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They Still Don’t Get It: My Vote Story

Posted on November 6, 2009

By Anita Cameron, Systems Advocate

I got up Tuesday (November 3, 2009) bright and (not so) early so that I could make a quick stop at my polling place and vote before going to work. Thankfully, my polling site is down the street from my house at Andrews Terrace, one of those buildings whose residents are mostly seniors or folks with disabilities, so I didn’t have to worry about physical access.

I wondered if I would have the trouble that I had last year, where it took me almost two hours to vote because the machine had not been turned on, or would the machine be “broken” as it was claimed to be when I tried to vote on Primary Day this past September. Oddly, the machine had broken down a few minutes before I came, and they had called it in. I later learned that the Board of Elections had received no such call. Hmmm… Read more

Budget Cuts Brought to You by the Pathologically Vicious

Posted on October 22, 2009

By Chris Hilderbrant, Director of Advocacy

*Update* Center for Disabilities response to the Executive's proposed Defecit Reduction Plan (DRP)

We’re all getting used to budget cuts.  It used to only happen around budget season, but with the state and national economies in the tank, Governor Paterson has realized that the only thing he can do to boost his plummeting ratings is to talk tough about ‘making hard decisions’ and ‘cutting spending.’

Ok, I get all that.  Money is tight and states should not make a habit of spending more than is needed.  We’ve been suggesting areas where the state could reduce its spending for years, but none of the political “leaders” would make those tough decisions because the economy was solid and the leaders could keep spending on pet projects to keep their donors happy. Read more

What is the True Meaning of Reasonable Accommodation?

Posted on October 6, 2009

By: Sara Furguson

As most of you probably know, the Americans with Disabilities Act granted a number of protections to those with disabilities. Under Title I of the Act, applicants and employees with disabilities receive protection from the unjust employment discrimination that has been forever present in our society. Among these employment protections is the requirement for employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. While there are many provisions to the statute, there are key points that I will address in an attempt to clarify this sometimes complex law. Read more