Presidential Adviser Announced at Special Olympics

From the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (Feb. 12, 2009):

Biden praises Special Olympics athletes
By REBECCA BOONE

BOISE, Idaho -- Vice President Joe Biden says that President Barack Obama is committed to programs designed to improve the livelihood of Americans with disabilities and special needs.

To demonstrate his point, Biden announced that Kareem Dale, a former member of Obama's campaign in charge of coordinating the vote of disabled Americans, has been named the special assistant to the president for disabilities policy.

Biden made the announcement to a small group of Special Olympics athletes, volunteers and coordinators Thursday afternoon. The vice president was in Boise to attend a portion of the Special Olympics World Winter Games with a presidential delegation including U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Olympic figure-skating medalists Scott Hamilton and Michelle Kwan.

"This is a civil rights movement," Biden said. "There's a need to have changes in policy."

The nation needs policy changes that will ensure Americans with disabilities can get and keep fulfilling jobs without worrying about losing government-funded health insurance or other assistance, Biden said. Advocates have long complained that programs like Social Security Disability Insurance, Supplemental Security Income, Medicaid and Medicare essentially force disabled workers to leave their jobs or prevent them from working so that they can qualify for the medical care they need ...

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Comments

[Kathy Podgers]

This is a great first step.

Next step should be President Obama charging the DOJ to make civil rights for PWD a serious "priority."

I would also like to see PWQD be able to work at front desk jobs without risking being made fun of on SNL. Perhaps, as a first act, Kareem Dale should "send a letter" to SNL and let them know that behavior is not different than talking about a noose for black governors?

The media does not get it. We need to hold them accountable.

[darter]

I'm SO glad we finally have such a seasoned expert in the area of disability in the white house. He couldn't find ANYONE with a disability who hadn't just graduated from law school and maybe had SOME experience in a disability-related field??!! Visit an IL Center; look at Mayor's committees; see who's working on the ADAA! I resent having such an inexperienced, under-educated, uninvolved person "representing" my community. If you think this person is really going to make things better for people with disabilities, you are in for a surprise.