Advocacy

Your Local Disability Rights Office

PRC_Harold — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:25:52 GMT

Be aware that many states offer a Disability Rights agency which provide advocacy and legal services to people with disabilities, but did you also know that they offer help with adaptive equipment...?

Here in NJ for example the Disability Rights New Jersey, has the Assistive Technology Advocacy Center (ATAC) which serves as New Jersey's federally funded assistive technology project through a sub-contract with New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Its purpose is to assist individuals in overcoming barriers in the system and making assistive technology more accessible to individuals with disabilities throughout the state.

If you would like to find out what your state Disability Rights agency can do for you, just contact one of our information specialists.
or...
You can also contact me at: haguilar@christopherreeve.org

DO NOT READ

brandoncstone — Tue, 18 May 2010 15:50:02 GMT

But since you clicked here, I'll tell you what I need:
I need help figuring out how to make/form a non profit organization to help raise money for me to purchase a REWALK system.. I created a "cause" on facebook but to be able to donate money there has to be a non profit org.

any ideas??

about me: T-11 incomplete Paraplegic.. 5.5 years ago a guy was trying to commit suicide and ran into me from behind while i was stopped at a red light... he was going between 60-80mph
www.angelfire.com/ms3/mstone
thanks, Brandon Stone brandoncstone@hotmail.com
www.facebook.com/strengthandhonor

Quality of life for patients and their caregivers

Melanie J — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 03:23:21 GMT

My name is Melanie and I live in Boston, MA. There is a program here unlike any other in the country which I think should be available nationwide. It is funded by Medicaid so there is an income requirement...but a good lawyer can often help you set up arrangements to deal with that.

In this state, young disabled adults can have assests and still qualify - very different from other states.

After assessment from a nurse, The program provides home health aides - trained and untrained who are paid $12 an hour. These people work with all disabilities - and without question SCI - quad and para are included with all the skilled care involved.

I currently am approved for 63 hours a week. You must find these aides but there are agencies to help with that. It falls under the Independent Living Center Philosophy of patient driven control.

I have MS not a SCI but my disabilities have a lot of similarities at this point (bladder and bowel issues, leg paralysis, confined to a wheelchair.

If Massachusetts can provide tihs help (and I don't know how they afford it but they do) - there is no reason why other states can't follow suit. I think it should be demanded. I wanted to contact Obama about this as part of the health care plan.

The initiative behind this is to help people stay living independently in their homes and give caretakers help and respite.

Other countries, eg. Scandanavia, provide this through government healthcare.

I feel there should be a lobby for this kind of care to have it available nationwide.

While waiting for a cure, this kind of service would go along way to improve the daily quality of life for all that have to deal with the challenges of serious disability.

Massachusetts health insurance was one model the President looked at - I think this program is another one that needs to be looked at.

How to do it is what I'm still trying to figure out. We need voices to speak up and I know many have no idea this exists in at least one state.

Just wanted to share that info with everyone.

What the health care bill means to the SCI community

gerthro — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:53:10 GMT

It's still too early to decipher the full extent of the health care bill. But if you are looking at it from the perspective of someone living with paralysis, issues have been addressed.

Many insurance plans now cap their lifetime benefits at $2 million and/or do not index them for inflation. Given the exorbitant health care costs that confront people living with paralysis and their families -- which often force them to turn to Medicare or Medicaid to pay them -- benefit lifetime caps needed to be changed.

The bill says no lifetime or annual limits. In 2010, the bill eliminates lifetime and unreasonable annual limits on benefits, with annual limits prohibited in 2014.

The bill puts in place a prohibition of preexisting condition exclusions or other discrimination based on health status. No group health plan or insurer offering group or individual coverage may impose any pre-existing condition exclusion or discriminate against those who have been sick in the past. In 2010, the bill will provide immediate assistance for patients who are uninsured because of pre-existing conditions. It will also prohibit pre-existing condition exclusion for children. In 2014, the bill will ban pre-existing condition exclusion for all patients in the U.S.

The bill prohibits discrimination against individual participants and beneficiaries based on health status. Starting in 2014, no group health plan or insurer offering group or individual coverage may set eligibility rules based on health status, medical condition, claims experience, receipt of health care, medical history, genetic information, evidence of insurability – including acts of domestic violence or disability. Premiums will vary only by family structure, geography, actuarial value, tobacco use, participation in a health promotion program, and age (by not more than three to one).

Nearly 47 million Americans are currently underinsured or not insured, 20 percent of whom are people with disabilities. People with disabilities also tend to earn below-average incomes but incur significantly more health care expenses than Americans without disabilities.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 2008 Annual Social and Economic Supplement, 27.1% of the U.S. population's annual household income is $25,000 or less. The paralysis population survey indicates 59.2% of annual household incomes for people living with paralysis is $25,000 or less, and 62.7% of the annual household incomes for people with spinal cord injuries is $25,000 or less.

What the bill says about the uninsured:

Although most Americans who do not obtain health insurance would face a federal penalty starting in 2014, many experts question how strict the enforcement of that penalty would actually be.

The first year, consumers who did not have insurance would owe $95, or 1 percent of income, whichever is greater. But the penalty would subsequently rise, reaching $695, or 2 percent of income.

Families who fall below the income-tax filing thresholds would not owe anything. Nor would people who cannot find a policy that costs less than 8 percent of their income, said Sara R. Collins, a vice president at the Commonwealth Fund, an independent nonprofit research group.

EXPANDED MEDICAID
More lower-income individuals under the age of 65 would be covered by Medicaid, the federal health insurance plan for the poor. Under the new rules, households with income up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level, or about $29,327 for a family of four, would be eligible.

EXCHANGES AND SUBSIDIES
Most other uninsured people would be required to buy insurance through one of the new state-run insurance exchanges. People with incomes of more than 133 percent of the poverty level but less than 400 percent (that’s $29,327 to $88,200 for a family of four) would be eligible for premium subsidies through the exchanges.

Premiums would also be capped at a percentage of income, ranging from 3 percent of income to as much as 9.5 percent.

The exchanges would also help people who lose their jobs, quit or decide to start their own businesses.

"If you lose your employer-related insurance, you will be able to move seamlessly into the exchange," said Timothy Stoltzfus Jost, a professor at the Washington and Lee University School of Law.

Moreover, people of any age who cannot find a plan that costs less than 8 percent of their income would be allowed to buy a catastrophic policy otherwise intended for people under age 30.

What the bill says about people with insurance:

EMPLOYER COVERAGE
People who receive coverage through large employers would be unlikely to see any drastic changes, nor should premiums or coverage be affected. But almost everyone would benefit from new regulations, like the ban on pre-existing conditions that would apply to all policies come 2014. There might even be cases where people would be eligible to buy insurance through an exchange instead of through their employer, Professor Jost said: those who must pay more than 9.5 percent of their income for premiums, or those whose plans do not cover more than 60 percent of the cost their benefits.

CHANGES IN MEDICARE
One of the biggest changes involves the Medicare prescription drug program. Its unpopular "doughnut hole" — a big, expensive gap in coverage that affects millions -- would be eliminated by 2020. Starting immediately, consumers who hit the gap would receive a $250 rebate. In 2011, they would receive a 50 percent discount on brand name drugs.

HIGH-COST INSURANCE
Starting in 2018, employers that offer workers pricier plans — or those with total premiums of $10,200 or more for singles and $27,500 for families — would be subject to a 40 percent tax on the excess premium, said C. Clinton Stretch, managing principal of tax policy at Deloitte. Retirees and workers in high-risk professions like firefighting would have higher thresholds ($11,850 for singles, or $30,950 for families), pegged to inflation.

Although the taxes would be levied on the insurer, experts expect the assessment to be passed on to the consumer in the form of higher premiums or reduced benefits.

Health care bill gives spinal cord injured chance to go home
In the past, people living with SCI and others who are disabled, may not have been able to go home because they could not afford to pay for the home care they would need.

Included in the health care bill is something called the Community First Choice Option. This is a new optional Medicaid benefit through which states may offer community-based attendant services and supports to Medicaid beneficiaries with disabilities who would otherwise require care in a hospital, nursing facility, or intermediate care facility.

Under the provision, states can qualify to receive more federal matching funds to support community living if they eliminate caps on the number of individuals who can live in the community.

Here are some of the things being said about the health care reforms in the disability community:

disabilityscoop.com - Health care vote ushers in big changes for people with disabilities

StreetInsider.com - The Arc applauds House passage of health care reform legislation

The NY Times has a cool interactive tool on its site that might help you figure out the new health care provisions.

Working 2 Walk (W2W) in Phoenix

PRC_Bernadette — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:02:15 GMT

Plan to join us in Phoenix for the 5th Annual Working 2 Walk Science & Advocacy Symposium, November 11-13, 2010. Featuring the latest research news from our leading scientists, hands-on advocacy workshops, and community networking opportunities, W2W is a unique event that you won't want to miss.

After 3 years in Washington, DC, and our first regional event last year in Chicago, this is our first visit to the West Coast. We are excited to meet a new group of advocates and share the Working 2 Walk experience. In the words of a previous attendee,

"Thank you so much for the opportunity to attend "Working 2 Walk. I enjoyed seeing the new research, networking with attendees, and speaking one on one with lead scientists. The experience was invaluable."

Our venue for 2010 is the Phoenix Airport Marriott, and our co-host is The Craig H. Neilsen Foundation. The Foundation and Unite 2 Fight Paralysis share a common mission to find a cure for spinal cord injury, and we are proud to join as partners in presenting Working 2 Walk 2010.

This will be an exciting year in the world of paralysis research. Several promising therapies should move to human clinical trials while laboratory breakthroughs continue around the world. We will be sharing the very latest and most accurate reports in Phoenix. For more information and event details as they become available, visit our Working 2 Walk web page.

Over the next few weeks we will be upgrading our website to improve the visitor experience. Navigation, communications, event registration, and payment processing will all be enhanced, and we hope you enjoy the changes. The transition should be seamless for viewers, but please forgive any unexpected down time that might occur.

Warning!!! Governor Patterson to cut Spinal Cord Injury Research

tblenkinsop — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:03:01 GMT

Governor David Paterson has recently proposed terminating the Spinal Cord Injury Research Program (SCIRP) administered by the NYS Department of Health in his Executive Budget proposal. (Chapter 338, Laws of 1998).
SCIRP is funded using money from surcharges imposed on motorists that are convicted of moving traffic violations, not by tax dollars. Hence it only has admin istrative impact on NYS. Note that most devastating spinal cord injuries are from motor vehicle/motorcycle accidents. To help, please letter write to the board whose decision it will be to save this program:

Senator Carl Kruger
Chair, NYS Senate Finance Committee
913 Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12247

Assemblyman Herman D. Farrell, Jr.
Chair, Ways and Means Committee
923 Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12248

Are You Part of the Solution?

Unite 2 Fight — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:20:29 GMT

At Unite 2 Fight Paralysis, we know that advocacy and fundraising are overlapping partners in the quest to achieve curative therapies. We've recently published Advocacy and Fundraising Toolkits with step-by-step guidelines and ideas for helping anyone join the effort, no matter your time, abilities, or skillset. It is a fact that progress will accelerate in direct proportion to the involvement and demands of our community.

There are several fall fundraisers on the calendar where you have the opportunity to contribute. All of these events support SCI research and advocacy. Check them out to see what science is being funded, and then take action to become part of the solution.

Research for Cure Charity Dinner September 26, 2009 Davis, CA

NWISCIG Walk/Roll October 10, 2009 Valparaiso, IN

SCIS Chicago Marathon October 11, 2009 Chicago, IL

New York City Marathon November 1, 2009 Matthew Reeve leads Team Reeve

Beware of vacation places on the beach!

Andy's Mom — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:20:21 GMT

My precious, beautiful son Andrew was renting a beach house with 13 other college kids in Kill Devil Hills. He and another young man were on the second story deck.They were horsing around.His friend pushed him into the deck rail which gave way, opening like a door. The two fell to the ground. His friend landed on the grass, was o.k., my son on a metal sewer cap. He became an instant quad, with a complete c3 fracture which eventually killed him after 3 weeks. The top wood engineer in the country from Harvard University said a 2 year old or a church lady could have leaned on the rail and the same thing would have happened. Because the two had a few beers, it was considered contributory negligence,and the lawyer we had abandoned the case 2 weeks before the trial, saying nothing would come of it. If I had the money I'd have hired another. There are no building codes regulating this, and the owner wasn't even required to carry insurance. This deck had previously been worked on. The ownwer has gone on with his life, even owning more property in the area, and my precious only son is dead. I am in utter shock that his life was considered so worthless by the lawmakers of this land.My heart is broken. I would like to warn others of the dangers of renting a beach home on the Outer Banks.

Working 2 Walk Chicago Just 3 Weeks Away

Unite 2 Fight — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:33:52 GMT

Working 2 Walk (W2W) is a unique opportunity for the SCI community. The conference brings together research scientists, practitioners, and community members for a lively exchange of information and ideas that will accelerate progress toward curative therapies.

This year's Working 2 Walk will be held at the Hyatt Lodge in Oak Brook, Illinois, August 27-29. Speakers scheduled for the 2-day symposium include Drs. Stephen Davies, Peter Gorman, Steven R. Hinderer, Philip Horner, Douglas Kerr, Naomi Kleitman, John McDonald, Edward Nieshoff, and Wise Young. Leaders in the SCI advocacy community will present updates on our achievements and lead brainstorming sessions to develop strategies going forward.

Registration fee for Working 2 Walk is just $125, and includes all general and breakout sessions as well as breakfast and lunch for the 2-day symposium. There is no charge for personal assistants, and registration fee grants are available to those who demonstrate financial need.

The event concludes with a "Day at the Races" at the Chicagoland Speedway, hosted by the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation. For the latest information about Working 2 Walk, visit our event website at http://www.working2walk.org.

Hope to see you there!

Unite 2 Fight Paralysis - Building Community Advocacy

Unite 2 Fight — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:10:49 GMT

Welcome to the Unite 2 Fight Paralysis (U2FP) thread in the Advocacy Forum. U2FP was founded in 2005 by 3 women from the paralysis community – two with cervical spinal cord injuries and one whose son has a quadriplegic injury. Our mission is to unite all those affected by paralysis and empower them to advocate effectively for therapies that restore physical ability. We believe that advocacy is an empowering experience for people who often feel helpless and frustrated when struck with a spinal cord injury.

In 2006 we introduced Working 2 Walk (W2W), a Science & Advocacy Symposium where research science meets the consumer. At Working 2 Walk, people who are living with paralysis have a unique opportunity to meet with the scientists who are working to bring curative therapies to reality. The Symposium was held in Washington, DC, for the last 3 years, with a particular focus on passage of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Paralysis Act. Our efforts were rewarded when the Act was signed into law last March. This year Working 2 Walk will be offered in Chicago in August.

In this thread we hope to foster a lively exchange of information and strategies that will strengthen the advocacy movement. As a community, we must build our voice and visibility, develop unified and consistent messages, and commit to a long-term effort of fundraising and advocacy. Together we can achieve our goal of restoring healthy bodies to survivors of paralysis. Let’s get started!

WRITE TO PRESIDENT OBAMA ASKING HIM TO HELP IN FINDING A CURE

livelonglivelong — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 03:48:57 GMT

PLEASE SEND LETTERS TO PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA.

HELLO EVERYONE,

I WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO PLEASE SEND LETTERS TO PRESIDENT OBAMA ASKING HIM TO PLEASE HELP FIND A CURE FOR SPINAL CORD INJURY AND PARALYSIS. WE NEED AS MUCH HELP AS WE CAN GET. HE CAN HELP BY CREATING LAWS, PROVIDING FUNDS, CREATING SPECIAL TEAMS OF EXPERTS TO FIND A CURE FOR SPINAL CORD INJURY AND IN MANY OTHER WAYS. IN 1961 PRESIDENT KENNEDY PLEDGED TO PUT A MAN ON THE MOON BY THE END OF THE DECADE. PRESIDENT KENNEDY MADE IT HIS GOAL AND COMMITTED OTHERS TO HIS GOAL. WITH HELP AND PRESSURE FROM THE GOVERNMENT A MAN WAS ON THE MOON IN 1969. PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS THE POWER TO GET THE BALL ROLLING TOWARDS FINDING A CURE FOR SPINAL CORD INJURY. WE HEAR FROM TIME TO TIME OF PARALYZED PEOPLE WITH SPINAL CORD INJURY LIVING AN ACTIVE AND PRODUCTIVE LIFE BUT, WE RARELY HEAR OF THE MANY OTHERS THAT LIVE IN PURE SUFFERMENT AND PAIN. I PERSONALLY KNOW OF A MAN IN HIS FORTIES THAT HAS LIVED CLOSE TO 20 YEARS OF HIS LIFE IN A NURSING HOME. HE IS A QUADRIPLEGIC WHO CAN ONLY MOVE HIS HEAD VERY SLIGHTLY. HE HAS SPENT CLOSE TO 20 YEARS ATTACHED TO A VENTILATOR AND MOSTLY ALWAYS BEDRIDDEN. HE GREATLY SUFFERS AND LIVES IN SADNESS. WE NEED TO FIND A CURE FOR SPINAL CORD INJURY. SO PLEASE WRITE TO PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, HIS WIFE FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA AND VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN. WHEN WRITING TO THEM PLEASE BE KIND AND RESPECTFUL. TRY TO REACH THEIR HEARTS. LET THEM KNOW HOW A CURE CAN GREATLY HELP AND BENEFIT THOSE WITH PARALYSIS AND SPINAL CORD INJURY, THEIR CAREGIVERS AND LOVED ONES, AND SOCIETY AS A WHOLE. I TRULY HOPE EVERYONE WHO READS THIS WILL WRITE A LETTER OR LETTERS URGING FOR A CURE FOR SPINAL CORD INJURY. YOU CAN ALSO ENCOURAGE OTHERS WHO REALLY WANT A CURE FOR SPINAL CORD INJURY TO WRITE.
WRITE TO THE PRESIDENT AND SEND THE LETTERS TO:

BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE
1600 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE NW
WASHINGTON, DC 20500

(you can reach the first lady and the vice president at the same address)

THANK YOU

REMEMBER TO BE NICE AND RESPECTFUL.

Florida -Legislation- Medigap

hazeleyes1 — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 18:32:37 GMT

ACTION NEEDED TODAY AND TOMORROW ON MEDIGAP LEGISLATION IN FLORIDA!

On Friday, April 24th, the Florida House will vote on an important bill for the disability community. House Bill 675 would mandate the availability of Medigap insurance to the below-65 population of people with disabilities. This would extend access to important wrap-around insurance coverage for people covered by Medicare due to their SSDI, End Stage Renal Disease and ALS status. Right now Medigap insurance is only available to seniors on Medicare. Florida is a major bellweather state on health care issues and if this law is enacted in Florida, it will greatly assist in passage of a federal law applying to all 50 states.

A floor fight in the House is expected tomorrow on this legislation and the insurance lobby is strong in Florida. Please send an alert to your Florida affiliates today, ASAP, alerting them to this bill and asking that they generate as many calls as possible TODAY and TOMORROW to their Florida State House members IN FAVOR OF PASSAGE OF H.R. 675. This is a basic health care discrimination issue that must be corrected!

Florida residents can identify their representatives in the Florida State House by accessing this link, www.myfloridahouse.com or by calling (850) 488-1157 and they will give you a phone number for the Member's office.

A Senate vote is expected soon on this same bill, as early as tomorrow or early next week. Please also contact your Senator's offices and tell them to support the Senate companion bill, Senate Bill 1022. It is critical that this law pass during these votes in the next few days. Thank you for your prompt assistance.

The FDA Classification of Adult Stem Cell

samjoyce4012 — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 03:47:51 GMT

I think my daughter's hopes of ever being able to try a clinical trial has been hopelessly lost in the red tape of the FDA approval system. I have been informed by others of disability, the FDA criteria for adult stem cell is to classify the cells as a drug, meaning the cells from my daughter's body will have to go through 7 to 12 yrs. of approval before ever being allowed to be used in a clinical trial. I have called and emailed my representatives and I feel the reason why Texas is so for adult stem cell, is because they don't have to deal with it for another 7 to 12 yrs. We all need to call and email our elected officials and let them know this shouldn't be happening. For the past 30 yrs. stem cell have been used in transfusions and bone marrow procedures. What's the difference between that and adult stem cell? To find out more information on this subject at the FDA's website www.fda.gov/cber/gdlns/pbsc.htm. Please call your representatives of your state and let them know that the classification of adult stem cells needs to be changed.

Mom and caregiver/attendant for our daughter, 23 yrs. old, c5 c6 incomplete, injured in a diving accident while away at college in 2007

Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act Passes House and Senate

PRC_Bernadette — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 17:53:38 GMT

Today theChristopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act passed in the House after passing in the Senate last Friday.

The remaining step is the signature of President Obama.

Great News---PARALYSIS ACT SEES IMMEDIATE ACTION BY NEW CONGRESS

PRC_Bernadette — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 22:14:38 GMT

Advocacy Update!

PARALYSIS ACT SEES IMMEDIATE ACTION BY NEW CONGRESS

On January 7^th, the day after the House and Senate convened the 111^th Congress, the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act was introduced in the Senate as part of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act, S. 22. The Paralysis Act was included in the omnibus bill at the request of Reeve Champion, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) and with the support of Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV).

The next day, Representatives Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Mary Bono Mack (R-CA), James Langevin (D-RI) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) re- introduced the Reeve Paralysis bill in the House of Representatives as HR 307.

This first-of-its-kind public health bill, which passed the House but was stalled in the Senate last Congress, directly addresses paralysis to improve the lives of and hasten better treatments and cures for people living with paralysis and spinal cord injuries.

The Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act will improve the quality of life for people living with paralysis and mobility impairments from any cause – stroke, ALS, spinal cord injuries and others. It encourages coordination of research to prevent redundancies and hasten discovery of better treatments and cures, as well as improving the daily lives for those living with paralysis. The Act has three components that support and enhance paralysis research, rehabilitation, and quality of life programs:

Ø Paralysis Research. The bill expands research on paralysis at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by establishing the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Consortia. This style of research promotes collaboration - connecting scientists doing similar work in multiple fields to enrich understanding and speed discovery of better treatments and cures.

Ø Paralysis Rehabilitation and Care. The bill calls for rehabilitation research to advance daily function for people with paralysis including intensive, activity-based research to measure the effectiveness of certain rehabilitative tactics that aim to improve mobility, prevent secondary complications, and develop improved assistive technology.

Ø Improving Quality of Life for Persons with Paralysis and Other Physical Disabilities. The bill will develop unique programs at the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) to better the quality of life and long-term health status of persons with paralysis and other physical disabilities. Programs include providing grants to non-profit health and disability organizations to educate the public about paralysis, improving access to services, and integrating life with paralysis into society, as well as coordinating services within each state to assist persons living with paralysis.

On January 11, the Senate moved to debate the omnibus lands bill including the Reeve Paralysis Act, and is expected to consider the bill this week.

We would like to thank each and every one of you for your efforts.

Stay tuned!

Maggie Goldberg

Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications

Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation

Prayers for Peace in the Holy Land

andrewwharrell — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 14:22:22 GMT

Dear God who created (and loves and protects the best interests, human needs) 
of Jews and Gentiles, Christians and Muslims, believers and non-believers, 
the people of the United States, the people of Europe and Asia, the people of 
the Middle East, please help us, your creations, bring an everlasting Peace 
to the Holy Land and the Middle East. We confess unto you we, with our own 
human efforts, have not done an acceptable job in accomplishing this for you. 
We do not know how to uphold your good and Holy name in a way that helps us 
all and not just some of us any better than we have. It is a deep mystery. 
Please help us! Please help us, now... before more of us have to suffer for 
to have this happen. May we all say Amen. God Bless.


Please prayer with us assisted and helped by the prayers at

http://www.yhwhschofchrist.org/prayers

(you may register there and post your own prayers if this is helpful to you)

Andrew

discrimination/ADA NOT enforced

truthsearcher06 — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 01:03:42 GMT

I was fired from my job in June 2005 due to disability discrimination. I was IGNORED by NJ Protection and Advocacy, EEOC, NJ DCR (civil rights), and NJ Public Advocate.

The EEOCs own website indicates 1/3 of complaints are resolved prior to reaching the investigation stage. Of the remaining 2/3-90% are RUBBER STAMPED as 'no cause'..there is no relation to the stamp and the actual outcome. It is obvious they don't actually investigate-its just a stamping mill.

If I had known this-I would Not have insisted on my rights-and cut my losses and found a new job--but I depended on the law being enforced.

I notified my former employer of my request for accommodation in writing-repeatedly, including certified return receipt mail--they said they knew nothing about it.

I had EXCELLENT job reviews--they claimed it was poor performance (and I have been at my new job--doing the same thing- for 3 years without any significant problem)--

there was a month backlog of work waiting for people to do it--they claimed there was no work..

i provided a LARGE pile of evidence to the EEOC.

NJ P&A wouldn't even return my calls/emails

NJ DCR denied they got the packages/letters I sent certified return receipt--everytime they were contacted due to lack of their response--they just sent instructions on how to INITIATE contact--which i had done numerous times--they ignored me until I sent a notice of intent to sue the state of NJ for ignoring me----

by law-a complaint can't be cross filed with DCR and teh court at the same time--DCR held it up until the statute of limitations was about to expire--during which time I had neurosurgery..

Lawyers aren't interested in pro bono or contigency--as they said--its not profitable enough for them..legal aid is a joke--only phone consultations if you make less than 20k/year--by this time I had a new job--they don't actually take cases

I begged state and US politicians to intervene--all they did was ask the respective agencies if they did their jobs--when they agencies said 'yes'--the politicians dropped it--despite the evidence

I begged NJ Public Advocate for help--they pulled the same stunt--

I was robbed of $45k in income/benefits and ended up $25k in debt. I can't afford medical care, car and home repairs, etc....

I am only well enough to work part time--yet I work over time when I can--making myself sicker--I may be too sick to continue working--but it could take 2-3 years to get approved for SSDI--and I have no money to help pay the bills during that time

We need to ADVOCATE for ENFORCEMENT of laws.

CDPRA

sjean423 — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 01:53:15 GMT

Below is an email I received yesterday. It came from here, so a lot of you probably got it as well, but just to spread it around a bit more ..... There is a link in the letter to find out the contact info for your senator (even who s/he is, if you aren;t sure, lol ). I emailed instead of calling, since I was doing it at night, and didn;t want to put it off. I got an email back today from Sen. Lieberman, and he stated that he is co sponsering.

Take Action Now!

Senate Considering Action on Paralysis Act during Lame Duck Session!

Dear [[First Name]],

The United States Senate will be returning on November 17, 2008 for a short session to complete its work for the 110th Congress. Reeve Champion, Senator Tom Harkin, wants the Senate to act on the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act (CDRPA), S. 1183, before Congress adjourns – but he needs your help. Call both of your Senators today and ask them to join Senator Harkin in improving the lives of those living with paralysis, by cosponsoring his bill, S. 1183.

We Need Your Help One More Time Before Congress Adjourns.

Specifically, we need you to take the following actions immediately:

Call your Senators office and ask to speak with the Senators health care advisor. Your Senators contact information can be found here or by calling the Senate switchboard at 202-224-3121.
Ask your Senators to cosponsor S. 1183, the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act, which enhances research and improves rehabilitation and the quality of life for persons living with paralysis.
Contact your family and friends and ask them to call their Senators also.

Forward to a friend.

Thank you,
Peter T. Wilderotter
President and CEO
Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation

Voting

Trish-411 — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 21:51:56 GMT

Does anyone find it difficult to vote? Our polling place isn’t really that accessible. Unfortunately it’s not a church, school or even a fire station. Believe it or not, it is in this hospitality room located under a local high school football stadium. You have to walk down a flight of concrete stairs to get into the room. I think there might be some sort of ramp somewhere, but I believe that it leads into the exit of the polling set up. Plus, if you can’t push the buttons on the machine yourself, will they let someone else cast the vote for you? We have never tried it so I don’t know the answer.

The first year or so after my husband’s accident, he did not vote. Then he thought about getting an absentee ballot, but in our state you are required to hand mark your own ballot. Since he can not do that, he has the option of voting by traveling board. He has done this for the last several years now. All you have to do is fill in a form and send it to the county voting board. On Election Day, they send a “board” out to your house. They come in pairs, a Republican and a Democrat. They mark my husband’s ballot per his verbal directions and then sign and witness that it is his vote. In Indiana, you can request to vote by traveling board if you feel your polling place isn’t accessible, if you can’t mark your own ballot, if you are homebound, or if you are caring for a homebound individual on Election Day. My husband has found this to be the easiest method of voting due to his limitations. What do others do when they find their polling places not so accessible?