CA OPTION AL MEDICAL AND IHHS BENEFITS CUT FOR THOSE IN VOC REAHB TICKET TO WORK, EVEN SOME SEVERELY AND MULIPLY DISABLED. CUTS WERE BACKFILLED IN STAKEHOLDERS MEETINGS WHERE LOBBY ISTS AGREED TO REIN STATE FOR MULITPLE SPECAIL INTERST GROUPS ONLY
- NOT BY MEDICAL NEED -
THOSE SEVERELY MULITPLEY DISABLED AND THOSE HOPING TO BE ABLE TO WORK WILL NOW SUFFER and be UN -ABLE .
FOR THOSE SOME LESS DISABLED ALREADY WITH MORE SUPPORTS BECASUE THEY HAD REPRESENTATION OF LOBBYISTS .
THIS VIOLATES ADA +/OR SECTION 504 .
THERE ARE NO advocates and no voice for severely and multiply disabled not attached to regional centers certain senior and other outside special interests.
This has been done by affiliation NOT medical need !
PLEASE ASK Washington to stand up for us and give us a voice!
CA LOBBYISTS BACK FILL some cuts for SPECIAL INTERESTS only!
CHECKS Were supposed to come out in May some DELAYED.
DID YOU - IF ON SSI OR SSDI - RECeIVE YOUR $250.oo STIMULUS?
if you have not call
1-800-772-1213
please reply here too.!
I wrote this in my spare time. I want to encourage the readers to never give up.
GM has its problems. Don't give up.
One of my students was on his way to a banquet on his motorcycle and was hit by a car. He recovered and he did not give up.
Another student had an accidental bullet wound in the hand one week before the final exam. She did not give up.
Another student's mother had a heart attack a few days before final exam. He did not give up.
Here is another example.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/174243-nfl-pep-talk-never-give-up
Never give up.
here's the link to the action:
http://homelessness.change.org/actions/view/accessible_housing_for_all
PLEASE HELP SUPPORT THE AMENDMENTS TO HR 1408 IN FINANCE COMMITTEE
LETTER TO GO OUT IS EDITABLE and IS EASIeR TO READ THAN FRONT PAGE Which is JUST ThE DETAILS
LETS GET 10K SIGNATURES TO BEGIN REAL WORK ON ACCESSIBLE HOUSING FOR ALL.
CDCAN ACTION ALERT
California Disability Community Action Network
Advocacy Without Borders: One Community
APRIL 14, 2009 - TUESDAY
To reply to this email alert: Marty Omoto – martyomoto@rcip.com or go to the CDCAN website at www.cdcan.us
MAJOR PERMANENT CUTS TO REGIONAL CENTERS, MEDI-CAL, IHSS, SSI/SSP COMING
APRIL 22nd and MAY 7th MARCH & SIDEWALK DEMONSTRATION FOR RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS & SENIORS, LOW-INCOME WORKERS AND FAMILIES
Also: Come to April 23 Budget Hearing on Medi-Cal Cuts & Mental Health Issues
· California (and the nation) is going through the worse financial crisis since the Great Depression in the 1930’s, with California’s budget shortfall still growing by billions of dollars despite major spending cuts and new revenues and fund shifting and borrowing made in the 2009-2010 State Budget passed in February (four months early).
· Major permanent cuts impacting regional centers, SSI/SSP (federal/state grants to the lowest income persons with disabilities, the blind and seniors), CalWORKS, In-Home Supportive Services, permanent elimination of several Medi-Cal optional benefits including adult dental, mental health services, are already in the budget unless the Legislature and Governor rescind their previous actions and restore funding.
· With budget shortfall growing once again, additional huge permanent cuts are almost certain to be proposed by the Governor in late May.
· These are protests to stand up for the rights of children and adults with disabilities, with mental health needs, seniors, those with traumatic brain and other injuries, those with MS, Alzheimer’s and other disorders, their families, and the community organizations and low income workers who provide critical supports and services.
· This is about an individual’s right to live in their own home and community, rights that the Governor and Legislature have a responsibility to protect – not take away.
· This protest march and demonstration is also to let the Governor and Legislature know that our community of children and adults with disabilities, with mental health needs, with traumatic brain and other injuries, with MS, Alzheimer’s and other disorders, seniors and low income families should not be the ones bearing the burden to pay for California’s recovery. Our community has a right to share in the recovery too.
· Californians can lose their homes, employment and even lives not just by foreclosure or when retail businesses close – but also when the Governor and Legislature (and local government) cut funding for critical services (such as Medi-Cal, regional center funded services, In-Home Supportive Services, SSI/SSP, senior and mental health services) that results in a person being forced out of their home or job.
APRIL 22, 2009 – WEDNESDAY
REGIONAL CENTERS – MENTAL HEALTH CUTS (ASSEMBLY)
11:00 AM to 1:00 PM (be on time!)
PRIORITY: VERY HIGH!
WHERE:
Meet at the Sacramento Convention Center sidewalk area on 13th and K Streets (facing rear entrance of Hyatt Regency Hotel and the Esquire Grill restaurant)
WHAT:
· Meet at 11 AM in the sidewalk/plaza area in front of the Sacramento Convention Center FACING 13th and K Streets (across from Esquire Grill and the Hyatt Regency Hotel rear entrance)
· March from there, crossing 13th Street, marching down K Street Mall, crossing 12th street (stoplight) to 11th Street (walking mall), turning left marching down the 11th Street walking mall to the State Capitol, crossing L Street (stoplight) to the sidewalk facing the Capitol building (where the sidewalk demonstration will occur).
· Sidewalk demonstration until 1:00 PM for rights of children and adults with disabilities, mental health needs, seniors and low income families.
WHY:
· Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services (agenda will focus on cuts to regional centers and mental health services) meets at 1:00 PM, April 22, 2009 Wednesday afternoon in the State Capitol. Public testimony will be taken on cuts to regional centers. These permanent cuts include the details from the Governor (through the Department of Developmental Services) on needed changes in state law to implement cuts of over $100 million in state general fund money to regional center funded services between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010 and beyond. Advocates expect ,more and even larger permanent cuts in late May when the Governor submits his budget revisions – including more cuts to regional centers.
· March and sidewalk demonstration will protest the continued cuts made by the Governor and Legislature to regional centers that fund critical services to children and adults with developmental disabilities (including autism, down syndrome, cerebral palsy) AND the prospect of MORE additional permanent cuts coming in late May and January as the State budget shortfall grows worse. Protest will also focus attention on cuts to mental health services.
· March and sidewalk demonstration also continues earlier protests against huge permanent cuts impacting cuts to In-Home Supportive Services, SSI/SSP, CalWORKS, senior services, low income children.
APRIL 23, 2009 – THURSDAY MORNING
MEDI-CAL – MENTAL HEALTH CUTS (SENATE)
09:30 AM or upon adjournment of Senate floor session
PRIORITY: VERY HIGH
State Capitol – Room 4203
· No outside protest or demonstration planned.
· Attend and testify at Senate Budget Subcommittee hearing that will focus on Medi-Cal, including cuts in the budget now that, unless rescinded before July 1, 2009, will permanently eliminate several Medi-Cal optional benefits including adult dental, incontinence creams and washes, podiatry and other critical services for persons not living in a nursing home or other similar health facility.
· Also hearing will focus on mental health services, Healthy Families and California Children Services budget issues
MAY 7, 2009 – THURSDAY MORNING
REGIONAL CENTER CUTS (SENATE)
09:00 AM (until start of hearing)
State Capitol – L Street sidewalk
Sidewalk demonstration for rights of people with disabilities, mental health needs, seniors. Meet on sidewalk on L Street facing the State Capitol (at 11th Street). More details coming.
· Senate Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services (agenda will focus on cuts to regional centers) meets at 09:30 AM (or when the Senate floor session adjourns that morning – could be later than 9:30 AM) May 7, 2009, Thursday morning in the State Capitol in Room 4203. Public testimony will be taken on cuts to regional centers.
· This sidewalk demonstration will continue the protests against cuts impacting not only regional centers, but cuts to In-Home Supportive Services, SSI/SSP, CalWORKS, mental health, low income children.
WHAT TO BRING TO APRIL 22 & MAY 7 EVENTS:
· Pictures of loved ones impacted by all these cuts, including those of workers.
· Posters and signs (“No More Cuts” “People with disabilities, mental health c needs and seniors deserve a better California” “Governor and Legislature: Do the Right Thing: Rescind Cuts to Disabled and Seniors”, etc) .
· Make signs as individualized as possible. This is about an individual’s rights to live in their own home and community and to share in the recovery of California and the nation and not be the ones made to pay for it.
· Bring your own lunch or snacks and water for April 22 and May 7 – it will be long a day!
SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER AVOIDING
· Avoid personal attacks on posters and signs as it takes focus away from the issue of the rights of a child, of an adult (including seniors), with disabilities, who are blind , mental health needs, or a disorder or injury.
· If coming with a group, consider NOT wearing the same color shirts (not just unions, but also community organizations, regional centers, or associations who sometime like to have their members wear the same outfit or shirt). This suggestion of not wearing the same type of t-shirt or holding the same exact mass produced sign is not an attack on any group – all groups are welcome.
· Wearing the same colored t-shirt (either one promoting a regional center, union, or association or other group) takes away from the focus of an individual – that of a child or adult or senior with disabilities, with autism, with traumatic brain injuries, with Alzheimer’s, with mental health needs. A person who is deaf or blind.
· The cuts are attacking and harming individuals – a child, an adult, a senior, a low income worker.
· Dress as an individual – as you would normally – because THAT is the best way to show California – to show the Governor and Legislature and others that this is about how these terrible cuts are harming a child with disabilities and mental health needs, an adult with disabilities and mental health needs, a senior, a low income worker. We want to make California see us in that way – and to hear the voices of individuals who are being harmed. Si Se Puede.
WHO SHOULD COME
· Cuts impact children and adults with developmental disabilities – including those with autism spectrum disorders, down syndrome; children and adults with other disabilities, children and adults with mental health needs, seniors including those with Alzheimer’s, persons with MS and other disorders, children and adults with traumatic brain and other injuries, children and parents from low income families, community organizations and facilities and low income workers who provide critical supports and services, regional centers, independent living centers, and more. All should come.
· These hearings are just three in a series of budget hearings that have been held all this past year – with more to come. There have been hearings on In-Home Supportive Services, mental health – and more will be scheduled likely on those and other issues – and we will organize events also on those dates.
· For April 22 and May 7, both the Assembly and Senate budget subcommittees will focus on major cuts to regional centers that fund community-based services to children and adults with developmental disabilities. Cuts include those that will children in Early Start (California’s early intervention program), transportation, supported living and a wide range of other services – in addition to on-going cuts passed last September and in February, which have already been implemented (including 3% cuts in regional center provider payments retroactive to February 1, 2009). The April 23rd Senate budget subcommittee hearing will focus on cuts to Medi-Cal, mental health.
· Just as important as focusing on cuts already proposed or already passed, is a focus that MORE permanent cuts of hundreds of millions of dollars in state spending is certain to come in the coming months, if the state’s budget situation continues to grow worse – as most expect it will.
· The Governor will propose revisions to the State budget for 2009-2010 that was passed in February four months early. But the deficit that was closed by that budget (which goes into effect July 1, 2009) has grown by a projected $8 billion, a number that will likely grow even larger in the coming months.
· That will almost certainly mean more proposed cuts – including those impacting specifically regional centers – and also other health and human services critical to people with disabilities, mental health needs, seniors and low income families across California. Unlike in previous years, these cuts will almost certainly be permanent.
HOW A PERSON CAN TESTIFY AT HEARINGS
· Nearly all of the budget subcommittee hearings allow time for the public to provide testimony or comments – but that time is very limited, especially if there is a large crowd waiting to testify.
· The subcommittee chair will, usually after each agenda item, ask for comments from the subcommittee, then will ask for any testimony or comments from the public (you don’t fill out a card requesting to speak in advance that is often the practice at local government type meetings) [CDCAN Note: agendas for these hearings are usually not available until the day before the hearing. Agendas are available in the hearing rooms – CDCAN will also send out copies and post on the CDCAN website as soon as agendas become available]
· People simply line up to speak (at the podium or table, depending on the hearing room). In the larger hearing rooms the subcommittees will often have wireless microphones available for persons unable to make it up to the podium easily.
· Give your full name and where you are from. If you have a picture – show it (including to the audience behind you).
· Keep comments focused on the specific agenda item that the subcommittee chair is asking people to speak on. Sometimes that is not always possible if the agenda doesn’t include the issues you want to talk about.
· Time to speak is very limited, especially if there are a lot of agenda items and also if there are a lot of people waiting to also testify. Persons should try to make brief comments, lasting not more than a minute or so.
· Talking longer is NOT more effective – and it simply takes away time for another person to speak (you can give written comments to the subcommittee in addition to speaking). And taking time away from another person waiting to speak is taking away their right to participate too.
· Think of how long a good commercial on radio or TV lasts – usually 30 seconds. But a strong and compelling point can be made in that time – in part also because if there are others lined up to speak too – then each person’s testimony is being supported and emphasized by everyone else.
· Be respectful to the subcommittee chair, members and staff – and also the sergeant at arms in the hearing rooms.
· CDCAN Note: more information about the specific hearings, including committee members and other ideas will be sent out later – and also at the two protests/demonstrations prior to the hearings.
URGENT!!!!
PLEASE HELP CDCAN CONTINUE ITS WORK!!!
CDCAN Townhall Telemeetings, reports and alerts and other activities cannot continue without your help.
To continue the CDCAN website, the CDCAN News Reports. sent out and read by over 45,000 people and organizations, policy makers and media across California and to continue the CDCAN Townhall Telemeetings which since December 2003 have connected thousands of people with disabilities, seniors, mental health needs, people with MS and other disorders, people with traumatic brain and other injuries to public policy makers, legislators, and issues.
Please send your contribution/donation (make payable to "CDCAN" or "California Disability Community Action Network):
CDCAN
1225 8th Street Suite 480
Sacramento, CA 95814
You can also donate via credit card – paypal on the CDCAN site working again!
MANY, MANY THANKS to HOPE Services of San Jose, FEAT of Sacramento (Families for Early Autism Treatment), RESCoalition, Easter Seals of Southern California, Tri-Counties Regional Center, Westside Regional Center, Regional Center of the East Bay, Friends of Children with Special Needs, UCP of Orange County, UCP of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, Alta California Regional Center, Life Steps, Parents Helping Parents, Work Training, Foothill Autism Alliance, Arc Contra Costa, Pause4Kids, Manteca CAPS, Training Toward Self Reliance, UCP, California NAELA, Californians for Disability Rights, Inc (CDR) including CDR chapters, CHANCE Inc, , Strategies To Empower People (STEP), Harbor Regional Center, Asian American parents groups, Resources for Independent Living and many other Independent Living Centers, several regional centers, People First chapters, IHSS workers, other self advocacy and family support groups, developmental center families, adoption assistance program families and children, and others across California
Dear All APF members,
FDA Briefing on Unapproved Opioids was held on April 9, 2009.
An emergency stakeholder briefing was convened via conference call by the FDA to address concerns that have been raised by the pain and palliative care communities regarding warnings to nine companies to stop manufacturing and distributing 14 opioid analgesics within 60 days. APF participated in this briefing. A replay of the briefing will be available until April 15, 2009 at 11:59 PM EDT. To hear the replay, callers can dial 1-866-419-2678.
Douglas Throckmorton, M.D., Deputy Director, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research stated that the FDA understands that patients dealing with terminal illness have unique needs that should have been taken into consideration. The FDA reported that they are taking immediate corrective action regarding the availability of the 20mg/ml morphine sulfate solution. They regretted that they failed to include representatives from hospice and palliative care organizations in deliberations over this particular issue and will improve their consultation process with key stakeholders in the future. The FDA commented that they were not aware of the extent of disruption in patient care because of their ruling or that a critical shortage of some of these medications already exists. We would like to acknowledge them for their swift action in this case as they became aware of the impact this disruption was having on the community. In order to help remedy this; they would like to hear from providers if there are critical shortages in medications to help manage patients optimally.
Action:The FDA has asked to be notified of drug shortages in your area as they arise. Contact FDA by emailing this information to drugshortages@fda.hhs.gov. All correspondence should include your professional information, name of the drug, your location, name of wholesaler (if available) and identify yourself as an APF member.
To stay informed of drug shortages, visit the FDA website at: http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/shortages/
Our voices can make a difference.
If you are receiving this e-mail for the first time as a forward from a friend, please register here to continue to receive news and action items regarding pain management.
Sincerely,American Pain Foundation
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*please note rules for hud housing occupants medical and disability deductions are different than tax/irs rules
www.hud.gov/.../both.cfm
Tax Deductions for People with Disabilities
Read Estate Planning for People with Disabilities to find out what you need to know before planning your estate.
Subject: [DoctorsforObama] Calling All Doctors -- Tell Congress to Fund Health Reform
Dear Doctors @ Organizing for America:
President Obama has asked Congress to fund health reform in his proposed
budget. Without these funds, health reform will not happen this year.
*Doctors AND MEDICAL STUDENTS must tell Congress that we cannot afford to wait another year for
health reform.
*
*http://drsforamerica.org
PATIENTS:
http://standwithdrdean.com/dfa2
PLEASE
Give America a choice. We support healthcare reform that allows individual Americans to choose either a universally available public healthcare option like Medicare or for-profit private insurance. A public option is the only way to guarantee healthcare for all Americans and its inclusion is non- negotiable.
Any legislation without the choice of a public option is only insurance reform and not the healthcare reform America needs.
STOP MEDICAL CUTS TO DISABLED IT WILL MAKE US UNABLE TO SEE DO PAINMANAGEMNT ETC TO GET EDUCATED AND OFF THE DOLE. MANY OTHER CUTS THIS HIGHLIGHTS MEDI-CAL CUTS. ON TOP OF LOSS OF SSI/SSP INCOME -NOT COST OF LIVING.
PLEASE EMAIL THE CA TREASURER ,BILL LOCKYER,
cdiac_education@treasurer.ca.gov
FROM #104-2009 MARCH 27, 2009 – FRIDAY REPORT
www.cdcan.us
please take a minute or two and sign on.
individuals and organizations WE need YOU!
From: SEDBTAC ADA Network [mailto:SEDBTAC-ADANETWK@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of SEDBTA ProjectSent: Thursday, March 12, 2009 1:45 PMTo: SEDBTAC-ADANETWK@LISTSERV.SYR.EDUSubject: Accessible Transportation...Please distribute widely
FYI: Emailed for Informational Purpose. Please follow contact information below. Do not respond to this email. In conjunction with a grant received from the Federal Transit Administration, (http://www.fta.dot.gov/) Meeting the Challenge, Inc. is conducting a survey designed to collect information from people with disabilities regarding their experiences with public transportation. We would like to invite all people with disabilities to participate. Information gathered will be used to determine what barriers still exist in public transportation for people with disabilities and will be used to create Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) technical assistance materials directed toward alleviating those barriers.
This is an on-line survey which can be accessed from this link: http://mtcinc.transit.sgizmo.com . It is estimated that it will take from 5 to 15 minutes to complete the survey. If you do not have internet access, you can participate by calling Meeting the Challenge at 1-800-864-4264 (select menu choice #2), Monday through Friday between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM (MT), and a staff member will assist you with the survey by telephone. If you prefer a paper copy of the survey, one can be obtained by calling the same phone number. Responses to the survey will be collected through March 31, 2009.
Please forward this e-mail to any individuals with a disability or to any groups serving individuals with disabilities that you feel would be appropriate respondents. We thank you for your participation and assistance!
Cristi L. Harris
Special Projects Director
Meeting the Challenge, Inc
(800) 949-4232 (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY)
(719) 444-0252 ext. 108
please copy or send your own.
our baseline of care will likely be health care for all baseline too.
1. Reduce Optional Benefits
General Fund Savings
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME/STATE SUPPLEMENTARY PROGRAMS (SSI/SSP)
1. Reduced Grants To The Federal Limit For Age/Disabled Persons; Individuals Reduced From $870 A Month To $830 Couples Reduced From $1524 Per Month To $1407
Attention Hurricane Katrina Survivors!
We want to hear from people who have a disability or who have diabetes who had an experience with Hurricane Katrina.
Are you someone or know someone who:
Has a disability or has diabetes?
We are doing research to study the impact of Hurricane Katrina on people with disabilities or diabetes. We are collecting information on the barriers and disruptions they experienced in their lives, the strategies they used to reestablish their lives and their disaster-related needs as they recovered from Hurricane Katrina. Participants will be asked to spend approximately 30 minutes on the telephone answering survey questionsand will receive financial compensation for their time.
To sign up for this study or for more information call 1.866.578.4366. This project is in collaboration with the Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University and the ILRU Program at TIRR Memorial Hermann Hospital.
found this on disaboom.com
CDCAN NEWS REPORT
CALIFORNIA DISABILITY COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK
ADVOCACY WITHOUT BORDERS: ONE COMMUNITY
REPORT #078-2009 FEBRUARY 27, 2009 – FRIDAY
California Disability Community Action Network Disability Rights News goes out to over 45,000 people with disabilities, mental health needs, seniors, veterans with disabilities and mental health needs, their families, workers, community organizations, including those in Asian/Pacific Islander, Latino, African American communities, policy makers and others across California.
To reply to this report write: MARTY OMOTO at martyomoto@rcip.com Website: www.cdcan.us
BREAKING NEWS
FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCKS NEW MEDI-CAL PROVIDER CUTS
CUTS WOULD HAVE TAKEN EFFECT MARCH 1, 2009
SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 02/27/09 2:40 PM (Pacific Time) ] - A federal district court judge in Los Angeles today issued an order that will block the new Medi-Cal rate reductions that was scheduled to take effect March 1, 2009.
The cuts were passed last September as part of the three month delayed 2008-2009 State Budget. It cut Medi-Cal provider rates for doctors and others by 1% and for pharmacies, adult day health and other providers by 5%. Those reductions rolled back previously approved cuts to provider rates that went into effect July 1, 2008. Those cuts however were stopped by the same federal district court judge in August 2008 for most Medi-Cal providers, and in November for other Medi-Cal providers. The State has appealed that decision but the injunction that blocked those cuts, remains in effect.
See later CDCAN Report today for more details on this case.
CDCAN Townhall Telemeetings, reports and alerts and other activities cannot continue without your help!
CDCAN Disability Rights News Reports, Telemeetings & other Events
Advocacy Without Borders - ONE Community:
To respond to this report reply to: Marty Omoto at martyomoto@rcip.com CDCAN website: www.cdcan.us
The CDCAN Townhall Telemeetings are partially funded by a small grant from the USC UCEDD, Grant #90DD0540 from the Administration on Developmental Disabilities. (note: the opinions expressed or content in these reports do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the USC UCEDD.
MANY, MANY THANKS to FEAT of Sacramento (Families for Early Autism Treatment), RESCoalition, Easter Seals of Southern California, Tri-Counties Regional Center, Westside Regional Center, Regional Center of the East Bay, Friends of Children with Special Needs, UCP of Orange County, UCP of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, Alta California Regional Center, Life Steps, Parents Helping Parents, Work Training, Foothill Autism Alliance, Arc Contra Costa, Pause4Kids, Manteca CAPS, Training Toward Self Reliance, UCP, California NAELA, Californians for Disability Rights, Inc (CDR) including CDR chapters, CHANCE Inc, , Strategies To Empower People (STEP), Harbor Regional Center, Asian American parents groups, Resources for Independent Living and many other Independent Living Centers, several regional centers, People First chapters, IHSS workers, other self advocacy and family support groups, developmental center families, adoption assistance program families and children, and others across California
A Look at Sociocultural Context and Career Gap
The sociocultural factors which impinged on the careers of NFL players in the sixties do not exist in the 21st century. The uncertainty and anxiety that may have been present in the lives of young men in the 1960s may not exist in the same form as they did in earlier years. For example, no professional athlete has to think about career gaps resulting from a military draft. Research shows: “President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 which created the country's first peacetime draft and formally established the Selective Service System as an independent Federal agency…From 1948 until 1973, during both peacetime and periods of conflict, men were drafted to fill vacancies in the armed forces which could not be filled through voluntary means.”
A broader and deeper view of the sociocultural context of a young man’s life in the 1960s sheds more light on the explanation of historical data. For example, Mr. Warren Wells was sent to Fairbanks, Alaska, in a state that had about 228,000 people in 1960. The city of Fairbanks had between 13,000 and 14,000 people in 1960. Wells home state, Texas, in 1960 had more than 9 million people. The scenario can be described as follows: Wells left a reasonably diverse, warm environment to serve the United States of America in a place that ranked at the bottom in population, while also dealing with the reality of an interruption in his beloved career. He successfully fulfilled his obligation to serve his country during the Cold War and he received an honorable discharge. The military history during the time of the Cold War is another context to assist in characterizing the sociocultural experiences of persons in the Armed Forces. Furthermore, if he did not have the mandatory requirement of serving his country during both the Cold War and during the times of mandatory military draft, he definitely would have had at least 7 years in professional football. Therefore, to use the length of his career against him is not a favorable response to a man who in his prime and with above average stamina was willing to serve his country during an era when America had a military draft program because of a shortage of manpower. Another important point for rebuttal, using another context, is career length. The argument can be discussed in the context of the average career length of an NFL player. According to research, we have: “The average career of an NFL player is 3 1/2 seasons according to the NFLPA.” The amazing fact about Wells’ career is that he made history during an intense five year career and his career length exceeds that of the average NFL player. His length has qualified him for his NFL benefits, so why not give him his glory commensurate with his mark on history.
Letter to General Assembly
I’m a disabled Virginia citizen. I’m 29 and have Cerebral Palsy. I’m a smart and active member in my community.
Please support Independent Living Centers. I’m glad the Southeastern Virginia Training Center state has been shut down. I want to see more people with disabilities living in their community. The statewide Independent Living Centers can help people with disabilities be independent. Independent Living Centers (CIL) provides services to people with disabilities. They help find homes, facilitate waivers such as for attendants, teach the in and outs of Medicaid and Social Security, plus much more.
Please support the personal care attendant pay raise. (Item Number: FFF) To get more people out of nursing homes, living independently and in the workplace our attendants need to be paid more. It is cheaper to care for somebody in his or her home than in an institution or nursing home in my opinion.
Please do not support changes to waivers to ensure that the actual cost of services for an individual does not exceed the average annual cost of the alternative institutional setting. (Item Number: AAA)
Please support the cigarette tax. Every cent is needed to keep people out of nursing homes and the waivers available. I would support a gas tax if there were one.
Please do not support the ED/CD wavier to have a waiting list. (Item Number: III) People shouldn’t have to wait to have a personal care attendant. Long waiting list would force people into nursing homes and institution, which is the exact opposite of our goal. Goal: Keep people in their community. I use the ED/CD wavier. It pays my attendants. It is vital to my independence.
www.ivykennedy.com
You see I know from personal experience that things often don’t end the way they do in the movies. I did everything right, went to college, worked for over thirty years, had good credit, paid my bills on time etc. Unfortunately I got sick in America. After a freak accident, I almost died, had to have brain surgery, and now have several incurable autoimmune diseases. That was hard enough to deal with, but when I filed a claim to get a government insurance policy (Social Security Disability Insurance) that I paid for every week out of my wages, just like many of you do, my life was permanently destroyed with the stroke of a pen, by a government worker to whom I was just an SS number, and who did not do their job properly. I lost all my life savings, and pension money while fighting for my benefits, and will never be able to recover from the emotional, physical and financial devastation that had on my life.
Unlike Frank Capra’s character George Bailey, there are no bailouts for me, or others like me. While family and friends have good intentions, they are not much better off either, so they really can’t help like they might want to, and I don’t qualify for Social Service programs. I don’t know how I am going to survive without some miracle like winning the lottery. I am now doomed to spend what’s left of my days here on earth, living in poverty, in addition to all my medical concerns. I will never be able to own a home, or get another car. My current vehicle which is on death’s door, is the only method of transportation I have for survival. Then there is always the struggle of deciding whether I should buy food, or get medicine, that much needed medical test, or see the doctor instead. When things break down now, I cannot fix them and have to do without. This totally unbearable, continuing source of stress and frustration, is killing me. I tell you this not for pity but to warn you that anyone of you reading this could end up just like me, and have your life changed forever by an unfortunate illness, accident, vicious act, service to our country or natural disaster. Remember that disease and tragedy do not discriminate on the basis of age, sex or race, and if you think this could not happen to you – you could be dead wrong, just like over 16,000 Americans in the last two years who did not survive the wait to get their Social Security Disability benefits.
Since most of our elected officials will probably never experience this scenario personally, because they usually have a nice financial cushion to fall back on, I don’t see any hope for change in regards to this problem, no matter who is in office. Let’s be brutally honest here. The first thing to get cut in local, state and federal budgets is always the money to fund programs that help the people who need it most. This problem has festered for decades and nobody is going to convince me that they don’t want us to give up or die. They continually talk about helping the upper class and the middle class. What about the millions of Americans that do not fit either of those categories? Thanks to their neglect of our situations, they continue to prove that they have no class. The only thing that ever trickles down to us is too nasty a word to mention, and the only light at the end of the tunnel is a freight train! Buildings are not built from the top down, and a chain is only as strong as it’s weakest link. You can judge a country by how it treats it’s most vulnerable citizens, and we have been left to die in the streets, and on hospital waiting room floors. Based on what I have seen, heard, and personally experienced, America should hang its head in shame! Unfortunately for myself, and others like me it’s not such a wonderful life. There is no possibility of the American dream, only the reality of the American nightmare. My only hope is that it never happens to you.
Dear Barack,
If you ever read these things, and I highly doubt that you will ever see this, we really need to talk!
The rest of my horror story can be found on my website “A Bump On The Head” at:
http://www.frontiernet.net/~lindaf1/bump.html
LJ Fullerton - Social Security Disability Coalition
Due to the Secret Service advising those supporters with disabilities NOT to attend the Inauguration, lack of interest and the material being covered adequately in other sources, this group will cease activity as of December 23, 2009.
Anyone who needs some info is welcome to O-mail me and I will do my best to help.
Thank you for running a smart campaign. Stay safe!
I was floored when Obama won. I didn’t think it was going to happen.Then on top of that he mentioned people with disabilities in his speech in Chicago. I was ecstatic!
Thank you to his staff for running a smart, no nonsense campaign.
Obama means hope. …. The American dream is a little easier to achieve for me because of Barack.
I will pray for his safety and the safety of his family each night.
_____________________
How I almost voted for McCain
On the first debate Obama promised too many things. BS he can’t fix everything. He’s dumb to even say he could.
When Sarah was picked, before the press really dug their hooks in I decided I didn’t like her. It felt McCain was making an obvious play for Hilary supporters. Sarah seemed like a puppet. It felt obvious to me she’d say anything the Republications told her.I liked McCain until he picked her but was really turned off when his campaign hit the gutter.
I didn’t like Obama’s lack of foreign experience. It seemed McCain had plenty.
Obama’s site had a corner of his website for people with disabilities. Sarah had a son with Down Syndrome. She seemed not to be an involved mother to her 5 kids. I felt as a new advocate for people with disabilities, thanks to her son, she had no clue what it meant to be a disability advocate. She would be learning, not an experienced advocate.
I liked Obama’s promise to help the middle class.McCain would help the rich. Republicans will always help the rich first.
Obama didn’t fight dirty. He was always having to correct the Republicans because they made up things about his policies.
McCain’s navy pilot history came out. He looked like a poor leader to me because of his wildness. He would do whatever he pleased like Bush.
Overall, Obama ran a cleaner campaign. That and his open ear for people with disabilities won my vote and respect.
www.geocities.com/ivykennedy
