Submitted by Eric from Illinois in response to “What Are Your Issues?”
I’ve seen conversations out there on Facebook and other social media sites that remind me that our community doesn’t need to limit our opinions to those issues that everyone else associates with us, but instead we should talk about what impacts us. My friend Tom Jacobson has some strong feelings about how the gulf oil spill is being handled and if you don’t think there are public policy issues there… you weren’t involved in supporting folks from the gulf after Hurricane Katrina. When people with a disability like paralysis lose homes, jobs, health care resources… it’s not the same. Anyone else see the connection?
I couldn’t agree more. I was in Baton Rouge lending a hand after Katrina. The day to day disability related issues were still there and greatly compounded by other issues. Some of these issues existed prior to Katrina but really hit hard when experienced in tandem.
It is impossible to sort the issues into nice neat boxes by type or place or who might be impacted. It is important that people consider the entire package.