It’s been said that people remain silent, cynical or indifferent because they don’t believe that change is possible. But when ordinary people become advocates by taking action it’s because they believe in their own power to change the future.
How important is it to be aware and to participate? Do we know our neighbors, our community? When we look, what are we really seeing? When we listen, what do we hear? In order to be effective advocates we need to know who we are, what we oppose, what we’re for; and what we intend to do about it.
At the Resource Center for Independent Living our goals are based on an Independent Living Philosophy that promotes freedom of choice for all and advocates for the rights of people with disabilities. What does that mean? In part, that we believe in the value of all people to live the lives they choose. We support community living for people with disabilities and the preservation of federal and state health care programs and services that sustain independent living. We are also committed to taking necessary steps that will eliminate poverty.
How do citizens get involved and become advocates? By transforming thinking into action and demanding that their voices be heard. As we connect with others who share the same purpose and values we recognize that advocacy is a powerful process that encourages private citizens to engage those in public life and more importantly, it is an effective tool to achieve justice.
How important is getting involved? Ordinary people have provoked extraordinary changes locally and globally, by taking their beliefs and their knowledge and committing themselves to become partners for change. One example became the Disability Rights Movement. This endeavor used focused dynamic advocacy methods; by engaging legislators, using letter writing, petitions and civil disobedience to obtain human and civil rights for people with disabilities; a fight we continue to this very day.
The common history of these advocates is one that is repeated in almost every area where there is discrimination and injustice. It’s a challenge for any group of individuals to discover who they are and what they can do to effect the meaningful changes that matter most to them. It’s an even larger challenge for them to make their common interest in justice the interest of their opponents.
So many people have grown complacent and turned off the sound on this struggle. We can re-connect to our common humanity by refusing to push vital issues out of sight or let others make decisions for us. By choosing to act rather than react we become good advocates; by acting with others, we become empowered.
If you are interested in learning more about how you can help, contact us
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Middle-Ground Never Looked so Good
The current battle being played out on Capitol Hill over spending is all about the classic democratic struggle over what the appropriate role of government should be. President Obama’s approach to the current recession has been to stimulate the creation of jobs, restore faith in lending and protecting safety net programs by pumping money into the economy. Republicans suggest that they have a “mandate” from the last election cycle to cut and therefore forward spending proposals that will dramatically cut federally funded programs. The role suggested is to let the economy correct itself by ensuring industry and individuals with wealth have regulatory and tax protections to build jobs. As the House and the ultra-conservative Republican Study committee forward their spending cut proposals from $30 to $60 billion, the Democratic Senate side begs for a slower approach to deficit reduction and demands revenue action.
The problem is, we’re talking about the lifelines to millions of unemployed Americans.
Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Unemployment Insurance, HEAP, and TANF are keeping the lights on and food on the table. Programs like HeadStart and Community Action provide preschool and eldercare allow the “sandwich generation” to keep a job, knowing their family has social interaction and safety. Some House proposals would place a cap on spending on states’ Medicaid programs that would make it nearly impossible to cover residents that turn to Medicaid as they age or experience health or economic disaster.
Public programs have become integrally tied to the orderly functioning of our economy through decades of debate and reasoning. If quickly terminated, what will the economic ripple effect be on families, communities, and states as a whole?
The President unveiled his multi-year deficit reduction plan that would ease spending over 10-12 years while at the same time ending continuing tax exemptions for wealthy individuals. Think-tanks like the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities warn that sudden, severe cuts to programs and services would further undermine individuals’ abilities to get back to work and would make the economy sink farther into recession.
Despite severe differences of opinion between economists on how to “fix” the economy, our legislators need to take a thoughtful approach that looks at the complex interaction of all aspects of our economy. Other nations are looking to us to see whether if we can find a middle ground that represents a moral and sensible approach. Differences in beliefs on the role of government have always been at the core of our democracy. The discourse that continues to grapple with that answer means it’s working. The final determination will be up to all of us.
The problem is, we’re talking about the lifelines to millions of unemployed Americans.
Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Unemployment Insurance, HEAP, and TANF are keeping the lights on and food on the table. Programs like HeadStart and Community Action provide preschool and eldercare allow the “sandwich generation” to keep a job, knowing their family has social interaction and safety. Some House proposals would place a cap on spending on states’ Medicaid programs that would make it nearly impossible to cover residents that turn to Medicaid as they age or experience health or economic disaster.
Public programs have become integrally tied to the orderly functioning of our economy through decades of debate and reasoning. If quickly terminated, what will the economic ripple effect be on families, communities, and states as a whole?
The President unveiled his multi-year deficit reduction plan that would ease spending over 10-12 years while at the same time ending continuing tax exemptions for wealthy individuals. Think-tanks like the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities warn that sudden, severe cuts to programs and services would further undermine individuals’ abilities to get back to work and would make the economy sink farther into recession.
Despite severe differences of opinion between economists on how to “fix” the economy, our legislators need to take a thoughtful approach that looks at the complex interaction of all aspects of our economy. Other nations are looking to us to see whether if we can find a middle ground that represents a moral and sensible approach. Differences in beliefs on the role of government have always been at the core of our democracy. The discourse that continues to grapple with that answer means it’s working. The final determination will be up to all of us.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Perspectives from Herkimer Youth
On the RCIL blog, we often write about policy issues and perspectives on state or national issues. Today, however, we've invited the members of the Herkimer Youth Leadership group to write a guest post. We hope to provide a platform for them in the future.
The Herkimer Youth Leadership group would like to introduce ourselves. We have many interests and many things we are good at or enjoy doing. One young woman is a wonderful caretaker of animals and she enjoys singing karaoke. Many of us are really good at playing video games. Some of us are excellent at the computer. Several of us love music, drawing, writing and dancing. One young man says he is especially skilled at woodworking. Those who do volunteer work are quite proud of their accomplishments. This includes working at the Humane Society and the Sarah Ann Woods Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Today our facilitator asked This question: “If you could change anything about yourself or your community, what would it be?” Here are their responses:
1) I would lower gas prices and make electric cars more available to people
2) I would stop the fighting in the world
3) I would make sure all the children could play safely outside. I would stop bullies.
4) I want people to open their eyes and see what is happening (at the sheltered workshop.) I think the hotshots from the main building should come over and have to sit there for hours and see if they like it. The only thing I would change about myself is my job.
5) I would stop arguing with people and be more patient.
6) Several youth said they did not need or want to change anything about themselves, stating “because I like myself exactly as I am!”
This month, one youth was asked “who has inspired you, and how did they help you?” One young man eagerly volunteered to be the first in the group to respond.
“There is one person who has inspired me a lot. Her name is Tracy Sommer. She has always been there for me. She taught me to be myself. She inspired me to advocate for myself. I’ve known her three years. If it wasn’t for her none of the good things (in my life) would be happening. I can be my goofy self around Tracy. But she also taught me stuff like how to manage my money and all the different programs that are out there for me.” -Jason Peterson, member of the Herkimer Youth Leadership group
- Members of the Herkimer Youth Leadership group
The Herkimer Youth Leadership group would like to introduce ourselves. We have many interests and many things we are good at or enjoy doing. One young woman is a wonderful caretaker of animals and she enjoys singing karaoke. Many of us are really good at playing video games. Some of us are excellent at the computer. Several of us love music, drawing, writing and dancing. One young man says he is especially skilled at woodworking. Those who do volunteer work are quite proud of their accomplishments. This includes working at the Humane Society and the Sarah Ann Woods Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Today our facilitator asked This question: “If you could change anything about yourself or your community, what would it be?” Here are their responses:
1) I would lower gas prices and make electric cars more available to people
2) I would stop the fighting in the world
3) I would make sure all the children could play safely outside. I would stop bullies.
4) I want people to open their eyes and see what is happening (at the sheltered workshop.) I think the hotshots from the main building should come over and have to sit there for hours and see if they like it. The only thing I would change about myself is my job.
5) I would stop arguing with people and be more patient.
6) Several youth said they did not need or want to change anything about themselves, stating “because I like myself exactly as I am!”
This month, one youth was asked “who has inspired you, and how did they help you?” One young man eagerly volunteered to be the first in the group to respond.
“There is one person who has inspired me a lot. Her name is Tracy Sommer. She has always been there for me. She taught me to be myself. She inspired me to advocate for myself. I’ve known her three years. If it wasn’t for her none of the good things (in my life) would be happening. I can be my goofy self around Tracy. But she also taught me stuff like how to manage my money and all the different programs that are out there for me.” -Jason Peterson, member of the Herkimer Youth Leadership group
- Members of the Herkimer Youth Leadership group
Friday, April 8, 2011
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the Value of a Human Life
There is an old Jewish teaching that if you put a single human life on one side of a scale, and the rest of the world on the other side, the scale would be balanced equally.
But some of Washington’s newly-elected representatives intend to take the wisdom of this teaching and tear it apart. For instance, when they speak of “cutting fraud and waste in our healthcare systems” all for America’s “fiscal future”, what they really mean is that the lives of over 45 million people receiving Medicare and over 50 million receiving Medicaid services will be made harder and more confusing.
95 million people – babies, grandparents, and the neighbor that had an accident
The new class of lawmakers has put a divisive spin on the programs, services and protections that have helped support the needs of the aged, the poorest and the disabled, while assuring. While we contemplate the inherent unfairness of these policies, perhaps a good question to ask is: should the value of human life be calculated on how much we contribute to the GDP?
Have you ever wondered what your life is worth in pure financial terms?
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the price of an American’s life is currently $9.1 million dollars. Over at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, however, a human life is only worth $7.9 million dollars. Either option, however, is arguably better than in India, where the World Bank has estimated the value of a human life at less than $5,000.
In 1956, the Quality Adjusted Life Year (QALY) was invented by two health economists. This measurement of “disease burden” quantifies and assesses the value of medical interventions based on the expected quality of life and length of life that will be lived. If a medical procedure would result in a life outcome that includes permanent disability, the QALY ratio would be significantly lower than for someone whose life outcome is expected to result in a full recovery and ‘perfect health’. So based on this calculation, those who are most fragile, most ill, and usually least able to pay may not be worth saving. This harsh and variable ranking system is used to allocate healthcare resources.
But how do we calculate human worth? How do we determine who lives well or even who lives at all?
Medicaid and Medicare have both been unfairly derided as an expensive runaway train of care for the poor and elderly that should be cut and cut and cut. In fact, millions of Americans have benefited from funds that have sustained a wide variety of Medicaid and Medicare programs without regard to ranking or life expectancy. Under a new plan being promoted in Congress, America’s Medicaid and Medicare recipients, whose fundamental value and equality should never be questioned, may not have the health care choices that they need.
Access to healthcare services should not be a lucky privilege that should only be enjoyed by those who can pay for it, or those with the highest ranking of future health.
- Kate F.
But some of Washington’s newly-elected representatives intend to take the wisdom of this teaching and tear it apart. For instance, when they speak of “cutting fraud and waste in our healthcare systems” all for America’s “fiscal future”, what they really mean is that the lives of over 45 million people receiving Medicare and over 50 million receiving Medicaid services will be made harder and more confusing.
95 million people – babies, grandparents, and the neighbor that had an accident
The new class of lawmakers has put a divisive spin on the programs, services and protections that have helped support the needs of the aged, the poorest and the disabled, while assuring. While we contemplate the inherent unfairness of these policies, perhaps a good question to ask is: should the value of human life be calculated on how much we contribute to the GDP?
Have you ever wondered what your life is worth in pure financial terms?
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the price of an American’s life is currently $9.1 million dollars. Over at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, however, a human life is only worth $7.9 million dollars. Either option, however, is arguably better than in India, where the World Bank has estimated the value of a human life at less than $5,000.
In 1956, the Quality Adjusted Life Year (QALY) was invented by two health economists. This measurement of “disease burden” quantifies and assesses the value of medical interventions based on the expected quality of life and length of life that will be lived. If a medical procedure would result in a life outcome that includes permanent disability, the QALY ratio would be significantly lower than for someone whose life outcome is expected to result in a full recovery and ‘perfect health’. So based on this calculation, those who are most fragile, most ill, and usually least able to pay may not be worth saving. This harsh and variable ranking system is used to allocate healthcare resources.
But how do we calculate human worth? How do we determine who lives well or even who lives at all?
Medicaid and Medicare have both been unfairly derided as an expensive runaway train of care for the poor and elderly that should be cut and cut and cut. In fact, millions of Americans have benefited from funds that have sustained a wide variety of Medicaid and Medicare programs without regard to ranking or life expectancy. Under a new plan being promoted in Congress, America’s Medicaid and Medicare recipients, whose fundamental value and equality should never be questioned, may not have the health care choices that they need.
Access to healthcare services should not be a lucky privilege that should only be enjoyed by those who can pay for it, or those with the highest ranking of future health.
- Kate F.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Saving, when there’s not much to save
Encouraging savings and developing assets (such as a car, a home, or money for emergencies) is especially important for persons with disabilities. These resources allow people to have choices that help with creating a better life - mental and physical health, self-esteem, and opportunities in your community. But, particularly when you live on a fixed income or earn a low wage, it can seem almost impossible. Consider these possibilities:
1. Individual Development Accounts
The Assets for Independence Act passed in 1998 allowed individuals with low incomes to participate in “individual development accounts” (commonly called IDAs). These accounts can really help people save for their own home. The core elements of the act included a savings match incentive, and financial literacy and homeownership counseling. A larger down payment provides more affordable loan terms and lessens the risk of potential foreclosures later.
The Assets for Independence Act expired in 2003, but is currently being reintroduced with streamlining of operating requirements, expanded eligibility, and enhanced funding. The Savings for Working Families Act would include an IDA tax credit, and authorize $4 billion over ten years to support financial institutions’ efforts to participate in matching individual savings. “Auto Save” directs a small amount of post tax wages to be automatically deposited into a new low cost individual savings account – in this case fund use is not restricted, so could be used for any emergency needs.
2. Retirement Investment Account Plan
One idea for those whose employers do not offer a retirement plan is to develop a “Retirement Investment Account Plan”. This would be a government authorized, but privately run central clearinghouse to accept worker contributions to retirement savings accounts. These workers would have access to an automatic payroll-deduction retirement savings account through their workplace. The employer would not have to administer the plan or take responsibility for the investment choices of employees.
3. Saver’s Bonus
A recent proposal from the New America Foundation is the “Saver’s Bonus”. This would create an incentive for low income individuals and families to save at tax time. Tax refunds represent receipt of the largest check families will receive all year. For example, in 2009 the average refund was just under $3,000, with over 24 million EITC recipients getting refunds as large as $5,767. Every dollar deposited into an eligible savings account would be matched (that means free to you!) by an additional dollar up to a maximum of $500 per year. The money could go towards your long term dreams such as money for education or retirement under accounts such as IRA’s, 401k’s, and 529 College Savings plans.
If you look around the world, other countries are thinking and trying out other ideas – all with the plan to help everyone save a little more money for the future. In the United Kingdom, and Latin America they’ve tried prize-linked savings. Savers are entered into drawings for small monthly prizes and a larger annual jackpot.
What would help you save more?
- Dave
1. Individual Development Accounts
The Assets for Independence Act passed in 1998 allowed individuals with low incomes to participate in “individual development accounts” (commonly called IDAs). These accounts can really help people save for their own home. The core elements of the act included a savings match incentive, and financial literacy and homeownership counseling. A larger down payment provides more affordable loan terms and lessens the risk of potential foreclosures later.
The Assets for Independence Act expired in 2003, but is currently being reintroduced with streamlining of operating requirements, expanded eligibility, and enhanced funding. The Savings for Working Families Act would include an IDA tax credit, and authorize $4 billion over ten years to support financial institutions’ efforts to participate in matching individual savings. “Auto Save” directs a small amount of post tax wages to be automatically deposited into a new low cost individual savings account – in this case fund use is not restricted, so could be used for any emergency needs.
2. Retirement Investment Account Plan
One idea for those whose employers do not offer a retirement plan is to develop a “Retirement Investment Account Plan”. This would be a government authorized, but privately run central clearinghouse to accept worker contributions to retirement savings accounts. These workers would have access to an automatic payroll-deduction retirement savings account through their workplace. The employer would not have to administer the plan or take responsibility for the investment choices of employees.
3. Saver’s Bonus
A recent proposal from the New America Foundation is the “Saver’s Bonus”. This would create an incentive for low income individuals and families to save at tax time. Tax refunds represent receipt of the largest check families will receive all year. For example, in 2009 the average refund was just under $3,000, with over 24 million EITC recipients getting refunds as large as $5,767. Every dollar deposited into an eligible savings account would be matched (that means free to you!) by an additional dollar up to a maximum of $500 per year. The money could go towards your long term dreams such as money for education or retirement under accounts such as IRA’s, 401k’s, and 529 College Savings plans.
If you look around the world, other countries are thinking and trying out other ideas – all with the plan to help everyone save a little more money for the future. In the United Kingdom, and Latin America they’ve tried prize-linked savings. Savers are entered into drawings for small monthly prizes and a larger annual jackpot.
What would help you save more?
- Dave
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
6 Statistics to Remind Us How Far We Have to Go
33% = the percentage of persons with disabilities who live in households with annual incomes below $15,000, compared to a rate of 12% for persons without disabilities.
36.9% = the employment rate of working age persons with disabilities in the U.S., compared with 79.7 % for those without a disability.
40% = the school dropout rate for youth with disabilities; more than twice the average of general education students.
73% = the percentage of youth with behavioral/ emotional disabilities who drop out of school and are incarcerated.
$675,000 to $1 million = the lifetime costs of one youth dropping out of high school, according to statistical researchers.
9% = the prevalence of disability among school-age children in the U.S. in 2000, compared to a conservative estimate of 32% within the juvenile justice system.
- Quinton
Sources:
36.9% = the employment rate of working age persons with disabilities in the U.S., compared with 79.7 % for those without a disability.
40% = the school dropout rate for youth with disabilities; more than twice the average of general education students.
73% = the percentage of youth with behavioral/ emotional disabilities who drop out of school and are incarcerated.
- Quinton
Sources:
- 2000 National Organization on Disabilities/Harris Survey of Americans with Disabilities
- Disability Status Report, Cornell University 2007
- NCSET.org
- Office for Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
- Cohen, 2007
- Students with Disabilities in Correctional Facilities
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Entitlements for the rich
Usually when you hear about “entitlements”, it’s politicians talking about programs primarily for the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and those living in poverty. But the federal budget also includes certain entitlements called tax breaks that are buried in the tax code but that reflect other priorities. These allow individuals or companies to earn money back for certain types of activities that are intended to have benefits for everyone. Examples include the child tax credit, earned income tax credit or the mortgage deduction on your own home. As good as these common ones are, there are a whole slew of tax breaks only available to …
- Dave L.
The rich.
And corporations.
Now, as Washington is considering multiple cuts for important community supports they’ve “forgotten” to check back on the tax break side. Something unknown to most Americans is that when lawmakers start looking where to slash program budgets they do not generally review all of the tax breaks. No doubt, a difficult task. In fact, tax breaks continue without lawmakers even being aware of their costs when voting on these budgets. Imagine ignoring $500 in bank account and taking out a high interest loan instead.
Here are a few examples of costs on both sides of the ledger:
- families who purchase a vacation home in 2011 will reap $800 million by avoiding taxes through mortgage interest deduction, while the House Budget includes a $730 million cut for housing programs for the elderly and disabled
- oil companies get more than $2 billion in tax write-offs for drilling expenses, yet Congress is considering cutting the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) that provides just $2.5 billion nationwide to families who really need it to survive.
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