Georgia's Disabled Advocacy Groups
Janet McDonald
October 30, 2008
I have come to the conclusion that many disabled Americans don´t realize that USC 42 §§ 12101, 12201, 12202, etc. are for disabled persons under the Health and Welfare Act and Social Security Act. Georgia also has O.C.G.A. §§ 30-5-1 thought 30-5-10 Disabled and Elderly Act, and then there is APS (Adult Protective Services), these are just as useless as any and they are the government.
Since 2002, when the problems began, I have unsuccessfully attempted to assist a disabled person in Georgia find legal assistance with the legal aspects surrounding his unrelated legal problems. It seems that there are many advocacy groups for the disabled, yet we could find him no help. Amazingly, it comes down to advocacy groups´ excuses some of which are as follows:
"We don´t do that, we only handle non-legal issues"
"We are in the State of California, you are in Georgia, we don´t do Georgia"
"We only handle the blind disabled"
"We don´t care about you"
"We only handle disabled that are in homes"
"We only work with purple disabled people"
"We only deal with disabled in rural areas"
"We can´t assist you, you are a white male"
"We only handle disabled missing both arms, you are missing both legs"
Any and every reason not to help or advise has been given. Yes, some of the examples were exaggerations, but maybe then the reader can understand just how ridiculous it becomes.
I received an email 9-25-2008 from ADA Watch/NCDR who had been on their two year "Road to Freedom Tour" to make people aware of the disabled. Ludicrous, they managed to get another bill passed see the following:
"ADA Watch/NCDR founder and president, Jim Ward stated today, "This is a monumental victory for people with disabilities. As America seeks to respond to the economic challenges we face, this law - if enforced - will ensure that people with disabilities are fairly included in the workforce and that we can do our jobs free from discrimination."´
"ADA Watch and the National Coalition for Disability Rights (NCDR) is a coalition of national, state and local disability, civil rights and social justice organizations united to protect and promote the human rights of children and adults with physical and mental disabilities.
For more information, go to: www.adawatch.org
www.roadtofreedom.org
That is another major problem for the disabled. No, not people traveling around in a fixed up bus to make other people aware that there are disabled in America and get bills passed that will be ignored just as the laws are already in place and no one enforces. The problem is that no one enforces the laws.
Both the Federal Govt. and the State of Georgia have programs to assist disabled with legal matters (Federally funded programs). Their excuses are as lame as the ones listed above. The disabled are the poorest, most abused people in the state and country, and they cannot afford to protect themselves when it comes to legal matters. People that have decent jobs and income cannot afford legal counsel these days. The programs and advocacy groups state that they will protect disabled person´s Rights, our Property, their assets, etc. Do they? No.
When a disabled person asks an advocacy group for help, they are given one of the above listed excuses. Then what? Well you can let the problem remain and hope it goes away; you can write a lot of letters to representatives that will either not contact you back or do as United States Senator did and have his aid call you.
The disabled person talked with one of the aids of US Senator for Georgia, I listened to the conversation. The conversation had to do with a civil action in Federal District Court that the disabled person was forced to file as a Pro Se litigant. The disabled person had requested the District Court Judge to appoint legal counsel, which the Judge has the power to do. The case was dismissed and the Appellate Court Affirmed.
Senator Chambliss´ aid stated one of the most unique excuses yet: "Well the District Court Judge didn´t appoint you legal counsel, we can´t do anything to help you, that would be interfering and that would be unethical." I don´t think the disabled person or I will be voting to re-elect the U.S. Senator who believes that ensuring the Rights of citizens and laws of the state and Federal govt. are abided is interfering.
Since 2002, when the problems began, I have unsuccessfully attempted to assist a disabled person in Georgia find legal assistance with the legal aspects surrounding his unrelated legal problems. It seems that there are many advocacy groups for the disabled, yet we could find him no help. Amazingly, it comes down to advocacy groups´ excuses some of which are as follows:
"We don´t do that, we only handle non-legal issues"
"We are in the State of California, you are in Georgia, we don´t do Georgia"
"We only handle the blind disabled"
"We don´t care about you"
"We only handle disabled that are in homes"
"We only work with purple disabled people"
"We only deal with disabled in rural areas"
"We can´t assist you, you are a white male"
"We only handle disabled missing both arms, you are missing both legs"
Any and every reason not to help or advise has been given. Yes, some of the examples were exaggerations, but maybe then the reader can understand just how ridiculous it becomes.
I received an email 9-25-2008 from ADA Watch/NCDR who had been on their two year "Road to Freedom Tour" to make people aware of the disabled. Ludicrous, they managed to get another bill passed see the following:
"ADA Watch/NCDR founder and president, Jim Ward stated today, "This is a monumental victory for people with disabilities. As America seeks to respond to the economic challenges we face, this law - if enforced - will ensure that people with disabilities are fairly included in the workforce and that we can do our jobs free from discrimination."´
"ADA Watch and the National Coalition for Disability Rights (NCDR) is a coalition of national, state and local disability, civil rights and social justice organizations united to protect and promote the human rights of children and adults with physical and mental disabilities.
For more information, go to: www.adawatch.org
www.roadtofreedom.org
That is another major problem for the disabled. No, not people traveling around in a fixed up bus to make other people aware that there are disabled in America and get bills passed that will be ignored just as the laws are already in place and no one enforces. The problem is that no one enforces the laws.
Both the Federal Govt. and the State of Georgia have programs to assist disabled with legal matters (Federally funded programs). Their excuses are as lame as the ones listed above. The disabled are the poorest, most abused people in the state and country, and they cannot afford to protect themselves when it comes to legal matters. People that have decent jobs and income cannot afford legal counsel these days. The programs and advocacy groups state that they will protect disabled person´s Rights, our Property, their assets, etc. Do they? No.
When a disabled person asks an advocacy group for help, they are given one of the above listed excuses. Then what? Well you can let the problem remain and hope it goes away; you can write a lot of letters to representatives that will either not contact you back or do as United States Senator did and have his aid call you.
The disabled person talked with one of the aids of US Senator for Georgia, I listened to the conversation. The conversation had to do with a civil action in Federal District Court that the disabled person was forced to file as a Pro Se litigant. The disabled person had requested the District Court Judge to appoint legal counsel, which the Judge has the power to do. The case was dismissed and the Appellate Court Affirmed.
Senator Chambliss´ aid stated one of the most unique excuses yet: "Well the District Court Judge didn´t appoint you legal counsel, we can´t do anything to help you, that would be interfering and that would be unethical." I don´t think the disabled person or I will be voting to re-elect the U.S. Senator who believes that ensuring the Rights of citizens and laws of the state and Federal govt. are abided is interfering.
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