Sen. Kerry presents his “Platform for Americans with Disabilities"

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Treating Disabled Veterans Fairly-
http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/awd/veterans.html

John Kerry has fought to ensure that the federal government meets its responsibilities to those who have served their nation, including mandatory funding of veteran's healthcare, streamlined disability claims, and a robust research and treatment agenda at VA hospitals. He is still fighting to authorize concurrent receipt for VA disability compensation and military retirement pay for all disabled veterans.

Strengthening Civil Rights Laws- http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/awd/civilrights.html

The Americans with Disabilities Act and Rehabilitation Act are the most important civil rights laws for persons with disabilities in our country's history. John Kerry believes that it is vital that we enforce these laws and fight recent judicial and legislative actions that weaken these laws.

Providing Quality Health Care and the Right to Live in the Community-
http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/awd/healthcare.html

High quality, accessible and affordable health care (which should be a right for every American) is especially important for people for disabilities. John Kerry supports strengthening Medicare and Medicaid to provide people with disabilities with better health care and more support to live independently. Likewise, we must assure equal access to community living services to Americans with disabilities of all ages nationwide. John Kerry strongly supports MiCASSA and the Money Follows the Person Act. He also supports the Olmstead decision.

Campaign statement:

"Freedom, Independence, and Choices for Americans with Disabilities
All Americans have an inherent right to be treated as equal citizens of our nation. Now more than ever, people with disabilities can live fuller, more productive lives if afforded the right opportunities and supports. John Kerry's plan will strengthen Medicaid and Medicare, fully fund IDEA, and construct creative solutions to the transportation, technology, and housing needs of individuals with disabilities. Kerry believes that the government should not be investing in tax giveaways for the wealthiest Americans while the IDEA is inadequately funded and Medicaid is in danger of being weakened, and he will fight the far right's efforts to undermine the Americans with Disabilities Act." http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/awd/

Where does your candidate stand on these issues?

[deek]

1. Kucinich is a friend of people who have disabilities

Kucinich recently delayed campaigning to stay at his post on Capitol Hill fighting Bush's proposal to block-grant Medicaid -- a proposal which would have reduced support for the community-based services on which many Americans with disabilities depend. Kucinich has strongly supported such services in his Ohio district, as when he helped save the Tremont Neighborhood Opportunity Center in Cleveland from closure.

In Congress, Kucinich has fought for full financing of the shamefully under-funded Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which requires the federal government to provide 40% of the extra cost of educating students with special needs. In the 107th Congress (2001-2002), Kucinich cosponsored several bills with this objective. Most recently in the 108th Congress, Kucinich was an original co-sponsor of H.R. 2107, the Keep Our Pact Act, which required the full financing of the IDEA.

Kucinich has supported the Rehabilitation Act, which helps provide job training for people with disabilities; the Blind Empowerment Act of 2001, which increases disability insurance for blind individuals; and the National Health Insurance Act that would provide affordable, comprehensive health care to all.

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A Kucinich administration will support community-based services, home care, and adequate resources for families with children with severe disabilities. While other candidates support these concepts with words, only Kucinich's plan for universal health coverage will make it possible for these goals to become a reality (see http://www.kucinich.us/issues/issue_universalhealth.htm).

Dennis Kucinich believes our long term service system must change. Recently he became a co-sponsor of MiCASSA, the Medicaid Community-based Services and Supports Act of 2001, to give people real choice in long term care options. This act aims to reform Medicaid and end the institutional bias while allowing individuals elegible for Nursing Facility Services or Intermediate Care Facility Services for the Mentally Retarded Services (ICF-MR) the opportunity to choose MiCASSA as an alternative. The money will follow the individual.



http://www.kucinich.us/issues/disability_rights.php

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2. Thanks deek

I know that Dennis has been working the other side of the Capitol on these issues. He is a true 'municipal' man. :-)

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

3. I'm a DK fan, but Good For Kerry!

I don't like Kerry personally, but I can trust him on disability issues.