About 650 million people in the world - or 10% of the world's population - live with disabilities, and frequently encounter a myriad of physical and social obstacles. The majority often lack the opportunities of their non-disabled peers and are usually among the most marginalised in society.
A UN report noted, "Girls and women of all ages with any form of disability are among the more vulnerable and marginalised of society". Women and girls with disabilities are subject to double discrimination. Marginalised both on account of their disability and their gender, they face social isolation and rejection and are taught that they are inferior to their peers. This has a clear impact on both their own aspirations and their family's aspirations for them in the future.
It is estimated over 200 million women with disabilities live below the poverty line. As discussed in this blog, there is no mention of disability in any of the eight Millennium Development Goal (MDG) to promote gender equality and empowerment of women with disabilities. This has significantly held back the progress of disabled women and girls in developing countries.
Due to the double discrimination, they are less likely to receive the health and rehabilitative care they need to remain economically or socially independent and they face reduced access to education, employment or social inclusion compared to both disabled men or non-disabled women. Despite these clear links, gender and disability have persistently been treated separately in development discourse.
Although the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) recognises that women and girls with disabilities are subject to multiple discrimination. However, the CRPD is very unique in recognising women and girls with disabilities as a distinct group. Theoretically, disabled women are in all human rights agreements, the sad reality is that they rarely referenced specifically and are often overlooked in development policy.
This often means disabled women are isolated from educational programmes, healthcare and food during humanitarian crises. Disability causes poverty, and poverty can lead to disability. Women are more likely to have limited resources and are more likely to be deprived of basic necessities and unable to access their rights.
A recent report by Action on disability and development (ADD ) on displaced populations in post-conflict Norther Uganda, a disabled woman describes how "when food is given being given, sometimes persons with disabilities are given what others leave behind on their plates".
The same report found that many disabled women remaining in camps longer after many others have returned home because they are physically and economically unable to leave as a result of their disability. This is yet another example of why governments and all organisations which work in development need to ensure they are focusing on working with, and listening to disabled people. (Human Rights Watch,2010)
In order to tackle systematic violations of women's human rights more needs to be done to tackle this discrimination throughout the international system. The develop sector needs to develop specific development targets and indicators to measure the impact on women and girls with disabilities. These should be a cross-cutting aspect of all global and national development goals which should be at the top of the development agenda.
If the UN is going to meet the Sustainable Development Goals the development sector, leading international institutions such as the UN and World Health Organisation (WHO) need to work closely with governments to ensure women are included in all aspects of development policy.
Friday, 2 December 2016
Thursday, 1 December 2016
Violation of disabled rights in the UK with government 'reforms'
Austerity policies introduced into welfare and social care by the coalition government amount to “systematic violations” of the rights of people with disabilities, a UN inquiry has concluded.
The highly critical report, published in Geneva on Monday 7th November, says the “rights of disabled people to live independently, to work and achieve an adequate standard of living have been negatively affected by austerity measures”.
It makes eleven recommendations, including a key statement calling on the UK government to carry out a study of the cumulative impact of all spending cuts on disabled people and to ensure the human rights of disabled people are upheld.
The UK government, however, rejected the UN report, the work and pensions secretary Damien Green saying that the report was “patronising and offensive” and presented an outdated view of disability in the UK. He said Britain was “a world leader in disability rights and equality”.
The report is damning about the actions in which ministers have conducted welfare and social care reforms, arguing that parliament pushed ahead with changes with the knowledge they would have an extreme impact on disabled people.
The inquiry highlighted that the personal independence payments and the independent living fund had “hindered various aspects of [disabled people’s] right to live independently”, it says making them more reliant on family and carers and in some instances forcing them into institutional care which has also seen significant cuts.
The highly controversial bedroom tax and other housing support such as Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG) had led to debt and eviction. The bill has hit many families as tenants in social housing have their benefits reduced by 14% if they have a spare bedroom, or 25% if they two or more.
The bedroom tax hit families who needed a spare room for an overnight carer, families such as the Rutherford’s. Paul Rutherford, the grandfather of a disabled child from Pembrokeshire has been fighting a legal battle for three years with the government. Warren needs an extra bedroom for an overnight carer. The court appeal ruled that the bedroom tax was discriminatory in the cases of the Rutherfords. However, the Department for Work and Pensions appealed against the decision and the supreme court announced the case of the Rutherfords and several other bedroom tax challenges would be heard.
Alarmingly the report highlighted that disabled people had suffered from a climate in which they were portrayed as “lazy and putting a burden on taxpayers”. The blame game which politicians have relied on to win votes and the Tories election posters with slogans such as ‘Let’s cut benefits for those who refuse work’ have had an extremely negative effect. The report noted that disabled people have continued to experience “increasing hostility, aggressive behaviour and sometimes attacks to their integrity”.
The report, issued by the committee on the rights of persons with disabilities concludes: “There is reliable evidence that the threshold of grave or systematic violations of the rights of persons with disabilities has been met”.
The investigation was instigated by the charity Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) who contacted the committee in 2012 – since then other charities have also confirmed that they had contact with the UN. After two years of deliberations, the UN committee on the rights of persons with disabilities gave the green light to the inquiry in May 2014.
After extensive interviews and hearings from the 11-day inquiry tour of the UK undertaken by two UN envoys in October in 2015. The inquiry team met with more than 200 individuals, including officials, MPs, activists and academics.
The report says a range of measures aimed at reducing public spending since 2010, including the controversial changes such as changes to Employment and Support Allowance, the scrapping of the Independent Living Fund, cuts to the Access to Work scheme, the under-occupancy deduction from Housing Benefit or ‘bedroom tax’ and the Benefit Cap.
The highly critical report, published in Geneva on Monday 7th November, says the “rights of disabled people to live independently, to work and achieve an adequate standard of living have been negatively affected by austerity measures”.
It makes eleven recommendations, including a key statement calling on the UK government to carry out a study of the cumulative impact of all spending cuts on disabled people and to ensure the human rights of disabled people are upheld.
The UK government, however, rejected the UN report, the work and pensions secretary Damien Green saying that the report was “patronising and offensive” and presented an outdated view of disability in the UK. He said Britain was “a world leader in disability rights and equality”.
However, disability activists and charities welcomed the report, saying it accurately highlighted the real economic and social pressures faced by disabled people after years of harsh cuts to social security and social care.
The report is damning about the actions in which ministers have conducted welfare and social care reforms, arguing that parliament pushed ahead with changes with the knowledge they would have an extreme impact on disabled people.
The inquiry highlighted that the personal independence payments and the independent living fund had “hindered various aspects of [disabled people’s] right to live independently”, it says making them more reliant on family and carers and in some instances forcing them into institutional care which has also seen significant cuts.
The highly controversial bedroom tax and other housing support such as Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG) had led to debt and eviction. The bill has hit many families as tenants in social housing have their benefits reduced by 14% if they have a spare bedroom, or 25% if they two or more.
The bedroom tax hit families who needed a spare room for an overnight carer, families such as the Rutherford’s. Paul Rutherford, the grandfather of a disabled child from Pembrokeshire has been fighting a legal battle for three years with the government. Warren needs an extra bedroom for an overnight carer. The court appeal ruled that the bedroom tax was discriminatory in the cases of the Rutherfords. However, the Department for Work and Pensions appealed against the decision and the supreme court announced the case of the Rutherfords and several other bedroom tax challenges would be heard.
Government attempts to decrease the disproportionately high levels of unemployment among disabled people have had little impact. It is highly critical of what is calls the ‘functional assessments’ of disabled people who have applied for social security benefits. The report stresses that their experience tended to be one where they were “merely processed rather than being listened to or understood”.
Alarmingly the report highlighted that disabled people had suffered from a climate in which they were portrayed as “lazy and putting a burden on taxpayers”. The blame game which politicians have relied on to win votes and the Tories election posters with slogans such as ‘Let’s cut benefits for those who refuse work’ have had an extremely negative effect. The report noted that disabled people have continued to experience “increasing hostility, aggressive behaviour and sometimes attacks to their integrity”.
The report, issued by the committee on the rights of persons with disabilities concludes: “There is reliable evidence that the threshold of grave or systematic violations of the rights of persons with disabilities has been met”.
The investigation was instigated by the charity Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) who contacted the committee in 2012 – since then other charities have also confirmed that they had contact with the UN. After two years of deliberations, the UN committee on the rights of persons with disabilities gave the green light to the inquiry in May 2014.
After extensive interviews and hearings from the 11-day inquiry tour of the UK undertaken by two UN envoys in October in 2015. The inquiry team met with more than 200 individuals, including officials, MPs, activists and academics.
Wednesday, 30 November 2016
Disabilities and reproductive rights: radical autonomy and assisted freedom
On the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we turn our attention to reproductive rights.
This is a highly contentious issue, highlighting some of the outdated attitudes that individuals, Governments, and institutions, including care facilities and medical professionals, still hold towards people with disabilities.
Sexuality education and disability: examples from Germany
On average, the hormonal injection only accounts for 1% of the contraceptives in use in Germany, which makes it relatively unpopular. Among women with disabilities, however, the hormonal injection is the most commonly used form of contraception. Unfortunately, this is not always down to a free and informed choice.
Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation offers long-term shelter, educational opportunities and escape for Vietnamese children and young adults from their places of slavery. In October 2014, Blue Dragon dealt with “one of the worst cases of sexual exploitation of a vulnerable child we have seen and it shocked us all”. ‘T’, a fourteen year old deaf and intellectually impaired boy from Viet Nam, was savagely beaten and raped by his neighbour.
The Blue Dragon team was able to mobilise legal support, access treatment for ‘T’, gain representation in court, and secure care for the family to recover from their ordeal. The attacker was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, which is very low by international standards. However, in Viet Nam this is a major achievement as current domestic law does not consider sexually assaulting a boy as a criminal offence.
Sexual assaults of people with disabilities seem to be a widespread problem in developing countries. A 2004 report by Save the Children Norway on sexual abuse and disabilities in Zimbabwe estimates that 87.4% of girls with disabilities have been sexually abused. Of those who had been sexually abused, 52.4% tested positive for HIV. In the developing world, laws, policies and prevailing attitudes do little to protect disabled people’s sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Human Rights and sexuality
The UN declaration on the rights of People with Disabilities takes one of the most radical approaches to disability and reproductive rights. Basically, it states that reproductive rights are a Human Right, including the right to marry and the right to be a parent. For people with disabilities, this means that access must be provided to be comprehensive, appropriate and judgment-free information about contraceptives, safe sex, sexuality and their bodies. In practice, educators, care facilities, medical professionals and social services are required to adjust sexual health education programmes and materials, and to tailor them to the needs and abilities of all people with disabilities.
Ultimately, what heated debates and controversies about sexuality and disabilities come down to are moral arguments about who has the right to be a parent. I’m sure we all know examples of bad parents, who lack much needed support and guidance – regardless of their abilities. Being a good parent is determined by compassion, love and care, not by intellectual and bodily capacities.
Global efforts need to be made at all levels to ensure that disabled people are able to lead a healthy life with regard to sexual and reproductive health. Protecting these rights, and spreading knowledge and information are key to tackling the current discrimination that people with disabilities face.
To learn more about sexual health, head over to http://theintimateinitiative.com/blog/.
This is a highly contentious issue, highlighting some of the outdated attitudes that individuals, Governments, and institutions, including care facilities and medical professionals, still hold towards people with disabilities.
Sexuality education and disability: examples from Germany
On average, the hormonal injection only accounts for 1% of the contraceptives in use in Germany, which makes it relatively unpopular. Among women with disabilities, however, the hormonal injection is the most commonly used form of contraception. Unfortunately, this is not always down to a free and informed choice.
In 2008, for example, the case of a woman with an intellectual disability and severe diabetes came before the Higher Regional Court. She lived in a care facility, was sexually active and wished to have children. Her carer however, against her patient’s will, got a doctor involved who restrained the patient and dispensed the hormonal contraceptive injection. When the carer tried to have a follow-up shot dispensed later, the patient managed to reach out to a lawyer and brought her case to court – which ruled that yes, there was no legal basis for the forced use of contraceptives. Interestingly, it remains unclear if criminal charges were pressed – the carer certainly broke the law, so logically she should have been punished.
What may seem like an isolated incident is in fact very common. A 2012 study on the women’s livelihoods health and challenges of people with disabilities in Germany found that 18% of women with disabilities who live independently are sterilised. In care facilities, this figure rises to 30%, with only 53% of these procedures having been consented to. That’s staggering.
Far too many people view people with disabilities as asexual. As if being a sexual being and experiencing one’s sexuality is reserved for able minds and bodies only. In practice, this outdated perception is incredibly harmful. Only 1 in 2 people with intellectual disabilities in care facilities have access to sexual health education. This means that consent to the use of contraceptives is not necessarily informed or based on a comprehensive understanding of how they work.
Furthermore, this often places people with disabilities at a heightened risk of sexual assault and abuse, sadly even at the hands of their carers and doctors.
Furthermore, this often places people with disabilities at a heightened risk of sexual assault and abuse, sadly even at the hands of their carers and doctors.
Disability, Development and sexuality: examples from Vietnam
Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation offers long-term shelter, educational opportunities and escape for Vietnamese children and young adults from their places of slavery. In October 2014, Blue Dragon dealt with “one of the worst cases of sexual exploitation of a vulnerable child we have seen and it shocked us all”. ‘T’, a fourteen year old deaf and intellectually impaired boy from Viet Nam, was savagely beaten and raped by his neighbour.
The Blue Dragon team was able to mobilise legal support, access treatment for ‘T’, gain representation in court, and secure care for the family to recover from their ordeal. The attacker was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, which is very low by international standards. However, in Viet Nam this is a major achievement as current domestic law does not consider sexually assaulting a boy as a criminal offence.
Sexual assaults of people with disabilities seem to be a widespread problem in developing countries. A 2004 report by Save the Children Norway on sexual abuse and disabilities in Zimbabwe estimates that 87.4% of girls with disabilities have been sexually abused. Of those who had been sexually abused, 52.4% tested positive for HIV. In the developing world, laws, policies and prevailing attitudes do little to protect disabled people’s sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Human Rights and sexuality
The UN declaration on the rights of People with Disabilities takes one of the most radical approaches to disability and reproductive rights. Basically, it states that reproductive rights are a Human Right, including the right to marry and the right to be a parent. For people with disabilities, this means that access must be provided to be comprehensive, appropriate and judgment-free information about contraceptives, safe sex, sexuality and their bodies. In practice, educators, care facilities, medical professionals and social services are required to adjust sexual health education programmes and materials, and to tailor them to the needs and abilities of all people with disabilities.
Ultimately, what heated debates and controversies about sexuality and disabilities come down to are moral arguments about who has the right to be a parent. I’m sure we all know examples of bad parents, who lack much needed support and guidance – regardless of their abilities. Being a good parent is determined by compassion, love and care, not by intellectual and bodily capacities.
Global efforts need to be made at all levels to ensure that disabled people are able to lead a healthy life with regard to sexual and reproductive health. Protecting these rights, and spreading knowledge and information are key to tackling the current discrimination that people with disabilities face.
To learn more about sexual health, head over to http://theintimateinitiative.com/blog/.
Tuesday, 29 November 2016
Speech therapy in action
Communicating with other people is at the centre of our everyday lives. During my experience working in Cambodia and Viet Nam I met many people who have a communication or swallowing disorder. However, health services for them are nearly non-existent and many people are cut off from their families, friends and the rest of society,
In Cambodia, more than 600,000 people have a communication or swallowing disorder and there are very few places individuals can receive therapy. OIC are working to solve this silent crisis in Cambodia, the small team based in Phnom Penh work towards ensuring people receive the help they need to communicate with those around and lead full and happy lives.
OIC goal is to make speech therapy available to all those who need it in Cambodia. OIC is arguably one of the most sustainable organisations in the development sector, the team have a fourteen-year plan, including an exit strategy, after which OIC will leave Cambodia. The target is for 100 Cambodian speech therapists to be employed by the government by 2030.
Locally trained speech therapists are desperately needed, with no trained speech therapists in the country many children are left isolated or in some cases abandoned. In 2015 alone the social work at Angkor Hospital for Children responded to 20 cases of child abandonment.
Sorya who was born with cerebral palsy was abandoned at Angkor Hospital for Children when he was roughly nine months old. His family left the child due to their lack of confidence to care for him. According to the social work unit lead by, Mr. Sokchea, there are many factors that influence a family to leave their child in the care of another. Reasons include poverty, social norms, lack of information about support services available to the family, violence or the belief that a child born with disabilities will bring bad luck to the family.
Luckily the local team have worked tirelessly with a family who has fostered Sorya. The team have partnered with Safe Haven Medical Outreach, which provides ongoing physical therapy, play therapy and feeding training to Sorya and his foster family.
Speech therapy is so important not just for communication, speech therapy is extremely important and life-saving. When a child has a swallowing disability, common in those with cerebral palsy, food and liquid can go into their lungs. Consequently, they can contract pneumonia and even die.
Ensuring local communities, schools and families are educated means that children with communication or swallowing difficulties can be spotted quicker. Some teachers and parents usually assume their children are 'slow learners'. However with disabled workers heading out to communes and villages working with teachers, government officials and local non-governmental organisations more children will have access to the therapy they need.
Organisations such as Safe Haven Medical Outreach and OIC are working out in the field to ensure children have access to basic speech therapy. OIC go to many rural parts of Cambodia working with children with a range of disabilities ensuring they are able to communicate with their families, have access to education and are able to participate in the local community.
Without their campaigning efforts, advocacy and push for developing and training courses to create jobs for speech therapists many children such as Sorya would be left isolated.
Please consider supporting OIC.
In Cambodia, more than 600,000 people have a communication or swallowing disorder and there are very few places individuals can receive therapy. OIC are working to solve this silent crisis in Cambodia, the small team based in Phnom Penh work towards ensuring people receive the help they need to communicate with those around and lead full and happy lives.
OIC goal is to make speech therapy available to all those who need it in Cambodia. OIC is arguably one of the most sustainable organisations in the development sector, the team have a fourteen-year plan, including an exit strategy, after which OIC will leave Cambodia. The target is for 100 Cambodian speech therapists to be employed by the government by 2030.
Locally trained speech therapists are desperately needed, with no trained speech therapists in the country many children are left isolated or in some cases abandoned. In 2015 alone the social work at Angkor Hospital for Children responded to 20 cases of child abandonment.
Sorya who was born with cerebral palsy was abandoned at Angkor Hospital for Children when he was roughly nine months old. His family left the child due to their lack of confidence to care for him. According to the social work unit lead by, Mr. Sokchea, there are many factors that influence a family to leave their child in the care of another. Reasons include poverty, social norms, lack of information about support services available to the family, violence or the belief that a child born with disabilities will bring bad luck to the family.
Luckily the local team have worked tirelessly with a family who has fostered Sorya. The team have partnered with Safe Haven Medical Outreach, which provides ongoing physical therapy, play therapy and feeding training to Sorya and his foster family.
Speech therapy is so important not just for communication, speech therapy is extremely important and life-saving. When a child has a swallowing disability, common in those with cerebral palsy, food and liquid can go into their lungs. Consequently, they can contract pneumonia and even die.
Ensuring local communities, schools and families are educated means that children with communication or swallowing difficulties can be spotted quicker. Some teachers and parents usually assume their children are 'slow learners'. However with disabled workers heading out to communes and villages working with teachers, government officials and local non-governmental organisations more children will have access to the therapy they need.
Organisations such as Safe Haven Medical Outreach and OIC are working out in the field to ensure children have access to basic speech therapy. OIC go to many rural parts of Cambodia working with children with a range of disabilities ensuring they are able to communicate with their families, have access to education and are able to participate in the local community.
Without their campaigning efforts, advocacy and push for developing and training courses to create jobs for speech therapists many children such as Sorya would be left isolated.
Please consider supporting OIC.
Sunday, 27 November 2016
Queer, black and disabled.
In a recent article published by the Huffington Post, a disabled woman wrote: “disability transcends race, ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and gender identity”. In other words, people with disabilities are a very diverse group of people.
Eddie Ndopu a 25-year-old black, queer-feminist, disability rights activist from Johannesburg is making history in a big way. He was raised by a single mother who fled apartheid South Africa to self-imposed exile in Namibia. At the age of two, Ndopu was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy and given until the age of five to survive.
Since then Ndopu has led an extraordinary life and career. He has held key positions such as Head of Amnesty International’s Youth Engagement Work for Africa, a summa cum laude graduate of Carleton University in Canada, where he served as a research analyst at the World Economic forum.
He is a champion of disability activism or as Ndopu puts it “ I’m the guy on wheels who refuses to rest until every single disabled person in the world until every single beautifully black and brown disabled soul gets a fighting chance at living their best life”.
In his video “In His Own Words” what strikes me about the video is how he challenges the audience to think about their understanding of disability. It’s one of the most inspiring videos I have watched. I hope you enjoy it.
Monday, 14 November 2016
What does a Trump administration mean for disabled people?
Nobody expected Donald Trump to win the election but now with Trump sitting in the Oval office what can disabled people expect? Like many other comments Trump has made during his election marginalized groups, including disabled people, will be watching carefully in 2017.
Repealing Obamacare
Throughout his campaign, Donald Trump has repeatedly promised to repeal the Affordable Care Act, also known as "Obamacare". The Republican party has full control of both houses of Congress, meaning Trump will easily be able to fulfil his campaign promise.
However, after his meeting with Mr.Obama on Thursday he has reconsidered his calls for an all-out replacement of the Care act. In a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, he hints at a possible compromise to keep some aspects of the 2010 law.
In his first interview with since his election earlier this week with the Wall Street Journal, the president-elect said one priority was "moving quickly on President Barack Obama initiative, which Mr.Trump said has become so unworkable and expensive you can't use it".
Trump also comments how Mr.Obama has asked Mr. Trump to reconsider his stance during their first meeting at the White House after the election. Obama's consideration seems to be heard as Donald Trump has said he favours keeping at least two provisions.
President-elect Trump said he favours keeping the prohibition against insurers denying coverage because of patients' existing conditions, and a provision that allows parents to provide years of additional coverage for children on their insurance policies. Saying "he likes those very much".
For now, it seems Trump has done a U-turn on repealing Obamacare altogether. However, the Republican party has never supported the Care act combined with his erratic and inconsistent policy decisions may lead to another rash decision.
Block-Granting Medicaid
Another of Trump's election campaign promises was to ''block- grant" Medicaid or flat annual funding amount. On Trump's website, he claims that nearly "every state already offers benefits beyond what is required in the current Medicaid structure". As part of the reforms, he pledges that governments can have more autonomy over the administration of Medicaid. He claims that this gives the states more incentives "to seek out and eliminate fraud, waste and abuse to preserve our precious resources".
Currently, Medicaid functions as a flexible needes-based insurance program designed to provide health care to as many impoverished people as necessary. It is very unclear how Trump would structure his block-granting plan, his proposal was very unclear. The page entitled "Healthcare Reform to make America great again" claims the "American people have had to suffer under the incredible economic burden of the Affordable Care Act- Obamacare". The reforms rely heavily on free market principles that will restore economic freedom.
It is estimated that the proposed 'block-grant' could easily cause some 30 million Americans to lose health insurance, a significant amount of those who are people with disabilities. A healthcare system based on the principles of free the market will hit the most vulnerable. With many Americans falling further into poverty putting healthcare up for sale is not the answer to a more stable and healthy society.
Reducing ADA Enforcement and Police Accountability
Disability activists have stressed concerned that the next administration could cut back on the civil rights division's resources or change its priorities. The president conducts a significant amount of disability policy through control of various regulatory agencies. The Department of Justice's (DOJ) civil rights division, for example, pursues complaints against employers, business, and other institutions for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act, the 1990 barring discrimination against Americans with disabilities.
Many organisations are sceptical Trump's political appointees to agencies like the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and Department of Labor would be committed to ensuring access to benefits and suitable workplace accommodations for people with disabilities.
A Trump backed DOJ could also progress on police accountability to the detriment of people with disabilities - says David Perry, a leading writer on disability issues. As many as half of all people killed by police are disabled, according to Perry's original research for the Ruderman Family Foundation - including Eric Grabber, who suffered from asthma and heart disease. With the problematic situation of police shootings in the USA, the DOJ needs funding and an administration which will actively support their prosecutions. Therefore the DOJ's pursuit of police accountability is a disability rights issue as well.
Many activists will be waiting in anticipation for the appointee of the DOP who has yet to be named. However, if the current selection has anything to go by he will select a conservative individual who will unlikely maintain and fight for disabled peoples' rights.
Moving forward
Protecting people with disabilities has traditionally been a cross-party cause in Congress. We hope this will be continued by both parties and the Republican party is able to keep Trump's regressive policies in check. In the words of Stephen W Thrasher " Hold tight to the ones you love who are sick and differently abled."
Although it is impossible to predict what the Trump administration will govern, his campaign platform and the Republican's priorities do not reassure disabled people and their families who rely on support from the Care Act and Medicaid.
Disabled rights activists have voiced concerns throughout his election campaign, his threats to repeal Obamacare, block granting Medicaid, reducing ADA enforcement and police accountability are just a few concerns.
Sadly, like many others, their voices have been pushed to the side and the American electorate has voted for an individual who publically mocked a reporter with the joint condition arthrogryposis. An election campaign which has been embodied by hateful messages, misogyny and discriminations will lead many people left with a sense of unease. Below are some of the points which disabled activists are most concerned about.
Repealing Obamacare
Throughout his campaign, Donald Trump has repeatedly promised to repeal the Affordable Care Act, also known as "Obamacare". The Republican party has full control of both houses of Congress, meaning Trump will easily be able to fulfil his campaign promise.
However, after his meeting with Mr.Obama on Thursday he has reconsidered his calls for an all-out replacement of the Care act. In a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, he hints at a possible compromise to keep some aspects of the 2010 law.
In his first interview with since his election earlier this week with the Wall Street Journal, the president-elect said one priority was "moving quickly on President Barack Obama initiative, which Mr.Trump said has become so unworkable and expensive you can't use it".
Trump also comments how Mr.Obama has asked Mr. Trump to reconsider his stance during their first meeting at the White House after the election. Obama's consideration seems to be heard as Donald Trump has said he favours keeping at least two provisions.
President-elect Trump said he favours keeping the prohibition against insurers denying coverage because of patients' existing conditions, and a provision that allows parents to provide years of additional coverage for children on their insurance policies. Saying "he likes those very much".
For now, it seems Trump has done a U-turn on repealing Obamacare altogether. However, the Republican party has never supported the Care act combined with his erratic and inconsistent policy decisions may lead to another rash decision.
Block-Granting Medicaid
Another of Trump's election campaign promises was to ''block- grant" Medicaid or flat annual funding amount. On Trump's website, he claims that nearly "every state already offers benefits beyond what is required in the current Medicaid structure". As part of the reforms, he pledges that governments can have more autonomy over the administration of Medicaid. He claims that this gives the states more incentives "to seek out and eliminate fraud, waste and abuse to preserve our precious resources".
Currently, Medicaid functions as a flexible needes-based insurance program designed to provide health care to as many impoverished people as necessary. It is very unclear how Trump would structure his block-granting plan, his proposal was very unclear. The page entitled "Healthcare Reform to make America great again" claims the "American people have had to suffer under the incredible economic burden of the Affordable Care Act- Obamacare". The reforms rely heavily on free market principles that will restore economic freedom.
It is estimated that the proposed 'block-grant' could easily cause some 30 million Americans to lose health insurance, a significant amount of those who are people with disabilities. A healthcare system based on the principles of free the market will hit the most vulnerable. With many Americans falling further into poverty putting healthcare up for sale is not the answer to a more stable and healthy society.
Reducing ADA Enforcement and Police Accountability
Disability activists have stressed concerned that the next administration could cut back on the civil rights division's resources or change its priorities. The president conducts a significant amount of disability policy through control of various regulatory agencies. The Department of Justice's (DOJ) civil rights division, for example, pursues complaints against employers, business, and other institutions for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act, the 1990 barring discrimination against Americans with disabilities.
Many organisations are sceptical Trump's political appointees to agencies like the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and Department of Labor would be committed to ensuring access to benefits and suitable workplace accommodations for people with disabilities.
A Trump backed DOJ could also progress on police accountability to the detriment of people with disabilities - says David Perry, a leading writer on disability issues. As many as half of all people killed by police are disabled, according to Perry's original research for the Ruderman Family Foundation - including Eric Grabber, who suffered from asthma and heart disease. With the problematic situation of police shootings in the USA, the DOJ needs funding and an administration which will actively support their prosecutions. Therefore the DOJ's pursuit of police accountability is a disability rights issue as well.
Many activists will be waiting in anticipation for the appointee of the DOP who has yet to be named. However, if the current selection has anything to go by he will select a conservative individual who will unlikely maintain and fight for disabled peoples' rights.
Moving forward
Protecting people with disabilities has traditionally been a cross-party cause in Congress. We hope this will be continued by both parties and the Republican party is able to keep Trump's regressive policies in check. In the words of Stephen W Thrasher " Hold tight to the ones you love who are sick and differently abled."
Monday, 31 October 2016
The singing activist
The World Health Organisation estimates that at least 81 million in Africa have some form of disability. In Nigeria alone it is estimated that 25.5 million people in Nigeria had at least one disability.
Grace Jerry is one of the 25.5 million people who have a disability. In 2002, Grace Jerry was on her way home from choir rehearsal when she was knocked down by a drunk driver and left with paralysis of the lower limbs. After the accident she says music took on a whole new dimension and now she uses music as part of her activism in Nigeria.
The Presidential Precinct Yali video blog, Grace or 'Gracie' eloquently speaks about her experience as a advocate for disability rights in a developing country.
Grace Jerry is one of the 25.5 million people who have a disability. In 2002, Grace Jerry was on her way home from choir rehearsal when she was knocked down by a drunk driver and left with paralysis of the lower limbs. After the accident she says music took on a whole new dimension and now she uses music as part of her activism in Nigeria.
The Presidential Precinct Yali video blog, Grace or 'Gracie' eloquently speaks about her experience as a advocate for disability rights in a developing country.
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