News from the Sitting Position

By cripfemme - About Me - E-mail this page - Add to My Favorites - Add to Blog List - See other blogs in Opinion

Wednesday, August 11, 2004

2 + 2 =4

It’s bad enough that Massachusetts residents on Medicaid have lost coverage for basic things like glasses, dental care, and prosthesis, but the really sad part is that the State thinks its saving money by doing these things. It’s not. Not being able to see, walk around, or chew without pain make it harder, not easier, to get a job and get off assistance. They’ve also reduced the amount of money you can earn and still be eligible for MassHealth (Massachusetts State Medicaid), which has ended up... Sign in to see full entry.

posted by cripfemme at 3:29 PM | add or view comments (0) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

Monday, July 26, 2004

Happy 14th Birthday Americans with Disabilities Act!

I remember the day that the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), the most significant American civil rights legislation for disabled people ever, became law. I was 14 and enjoying my favorite two weeks of the year; those spent at a disability-only sleep away camp. We had a dance to celebrate and there was a huge American flag with the universal access symbol (the little man featured on the disability parking space signs) in the middle. At the time, I believed that the law would ensure my future... Sign in to see full entry.

posted by cripfemme at 10:51 PM | add or view comments (0) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

Thursday, July 22, 2004

home sweet home

I'm finally home, after almost 14 hours of travel to get here. Of course Greyhound messed up and didn't have an accessible bus, when I requested one over a week ago. Personally, I wish I would have brought my old Greyhound protest T-shirt. Then maybe they wouldn't have screwed with me as much. Tomorrow I am going to call my friend Mark at the National Council on Disability, whose job it is to monitor Greyhound's treatment of passengers with disabilities. I'm also going to call Greyhound's ADA... Sign in to see full entry.

posted by cripfemme at 7:18 PM | add or view comments (0) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

Wednesday, July 21, 2004

The end of the action

Yesterday ADAPT had a big strategy meeting. People tell me they used to do this alot when there were 50 of us and not 300. We came up with lots of good ideas and had regional meetings for different areas of the country. New England's contingent was only 4 strong. We really need to work on that, yet we are going to find out where the regional HUD office is in New England and go visit them. We are also going to work together in a Jerry Lewis telethon protest. Personally, I am going to go somewhere... Sign in to see full entry.

posted by cripfemme at 1:24 PM | add or view comments (0) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

Monday, July 19, 2004

Monday action report

Today was another short day. I swear I'll get spoiled if this keeps up. Went to a press conference, which featured the ten worst states for community-based services. In case you're interested those states are: Mississippi, Nevada, Louisiana, Tennessee, Illinois, Georgia, Alabama, New Jersey, Florida and D.C. (which is not a state you know). What I found most alarming about the list were that a lot of the states were southern, which leads me to conclude that disability rights and civil rights are... Sign in to see full entry.

posted by cripfemme at 5:41 PM | add or view comments (0) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

Sunday, July 18, 2004

ADAPT: the weekend edition

Columnist note: I know I was supposed to update this every day but by the time I figured out how to get here and there was a free computer space, it was Sunday. Sorry. As my regular readers know, I am in Seattle this week with many old and new friends to confront the National Governors Association (NGA) about their lack of forward moverment on various long term care policies. Friday was a bit of a disaster. The van service was 45 minutes late, at least from when they told me they'd be there. I... Sign in to see full entry.

posted by cripfemme at 7:21 PM | add or view comments (0) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

Wednesday, July 14, 2004

On The Road for Personal Care Assistance

I just got home from a speaking engagement Washington, DC went topped off a two week trip, which included a two day getaway to Atlantic City and an 8-day eating orgy at my parents house during which I hung out with my new six month old second cousin Caleb and visited my ex-boss Theo at the Center for Independent Living (an advocacy organization for disabled people that has chapters all other the country. For more details, check http://www.ncil.org) This Friday, I’m leaving again. Off to Seattle... Sign in to see full entry.

posted by cripfemme at 1:30 PM | add or view comments (0) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

Monday, June 28, 2004

Wrongful What?

One of my favorite t-shirts has the words Slavery is the legal fiction that a person is property emblazoned on the front. On the back it says Corporate Personhood is the legal fiction that property is a person. After spending the day researching yet another speech on the intersection of disability rights and reproductive freedom, I have decided to make another shirt that says Certain politicians want you to believe that abortion is murder on the front and Certain lawyers want you want you to... Sign in to see full entry.

posted by cripfemme at 7:03 PM | add or view comments (0) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

Thursday, June 24, 2004

The Crimson Tide

I have my period. AKA My female issue or, as my mom taught me to call it, George. Pink drips in the toilet like paint. Blood-stained, folded hand towels in the laundry. My personal care assistants (PCAs) go through latex gloves like tofu at a vegan luncheon. For an able-bodied woman, its enough of a problem, but for me- a wheelchair using gimp with a plastic allergy, its more like a mini-tragedy. My allergy always gets worse, even though I'm using cloth towels not throw away plastic pads or... Sign in to see full entry.

posted by cripfemme at 5:48 PM | add or view comments (0) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

Monday, May 10, 2004

We Are Ording Children, Not Dinner: a rewrite of my Ford Foundation Speech

I must be honest. The balancing act performed by pro-choice, anti-selection feminsts is emotionally challenging and politically complex. We risk much to critique and hopefully influence the raising tide of abortion based on innate, and often minor, characteristics that our society happens to perceive as flaws. Often we do not share our concern publicly because we fear our words will be misused by those who seek to overturn hard-won reproductive freedoms, including reversing Roe vs. Wade, banning... Sign in to see full entry.

posted by cripfemme at 9:35 PM | add or view comments (1) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

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