Disabled Democrats, Check In. What is it that you want?

[mopaul]

i remember when there were no handicapped parking spaces. now they are everywhere, even too many sometimes. but it's better than the old way of simply not going into certain buildings for lack of access.

like the black civil rights activists, black and white, many other groups have developed political activist voices, the gays and lesbians, the union workers, the poor, the disenfranchised, and they sometimes have to yell and holler to get what they consider a level playing field and equity with all americans.

if you are a disabled person, or a person who needs medications that are diffucult to get, or ssi payments or medicaire/medicaid payments being witheld or denied, what is it that you, the disabled american want from the Kerry Edwards administration?

[catmandu57]

1. What I really want is to be a whole person, but,

since that can never be, affordable or better yet no cost healthcare for everyone. Help with modernizing our home to be more handi friendly would be nice also.

[mopaul]

2. that shit should be free

we have so much extra money in our treasury, and so much of it is wasted on silliness like 5 million dollar inaugaral balls and supporting baronial lifestyles of the rich and spoiled.

a person should not have to BEG for help in america.

[nancyharris]

3. Ask not what your country can do for you

...ask what you can do for your country
JFK (1960)

[catmandu57]

4. I've done for my country Nancy

now it's their turn.

[Cleita]

5. All taxpayers have a right to ask what their money

is being used for and it should be used for the greater good. Today it is being used more and more for corporate welfare and the average American is getting stiffed. This is why we had a revolutionary war. No taxation without representation and no more kings sucking up our wealth and giving nothing in return. The new prescription drug plan for Medicare for instance is a perfect example of this.

Senior citizens on fixed income needed some relief from high priced drugs so what did the Republicans do? They came up with privatized scheme for discount cards, many of which were already out there. I know, my husband had one. But his drugs have gone up. One drug has doubled in price from a year ago. So where is this money going? Right into the pockets of the pharma companies and many lower income seniors are less able than ever to afford them.

[Ladyhawk]

16. I'm doing for my country. I'm trying to get rid of Bush. n/t

People who are not disabled should be asking what they can do to improve the country's health care system, don't you think?

[Kanary]

22. Wow, Nancy, what great compassion you have (not) Maybe someday you'll

find yourself in OUR shoes... then where will you be???

What YOU can do for your country, Nancy, is get a heart.

Cheerio, sweetie...

Kanary

[1gobluedem]

6. Less red tape, interest-free loans, financial assistance

My disability is fairly minor but for others who are much worse off, we need to cut through the red tape and provide assistance with things that are necessary to daily life. Some examples:

1. Wheelchair ramps -- provide funding and volunteers to build them
for those who need and can't afford them.

2. Assistance with necessary medication, oxygen, wheelchairs,
walkers, etc. for those who can't afford them.

3. National database of volunteers to assist caregivers, broken
down by state and communication.

4. Federal financial assistance -- people shouldn't have to lose
their houses because they can't pay a mortgage and for medicine.

It shouldn't be a bureaucratic nightmare for the disabled to get through to a federal agency that is there to help them. Get rid of the red tape and be accessible.

[mopaul]

10. i'll go ya one further

i think the very poor should not be punished by paying 300 dollars a month for 30 pills. my mom gets them less than half that price from canada, on the web. it's illegal or close, and bushco is making it hard and practically a crime.

i think the very poor should get everything they need to lead better lives for FREE. maybe a bottle of pills should be 2 dollars. we can afford it. maybe a wheelchair ramp should be FREE for a lady who can't afford one. whether that lady has any insurance OR NOT.

this nation can afford it.

[Kanary]

23. For the "very poor", that $2 at the end of the month doesn't exist

There is NO "extra"

I've had to try to explain to drs, who want me to call in an emergency with my eye, that because of their damned "copay" shit, if I have an emergency at the end of the month, it's just too damned bad.

All this "copay" crap is punitive..... it doesn't help the system any at all..... it costs them more to COLLECT it than it gives back to the system. It's just to remind us we're shit.

Kanary

[Ladyhawk]

15. Yeah, my CPAP is falling apart and I can't get through the red tape...

...to get a new mask.

It's a bitch.

Just one more example of how difficult it is to get adequate health care on disability.

Because of my spine problems and severe depression, doctors approved in-home health care for me, but the state won't pay for it. My physical health is improving, but--Jesus!--you should see my apartment. It's a huge, huge mess. Bending over is so agonizing, I just can't do simple things like laundry and dishes.

The funny thing is, I've begun exercising. As long as my spine stays straight--hiking, swimming, etc.--I'm OK. It's the bending and lifting that kills me.

I lost a check the other day and nearly killed myself because I had to bend over and lift a lot in order to look. It was night, but I ended up hurting and drenched in sweat.

[Unperson 309]

30. You Could Qualify For An Assistance Dog!

If you have substantial inability to bend and reach, you might look up Canine Companions for Independence, Paws With A Cause or other agency to train with an assistance dog!

Assistance dogs can do such things as:

Turn on lights, Help you transfer from chair to bed or bed to chair, pick up dropped items, open doors, bring you items of clothing, lift your legs from floor to bed surface, help you to rise from a fall, carry things too heavy for you to life, place change on a counter (or retrieve it), pull the covers up to your chin when you are in bed (or remove them), steady you as you walk, assist in transferring from chair to toilet and back again, alert people if you fall and any of dozens of other skills can be trained into the dog!

You can take the dog with you on busses, trains, vans anywhere in public (zoos and wile animals parks and food preparation areas being the exceptions) and many states have monetary assistance funds to help with feeding and vet care!

EVen better, they help with depression! A properly trained assistance dog might transform your life! Mine did. There are schools all over this country which train assistance dogs and guide dogs and hearing dogs for those with hearing loss.

Google the term "assistance dog" and your city name and see what comes up!

309

[VoteDemocratic2004]

31. What if you live in a bldg. that doesn't allow Dogs

I would love to have one myself because I miss having a dog around.

I have my cats but I miss my dog that died.

[Unperson 309]

33. By LAW, They Have To Accept Assistance and Guide Dogs!

It doesn't matter if you live in a place that won't allow pets, an assistance dog is NOT a pet! Ask your landlord and s/he'll tell you, they have to accept the animal and they cannot charge a fee for it, either!

Check out your state's disability statutes and you will be amazed at what there is on the books.

Good luck!

309

[AtTheEndOfTheDay]

7. Stem cell research would be nice

Universal Healthcare for everybody too

[SudieJD]

8. Health Care

I have RA, severe osteoporosis and COPD (from asbestos). My husband and I cannot afford insurance or medical bills. Our income after truck expenses each month is $750.00.

Universal Health Care!

Sudie in MN

[mopaul]

11. that's just criminal negligence of the needy

no one in america should have to decide between rent, food or medicine, but millions do. millions more are facing homelessness and are only two paychecks away from the street.

does bushkkko care? hell no, they are totally unaware of all that suffering and need, IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY.

this nation needs an enema

[Ladyhawk]

18. You have several problems.

That gets complicated, doesn't it?

You don't have the same array I do, but I can empathize (I think) because it's difficult to deal with more than one malady. RA and osteoporosis cause chronic and severe pain. COPD leads to fatigue and numerous lung infections. My best friend in the whole world has COPD and he gets pneumonia at least twice a year. It's so sad. He's the best person I've ever known and doesn't deserve it. Another sad thing is his employers have hinted that he might be fired because of his poor health. He's a doctor, a professional. He says that during the twenty years he's been in the health care profession, it has declined every year. He bemoans the fact that making money is the bottom line. Often, I've seen him buy medications and necessary medical items for patients. It breaks his heart that the health care system is failing.

Now, the system wants to dump him.

[Lugnut]

9. Free health care

And when I say health care I mean whatever care my doctors decide I need. I need more PT than the 18 visits per year that's covered. Getting more than $800 per month in SSDI benefits wouldn't hurt either.

I have SCI but am fortunate to be partially ambulatory. I use a wheelchair depending on what the situation requires.

[mopaul]

12. totally, utterly FREE. this nation has GOT the money for it

but extremely greedy billionaires who just want a few more billions could give a crap about outrageous medical costs. they are all covered, they GOT theirs, we can go.........well, you know the rest

[laruemtt]

13. i have late-stage chronic lyme and

without my meds i am truly the walking, or crawling, dead. i'm fortunate in that my husband has insurance through the university where he teaches, otherwise i'd be withouot meds and would surely kill myself as the quality of life is not worth it.

this country CAN afford to give free meds or meds at a nominal cost. it's criminal anyone should have to go without their medicines because they can't afford the outrageous cost. of course, if we didn't have this stupid war and the tax cuts for the rich, this could all be a moot point.

[Ladyhawk]

14. I need enough money to live and affordable housing.

SSI disability pays $790 a month and pay $450 a month rent. Once the bills are paid, I have less than $100 or less in the bank. If family didn't help me, I'd be homeless.

I also want better health care. Medi-Cal is free, but Medi-Cal providers are often substandard and waits for necessary treatment are long. It is so disheartening. I probably need surgery on my neck, but I've been waiting eight months to be approved for an MRI to see how my degenerative disc disease has progressed.

I can only see my doctors intermittently.

Like I said, it's disheartening. It's like the system wants me to stay on disability by not providing the care I need in order to regain my health.

Note: I'm dealing with severe Depression, painful disc disease, diabetes, severe sleep apnea and other maladies. This summer I finally found a decent psychiatrist who prescribed Strattera (originally developed for ADD) that increases nor-epinephrine in the brain. It is the first "anti-depressant" that has had a positive effect on me. I'm really trying to regain health by exercising, but it will be a long road. Trying to defeat diabetes and Depression while in constant pain is very, very difficult.

Luckily, there is a chance I can recover completely. I know people whose disabilities can never be cured. I worry very much about how they will do in the coming years if our resources are cut off by government.

As I've watched the quality of health care for the disabled get worse and worse over the past few years, I've dissolved into tears many, many times (like now, for instance). It's so frustrating! :( I can't even begin to tell you how many prescriptions were delayed, how many necessary medical procedures were delayed, how many incompetent Medi-Cal doctors screwed up. It's going downhill fast.

Kerry, please say help is on the way!

[Classical_Liberal]

17. I don't believe a much more impaired person with no family

could have made it through the approval and appeal process to get ssi. Also, I worry about losing my health coverage if and when I go back to work and getting sick again then having to go through that nightmarish long process again.

[Ladyhawk]

19. Hear, hear.

My doctor actually did all the paperwork (SSI) for me when I was too sick to do anything. I want to get better, but the transition scares me because I'm afraid I'll reach the "cut off" point for health care coverage...or fall on my face, hard.

Living scared due to inadequate income and pain is difficult.

Again, I am fortunate in that I could reach a functional level again, but is by no means a sure thing and the system is set up to create problems instead of really help. I really feel for those of you who know you must rely on this broken system for the rest of your lives. Something must be done!!!!

[VoteDemocratic2004]

26. You need a Lawyer to get SSD & SSI

I tell everyone this and they don't believe me. Once you hire a Lawyer then they don't mess with you and they approve you right away.

I was put on SSD by the SSD Doctors but I still hired a Lawyer prior to going to their Doctors appointment.

The Lawyer will take care of all of the paperwork and appeals.

SSD & SSI wants you to give up so they keep denying you over and over again until you give up.

My 3 year review came up back in October and the Phyciatrists that they sent me to said that I had so much that has happened to me that she was approving me immediatly. I have severe depression and it's hard to deal with at times but I have it under control now.

[Pastiche423]

20. What do I want from a

kerry/edwards administration?

Judges that enforce the Americans w/Disabilities Act.

Oh wait, edwards already voted for a judge that publically threatened to further weaken the rights of people w/disabilities. Ya know, the one that has been described as a throwback to an era when disabled people were routinely warehoused and forgotten.

Judge D. Brooks Smith

To add insult to injury, edwards hid out in his office across the hall from the hearing. He din't even have the courage to cast his "Yes" vote in public.

After the voting was over, he went across the hall and asked if his yes vote could still be counted. It could be and was.

Oh joy...

[Unperson 309]

21. I Would Like The Limit Raised! Not On What I Make, But What I OWN!

According to the rules, to get Social security Disability, one must not have a net worth (including car, computer, clothing, bank accounts, furniture, personal assets, jewelry, etc) of UNDER $2,000!

Can you IMAGINE having to prune your assets to that limit?!! Our car *alone* is worth well over that amount! The computer I work on is probably worth a good $500.00 etc... The $2,000.00 limit was imposed during the SIXTIES when it was a LOT of change... today, it's less than a used car sells for.

I would vote for a limit of $6- to $8,000.00 being the "poverty limit" because that reflects the current economy better.

Also, the earnings limit on disabled persons is lower than that of blind persons and the elderly retired. Currently, disabled persons can only earn around $900.00 or so monthly in addition to their SSI checks, but retired and blind persons can earn substantially more. Blind can earn $1,400 and elderly retired, ISTR is around $1,800?

Having three tiers of what once can earn is not fair. Why is blindness considered a more disabling condition than, say, quadriplegia or double amputee status?

The system needs an overhaul.

309

[Kanary]

24. OK, I'll bite..... I'll tell you what I REALLY want.....

Thanks for asking....... I appreciate that you were thinking about this! :hug:

The first and foremost thing I REALLY want is for my "fellow" DEMS to be thinking about me, and considering me when the are talking about issues.

1. When platform writing time comes around, all the issues become about the MIDDLE CLASS..... there is very little awareness about actual poverty, and what we need to keep body and soul together.

2. Right here on DU, when people are blasted because they haven't done what someone else thinks they should, there is never a thought given to the fact that MAYBE that person doesn't have the same resources, level of energy, ability, etc. A little more openness of mind would go a long way. It's exhausting to keep defending and explaining oneself...... especially to those who SHOULD already understand.

3. A concern for our issues! Do you have ANY idea just how disheartening --and ultimately, depressing and hopeless --it is to post about HUD cuts, asking for letters to be written, and calls to be made, and have it CONTINUALLY sink, while calls for emailing in support of Whoopi grows into a *huge* thread?

4. When the continual praise of Clinton surfaces, could you PLEASE remember that Clinton ALSO made life miserable, if not impossible, for many who were already living on the edge?? Could we PLEASE count for *something*?

5. When you so blithely talk about having to put some issues on the "back burner" in order to "win", could you please remember that those you are consigning to said "back burner" are real, live human beings, who hurt, bleed, and die?

6. on edit: Reading some of the posts reminds me of this one -- What I want, when DUers and admins are sneering at those who they think spend too much time on DU..... is to remember that, on a lot of online forums, those who spend a lot of time there are those who aren't able to get around much, or aren't feeling well enough to "get a life". The plus of the 'net is that we can interact with others. The negative is that we get judged for it. Just some awareness and common courtesy.

This is just what comes to mind right now. I'm sure there is more. First and foremost, we need to know that we are surrounded by those who are able to care, and not just left to flounder on our own.

Thank you again for asking.....

Kanary

[CaTeacher]

35. I was looking for an

applause emoticon for Kanary--

but this one will do the job

:yourock:

[camero]

25. Actually enforce the ADA

and get a congress that will rewrite it so it can pass SCOTUS muster or replace said SCOTUS with justices that can actually interpret it.

Also, Universal Health Care and change the disabilty system to make it where you can get disability payments before death.

[KamaAina]

28. Get rid of ADA-hating repukes

like these in Tex-ass: not one or two wingnuts, but the actual Tex-ass repuke platform:

http://www.texasgop.org/library/RPTPlatform2004.pdf

Americans with Disabilities Act – The Party supports amendment of the Americans with Disabilities Act to exclude from its definition those persons with infectious diseases, substance addiction, learning disabilities, behavior disorders, homosexual practices and mental stress, thereby reducing abuse of the Act. (p. 14)

Huh? Since when are "homosexual practices" covered under ADA?! Does this mean I get a toaster? :-)

Edit: Wasn't ADA signed into law by a Texas repuke, George H.W. Bush? Oh, right, he's really from Kennebunkport...

[catmandu57]

27. Income and possesion limits need to go away

I could use a little more money month to month, right now I have a thin bowl of cereal for breakfast, then nothing for the rest of the day.
Dinner is the biggest meal of the day, every now and then I wind up with a few extra dollars don't ask me how cause I don't know. That gets turned into a splurge, maybe a sonic cheeseburger.
The real thing I need though is an access ramp and a shower built into the bathroom, right now it's an adventure getting in and out of the bath.

[VoteDemocratic2004]

29. What do I want?

I want to be able to make an appt. with a Doctor without being told that they are not accepting any more Medicare patients.

Rent vouchers for the disabled so mamy of them live on nothing.

I live in a rent subsidized apt. and I wouldn't be able to make it unless I had the subsidy. I worry about Bush getting in for 4 more years and cutting out the subsidies that are now in use.

[KamaAina]

32. How about a dent in the 70 percent unemployment rate?

That's right, 70. Not 17. No typo. The unemployment rate in Baghdad is probably lower than it is here in Disability Nation.

Don't even get me started on underemployment. A fellow I knew who had two years of college as a computer science major was "employed" as a sandwich artist at Subway. Then there's the guy 20 years out of Yale who toils away as a mid-$30s cubicle rat while posting to DU...

[CaTeacher]

34. I am not disabled myself,

but this issue is very important to me--I have several people in my family who could really benefit from better social services.

My father has severe arthritis, which makes it very hard to get around. I think that he would benefit from many of the things already mentioned. Fortunately for my father, he has family who lives close--and we are a pretty caring and helpful family.

I also have an uncle whose predicament is very tough--he lives alone--and none of us are close enough to see him more than occasionally. He has suffered from a macular hole and macular degeneration. Now, he has trouble seeing. This kind of a situation goes beyond just health care--because what he really needs is someone to help clean his house, and do his errands--you know all the stuff that is so simple to do when you can see--but which becomes really impossible when you suddenly become nearly blind. I would like to see our social services boosted to the point where we have people occasionally go and visit the homes of people who may be helpless--and help them with whatever they need. This would allow the disabled to maintain more a more independent lifestyle--but have help and contact from people in the community. It would also create jobs for people who want to help others.

I have noticed that many goods and services can be purchased over the internet now (making it easier for someone who cannot drive)--but usually it costs quite a lot of money to have groceries and sundries delivered. I would like to see companies encouraged to provide this service for free (or at least at a reduced rate) to the disabled--certainly I would give my business to companies that were willing to do this.

PS thanks to whoever bumped this thread--I have been looking for it for a long time!