Americans with Disabilities Act 12^th Anniversary.

This fall the country will once again gather together to celebrate the passing of the Rehabilitation Act, 504, and Americans with Disabilities Act 12^th Anniversary. Our disabled leaders have been leading this movement for almost thirty years and will continue to lead us in the days to come. But ladies and gentleman as I’ve stated many times before in many other places. Our leaders are passing on to heaven, a more gentle and peaceful place. At the turn of this new century, who will become our leaders? If we don’t teach our young disabled folk, the movement will die a very slow death! If we don’t train our disabled minorities which will outnumber the white disabled population by the year 2010, who will lead this very young movement? 

Minority disabled can no longer wait for the white disabled leadership in Washington D.C.  to help. This year Minority disabled residents are going to have to take matters into there own hands. Building their own disabled support system and informational networks. The Disabled community as a whole must recognize each and every ethnic disabled person. This will be the true effort of Disabled Power. 

When President Cater signed the Rehabilitation Act and the new federal 504 bill people of color could not be seen at the table. Disabled Minorities could not get their special cultural problems and agenda on the floor. Yet these two bills passed with great joy and great celebration.  

Again when President George Hubert Walker Bush signed the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act the table was void of disabled individuals of color. Oh yea, again there was joy and celebrations in Washington D.C. for now the whole disabled community could be part of the true American fabric. But sad to say disabled black yellow red and brown could not be found at the signing table. 

The Disabled Movement has always tried to emulate or champion the Civil Rights Movement of the 60’s and the Woman’s Movement of the 70’s. The question still remains did the Disabled Movement really learn anything from the past and are they willing to truly take on the goals and ideals of these past movements. The Disabled Movement currently does not practice anything the previous two movements have taught them. Disabled leadership currently lacks the ability to form coalitions and now refuses to share important information. Thus leaving our disabled brothers and sisters in the dark. This important information would enable people of color to function properly and improve their lives.  

The finger needs to be pointed at other ethnic minority organizations for their complete lack of knowledge about the disabled community. These community-based organizations are going to have to step up to the plate. These organizations are going to have to get involved with the disabled community to see what the needs are. 

It is time to yell and time to speak out about this double standard in the disabled minority and white disabled communities. We can no longer let our young disabled brothers and sisters die. Die because of the lack of attention by school administrators, parents, doctors, counselors and yes, the disabled movement. Minority disabled children are being put in many nursing homes and are receiving inadequate health care just because they are people of color and disabled.  

THIS IS OCCURRING AND VIRTUALLY NOTHING IS BEING DONE TO DEFENDING THEM OR HELPING THEM LEGALLY. 

These children are being put in special education classes faster then any other group in America.  These children are not getting tested to see how intelligent they really are. Disabled leadership cannot be found on this issue.

12 years and I think time is up. Yes, the disabled leadership may celebrate 12 years of accomplishments for disabled rights in America but now the real works begins. Disabled minorities need their Civil Rights too and what better time then now. 

Times up; the Disabled Movement should be ashamed of itself. It should be ashamed of the record with disabled people of color. Residents of East Oakland, the community of Richmond, North Berkeley, Hayward, and grass roots movements from these communities will lead to independence, self-empowerment, and self-pride which in turn will improve our society with education, employment, and culture activities.

These community-based groups will lead the new disabled movement of this new millennium. It is time to give disabled people of color a seat at the table.

I hope that we see this in the fall of this year. I hope the leaders of the movement really scan the country and start picking the brains of red, yellow black and brown disabled folk. 

When the birthday of this year’s ADA celebration it will be for all. []

THAT IS THE GRAY LINE