Do you believe people with disabilities get enough attention from the Government?

When we do get any attention it is solely because they want to cut funding for a needed service, such as special education and social services. Otherwise, those worthless fools in Congress could really careless what happens to us.

As a person with disability issues, my own opinion is...No, we don't get nearly enough attention. With almost all resources going overseas towards military conflicts, the US government has done a far less than adequate job of helping us. I could elaborate on all that, but I really don't want to start something I might, or might not, be able to finish.

I believe that no, people with true disabilities do not get enough attention from the government. On the other hand, I think that's largely because those with fake or self-imposed disabilities (addicts, for example) sap the system and take care away from those who really do need it and would benefit from it.

Normally I'd say they/we don't get enough government attention.

These days, however, I'm forced to say that I don't want government encroaching any further into my life than it already is. The government seems to screw up everything they get their hands on or in. Why should the disabled people be just one more of those things?

Kev

PWDs never do get enough attention from the Government.

Unfortunately, people with GREY medical conditions, and people with MILD Disabilities who can pass as Non-PWDs and the DPW Community divert needed attention away from the Disabled PWD Community.

In Australia we get adequate support.

No! What is worse is some do not have family or social support systems either. They are alone.

No debate. The answer is no.

Not employment wise and that's why we do have the SSI and SSDI assistance programs.

Myself, personally...I think I am getting all the attention that I need presently, on an individual level. They are doing everything they can. I am in a mini-center program to help me adjust to my blindness until they can get me into the full-time rehabilitation program (a 6 month to a year program with a long waiting list, unfortunately). They ask me often if there is anything that is bothering me, that I can't do, or that I want to do. While I do not get the transportation I really want, I am getting support from the Department of Services for the Blind to find my way to Raleigh, where I -will- have access to the transportation needs I have. They have also helped me find an affordable apartment ($420/mnoth including utilities and trash pickup). During the time I will be at rehab, they will pay for all my meals during school hours, and will give me some grocery money for on the weekend and holidays. They have already noted how much help I will get when I get there, and so I'm anxious to go.

I think the most important time to get special assistance is when the disability first becomes a problem. For people born with the condition, the most important time would be all of their childhood and into their adult life until they are able to adapt to th world. For peple who becoame disabled, the most important time in my mind would be for the first two years after the injury. This is the time pwd's need the most help, and then the government should be helping that person to learn how to live on their own.

The government -does- need to do more to help pwd's get work. I mean, just lok at people who are visually impaired, for example. There is a 75% unemployment rate among the blind and visually impaired. Among those employed, 85% are literate in Braille. This shows that the government needs to push Braille literacy as a mandatory class for blind/VI students in public schools. That's the only way that blind children are going to get to learn Braille and be literate enough to get a good job...literacy=employment for many people.

The government should also help pwd's with self-advocacy alot more. Advocating their rights and becoming a productive member of society is something that every pwd should do for themself, but the government needs to help pwd's see that they -can- and -should- advocate for themselves.

The government does a lot, but there is always more that they need to be doing. It's a long and slow road...it was the same for black Americans during the civil rights movemtn, and for women during the feminist rights movement. It will be the same for PWDs during the disability rights movement. We -will- in the end get full and equal rights, but it's a long road, and there is no end in sight.

Just try to do your part, helping advocation and helping pwd's wherever you can, wherever they want/need it...don't help epeople that don't want help, but don't pass someone by just because you don't think they want help. Doesn't hurt to ask.

(Hope all thsi makes sense...being drugged up kinda fogs my mind, so I don't know if I'm really making sense or not).

Edit: The reason for blind people receiving SSI for no other reason than being blind is because of the higher discrimination against blind people than other disabled people. A blind person can be totally able to do a job, want to do the job, show they can do it, and they are STILL told they can't have the job because they are blind.

For example, I am legally blind. I have years and years of experience in childcare, including 5 years of experience as a nanny, both live-in and live-out, with children between one month and sixteen years of age. I can demonstrate my ability with children all day long, show people that I can teach children their letters, numbers, manners, courtesy, cook and clean, take children to the park...I can do all this all I want, but because I'm blind, they will doubt whether I can even cross the street on my own. They will never believe that I can care for their children the same way a sighted person can, because I can't see their child.

Blind people have to struggle harder than most any other disabled people just to be accepted as intelligent and independent. It's a disability that cannot be hidden, ever, and people watch out for the signs of it (i.e. the white cane or guide dog). People either clear the way afraid to be run into by the blind person or they step forward and offer unsolicited help to the person, thinking that surely this person needs help because there is no one there to help them.

Blind people have a higher rate of unemployment than any other type of diability. The sad things about that is that most of these people are fully capable and -want- to work, but society won't give them the chance.

People who use wheelchairs are assumed to be able to do computer jobs, jobs at desks, and any job that doesn't require walking. People who are deaf are assumed to be able to do any job that doesn't require using a phone or direct conversation with the hearing, and even then many are able to take these jobs with a translator. Blind people are the only group of people, other than the intellectually disabled, to be assumed to be unable to do any job that a sighted person can do. They are seen as inferior just because of a loack of sight, and are assumed to not even be able to use a computer (this is evidenced by all the people who constantly ask me how I am going to read their answers to my questions because I am blind). Blind people are assumed to not be able to cook, clean, be parents, use a computer, teach, defend people in court, or even do simple things like walking down the street...the only other group of people with disabilities that I can think of having this same level of discrimination is people with severe intellectual disabilities...and the thing there is that many of the severely intellectually disabled -can't- do many tasks...blind people -can- and want to, but are assumed to be unable, even after they show people over and over that they can.

So to say that the government is more lenient with the blind...yes, they give blind people SSI for being blind and no other reason...yes, there are services for the blind that other people with disabilities have to struggle harder to obtain...but these are services that blind people have struggled harder than anyone else to get. Only a few decades ago, blind people were treated as infidels, unable to do anything...I heard a story of the first American guide dog user once...when he went to Germany to get his guide dog, he was treated as cargo on the ship...he was not allowed out of his room without attendance, and was rushed back to his room if he came out on his own...blind people have fought hard for their rights, and are getting them, even if they are still seen as incapable by a majority of society.

The way people say it, they seem to think that blind people have it easier than other disabled people...youcan think that all you want, but it's not true. My blindness keeps me from going places, from doing things, that most any other person with a disability would be able to do. You can say that blind people have it easier all day long, but it's not true. It's rather rude to say that we have it easier, in fact...as if being blind is some sort of 'not-quite-***-disabled' category. -Just some thoughts