Editorial from Obama's disability vote director. Still no word on the
Veepstakes. I was sure it'd be Kaine, as Barack was campaigning in VA
today.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Kareem Dale <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Wed, Aug 20, 2008 at 3:24 PM
Subject: Editorial
To: Kareem Dale <[log in to unmask]>
Cc: Douglas Rogers <[log in to unmask]>
Please see the below link/editorial posted today on the blog. Please
feel free to forward.
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/dahome/
Editorial by National Disability Vote Director
<http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/kareemdale/gG59nb>
by Kareem Dale, National Disability Vote Director, Obama for America
Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 10:25 AM
As we prepare for the convention and Senator Obama's historic acceptance
of the Democratic nomination, I thought I would share some of my
personal thoughts about Senator Obama and his campaign for the
Presidency.
EDITORIAL
by Kareem Dale
National Disability Vote Director
Obama for America
Hope. Change. "Yes We Can." For many doubters, these are just
words. But for Americans with disabilities who grew up without closed
captioning, without descriptive video to describe movies, without
computers that talk, without accessible forms of communication, without
the Americans with Disabilities Act, words are at the foundation of
progress. And these words ring true; true with the promise of a better
tomorrow, the promise of educational equality, the promise of equal
access to employment, the promise of the right to live independently,
the promise of the ending of discrimination based on disabilities and
the promise that all Americans, no matter their disability, will be
treated the same as every other American. For me, an American with the
disability of being blind, Senator Barack Obama embodies the very
qualities that are needed in our next President to ensure that Americans
with disabilities will have a full, fair and equal opportunity to
compete for every scholarship, every award, every job, every athletic
contest, every movie role, every music contract, and every single thing
that a person's mind can fathom.
For far too long, words have been used negatively to attempt to
stunt the progress of Americans with disabilities. The word "can't" has
been said so many times to me, it might as well be tattooed on my chest.
Whether it's we can't tie our shoes, we can't work in a mainstream
classroom, we can't succeed in college, we can't keep up with the
"regular" students in a top tier law school or graduate program, we
can't possibly excel at a large law firm or Fortune 100 company, we
can't, we simply can not, these are the words that Americans with
disabilities continue to hear every day. And now, we have a candidate
who is saying "Yes, We Can," and who is committed to real change. With
this change comes true empowerment and the realization for all Americans
with disabilities that absolutely anything is possible. Senator Obama's
previous legislative record illustrates his staunch support of Americans
with disabilities. Senator Obama has been on the front lines of
ensuring safety for people with disabilities. For example, he sponsored
and voted for a bill that created the Emergency Evacuation Plan for
People with Disabilities Act. Senator Obama also sponsored and voted to
create the Abuse of Adults with Disabilities Intervention Act, which
protects adults with disabilities from harassment, intimidation and
interference with personal liberty. I believe these examples of Senator
Obama's tireless work demonstrate that he is a man on whom Americans
with disabilities can rely.
Not only has Senator Obama's previous work shown his commitment
to Americans with disabilities, but his plans and policies for the
future indeed give all Americans with disabilities reason for hope. I
am ecstatic that we have a candidate who is going to stand front and
center and lead the charge for government action for Americans with
disabilities. Senator Obama is willing to hold Congress' feet to the
fire by ensuring that it holds up its end of the bargain and fund 40% of
the excess costs of educating children with disabilities under the IDEA
rather than the 17% it has gotten away with. In addition, Senator Obama
is going to invest $10 billion per year in early education and
developmental programs for children between zero and five. That's the
type of real change that Americans with disabilities desire.
We also have a candidate who is going to make sure that there is
sufficient funding for vocational rehab programs, which are critical to
supporting Americans with disabilities and their successful
matriculation through college and graduate programs. I could not have
succeeded in college or law school without vocational rehab services,
but there must be substantial improvement in those programs. Senator
Obama is ready to institute the necessary improvements. That's the type
of change that Americans with disabilities long for.
Americans with disabilities deserve to have equal employment
opportunities. Senator Obama is the candidate to provide those
opportunities. In fact, he's willing to start with the federal
government by increasing its recruitment, hiring, retention, and
advancement of workers with disabilities. He also will ensure that
Americans with disabilities can more effectively participate in the
labor market by creating a National Commission on People with
Disabilities, Employment and Social Security to address work
disincentives in the SSDI, SSI, Medicare, and Medicaid programs. That's
the type of change that Americans with disabilities must have.
I am honored to be working for a candidate that supports the
right of Americans with disabilities to live independently. Senator
Obama is a sponsor of the Community Choice Act, which will put Americans
with disabilities back in control of their living arrangements.
From ensuring that all voting polling locations are fully
accessible, to appointing judges who understand the importance of
enforcing the ADA, to providing additional funds to the EEOC to enforce
discrimination laws, to expanding the Family Leave Act, Senator Barack
Obama is the candidate to lead the push for equality for Americans with
disabilities. Because of Barack Obama, the 54 million Americans who
live with disabilities in this country will now have an equal shot at
realizing the American dream. Speaking as one of those Americans and as
the National Disability Vote Director for Obama for America, I am proud
to advocate for the disability vote on behalf of the next President of
the United States, Barack Obama, a man that I believe will substantially
improve the lives of all Americans with disabilities.
--
Kendall
An unreasonable man (but my wife says that's redundant!)
The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one
persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress
depends on the unreasonable man.
-George Bernard Shaw 1856-1950
-----------------------
To change your mail settings or leave the C-PALSY list, go here:
http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?SUBED1=c-palsy
|
