Two Disability Posts in the White House

Contributed by the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services:

Two Prominent Members of the Disability Community will Serve as Special Advisors to the President

At the Disability Pride and Power pre-Inaugural ball, it was announced that Kareem Dale would become a Special Advisor to President Obama on disability issues. We heard later that noted expert in Disability Studies Paul Steven Miller would be playing a role in helping the Obama Administration to ensure that people with disabilities will be well represented in positions within the Administration. Tony Coelho, former United States congressman from California, primary author and sponsor of the Americans with Disabilities Act,  current chair of the Epilepsy Foundation's national board of directors and a lead organizer of the Ball is also playing an active role in advancing disability interests and hires within the Administration.  Finally, note that the new Chief of Staff to the Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Relations and Public Liaison Michael Strautmanis is known to be very sensitive to disability issues, as referenced in a Washington Post Op Ed he authored last year.

Comments

[Bob Segalman Ph.D]

While i am very pleased that the Obama Administration is giving due attention to the disability population, I worry that those segments of that population which are not well organized and represented by lobbyists may not get their issues considered. For example, out of my living room i run the only national organization that addresses the telecommunications needs of people with speech disabilities. I request that ample consideration be given to the needs of all segments of the disability community.

[Sylvia Domagalski]

I would like to know who will be replacing the ODEP Asst Secretary position who was a forerunner in signing an agreement with the USBLN. We need someone to continue the emphasis on disabilities and employment.

[Dee Alpert, Publisher, SpecialEducationMuckraker.com]

All of the positions at USDOE from "director" and on up are important because there are many ways to count kids with disabilities in - or out - of all the various USDOE programs, from NCLB through IDEA and onwards. It is imperative that we get folks who both know what they're doing re disabilities (not speducators - real serious professionals) and are willing to put their collective feet down when, for example, school districts and state ed. depts. insist that the only way they can "educate" kids with disabilities is to restraint, seclude and otherwise abuse them.

[Patrick Kelly]

All too often, I see places that are considered to be, or advertised as, accessible, but are not to those of us who have a disability. Examples include ramps that are too steep, doors that are difficult to open, insufficient or non-existent handicapped parking etc. There needs to be a group of people with disabilities, whose job it is to inspect public buildings and identify improvements and review the pertinent portions of the ADA and make recommendations. Information gathered would be placed on a public database. This will assist us in identifying places that may have obstacles, especially those that we should avoid. It would also provide a service to the Federal, State, and Local governments and businesses that will point out the positive as well as negative. For businesses the effect could be that it would increase business. Currently there is no formal feedback process regarding this issue for the public. Further, input could be accepted from the public regarding this issue in much the same way as the public currently provide feedback on products and businesses.

[Cassandra Kam]

I work with adolescents transitioning into adulthood as a vocational rehab counselor. While I am glad that there are many programs and services available to those who are significantly disabled or most significantly disabled, a great number of students fall between the cracks. That is, those who are not significantly disabled are "smart enough not to need help" and "will be okay on their own". Under the spirit of the No Child Left Behind law, isn't this missing a key part of the school population? Aren't these students just as important as any other? If one of these students were my son or daughter, I would be outraged to hear that my (for example) learning disabled child was not going to receive the same help as another person's child in the same class or school.

Is there some sort of legislation under the Department of Education that can address the issue of these "gap" children? While I am not a parent, it makes me think twice about having children because I don't know if I would want a child of mine to have to go through all of the heartache that our present system provides.

[Christopher Hart]

As someone who has been involved in infrastructure issues for at least 10 years, there needs to be a position, at a very high level within DOT to push big picture issues (such as how do 80m baby boomers maintain mobility) and oversee ADA compliance of all of DOT's agencies. It has to be someone who is aggressive and can understand both the minutia and big picture. To be sure, there are real impediments (attitudinal, lack of personnel, and weak / non-existent regulations and enforcement) within FAA, FHWY, and FTA but there are some amazing opportunities coming down the pipeline. Therefore, whoever is chosen has to be someone that can leverage / put teeth into existing regulations (such as FTA's Title VI), future administration and congressional priorities as well as transportation interest groups to bring some real meaningful evolution to DOT and its agencies.

[Lisa]

As a parent of a child with a severe disability,there is a very high need for someone to address these issues. There needs to be change in the government/state programs,funding,work personnel,higher wages for work personnel,education..etc...The list goes on and no one seems to understand the needs of the people with disabilities or their families as caregivers. People with all ranges of disabilities all deserve to live to their best ability and full life potential.

[patricia george]

as a parent of a young adult son with a severs mental disability i totally agree there needs to be more assistance available
more safe housing for inderpendent living.

[Edward Janus]

I am so glad to see that President Obama has kept his promise to all Persons with Disabilities and me also. That this was going to be one of his administrations priorities. I had a website at 'Obama 08' Campaign Site and stayed in connections with Kareem Dale and others regarding disability issues and needs.

My name is Edward Janus (also disabled myself). I am a longtime member, supporter of AAPD and JFActivist. I am a Disability Advocate and Activist. My Campaign and Mission is Fighting for Persons with Disabilities. And Making Our Voices Heard. Internet Activism for Supporting Causes.

Sincerely,
Edward Janus | Disability Advocate and Activist
10707 Wrightwood Ave. Northlake, IL. 60164
E-mails: [email protected]
[email protected]
Web Site: http://www.edwardjanus.net

[susan anastasio]

right on, dee alpert! i had been fighting orlando fl for 2 years on just getting businesses to have ada required... easily achievable... handicapp parking. i had to give up because i have progressive ms and the stress and fatique. why do we have to sue business to get our civil rights?

[Jesslie Hook]

I feel having these prominent folks from the disability community with the new President is just huge. People with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities in the public school systems know that reform is needed. As stated earlier, too many kids "fall through the cracks." My own associations with the DOE have led me to believe that when dealing with the IDEA, it's a system developed to better suit the system, not necessarily the individual. In some respect it may appear that schools are doing what is needed, but there are just so many avenues in IDEA that parents are often unaware of what their children are fully entitled to.

[Maggie Dee]

Most concerned that pwds are well represented at the highest levels of govenment, additionally:
- Think tank for/by pwd (persons with
disabilities), advisors to White House
- Health care with particular emphasis on
Long term care/abolish institutional
bias, first priority should be home care,
this is essential; mandate to physician
and discharge planners. Appropriate DMEs
to support patient and appropriate follow- up and/or transitional assistance to
ensure a successful recovery
- Access to food, higher standards for
nutritional needs. Set up food stores
for the poor, do NOT pay farmers to plow
under quality food. Send to stores
serving the poor and seniors, hire
the poor/train the poor for quality work
in corporate chains. Tax incentives to
chains who hire from training stores
- Abolish homebound restrictions
beneficiary must stay at home for nursing
- Durable Medical Equipment restictions
means long term higher medical problems
- FEMA--NEVER again a New Orleans!
- Employment, meaningful incentive programs
to hire pwds (meaningful tax credits)
- Housing, raise number of accessible units
receiving any federal money to 50%
accessible units 2-4 bedrooms.
- Expect that anyone getting subsidized
housing to volunteer or work at least 15
hours a month regardless of disbility,
age or income can be in developmental
centers, nutritional sites, places where
people receive their services. Track
progress.
- Transportation, rural mandates..too many
loopholes for lack of meeting pwd's needs
for para transit and accessible fixed-
route to employment, shopping; eliminate
isolation
- Streamlining all programs, single entry
from birth to the grave
- Statistical record keeping to measure
growth and potential
- Correct method of Census, better tracking
of all low-income groups partly done when
person asks for *any* kind of benefit
- Correct seriously flawed non-profit stats
keeping
- Revamp Department of Rehabilitation
seriously flawed services, mandate 75
percent of staff be disabled
- Revamp Independent Living Centers must
change staff at all levels at a maximum
of 5 years. ILs should be training
ground. Nationwide job posting ONLY
- Representative payees for anyone found
gambling, doing drugs or other illegal
activities; not caring for their children
- Not in school? Parents go to jail, first
one parent then the other, two weeks each
Maggie Dee-Dowling, Producer, KUSF 90.3 FM,(San Francisco) "Disability and Senior News Report"

[John Smith]

it really is too early to tell if anything is going to CHANGE for the better for us people with disabilities. a few govt appointments means nothing if it doesn't translate into action locally. this could all be for "show."