I seen da enemee...
-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask]
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Stephanie Thomas
Sent: Friday, February 04, 2000 5:27 PM
To: micasa-list
Subject: FW: Mark Smith on Voice Of the Retarded (VOR).
Thougth you might be interested to see this...
-----Original Message-----
From: Virtual Majordomo Account [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Justice For All Moderator
Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2000 9:29 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Mark Smith on Voice Of the Retarded (VOR).
Justice For All
[log in to unmask]
Mark Smith on Voice Of the Retarded (VOR)
Mark Smith, [log in to unmask], writes:
As director of the Mississippi Disability Coalition, I recently
received a solicitation from Voice Of the Retarded (VOR) to
be a member and make donations to their cause. I was truly
aghast that I got one of this mailing. I would assume this letter
from VOR is a part of a large mailing to many other coalitions,
associations and, most probably, individuals.
Although I sincerely would fight to the death for *everyone's*
right to an opinion and to express that opinion as they see fit,
that doesn't mean I won't speak out when I think someone's
opinion is wrong or contrary to my own values and principles.
VOR has been one of the most consistent and vocal opponents
of community-based services and proponents of retaining large
institutional settings for people with cognitive disabilities.
They were one of the only groups at a Congressional hearing
last year on what was then the Medicaid Community Attendant
Services Act (MiCASA) **opposing** the bill because it
would threaten funding to their sacred institutions. In fact,
VOR aligned themselves with the nursing home association
(AHCA) in opposing the vast majority of the disability
community on MiCASA.
What I think is very insightful is the fact that the material
shared with me from VOR says that their mission "is to unite
people in advocacy, to educate and assist organizations, public
officials, and individuals concerned with the quality of life and
choice for persons with mental retardation within residential
options." Obviously absent from those "stakeholders" are the
people with cognitive impairments themselves.. I believe that
their "choice for persons with mental retardation"actually
means choices that others would make "for" those citizens.
Also, in this mailing's "To Join" section, a specific
membership category for consumers is quite conspicuously
and, quite insightfully, absent .
Additionally, despite the mailing's singular reference to
"residential options," that statement goes on to say...(these
options) "includes home, community residences, congregate
and institutional settings." My understanding of their actual
advocacy has little or nothing to do with home and community
options. I believe their efforts are pretty much solely focused
on keeping people locked up in institutions and separated from
the rest of us.
Aggravatingly, despite the existence of fine organizations such
as Speaking For Ourselves, ADAPT, The Arc, NPND and
many others, VOR goes on to credit themselves as "often the
only organization that speaks up for people who cannot speak
for themselves." I say, No Way!
Having said all that, I merely ask that if you get one of these
solicitations, please be aware of who and what you'll be
supporting by membership or donations.
Together we have overcome
Together we shall overcome
JUSTICE FOR ALL!
Mark Smith
[log in to unmask]
--
Fred Fay
Chair, Justice For All
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HTTP://www.jfanow.
Register to Vote Online at http://www.fec.gov/votregis/vr.htm
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