How will the YK2 problem effect the disabled who r on life support, like
vents and other machines that use electrical power?  Will our local power
companies be ready?  This is a problem that MUST be addressed NOW!  I urge
the media to examine the issues.  Talk to the disabled.  Interview local
Independent Living Center staff.  Talk with power companies.  Will
disabled persons on life supoort die when Y2K hits?  We need to know now
and fix the problem before it is too late.

I urge the disabled advocate to talk to their local power companies.  I
have.  Have you?  There r only 316 days left as of 2/18/99.  Are we
prepaired?  Are they?  Are you?

Please talk up this issue now.  We need everyone to work together on this
vital, life-threatening issue today!

PLEASE READ THE FORWARDED MAIL BELOW.

                      Bob Mauro, [log in to unmask]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The PeopleNet DisAbility DateNet              Check out my new book
Stories, Articles, Poems, Books      * Published by The Lemonade Factory *
    http://idt.net/~mauro               http://idt.net/~mauro/books.html

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 01:29:36 EST
From: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [PPM] vent user dies after power cut off

Several years ago I was not able to make my electric payment on time and my
electricity was shut off.   I borrowed money and went to pay the bill - they
claimed they could not possibly turn electric back on the same day even though
it was the middle of winter, I was in an electric wheelchair which needed
charging, my husband was in a wheelchair and two of my kids are handicapped
(one of them on an apnea monitor).   Folks is was here in the good old USA!
Scarry!!!!!
Erika

<< I just heard on msnbc that a man in Nice, France, who uses a vent died
 after the power company turned off his electric for nonpayment of his
 bill.  The power company claims they didn't know he used a vent. >>