Bernie unveils his disability rights platform

[KamaAina]

https://berniesanders.com/issues/fighting-for-disability-rights/

“The Americans with Disabilities Act established a clear national mandate that we as a nation have a moral responsibility to ensure that all Americans have access to the programs and the support needed to contribute to society, live with dignity, and achieve a high quality of life. — Senator Bernie Sanders

When the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed 25 years ago, it was hailed as the world’s first comprehensive declaration of equality for people with disabilities. Today, as a result of this landmark legislation, millions of people with disabilities are no longer denied the opportunity to get on a bus, go to a decent school, make a decent living, attend a baseball game, and live successful and productive lives. Instead of being isolated and hidden from society, kids with disabilities are now in classrooms all over America and graduating from high school and college with the respect and admiration of their classmates, teachers, and families.

This transformation in our culture and society did not happen by accident, and it did not happen overnight – it happened because a grassroots movement demanded change. Despite the progress that has been made over the past two decades, we unfortunately still live in a world where people with disabilities have fewer work opportunities and where the civil rights of people with disabilities are not always protected and respected.

Bernie has been a champion for the rights of people with disabilities and he will continue to fight to ensure that our society is one where people with disabilities can live full and productive lives.

[Agschmid]

1. Kick. Good to see.

[randys1]

2. Good. One thing is for god damn sure, Social Security, a big part of this plan

must be expanded, not cut back.

LIFT THE CAP for crying out loud

[Robbins]

3. I am one

on SSDI.like bernie said it's my entire income for the month.

[SamKnause]

5. That is my situation as well.

[davidpneff]

4. The more I listen to Bernie...

...the more I absolutely love him. I am partially disabled and going to college. It's not easy living on less than 1,000 a month while you have 10K in debt.

[jeff47]

6. I'm sorry, but this can't have happened.

I've been informed by many sources on DU that Sanders only talks about economic inequality. So clearly he could not have a disability rights platform.

( )

[firebrand80]

7. How much is he going to increase SSDI?

and how is he going to pay for it?

[KamaAina]

9. By lifting the income cap

https://berniesanders.com/issues/strengthen-and-expand-social-security/

Sen. Sanders has introduced legislation to end this absurdity, by lifting this cap so that everyone who makes over $250,000 a year pays the same percentage of their income into Social Security as the middle class and working families.

This would not only extend the solvency of Social Security for the next 50 years, but also bring in enough revenue to expand benefits by an average of $65 a month; increase cost-of-living-adjustments; and lift more seniors out of poverty by increasing the minimum benefits paid to low-income seniors.

Not only is this the right thing to do from a moral perspective, it is also what the vast majority of the American people want us to do. 61 percent of the American people support expanding Social Security benefits by lifting the cap on taxable income, according to an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll earlier this year.

At a time when millions of Americans are working longer hours for lower wages, even as virtually all of the new income in this country is going to the top one percent, Sen. Sanders’ legislation will begin to reduce the obscene level of income inequality in America.

[mmonk]

8. Thanks. My two sons have disabilities

and I used to fight for disability rights at school boards and boardrooms.

[loyalsister]

10. Yes!!

I'm so glad to see this. A lot of disbled people I know are impressed with Hillary's plan. Economic justice is central to disability.

I really like the respect Bernie shows for grassroots activists. They certainly notice!