Month: July 2012

A Friendship Beyond Understanding

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Photo: “One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar.” Helen Keller (Quote on wall at Guiding Eyes)



Talking with K.P. who is a blind activist from Hong Kong and who is getting his first guide dog atGuiding Eyes for the Blind in New York, I learn that there is considerable interest among the Honk Kong blind in having their own guide dog school. This news excites me because it’s about the spirit of hope. Every day we need stories about the indomitable “thing with feathers”. Or in this case, the things with wagging tails. 

 

In urban life a guide dog gives a visually impaired person a tremendous edge. Frankly I’ve long thought that even sighted people should have guide dogs, especially in the age of cell phones. These days sighted people are practically blind. But humor aside, the guide dog is a blessing and the human animal bond is a profound thing. I like what it says on the back of a Guiding Eyes brochure:

 

“Guiding Eyes dogs are carefully paired with their blind or visually impaired owners to ensure that they will become successful and independent teams. The results are intense bonding, newfound freedom, and a friendship beyond understanding.”

 

Got that right!   

DeMint Delays Senate Consideration Of U.N. Treaty On Rights Of People With Disabilities

 

(The Hill)

July 23, 2012

WASHINGTON, DC– [Excerpt provided by Inclusion Daily Express] Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) is delaying Senate consideration of the United Nations treaty on people with disabilities amid growing opposition from home-schooling advocates.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee was scheduled to take up the U.N. Convention on the Rights of People With Disabilities on Thursday, with the goal of getting it passed in time for the 22nd anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26. Instead, Chairman John Kerry (D-Mass.) announced that he will hold the markup next Thursday, July 26.

A spokesman for DeMint said several Republicans on the committee joined him in asking for the delay.

“Part of this treaty deals with abortion and the rights of children, issues that should be addressed by states, local governments and American parents, not international bureaucrats,” DeMint spokesman Wesley Denton told The Hill in an email. “Sen. DeMint strongly opposes this treaty, as the United States is already the world leader in addressing the needs of the disabled and it’s foolish to think Americans need to sign away our sovereignty to exert our influence around the world.”

The treaty has broad bipartisan support, with many senators — including Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) — arguing that it would merely extend the protections of the ADA to people with disabilities around the world, including Americans living abroad.

Entire article:

Sen. DeMint taps brakes on UN treaty as home-school opposition grows

http://tinyurl.com/ide0723122a

 

Support Disability Rights

TELL YOUR SENATORS TO SUPPORT DISABILITY RIGHTS EVERYWHERE!!

 Ratify CRPD NOW!

 ATTEND THE SENATE MARKUP ON THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2012 IN SENATE DIRKSEN OFFICE BUILDING ROOM G50 AT 9:30AM

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is an international treaty that outlines the obligations of ratifying countries to promote, protect, fulfill, and ensure the rights of persons with disabilities. It embodies the American ideals that form the basis of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by empowering persons with disabilities to be independent and productive citizens.  The US signed the CRPD on July 30, 2009 and after numerous attempts by the Home School Legal Defense Association to block this important treaty, it will finally receive a markup THIS THURSDAY! 

But we still need your help convincing the Foreign Relations Committee to VOTE YES and send the treaty to the Senate floor for a vote! 

We need you to fill the room at the hearing to show our support for the CRPD!

Send any accessibility accommodation requests to Susan_Oursler@foreign.senate.gov 

Let our voices be heard over the opposition … make a call to your Senator on the Foreign Relations Committee and tell them that the disability community needs their support!

MESSAGE: “Senator, I am a constituent from your state and I support the CRPD.  I look to you to attend the Foreign Relations Committee markup and vote on July 26th and to support ratification.  The CRPD is in the United States’ interests, protects our citizens and veterans abroad, and honors the Americans with Disabilities Act.”

CONTACT:

Chairman: Senator John Kerry (D-MA) SUPPORTS CRPD!
(202) 224-4651
Chief counsel: Andrew Keller andrew_keller@foreign.senate.gov ORwww.kerry.senate.gov/contact/

Ranking Member: Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN)
(202) 224-6797
Chief counsel: Michael Mattler michael_mattler@foreign.senate.gov ORwww.lugar.senate.gov/contact/

Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) COSPONSOR OF CRPD!!
(202) 224-6441
Foreign Relations Legislative Aide: Amber Bland ( amber_bland@barrasso.senate.gov) ORhttp://www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUs.ContactForm

Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
(202) 224-3553
Foreign Relations Legislative Aide: Ann Norris ( ann_norris@boxer.senate.gov) OR 
www.boxer.senate.gov/en/contact/

Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) SUPPORTS CRPD!
(202) 224-4524
Foreign Relations Legislative Aide: Katharine Beamer ( katharine_beamer@cardin.senate.gov) OR www.cardin.senate.gov/contact/

Senator Bob Casey, Jr. (D-PA)
( 202) 224-6324
Foreign LA: Damian Murphy ( damian_murphy@casey.senate.gov) ORwww.casey.senate.gov/contact/

Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) COSPONSOR OF CRPD!!!
(202) 224-5042
Foreign LA: Halie Soifer ( halie_soifer@coons.senate.gov) OR www.coons.senate.gov/contact/

Senator Bob Corker (R-TN)
(202) 224-3344
Foreign LA: Stacie Oliver ( stacie_oliver@corker.senate.gov) ORwww.corker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactMe

Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC)
(202) 224-6121
Foreign LA: Lydia Morgan ( lydia_morgan@demint.senate.gov) ORwww.demint.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactInformation

Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) COSPONSOR OF CRPD!!!
(202) 224-2152
Foreign LA: Chris Homan ( chris_homan@durbin.senate.gov) ORwww.durbin.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact

Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK)
(202) 224-4721
Foreign LA: Joel Starr ( joel_starr@inhofe.senate.gov) ORhttp://www.inhofe.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.ContactForm

Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA)
(202) 224-3643
Foreign LA: Chris Sullivan ( chris_sullivan@isakson.senate.gov) ORwww.isakson.senate.gov/contact.cfm

Senator Mike Lee (R-UT)
(202) 224-5444
Foreign LA: Miriam Harmer ( miriam_harmer@lee.senate.gov) ORwww.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact

Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ)
(202) 224-4744
Foreign LA: Jodi Herman ( jodi_herman@menendez.senate.gov) ORmenendez.senate.gov/contact/

Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL)
(202) 224-3041
Foreign LA: Victor Cervino ( victor_cervino@rubio.senate.gov) ORwww.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact

Senator Jim Risch (R-ID)
(202) 224-2752
Foreign LA: Chris Socha ( chris_socha@risch.senate.gov) ORwww.risch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Email

Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) SUPPORTS CRPD!
(202) 224-2841
Foreign LA: Chad Kreikmeier ( chad_kreikemeier@shaheen.senate.gov) ORwww.shaheen.senate.gov/contact/

Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) COSPONSOR OF CRPD!!!
(202) 224-6621
Foreign LA: Matt Padilla ( matthew_padilla@tomudall.senate.gov) ORwww.tomudall.senate.gov/?p=contact

Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) SUPPORTS CRPD!
(202) 224-4024
Foreign LA: Marta Ross ( marta_mclellanross@webb.senate.gov) ORwww.webb.senate.gov/contact.cfm

Children Writing About the Ocean

  
  
1) – This is a picture of an octopus. It has eight testicles. (Kelly, age 6 ) 
  
2 ) – Oysters’ balls are called pearls. (Jerry, age 6) 
  
3) – If you are surrounded by ocean, you are an island. If you don’t have ocean all round you, you are incontinent. (Mike, age 7) 
  
4) – Sharks are ugly and mean, and have big teeth, just like Emily Richardson. She’s not my friend any more. (Kylie, age 6) 
  
5) – A dolphin breaths through an asshole on the top of its head. (Billy, age 8) 
  
6) – My uncle goes out in his boat with 2 other men and a woman and pots and comes back with crabs. 
(Millie, age 6) 
  
7) – When ships had sails, they used to use the trade winds to cross the ocean. Sometimes when the wind didn’t blow the sailors would whistle to make the wind come. My brother said they would have been better off eating beans. 
(William, age 7) 
  
8) – Mermaids live in the ocean. I like mermaids. They are beautiful and I like their shiny tails, but how on earth do mermaids get pregnant? Like, really? (Helen, age 6) 

  9) – I’m not going to write about the ocean. My baby brother is always crying, my Dad keeps yelling at my Mom, and my big sister has just got pregnant, so I can’t think what to write. (Amy, age 6) 
  
10) – Some fish are dangerous. Jellyfish can sting. Electric eels can give you a shock. They have to live in caves under the sea where I think they have to plug themselves in to chargers. (Christopher, age 7) 
  
11) – When you go swimming in the ocean, it is very cold, and it makes my willy small. (Kevin, age 6) 
  
12) – Divers have to be safe when they go under the water. Divers can’t go down alone, so they have to go down on each other. (Becky, age 8) 
  
13) – On vacation my Mom went water skiing. She fell off when she was going very fast. She says she won’t do it again because water fired right up her big fat ass. (Julie, age 7) 
  
14) – The ocean is made up of water and fish. Why the fish don’t drown I don’t know. (Bobby, age 6) 

  15) – My dad was a sailor on the ocean. He knows all about the ocean. What he doesn’t know is why he quit being a sailor and married my mom. (James, age 7) 


  

Airline Employees Abuse Disabled Veteran and His Service Dog

See full story here

 

Paws and Stripes founder and disabled veteran Jim Staneck is seeking support from fellow dog lovers after he and his service dog were insulted and assaulted by United Airline employees.

Staneck and his service dog Sarge spent 48 hours stranded in the Dulles Airport after numerous flight cancellations and delays. Wounded in battle, Staneck suffers from a brain injury that makes it difficult for him to concentrate under stress. When he struggled to understand changes to his itinerary an employee at the ticket counter insulted him.

“He said, ‘Just read it’ and I said, ‘Sir I can’t read it,’ and he said, ‘What are you retarded?’” Staneck recalls. “Prior to this I told him I have a brain injury and PTSD, I’m a disabled vet, this is my second night here; I need help.”

To make matters worse, Staneck says Sarge was kicked twice by United employees. He said the second kick was so hard that it sent her flying.