As Americans with disabilities, we agree that the  following items are necessary for the improvement of our ability to contribute to society. 

The importance of equal, accessible education: As I  stated in my first post, Americans with disabilities are less likely to go to college than our  non-disabled counterparts. At a local Special Education in 2006,  there were about 30 students in a temporary classroom. The majority of the students had MP3 players. The teacher had no control over the room, so she eventually gave up and let the students do whatever they wanted. Odds are that these students will not be ready for college, even if they do choose to go. Another student had graduated from the regular education track at that same high achool and had no trouble getting into UC Berkeley. Clearly, there is some discrimination happening there. Education is important because it leads to better employment. 

Employment: Employers need to understand that  employing people with disabilities makes sense, and  that "reasonable accommodation" is not a dirty,  expensive phrase. Everybody just needs to be a bit more creative and flexible. For example, if an employee does not drive, his employer could decide that, instead of having the employee do outreach and home visits, they would assign those to a co-worker, while the employee who does not drive stayed in the  office and took care of people there. Driving  should  never, ever be a requirement for any job unless driving really, truly is an essential requirement of  the job. 

Social Security Reform: People who are applying for  Social Security programs cannot work while applying  for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). What applicants  are saying when they apply is that they are unable to do any job for which you are reasonably qualified in the ENTIRE COUNTRY. If applicants make more than $900 per month, they are not considered disabled.  See how Social Security determines disability at Link. If a person is applying for SSI, she cannot have more than $2000 in liquid assets. Since it often takes years for someone to qualify for benefits, we  are unsure how applicants are supposed to survive on $900/month and less than $2000 in savings. We are not looking for a "free ride"; we're just trying to make ends meet with our disabilities. 

Affordable, Decent Healthcare: Medicare and  Medicaid  are useful for those of us whoi qualify for them,  but  even they don’t cover many neccessities of life. We believe that every American, regardless of ability, has the right to affordable, decent healthcare. 

Mental health parity: Currently, standards for mental healthcare are a lot lower than standards for physical healthcare.  Insurance companies do not pay the same benefits for mental health as they do for physical health issues.  It is harder to find help for mental illness, get correct diagnoses, and maintain treatment than it is for almost any physical disability.  We don't let people wander around with broken legs.  Why are we forcing them to remain in mental anguish? 

Affordable, Decent Housing: Berkeley, California was named the Most Accedssible City in the United States by the the National Organization on Disability The only wheelchair-accessible housing that exists in Berkeley is only available through Section 8, whose waiting list has not been open in years. If Berkeley is the Most Accessible City, housing conditions in other cities must be worse. People with disabilities need more housing options, especially since not all of us qualify for Section 8 housing.

Respect for Differences: With roughly 1 in 8 people  identified as having a disability in the 2004 Census, it would be strange if any American’s life was not touched by disability. We need to respect the differing experiences that Americans have with disability, so that we can all contribute equally society.