Opening Statement:
I would like to start off by saying due to the latest federal grant freezing of funds to various government agencies, and non-profits, I feel strongly to voice my small but important opinions and fears. Additionally, this article is a cry for the urgency to look into other ways to cut spending and budgets. The funding to non-profit organizations who help Americans with disabilities and guide them with a goal to achieve independent living is essential. The non-profit organizations who help, guide, monitor, and work to maintain our budgets is absolutely the foundation for our future, to live safely, receive training, maintaining an inclusive and accessible life in all communities, and within the workforce.
I am not embarrassed or afraid to admit that I am a Democrat/Moderate with a full compassion of helping those who truly need help both temporarily or for a lifetime. It does not matter, or should it matter, if in this past Presidential election, you voted Republican or Democrat. The important thing is when Americans vote, we must accept and respect the candidate who got elected. We need to TRUST the person who got elected including those elected in important positions within the Presidential Cabinet, and our Senators and Congressman. We are supposed to TRUST them in making the best decisions possible for ALL AMERICANS, keep us safe, not hurt us, or take us back years from when we (the disabled) were treated poorly and inhumanly. Yes, I have the courage to say what is being planned for those/us Americans who have various disabilities, our services, and our hopes and dreams for a better future does not look too good right now.
I have written several blog articles over the past few years on disabled Americans having a unique and important role in our workforce and in the community. For those of us who can work, even part-time, we work as much as we can taking into consideration of our challenges, limitations, sometimes insufficient modifications, limited travel means, and deficient skills in areas of various employment opportunities. Not to forget…discrimination that will always be front and center with many discourteous and uneducated individuals who know nothing or very little about the many different disabilities out there. Therefore, we (the disabled) do add to the economy and many valid contributions in different sectors of employment, technology, arts, and science advancement. We need our services and so do the future disabled children need services when the time comes for them. Our services are the building blocks that we need to move ahead and to help our country and other Americans.
Closing Statement:
Our services and assistance are crucial to us because it gives us the planning and assistance that we need by government agencies, non-profit organizations by implementing and maintaining our service plans, budgets, and to eventually help us learn to be as independent as possible. I know that the current administration has very smart and powerful people in cabinet positions and in charge…but considering what they are planning now is NOT a smart move because it is taking us backwards NOT forward. If the government is successful by doing these cuts…they will hurt not only the disabled community, our future children who might be born with disabilities, various health conditions, individuals who may become disabled later on in life, but also the hardworking government and non-profit individuals who help and guide us to fulfilling our dreams for living independently, and for a better and successful future.
We all need to remember or finally become educated on what life was like for people with developmental, intellectual, mobility, etc. disabilities since the late 1700’s, until the passing of several important government bills within the late twentieth century. People with intellectual, developmental, and other disabilities were institutionalized in inhumane and filthy conditions, left to rot, and eventually die. During World War II, throughout Europe, people with disabilities were subject to medical experiments, and killed. Is this what is in store for people with disabilities now…going backwards?
So, all of you in Congress, the Senate, part of the Presidential Cabinet, etc. use all of your Big Ivy League Degrees and put your exceptional education and power to work and good use for ALL AMERICANS, not just for the rich! Please do not misuse your power in negative ways to dismiss and hurt Disabled Americans. Please do not turn your backs on the disabled community OR the government agencies and non-profits that have helped us in the past and must be kept in the future without cutting grants and other federal funding being stopped. All of you took an oath to HELP NOT HURT ALL AMERICANS, so do your jobs, and keep your promises! Stop looking like cold-hearted elitists to the rest of the world!
Source of Information: This article was strictly written from my heart as well as fear to what is going on with this specific issue of freezing of federal funds, grants and/or cuts.
Until Next Week, Stay Safe and Well!
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