Re: Disability Issues in the News - Forwarded by AAAFDD

[Guest guest]

There is great hope if we keep on keeping on!

On Sun, Nov 30, 2008 at 3:33 PM, Commito wrote:

> Forwarded by Answers And Alternatives for Families of the Developmentally

> Disabled...

>

> *

> ------------------------------

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>

> *Down Syndrome Group Calls For Immigration Law Repeal*

> By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express

> November 17, 2008

>

> PERTH, AUSTRALIA--Last week, Australia's federal government decided to

> grant permanent residency to an immigrant woman who has a child with Down

> syndrome.

>

> It took several years for her application to get approved, critics say,

> because of fears that her child would become too much of a burden on the

> Australian health system.

>

> But, the government has denied permanent residency to German immigrant Dr.

> Bernard Moeller and his wife Isabella because their 13-year-old son Lukas

> has Down syndrome.

>

> " Lukas is discriminated against because of his disability and we thought

> that it would be different in Australia, " Dr. Moeller told The National

> Forum.

>

> Now, the Down Syndrome Association of Western Australia is calling for the

> Commonwealth's Migration Act to be repealed.

>

> " Down syndrome and many other disabilities are not health issues, they are

> developmental conditions or genetic conditions which don't necessarily

> impact on health, " the association's Jan Gothard told the Australian

> Broadcasting Corporation. " I think we should look at health as a separate

> issue. "

>

> Gothard said the immigration law needs to be reviewed so it does not

> discriminate against people with disabilities and their families.

>

> Ref: http://www.dsawa.asn.au/

> *Settlement Means Community Supports For Thousands *

> Sun Times

>

> CHICAGO, ILLINOIS--Last week, the State of Illinois agreed to settle a

> lawsuit filed on behalf of nine people with intellectual disabilities housed

> in large, state-run institutions.

>

> The proposed agreement, which still must be approved by a federal judge,

> would require the state to allow independent individual evaluations of the

> 6,600 current institution residents. Those evaluations would determine what

> supports each resident would need in the community. The state would then be

> given up to six years to provide supports in smaller homes in the community

> for those who choose or do not oppose community placement.

>

> State officials say another 15,000 on waiting lists for residential

> services would also be given the supports they need under the proposal.

>

> " When you're in an institution often times you can't make decisions for

> yourself. You have decisions made for you about when you eat and your

> scheduling, " Barry , Legal Advocacy Director at Equip for Equality,

> told WBEZ. " You're isolated from the general population. This is an effort

> to integrate people with disabilities fully into society. "

>

> Equip for Equality, the state's federally mandated Protection and Advocacy

> System, and Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP, are serving as lead counsel

> on the case. The plaintiffs are also being represented by Access Living, the

> American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, and the Public Interest Law

> Center of Philadelphia.

>

> " I want to live with friends in the community and have my own room, "

> plaintiff Cicarellis explained to the Sun-Times.

>

> Ref: http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/1279443,CST-NWS-disabled14.article

>

--

Sara - Life is a journey- we choose the path.