Tag: discrimination

Law Enforcement’s New Disability Consideration..

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

Sometimes I use my posts to shed light on subjects that may not be considered relevant to disability as an issue but, could use some exposure in some way. This week, I wanted to shed some light on law enforcement and their treatment of people with disabilities. I know there’s a large push to increase disability sensitivity among law enforcement but this post is going to talk about something that’s reaching into a totally new dimension.

The issue I’m thinking about is totally different. It involves the split-second decisions a law enforcement officer had to make at a group home in Georgia that injured one of its residents. This is clearly a case of entering uncharted waters as it relates to law enforcement and their interactions with people who have a disability. I’m not sure if, or how law enforcement can act less aggressively when their primary job is to ensure the safety of the general public. In emergency situations faced by law enforcement on a regular basis and, as in this situation, I’m not sure how the ADA fits in.

Somehow, some people feel if there’s a suspect in a crime who has a disability, and that person’s disability isn’t considered in crisis or emergency situations, that’s a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is an attempt to “level the playing field” for those with disabilities on a daily basis. Once the situation has been deescalated, steps should be taken in accordance with the ADA to ensure things like effective communication, if the person has a hearing impairment, and access to the courthouse, if the person a mobility impairment, for example, are observed. These are just a few ways of how the ADA was meant to be utilized as it’s currently written. Quite honestly, I’m not sure if law enforcement has time to consider the ADA when you’re talking about life and death.

I’ll be interested to see what the Supreme Court decides. Maybe, instead of using part of the ADA to regulate this sort of situation, a new law should be drawn up in an effort to have a clearer framework available. I’m not saying the situation should be ignored, because it does need attention. It might just be that another avenue needs to be explored to have more effective action plan put in place.

Thanks for reading..

cr
For more information on this story check out the link below:
http://lubbockonline.com/filed-online/2015-03-21/supreme-court-considers-impact-disability-law-police-mentally-ill#.VQ4SleFGSSo

The Scooter Store and Home Owner’s Associations

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

While house hunting many years ago, one thing I knew I didn’t want was to get involved with a Home Owners Association.  From my experience of what others had said to me about HOAs, I had reached the opinion that they were something you paid lots of money for, that most of the time equaled lots of heartache for the homeowner.

I was again very happy that my home wasn’t associated with an HOA while watching the news a couple of weeks ago.  The news showed a story about a disabled woman who lives in a home that has an HOA.  She received a letter recently, because the Home Owner’s Association (HOA) felt that her car lift was a violation of one of their rules.  Because it has the name “The Scooter Store” on the actual lift, the lift and the pickup truck it’s attached to was seen as a commercial vehicle.  Because of her disability, she needs a lift on her personal vehicle to transport the scooter she uses while outside of her home.  Now an attorney’s involved.   If the HOA continues to send the woman correspondence about the lift, she could and should file a complaint with HUD under the Fair Housing Act.

Those who live in homes with HOAs pay a lot of money to live in those subdivisions.  Maybe the individual HOAs should take some of the money they collect in the form of dues and research laws like The Fair Housing Act before they start sending residents what could turn out to be harassing letters.  The more negative publicity Home Owners Associations receive, the less likely anyone will be willing to live in these areas.

What is your opinion of Home Owners Associations in your area?

For more information on this story you can go to the link below..

http://www.wftv.com/news/news/action-9-did-hoa-go-far/nZdmD/

Thanks for reading..

cr

Autistic Boy and the Letter

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

Earlier this week, I heard something about an Autistic boy and a letter.  Today, I had the chance to sit down and read the letter.  Let me first say, that I was horrified by the message the letter sends to the parents of this child.  I’m fully aware that there’s unfortunately prejudice and discrimination still alive and well against people who are disabled, but, I really can’t believe the nerve someone would have to actually express their feelings in writing and for the whole world to see.

The pure hate that’s expressed in the letter is reprehensible to say the least.  Kudos though, goes out to the neighborhood that has rallied behind this child and his parents.  As I’ve said before, everyone deserves to experience life to the fullest extent possible.  In particular, I really don’t appreciate how the person states that no one would love, marry, or employ their child and that their body parts should be donated to science.

I’m truly saddened for the author of this letter because they have this point of view on others around them.  I was watching Steve Harvey the other day and he was saying that people should do positive things instead of negative ones, especially when using platforms like the Internet to let their voices be heard.  I’m taking the example of this horrible letter and asking that people remember that we’re all people with feelings and emotions and should be treated with the respect and dignity we deserve, not like some object that can’t feel anything.

Thanks for reading..

cr

To read more about this story go to the following link:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/19/karla-begley-autistic-letter-teen_n_3780378.html

Starbucks Discriminates Against Deaf Customers

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

Being a very frequent coffee drinker and Starbucks customer, I was very upset and disturbed to see this story on Yahoo.  Ironically enough, while drinking my coffee, I caught the tail end of the story on “Good Morning America” too.

I’ve talked a lot about the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) in previous posts.  This law is supposed to prohibit discrimination of a person with a disability.  Sadly, like when I was a child, there are still people who will laugh and make blatant fun of someone just because of their differences.  While enduring some taunting by students in early childhood isn’t necessarily against the law, because kids sometimes do those kinds of things to others who may not be just like them, it’s a different story when you participate in that kind of behavior as an employee of a company.

I’ve seen “deaf chats” happen in places like the local mall and even at Panera.  In this case though, the police were called to break up a meeting of a group of deaf individuals such as the “deaf chats” I describe above.  Isn’t this a free country where people can assemble peacefully without repercussion?

I’ve previously worked with the local deaf community for many years, and understand there are many forms of communication that deaf individuals utilize to communicate with hearing individuals.  In this story, one of the customers wrote their order on a piece of paper.  As a result, the person at the cash register told them they weren’t going to serve them because they’re deaf.  What if the person just had a bad case of laryngitis? Wouldn’t  that employee have felt dumb?

Toward the end of the story, one of the attorneys suggests that employees receive disability sensitivity training so that similar incidences don’t happen again.  While this seems to be needed and helpful, I hope the training doesn’t just focus on one particular disability.

After this incident, it’s my sincere hope that Starbucks and other companies realize the amounts of money disabled people as a whole contribute to their bottom line each year, and that this sort of thing never happens again at Starbucks  or any other store.

What other measures do you think could be taken to smooth over this occurrence in the disabled community?

Thanks for reading..

cr

For more information check out the link below:

http://gma.yahoo.com/deaf-customers-sue-starbucks-discrimination-233751945–abc-news-topstories.html

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and How He Helped the Disabled

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

Today is the day of observance for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday.  He worked tirelessly for the civil rights of African-Americans in the 1960’s. 

What some people may not realize is that he did a lot for disabled people as well.  If it weren’t for the barriers he broke down, I don’t think the disabled population, at that time would have even had the courage to fight for the rights we enjoy today.

Yes, as I have said before, I realize that such things as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) could and should be improved but, I also realize that there are a lot of people with a disability who lived before laws like the ADA were in existence and their lives had even more obstacles than what we face today.

In Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s struggle to help African-American people get the rights they deserve and be treated as human beings, he also helped disabled people get that much closer to the rights and lives we deserve the opportunity to enjoy.  I know in his “I Have a Dream” speech, he spoke of those who not only had a different skin color and religion but, I believe he was also planting the seeds for those who have other barriers, so that they too could live free from discrimination. 

Happy Birthday Dr. King and thank you for being such an advocate for the human race as a whole.

Thanks for reading..

cr

Disability Rights are Precious

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

I am really excited to introduce a guest post today. It is written by my former co-worker Chris Howell.

Chris is an independent corporate writer, video producer and consultant specializing in copywriting, online video, newsletters, grant writing and other forms of business communication. Chris has been writing since 1988 as a news reporter, web content editor, newsletter designer, and technical writer.

Chris started his career as a news reporter at WOSU-AM in Columbus, Ohio; covering such diverse stories as art exhibits, labor actions, and auto racing. After moving to Orlando, Florida in 1989, Chris served as news and promotions writer for business-formatted station WBZS-AM. Chris wrote and produced radio ads for local restaurants, retail stores and other service industries. Chris is the recipient of the Associated Press Best Breaking News award and the Denton Award for Best Documentary.  Chris received his B.A. in Journalism from the Ohio State University.

For five years Chris provided marketing communications and grant writing to the nonprofit Center for Independent Living in Central Florida, Inc.

Chris currently blogs about nonprofit communications at http://www.speakupnews.com/ and runs the communications company Howl Media Group LLC at http://www.howlmediagroup.com/.

Here is Chris’s post:

This month marks the 22nd anniversary of the signing of the American’s With Disability Act (ADA). The ADA is landmark legislation that helps define and protect the rights of people with disabilities in so many ways.  Let’s take a closer look at some of the details of the ADA .

The ADA says employers or other employment-related organizations cannot discriminate against a person with a disability.  For example, employers cannot  deny employment opportunities,  limit a job applicant, fail to make a reasonable accommodation or fail to promote an employee based on disability.

The ADA prohibits discrimination by local and state governments to access programs and services.  This applies to public transportation, public housing, public assistance and housing referrals.  One important application is to public education.

One of the better known provisions of the ADA deals with public accommodations. Under Title III, no individual may be discriminated against on the basis of disability with regards to goods, services, facilities, or accommodations of any place of public accommodation.  Public accommodations include most places of lodging (such as inns and hotels), recreation, transportation, education, and dining, along with stores, care providers, and other public places.  Private clubs and certain historic buildings are exempt from this provision.

Title IV of the ADA requires telecommunications companies to ensure equivalent services are available, specifically to the deaf and hard of hearing. With today’s technology, the deaf and hard of hearing can use computer-based video and text services which has greatly improved communication for those populations.

These are just some highlights of the ADA. The act is much more complex and has been amended over the years to detail additional rights. At this anniversary it’s important to recognize this law for the opportunities it has opened up for people with disabilities. The ADA is an important law but remember that as a person with a disability it’s your responsibility to know your rights so you can advocate for them when necessary. The fight for increased disability rights goes on.

Here are some websites with additional information on the ADA and disability rights.

U.S. Department of Justice Guide to Disability Rights Law : http://www.ada.gov/cguide.htm

National Disability Rights Network : http://www.napas.org/

Disability Rights Advocates: http://www.dralegal.org/

Disability Rights Legal Center: http://www.disabilityrightslegalcenter.org/

A heartfelt thanks goes out to Chris Howell for contributing today’s post to my blog.