[laptop-accessibility] Change for People with Disabilities: Time to Email Obama!

[Andrea Shettle]

People on this list may wish to use the following call to action as an  
opportunity to urge US president-elect Obama to move swiftly to sign  
the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which  
among other things protects the rights of people with disabilities to  
access education and to access information.  Your emails to Obama could  
also raise your concerns about the rights of children with disabilities  
to have a better quality education and to have access to computers.



Change for People with Disabilities: Time to Email Obama!

On November 4, 2008, millions of people with disabilities across the  
United States and around the world joined our non-disabled peers in  
watching the United States election results. Obama supporters cheered  
or wept to learn that the next US president would be Obama. Then we  
cheered or wept again when Obama mentioned people with disabilities in  
his acceptance speech. History was made–not only for America, not only  
for Black people, not only for Kenya and all of Africa, not only for  
Indigenous peoples, but also for people with disabilities.

But we cannot afford to allow the moment to end here. Whether we  
supported Obama, McCain, or another candidate, we all know there is far  
too much work ahead before we can say, “Yes, we have made real change  
for people with disabilities.”

It is time for people with disabilities, our loved ones, our neighbors,  
and colleagues to join together, across ideological divides, to reach  
out to Obama. We should all send an email to Kareem Dale, Obama’s  
National Disability Vote Director (at kdale at barackobama.com), WITH  
COPIES TO Anne Hayes, a volunteer on the Obama Disability Policy  
Committee (at ahayesku at hotmail.com).

First, we should thank Obama — and also Kareem Dale — for mentioning  
people with disabilities in Obama’s acceptance speech on November 4.  
Ensure that they understand how much it matters simply for us to be  
included. How did you feel when Obama mentioned us? Share your story.

Second, we should tell Obama and Kareem Dale that we are aware of  
Obama’s disability platform. He promised to increase educational  
opportunities; end discrimination; increase employment opportunities;  
and support independent, community-based living for Americans with  
disabilities. And he promised to sign the Convention on the Rights of  
Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the first international,  
legally-binding human rights treaty for people with disabilities. Tell  
Obama and Kareem Dale that we are ready to call Obama to account if he  
fails us. But more importantly, we are ready to work with him for  
change for people with disabilities.

It is important to send your disability-related emails to BOTH Kareem  
Dale AND Anne Hayes (kdale at barackobama.com AND ahayesku at hotmail.com)  
between now and inauguration day. Kareem Dale’s email address may  
change between now and January 20, 2009. Anne Hayes can help ensure  
that emails sent to Kareem Dale are not lost during this time of  
transition.

Both Kareem Dale and others who have worked on disability issues within  
the Obama campaign are ready to receive YOUR emails on  
disability-related issues for US President-elect Obama. Emails are  
welcome from across the United States and around the world. If you are  
a US citizen, then please say so in your email.

Learn more about Obama’s plan for people with disabilities at:  
http://origin.barackobama.com/issues/disabilities/

Yes, the video is captioned. And if you scroll down to the bottom of  
the page, you can download Obama’s Full Plan for people with  
disabilities in PDF format (62 Kb).

Read Obama’s acceptance speech at:  
http://www.barackobama.com/2008/11/04/ 
remarks_of_presidentelect_bara.php

Want to read someone else’s letter to Obama before you write your own?  
Come to:  
http://reunifygally.wordpress.com/2008/11/05/ 
thank_you_obama_disabilities/

Learn more about the CRPD at http://ratifynow.org/ratifynow-faq/

If you wish to contact Obama’s staff on some topic other than  
disability, then you can send an email via his web page at  
http://www.change.gov/page/s/ofthepeople

Please circulate this email freely, or post this at your own blog or  
web site.

This text was first posted at  
http://wecando.wordpress.com/2008/11/07/disabilities-email- 
obamadisabilities-email-obama/ The most updated version will be here,  
so please consult before cross-posting.

     “It is the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat  
and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay,  
straight, DISABLED and not disabled — Americans who sent a message to  
the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue  
States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.”
     –President-Elect Barack Obama
     Acceptance speech, November 4, 2008; emphasis added