Disability rights – and lefts

With the US presidential elections just two months away, Dan Lawton describes how disabled people reacted when the Democratic and Republican parties presented their disability policies

In July, disability activists from across the US gathered in Columbus, Ohio, for the National Seminar on Disability.

The event, organised by the American Association for People with Disabilities (AAPD) and sponsored by more than 70 additional groups, highlighted the issues most important to the disability community in the upcoming election.

It also allotted both presidential candidates – Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama – a chance to present their respective plans to improve disability rights in America.

Mr Obama’s transatlantic trip prevented him from attending but his position was taken by Senator Tom Harkin, a leading advisor on disability issues to the Democratic campaign.

Mr Harkin characterised the fight for disability rights as “a moral obligation”, while stating Mr Obama’s commitment to restoring the intent of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

A landmark piece of legislation passed in 1990 that prohibits discrimination based on disability, the ADA has been narrowed by recent Supreme Court decisions ruling that individuals who mitigate their disabilities with medication or prosthetics may not
be protected.

Mr Harkin also stressed the importance of passing the Community Choice Act, which would let individuals receiving Medicaid (a US government healthcare program) use funds for community-based health-care instead of nursing homes.

Mr McCain, speaking via satellite, emphasised his commitment to providing care to veterans with disabilities.

A decorated war hero who was tortured during his five years in a Vietnam prison camp, Mr McCain harshly condemned last year’s scandal at Walter Reed Military Hospital – where patient neglect and deplorable conditions were revealed. He also voiced his support for ADA restoration, stating that legislators “must clarify the definition of a disability to assure full protection for those the law is intended to serve”.

In spite of Mr Obama’s non-appearance, most in attendance favoured his proposals over those of Mr McCain. In fact, Mr McCain’s opposition to the Community Choice Act incited boos from the audience, especially after Mr Harkin had argued that the bill could be funded annually for the price of 10 days of war in Iraq.

But the most compelling disparity between the candidates on disability issues may be seen in the most visible of places: their websites.

Mr Obama’s has a nine-page comprehensive plan on a variety of disability issues. Mr McCain’s contains two paragraphs (on autism only). If such meagre attention is indicative of how his campaign values the disability community – then the 37 million disabled voters in America will have an easy choice in November.

•The National Forum on Disability can be viewed at: www.disaboom.com/Community/Organizations/AAPD