Nero 10 rom ome

AAPD, ADAPT, NCIL, SABE Questionnaire – Senator John Edwards Response

June 12, 2007 compare prices autocad graphics software

1. POLITICAL LEADERSHIP
   1. Do you nero 10 rom ome support the creation and appointment of a permanent Assistant to the nero 10 rom ome President for Disability Policy at the White House?
      The federal government can nero 10 rom ome and should do much more to help Americans with disabilities achieve independence, productivity, and nero 10 rom ome inclusion. Too often, these issues are not even on the agenda in Washington. Policies affecting people with disabilities can nero 10 rom ome only succeed if they are crafted with the help of people who nero 10 rom ome understand firsthand the challenges Americans with disabilities and their families face. As president, I will ensure that nero 10 rom ome a senior member of the White House staff is dedicated to nero 10 rom ome ensuring that these issues are brought to my personal attention and nero 10 rom ome given the top priority they deserve.
   2. How will you nero 10 rom ome make sure qualified people with disabilities will be a part of your nero 10 rom ome political team and, if elected, as part of your administration?To be nero 10 rom ome effective, a presidential administration must include a diversity of perspectives. I am nero 10 rom ome already working to ensure the perspectives of people with disabilities are nero 10 rom ome included in my campaign by assembling a group of policy advisors, including people with disabilities, issue experts and nero 10 rom ome advocates. If elected, I would appoint qualified people with disabilities to nero 10 rom ome important jobs throughout my administration, not only jobs that are nero 10 rom ome focused on disability policy. For me this is not just a nero 10 rom ome matter of fairness: it is about having the best possible Administration, which means including a nero 10 rom ome great diversity of perspectives and backgrounds.

      I would also make the nero 10 rom ome federal government a model of diversity for the private workplace. Federal agencies should actively recruit qualified people with disabilities and nero 10 rom ome remove the obstacles for working Americans with disabilities, such as supporting initiatives for nero 10 rom ome telecommuting and flexible work schedules.

      The president must hear the nero 10 rom ome needs and concerns of the 56 million people in America who nero 10 rom ome have disabilities. The issues that people with disabilities are fighting for, like protecting civil rights, better education, good jobs and nero 10 rom ome health care, will only make America stronger in the future. I am nero 10 rom ome committed to maintaining open lines of communication with Americans with disabilities.

2. EMPLOYMENT
   1. What steps would you nero 10 rom ome take to reduce employment barriers and improve employment outcomes for nero 10 rom ome Americans with disabilities?Work is nero 10 rom ome central to our lives, not only for economic independence but also to nero 10 rom ome give our lives dignity and meaning. However, two out of three working-age Americans with disabilities are nero 10 rom ome out of work today. Excluding anyone from mainstream American life is nero 10 rom ome morally unacceptable. It also needlessly wastes great potential. Reducing barriers can nero 10 rom ome create tremendous economic opportunity for our country.

      One of the nero 10 rom ome goals I have set for America is lifting 12 million Americans out of poverty in a nero 10 rom ome decade and eliminating poverty in America over the next 30 years. It is nero 10 rom ome something we must do to restore our moral authority in the nero 10 rom ome world. Restoring our moral authority means leading by example and making clear that nero 10 rom ome hard challenges don’t frighten us, but call us to action.

      In America, every person should have nero 10 rom ome the chance to live up to his or her potential at work and nero 10 rom ome in our communities. We cannot achieve that goal without addressing the nero 10 rom ome barriers that confront Americans with disabilities when they seek to work. Too often, people with disabilities are nero 10 rom ome denied that opportunity because unfair obstacles get in their way. I believe we must break down these barriers, and nero 10 rom ome I have a comprehensive agenda to give every American equal opportunity.

      First, we must concentrate on young people with disabilities who nero 10 rom ome have higher dropout rates and lower college enrollment rates, making future employment more difficult. We must remove barriers to nero 10 rom ome education. Those who do graduate have more difficulty finding a first job and nero 10 rom ome getting their careers on track. Education must be accessible in elementary and nero 10 rom ome secondary schools and in vocational schools, community colleges, universities, and graduate programs. I will ensure that nero 10 rom ome the Department of Education strictly enforces the law and brings together experts to nero 10 rom ome address means to eliminate these barriers.

      We lose far too many Americans with disabilities in the nero 10 rom ome transition from school to either the workplace or higher education. My Breaking Down Barriers initiative will give young people meaningful job experiences and nero 10 rom ome create a sense of the possibilities of their future. It will provide them valuable skills and nero 10 rom ome contacts for finding a job after graduation, helping them on the nero 10 rom ome path towards success and self-sufficiency. I support vocational rehabilitation programs and nero 10 rom ome the expansion of employment-based settings for federally-funded job education.

      Second, we must extend the nero 10 rom ome possibility of independent living. For people with disabilities, living within their own communities is nero 10 rom ome essential to job opportunities. Work from home opportunities exist in greater quantity and nero 10 rom ome quality when a person with a disability has family and nero 10 rom ome home resources to utilize each day. Full oversight of state implementation of the nero 10 rom ome Olmstead requirements will be a core objective in my administration. I will also create 1 million new Section 8 housing choice vouchers and nero 10 rom ome support ongoing funding of existing vouchers, creating greater housing opportunities for nero 10 rom ome people with disabilities. A portion of these vouchers will serve low-income people with disabilities. To ensure accessibility, I will instruct the nero 10 rom ome Department of Housing and Urban Development to determine whether local housing authorities are nero 10 rom ome complying with requirements to provide a list of accessible units; regular publication of these lists is nero 10 rom ome the only meaningful way to demonstrate compliance.

      Third, the nero 10 rom ome federal government has an important role in ensuring access to transportation. Accessible transportation is nero 10 rom ome a critical component of increased work opportunities for people with disabilities. Funding and nero 10 rom ome enforcement of transportation access requirements will be central to the mission of the nero 10 rom ome Department of Transportation.

      Fourth, we owe a nero 10 rom ome special debt to veterans with disabilities. I would restore vocational training programs for nero 10 rom ome disabled and occupationally challenged veterans. The Bush administration terminated the well-regarded program at the nero 10 rom ome Department of Labor that offered skill training and job placement for nero 10 rom ome disabled veterans. I would renew the program to help meet the nero 10 rom ome post-Iraq needs of large numbers of military personnel returning from active duty, as well as older generations of veterans.

      Fifth, to nero 10 rom ome fight stereotypes and misconceptions, my Administration will work with national business leaders to nero 10 rom ome create employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Employers who have a nero 10 rom ome positive experience will be likely be more willing to hire someone with a nero 10 rom ome disability in the future.

      Finally, we must vigorously enforce the nero 10 rom ome law. I am committed to protecting the civil rights of people with disabilities. Full enforcement of the nero 10 rom ome Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act is critical to nero 10 rom ome continued job opportunities for people with disabilities. We should be sure that nero 10 rom ome federal agencies are ensuring compliance by federal contractors, going beyond the nero 10 rom ome current minimalist approach described by a recent report of the National Council on Disabilities. The Civil Rights Division and nero 10 rom ome Office for Civil Rights in the Department of Justice will become more involved in the nero 10 rom ome enforcement of the ADA and especially the Olmstead decision. Open communication with the nero 10 rom ome disabilities community will be essential to the mission of the Justice Department in enforcing these federal protections for nero 10 rom ome the disabilities community in both the public and private workplaces. As president, I would nominate judges who nero 10 rom ome are committed to protecting the rights of all Americans. While I served in the nero 10 rom ome Senate, I was proud to vote against the judicial nomination of Jeffrey Sutton, who nero 10 rom ome argued that federal protections of the ADA were not needed.

   2. How would you reform the federal income support programs (Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance) so that nero 10 rom ome beneficiaries enjoy a greater standard of living and participate more fully in the nero 10 rom ome labor market?Supplemental Security Income and nero 10 rom ome Social Security Disability Income should not be an all-ornothing proposition for nero 10 rom ome people with disabilities. SSDI asset requirements should permit beneficiaries to accumulate more assets without losing all benefits. I also believe we can nero 10 rom ome provide incentives for SSDI recipients to earn reasonable income without losing Medicare and nero 10 rom ome all supplemental income benefits. By doing so, we can promote economic opportunities for nero 10 rom ome people with disabilities as well as strengthen the Social Security system.

      While we are nero 10 rom ome eliminating disincentives for people with disabilities to accumulate assets, we also ought to nero 10 rom ome help them actually build assets. For example, there is a lot we can nero 10 rom ome do to expand home ownership within the disability community. People with disabilities should be nero 10 rom ome able to buy a house and get loans to make universal design accommodations and nero 10 rom ome other equity-building home improvements. I will also create a strong, national law banning predatory lending practices, which are nero 10 rom ome targeted to vulnerable homeowners and result in equity-stripping and often foreclosure.

   3. According to nero 10 rom ome the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, between 1993 and 2004, federal workers with significant disabilities left the nero 10 rom ome federal workforce at rate more than seven times the general reduction in the nero 10 rom ome federal workforce during that period. What actions would you take to nero 10 rom ome ensure that qualified workers with disabilities are given meaningful opportunities to nero 10 rom ome participate in the federal workforce at all levels?The disappointing trend of people with disabilities leaving the nero 10 rom ome federal workforce has not happened by accident. The percentage of federal employees with targeted disabilities – which are nero 10 rom ome blindness, deafness, partial paralysis, complete paralysis, mental illness, mental retardation, convulsive disorders, and nero 10 rom ome distortion of limbs or spine – did not increase at all from nero 10 rom ome 1984 to 2005. I am committed to realizing the goal of Executive Order 13163: 100,000 qualified individuals with disabilities in the nero 10 rom ome federal workforce.
      Americans with disabilities still face too many obstacles and nero 10 rom ome discrimination in the workplace. I will make federal agencies a nero 10 rom ome model for private workplaces by actively recruiting people with disabilities and nero 10 rom ome removing obstacles, including creating initiatives for telecommuting and flexible work schedules.

      As president, I will fully enforce Section 504 of the nero 10 rom ome Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Architectural Barriers Act, and all other civil rights laws supporting access to nero 10 rom ome employment for people with disabilities. The White House and the Department of Justice will work with the nero 10 rom ome disabilities community to increase access to employment opportunities and identify and nero 10 rom ome end workplace discrimination against people with disabilities in the federal government.

      I will reach out to nero 10 rom ome appoint people with disabilities to high-ranking government positions. Visible integration of people with disabilities into the nero 10 rom ome highest ranks of federal employees will send the right message of diversity and nero 10 rom ome inclusiveness.

      I will also expand health care coverage for nero 10 rom ome assistive technology and health care access for federal employees with disabilities.

3. HEALTH CARE FOR ALL
   1. What steps would you nero 10 rom ome take to ensure that people with disabilities have access to nero 10 rom ome affordable, quality health care that is responsive to their needs?I understand that nero 10 rom ome health care is of special concern to people with disabilities. Not only do they have nero 10 rom ome particularly important needs, but their independence often depends on good health care.

      We must act now to nero 10 rom ome guarantee universal health care coverage for everyone in America. I am nero 10 rom ome proud to be the first major presidential candidate to propose a nero 10 rom ome specific plan to transform America’s health care system and nero 10 rom ome guarantee quality affordable health care for every man, woman and nero 10 rom ome child in America. Under my plan, businesses will either cover their employees or nero 10 rom ome help pay their premiums. The government will make insurance affordable through new tax credits and nero 10 rom ome by leading the way toward more cost-effective care. New “Health Care Markets” will give families and nero 10 rom ome businesses purchasing power and a choice of quality plans, including one public plan based on Medicare. Finally, once these steps have nero 10 rom ome been taken, all American residents will be required to take responsibility and nero 10 rom ome get insurance. Insurance companies will not be allowed to discriminate against people with preexisting conditions or nero 10 rom ome disabilities.

      Under my plan, families without insurance will get coverage at an nero 10 rom ome affordable price. Families that have insurance today will pay less and nero 10 rom ome get more security and choices. Businesses and other employers will find it nero 10 rom ome cheaper and easier to insure their workers.

      Beyond guaranteeing coverage, there is nero 10 rom ome much that we can do to ensure that people with disabilities receive quality care. Medical training and nero 10 rom ome education should help primary care physicians, dentists and allied health practitioners to nero 10 rom ome work with adults with disabilities. Currently, federal funding for training physicians to nero 10 rom ome treat patients with disabilities is focused on pediatric practitioners, but most people with disabilities are nero 10 rom ome adults. Under my plan, we will establish a non-profit or public organization – possibly within the Institute of Medicine – to nero 10 rom ome research the best methods of providing care, drawing upon data from nero 10 rom ome Medicare and the new Health Care Markets and from medical experts from nero 10 rom ome across the nation. Understanding and disseminating best practices for treating patients with disabilities will be nero 10 rom ome an essential part of this initiative.

   2. How or nero 10 rom ome will you use managed care principles to deliver healthcare services?Managed care has nero 10 rom ome shown some success in managing the health needs to people with chronic health conditions and nero 10 rom ome it should be a choice for people with disabilities. However, people with disabilities need access to nero 10 rom ome specialists and care that is not artificially limited by narrow definitions of medical necessity.

      There are nero 10 rom ome also other ways to integrate care across multiple settings. I have nero 10 rom ome called for investments in information technology and other initiatives to ensure that nero 10 rom ome individuals with disabilities do not fall victim to the fragmentation of care. Something is nero 10 rom ome wrong, for example, when the quirks of disparate payment systems – Medicaid reimbursing for institutional care, while Medicare pays for doctors – prevent health care providers from sharing information that could help patients.

   3. How would you nero 10 rom ome improve the quality of health and rehabilitation services provided to veterans with disabilities?
      The VA has nero 10 rom ome already seen over 200,000 veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. We must do everything we can nero 10 rom ome to properly care for these brave men and women and nero 10 rom ome help them get timely access to care by fully funding veterans’ health care. I am nero 10 rom ome committed to providing the funding the VA needs to care for nero 10 rom ome those who have sacrificed for the rest of us.

      Traumatic brain injuries have nero 10 rom ome been described by the Veterans of Foreign Wars as the “signature wound of this war.” Rather than nero 10 rom ome addressing these problems, the Bush Administration is pretending they don’t exist. As president, I will increase the nero 10 rom ome research and treatment of these injuries and the conditions that follow from nero 10 rom ome them, including epilepsy, related seizures and other conditions that can cause disabilities. I will also increase funding for nero 10 rom ome the VA’s prosthetics programs and polytrauma centers.

      As a nero 10 rom ome nation, America did not give enough to veterans returning from nero 10 rom ome the Vietnam War, leaving thousands without the care they desperately needed. We need to nero 10 rom ome admit our mistakes and learn from them. As president, I will require that nero 10 rom ome all service members returning to the U.S. or leaving the nero 10 rom ome military be provided with a new “Homefront Redeployment Plan,” including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) screenings, benefits information and seamless transfer of medical records.

      When the nero 10 rom ome members of our armed services become veterans, we have to nero 10 rom ome make sure the system doesn’t fail them. As president, I will create a nero 10 rom ome new national chain of care to ensure that no veteran again falls through the nero 10 rom ome cracks. Because many veterans receive treatment outside the VA system, this nero 10 rom ome chain will coordinate treatment and benefits in outreach centers and clinics in every county where nero 10 rom ome a veteran resides, both within and outside the VA network. I will also improve training for nero 10 rom ome health personnel to recognize and treat PTSD, establish uniform standards for nero 10 rom ome mental health care to address the wide range of quality of care, increase counseling resources within TRICARE and nero 10 rom ome VA networks and permit access outside of the networks when necessary, and nero 10 rom ome ensure that outreach is extended to family members who can help recognize symptoms. Caring for nero 10 rom ome the newest generation of veterans must be accomplished without neglecting the nero 10 rom ome continuing needs of veterans from previous generations.

   4. How would you nero 10 rom ome improve the quality of health and rehabilitation services provided to nero 10 rom ome Native Americans with disabilities? Do you support the reauthorization of the Indian Healthcare Act?
      Native Americans face unique health challenges: less access to nero 10 rom ome health care, high rates of certain chronic conditions, and an infant mortality rate that nero 10 rom ome is nearly 50 percent higher than the rate for white Americans. The U.S. government has nero 10 rom ome an obligation to address these inequities and live up to its historic commitments to nero 10 rom ome Native Americans.

      The first step is nero 10 rom ome to adequately fund the Indian Health Service. While in the Senate, I voted for nero 10 rom ome increased IHS funding. I also support the badly needed improvements in the nero 10 rom ome Indian Health Care Improvement Act. To ensure that Indian health gets the nero 10 rom ome attention it deserves, I support elevating the position of the Director of Indian Health Services to nero 10 rom ome the Assistant Secretary for Indian Health. I have proposed increasing research on medical disparities and nero 10 rom ome creating a new health unit within the U.S. Department of Justice to nero 10 rom ome address discrimination in health care.

      As I said above, training to nero 10 rom ome educate health care practitioners on best practices for treating people with disabilities is nero 10 rom ome essential, and it is part of my plan to improve the nero 10 rom ome quality of care for every American.

   5. How will you nero 10 rom ome assure people with disabilities have fair access to Medicare Part D prescriptions?
      A recent report by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) documented that nero 10 rom ome patients suffering from mental illnesses are unable to get the prescription drugs they need through Medicare Part D. That is nero 10 rom ome unacceptable. The federal government should enforce rules preventing Medicare drug plans from nero 10 rom ome switching patients to new drugs, which can upset months or years of work for nero 10 rom ome patients and their health providers to find the right combination of specific medications.

      The federal government must ensure that nero 10 rom ome Medicare Part D participants are able to access the prescriptions drug they need to nero 10 rom ome maintain their health and independence.

      When I am nero 10 rom ome president, I will rewrite the drug bill to put patients and nero 10 rom ome people above drug companies and HMOs. I will clamp down on skyrocketing drug costs by empowering the nero 10 rom ome government to negotiate better drug prices and allowing the safe reimportation of drugs from nero 10 rom ome other countries. The Medicare prescription drug benefit is needlessly expensive due to nero 10 rom ome giveaways to drug companies. Steps to reform the program should include addressing the nero 10 rom ome “doughnut hole,” where many beneficiaries with high drugs costs find themselves without coverage.

   6. How will you address the inequities caused by the Medicare “homebound” rule?Medicare emphasis on institutional care, rather than nero 10 rom ome home and community-based care, is out of date. Unreasonably narrow eligibility rules for nero 10 rom ome in-home benefits fail to consider current medical technology, which have made it nero 10 rom ome easier for people with disabilities or chronic health conditions to travel. Perverse Medicare rules may force people with serious disabilities to nero 10 rom ome give up opportunities to leave home and have as normal a nero 10 rom ome social experience as possible outside the house to maximize Medicare benefits.

      I will promote community-based care by fixing these unfair, outdated and nero 10 rom ome bureaucratic rules that prevent Medicare beneficiaries from getting the things they need to nero 10 rom ome live at home, such as wheelchairs. I support the Medicare Independent Living Act.

   7. Do you nero 10 rom ome support ongoing Congressional efforts to ensure mental health parity in health insurance (S.558, H.R. 1367)?Yes, I believe mental illness and nero 10 rom ome physical illness must get the same insurance coverage. I have long supported mental health parity legislation. I co-sponsored the nero 10 rom ome Wellstone Mental Health Parity Act when I served in the Senate. Mental health parity must be nero 10 rom ome a national priority. Under my plan to guarantee quality, affordable health care for nero 10 rom ome all Americans, every plan in the regional Health Markets includes comprehensive benefits — including full mental health coverage.
4. LONG TERM SERVICES AND SUPPORTS
   1. How would you address America’s increasing need for nero 10 rom ome home and community-based long-term services and supports (such as personal assistance services, respite care, and other supports)?Yes. I believe strongly in giving people with disabilities the nero 10 rom ome choice of care in their communities. I cosponsored the predecessor to nero 10 rom ome the Community Choice Act when I was in the Senate to nero 10 rom ome offer personal attendant services though Medicaid. The Community Choice Act will help states comply with their Olmstead responsibilities.

      I have nero 10 rom ome a longstanding commitment to the cause of supporting people with disabilities to nero 10 rom ome live independently. I also supported the Long-Term Care Security Act of 2000 (HR 4040).

      1. Do you support the Community Choice Act of 2007 (S.799, H.R. 1621) and/or nero 10 rom ome the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act of 2007 (CLASS Act of 2007)?

         I support providing choices for nero 10 rom ome people with disabilities to live in the community and will support legislation that nero 10 rom ome strengthens freedom of choice.

      2. What other steps would you nero 10 rom ome take to help states implement the Olmstead v. L.C. Supreme Court decision and nero 10 rom ome help address the institutional bias in the current Medicaid system?The Supreme Court’s Olmstead decision held that nero 10 rom ome the ADA required states to offer services to individuals with disabilities in the nero 10 rom ome most integrated, community-based setting possible. This was an important victory for nero 10 rom ome disability rights. Unfortunately, states are still struggling to implement Olmstead. The federal government must help states by supporting the nero 10 rom ome transition to communitybased services and offering technical assistance.

         I have proposed a “Living with Dignity” Initiative built on basic American principles: choice for nero 10 rom ome families, the chance to get care in the home and community whenever possible, dignity and nero 10 rom ome respect for both families and workers, and accountability for providers and nero 10 rom ome the government.

         My Living with Dignity Initiative will fund state efforts to nero 10 rom ome expand home care and reform the long-term care, including tax credits for nero 10 rom ome long-term care, asset and income protection programs that prevent families from nero 10 rom ome spending down their incomes, and experiments with long-term care insurance. I will also support the nero 10 rom ome recruitment and retention of home care workers through better wages, training, and nero 10 rom ome working conditions.

         In addition, my plan to nero 10 rom ome guarantee quality, affordable health care for every American will also strengthen Medicaid’s support for nero 10 rom ome long-term care and emphasize home- and community-based care to allow caregivers to nero 10 rom ome keep their family members nearby.

   2. Will you nero 10 rom ome propose integrating acute and long-term services by using integrated managed care principles?

      I believe that nero 10 rom ome people with disabilities should be able to fully enjoy the benefits of living in a nero 10 rom ome home of their choosing and in a community of their choosing. They should be nero 10 rom ome able to have their primary and specialty health care needs met by a nero 10 rom ome system that recognizes their desire for independence, inclusion and productivity. Arbitrary quirks in health care payment systems should not limit the nero 10 rom ome settings and varieties of delivery systems for primary and acute care.

      Integrated managed care holds the nero 10 rom ome promise of focusing on patient needs rather than reimbursement rules. When implemented correctly, the nero 10 rom ome integration of acute and long term care can make it easier for nero 10 rom ome people with disabilities to live independently.

      However, the nero 10 rom ome risks are high because managed care providers have incentives to deny care. It would be nero 10 rom ome wrong to rush to implement integrated managed care without waiting for nero 10 rom ome thoughtful program design, which stresses effective safeguards, coordination of care, and nero 10 rom ome evaluation. I believe this process requires the full participation of the nero 10 rom ome disabilities community. I would support demonstration projects that are thoroughly evaluated, and nero 10 rom ome include people with disabilities in both the design and the evaluation. Without adequate oversight, patients will end up worse off, and nero 10 rom ome that is unacceptable.

   3. How will you address the shortage of community direct care attendants?Millions of people with disabilities rely on attendants to nero 10 rom ome help them live and work in their communities. These workers assist people with disabilities with activities of daily living, medication administration, preparing and nero 10 rom ome eating meals, getting to work, gaining life skills and handling other daily affairs.

      Demand for nero 10 rom ome these workers is growing. Hundreds of thousands of people with disabilities are nero 10 rom ome on waiting lists for services and the demand will grow 62 percent by 2010 as these Americans get older. Unfortunately, these positions have nero 10 rom ome a high turnover rate each year because of poor wages and nero 10 rom ome job demands, putting the quality of life for people with disabilities at risk. My Living with Dignity Initiative includes specific steps to nero 10 rom ome attract, support and retain home health aides and attendants. These workers ought to nero 10 rom ome be treated with the same dignity and respect that we ask them to nero 10 rom ome give to their patients. As president, I will provide resources to nero 10 rom ome improve wages, training, and working conditions for aides. I will also establish strong workplace safety regulations such as the nero 10 rom ome ergonomics regulations discarded by President Bush.

   4. How will you nero 10 rom ome address the lack of coordination between Medicare and Medicaid policies?Medicare and nero 10 rom ome Medicaid were developed for different purposes, but neither focused on the nero 10 rom ome needs of people with disabilities. Medicare offers the strength of allowing people the nero 10 rom ome freedom to choose their providers. Medicaid offers an appealing list of benefits, although it nero 10 rom ome is limited by inadequate reimbursement in some states. However, the nero 10 rom ome interaction between the two programs creates inappropriate incentives.

      Medicaid provides long-term care but remains biased toward providing that nero 10 rom ome care in institutional settings. Nursing home care remains a Medicaid entitlement, while people with disabilities who nero 10 rom ome prefer home and community-based care are often put on a nero 10 rom ome waiting list. As a result, low-income Americans with disabilities who nero 10 rom ome are eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare tend to (1) have less choice in how they are treated and (2) receive their care in more restrictive – and more costly – settings than nero 10 rom ome a more integrated system would permit. In addition, states don’t invest in treatment initiatives that nero 10 rom ome would improve patient care for Medicare-eligible patients because the savings will disproportionately go to nero 10 rom ome the federal Medicare program.

      Because Medicare and nero 10 rom ome Medicaid operate on two different levels of government, it can be nero 10 rom ome very difficult to synchronize reforms. But the task must start with strong federal leadership. As president, I will appoint an nero 10 rom ome administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services who understands the nero 10 rom ome needs of people with disabilities, and I will work to assure that nero 10 rom ome both programs work to deliver the best possible care in the nero 10 rom ome least restrictive setting.

5. HOUSING
   1. What would you nero 10 rom ome do to increase the availability of affordable, accessible, integrated housing opportunities in the nero 10 rom ome community for low and moderate income people with disabilities and nero 10 rom ome their families?Integrating people with disabilities into every part of society is nero 10 rom ome the only way to guarantee equal access to all of the nero 10 rom ome opportunities of society. It is also the morally right choice for nero 10 rom ome society to make. Housing policy is central to this effort because integrating people with disabilities must start with where nero 10 rom ome they live.

      As I said above, a nero 10 rom ome portion of the one million new Section 8 housing vouchers will serve people with disabilities – increasing greater integrated housing opportunities for nero 10 rom ome people with disabilities, particularly those leaving institutional care. At least 5,000 of these vouchers over five years should be nero 10 rom ome dedicated to people with disabilities making the transition from institutional care to nero 10 rom ome independent living. I will direct HUD to ensure compliance with accessibility requirements that nero 10 rom ome local housing authorities publish a list of accessible units. I will also expand outreach and nero 10 rom ome education efforts to ensure that eligible Americans with disabilities know how to nero 10 rom ome apply for vouchers.

      We must also reform Section 811 housing – the segregated housing program for people with disabilities – to nero 10 rom ome move toward more affordable, more accessible, integrated housing. In addition to nero 10 rom ome ensuring affordable housing, the federal government has to do more to nero 10 rom ome ensure that housing that receives federal funding – including tax credit financing – is nero 10 rom ome accessible. We need to work to remove the obstacles that nero 10 rom ome people with disabilities face when they go to visit their friends and nero 10 rom ome family.

      Finally, as I said above, I want to nero 10 rom ome expand home ownership and home rental opportunities within the disability community.

   2. How will you nero 10 rom ome assure the vigorous implementation of all Fair Housing Laws?Vigorous implementation of Fair Housing laws starts with appointing officials committed to nero 10 rom ome protecting the civil rights of every American. The next step is nero 10 rom ome providing sufficient resources for effective enforcement. It continues by nominating judges who nero 10 rom ome are committed to protecting the civil rights of regular Americans. Judge Alito’s Fair Housing decisions, for nero 10 rom ome example, show the damage that the judiciary can do.

      The last and nero 10 rom ome most important step is leadership. As president, I will direct the nero 10 rom ome Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to nero 10 rom ome make the enforcement of Section 504 a priority alongside the nero 10 rom ome Fair Housing Act.

      There is nero 10 rom ome so much more HUD can do: ensure that housing built with federal low-income housing tax credits complies with accessibility requirements, actually follow up on the nero 10 rom ome findings of the groundbreaking “Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities: Barriers at Every Step” HUD study; and nero 10 rom ome study the effect of increased federal grants to faith-based organizations. As a nero 10 rom ome very first step, I would ask my HUD Secretary to explain how HUD has nero 10 rom ome implemented the 2001recommendations of the National Council on Disabilities and justify its reasoning for nero 10 rom ome anyrecommendations it has ignored.

   3. How will you nero 10 rom ome assure that HUD implements programs that will assist states in complying with the nero 10 rom ome Olmstead decision?
      Ensuring compliance with the nero 10 rom ome Olmstead decision must be a central part of HUD’s ongoing civil rights work. Moving people with disabilities from nero 10 rom ome institutional care to less restrictive settings is now the law of the nero 10 rom ome land. Yet hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of Americans continue to nero 10 rom ome live in congregate care settings because accessible and affordable home-based care and nero 10 rom ome housing are not available. HUD needs to play a major role in ensuring that nero 10 rom ome the legal standard is reflected in the real world.

      First, HUD’s civil rights and nero 10 rom ome compliance staff should ensure that their state agency counterparts are communicating with health services agencies to nero 10 rom ome make them aware of their Olmstead obligations.

      Second, as our country’s primary housing agency, HUD – working together with state and nero 10 rom ome local agencies must ensure the availability of affordable and accessible so that nero 10 rom ome the Olmstead holding is not an empty promise. Today, multi-year waiting lists are nero 10 rom ome a barrier to achieving the vision of Olmstead.

      Third, to nero 10 rom ome help ensure an adequate supply of appropriate housing, I will target a nero 10 rom ome minimum of 5,000 housing vouchers over five years to help individuals move from nero 10 rom ome institutional care to independent living and take the other steps described above to nero 10 rom ome increase the supply of affordable and accessible housing.

      Fourth, I will help local housing authorities to nero 10 rom ome work with disabilities groups, aging organizations and Medicaid programs to ensure that nero 10 rom ome individuals in their communities have the opportunity to live in the nero 10 rom ome most integrated setting possible.

6. TRANSPORTATION
   1. What would you nero 10 rom ome do to expand access to affordable, accessible transportation for people with disabilities, especially in rural areas?Accessible transportation is nero 10 rom ome a critical component of increased work opportunities for people with disabilities. For most jobs, you nero 10 rom ome cannot work if you cannot get from your house to nero 10 rom ome the job site. Only 69 percent of people with disabilities have nero 10 rom ome a way to get to a job.

      Funding and nero 10 rom ome enforcement of transportation access requirements will be central to the mission of the nero 10 rom ome Department of Transportation. In addition, HUD funding for accessible local transportation and nero 10 rom ome DOJ enforcement of the ADA are critical components to ensure local transportation that nero 10 rom ome is fully accessible for people with disabilities. As a strong supporter of mass transit, I believe we must invest in providing more mass transit and nero 10 rom ome ensuring that it is accessible to people with disabilities and meets their needs, such as “kneeling” buses that nero 10 rom ome make it easier to board. I support increasing federal funding for nero 10 rom ome nonprofit groups to meet the transportation needs of people with disabilities when nero 10 rom ome public mass transit is not available.

      Things that nero 10 rom ome sound little can be very important to ensuring accessibility. Clearing snow, removing standing water, providing shelter from nero 10 rom ome wind and rain can make the difference between a bus or nero 10 rom ome train stop that is accessible and one that is not. Train systems should have nero 10 rom ome worker training to provide assistance across gaps between train cars and nero 10 rom ome stations, with appropriate universal signage. The federal government has the power through Section 504 to nero 10 rom ome ensure these efforts are made. It should use it.

      In addition to nero 10 rom ome mass transit, the Justice Department can also enforce accessibility requirements for nero 10 rom ome taxis and other common carriers. And common sense will ensure security needs are nero 10 rom ome managed with dignity for people with disabilities — the nero 10 rom ome Transportation Safety Administration should use uniform, reasonable screening for people with disabilities that nero 10 rom ome do not cause unnecessary pain, discomfort or delay in air travel.

      Beyond mass transit, which is nero 10 rom ome often not a viable solution in rural America, we can nero 10 rom ome do more to support mobility for drivers with disabilities. Electronic toll collection passes (e.g., EZ-PASS) make toll-paying much safer for nero 10 rom ome individuals who rely on hand controls to operate their vehicles. They are nero 10 rom ome more a necessity than a convenience. I would require states to nero 10 rom ome waive fees for the passes for low-income people with disabilities.

      Hurricane Katrina highlighted that nero 10 rom ome the need for reliable, affordable, accessible transportation is not limited to nero 10 rom ome accomplishing everyday life and work functions. It can be – and – was the nero 10 rom ome difference between life and death for hundreds of people in New Orleans and nero 10 rom ome the Gulf Coat. People with disabilities were disproportionately affected – such as those who nero 10 rom ome died in the hurricane and its aftermath or who were stranded in the nero 10 rom ome Superdome because their needs were often overlooked or completely disregarded. Our emergency preparedness planning absolutely must do a nero 10 rom ome better job of reflecting the needs of people with disabilities.

7. EDUCATION
   1. How would you nero 10 rom ome ensure that students with disabilities are included within and accommodated as part of the nero 10 rom ome accountability measures of No Child Left Behind?One of the nero 10 rom ome benefits of No Child Left Behind is that all students are nero 10 rom ome included within a school’s accountability system. Special education is nero 10 rom ome a part of general education. Holding schools accountable for their success at teaching children – including children with disabilities – will help us strengthen our schools. As president, I will make sure the nero 10 rom ome Department of Education focuses on the need to treat children with disabilities inclusively within the nero 10 rom ome No Child Left Behind accountability framework. However, much of the No Child Left Behind Act needs to nero 10 rom ome be improved. The accountability provisions of No Child Left Behind need to nero 10 rom ome be overhauled. They are often illogical and arbitrary, and they have nero 10 rom ome damaging effects in the classroom. And we need higher quality assessments to nero 10 rom ome more accurately measure all students’ learning.

      I support more research, technical assistance, and nero 10 rom ome professional development about what constitutes valid and reliable assessments for nero 10 rom ome the full range of students with disabilities.

   2. Do you nero 10 rom ome support full federal funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)?For more than nero 10 rom ome a quarter-century, the federal government has rightly insisted that every child with special needs receive a nero 10 rom ome free and appropriate public education. However, it has failed to nero 10 rom ome provide even half of its share of the cost, placing excessive burdens on local school budgets and nero 10 rom ome undermining efforts to provide an excellent education to all children. I have nero 10 rom ome repeatedly voted to fully fund special education and to make the nero 10 rom ome funding mandatory. As president, I will continue to support full funding for nero 10 rom ome the education of children with disabilities.
   3. What ideas do you have for strengthening federal enforcement of IDEA?As president, I will strengthen enforcement by the nero 10 rom ome Department of Education so children with disabilities receive the free, appropriate education they deserve and nero 10 rom ome are legally entitled to. The first principles are the same as with Fair Housing – appointing strong enforcement officials, nominating fair judges, providing adequate resources and nero 10 rom ome exercising leadership to make enforcement a priority.

      A strong partnership between the nero 10 rom ome Departments of Education and Justice is key, and I will seek the nero 10 rom ome most qualified people with disabilities to fill leadership positions at both agencies. Sharing data between the nero 10 rom ome two departments will permit faster response to complaints and better evaluation of individual education plans. Full funding will assist IDEA enforcement in both the nero 10 rom ome DOE and DOJ. My administration will draw upon the experience of educators, administrators and nero 10 rom ome advocates who have successfully implemented IDEA programs as models for nero 10 rom ome other states and communities to follow.

      At the nero 10 rom ome same time, I oppose Republican efforts to roll back key provisions of the nero 10 rom ome IDEA. Whether it is denying access to attorneys by putting artificial caps on fees or nero 10 rom ome stripping children with disabilities of civil rights, we must stop rollbacks of IDEA.

   4. What ideas do you nero 10 rom ome have for increasing the high school graduation rate of students served by IDEA?We must address the nero 10 rom ome higher dropout rates and lower college enrollment rates for students with disabilities. The starting place must be nero 10 rom ome fully funding IDEA.

      Providing Individualized Education Program when nero 10 rom ome requested, with meaningful complaint opportunities for parents who cannot obtain one, or nero 10 rom ome negotiate a meaningful one, will help keep children with disabilities in school and nero 10 rom ome help them graduate.

      For students with disabilities, planning for nero 10 rom ome the transition from school to adult life must start early. I will make sure that nero 10 rom ome the Department of Education works with states to put effective and nero 10 rom ome accountable transition planning into place.

      Many dropouts realize dropping out was a nero 10 rom ome mistake. America is about second chances, so I don’t see why we shouldn’t have “second-chance schools” to nero 10 rom ome lift up former dropouts, offering them one-on-one attention and a chance to nero 10 rom ome earn a diploma at night or at a local community college. In addition, my Breaking Down Barriers initiative will help high school and nero 10 rom ome college students with disabilities find internships, so they can experience the nero 10 rom ome working world and be encouraged to stay in school. This initiative will also provide them valuable skills and nero 10 rom ome contacts for finding a job after graduation, helping them on the nero 10 rom ome path towards success and self-sufficiency.

   5. How would you nero 10 rom ome improve services for students transitioning from school to employment? From high school to higher education?The challenges of helping young people with disabilities matriculate to nero 10 rom ome college and get their first job are equaled only by the nero 10 rom ome reward for society of integrating them into the workplace. There is nero 10 rom ome so much we can do – so much we must do – to help students make these transitions successfully.

      Too many students lack the nero 10 rom ome encouragement and guidance they need to apply to college. The challenges are nero 10 rom ome even greater for students with disabilities. In some large cities, a nero 10 rom ome single counselor must serve more than 700 students. I will help every low-income high school eligible for nero 10 rom ome Title I hire a new college counselor, helping students choose college-track courses and nero 10 rom ome navigate the admissions and financial aid process.

      As president, I will support vocational rehabilitation programs and nero 10 rom ome the expansion of employment-based settings for federally-funded job education.

      I also believe the nero 10 rom ome work-study experience that my Breaking Down Barriers initiative will offer to nero 10 rom ome young people with disabilities will help many make the transition from nero 10 rom ome school to work.

8. TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
   1. Do you nero 10 rom ome support legislative measures to require that Internet technologies be made accessible to nero 10 rom ome and usable by people with disabilities?I believe that nero 10 rom ome as the internet becomes ubiquitous, it must become more inclusive. Just as we made sure that nero 10 rom ome now old-fashioned copper-wire telephone service was accessible, we must do the nero 10 rom ome same with new technologies that have the same importance. I would support legislation to nero 10 rom ome achieve that goal. The 2006 National Council on Disability report is nero 10 rom ome an excellent starting place.

      Because the nero 10 rom ome technology is changing so quickly, as president, in my first year in office, I will convene a nero 10 rom ome task force with significant representation from the disabilities community to rapidly update the nero 10 rom ome 2006 report and make legislative recommendations for my administration to ensure that nero 10 rom ome internet and IP-based services are accessible. Key areas will include accessibility for nero 10 rom ome Voice Over Internet service, instant messaging, and captioning for internet television.

      Aside from nero 10 rom ome legislation, my campaign is committed to making our web site and nero 10 rom ome internet video transmissions accessible. We have already taken several steps to nero 10 rom ome do so.

   2. What measures would you nero 10 rom ome propose to ensure that consumer electronic and telecommunications devices are accessible to nero 10 rom ome and usable by persons with disabilities?I support updating telecommunications policy to nero 10 rom ome ensure that new applications like internet-based telephone service and video services are nero 10 rom ome made accessible. We should update the original Communications Act to make sure that nero 10 rom ome as the internet replaces older telephone systems, access for people with disabilities remains guaranteed.
   3. How would you nero 10 rom ome ensure enforcement of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and Section 255 of the nero 10 rom ome Telecommunications Act?
      Congress enacted Section 508 of the nero 10 rom ome Rehabilitation Act and Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act to nero 10 rom ome make sure that the federal government uses both its procurement policy and nero 10 rom ome its law enforcement power to make information technology and software as accessible as possible. But these laws can’t just sit on the books. We must enforce them.

      As with Fair Housing, effective law enforcement depends upon able staff appointments, a nero 10 rom ome fair judiciary, adequate resources and strong leadership. I am committed to nero 10 rom ome appointing enforcement officials and nominating judges who are committing to nero 10 rom ome protecting the civil rights of all Americans.

      I will communicate clearly that nero 10 rom ome enforcement of laws that ensure accessibility to essential life activities and nero 10 rom ome means of commerce will be a priority in my administration. And I will provide the nero 10 rom ome funding necessary for the Justice Department and the FCC to make sure that nero 10 rom ome the federal government is using its purchasing power and enforcement ability to nero 10 rom ome achieve the goals of more accessible technology for all Americans with disabilities. I will also ensure adequate training for nero 10 rom ome DOJ and FCC employees to implement these laws and rely upon ongoing dialogue with the nero 10 rom ome disabilities community to determine technology access needs and implement suggestions for nero 10 rom ome greater universal access.

   4. Would you nero 10 rom ome support restoration of full funding for the Technology-related Assistance for nero 10 rom ome Individuals with Disabilities Act programs?

      Yes. Strong federal leadership is nero 10 rom ome essential in order to close the growing digital divide between people with and nero 10 rom ome without disabilities. Federal support for state programs leverages additional public and nero 10 rom ome private support. Advancements and distribution of assistive technology opens doors of opportunity for nero 10 rom ome people with disabilities and older Americans.

9. VOTING
   1. What steps would you nero 10 rom ome take as President to ensure that voters with disabilities are able to nero 10 rom ome vote privately and independently, consistent with the requirements of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA)?America must do much more to nero 10 rom ome guarantee every citizen a meaningful right to vote. Denying Americans with disabilities the nero 10 rom ome right to vote privately and independently is inconsistent with our nation’s most fundamental values.

      I will help every precinct provide enough trained poll workers and nero 10 rom ome secure voting machines that are physically accessible to all. I do not believe that nero 10 rom ome touch-screen machines without paper ballots can guarantee voting integrity. Touch-screen voting machines that nero 10 rom ome also record votes on verifiable paper ballots may satisfy my concerns about both integrity and nero 10 rom ome access. Voting systems must also protect ballot privacy for people with disabilities.

      Voting rights is nero 10 rom ome an example of an area where the disability community provides the nero 10 rom ome best information about which ballot systems work best. My administration would have nero 10 rom ome an ongoing dialogue with the community to ensure meaningful disability voting rights protections, including real-time election day enforcement.

      I also support election day registration, which would increase voter turnout while ending the nero 10 rom ome fiasco of provisional ballots, purge lists and bad-faith suppression of voter registration drives.

   2. Would you nero 10 rom ome require the Census Bureau, in its surveys of people with disabilities, to nero 10 rom ome ask questions regarding whether the respondents are registered to vote and nero 10 rom ome whether they voted in the last election?It is nero 10 rom ome not good enough for government to just mandate accessibility standards for nero 10 rom ome voting machines. We must follow up and measure whether, in fact, the nero 10 rom ome standards are working. Are people with disabilities able to participate fully in our democracy?

      As president, I will ask relevant government agencies, including the nero 10 rom ome National Council on Disabilities and representatives of the disabilities community to nero 10 rom ome determine the best ways to measure whether accessibility standards are working. These ways may include use of the nero 10 rom ome census, as well as other means.

      In addition, I support using the nero 10 rom ome ADA definition of disabilities in the decennial census. Because so many public and nero 10 rom ome private programs rely on the ADA definition for assessing needs, it nero 10 rom ome makes sense that we obtain national, state and local data based on the nero 10 rom ome same definition.

10. CIVIL RIGHTS
    1. Of the nero 10 rom ome existing members of the U.S. Supreme Court, which justices do you nero 10 rom ome consider models for the kinds of federal judges you would appoint if elected president?I am nero 10 rom ome committed to nominating judges at all levels who are committing to nero 10 rom ome protecting the civil and constitutional rights of all Americans. Among current Justices on the nero 10 rom ome Supreme Court, I particularly admire Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer.
    2. Do you nero 10 rom ome support an ADA Restoration Act, such as the bill introduced in the nero 10 rom ome last Congress?Yes. I have nero 10 rom ome long supported measures to restore protections for people with disabilities that nero 10 rom ome the courts have eliminated through narrow legal interpretation. We must ensure that nero 10 rom ome the ADA remains consistent with Congress’ original intent and nero 10 rom ome restore civil rights protections to people with epilepsy, depression, diabetes, cancer and nero 10 rom ome other conditions. As president I will support legislation to accomplish this nero 10 rom ome goal.
    3. What steps will you nero 10 rom ome take to protect the diminishment of the civil rights protections under the nero 10 rom ome ADA?
       The Americans with Disabilities Act must live up to nero 10 rom ome its broad goal of achieving equal opportunities and breaking down barriers for nero 10 rom ome people with disabilities. Fair treatment of people with disabilities is nero 10 rom ome civil rights issue, and it must be a priority. As president I will support measures to nero 10 rom ome help people with disabilities achieve full integration in society.

       We need to nero 10 rom ome ensure the ADA is applied and interpreted consistently with its original intent – not weaken it. That is nero 10 rom ome why I have opposed attempts to weaken the ADA like the nero 10 rom ome ADA Notification Act, which tried to put unnecessary procedural barriers in the nero 10 rom ome way of individuals enforcing their civil rights.

11. INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS
    1. Do you nero 10 rom ome support U.S. ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and nero 10 rom ome its Optional Protocal?

       Yes. The failure of the nero 10 rom ome United States to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and nero 10 rom ome its Optional Protocol is inexcusable. Once the leader in civil rights for nero 10 rom ome persons with disabilities, the U.S. failure has been a step backwards for nero 10 rom ome the American Disability Rights movement.

       I support ratification of the nero 10 rom ome Convention and its Optional Protocol. This is a first step in committing America to nero 10 rom ome its implementation in areas of the world where our technical knowledge on how to nero 10 rom ome create integrated living, educational and health care access will create opportunity for nero 10 rom ome persons with disabilities. For example, the United States has been a nero 10 rom ome leader in implementing assistive technology. We should be sharing our knowledge with the nero 10 rom ome world. Embracing the Convention and showing leadership in its implementation can nero 10 rom ome help restore America’s image in the world as a leader in the advancement of human rights.

Reposted with permission.