Issues

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Issues

Thoughts on the 20th Anniversary of the ADA

Details: Hauptkategorie: Politics and Activism; Kategorie: Issues; Geschrieben von Justyn Field; Zugriffe: 919

There live a people who will never feel the sacrifices their forefathers made to fight for their freedom. They will never truly understand that only a short time ago their people were not citizens in the land of the free—they could be shipped off to an institution against their will, be arrested for going out in public or be barred from even applying for work.

These people will know, though, that it is their right as Americans to exist—to be a part of the fabric of American society.

They will demand employment, because the promise of America lies in the opportunity to improve life through hard work and dedication.

Confining Ourselves: Where’s the Outrage?

Details: Hauptkategorie: Politics and Activism; Kategorie: Issues; Geschrieben von Mark E Smith; Zugriffe: 1012

Many of us involved in disability advocacy dream of a day when those with disabilities in the U.S. unite and form a serious, influential constituency – one much like the NAACP or AARP.

See, as those with disabilities, if we simply united as a body of millions, solidifying our collective voice on a national level, issues like detrimentally-low mobility and in-home care funding would be resolved in an instant – our influence on elected officials would be so great that they’d address our needs to no end. It really would be that simple – no rocket science or mountain climbing involved.

Speaking Up Paid Off

Details: Hauptkategorie: Politics and Activism; Kategorie: Issues; Geschrieben von Clare Willson; Zugriffe: 685

I have an update on the access issues with my local strip mall here in Virginia. I had written a few months ago here on Chloe regarding its lack of adequate wheelchair access. The main obstacle being a huge flower planter and a flight of steps preventing those in wheelchairs cruising from one line of stores to the other, without taking their lives in their hands driving out into the road. Also a big grey mailbox blocked a wheelchair ramp, making it impossible to even get on to the sidewalk.

Well after many months of letters from attorney, Steve Traubert, in Richmond, VA to the mall owners, I am happy to report the situation has been remedied, albeit in an odd way. The planter is still there, but either side of it there are now ramps, so you still have to drive 4 or 5 feet into the road to get from one area of shops to the other. However, to make this safer a row of orange metal posts has been installed in the road between the ramps to prevent cars driving into this area. Also, further down the strip mall an extra ramp and posts have been added. As of today the ridiculous “Not Suitable For Wheelchairs” signs are still standing, but I hope they will soon be gone as the work seems to still be ongoing.

Ultimately though this is progress and does show that even with only two voices and the backing of the Virginia Office of Protection and Advocacy change can be implemented. A big thank you to all of them!

Will There Be A Cure For Chronic Spinal Cord Injury

Details: Hauptkategorie: Politics and Activism; Kategorie: Issues; Geschrieben von Wise Young, Ph.D., M.D., Rutgers University; Zugriffe: 1901

A question and answer session with Dr. Wise Young, Ph.D at W. M Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience

Will a cure work for chronic spinal cord injury?

Many people are anxious that all the treatments that they hear about seem to be aimed at acute spinal cord injury. When they look at their bodies, they ask how any therapy can restore a body that has been paralyzed and senseless for years, in some cases decades. How will therapy restore muscle and bone? Not surprisingly, many people with chronic spinal cord injury think that the cure is for the newly injured and not for those with chronic spinal cord injury.