Unseen Policies: Disabilities.

[SirNitram]

I've decided to write up a personal policy issue I'm interested in, think others might be, and which will never get any media attention at all. The candidates positions on diability policy.

McCain goes first because he's easy. As the Official Bush Do-Over, the policy is 'Don't Become Disabled, It's Expensive, We're Trying to Control Costs'.

Hillary is next, and now I'm regretting that. See, I'm not going to say she has bad disability policy. She doesn.t' Both her plans and her track record shows she's good on this. She has the mother of all bad web designs. Under her 'I'm awesome: Education' section is the fully-fund IDEA proposal, which she backed in 2003. IDEA is Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, chronically underfunded, even though it's a good idea. Under 'Supporting parents and their children' sits the proposal to bring back Bill Clinton's accessibility/equal hiring practices to government. But why there? The only thing I can criticize her on policy(As opposed to asstarded web design) is that her plan is still ultimately private healthcare, primarily through workplaces. Hint: Disabled folks have trouble holding down jobs.

Obama. First, he has a handy section marked 'Disabilities'. He doesn't play the game of 'Pre-existing conditions' or anything. He calls it like it is. He's on for the same stuff as Clinton in many areas, though he botches which Ex Order number the Clinton accessibility and hiring was(It's 13163, not the one governing a regional economic task force). But he goes further. 10B to early intervention like Head Start, Early Learning Challenge Centres, and IDEA Part C. Early intervention is the difference between fully functional and crippled with neurological conditions. A comprehensive study of students with disabilities and the obstacles as they transition to higher education and the workplace. You don't know how much this is needed. You will never understand it until you find a teacher who laughs at the request for reasonable accomodation for an exam. Despite pesky federal laws. Let's see.. ADA Restoration Act! Removing those asinine SCOTUS rulings that limit the Americans With Disabilities coverage and effectiveness. Expanding Family and Medical Leave to cover caretakers.. Signatory of the UN Convention On The Rights Of The Disabled.. Oh, and Obama was a co-sponsor of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, which is of interest if you, or any of your friends or loved ones, happen to have genes.

In short, if Disability Policy is your cup o' tea, Vote Obama.