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Community Living Options for Deaf Seniors>
Posted on June 26, 2009
By Dean DeRusso, Deaf Systems Advocate
Many Deaf and Hard of hearing people, who are either born with no hearing or are late deafened, face barriers of communication in nursing homes. Staff do not know sign language. People prefer to stay at home where the environment is designed for them to enjoy, and in the community where other deaf people live.
Deaf people want the choice to be with people who can communicate with them in their preferred language or form of communication so they will enjoy their senior years with good friends. Read more
Posted on June 25, 2009
By Anita Cameron, Systems Advocate
On Friday, June 19, I went to Brooklyn, NY, to attend a rally and candlelight vigil in the memory of Esmin Green. Ms. Green’s story is but a symptom of the widespread and systematic injustice often perpetrated against people with mental health disabilities.
Esmin Green was 49 years old, and the mother of six daughters. An émigré from Jamaica, Ms. Green was a hard worker, who’d recently lost her job, and was about to lose her home. Like many of us in such circumstances, this was not an easy time for her.
A well-meaning pastor decided that perhaps Ms. Green should get some help, and had her taken to Kings County Hospital Center Psychiatric Emergency Room. There, she changed into a hospital gown, and went to the waiting room so that she could be seen. Read more
Thoughts on the Anniversary of Olmstead
Posted on June 25, 2009
By Terrie Lincoln, Systems Advocate
As I woke up on Monday, June 22nd, I was excited to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Olmstead decision. The outcome of the court case was a landmark ruling that the unjustified institutional isolation of people with disabilities is a form of discrimination under the American with Disabilities Act.
During a meeting at work, President Obama’s press release marking the Olmstead anniversary was read, announcing his new initiatives to assist Americans with disabilities. As it was being read, I first thought, “Wow, he is creating over 1,000 new housing vouchers for people with disabilities transitioning from institutions into the community and over 3,000 housing vouchers for non-elderly people with disabilities. This is great!” Read more
Center for Disability Rights Statement in Response to President Obama’s “Year of Community Living”
Posted on June 23, 2009
By Chris Hilderbrant, Director of Advocacy
President Obama yesterday announced an initiative called Year of Community Living to assist people with disabilities. The initiative was announced on June 22, 2009, in commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the landmark Olmstead Supreme Court decision. The Olmstead decision states that unnecessary institutionalization of people with disabilities is discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and orders states to craft a plan of transition from institutional settings back into the community.
The announcement and the initiative reflect some victories for advocates, but also glaring omissions on the part of the Obama administration.Read more
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Center for Disability Rights Inc. | ||||