A.D.A.

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When have you reacted to people in a manner similar to how others have treated you due to your disability?

A.D.A.

Name: Gary Roberts
Email: jg86@hotmail.com
Date: 24 Nov 2000
Time: 23:12:17

Story

The A.D.A. (Americans Against the Disabled Act): another empty promise among hundreds of others made to disabled people?

Years ago, when living in N.Y.C., I talked to a lot of blacks who told stories about all the empty promises they received from the white man before they took charge of their own destinies. "Come back and see us in six months. We are working very hard to get the change we both want." Back in six months. "We need more time.We are for you -- will move every barrier to getting things going."

At Gallaudet, the deaf took over the campus and took charge of their own destinies. If they had not rallied for what they sought, there would still be a hearing person as president of the university. We can see lesson after lesson in the history of other minorities struggling for their rights in this great country. Do we want it bad enough to bury for all times the image of the smiling, bobbing, happy cripple? Many of us are numbed by a harsh education system that drills our inadequacies into us and by families who don't have any expectations for us. We have a lot more to overcome than just our disability . There are centuries of discrimination to overcome and the need to grow a healthy self image.

I don't have the answers myself . Do any of you who read these pages have an answer to the question I pose here? Many of us are living at risk, living on transfer payments which can be jerked away on a whim of the establishment. We have people over us who don't really respect us. How long before we see locked wards and people on street corners again selling pencils?

So how can we turn the tables and right our ship? I would like to hear some ideas out there.

A.D.A.

Story

Last changed: October 20, 2003