>From: [log in to unmask]
>Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2003 11:06:27 EST
>Subject: GREAT ORGANIZING
>To: undisclosed-recipients:;
>X-Mailer: CompuServe 2000 32-bit sub 113
>
>GREAT ORGANIZING - Information Bulletin # 49
>
>    The California and Virginia disability communities have successfully
>organized and shown their elected officials what Disability POWER is all
>about.  Many of you know that the Supreme Court had agreed to hear a case
>from California that would have decided whether the States' sovereign
>immunity trumped. Congress'authority to enact Title II of the ADA against
>States.
>
>    After the Supreme Court took the case, the California advocates shouted
>"NOT ON OUR WATCH."  They were outraged that their State would be The Cause
>for a potentially devastating Supreme Court decision.  A terrific state-wide
>coalition of "insider advocates" and "outsider advocates" (aren't they all
>part of the same disability community, regardless from where they apply
their
>power?) combined forces and began exerting their collective pressure.
>
>    Understanding both their power and the nature of the political system,
>the advocates got to the California Governor,  the California Attorney
>General, their Senators, other elected and appointed officials, and the
press
>-- all of whom obviously felt the heat and heard the strength of the
>disability leaders. Yes, disabled folks vote; yes, disabled people can get
>press; yes, disabled persons know how to expert political pressure-- HOW
>SURPRISING AND AMAZING!!!
>BOTTOM LINE: The Governor and Attorney General backed off; California
>dismissed their appeal.  The disability community had a tremendous VICTORY.
>
>    On the east coast, Virginia had filed a brief in support of California.
>On the Virginia brief were Alabama, Delaware, Hawaii, Nebraska, Tennessee,
>Texas and Utah.  Those eight States are part of the "Evil Empire."   When
the
>Virginia disability community recently learned that their State was leading
>other states AGAINST THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY, the Virginia disability
>community quickly mobilized, and like their brothers and sisters in
>California, exerted their POWER. They organized and pressured the politicos;
>they got great press.. Results:  In a March 3, 2003 letter the Governor of
>Virginia wrote, "I disagree with [Virginia's] Attorney General recent brief
>in the Supreme Court." The Governor went on to write "the ADA has benefitted
>thousands of Virginians with disabilities, and I do not support any effort
to
>undermine its success." The Virginia Lieutenant Governor wrote a similar
>letter.  Simultaneously, the disability community publicly embarrassed their
>Attorney General at two public meetings.
>
>    SOME LESSONS LEARNED:
>
>    1.  Your Disability Community had BETTER be or get organized!  We fully
>expect the same legal issue, as well as others, will come up again.  But we
>bet it will not be from CALIFORNIA!  That State learned its lesson.
>    2.  Building a strong and publicly visible disability community that
>sheds society's oppressive yoke is critical.
>    3.  Do not expect your good looks will get you anywhere.  California and
>Virginia organized and flexed their strength.
>    4.  Winning at the state level will have enormous ripple effects and
>impacts well-beyond one court case.
>    5.  Other States have heard about California and Virginia. When your
>State's disability community takes on your Governors, Attorney Generals,
>etc., they will have heard about CA and VG.
>    6.  "POWER CONCEDES NOTHING WITHOUT A STRUGGLE."
>    7.  We HOPE that those GREAT ADVOCATES in California and Virginia have a
>BIG party to celebrate their victories.
>
>Steve Gold, The Disability Odyssey continues
>
>Back issues of other Information Bulletins are available online at
>http://www.stevegoldada.com
>with a searchable Archive at this site.
>