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Disability Policy Consortium Weekly Update
Greetings!
I hope this email finds you well.
Don't forget to vote tomorrow in the Primaries!! People with disabilities must get out their and vote in large numbers. Let's show the power of the disability vote! Polls are open 7am to 8p.
Sincerely,
Robyn Powell
Assistant Director, Disability Policy Consortium
rpowell@dpcma.org| 617-542-3522 |
Joanne Miller 
Joanne Miller, friend and spirited disability rights leader with BCIL, MDDC, the DPC, Cambridge activists and other groups died this past weekend while in the hospital. At this time I do not have information, but do know that family is traveling out of the country so information for us is presently limited.
Joanne was a great spokesperson on integrated housing, the PCA program, MassHealth, and accessible transportation, among many things. She was stuck in a rehab for years after a bad car accident that caused a serious brain injury. She doggedly pursued independence, eventually working with BCIL and CORD in the late 1990s to get her own apartment in Cambridge. She then liberally told her story with the strong wish that her example would change policies and practices that keep many people with significant disabilities living in isolation. Frequently she could be seen leafleting or testifying or marching or just showing up to a key event to support the independent living cause. In 2009 she received a much deserved Community Service award from BCIL.
Bill Henning, BCIL
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Letter to Governor Patrick
On September 9, 2010, the DPC hand-delivered the following letter to the Governor:
We are writing on behalf of the Disability Policy Consortium, a statewide disability organization, representing the needs of the Commonwealth's nearly two million citizens with disabilities. Specifically, we are writing about your Press Release recognizing the 20th anniversary of signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Your remarks only briefly touched on one of the most important issues regarding the ADA and its implementation. The Supreme Court's Olmstead decision regarding the ADA provides that individuals with disabilities have a right to community based services for individuals with disabilities "who can handle and benefit" from such services. You only made a passing reference regarding this decision by referring to the recent waiver for individuals with acquired brain injuries. However, for the vast number of persons with disabilities who still are not covered by any community based services there are still no options available.
In addition, you did not mention progress towards implementing the state's Olmstead Plan which is a requirement of the decision. The Commonwealth's Plan is merely a series of goals and objectives rather than specifics for progress towards meaningful deinstitutionalization. Most importantly even this "plan" has had little success and the broad 1115 waiver which was intended to provide for a solution for many of those still not covered by community based options was canceled nearly two years ago with no follow up options actively being considered. The fact that the Affordable Care act offers new home and community based options underscores the need to revisit the Commonwealth Community First Olmstead Plan and add additional detail.
The remainder of the letter is available by clicking here.
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| Protest Demonstration
For special education rights
State House - Boston
Wednesday, October 6
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
(Rain date: October 13)
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education refuses to help students it knows have been hurt by schools that break special education laws.
Mark your calendar now. Your presence at this protest is crucial. The children are counting on us to save them from the lifelong consequences of school failure.
If we do not speak up for these children and demand change, who will?
Bring your children, family, friends, neighbors.
This is not a disability issue, it's an American issue.
R.S.V.P.
Send us an email to let us know you'll be there to take a stand for children's special education rights.
Questions?
Email Ellen Chambers at emchambers@charter.net or call SPEDWatch (978) 433-5983
"The ultimate tragedy of Birmingham was not the brutality of the bad people, but the silence of the good people."
Martin Luther King, Jr.
SPEDWatch isa 501(c)3 non-profit special education watchdog group functioning as an activist movement for students' special education rights. Our mission is simple: to secure the educational rights of Massachusetts students with disabilities, ages 3-21. All we're asking is that these students be given the education to which they are legally and morally entitled.
No more. No less. No compromise.
To learn more:
Visit www.spedwatch.org
Email info@spedwatch.org, or
Phone (978) 433-5983
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ASL videos: Flu Guidance for Adults
Please take a look at the below Flu video in American Sign Language. This is meant to be general flu information for adults.
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Vote No, No, No!
In this time of deep and continuing Recession, another BIG threat to our communities and families looms in November, and we as a sector need to do everything we can to ensure that it does not happen.
The threats are the questions on November's ballot. Question 1 would eliminate the sales tax on alcoholic beverages, costing the state $110 million in tax revenue that's now dedicated to drug and alcohol treatment programs. Question 2 would repeal Chapter 40B, which allows developers to circumvent exclusionary zoning laws to build affordable housing in communities where there is none or very few units available. Question 3 would cut the state sales tax to 3%, thereby costing the state $2.5 billion in tax revenue which would mean even more huge state and local budget cuts.
All of these questions have a negative impact on poor and working people. We already had $1 billion in budget cuts last year and we had $1.6 billion again this year. On top of that because stimulus funds are used up, the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation predicts a $1.5-$2 billion budget deficit for next year's budget that again could force more big budget cuts. If on top of these two years of cuts and possibly a third year of cuts, we have an additional $2.5+ billion in state revenue loss forcing more cuts, what will be left of programs and services we care about?
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AAPD is Now Accepting 2011 Hearne Leadership Award Applications
*** Deadline October 1, 2010 ***
AAPD is proud to launch our national search for emerging leaders with disabilities to receive the 2011 Paul G. Hearne Leadership Awards. Applications must be received by October 1, 2010.
Each year, the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) recognizes those outstanding emerging leaders with disabilities who exemplify leadership, advocacy, and dedication to and for the broader disability community. Two individuals, who are emerging as leaders in the cross-disability civil rights movement, will each receive $10,000 to help them continue their progress and further connect their work with the national outreach of AAPD. The recipients of the 2011 Hearne Leadership Awards will also star in a short documentary film about their work and have an opportunity to attend and network with national disability leaders at the AAPD Leadership Gala in Washington, DC, March 15, 2011.
If you are an emerging leader with a disability, who wants to take your work to the national level, please apply for the 2011 Hearne Leadership Award before October 1, 2010.
For the 2011 Paul G. Hearne Award Application click here.
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DPC Needs your Help!!!
The DPC uses the PayPal PayFast system for your tax deductible charitable donations. You do not need to have a PayPal account to use this system because credit card payments are also accepted.
The DPC also uses the Causes program for recurring donations (as well as one time donations). This is a great way to make a smaller monthly donation.
Donate by Mail
Make check or money order payable to:
Disability Policy Consortium
59 Temple Place, Suite 669
Boston, MA 02111 |
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