disABILITY NEWS-letter Volume Two, Number Three, October 1992 Presidential candidates present viewpoints on disability policies **** President George Bush, Republican NOTE: The following is from a packet of materials received in September from the Americans With Disabilities division of the national Bush-Quayle '92 campaign office. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABOUT ACCESSIBLE/AFFORDABLE HOUSING ----------------------------------------------------------------------- "In 1991, the President signed .. the FAIR HOUSING AMENDMENTS ACT which ... provides Americans with disabilities the same freedom to choose their places of residence as other citizens." ABOUT HEALTH INSURANCE --------------------------------------------- "The President's Comprehensive Health Reform Plan would further enhance access to affordable health insurance for people with disabilities, and ... would address ... people with disabilities who are denied health insurance due to pre-existing conditions." ABOUT PERSONAL ATTENDANT CARE ------------------------------------------------------------- "The President strongly supports measures that will enable people with disabilities to move out of institutions, to live in their homes and to work." ABOUT GOVERNOR CLINTON'S RECORD ON DISABILITY ISSUES ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Clinton has said very little about the disabled during the course of the Presidential campaign ... Arkansas has very few laws for the disabled. The two most recent were passed in 1989." **** Governor Bill Clinton, Democrat NOTE: The following is a letter, dated September 16, 1992, from presidential candidate Governor Bill Clinton of Arkansas in reply to receiving copies of the November 1991 and August 1992 editions of disABILITY NEWS-letter. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you for writing to me and sending the issues of your newsletter. I am committed to helping people with disabilities live the fulfilling and rewarding lives that all Americans deserve. I strongly support the AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA), because I believe that we must offer disabled Americans a full opportunity to participate in every aspect of our society. As President, I will work to insure that this important civil rights legislation is fully implemented and enforced. I will insure that all Americans will be provided with basic health care coverage -- no one will be denied coverage. The disabled will have access to comprehensive long-term care from Medicare, including inexpensive in-home services designed to foster independence. Al Gore and I hope we can count on your support in November. Sincerely, Bill Clinton ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ FOR MORE INFORMATION! **** Bush/Quayle '92 1030 15th Street, NW Washington, DC 20005 **** Clinton/Gore P.O. Box 615 Little Rock, Arkansas 72203 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A *TRUE* DESKTOP PUBLICATION! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PAGE TWO **** Mini-Interview -------------------- Former HILL RAT says Congress inattentive to issues about disabilities **** NOTE: John L. Jackley, a former aide to United States House of Representative Ron Coleman, D-El Paso, related his Washington experiences in the 1992 best-selling book HILL RAT. In a letter, dated September 9, 1992, Mr. Jackley answered several questions about how Congress legislates and views public policy matters which affect the handicapped. The following are excerpts from his informative letter. ......................................................................................................................................................... DID REP. COLEMAN SUPPORT LEGISLATION FOR THE DISABLED? "[He] was a strong supporter of legislation such as the AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT." HOW AWARE WAS CONGRESS DURING YOUR TENURE AS AN AIDE ABOUT ISSUES AFFECTING THE DISABLED? "My general impression is that Members of Congress were not as aware of related issues such as the lack of health insurance for people with pre-existing conditions. Successful legislation such as the ADA is usually forced upon the institution as a whole, and it took a great deal of education, time, work and effort to get the measure passed. (In contrast to raising their own pay from $89,500 to $124,500 in less than 48 hours in late 1989.)" HOW DOES CONGRESS REGARD DISABILITY ACTIVIST GROUPS? "The degree to which Congress pays attention to the viewpoints of disability activist groups will depend on the continued efforts of those groups .... I cannot remember any Member of the House who was disabled while I worked there, with the possible exception of Rep. Morris Udall of Arizona [who died of Parkinson's Disease]. As a result, there is no one within the institution AND who has the clout of being an elected member to make these issues a personal priority and to expend personal political capital accordingly. Look at the barons of the House -- Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dan Rostenkowski, Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell, House Speaker Tom Foley, Majority Leader Richard Gephardt, the Republican leaders -- they say the right words and vote the right votes, but Dingell is not expending personal political capital on behalf of the disabled and neither is ... any of the others." .......................................................................................................................................................... ----------------------------------- --COPYRIGHT NOTICE-- ----------------------------------- disABILITY NEWS-letter is copyrighted (c) by Gary L. Warren, 3306A Moss Court, Midland, Texas 79707, (915) 520-2923. This is Volume Two, Number Three, of October 1992. This newsletter, sporadically published since February 1989, comes out as long and as often as possible. Text/ASCII editions of this publication such as this one are uploaded to and available from the disability areas of the Delphi, GEnie and America OnLine computer information services, as well as many disability-oriented bulletin board services (bbses) around the country. Subscriptions to and back issues of the paper edition are available for one business-sized, self-addressed stamped envelope per requested copy. Artistic and literary contributions about disability topics are welcome as long as they are enclosed with a manuscript-sized, self- addressed stamped envelope. Computer versions of this newsletter may be uploaded to any other information service or bbs as long as full credit is given to Ye Olde Publisher. ---------------------------------------------------------- --Classified Ad Rates!-- --------------------------------------------------------------------- Five lines, 40 columns-----$10.00 1/4th Page----------------------$25.00 1/2th Page----------------------$50.00 Full Page----------------------$100.00 Send ad copy with payment to Gary L. Warren, 3306A Moss Court, Midland, Texas 79707. Only checks or money orders will be accepted. Checks MUST clear the bank before the ads are approved. The next ad deadline is November 21, 1992. Display ad rates are twice the above costs of classifieds. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PAGE THREE **** BOOK REVIEW ------------------------ Couple's book ENABLING ROMANCE ENABLING ROMANCE: A GUIDE TO LOVE, SEX, AND RELATIONSHIPS FOR THE DISABLED (AND THE PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT THEM) By Ken Kroll and Erica Levy Klein 1992, Harmony Books, Crown Publishing Group, 201 East 50th Street, New York, NY 10022 209 Pages, Hardback $22.50 For a subject such as the disabled and sex, which is rarely discussed except on the Montel Williams or Phil Donahue talk shows or in some college health courses, Ken Kroll and Erica Levy Klein's ENABLING ROMANCE is a pleasant, readable surprise. Starting the book with their own story about how they met and fell in love (Kroll has dystonia, a neuromuscular disorder, while Klein is nondisabled and has three other books to her credit), the writers relate testimonies of other disabled people who have had successful and tragic experiences with dating, marriage and sex. Some of these stories are rather descriptive, but all of them show how the disabled population deals with conflicting sexual matters. Other chapters in the book detail how people with different levels and types of disabilities cope in bedroom situations. One chapter, "The Joy of Disabled Sex -- Alone," briefly describes, not advocates, masturbation and prositutes for those disabled unable to find sexual partners any other way. Four appendices listing organizations, magazines and additional resources round out the book. Written in a balanced, easily read style, ENABLING ROMANCE assures the disabled reader not to give up in acquiring his or her Significant Other. But Kroll and Klein also remind the nondisabled readership that sexual ability AND enjoyment do not depend upon a person's hearing, sight or walking. As in all things in life, what is inside is what counts. -------------------------------------------- --BITS AN' BYTES O'NEWS!-- ------------------------------------------- VIRTUAL REALITY CONFERENCES **** Two meetings about virtual reality and other technological issues as they relate to people with disabilities are slated for next year. California State University of Northridge (CSUN) will conduct "Technology and Persons with Disabilities," March 17-20, 1993, at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott Hotel. A second conference about virtual reality and its applications for the disabled will begin June 17-18, 1993, at the Westin Hotel in San Francisco. As described in a pamphlet from the 1992 meetings, virtual reality "is the concept of computer-generated, three-dimensional simulated models combined with devices that track the movement of a user's eyes, head, hands or body." For more information, contact Dr. Harry Murphy, California State University, Northridge (CSUN), 18111 Nordhoff Street - DVSS, Northridge, California 91330. OTS OUTREACH PROGRAM TO CONTRACT WITH DISABLED, WOMEN, MINORITY FIRMS **** According to the Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS), it will contract with firms owned and operated by disabled, minorities and women. All the companies to be solicited for goods and services must "be at least 51 percent owned and controlled by one or more of the designated groups and must either be citizens or permanent residents of the United States," says a story from the PR Newswire. Those wishing additional information and applications may contact Columbus D. Jude, Sr., Outreach Program advocate, at 1-202-906-6346. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ****** ***** * * ************* * * ************* * * * * * * * **************** * * * * * ******** ****************** "But the !#*$@ ballot box isn't low enough!" ************* * VOTE! * ************ PAGE FOUR **** *We get -- letters to the editor! **** SEPTEMBER 11, 1992 I appreciate your keeping me apprised of your activities and for sharing the informative disABILITY NEWS-letters with me. As a member [of the House of Representatives] who supported the passage of the AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA), I share your concerns with the plight of those with physical handicaps. I will continue to work to ensure handicapped persons are assured the same opportunities as others .... LARRY COMBEST 19TH DISTRICT, TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES WASHINGTON, DC **** SEPTEMBER 15, 1992 Thank you for your recent letter to Secretary of Education Lamar Alexander, in which you enclosed two issues of disABILITY NEWS-letter .... We find your newsletters quite interesting and informative, since they offer varying perspectives on a myriad of disability concerns, and highlight many of the current and complex issues facing the disability community. I have shared your newsletters with staff in this Office, and they will be kept on file in the Clearinghouse on Disability Information as a valuable resource. SUSAN K. MURRAY, DIRECTOR PROGRAM INFORMATION AND COORDINATION STAFF OFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WASHINGTON, DC **** SEPTEMBER 30, 1992 .... I thought your tribute [August 1992, "In Memorium"] to William Gaines [founder and publisher of MAD MAGAZINE] was most thoughtful. I remember some of his satirical remarks regarding disabled people, [but] he always wrote as a supporter of the disabled. Although he has not quite the same type of satirical wit as Wm. Gaines, I find the comic Gallagher to be funny when expressing some of the absurdities of today's life ... "Why do we drive on a parkway and park on a driveway?" Best of luck with your newsletter and life! CARL L. WILSON, II CLAY, WEST VIRGINIA **** SEPTEMBER 2, 1992 Your newsletter is the sort of thing more people should be exposed to ... When everything's running along smoothly, it's easy for the average person to ignore the very real possibility that he may be but one misstaken step, or chance occurrence, away from becoming a virtual outcast. People must realize it on some level, but denial comes easily. Many may quietly presume that government agencies will in some way "provide for" them should they fall prey to disabling injury or illness, and it's important that they learn how far off base this is. Your piece on Page 4 [August 1992, "The handicapped and the election -- is ANYONE paying attention??"] ... is well taken. The current legal battle General Motors is engaged in, to cut back on health benefits for all retired and current workers (or, more correctly, demanding that each person have to pay some unspecified portion of the premium) may do more for instituting a national health care program than anything else to date. I know that GM currently carries the full payments on health insurance for at least 1.8 million ... people. If, or more accurately WHEN, these people are partially cut off, the real crisis in health care will become a MAJOR political issue for the white middle class. This, taken along with the graying of America, should join to make health care and related aid programs of increasing political import in the '96 and 2000 elections. ... It seems to me that the efforts have been so divided to date because of the common sense picture of available funds as a pie, and that advocates for special care and training for the mentally handicapped are vying for the same funds that those seeking increases in cancer research, which the AIDS activists are also targeting, etc., etc. People may have a knee-jerk answer of saying "peace dividend," but what has to be considered is that much of that "dividend" is and will be at the expense of people's jobs. Certainly, if we could just cut out the millions and ultimately billions of dollars that flow from defense contracts into the pockets of CEO's, it would be one thing, but unfortunately it doesn't work that way. There is certainly no quick and easy answer, at least not without overtones of naziism. The traditionally Democratic angle of raising taxes on the working people to support such programs across the board will cause rancor and an increasing hostility towards many of those benefiting from such programs. The traditional Republican idea of having private organizations and volunteer groups handle the problems .. creates small bureaucracies [ultimately growing] to be self-serving, with huge sums of money flowing into the pockets of administrators .... ****