From the White House: Accomplishments for PWD in First 75 Days

From Kareem Dale, Special Assistant to the President (4/9/09):

Accomplishments for People with Disabilities in First 75 Days

      SIGNINGS

• Signed SCHIP, which will provide insurance to millions of children, including children with disabilities.
• Signed stem cell Executive Order, which will open the door to potential cures for many disabilities.
• Signed Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act, which will, for the first time in history, bring together the best minds across the country to collaborate on research, rehabilitation and improvement of quality of life for people living with paralysis.

RECOVERY ACT

• People with disabilities were included as never before in the recovery plan.
• Provided a one-time additional payment of $250 to people who receive Social Supplemental Income.
• Provided $500 million to the Social Security Administration to help reduce backlogs.
• Provided $87 billion in Medicaid funding for states.
• Provided $140 million in funding for independent living centers.
• Provided over $500 million in funding for vocational rehabilitation services to help with job training, education and placement.
• Provided $12 billion in funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

APPOINTMENTS

• Appointed a Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy with responsibilities in the Domestic Policy Council and Office of Public Liaison for the first time in history.
• Appointed a Special Assistant to the President in the White House Office of Personnel to focus on disability appointments for the first time in history.
• Appointed a Senior Advisor on Disability Policy in the Domestic Policy Council for the first time in history.
• Nominated a person with a disability, Kathy Martinez, to be Director of ODEP.
• Nominated Seth Harris, a long time disability advocate, to be Deputy Secretary of Labor.
• Nominated Tom Perez, a long-time supporter of the disability community, to head the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice.

OUTREACH

• President hosted a greet with 10 disability leaders following the signing of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act.
• Vice-President led a delegation to the Special Olympics.
• Included people with disabilities at all public White House events.
• Invited Carmen Jones, an African American woman with a disability, to participate in the small group meeting with seven other small business owners to discuss issues with the President facing small business owners.
• Invited six leaders from the disability community to the signing of SCHIP.
• Invited disability leaders to participate in the White House and regional healthcare summits, including members of CCD, ADAPT, National MS Society, mental health groups, autism groups and many other disability groups across the country.
• Invited CCD to participate in the fiscal summit.
• Hosted outreach meetings with disability leaders and organizations.
• Hosting briefing and meeting for presidents of national disability organizations.

Comment Below: Is this list impressive or depressing? Anything missing? What do you agree with? Disagree? What would you like to see in his list for the second 75 days?  By releasing this list, the Administration has demonstrated a desire to be seen as an historic advocate for the disability community.  Do you see them as such?

Comments

[Rob Crawford]

The Obama administration's efforts are a great beginning for improving the quality of life for PWD.

It is heartening to see critical appointments for both advisors and agency administrators who have personal and professional experience.

Moving forward,what is hoped for is to see RFP's & direct service funding at the vendor and independent program levels for school to work transition and adult programming.

Also, a reaching out by the administration to strategize with individuals, agencies, and grassroots organizations that truly address adult issues for high incidence disabilities such as LD, ADHD,mood disorders, etc.

Collectively, these conditions make up the majority of special education placements. The initial publicized Obama focus has been to meet with various disability advocacy groups on K-12 problems related to accountability and academic achievement.

But our current adminstration and the adult community with these disorders and conditions have not been provided with an adequate hearing regarding lifelong issues of under/un employment, social inclusion and non-institutional independent living options.

It is more a matter of identifying and developing appropriate program planning and services as opposed to available resources (limited,fragmented,non-existent).

Without a dialogue that includes these other adult disability thought leaders, comprehensive implementation of a national policy will be incomplete and exclusionary.

Thanks for the reporting,

Rob Crawford

[joyce davis]

i believe that the president and associates have opened a opening to better communication for pwd and policy makers. this communication is absolutely vital in order to make things better for pwd. one main issue for pwd, especially those in wheelchairs, is transportation. i believe that money should be set aside for helping communities develope more and better transportation for pwd's in the next 75 days.

regards---joyce davis

[Patricia Sprofera]

I couldn't help but notice that there were a lot of "for the first time in history" mentions in this article. How long will this administration take, before we see steps two, three, four, five (and so on), before all this "feel good" talk becomes solid steps towards a better life for those in the disability community?

[lindamarie]

It is very difficult for People with Disabilitys To prove they have a Real Disability. As many as 70 percent of the people who apply for ssdi get denied. If your Doctor thinks you have a disability shouldnt social Security agree? why do we people with a disability have to Jump through loops to get an approval? This needs help

[Ralph]

I agree with lindamarie, if a person is FIRED because of a "disability", why are they not automatically given the 'benefits'? Why is it that a person has to give up his/her HOME in order to even get in the position to APPLY for SSDI? Everything that I have worked for has been stolen from me, because of the stupidity of our society. I'm BARRED from working for anyone, anywhere. How is this helping the disabled community? The answer is, it is doing great damage. I think it's time to shed light on these horrendous actions and get together, instead of the "happy talk" surrounding the subject. Again, AAPD, I would greatly appreciate any help that you have there. You have been ignoring my pleas' of information for months now. You have my email address, and I have left messages on your message answerers. I've contacted the people that are listed on your website. Still no response.

[Tracy]

I do not have a visible disability but have recently begun a new job,helping the disabled in job placement and sometimes and supporting with job skills when needed.
This has opened a new awareness to my world and what is sorely lacking ...it starts with the awareness of the general public. It's amazing what allegedly educated people will say to me that is discriminatory!
The disabled need resources and they're needed now and our kids need diversity training that includes the disabled in this human race!

Black like me