SERC Show, ADA, Augmentative & Alternative Communication Devices, Early Childhood Education

Part 2 of American with Disabilities Act and Augmentative and Alternative Communication Devices for children/students. and Second segment on Early Childhood Education. Guests, SERC Consultants, Sally Esposito, JD., and Smita Worah, Ph.D., and on ECE, SERC Consultants Paquita Sims Smith, Anne Marie Davidson and host, Linnet E. Carty.

Question by chiliswoman: This clearly is a partisan document…?
that follows, but facts are facts. This statement makes anyone with a disability who votes for McCain seem to disregard the rights entirely for people with disabilities. Using examples related to disability and only disability – can you give examples of why a person who is a disability advocate should vote for John McCain???

BARACK OBAMA VS. JOHN MCCAIN:
Who Will Break Down the Barriers that Exclude People with Disabilities?

OBAMA ON SUPPORT FOR LIVING INDEPENDENTLY IN THE COMMUNITY

Obama is a co-sponsor of the Community Choice Act of 2007. Obama believes that individuals should be able to make their own choices for their living arrangements and live independently in their communities. [S.799, 110th Congress]

Obama is a co-sponsor of the Community Living Assistance Services and Support (CLASS) Act Of 2007. This bill would help individuals with functional impairments pay for services that they need to maximize their independence. [S.1758, 110th Congress]

MCCAIN ON SUPPORT FOR LIVING INDEPENDENTLY IN THE COMMUNITY

McCain strongly opposes the Community Choice Act. Asked about the Community Choice Act at a Town Hall in Denver, McCain said “The Community Choice Act is not a piece of legislation that I support.” [McCain Town Hall, 7/7/08]

OBAMA ON EDUCATION FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES

Barack Obama supports full funding of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), early intervention and developmental programs, and expanded college opportunities for students with disabilities.

Obama voted for over $ 44 billion in funding for the IDEA. [SCR 1, Senate Vote #94, 3/22/07]

Obama will invest $ 10 billion per year in early intervention, educational and developmental programs for children between zero and five. His plan will help expand programs such as Early Head Start to serve more children with disabilities. His plan also will encourage states to expand programs for children with disabilities, such as IDEA Part C. [Obama Plan to Empower Americans with Disabilities]

Obama supports increasing opportunities for college students with disabilities. He also will provide more support for these college students. Obama was an original co-sponsor of the Senate bill to reauthorize the Higher Education Act (S. 1642) which significantly expands opportunities and supports for individuals with disabilities to attend college and graduate programs. [S.1642, 110th Congress]

MCCAIN ON EDUCATION FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES

John McCain has repeatedly voted against the IDEA even though he claims he supports full funding of it.

McCain has repeatedly voted against funding for special education.

* McCain repeatedly voted against funding increases for the IDEA. [H.R.4577, Senate Vote #170, 6/30/00; SCR 23, Senate Vote #103, 3/26/03]

* McCain has chosen tax cuts for the wealthy over education funding for students with disabilities. Specifically, McCain voted against increasing spending in the amount of $ 229 billion over 10 years for the IDEA. McCain also voted against an amendment that would create a reserve fund of $ 73 billion in IDEA funding. The spending would have been made possible by reducing tax cuts. [SCR 23, Senate Vote #103, 3/26/03; SCR 23, Senate Vote #70, 3/21/03]

McCain did not co-sponsor reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (S. 1642). He also did not vote on passage of the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act in the 110th Congress. [S.1642, 110th Congress; S. 1642, Senate Vote #275, 7/24/07]

OBAMA ON SOCIAL SERVICES SPENDING

Obama opposes a freeze on social services spending for people with disabilities.

Obama voted against capping non-defense spending which means that social service spending for people with disabilities could continue to meet their needs. In 2005, Obama voted against the Inhofe amendment that would cap non-defense, non-trust fund spending. [S.1932, Senate Vote #286, 11/3/05]

MCCAIN ON SOCIAL SERVICES SPENDING

McCain promises that he will cap non-defense spending for at least one year, meaning that social services spending for people with disabilities will be capped as well.

McCain voted in favor of capping non-defense spending. In 2005, McCain voted for the Inhofe amendment that would cap non-defense and non-trust fund spending. [S.1932, Senate Vote #286, 11/3/05]

McCain proposed a freeze of discretionary spending as illustrated when he said, “As president, I will also order a prompt and thorough review of the budgets of every federal program, department, and agency. While that top-to-bottom review is underway, we will institute a one-year pause in discretionary spending increases with the necessary exemption of military spending and veterans’ benefits.” [McCain Remarks on the Economy at Carnegie Mellon University, 4/15/08]

OBAMA ON HEALTH CARE FOR AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES

Obama will sign universal health care into law by the en
end of his first term in office, and he has supported expanding the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (“SCHIP”) and health care programs for people with disabilities, children, and veterans.

Under Obama’s plan to provide universal health insurance, insurance companies will not be able to stop individuals from getting coverage even if they have pre-existing conditions and disabilities. Obama’s plan allows individuals and businesses to purchase public or private health coverage through a national health insurance exchange. Obama’s plan would make health care more affordable and accessible to all Americans, particularly individuals who have been denied coverage in the private market due to a pre-existing condition or disability. [Obama Plan to Empower Individuals with Disabilities]

Obama is a co-sponsor of ending the Medicare Waiting Period Act of 2007 (S.2102). Before they can get Medicare coverage, people with disabilities must first receive Social Security Disabilit
end of his first term in office, and he has supported expanding the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (“SCHIP”) and health care programs for people with disabilities, children, and veterans.

Under Obama’s plan to provide universal health insurance, insurance companies will not be able to stop individuals from getting coverage even if they have pre-existing conditions and disabilities. Obama’s plan allows individuals and businesses to purchase public or private health coverage through a national health insurance exchange. Obama’s plan would make health care more affordable and accessible to all Americans, particularly individuals who have been denied coverage in the private market due to a pre-existing condition or disability. [Obama Plan to Empower Individuals with Disabilities]

Obama is a co-sponsor of ending the Medicare Waiting Period Act of 2007 (S.2102). Before they can get Medicare coverage, people with disabilities must first receive Social Security Disabilit
Insurance (SSDI) for 24 months. Due to the 24-month Medicare waiting period, an estimated 400,000 Americans with disabilities are uninsured and many more are underinsured at a time in their lives when they need health coverage the most. During this waiting period, many individuals develop secondary conditions, their health status worsens and many die. Obama supports legislation that would phase out this harmful waiting period and provide individuals with health insurance. [S.2102, 110th Congress]

Obama supported expanded health insurance for children. In 2007, Obama voted to reauthorize the SCHIP at over $ 60 billion for five years. Two children who live with a single parent who makes $ 51,510 would have access to health insurance coverage under SCHIP. The bill would provide $ 100 million in new grants to fund state outreach and enrollment efforts and allocate $ 49 million for a demonstration project to streamline the enrollment process for low-income children already eligible for
for coverage. [HR 976, Senate Vote #307, 8/2/07]

Obama supported assuring accessible health care to people with disabilities by co-sponsoring the Promoting Wellness for Individuals with Disabilities Act (S.1050) The bill would require the U.S. Access Board to establish access standards for all diagnostic equipment (examination tables, x-ray, mammography and other radiological equipment, etc.). It also educates physicians and dentists by requiring that medical schools, dental schools, and their residency programs provide training to improve competency and clinical skills in providing care to patients with disabilities (including those with intellectual disabilities) as a condition of receiving federal funds. Finally, it establishes a national wellness grant program which will authorize funding for programs or activities for smoking cessation, weight control, nutrition or fitness that are tailored to the needs of individuals with disabilities and authorize funding for preventive
There is much more to this……but

MrKP Disability legislation may not need to be your only consideration, but it is primarily mine and of most people with disabilities I know. I’d like to see a balanced view, but to date McCain or his campaign has not addressed disability issues. I was trying to give McCain’s camp the opportunity to level the playing field before I wrote something up in an article I have been asked to write.

Gem – You think you cannot afford all these government programs, but you can’t afford not to have them. Because we do not have universal health care our health care costs cost more. People without insurance do not get preventive health care and so end up in emergency rooms getting far more long term expensive care than they would have if they had been able to go to a doctor regularly.
There is much more to this……but

MrKP Disability legislation may not need to be your only consideration, but it is primarily mine and of most people with disabilities I know. I’d like to see a balanced view, but to date McCain or his campaign has not addressed disability issues. I was trying to give McCain’s camp the opportunity to level the playing field before I wrote something up in an article I have been asked to write.

Gem – You think you cannot afford all these government programs, but you can’t afford not to have them. Because we do not have universal health care our health care costs cost more. People without insurance do not get preventive health care and so end up in emergency rooms getting far more long term expensive care than they would have if they had been able to go to a doctor regularly.
Sway – The Community Choice Act doesn’t cost more dollars. It puts the choice of how to spend dollars in an individual’s hands. If a senior gets 100,000 a year in benefits they can choose to take their 100,000 to a nursing home or receive care at home. Now people are forced into nursing homes as their are given no options. At home care rarely costs more than nursing home care and usually substantially less. http://www.experthomecare.com/blog/2008/05/home-care-costs-vs-nursing-home/

Best answer:

Answer by MrKP
Disability legislation need not be your only consideration when voting.

Give your answer to this question below!