Starve.Org White Noise Usenet Archive: "Handicap Digest # 3669"

THE HANDICAP DIGEST

Issue # 3669

Thursday, December 08, 1994

Today's Topics:

******

Re: Connecting TTY and Modems: Can't do
HELP - Need info about WHEELCHAIRS
Re: Iliazarov Technique.
Re: Reply to the politically
Computer Literacy Questionnaire
[Q] Design for people with disabilities
Brooklyn College denies access/students with disabilities
Handicap Internet Access
ADA, ALL WE HAVE GAINED IS IN PERIL!
Re: CHANGE bulletin board name

******

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thoughts in the next issue, please send electronic mail to
Bill McGarry at any of the following addresses:

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Bill McGarry (Moderator)
(203) 926-6187

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Subject: Re: Connecting TTY and Modems: Can't do
From: sarr@sinshan.citi.umich.edu (Sarr J. Blumson)
Organization: CITI, University of Michigan

In article <34554@handicap.news>, ProjACTION <projaction@aol.com> wrote:
>Index Number: 34554

>the TTY and a modem use different transfer protocols.

>The Modem relies on a carrier signal rto maintain the comm integrity
>TTY 's do not. You can get a TTY/Modem just like you can get a FAX/Modem
>(again two similar but different protocols) but I haven't found out
>where.

If its a real TTY it uses a current loop interface rather than the
RS-232 interfaces that computers and modems expect. Converters are
availabke from companies that sell data communications equipment.

--------
Sarr Blumson sarr@citi.umich.edu
voice: +1 313 764 0253 home: +1 313 665 9591
CITI, University of Michigan http://www.citi.umich.edu:80/users/sarr/

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Subject: HELP - Need info about WHEELCHAIRS
From: ted@techunix.technion.ac.il (TED - Kotzer Zeev)
Organization: Technion, Israel Institute of Technology

Hello! Thank you for reading...

I'm looking for information about wheelchairs designing ( types of
wheelchairs, purpose of each type etc. )

Zeev Kotzer, Technion

Email : ted@techunix.technion.ac.il

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Subject: Re: Iliazarov Technique.
From: g.a.woodell@larc.nasa.gov (Glenn Woodell)
Organization: NASA LaRC

In article <34561@handicap.news>, talented@ix.netcom.com (Jacob Polsky) says:

>Index Number: 34561

>I am looking for information on Proximal femoral focal deficiency, which
>results in a short limb. I have heard there is a way to make this leg
>longer.

Contact a local prosthetist. They can advise you of several
techniques depending on the severity of the problem. Some require
surgery while others do not.

Glenn

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Subject: Re: Reply to the politically
From: BBaughn@aol.com

The best alternative term for disability I have come across:

The Severely Euphemised.

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Subject: Computer Literacy Questionnaire
From: patt@squid.tram.com (Patt Bromberger)

On Dec 6, 9:53, Computer Literacy Digest Moderator wrote:

- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -
}
} This is a second call for input. The results of the questionaire will
} be reported next week.
}
} I wonder who all you subscribers are out there. If you can take the time
} to fill out the following questionaire, I will tabulate your responses and
} share it with you.
} Are you asociated with an educational institution?
} What is its name?
} Are you faculty, staff or a student?
} If you are a student, what level are you and what is your major?
} If you are faculty, what is your department?
} If you are staff, what is your job?
} Is there a course offered for credit at your institution in computer literacy?
} If not, why not?
} If so, how many students are taught every semester? In the summer?
} How many students are in each section?
} What percentage of the course is taught in the computer lab?
} [deleted]

There's a law on the books called the A.D.A. which guarantees equal
access for all students, staff and faculty; not one question on your
list refers to the accessibility of adaptive computers and/or
materials to make computer literacy a choice for people with
disabilities; is this an oversight on your part or will the people
with disabilities forever be forced to watch from the sidelines.

Think about Stephen Hawkings.

Patricia Ann Bromberger - patt@squid.tram.com
Goldstein Resource Center for Students with Disabilities
Brooklyn College / CUNY (718) 743-5747 patt@its.brooklyn.cuny.edu

------

Subject: [Q] Design for people with disabilities
From: raecheal@u.washington.edu (Marilyn Dalton)

> From: were@u.washington.edu (The Great White Wolverine)

> I could really use your help understanding the difficulties
> encountered by people with disabilities during day-to-day living.

It is a broad question you have posed here. While the University of
Washington is probably the most accessible campus around these parts, there
are some areas that still need to be addressed.
One such area is an equitable fire evacuation plan from campus buildings.
People in wheelchairs are stuck waiting for the firemen to discover them on
whatever floor they are on when the alarm is sounded. As in most of the
public buildings I have been in, the elevators return to the ground floor
and do not function other than by key control. I can say from personal
experience that being stuck in an electric chair on the fourth floor is
scary. The stairwells are not large enough to evacuate to..ect.

> From there, I hope to design products that would aid people with
> specific disabilities in accomplishing daily tasks. The reason that
> I am posting here is that both my teacher and I feel that the
> information received from people is much more valuable than that
> from books.

> Specifically, I am looking at the difficulties faced in using
> transportation

Anyone figured out how to make an electric wheelchair work in the ice and
snow? Yes there are busses and private companies such as cabulance and I
understand Metro even has vans, however, once in the street or the
sidewalk to get to the pick up point...How does one manuver?
Its nice to see engineering asking those who live here, how.Thanks..Rae

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Subject: Brooklyn College denies access/students with disabilities
From: patt@squid.tram.com (Patt Bromberger)

At Brooklyn College (City University of New York) there is no possible way
a student with a wheelchair could getup and down the stairs necessary to
gain access the the "fitness facility" they all rave about at the
college!

These students can and should utilize the equipment in the facility
that would help them strengthen their muscles and give their bodies a
break from being confined to a wheelchair.

Access to the swimming pools? I continually wonder why students are
even afraid to bring this issue to the attention of the present
administration which claims to advocate for students with
disabilities. Pure lip service, if you ask me!

What to do? Reasonable accommodation under Section 504 or
equal access guaranteed under the ADA?

Patricia Ann Bromberger - patt@squid.tram.com
Goldstein Resource Center for Students with Disabilities
Brooklyn College/CUNY (718) 951-5363 patt@its.brooklyn.cuny.edu

------

Subject: Handicap Internet Access
From: 0001771813@mcimail.com (Kenyon F. Karl)
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway

Date: Tue Dec 06, 1994 12:18 am EST
From: David Stone
EMS: INTERNET / MCI ID: 376-5414
MBX: dstone@tiac.net

TO: * Kenyon F. Karl / MCI ID: 177-1813
Subject: Handicap Internet Access

Well, here is the information I spoke of. Please bear with me on this, I
have been doing this alone for sometime now and I'm beginning to get
somewhat foggy. Let me start by briefly explaining how I got started in
this and what my motivation is. Sometime ago I decided to start a company
called PC Tutorial Services. The main function of this company was to help
put the average person in touch with PC knowledge and parts without giving
them a heart attack. Primarily by keeping the cost of parts down to an
absolute minimum but most of all, helping them get the knowledge they needed
with out making them feel like they had no right to ask. As I began
learning about PC's I found that most people with technical knowledge either
looked down their noses at me or smiled and asked me how much money I had in
my wallet. It soon dawned on me that it wasn't PC's I disliked, it was the
attitude that went with them. To many people had made it to uncomfortable
for me to learn so I found myself avoiding not only the people but the
computers too.

FLASH!!!!! BRIGHT IDEA!!!!!!.....Maybe, just maybe I'm not the only one
who feels this way!

So, I decided to start a company that took a real laid back approach to
technical knowledge. I laid down some ground rules, some do's and don'ts
and POOF! here I am.

(I'm getting to the handicap access part real soon)

I went to large retail stores and watched and listened to the PC salesmen.
I watched closely as 90% of the customers got frustrated or just plain got
suckered into buying that $3000.00 monster multi media system that the
salesman so eloquently convinced them they needed, and if they didn't buy it
now, OH GOD! what would the neighbors think? I had had just about enough.
Then I did it. I just went out and started this company. I gave it alot of
thought and I worked hard. I knew what I wanted to do and I just did it
despite what the neighbors said. Let me tell you, I was in my glory.
Finally I found what I wanted to do for the rest of my life and it was all
fairly cut and dried.

Then I met this person with Cerebral Palsy.
Then I met some parents of children with Cerebral Palsy.

Then I woke up!

I put two and two together and POOF!, I had to go back to the drawing board.
It became all to apparent to me that I had alot more work to do. I have to
share what I felt because that is what this company is all about. All that
this company does with or without your help is based on human feelings and
rights, and not the "Almighty Greenback God". I sat as uncomfortable as I
had ever been in front of a young man with Cerebral Palsy. I am ashamed to
say I was uncomfortable, but I was, it was part of my growth process, and
now I'm not, simple as that. Anyway, I sat and watched him type the words
"Hi Dave" on his laptop with a switch by his head. This process took all of
about 5 min.. Then from his computer he selected a file he had written and
fed it into the processor which then spoke the words from a speaker. You
have to believe me when I tell you that it was all I could do to keep from
crying right in front of him. This man was absolutely no different then me.
The speech he had written was no different than what I would have said.
This man I was so afraid of was totally normal in every way that makes us
human except he had no control over his body. A man just like me locked in
a body that would not function properly, a man who has absolutely no
privacy, no job, and very little say as to what happens to him.

But he could use a computer. And if he can select a letter, I'll bet he
could select an icon. If he could use a computer and select an icon, he
could probably compose a letter and send it email,..IN PRIVATE!..without the
assistance of a PCA. The possibilities were endless.

Now what you have been waiting for.

This is what I have, this is what I think, and this is what I want to do:

I have a small somewhat established company called PC Tutorial Services. I
have much technical knowledge (sorry I'm not a programmer though) and I have
endless resources. I built a BBS for my clients so that they could have
access to on-line tutorials for DOS, Windows, and the Internet. Basic DOS
and Windows and Internet utilities, etc. This BBS plays a large part in my
plans. I have configured an exquisitely user friendly (electronically
impaired if you will) BBS. A place where parents can get their hands on
information pertaining to but not limited to Software for the disabled,
phone numbers of persons with thoughts, ideas, technical knowledge, used
hardware and/or software. A place to obtain easy to read and learn info on
how to use computers so they may better understand the systems that their
children are using. A place to call for technical support that doesn't have
an attitude. And finally a place to call that will offer them an education
that does not require that you take a second mortgage on the house. (have
knowledge, will travel).

I obtained a distributor for PC parts and decided to assemble PC's and sell
them for a hair over cost. I made the decision to cut through all the bull
and help parents and persons with disabilities obtain the systems they
really need, not the $3000.00 monster multi media must have.

I have begun digging for persons like me with equal or god willing much more
technical knowledge than me and getting them together as opposed to
scattered all over the World. Lets face it that's what email and the
Internet is for right! Connecting people from around the world in seconds,
(unless of course all those AT&T commercials are all bunk!)

So what I've done is form somewhat of a hub. I know there are many
resources out their and I am just another one. But there are alot of
useless resources out there. I would like to consider this hub a "useless
resource sifter". I have a collection of resources at my fingertips now. I
have many persons who have volunteered to help in many ways, ex. write
simple tutorials about computing topics that they are very familiar with,
writing Internet access software, allowing their email addresses to go to
persons with disabilities and/or family members of persons with
disabilities, for correspondence and support. etc. etc., the list goes on
and on.

Below are some specific ways you can help with a brief explanation of why
and how I will use it. I hope I have not lost your interest yet. If I have
not, hang on the end is near.

1. If you have any thoughts or ideas on programming a ridiculously easy
Internet access software, I want to hear from you. I will supply you with
the needs of those using the software on a case by case basis if needed. I
have access to code written that allows a user to move a mouse cursor with
his/her eyes, and or other controllable muscles. I want to help develop
this technology and software for it, I am sure you can understand why.

2. If you are an Electrical Engineer and could take a moment or two to let
me bounce some thoughts and technical jargon off you, it would be much
appreciated. Unfortunately this is one area I am running into some snags,
but I refuse and I repeat refuse to give up!

3. If you know a person who is disabled or are disabled yourself, I need to
hear from them and/or you. I am working very hard to get persons with
disabilities on the net so they may cruise the world. I need more info on
how (and I mean specifically) my company can help. I mean, what part of
your body has some control, how can I make a system accessible to you. I
need you to help support the growing number of disabled persons who will be
venturing outside their familiar world and exploring the net. Keep in mind,
that every piece of information you supply me with will help me and others,
the more specific the better. I have people who are banging on my door
saying "If you just tell me exactly what you need, I will write the
program".

4. I personally need some help. The email keeps pouring in and I keep
falling behind (thus why this letter took some time to reach you). I am
looking for a person who could correspond with me and help me with the
replies and organization. I am teaching, offering hardware and software
support, running a BBS, (no small task!), answering phones, responding to
email, etc., etc. Now I'm not complaining but I know I could triple my
efforts if I had just one person who felt like I did and understood how many
will benefit from this. Specifically this person and I would correspond
regularly. This person would be fielding some of the email and other
responses, maybe even giving some organization to the help needed so I could
funnel them in the right direction quicker. It makes no difference if this
person is local to me or not.

5. If you program for the Windows environment and don't mind helping out a
little I want to hear from you. I insist on developing as much off the
Windows environment for IBM compatibles as possible. Macintosh is lovely,
but 1. it is more expensive and 2. you cant just walk into your corner
store and pick up Mac parts like you can for IBM clones. Cost is one of the
biggest issues many of the disabled face second only to prejudice and
ignorance. IBM's are less expensive and easier to fix. I am focusing on the
Windows environment for many reasons to numerous to list here but if you
must know I would be glad to respond to your inquiry.

6. I need your thoughts and experience. The more you can tell me of your
personal situation the better position I'm in when I have to kick some
"Beauracratic Butt". I have a gentleman with Cerebral Palsy who is quite
famous in his own right. He and I are going to work together to make this
happen for not only him but others like him. He has agreed to work and work
hard. What we are doing here is to help put technology in the hands of
those who need it not just the hands of those who can afford it or just want
to play games on it. While we are doing this we are no doubt going to rock
some boats, but if we can take this opportunity to raise some consciousness
as well as technical knowledge, so be it.

7. Last at least for this moment but far from least. I am working to help
get PCA's trained on computers. Not to become computer programmers, but to
be able to operate simple systems so as to help their employers (the
disabled) have greater access to the world. If you have any comments on
this subject I would love to hear them.

I am now going to cut to the chase and give you a rest. I will conclude by
giving you my email address just in case the header fell off
dstone@tiac.net. My office number is (508) 753-1568. The BBS number will
be released within the next 2 weeks. I am doing some major construction on
the Conference for Assistive Technology and will be off-line more than on.

I thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to working with
all of you in one way or the other.

Rick Hoyt and I are ready to work, and so are alot of other volunteers. We
anxiously await your replies.
David Stone
PC Tutorial Services

------

Subject: ADA, ALL WE HAVE GAINED IS IN PERIL!
From: fredfay@delphi.com
Organization: Delphi (info@delphi.com email, 800-695-4005 voice)

Subject: ADA, ALL WE HAVE GAINED IS IN PERIL!

MOBILIZE! EDUCATE THE NEW CONGRESS! NOW!

November 30, 1994

Dear Colleagues:

WE WHO HAVE DISABILITIES ARE IN GRAVE DANGER of losing
our fragile, hard won beachhead on the mainland of
American life. Governors, Mayors, and media personalities
are launching an escalating chorus of assaults on the ADA,
calling it a costly unfunded mandate, and worse. IDEA and
Medicaid are under attack, as are SSI supports for children
with disabilities. There is increasing public focus on the
cost of keeping people with severe disabilities alive, and
on their "right" to die.

The new leaders of Congress have announced their agenda,
a "Contract with America" that, implemented literally,
could drastically cut virtually all programs that empower
us. They speak of "erasing" key economic and social
programs of the last three decades, and "reasserting
American Culture as it has existed for the last 300
years" - a culture in which we were outcasts. According
to media reports, they are seriously considering
amending the ADA to make enforcement a local option.

I CANNOT BELIEVE that the leaders of our nation -
Republican or Democrat - are scheming to destroy our
rights. But I see the current eruption of public
frustration with the growing pains of democracy, and
I remember history. I am truly terrified that
hysteria for instant solutions and easy scapegoats -
in combination with deeply rooted negative attitudes
and massive misinformation from special interests - could
result in an unthinking pulling of the plug on our
progress, our rights, the programsthat empower us,
and, in some cases, our very lives. Back to hopeless
dependency, hopeless isolation, hopeless poverty.
Back to sub-human status.

WE MUST MOBILIZE. WE MUST EDUCATE, NOW. The new
Congress convenes on January 4th. Republican leaders
have announced a blitz to pass their "Contract" agenda
during the first one hundred days. We must act today,
before the holidays, during the holidays, while basic
positions are still being formed.

HOLD AN EMERGENCY MEETING. TODAY. TOMORROW. In person.
By telephone. Designate an existing organization - or
organize an ad hoc group - to coordinate state-wide
action. Forget about turf and titles. Include all who
will fight.

ESTABLISH TRUTH TEAMS in every Congressional district,
starting with at least one member today - you - and
growing to ten members or more in the next few weeks.
If our movement is to survive and to achieve its goals
in the new politics of the nineties, we must establish
a permanent core of activist grass roots leadership in
every community.

REACH OUT TO ALL YOUR STATE'S MEMBERS OF THE NEW CONGRESS
beginning today, while you are organizing. Create
positive relationships with members and with key staff.
Take nothing for granted. About half of the new members
of Congress were not present during the debate on the
ADA in 1990. In too many cases their perceptions of
the ADA and disability programs come largely from the
recent avalanche of negative propaganda. Many hill
veterans - including old friends in both parties -
have been influenced by the same negative messages.
Don't discount the potential of the new conservatives.
Many of them are people of profound conscience, who
share our passionate determination to emancipate all
prisoners of dependency, and empower them in the
mainstream of free enterprise democracy.

DELIVER OUR MESSAGE. Directly to the Congress, but
also to the state house, the White House and government
at all levels, to business, to labor, to groups
representing minorities, women and older Americans and
to all other potential allies. Deliver our message
face to face, by telephone, fax, computer, the mail,
in the streets. Use every Christmas card. Use the
media. Be front row visible at public events with
signs, questions and shouts. Flood talk shows, TV and
newspapers with truth. Use newsletters, faxes,
computers and telephone trees to activate our
community. Collect personal stories illustrating
the necessity of the ADA, including the positive
effects of ADA on real lives. Send them to the
National Council on Disability. (address below).

MESSAGE: DISABILITY IMPACTS ALL OF US. With the
advance of modern medicine disability has become a
normal characteristic of human being. Sooner or later
every family - your family, Mr. Congressman - is
going to experience disability. Public policy that
fails people with disabilities fails every family.
We who have disabilities form one fifth of the
population - 49 million Americans, plus millions more,
our families and service providers. We vote.

MESSAGE: ADA IS GOOD FOR AMERICA. ADA is not an
unfunded mandate. It is a civil rights law that
simply extends to Americans with disabilities the
same Constitutional protections that other Americans
already enjoy. ADA will not bankrupt anyone. It
specifically provides that no business or public
entity can be required to do anything which will
result in undue hardship. ADA will open the doors of
opportunity for people with disabilities, enabling us
to get off of welfare and into the productive main-
stream of our communities. ADA will pay for its
tiny cost a hundred times in terms of reduced
welfare and increased productivity.

MESSAGE: ADA. COOPERATION YES! AMENDMENT NO! We are
ready to cooperate 100% to ensure implementation of
the ADA that is sensitive to the needs of individuals,
businesses and communities. But we will fight any
amendment. We will fight for our right to be fully
equal citizens of the USA. Ms. Congresswoman, we want
your commitment that you will be with us.

MESSAGE: CONTRACT WITH AMERICA. Contract of the
people, by the people and for the people - all the
people - yes! Contract on Americans with disabilities,
no! Of course social and economic programs need to be
improved. No group is more aware of the cancerous
oppression of paternalistic bureaucracy than people
with disabilities. But let us take care that in our
haste to change, we do not create more welfare, more
paternalism, more costs, more misery. Let us ensure
that changes protect and enhance rehabilitation, DD,
personal assistance and legal services, IDEA,
independent living, Medicaid, Medicare, fair housing
and other all programs and protections that empower
people with disabilities to be productive participants
in the mainstream. Let us ensure that changes empower
persons with very severe disabilities to be free from
the fear of rationed life, to be emancipated from
expensive, prison-like institutions, and to live with
dignity in their communities.

MESSAGE: THE AMERICAN HERITAGE at its best, the magical
power of America's explosive success, from 1776 to
1994, has been the aggressive empowerment of tradition-
ally oppressed peoples to be fully equal participants
in the mainstream of free enterprise democracy.
Nothing could be more Republican, nothing could be
more Democrat, nothing could be more in harmony with
family values, nothing could be more profitable,
nothing could be more positively American than the
empowerment of Americans with disabilities. Mr.
Congressman, we will work with you to create change
that empowers. We will fight any return to oppressive
paternalism.

CAN WE WIN? ABSOLUTELY! We will lose some battles.
But we have the ultimate weapons to win the war for a
just society: people, truth, love of humanity. We
have the moral and the economic arguments. We have
people who have created miracles of independence and
justice. We have you.

IF WE CAN MULTIPLY OUR TINY ARMY OF PATRIOTS, if we
can utilize the coming historic policy debate to
establish the principles of empowerment, if we can
exploit the coming volatile scramble for power to
create new political clout, if we can survive the
coming test of fire with our principles, our bottom
line agenda and our passion to pioneer intact, we
will have established a foundation of tempered
political, psychological, and policy steel on which
future generations in the USA and every land can
build the edifice of democracy for people with
disabilities.

THE BOTTOM LINE, SOLIDARITY! We must set aside
business, personality and politics as usual, and
unite in action. This is not going to be easy.
Funding problems invite cut throat competition
among us. The certain polarization of mainstream
politics invites us to attack each other in order
to gain temporary positions of power. Divide and
conquer will be the strategy of our opponents.
We must further master the art of complementary
unity - playing different, sometimes apparently
conflicting roles, in total harmony for the same
goals: equality, independence and empowerment in
the mainstream.

THIS IS THE MOMENT OF TRUTH for each one of us.
America is watching. The world is watching. Will
our movement unite in action? Will we increase
our advocacy enough to keep the Dream alive? We
can do it, if we are willing to pay the price. If
we are not, if we fail or are perceived to fail,
God help our children and our colleaguehumans in
the 21st century. "America tried equality for people
with disabilities, and it didn't work. Why try
it again?" We have got to win or - like our patriot
fathers and mothers at Valley Forge - make the
sacrifices necessary to achieve victory in the
future. Ours is a cause worth dying for - literally.
Let us unite. Let us act.

Yoshiko and I thank all of you who have led for
independence and justice over the years, during the
epic battle for health care reform and in the recent
elections. We solicit your guidance. We respect you.
We love you. We are with you all the way.
Together we have overcome. Together we shall overcome.

Justin Dart

Note: We urgently need reports of your activities,
of developments in your community, of how your
Congresspersons stand on the issues. Fax or call
your reports to Paul Marchand, CCD, 202-785-3388
(Voice), 202-467-4179 (Fax), 202-785-3411 (TDD).

Direct your requests for further information about
organized advocacy to Becky Ogle, 703-836-6263 (Voice),
703-836-6730 (Fax); or to Fred Fay 508-371-0992 (Voice).
The address of the National Council on Disability:
1331 F Street, N.W., Suite 1050, Washington, D.C.
20004-1107, 202-272-2004 (Voice), 202-272-2074 (TDD),
202-272-2022 (Fax).

GET INTO POLITICS AS IF YOUR LIFE DEPENDED ON IT.
IT DOES! THE ELECTION OF '96 STARTS TODAY.

From: Justin Dart
Subject: November, 1994
Date: Wed, 23 1994

ELECTIONS '94. THE CONTRACT AGENDA. Our movement faces the most
serious challenges in its history, and conceivably its greatest
opportunities. In perhaps the most dramatic political upheaval
since the early elections of the New Deal, Republicans have taken
control of both houses of Congress. GOP campaign strategist Bill
Kristol has characterized their goal as "routing contemporary
liberalism and advancing an aggressive conservative agenda." This
agenda is summarized in a "Contract with America," which promises
a balanced federal budget, tax cuts for middle class and well-to-do
people, and increases in military spending. Most credible
observers agree that this plan, implemented literally, without
refinement, would result drastic cuts in programs that empower
people with disabilities.

"WE NEED TO ERASE THE SLATE." Explaining the Contract agenda on
November 11, future Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich said, "It is
impossible to take the Great Society" systems for dealing with the
poor, and "have any hope of fixing things...We simply need to erase
the slate and start over again." He called for methodically
reasserting "American civilization as it has existed for the last
300 years." He has asked the Heritage Foundation to draw up a plan
of action. Two years ago Heritage President Ed Feulner called ADA
and the Civil Rights Act of 1991 "economic and social nannyism."
Congressman Tom Delay, identified by the Washington Post as a
leader in setting criteria for the Contract, opposed the ADA on all
nine votes. The Post also mentioned staunch ADA opponent National
Federation of Independent Businesses was as having key input into
the content of the Contract.

THE NEW CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP. Speaker Gingrich voted against
our positions on ADA five votes out of nine, but he did reportedly
help behind the scenes to get the landmark bill passed. New
Majority Leader Richard Armey voted against the passage of the ADA
on all nine votes, as did Congressman Bill Archer, the new Chairman
of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, and Congressman Bud
Shuster, new Chairman of the Public Works and Transportation
Committee. Congressman Bill Goodling, new Chair of the House
Education and Labor Committee voted for us four times, against us
twice and abstained twice. He also helped behind the scenes. We
lose empowerment crusader Major Owens as chair of the House
Subcommittee on Select Education and Civil Rights. We do better in
the Senate where ADA supporters Dole, Hatfield, Domenici, Chafee,
Packwood, Hatch and Kassebaum are in key positions. However, we
lose ADA heroes Ted Kennedy and Tom Harkin as Committee chairs, and
we lose ADA author Bob Silverstein as Director of the Senate
Subcommittee on Disability Policy.

ATTACKS ON OUR RIGHTS. This massive shift of power and agenda
occurs in the context of increasing public attacks - by members of
both parties and the major media - on the ADA, the mainstreaming of
children and adults with disabilities, the rights of persons with
cognitive and psychiatric disabilities, and other foundational
components of our empowerment agenda. Teacher's union President
Albert Shanker and others have attacked the integration of children
with severe disabilities in the classroom. Many Mayors and
Governors have attacked the ADA as an unfunded mandate. Rick
Santorum, Senator-elect from Pennsylvania was quoted recently in
the Harrisburg Patriot as referring to ADA regulations as
"fanatical." "The ADA is bankrupting municipalities. They're
forced to cut curbs. I'm not against that, but why tomorrow?" A
few days ago Rush Limbaugh blasted the ADA and called on the new
Congress to "fix" it.

AMEND THE ADA? November 13 on "This Week with David Brinkley,"
George Will asked Newt Gingrich, "Will the Republican majorities
prune that legislation (the ADA)?" Gingrich said, "I believe that
local communities should have the opportunity to apply local common
sense without a Washington bureaucracy. You want to maximize every
American's right to participate fully....I don't think that ought
to be done by a Washington bureaucracy drawing Washington lines to
then be enforced across the board everywhere in America."

Washington Post, November 22. House Republicans are "reexamining
the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Washington Post: November 23. "The new Republican leaders of
Congress today promised Republican governors greater power and
freedom to solve problems without interference from
Washington....Dole and Gingrich pledged to ....to move quickly on
legislative relief from federal mandates on the states. Unfunded
mandates are the pass-along costs of federal regulations attached
to primarily environmental and social legislation ....such as the
Clean Water and Clean Air Acts, legislation requiring easy access
to public places by disabled persons and other federal laws..."

Dialogue between Newt Gingrich and George Will
"This Week with David Brinkley", November 13, 1994

G.W. "One of the largest expansions of the government's
regulatory and intrusive activities in recent years was the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Will the Republican
majorities prune that legislation?"

N.G. "I want to draw a distinction between more or less in
transformation, George. I believe that local communities
should have the opportunity to apply local common sense without
a Washington bureaucracy. You want to maximize every American's
right to participate fully, you want to maximize those with
challenges and disabilities. I don't think that ought to be
done by a Washington bureaucracy drawing Washington lines to
then be enforced across the board everywhere in America."

G.W. "That sounds like repeal of the ADA?"

N.G. "No, I think you set a goal for the whole country
and you ask yourself...(pause)..I trust the American people,
I believe that if you said to the American people one of our
societal goals is to maximize participation for everybody.
Now, can you and your local community do that less expensively,
faster and with more common sense than Washington? I think
the answer is yes."

[At this time George Will asks a question concerning cuts in
farm subsidies to which Gingrich gives a brief answer. Then...]

G.W. "I may be wrong, but I think I'm hearing that
agricultural subsidies are only going to be looked at and
that the ADA is pretty safe. Let me give you some cultural..."

N.G. (Interrupting) "I thought you said the way I described
it, the ADA will be changed substantially."

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Subject: Re: CHANGE bulletin board name
From: avatarinc@aol.com (AvatarInc)
Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364)

While I agree that it may not make sense to base a decision on a 14th
century definition of a term, that we need to work on changing attitudes
more than terms, and that we need to be wary of changing terms every few
years, I think we need to look at changing the bulletin board name. This
is a term that has almost universally fallen out of favor. For access
reasons, if for no other, I would like to see the name changed. I went a
long time looking for disabilities newsgroups on the internet before
stumbling across this one, simply because I haven't seen or heard the term
in use for so many years. In addition, if the majority of people with
disasbilities can agree on the fact that they don't like the term
handicap, which I believe is the case, we should respect this, even if
agreement can't be reached on what they would like to be called. I may
not know what to call someone who is black without offending them, but I
darn well know which terms are so far out of favor that they are
guaranteed to offend!

BTW, you may want to consider the America Online bulleltin board
name, which is disABILITY. It emphasizes the ability, while still being a
term I can find.
Jerry Costley
avatarinc@aol.com

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End of Issue # 3669 of the Handicap Digest

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