Consider these facts:

54 million Americans experience some form of disability; working age persons who live with disabilities are almost 3 times as likely to live below the poverty line than those with no disabilities; each state is responsible for it's own Disabilities Department or Department of Employment Rehabilitation--a few states, such as California, have progressive programs for people with disabilities; many states have substandard or no programs at all.

Individual states have failed their disabled communities. Isn't it time the Federal Government stepped in to make the lives of the disabled as full and rewarding as they can be in California?

Barack Obama has a detailed 9-page plan to resolve these problems. In this post I will give you a very brief overview of the plan and a link where you can read it for yourself.

"We must build a world free of unnecessary barriers, stereotypes and discrimination. Policies must be developed, attitudes must be shaped and buildings and organizations must be designed to ensure that everyone has a chance to get the education they need and live independently as full citizens in their communities."

These stirring words, spoken by Barack Obama were long ago backed by his real commitment to change the way America treats members of the disabled community.

The first thing he did in this campaign, is set up a Disability Policy Committee, which is "a diverse group of people with disabilities, parents and other relatives of people with disabilities, scholars, lawyers who represent people with disabilities, experts in technology and a variety of other fields related to disability."

A 4-part plan was developed. In a nutshell, these 4 parts address:

1. Expanding educational opportunities for the disabled.

2. Ending discrimination against the disabled.

3. Increasing the employment rate of the disabled.

4. Support for independent, community-based living for the disabled.

Additionally, Obama created an entire separate issue paper on Autism.

Disabled democrats would do well to support Obama's cause, which will improve the lives of ALL Americans living with disabilities.

The ADA, enacted over 15 years ago has never been fully implemented by congress. Barack Obama will advocate full implementation as POTUS.

I live with a disability. The programs in the state of Washington, where I now live are quite inferior to the programs offered in California, but much better than the programs in southern states with a 40-year tradition of Republican governors.

(There is a GLITCH with my Safari program. I will post the link to the full plan as my first comment on this post.)