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The 20 percent solution: Bipartisan disability voters coalition

Alexander Graham Bell and Helen Keller both have been quoted as saying, “When one door closes, another one opens.”
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November 12, 2014

Alexander Graham Bell and Helen Keller both have been quoted as saying, “When one door closes, another one opens.” This is good wisdom for those disappointed in the Republican takeover of Congress as well as partisans on both sides of the aisle who are worried that the polarized situation will make gridlock even worse in Washington, D.C., reducing any chance of major legislative reforms.

But in peering through that new “open door,” there are some potential upsides to the midterm elections results. To start with, there are now more moderate-leaning Republicans in Congress because of the Republican National Committee’s primary strategy of defeating Tea Party candidates. There is also an expectation that because the GOP now controls both the House and Senate, they must actually govern. As Republican House Speaker John Boehner said, “We are humbled by the responsibility the American people have placed with us, but this is not a time for celebration. It’s time for government to start getting results.” 

For the 20 percent of Americans who have some type of disability, along with their family members and caregivers, this is actually a perfect time to seize an opportunity. Disabilities impact all Americans — urban and rural, red and blue. In fact, the one group most impacted by disability is also the group most likely to vote — the elderly. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2010 Americans With Disabilities report, people in the oldest age group — 80 and older — were about eight times more likely to have a disability than those in the youngest group — younger than 15 (71 percent compared with 8 percent). Altogether, 30.6 million Americans have difficulty walking or climbing stairs, or use a wheelchair, cane, crutches or walker.

Just imagine what could be accomplished if all those people with physical, mental and developmental disabilities and their families got organized together, partnering with all the nonprofits and vendors who support them. A bipartisan coalition can and should be created to address the growing needs of our aging and disabled population:

• More community-based support to ensure that, in the words of the national ARC (formerly the Association for Retarded Citizens), “All people, regardless of disability, deserve the opportunity for a full life in their community where they can live, learn, work and play alongside each other through all stages of life.” From a fiscal standpoint, Republicans likely will support this strategy, as “aging in place” saves money compared to taxpayer-supported skilled nursing homes.

• Self-determination, in terms of people with disabilities having the freedom, authority and support to exercise control over their lives. In California, the Autism Society of Los Angeles, Disability Rights California and other advocates were able to pass legislation signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown last year. Through a federal Medicaid waiver, this law will give regional-center clients with developmental disabilities more control over every aspect of their lives. Other states should follow suit.

• Because most people with disabilities are unable to drive, accessible transportation is key to successful community living. According to ARC, some 24 million Americans with disabilities use public transit to maintain their independence and participate fully in society. Those living in rural areas often face the greatest challenge of all, because of total lack of public transportation and long distances between destinations.  

• Traveling by air is also a challenge for people with severe disabilities, and there’s a petition circulating on Moveon.org to ask the Federal Aviation Administration to require airlines to provide designated wheelchair-accessible spaces on every commercial aircraft, which would allow passengers to remain safely seated in their personal wheelchairs. There are thousands of Americans with disabilities who, for safety and health reasons, cannot sit in a standard airline passenger seat and need to be able to be buckled down using their personal wheelchairs.

• Raising the asset limits for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients. Right now, federal law limits individuals who receive SSI to having no more than $2,000 in cash or liquid assets at any given time. If they go over that $2,000 ceiling, people can lose their eligibility for many government benefits. This low threshold discourages paid employment and savings. The last time the asset cap for SSI recipients was increased was in 1989.

And lastly, some unsolicited advice to people who run against candidates who have disabilities: Be very careful that you don’t come across as attacking that person’s disability. Wendy Davis, the Democrat who ran (and lost) in the race for governor of Texas against Republican Greg Abbott, should not have run the controversial “wheelchair ad.” In 1984, Abbott was struck by a falling tree while on a jog and later received a settlement valued at an estimated $10 million. He has used a wheelchair since the accident.

As reported on Politico, the pro-Davis spot charged Abbott with hypocrisy for denying settlements to others who also became disabled, and the ad showcased an empty wheelchair. As one special-needs mom blogger, Ellen Seidman of Love That Max, commented: “Slamming a candidate who happens to use a wheelchair: Bring it. It’s an election. Slamming a candidate for having a wheelchair is hitting below the belt of the worst kind.” 

 

Michelle K. Wolf writes a monthly column for the Jewish Journal. Visit her Jews and Special Needs blog at jewishjournal.com/jews_and_special_needs

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