by Marlene Chait, Ed.D
Marlene Chait is an active disability rights advocate.
I think of myself as one person act believing that the United States of America (USA) needs to throw the baby out with the bath water. The baby I am referring to is the United States’ endless fragmented disability service-delivery system that seems to disable individuals and their loved ones more than the disability, impairment or illness itself.
I’m eager to hear contenders who want to be President of the United States discuss the need to join the international community, embracing the human rights model and who will immediately sign the United Nations Convention on the Rights for Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD). It is also my belief that it is time for the international community to recognize that just because a person with a disability lives in the USA does not mean they live interdependently in the community of their choice, with various community-based service (CBS) needs met, e.g., personal assistance services (PAS), accessible transportation, employment, and access to accessible housing, assistive technology (tools for independence) such as recreation, leisure and intimacy.
Yes, it is true the USA has done much in the area of disability legislation and giving poor disabled adults and children assistance. Yet, I do not understand why President Bush is not signing for the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD). The UN CRPD is based on a Human Rights Model charging the world with total inclusion for all people with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was an effort to “level the playing field” by mandating equal opportunity for those with disabilities in most areas of life (e.g., employment, recreation and access to buildings).
Unfortunately, the ADA fails to address one of the most basic human needs –sexual expression-leaving disabled people and disabled women in particular, with no avenue or guidance for accommodating this aspect of their identity. Countering this omission has required individual courage and political will by disabled women in order for them to speak truthfully of their life experiences. A labyrinth of problems exists that centers on PAS, sexuality education and sexual expression.
Unlike Sweden and other countries, the United States does not have an all-inclusive comprehensive and national community-based PAS. Despite the maze of federal, state, local for private and non-profit agencies, and independent living center organizations that administer a wide array of PAS programs many disabled individuals and older Americans want the freedom and control of living independently in their own communities as well as hiring their own personal assistants (PA). Yet, many physically disabled people are simply not poor enough to qualify for federal government PAS programs or rich enough to afford PAS without government assistance.
1 comment:
Pretty effective info, thanks for the post.
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