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Ok, here's an all-purpose thread for discussion on issues relating to politics or legislation related to or involving handicapped/disabled persons.

What do you think about various regulations on private businesses to accomodate the handicapped? I would like to think market forces would be enough to keep this kind of thing in line. If you don't put in handicapped spaces, you'll obviously lose handicapped customers. But would institutions find it profitable to keep handicapped people in mind? Would it turn out to be unefficient enough to have ramps and extra spaces for the special customers that no businesses would have them installed? Or, if that was the case, would it "look bad" and businesses would seem to be uncaring or whatnot to not have the spaces/ramps/elevators and lose business to people concerned about the handicapped? Also- if we need the regulation- do we really need to force the same laws we have for shopping malls to gyms, swimming pools, and other more athletic businesses that wouldn't see much or many handicapped persons?



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On a side topic- handicap welfare. Is government authorized theft allowable for people who cannot work at all? I'd be a little squeamish to say no to this one, sorry.

Nicotine patches, i like that analogy. I think I would vote for a step-by-step plan for total eradication if I was a congressman, but I'm not sure... the biggest reason I have for supporting capatalism is because of the incentive to work hard it brings. With the severely handicapped, you don't have that. I think I would still say the immorality of government theft alone would still outweigh it though.

we would have to get people tohelp the handicapped people more first, and then take away governemnt assistance, not the other way around. If we could get sufficient aid for the handicapped people independent of government then we could drop the SSI and food stamp BS

In order to drop programs like that... private funds would HAVE to be available. SSDI and state health care keep me alive. It's not that I don't try. I just can't keep a job for long because I'll have a seizure and get fired. And the fact that I can't stay standing makes it hard to keep a job. I don't want to have to rely on the government, but I don't want to be on the streets either. I do agree some people get on these programs too easy. But those of us who HONESTLY need it, will need other options before they can cold turkey cut us.

is it legal to fire someone becasue they had a seizure?
also, try telemarketing. (or telephone acting if it doesnt freak you out) good money, and you get to sit all day.

Ah the Americans with Disabilities Act. I love it, and I hate it. Sure it sounds great in theory. But there are loopholes. The ADA says that you must keep a worker on IF there is an appropriate position that won't be hindered by the worker's disability. But, if the boss can say that you are endagering yourself and others by having this disability, and there is no other position you can work, then you are able to be let go. Also, the employer can also lie... say you've stolen $50 from a drawer, say you've beaten children, say you've harassed a client/patron (all of which have been said of me, all of which are COMPLETELY false). Oh, and also, people in that nice government of ours are trying to say Epilepsy isn't a disability, and people with Epilepsy shouldn't be covered by the ADA. It's truely frustrating.

And no, I don't take legal action. Part time jobs don't give me enough money to even want to THINK about hiring a lawyer. I would end up loosing money rather than gaining.

Oh and I thought about Telemarketing for a while, then realized the places for that are on the other side of town, and as I cannot drive, and public transportation SUCKS in my city, I can't do it. But it was a good thought to be sure.

Wow! Shows what kind of job our retarded pals in DC are doing.. That's pretty messed up.

It's true. Sometimes... even most times... epilepsy is controlled with medication, diet, surgery, and other things. But then there are people like me who aren't surgical candidates, and have tried 8 different medications, and combinations of those 8 medications, but to no real amount of relief. It is when the seizures and side effects from the seizures and medications are keeping one from living a normal life that epilepsy really presents itself as a disability. Yes, epilepsy should conditionally be classified as a disibility, but it shouldn't completely be denied to be one.