A novice activist tells of his experience at his first ADAPT protest for the Community Choice Act in Washington this summer. [...]
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Here are six persistent myths about health care reform. Now arm yourself with the facts! [...] Emotions are running high on health care reform. Much of the fear and controversy is based on misinformation. Here are the facts about why health care reform should be important to all Americans–and especially those with disabilities. [...] Eleanor Smith, founder of Concrete Change, believes all new residences can be—and should be—made basically accessible to people with disabilities, including those who acquire disabilities as they age. And the time to require it is now! By Tamar Asedo Sherman Visitability is a simple concept: every home should have one entrance with no steps and a door that is wide enough for a wheelchair to pass through (at least 32 inches wide) with a half bath on the first floor (that also has a 32-inch wide door) and enough space for a wheelchair to get in and turn around. That’s [...] In May, New York City honors one of the pioneers of the disability rights movement. By Amy Meisner-Threet Most people involved in the disability rights movement since the 1970s know the name Frieda Zames—not just in New York, where Zames lived all of her life, or even the United States, but all over the world. She was not large in stature, but her spirit and influence were huge. I did not have the privilege of knowing Frieda in life, but I have heard her name since I entered the disability community. I spoke at length with her partner of 32 years, Michael [...] | Polio Tips and Techniques By Dr. Richard L. Bruno I got a call from a very upset power wheelchair-using patient. She had gone for a mammogram the week before and just got a message that there was a shadow on her left breast and that she needed to come back for another mammogram. The next available appointment: Two months! She believed that the technicians couldn’t get her powerchair close enough to the X-ray machine to get a clear picture because they didn’t take the time to let her remove the powerchair’s joystick. After making a few calls, I got the patient [...] This just in from Rep. Jim Langevin’s office: Better Treatment and Cures Sought by Baldwin, Bono Mack, Langevin, Bilirakis Washington, DC – Congresswomen Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Mary Bono Mack (R-CA) and Congressmen Jim Langevin (D-RI) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) today celebrated House passage of their legislation to improve the lives of and hasten better treatments and cures for people living with paralysis. The Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act was included in the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act passed today in the House and recently by the Senate. The bill now goes to the President for his signature. A United Spinal Member is appointed to the nation’s highest accessibility post. By Dominic Marinelli and Tom Scott In November 2008, United Spinal member David M. Capozzi, was named the new executive director of the United States Access Board, the independent Federal agency created in 1973 to help enforce the accessibility of federally funded facilities and encourage accessible design practice through public outreach, technical assistance, training, published guidance, and research. “I am honored to be your Executive Director and will work hard to meet and exceed your expectations,” Capozzi, a native of Buffalo, New York, said in remarks to the Board following [...] A member of Congress looks at the prospects for people with disabilities in the new political and economic climate. By Rep. Jim Langevin Our nation is in the midst of trying to recover from a downward economic trend. I am keenly aware that when the larger economy is struggling, people living and working with disabilities are more acutely affected. It is during these times that people with disabilities need to work together to advocate for solutions to ease burdens and preserve finances, as well as work to educate each other about programs that already exist and are ready to be [...] Vice-President Joe Biden’s experience with a disability may make him an ally for rights groups in the administration. By John M. Williams I have met Vice President Joseph Biden (D-DE) half a dozen times over 30 years. Four times I have met him on train rides either going to or coming from Delaware. Twice I have sat down with him and discussed politics on these rides for about 20 minutes. Each time, I found him to be approachable, a listener and someone who is aware of issues related to disability. I have always found him to be contemplative on domestic and international [...] The system often seems stacked against people with disabilities who want to work. Is that a good enough reason not to look for a job? By Tamar Asedo Sherman Why work with a disability? It’s not only about the money, although that certainly helps. It’s hard to live on Social Security Disability Income or Supplemental Security Income. We can all use a little extra, especially in the current fiscal climate. But there are strong disincentives that give many of us pause at the thought of possibly losing health insurance benefits and a monthly payment of $1,000 or more. We might have [...] Dr. Richard L. Bruno’s roadmap for obtaining Social Security Disability Income if post-polio keeps you from seeking or holding gainful [...] Can the right bed do the right things for your quality of life? Rosemarie Rossetti, PhD is convinced that it [...] Disability rights activists make some news getting arrested for the cause. But is anyone in Washington listening to the call for more affordable adaptive housing? By Amy Meisner-Threet, MSW “I’d rather go to jail than die in a nursing home.” That was just one of many chants heard resounding in the nation’s capital as more than 200 protesters, including this reporter, from ADAPT (Americans Disabled for Attendant Programs Today) came together for political action September 12 to 16. We descended upon Washington, DC, from all over the United States with a clear message: We need accessible, affordable, integrated housing! That’s “we,” as in [...] Many people in Washington have heightened hopes for disability and health-care policy issues but there are still many factors to overcome before we can get there. [...] |
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