Howard Dean's Deaf/Hard of Hearing Platform

[mzmolly]

This is Howard Dean's platform concerning the Deaf/Hard of Hearing community.

http://everest.2mbit.com/~teslerd/DAFDplatform.pdf

Also, please post as well:

Title it: "Howard Dean's E-package for the Disabled community"

Dear Member of the Disability Community:

Below is a disability rights E-Package that we ask that you kindly forward as soon as possible on your personal or organization's listserv. The package contains information regarding the disability rights position of Governor Howard Dean, M.D., which members of the disability rights community should find interesting and of assistence when deciding how to cast a vote in their state's Democratic Primary. We have also included attached talking points, along with links are to Governor Dean's website and to his disability rights platform.

Thank you for your support of disability rights during this 2004 election cycle.


1. Howard Dean's Platform for Americans with Disabilities. http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/cg/index.html?
type=page&pagename=community_americanswithdisabilities


2. Howard Dean's policy record for Disability Rights. http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/cg/index.html?
type=page&pagename=policy_record_civilrights_disabilityrights


3. Letter to the Disability Community by Senators Harkin and Weicker, founders of the ADA. http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/cg/index.html?
type=page&pagename=community_americanswithdisabilities


4. Endorsement of Howard Dean by Senator Tom Harkin. http://www.deanforamerica.com/press/endors...4/01/09/harkin/


5. Howard Dean's Endorsement of Tony Coelho's Agenda for Employment and Disability Rights. http://www.deanforamerica.com/press/disabl...2003/10/30/disa
bility_rights/


6. Howard Dean's Statement on October as National Disabilities Awareness Month. http://www3.deanforamerica.com/site/News2?
page=NewsArticle&id=9490&JServSessionIdr007=h69h34zig2.app195a&news_iv
_ctrl=1541


7. Howard Dean's Statement on Tennessee v. Lane. http://www.deanforamerica.com/press/disabl...2004/01/13/tn_v
_lane/


8. Howard Dean's Health Care Plan for America. http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/cg/index.html?
type=page&pagename=policy_policy_health_healthcareforamerica


9. Howard Dean's Record on Access to Quality Health Care. http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/cg/index.html?
type=page&pagename=policy_record_health


10. Howard Dean's Platform for Mental Health Reform. http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/cg/index.html?
type=page&pagename=policy_policy_health_mentalhealthreform


11. Howard Dean's Agenda for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community. http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/cg/index.html?
type=page&pagename=policy_statement_health_deafhh


12. Howard Dean's Platform for the Americans Living with Blindness and Vision Impairment. http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/cg/index.html?
type=page&pagename=policy_statement_health_blindvi


13. Howard Dean's Agenda Policy Statement on HIV/AIDS. http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/cg/index.html?
type=page&pagename=policy_statement_health_hivaids


14. Absentee Ballot Deadlines http://www.projectvote.org/absenteeballot.html


15. Taling points

"I have plenty of flaws which have been generously pointed out by both my opponents and the media," Dr. Dean said. "But one thing that's not a flaw is my willingness to stand up for things that I believe in."

Example: Disability Rights


"In his 20 years in public life, Dr. Dean has been an extraordinary advocate for persons with disabilities. Together, we can elect Howard Dean - a leader who will make the White House accessible again." --U.S. Senator Tom Harkin and Former Governor and Former Governor and U.S. Senator Lowell Weicker, Founders of the ADA <1/22/04>

As a physician, Howard Dean supported disability rights, practiced patient education and experienced the challenges posed by the health insurance industry firsthand. Dr. Dean made Vermont a national leader by expanding access and services to persons with disabilities, while balancing the state's budget for 11 years:

* Governor Dean more than doubled the number of individuals with disabilities placed in employment by Vocational Rehabilitation.

* Governor Dean's home and community-based services have empowered thousands of Vermont's elderly and people with disabilities to live independently.

* Vermont's Attendant Services Program is a model for consumer- directed independent living services for adults with physical disabilities. It now serves 250 Vermonters.

* Governor Dean was a leader in making state buildings ADA accessible, and increased funding for this goal each year that he was in office.

* Governor Dean improved services for persons with mental illness in a variety of ways, including insurance parity, improved accountability for in-patient psychiatric care, and increased salaries for mental health care providers. Under Governor Dean's leadership health care for nearly every child in Vermont was delivered, and prescription coverage for seniors was more affordable, if not free to those in need.

* Governor Dean invested in Vermont's children - he provided health care for nearly every child in Vermont, and childhood immunization way up.

* Governor Dean expanded prescription coverage for seniors.

As a Presidential candidate, Dr. Dean has advocated bold and meaningful reforms, including:

* Full endorsement of Tony Coelho's employment platform for workers with disabilities.

* ADA enforcement and restoration of the original scope of the ADA.

* Full funding of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

* Enactment of the Medicaid In-Home Community Attendant Services and Supports Act (MiCASSA).

* Enactment of the Family Opportunity Act

* Increased technical support for state implementation of Olmstead plans for community-based sustainable living

* Commitment to address communication and information issues for individuals with hearing disabilities.

* Adequate resources for civil rights enforcement

* Appointment of a "Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy, and other executive appointments.

On behalf of myself, Judith and the whole campaign, I am gratified for the disability community's support - thank you. Together, we can make the dream of full inclusion for Americans with disabilities

[slinkerwink]

1. this is exactly why I support Dean

[Wetzelbill]

2. Howard is a good man

[mzmolly]

4. Yes he is...

:toast:

[Cheswick2.0]

3. his record beats Bush as Govenor and as President

but the pukes have clearly decided they want to run against Kerry. We shall see if they get their way.

[Thistle42]

5. What a wonderful candidate Howard Dean is...

I have never seen his like before, and no matter what happens with this campaign, he has shown the way to the others. This may be a bitter cup for his followers, but hey, he is a class act.

As a mother of a profoundly deaf daughter, I salute him. As a nurse, I really think this man deserves credit for more. My husband (a physician), and I think he deserves much more than he will get if a Democrat is elected. Time will tell.

[Clem]

6. As a disabled person

Howard Dean's platform is truly amazing. Only if the other supporters would just sit down, read Howard Dean's platform, and look at their own candidate's platform, and understand that no-one even comes close to Howard Dean.

I met with a deaf man in the local Meetup yesterday, and he was with his wife, who is an interpreter, and they are both very strong Dean supporters and I can really appreciate this platform.

Maybe someday, like me, you'll eventually become disabled, and then what will the government do? They'll screw you to boot. A friend of mine told me the other day that she's trying to get a wheelchair for her own disability and trying to get Medicare to pay for it. It was denied. Twice.

Shameful.

[Piperay]

7. Dean's a good man

no doubt about it and if this was a just World would have made a TERRIFIC President.