Tuesday, May 18, 2010
MILCB 2010-2011 Outreach Campaign begins on Thursday at the Reggie Lewis Center
http://www.facebook.com/l/62cc4;eon.businesswire.com/portal/site/eon/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20100518006691&newsLang=enhttp://jchappelldisabilitysolutions.blogspot.com/
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Sunday May 16th, 2010, the first post and is it the most important?
Well, it is Sunday afternoon and I finally took the dive and have set up my blog. I still don't like the layout but you have to start somewhere. I am watching Julie and Julia on Netflix streaming as I write.. In some small way I feel a lot like Julie and Julia. I am not writing a cook book but I am trying to expose the internet, the general public and policy makers to creative ideas that will move our issues forward. Yes, much has been accomplished but when hundreds of thousands of persons with disabilities are still locked away in institutions and most persons with disabilities are unemployed and on benefits then much still has to be done.
Actually, if I look back over the 37 years since I first attended that local coalition meeting in Hampton VA much has changed. In those days it was accessible public bathrooms and public establishments, curb cuts and some recognition that people with disabilities had rights; the same civil rights as others. I will never forget the day a number of us met with the then Attorney General of Virginia Marshall Coleman who point blank told us that he thought only women and blacks had civil rights. I kid you not; he actually said that to us. We quickly reminded him of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and that it was patterned after the Civil Rights Act of 1965.
That day was monumental for persons with disabilities in Virginia---but more about that later. I use this example to try in some small way to demonstrate the real progress we have made. Yet, most states, including Massachusetts still do not have a real Olmstead Plans to move people from institutions to community living ---(see http://www.pascenter.org/olmstead/olmsteadplans.php for status in each state as of 2009). Furthermore the unemployment rate amongst people with disabilities is between 50-75% depending on what data is used. That is a national disgrace because when surveyed 90% of people with disabilities want to work (see survey results at http://www.nod.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.viewPage&pageId=31 ). Just as importantly, there is no national approach to dealing with the real disincentives in the Social Security System that keeps many people earning just enough stay keep eligible.
Well, that's the first post. I expect to cover everything from my life experiences to real suggestions to the afore mentioned problems and more. I hope to get plenty of feedback and I promise to be as truthful and candid as possible, yet still be able to keep the dialog somewhat civil.http://jchappelldisabilitysolutions.blogspot.com/
Actually, if I look back over the 37 years since I first attended that local coalition meeting in Hampton VA much has changed. In those days it was accessible public bathrooms and public establishments, curb cuts and some recognition that people with disabilities had rights; the same civil rights as others. I will never forget the day a number of us met with the then Attorney General of Virginia Marshall Coleman who point blank told us that he thought only women and blacks had civil rights. I kid you not; he actually said that to us. We quickly reminded him of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and that it was patterned after the Civil Rights Act of 1965.
That day was monumental for persons with disabilities in Virginia---but more about that later. I use this example to try in some small way to demonstrate the real progress we have made. Yet, most states, including Massachusetts still do not have a real Olmstead Plans to move people from institutions to community living ---(see http://www.pascenter.org/olmstead/olmsteadplans.php for status in each state as of 2009). Furthermore the unemployment rate amongst people with disabilities is between 50-75% depending on what data is used. That is a national disgrace because when surveyed 90% of people with disabilities want to work (see survey results at http://www.nod.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.viewPage&pageId=31 ). Just as importantly, there is no national approach to dealing with the real disincentives in the Social Security System that keeps many people earning just enough stay keep eligible.
Well, that's the first post. I expect to cover everything from my life experiences to real suggestions to the afore mentioned problems and more. I hope to get plenty of feedback and I promise to be as truthful and candid as possible, yet still be able to keep the dialog somewhat civil.http://jchappelldisabilitysolutions.blogspot.com/
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