The Other California

I really wanted to pass this along. It is much longer than necessary. This piece is a great read. Truth is that even with laws and rights a dozen the humiliation of discrimination that many folks with disabilities, including myself face every day is palpable. Breaking down that divide will take more than money and enforcement of the law- it will take a major shift in social consciousness about what it means to be human- what it means to be an American citizen. Each of us is broken in some way, many of us just can't hide it as well.


The Other California
By Marty Omoto

"That the poor are invisible is one of the most important things about them. They are not simply neglected and forgotten as in the old rhetoric of reform;
what is much worse, they are not seen." - Michael Harrington (1962)

years ago, Michael Harrington wrote "The Other America" a book that lifted the heavy veil that made invisible to the rest of the country, the poorest Americans,
millions trapped in poverty - outside of public policy, outside of political power and outside of the American dream. Among those millions were hundreds
of thousands of people with disabilities - infants, children and adults, seniors and their families. Harrington wrote about the poor in the Appalachians,
the shocking hunger of children in the Mississippi Delta, the thousands who toiled the fields as migrant farmworkers in unimaginable conditions, and
the isolation of poverty in the inner cities, while discrimination prevailed against people of color, and agains

The book was read by President John F Kennedy and then Attorney General Robert Kennedy and profoundly influenced them - and millions of other Americans
since then. The ideas of many critical programs - Medicaid, Medicare, expanded social security benefits, food stamps and more can be traced back to his
explosive study on poverty, which, with the civil rights movement, galvanized the nation in the early 1960's into declaring "unconditional war on poverty".

Much progress for sure has been made since the book was published in 1962. Major civil rights and voting rights acts, creation of Medicare and Medicaid,
the federal Americans With Disabilities Act, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Rehabilitation Act, California's Lanterman Developmental
Disabilities Services Act, Unruh Civil Rights Act, the Mental Health Services Act and more were enacted - the work of both Republicans and Democrats.
And yet, now almost a half century later the heavy veil that separates the people who have opportunities from the people who do not, remains, sometimes
lifting ever so briefly when indifference is overcome by accountability. There is still in this country, the "Other America", and, in this state, the "Other
California".

Hard Choices Not Made For Others
In the "Other California", in bad budget times for people with disabilities, seniors, for low income families, it seems that rights are rationed, and in
good budget times, somehow minimized among other worthy priorities. In the "Other California" the State fails to fully enforce the rights that it has
an obligation to fulfill, whether it is the right to special education, the right to public accommodations or the right to live independently in the community.

We recognize there limits to funding and resources, limits that people with disabilities and community organizations and workers contend with on a daily
basis for decades.
We could understand and respect the reasons of those who make decisions about limited funding and resources impacting people with disabilities and seniors
if policymakers in fact would recognize those limits for other groups in other budget areas. But they don't.
We have no quarrel with those other groups who push hard for higher wages or increased benefits or increased funding for pensions, or other funding. It
is their right to do so. But there is a profound disconnect to reality and fairness when the Legislature and Governor approve those requests for increased
spending for other groups and other budget areas, and then tell the community of people with disabilities and seniors that there are only hard choices
to be made.
If those in the "Other California" were told that the State is broke and has no money, and if then told that the Legislature and Governor did reject salary
increases for themselves, for the correctional system, for pensions, and expanding funding in other areas outside the health and human services budget
then at least fairness and honestry would be a part of the debate of what hard choices need to be made.

Read The rest at the CDCAN Web site

The Sun

What am I thinking about today?
The sunshine. It seems to be getting bright and sunny much earlier these days. I seem to be drawn to the sunlight and I find myself turning my face to the sun the instant I sense its direction.
What did Helen Keller say? I think it was Something like Keep your face turned toward the sun and you’ll miss all of the shadows. Any how, that isn’t the exact quote but it is something prophetic like that.

Thoughts on Tuesday Morning

Yesterday was Amanda the Seeing Eye Dog's birthday. I have been working with Amanda for 6 years. She never ceases to amaze. Amanda keeps me safe. She sees the dangers that I cannot see. Our relationship is rather remarkable and I appreciate this opportunity to gush about it.

Sorry about the bad links on this page. I am still trying to find time to learn how to insert tags into my blog. "In Process..."

From My Inbox: Amanda's Birthday

(singg to the tune of "happy birthday")

Amanda,

woofy woof woof bark bark

barky barky bark bark , woof woof

woofy woofy bark Amanda

barky barky woof woof!

Wags
Douglas, Chip and Buzz

From My Inbox: Amanda's Birthday

Dear Amanda,
Here we are again, the first day of Spring and another pupster
birthday. Soon, the rain will cease so your mom can stop retrieving poop
in the mud and you can roll around in the grass without muck clinging to
your coat. More sun means more romps in the park where you can chase
Korera and assert your dominance over Goldens. But, favorite pupster of
mine, no happy birthday perks will come of stealing your friend's food, so
practice a little compassion waghead and let her eat in peace. At eight,
I'm figuring you can take the high road and keep your dominance in check.
So, pupster, have a barking birthday, and maybe this year I actually
will learn the art of wag writing. I know you've tried to teach me, but I
am a slow learner. I wish you a year of satisfying work, long naps in the
sun and fun games of tug with Korera. Thanks for the top job you do
protecting and watching out for your mom. Now, tell her to thank you with
a hard-boiled egg or a nice juicy piece of ham.

Love and wags,
Leah

History of indictments at the White House

# The only sitting Cabinet member in recent history to be indicted while in office was Raymond J. Donovan, President Reagan's labor secretary. In September
1984, Donovan was indicted along with several others, accused of grand larceny in his co-ownership of a construction firm. After going on unpaid leave
in October, Donovan resigned in March 1985. In 1987, a jury acquitted Donovan and his co-defendants.

# In October 2005, David H. Safavian, the top procurement official for President Bush, resigned. Three days later, he was arrested and indicted on five
felony counts connected to criminal investigation of lobbyist Jack Abramoff. At the time the indictment covered, from May 2002 to January 2004, Safavian
had been serving as the chief of staff at the General Services Administration. Case pending.

# In November 1996, Henry G. Cisneros resigned from his position as President Clinton's housing secretary. In December 1997, he was indicted on 18 counts
of conspiracy, obstruction and lying to the FBI. Cisneros pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor in 1999 and was fined $10,000.

# In December 1994, Mike Espy resigned from his position as Clinton's agriculture secretary. In August 1997, Espy was indicted on 39 corruption counts in
allegations that he had received financial gifts from Tyson Foods Inc., one of the companies his department regulated. In December 1998 Espy was acquitted
on all counts.

# In May 1993, White House travel office chief Billy R. Dale and his entire staff were fired by the Clinton administration. Dale was indicted in December
1994 on two counts of embezzlement and conversion after a grand jury said he pocketed up to $68,000 from media organizations traveling with the president.
Dale was acquitted of all charges in November 1995.

# In November 1986, John M. Poindexter resigned from his post as national security adviser to President Reagan. In March 1988, Poindexter and three others
were indicted in relation to the Iran-Contra affair. Poindexter was charged with two additional counts of obstructing Congress and two counts of making
false statements. He was convicted in 1990, but the charges were overturned the following year.

# In 1983, Thomas C. Reed resigned from the Reagan administration after working as a presidential assistant under National Security Adviser William P. Clark.
In August 1984, he was indicted on four counts related to alleged illegal stock trading. He was acquitted in 1985.

# In April 1973, President Nixon forced White House chief of staff H.R. Haldeman, domestic affairs counsel John Ehrlichman and five other staff members
to resign. In March 1974, they were indicted in connection with the Watergate cover-up. Along with several others found guilty, both Haldeman and Ehrlichman
were convicted in 1975 and sentenced to 18 months in prison.

History of indictments involving White House staff

From My Inbox: Firms that hire people with disabilities

American consumers are responding positively to companies they consider socially responsible, and increasingly count those that hire disabled workers among
that group, according to a national public survey conducted by UMass Boston's Center for Social Development & Education in collaboration with the America's
Strength Foundation and published in the January issue of the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation (Vol. 24, Issue 1, IOS Press). It is one of the first
studies to examine the attitudes of consumers toward companies that hire people with disabilities.

Titled, "A national survey of consumer attitudes toward companies that hire people with disabilities," the study reports overwhelmingly positive attitudes
among consumers toward socially responsible companies, and in particular toward those that hire individuals with disabilities.

Specifically, 92 percent of consumers surveyed felt more favorable toward companies that hire individuals with disabilities and 87 percent said they would
prefer to give their business to such companies. Among those surveyed, hiring people with disabilities ranked third behind offering health insurance to
all employees and protecting the environment as an indicator of a company's commitment to social justice.

World Baseball Classic

My boyfriend and I are having a lot of fun following the World Baseball Classic. Sixteen teams from all over the world are currently competing to see who will emerge as the World Baseball Champions. These games will continue throughout the month. Interestingly, they are not expected to return until 2009. The USA played out of the first round of pool play and now are playing in a pool against Mexico, Korea and Japan.
The other day the USA Team mercied South Africa 17 to 0. South Africa has a really young team and they were playing against players like Roger Clemins! I had never seen a mercy rule instituted in baseball before.
Baseball has always been one of America's cherished pastimes. I don't know a lot about the game, but I love watching the competition. Read more at:


World Baseball Classic

Lincoln's Melancholy

I am reading the greatest book right now. The book is entitled, "Lincoln's Melancholy : How Depression Challenged a President and Fueled His Greatness." The author, Joshua Wolf Shenk, looks at President Lincoln's depression and how it impacted his life. I did not realize that when Lincoln was twenty-six he basically had a melt down. He was treated extensivly for depression in his thirties as well. President Lincoln was a very sad man, but as the book points out, it was his sadness and his internal suffering that allowed him to be great. Not to make lite of depression. At the same time, I don't know anyone who has lived without experiencing mental suffering at some point in their lives. It is the decision you make about what to do with the suffering that matters I guess. I like how this book has forced me to think.
The book is availible through Audible.com or you can check it out at Amazon.

Read More at Amazon

Web Site Publishing Success!

I have actually figured out how to post to my web site! This was not an easy task by any means. Yeah! Thank you Lisa and Microsoft telephone tech support. It only took me a year to get my blog to publish to my web site. Another big Thanks to Lary and the gang for inspiration! Who is Lary? Check out the Blind Cool Tech web site and find out!