Americans with Disabilities: Is there more information about the candidates supportin

[Florida Cindy]

Americans with Disabilities:

I read this (http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/DisabilityPlanFactSheet.pdf) on the Obama site. On the Mc Cain site, I read this. (http://americanswithdisabilities.johnmccain.com/AmericansWithDisabilities.htm)
Is there more information about the candidates supporting American's with Disabilities? What are your THOUGHTS on American's with disabilities?

[movefearlessly]

i guess i'm not sure what you're asking?

[[michele]]

i guess i'm not sure what you're asking?


Me either. I thought Obama's site (haven't checked McCain's) was pretty comprehensive?

I don't ( for now! unless depression and anxiety count. ) have a disability, no one in my family is dealing with a disability and I don't work with the disabled. So it isn't a hot button issue for me.

I support Obama's platform however.

:) Michele

[HLWalter725]

Americans with Disabilities:

I read this (http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/DisabilityPlanFactSheet.pdf) on the Obama site. On the Mc Cain site, I read this. (http://americanswithdisabilities.johnmccain.com/AmericansWithDisabilities.htm)
Is there more information about the candidates supporting American's with Disabilities? What are your THOUGHTS on American's with disabilities?

The second one isn't John McCain's site, its the ADA for McCain site -- and doesn't show any plans of John McCain. Does he highlight a plan, because I haven't seen one?

What are my thoughts? Well I think that accessibility, access, education, and better healthcare are all issues that need to be addressed. I think the salary figures provided on Obama's site are interesting. Many people I know with disabilities (mainly medical ones) are forced to NOT work -- not because they can't DO a job, or even FIND a job, but because if they work they will lose their government support for healthcare that they need and the jobs they qualify for aren't ones that provide decent healthcare or provide none for part time work. I think that if people WANT to participate in our society, the system is backwards if it forces them to NOT participate.

[movefearlessly]

The second one isn't John McCain's site, its the ADA for McCain site -- and doesn't show any plans of John McCain. Does he highlight a plan, because I haven't seen one?

What are my thoughts? Well I think that accessibility, access, education, and better healthcare are all issues that need to be addressed. I think the salary figures provided on Obama's site are interesting. Many people I know with disabilities (mainly medical ones) are forced to NOT work -- not because they can't DO a job, or even FIND a job, but because if they work they will lose their government support for healthcare that they need and the jobs they qualify for aren't ones that provide decent healthcare or provide none for part time work. I think that if people WANT to participate in our society, the system is backwards if it forces them to NOT participate.

you hit that nail squarely on the head, my dear!

this is a potentially volatile thread (like none of the others have been, right? LOL), for a simple reason. i, and many people i know, are already dealing with emotions running the gamut from grief to rage. it's the nature of the beast. i worked hard my entire life, and at the time of my accident was a confident, extremely capable person with a career and a wonderful family. i still have that wonderful family (thank God), but I've suffered a loss almost worse than the physical one. who am i without a career? think about it this way - one of the first questions we ask most people when getting to know them is "what do you do?" well, nothing really. in part, this has a lot to do with my physical limitations, but it's also affected by this tightrope i'm forced to walk in order to keep the benefits i do have. it doesn't do much for the self-esteem, i'll tell you.

the system is set up for us to fail. OT is offered (for a fee), and the government very kindly *sniff* offers to help us find a job and become a productive member of society (and yes - i have received letters from the SSA where these exact words are used). that phrase enrages me, i can't help it. are they suggesting i'm a freeloader?

but that, believe or not, is beside the point. if i'm able to earn a certain amount of money, i move from the level of full disability to partial. the amounts are not equal, mind you. and if something happens and i can't work the same job, i have to go through the entire process of qualifying for disability again.

this is just the tip of an enormous iceberg. health insurance is a nightmare. it's just one of millions of things wrong with the system right now.

[Florida Cindy]

[QUOTE=movefearlessly;1513479]you hit that nail squarely on the head, my dear!{/QUOTE]

Okay, please forgive me for not being clear on my OP. I still have this :smurf sinus infection and was a bit foggy this morning.

The Obama plan is great! It's basically what is in place now, except it gives me hope for more $ for people with disabilities for funding of services. In Florida services have been cut drastically. People decide if they want a place to live or a place to go during the day or diapers/medication. My experience is with people with developmental disabilities.

People with disabilities can work, keep SSI and make a 20,000+ (?) on a job with the TICKET TO WORK program. I knew the exact figure after attending a workshop a few months ago. I will post the exact figure after conversing with collegues. However, the TICKET TO WORK program has recently undergone a major overhaul which supposedly makes it easier to work and keep SSI. The TICKET TO WORK it is extremely confusing for anyone because of all the rules and regulations. EDIT info clarified: KEEP SSDI, $27,000 A YEAR FOR A PERIOD OF 9 MONTHS OVER A 5 YR PERIOD. Confusing? Heck yea!

What I am not clear about is what Mc Cain's platform is for people with disabilities. Will there be (any hope of) additional funding?

[movefearlessly]

[quote=movefearlessly;1513479]you hit that nail squarely on the head, my dear!{/QUOTE]

Okay, please forgive me for not being clear on my OP. I still have this :smurf sinus infection and was a bit foggy this morning.

The Obama plan is great! It's basically what is in place now, except it gives me hope for more $ for people with disabilities for funding of services. In Florida services have been cut drastically. People decide if they want a place to live or a place to go during the day or diapers/medication. My experience is with people with developmental disabilities.

People with disabilities can work, keep SSI and make a 20,000+ (?) on a job with the TICKET TO WORK program. I knew the exact figure after attending a workshop a few months ago. I will post the exact figure after conversing with collegues. However, the TICKET TO WORK program has recently undergone a major overhaul which supposedly makes it easier to work and keep SSI. The TICKET TO WORK it is extremely confusing for anyone because of all the rules and regulations.

What I am not clear about is what Mc Cain's platform is for people with disabilities. Will there be (any hope of) additional funding?

no apology necessary - i haven't been sleeping well so i'm a bit foggy myself.

good question - and i haven't been able to find an answer (:eek big surprise, right?) if anyone comes across good info - pls share?

[DirtyFeetDesigns (heb1976)]

I have been searching all afternoon and have not found anything specifically on this. I have found alot about veterans disability, obviously.

My father is disabled - been on SSI since 95 for herniated disks, generative spine, and arthritis - he just turned 55. He also receives disability he paid into when he owned his own business. Up until 2 years ago, if my mom wanted to work, she was only allowed to make $9999.99 a year. My brother was not covered under my dad's Medicaid, even tho my dad was still the *working* one. My mom and brother had to pay oodles of money for their own insurance. Now, if my mom chooses to, she can work and there is no limit to what she can make.

If anyone does find info about this ... pass it on.

[NellieRose]

Not sure if this side by side comparison will help anyone nor am I familiar with the source.....

The chart is titled:
2008 Presidential Candidate Positions on Disability-related Issues


Here's the link: http://www.olrs.ohio.gov/prescompare.htm

ETA: This link from the Justice For All Blog by the AAPD (http://jfactivist.typepad.com/jfactivist/2008/09/how-are-the-rnc.html) was listed as a source for the side by side chart...it might be handy to make some decisions.

[4PeasInMyPod]

Not sure if this side by side comparison will help anyone nor am I familiar with the source.....

The chart is titled:
2008 Presidential Candidate Positions on Disability-related Issues


Here's the link: http://www.olrs.ohio.gov/prescompare.htm

ETA: This link from the Justice For All Blog by the AAPD (http://jfactivist.typepad.com/jfactivist/2008/09/how-are-the-rnc.html) was listed as a source for the side by side chart...it might be handy to make some decisions.

Great link Jayne - we need more information like this non-partisan comparison on all the issues.

As the mother of a child with autism, it was very reassuring to read that my candidate, Obama, has such a well thought out and comprehensive plan to assist not only the disabled in general, but those with autism specifically.

[Florida Cindy]

Not sure if this side by side comparison will help anyone nor am I familiar with the source.....

The chart is titled:
[B]2008 Presidential Candidate Positions on Disability-related Issues
[/B}
Here's the link: http://www.olrs.ohio.gov/prescompare.htm

This site was posted at work today. Obama seems to have a comprehensive plan for people with disabilties.

One area of support from Obama that caught my eye: "Supports mandatory mental health screenings of all military personnel and will work to improve mental health care for veterans at every stage of military service."

[txmusicmom]

Clearly we should let people work as much as they can without penalizing their benefits-

Surely there should be a way to fix that!