Education (from the section entitled "A World Class Education for Every Child") - We will also meet our commitment to special education and to students who are English Language Learners. We support full funding of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
(from the section entitled "Americans with Disabilities") - We will ensure there is sufficient funding to empower Americans with disabilities to succeed in school and beyond.
(from the section entitled "A World Class Education for Every Child") - We support education delivery that makes it possible for non-traditional students to receive support and encouragement to obtain a college education, including Internet, distance education, and night and weekend programs.
Technology (from the section entitled "Creating New Jobs By Rebuilding American Infrastructure") - We will ensure every American has access to highspeed broadband...
(from the section entitled "A Connected America") - We will implement a national broadband strategy (especially in rural areas, and our reservations and territories) that enables every American household, school, library, and hospital to connect to a world-class communications infrastructure. We will rededicate our nation to ensuring that all Americans have access to broadband and the skills to use it effectively.
Housing (from the section entitled "Housing") - We will work to end housing discrimination and to ensure equal housing opportunity.
Veterans (from the section entitled "Do Right by Our Veterans and Their Families") - We will ensure that every veteran has access to quality health care for injuries both physical and mental, and we will require that health professionals screen all service members upon their return from combat. We will aggressively address Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury. We will work to ensure that every veteran receives the benefits he or she has earned and the assistance he or she needs by making the disability benefits process more fair, efficient, and equitable. We will dramatically reduce the backlog of disability claims.
U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (from the section entitled "Americans with Disabilities") - We will once again reclaim our role as world leaders in protecting the rights of people with disabilities. We will lead the United States in ratifying the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the first human rights treaty approved in the United Nations in the 21st century.
(from the section entitled "A More Perfect Union") - We will sign the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities...
Restoration of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (from the section entitled "A More Perfect Union") - We will... restore the original intent of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Hate Crimes (from the section entitled "A More Perfect Union") - We will pass the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
Voting (from the section entitled "Voting Rights") - We will fully fund the Help America Vote Act and work to fulfill the promise of election reform, including fighting to end long lines at voting booths and ensuring that all registration materials, voting materials, polling places, and voting machines are truly accessible to seniors, Americans with disabilities, and citizens with limited English proficiency. We will call for a national standard for voting that includes voterverified paper ballots. We will ensure that absentee ballots are accessible and accurately counted...[W]e oppose laws that require identification in order to vote or register to vote, which create discriminatory barriers to the right to vote and disenfranchise many eligible voters... Finally, we will enact legislation that establishes harsh penalties for those who engage in voter intimidation and creates a process for providing accurate information to misinformed voters so they can cast their votes in time.
Quotations from individual participants in DNC Platform Meetings:
• Greenwood, SC, 7/19. Stop forcing special needs children to mainstream without adequate resources.
• Bessemer, AL, 7/24. The federal, state and local government should become proactive in establishing policies that address the needs of the disabled.
View the 2008 Democratic Platform
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
from the
Republican Platform
Veterans (from the section entitled "Supporting Our Heroes") - We must make military medicine the gold standard for advances in prosthetics and the treatment of trauma and eye injuries.
...We encourage private businesses to expand their outreach to the veterans community, especially disabled veterans.
...The VA must become more responsive and more efficient by eliminating its disability backlog and reducing waiting times for treatment.
...The VA's current disability compensation formulas need to be restructured and modernized. Those who have borne the burden of war must have access to training, rehabilitation, and education. Their families and caregivers deserve our concern and support
...We pledge special attention to combat stress injuries. There must be adequate counseling when veterans return home - for them and their families. ...We recognize the need for more mental health professionals who can give the highest quality treatment to our veterans
Voting (from the section "Reforming Government to Serve the People" and subsection "Protecting the Right to Vote in Fair Elections") - We support the right of states to require an official government-issued photo identification for voting...
Taxes (from the section "Expanding Opportunity to Promote Prosperity" and subsection "Republican Tax Policy: Protecting Hardworking Americans") - Republicans support tax credits for health care and medical expenses.
Health Care (from the section entitled "Health Care Reform: Putting Patients First" and subsection "Patient Control and Portability") - Individuals with pre-existing conditions must be protected; we will help these individuals by building on the experiences of innovative states rather than by creating a new unmanageable federal entitlement.
(from the subsection "Patient Control and Portability") - Because the family is our basic unit of society, we fully support parental rights to consent to medical treatment for their children including mental health treatment.
(from the subsection "Improving Quality of Care and Lowering Cost") - A culture of wellness needs to include the treatment of mental health conditions. We believe all Americans should have access to affordable, quality health care, including individuals struggling with
mental illness. For this reason, we believe it is important that mental health care be treated equally with physical health care.
(from the subsection "Medicare") - We support the provision of quality and accessible health care options for our nation's seniors and disabled individuals and recognize that in order to meet this goal we must confront the special challenges posed by the growth of Medicare costs.
(from the section "Reforming Government to Serve the People" and subsection "Entitlement Reform") - As discussed in the health care section of this document, we commit to revive Medicare by rewarding quality care, promoting competition, eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse, and giving patients and providers control over treatment options. We envision a new Medicaid partnership with the states, improving public health through flexibility and innovation.
Stem Cells / Medical Research (from the section entitled "Health Care Reform: Putting Patients First" and subsection "Improving Quality of Care and Lowering Cost") - [W]e call for a major expansion of support for the stem-cell research that now shows amazing promise and offers the greatest hope for scores of diseases — with adult stem cells, umbilical cord blood, and cells reprogrammed into pluripotent stem cells — without the destruction of embryonic human life.
Long-Term Care (from the subsection entitled "Modernize Long-Term Care Options for All) - The financial burdens and emotional challenges of ensuring adequate care for elderly family members affect every American, especially with today's aging population. We must develop new ways to support individuals, not just institutions, so that older Americans can have a real choice whether to stay in their homes. This is true not only with regard to Medicaid, where we spend $100 billion annually on long-term care, but also for those who do not qualify for that assistance.
Physician-Assisted Suicide (from the section "Health Care Reform: Putting Patients First" and subsection "Funding Medical Research") - We believe medicines and treatments should be designed to prolong and enhance life, not destroy it. Therefore, federal funds should not be used for drugs that cause the destruction of human life. Furthermore, the Drug Enforcement Administration ban on use of controlled substances for physician-assisted suicide should be restored.
(from the section "Maintaining the Sanctity and Dignity of Human Life") - Respect for life requires efforts to include persons with disabilities in education, employment, the justice system, and civic participation. In keeping with that commitment, we oppose the nonconsensual withholding of care or treatment from people with disabilities, as well as the elderly and infirm, just as we oppose euthanasia and assisted suicide, which endanger especially those on the margins of society.
Education (from the section "Education Means a More Competitive America" and subsection "Maintaining Our Commitment to IDEA") - Because a federal mandate on the states must include the promised federal funding, we will fulfill the promise of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to cover 40 percent of the costs incurred because of that legislation. We urge preventive efforts in early childhood, especially assistance in gaining pre-reading skills, to help many youngsters move beyond the need for IDEA’s protections.
(from the subsection "Asserting Family Rights in Schooling") - It is not the role of the teacher or school administration to recommend or require the use of psychotropic medications that must be prescribed by a physician.
(from the subsection "Higher Education) - Our country’s system of higher education — public and private, secular and religious, large and small institutions — is unique for its excellence, its diversity, and its accessibility. Learning is a safeguard of liberty. Post-secondary education not only increases the earnings of individuals but advances economic development. Our colleges and universities drive much of the research that keeps America competitive. We must ensure that our higher education system meet the needs of the 21st century student and economy and remain innovative and accessible.
Civil Rights (from the section "Preserving Our Values" and subsection "Ensuring Equal Treatment for All") - We consider discrimination based on sex, race, age, religion, creed, disability, or national origin to be immoral, and we will strongly enforce anti-discrimination statutes.
Employment (from the section "Preserving Our Values" and subsection "Maintaining the Sanctity and Dignity of Human Life") - Respect for life requires efforts to include persons with disabilities in education, employment, the justice system, and civic participation.
...Because government should set a positive standard in hiring and contracting for the services of persons with disabilities, we need to update the statutory authority for the AbilityOne program, the main avenue by which those productive members of our society can offer high quality services at the best possible value.
View the 2008 Republican Platform
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
What do you think of the DNC and RNC platforms, as they pertain to disability issues? Do they influence your vote on November 4? Any surprises?
I have been dissed by the Democrate party, but the Republican party agrees with me. One of my disablitied is Tramatic Brain Injury(TBI). The Obama Camp told me that it is a non issue for this campaign. On the other hand McCain's camp has agreed that it some that they need to address.
MCCain was at the Meeting for disabilities, yes via live feed. Why can't Obama do the same thing?
As a Commander in Chief, Obama decided to shoot hoops instead of meeting the the injured soldiers. This man is only about himself.
Posted by: Keith Kreitner | September 04, 2008 at 05:40 PM
Let us not see Trig become a Jerry Lewis-type poster child.
I am happy to see that the Democrats support "full funding" of the IDEA, as well as the restoration of the original intent of the ADA.
I am more and more convinced that the Democratic Ticket is the only one that I can vote for and still be able to call myself a thinking person.
Posted by: Judy Krum | September 04, 2008 at 06:14 PM
You can see what people really care about, by watching what they're willing to pay for.
McCain wasn't interested in expanding health services for veterans, and voted against it. Although he will probably change his mind.
In my state (Colorado), a radical Republican-sponsored anti-tax initiative has cut DD services to the bone. My daughter, who has severe CP, can't get comprehensive services. Many people with DD in Colorado are on huge wait lists.
It's pretty clear that Republicans are more interested in continuing to spend $10B/month on Iraq, than on the disabled. So who I should vote for seems clear.
Posted by: Edward R. Arnold | September 04, 2008 at 06:37 PM
Here is a fact check re Gov Palin...
REALITY: PALIN OPPOSED CRUCIAL EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE AND SENIORS FUNDING
"Statewide Independent Living Centers - Assistive Technology for Alaska's Centers for Independent Living. Palin vetoed $125,000. [FY09 Budget]"
However, she didn't cut spending, and she did raise taxes, just didn't see fit to use this money for health, education and independence...
"REALITY: UNDER PALIN, WASILLA GOVERNMENT SPENDING & DEBT SKYROCKETED.
Total Government Expenditures Increased 63 Percent Under Palin. In fiscal 2003-the last fiscal year Palin approved the budget-the total government expenditures of Wasilla, excluding capital outlays, were $7,046,325. In fiscal 1996-the year before Palin took control of the budget-the expenditures were $4,317,947. The increase was 63 percent. [Wasilla Comprehensive Annual Financial Report 2003, Table 1]
Palin Supported Increasing Wasilla Sales Tax From 2 to 2.5 Percent to Build $14.7 Million Sports Center. "Wasilla residents have given the go ahead to building a new multiuse sports center in town and to raising the city sales tax to pay for it. With the final votes counted Friday, residents voted 306 to 286 in favor of a measure to raise the city sales tax from 2 percent to 2.5 percent to pay the estimated $14.7 million cost of building the center...Mayor Sarah Palin, who supported the measure, said the tight vote will motivate city officials to keep a close eye on the budget for the center." [Anchorage Daily News, 3/9/02]
Palin Left Behind Almost $19 Million In Long-Term Debt, Compared to None Before She Was Mayor. In fiscal 2003-the last fiscal year Palin approved the budget-the bonded long-term debt was $18,635,000. In fiscal 1996-the year before Palin took control of the budget-there was no general obligation debt. [Wasilla Comprehensive Annual Financial Report 2003, Table 10]"
http://www.jedreport.com/2008/09/fact-checking-the-bridge-to-no.html
Take care folks, and check your facts, don't just "buy the lie."
Kathy and Shannon (my service dog)
Posted by: Kathy Podgers | September 04, 2008 at 07:07 PM
Rather than look at the party platforms, one should look at the respective candidates position papers: Obama has an extensive position related to disability while McCain has nothing related to disability. Remember Justin Dart's words, "Vote as though your life depends upon it because it does."
Posted by: Karla Lortz | September 04, 2008 at 09:59 PM
Obama of course represents the best ideals and traditions of a liberal democracy, understands the role of government in both empowering people to independence and productivity and caring for people who need substnatial support just to survive. His intelligence reflects the nuanced understanding of the challenges of our times that is critical now, rather than the simplistic, black and white representations of the issues from the Republicans. My only substantial dissapointment in the left is on the issue of physician assisted suicide and their lack of initiative in protecting people with disabilities' right to receive life sustaining care. This complex issue has been left in the hands of family and doctors alone, when government regulations and impartial assessments are critical to protecting the rights and interests of the individual. We need leadership in challenging the assumed social and cognitive authority of medicine in determining who lives and dies, given its financial interest in the outcomes.
Posted by: Laura | September 05, 2008 at 01:05 AM
Although I agree w/some comments, I am not
swayed by female VP, what does her weight
carry, just that she is not a man, and that
something else can happen in the white house
so, what else is new, she is from Alaska!
I have no quams w/her daughter, it is the
culture, there, the gold rush, the custume
of the tribe host, to offer his wife, body
heat and all. I don't fault her daughter.
The culture of her daughter, has been the
same since the 1960's, no different today.
What I did note, it is what is not said,in
there adgenda, that ALL should worry about.
What they are saying is just the politic's
of getting into the house, the race is on!
It IS what is NOT being SAID! that WE MUST
WORRY most about.
The democrats, talked about all persons w/
disabilities, and veterans and there rites.
Repubilicans talked about veterans and there
disabilities, and rites to care,
NO ONE GROUP< talked about DISABLED HOMELESS
VETERANS, HOMELESS DISABLED CHILDREN OF VETS
H O W A B O U T::DISABLED/SENIORS, OR SENIOR/DISABLED, HOMELESS DUE TO "NEW SENIOR
HOUSING" CURRENTLY AGE OF RETIREMENT IS 65
AND HOUSING IS REQUIRED TO BE AGE 62, SO ALL
SENIORS WERE EVICTED BECAUSE THEY WERE MOVED
IN WHEN THE HOUSING CODE SAID, 55...SO NOW
WE MUST WAIT UNTIL WE ARE 65, TO RETIRE,AND
HOUSING IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR US UNTIL 62.
WHEN WE REACH 62, THE TIME WILL BE 75....
BELIVE ME, this is my lifetime profession.
I AM THE CATCH 22, PROFESSIONAL..it followed
me...ALL OF MY LIFE...so how do I get buried
on $350...IT DON"T HAPPEN...LIFE IS A VACCUM
Posted by: purplerage | September 05, 2008 at 02:09 AM
The problem is that the republican platform is not all inclusive and does not serve everyone equally. I believe that most people believe that the troops are getting healthcare, and certainly deserve it, but they don't deserve it any more than any other American citizen - none of us are getting everything, but I would be more concerned that some people - like the poor, long term unemployed, and low wage working singles do not have health insurance. If we quit dividing the American people and just include everyone, the problem would be much better served.
The other thing both the republican and democrats could both do is to reign in some of the medical costs. A good example is these inhalers that every patient seems to have. Millions are sold every month. Why do they cost over a hundred bucks each? Who's fooling who? The American people aren't getting much bang for the buck because no one is watching the till. On the other hand, we still need all the health care we are getting and more. I suggest dumping the rich republican leadership who are now running the till and getting some real representatives of the people. All these old tax breaks for the rich have to expire and a lot of the contracting that has been going on needs to be reviewed and charges brought if violations of the law occurred.
Posted by: AL | September 05, 2008 at 07:24 AM
The Republicans mentioned at least five times in the platform about leaving enforcement up to the states, or trying to get private businesses to expand their outreach to disabled veterans.
If you remember until the civil right's act, blacks were perevented from eating, drinking, voting, sleeping in hotels, or riding in the front of buses with whites. States will not always have the best interest of the people in mind, just look at some of the states opposition to the ADA. Private businesses are out to make a profit, which is fine, but do you think that they would always have the best interest of the disabled in mind.
In a great number of instances it is good to have a strong central government enforcing laws that ensure the basic civil rights of Americans especially those who are aging or disabled.
I feel that the democratic ticket is much more receptive and resposive to the disability community. Senator McCain voted against expanding benefits for veterans, he does not support an over haul of our broken health care sytstem, or embryonic stem cell research just to name a few things.
The choice is clear Obama/Biden in 2008.
Posted by: Chuck | September 05, 2008 at 12:00 PM
It's clear a thinking person can only support the Democratic Platform and Obama. I wish to remain independant and have the same rights as any other citizen. I believe this will only happen with Obama as President.
Posted by: John Woodruff | September 05, 2008 at 09:57 PM
The platform pieces that have been chosen don't really get to the actual nuts and bolts of both sides proposals - platforms rarely do. Its the campaigns that really matter. Obama's plans are well supported on the web, with issues on disabilities and healthcare at
www.barackobama.com/issues/disabilities/ and
www.barackobama.com/issues/healthcare/
and on veterans affairs (inclding mental health and VA issues) at
www.barackobama.com/issues/veterans/
Every page has detailed backup documents that can be downloaded, too.
The McCain ideas are a lot hazier, with nothing as publicly available as the Obama site. Still, from all the talking points, debates, and press releases, there are a wide array of differences. I'd like to mention just 2 - healthcare and funding the goals of the ADA to let people with disabiities live in the least restrictive environment possible.
McCain's healthcare plan is based mainly on amending the tax code, not creating meaningful federal oversight of healthcare. His plan would tax employee health care benefits (currently tax exempt) and give credits for buying your own plan instead. The idea is that moving people to individual plans is supposed to stir competition in the private sector. I don't know about anyone else, but I've never seen a healthcare company that wants to compete for individuals with diabilities - it is only state laws and the leveling effects of group coverage that make it possible to for persons with disabilities to get any private insurance today. Despite saying people need protection on pre-existing conditions, McCain's plan won't eliminate such exclusions, mandate private coverage or create some sort of basic Federal coverage. Rather, McCain wants any sort of coverage for otherwise uninsured individuals to be run by states, based on individual plans the administration will "help" create, but for which there is no model proposed. Likely, it will be just as uneven as the current availability of services and more like mandatory minimum/catastrophic coverage. The Dem/Obama plan calls for eliminating pre-existing condition exclusions, doesn't mess with group health insurances tax status and would expand the health coverage enjoyed by Members of Congress to Americans who can't afford or get private coverage, thus creating a Federal minimum standard of coverage.
Perhaps the most disappointing part of the McCain view, though, is on the issue of community placement. The ADA has been interpreted by the Supreme Court as making unnecessary institutionalization illegal and discriminatory. That requires states to let people live in available community placement where possible. But since states aren't required to fully fund such care, and Federal funding is almost all on a matching basis through Medicaid, states are all over the board on whether people even have the option to live in such settings. Obama supports both the Community Choice Act and CLASS, which would increase Federal funding for community placement and go a long way to ensuring that people who can live in an integrated, community setting are allowed to, rather than having to stay in institutional settings reminiscent of prison.
Given the restrictions on personal freedom institutions impose, the fact that unnecessary institutionalization violates the ADA he helped pass, and his own description of the horrors losing one's freedom and mobility can bring, you'd think it would be a slam dunk for McCain to match Obama on this. But no - he opposes both measures, and specifically rejected the CCA on the 18th anniversary of the ADA in a forum for advocates with disabiities.
Why would Sen. McCain, who speaks so passionately and eloquently about his hellish POW experience, who has been described as "fighting" for us all and credited with pushing back on torture or improper detainment of prisoners here and abroad, oppose affording dignity (and ensuring compliance with Federal law) to people with disabilities?
Cost.
Yep, it turns out there is a price to be put on human dignity and basic rights - and when it comes to people with disabilities, its just too high for McCain.
At a cosmetic level, it is true that Palin's throw away line is the first GOP statement by any candidate to say anything strong about people with disabilities (something Dems to a person trumpet). Only, she (or her speechwriter) doesn't even know to use people centered language and thinks the only people needing an advocate are "families of special needs children." Guess adults with special needs, disabled vets and the rest of the community are just out of luck. That, by the way, would be entirely consistent with McCain's oppostion to the CCA, which mainly would help adults live fuller, richer lives and let our communities benefit from their contributions.
You can decide who you think would better help further the cause of Americans with disabiities.
P.S. Keith, I don't know where you got your information, but the Obama campaign specifically addresses improving care for traumatic brain injury here www.barackobama.com/issues/veterans/#mental-health and in the plan that can be accessed from there. The plan notes Sen. Obama has already introduced legislation dealing with TBI and wants to invest the money it will take to understand this injury and treat it effectively. Also, Tammy Duckworth, a distinguished veteran who was wounded in Iraq and serves as the Illinois state director for Veterans affairs, re-mphasized the party's commitment in primetime of the DNC. They aren't ignoring TBI and it is an issue all Americans should be concerned with.
Posted by: Andrew Dzeguze | September 07, 2008 at 09:22 PM
Sarah Palin and John McCain have through their actions - defended persons with disabilities. It appears the RNC platform is more pro-life than the DNC and I would trust them more than the Democrats.
Posted by: Jimbo | September 08, 2008 at 08:41 PM
I have been involved with the "disability community" my entire life. I'm voting McCain/Palin without any question and with absolute confidence in their commitments.
Everyone would be well-advised to consider the depth and breadth of issues impacting people with disabilities, and get beyond their own personal situation, to understand that we (our country) can not sustain the current rate of spending on services and "government provide all" attitude.
Commit yourself to a solid long-term plan and learn to truly advocate for community integration that isn't tied to government handouts. Your dependence on the system is the key to their power. Take it back for yourself, and all those to come. Your life DOES depend on that.
Posted by: suzzanne | September 13, 2008 at 09:53 PM
Nobody gives a crap about our opinions. This world is run by the devil under a selfish system. Soon it will all be over and this nightmare will end!!!
Posted by: bob | September 30, 2008 at 02:12 PM
I have been injured at work and now has settled for a sprain instead of what was really the problem from my fall I needed an and got through my own insurance a L3/4 and found out later an L/4/5 laminectomy and discectomy. How may people out there realize that the i/c and employer's make it impossible for you to get well? They make you jump through hoops to get quality care then when you go and say to the i/c that they should be paying your doctor not out of your private ins. but their's. Well I did and my dr. in minutes turned into dr. Jeckel, refusing to write any scrips, until I see pain mngt., well that app. isn't till 2 1/2 weeks from now, how would you feel? I ask all of you to log onto your states workers compensation sight and look into the injured workers forum and see how many people are suffering from stupid laws and conditions made up by employers and insurance co. It is a shame that in these United States that they have thrown the so called "basically found economics" aka what Mr. McCain calls us to the wolves and not one person will listen to us cry. Shame on all whom have never been looked into this calamity of suffering people in your own neighborhoods. I know that a lot of people think we are just a bunch of junkies but look back at their stories, and see like myself I had a full time job since I was 15 and allot of physical jobs and eventually by accident a fall, they say a sprain but why did I have 2 ops and parts of my body taken out. There are people out there with missing limbs that they hold checks up until they give up and settle for a fraction of what has happen to their lives. I would love to be able to help each and everyone of them, but the only thing I can do as a lame person is to help with advise as to what I went through. Goverment wake up and look at us we are and will always be to of our ability the same workers that have been there for over in my case 32 years and now by body is in the dumps but I am again looking for at least part time work or training for an alternate work that I can do even just volanter work.
Please look at your state forum and other states to see how people are suffering.
Thank you for listening,
Nipper
Posted by: Nipper123 | October 10, 2008 at 01:50 PM
As a parent of a Downs Syndrome child living in rural town I have to say that the McCain/Palin ticket offer close to the same we have had for the last 8 years"nothing". To the person that wrote we should stop waiting for a hand out from the goverment,please consider this. If you have a child with dissabilities that has no possibility of getting the proper education to become an idependent adult, how do you expect them to be able to provide for themselves as adults? If our goverment can spend millions/billions of dollars on helping other countries that really didn't ask for it why can't they provide americans with dissabilities the help they need in education and healthcare? If they leave it to the states to provide, like their ticket suggests we can look forward to more of the same "nothing" for our children. Palin likes to make people aware of her being a mother of a child w/downs but really do you think she has to worry about her childs future? remember she will be able to provide him with the best shools and healthcare something that I can't do for my child. It's all about the money they have and we don't. Under the Obama/Biden ticket I at least have hope that things will change for the better. Hope! something I lost a long time ago. I have voted republican since I had the right to vote, this year I changed party lines to be able to have hope that things will change for the better for the future of my child, and every child w/dissabilities. You see it's not all about me. Its all about us as a nation we need to provide for those who can't provide for themselves. If we do it abroad why can't we do it here?
Posted by: DD | October 11, 2008 at 11:42 AM
President (elect) Obama & Vice-President (elect) Biden,
The issue of providing access to government officials and government offices for Americans who happen to be deaf, must not be allowed to fall into the category of a "special interest". This issue is NOT a special interest, it is a fundamental issue that says, as an American, who happens to be deaf, I have a right to have full access to everything that MY elected officials do and say in the execution of their duties. This means, providing TDD/TTY phone numbers for Americans who happen to be deaf, like your campaign and the Democratic National Committee failed to do throughout the entire election.
This means making it law that anytime an elected official appears in public, be it on television or an online video, everything he/she says MUST be captioned, without exception.
This means that every government office and every elected official, be it Federal, State or Local, must provide access to their American constituents who happen to be deaf.
This means that anytime an elected official appears in public, a Sign Language Interpreter MUST be present. If you held a rally and then someone came in and picked out some people and said, "you can't listen to this speech", you would be outraged, and rightly so -- and not providing access for Americans who happen to be deaf, is tantamount to just that.
This means that every single PUBLIC service message MUST be captioned for Americans who happen to be deaf. By way of example, there has been a huge campaign lately on behalf of the American Lung Association, to encourage people to get flu shots. The spots are never captioned. They will not answer me when I ask why. But I know why -- it is a matter of not wanting to spend the money to caption these ads. If this message is important enough to spend that kind of money to get the message out to Americans, isn't it also important enough to spend a little extra to get the message out to Americans who happen to be deaf?
Your election, to the highest office in the land, sends a new, clear message to every American child who happens to be Black, that they too can achieve anything they set their mind to. Let your election also send a new, clear message that American children, who happen to be Deaf, can also achieve anything they set their mind to.
You told Republicans, "I will be your President too." I need to "see you say” that you will be MY President, too.
So today I am posing a question to you: "Will you be MY President too?"
I have asked my own elected officials about this issue many times, for many years now. I have received an answer from only one of them who said, "it's not my problem". I plan to ask you this question every single day of your administration, until you tell me that you will address this issue. There are new ads out now on television, encouraging people to ask their elected officials whatever questions they might have, and DEMAND an answer. (The ads are not captioned.) This is what I plan to do -- demand an answer.
Let me reiterate by saying, this is not a special interest issue. I’m not asking you to caption my favorite movie. I am asking for total access to my government; the access we afford everyone else.
Your campaign and the DNC failed every American, who happens to be deaf, this election year by not providing even one TDD/TTY line for us to contact you. Election Protection failed us by not having even one TDD/TTY line, so Americans who happen to be deaf, could get help understanding their rights as voters.
Howard Dean and the Democratic National Committee failed us again. His first message to the American people after your election, was not captioned for Americans who happen to be deaf.
You know how disheartening it can be when you are excluded. Your lovely wife mentioned in an interview, how African-Americans have heard “no” for so long, they began to just expect that the answer would always be “no.” (I’m paraphrasing) So you can you imagine how Americans, who happen to be deaf, after standing in line for hours to vote for you – Americans like me, felt when they clicked on Howard Dean's message and saw only his lips moving?
“There is not a liberal America and a conservative America - there is the United States of America. There is not a black America and a white America and Latino America and Asian America - there's the United States of America.”
But unfortunately, there is a “Hearing America” and a “Deaf America” Please help us end this disparity, forever, so that we too can join you in the task of moving America forward.
So I would like an answer to my question: “Will you be my President, too?”
Sincerely,
Samuel Hayes
Posted by: Samuel Hayes | November 08, 2008 at 12:44 AM