Carol Moseley Braun: Protecting and defending the civil rights of people living with disabilities.

Over the past half century, our society has embraced the notion that the government has a responsibility to protect the civil rights of all Americans. In 1990, with the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Congress extended civil right laws to Americans living with disabilities. This law helped to shape a decade during which education and employment, housing and government services became accessible to disabled people. The ADA barred discrimination on the basis of disability. It also required public and private institutions to reasonably accommodate people with disabilities, so that our economy and our community might benefit from their talents and their contributions. From elevators in subway stations to ramps to public buildings, in the past 13 years, America has opened its doors and its businesses to people with disabilities.

As has been true of other civil rights laws, the scope and breath of the ADA has been challenged in the courts. Successive judicial findings have begun to close doors once opened by the ADA, limiting those who can bring cases under the law. Conservative justices have narrowed the employment protections provided by the act, and have protected state governments against cases brought under the ADA.

As a United States Senator, Carol Moseley Braun was an ardent champion for the civil rights of all Americans, and as President, she will work to protect and defend the civil rights of people living with disabilities. Towards this end, her judicial nominations will reflect an understanding of the law and respect of judicial precedent. Her nominees will have established records for broad interpretations of civil rights laws. Her judicial appointments will share an understanding of the intent of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and will not further narrow its scope.

Public Education: Quality Educational Opportunities for all American Children.

In 1975, we, as Americans, committed to the public education of children with disabilities. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) opened our schoolhouses to children living with disabilities and underscored our promise that public education should be available to all Americans. The goal of IDEA was to provide mainstream education to children with disabilities in the least restrictive environment. The IDEA brought parents, teachers, therapists and administrators, all stakeholders in the education of children with disabilities to the decision-making table.

To achieve these goals, the government committed to funding 40 percent of the costs of education provided under IDEA. In the 28 years since its passage, the federal government has yet to exceed 18 percent of the funds promised to children and their teachers, leaving states and municipalities to pass these costs on homeowners through increased property taxes. Recently, the Republican majority blocked efforts to more fully fund education for children with disabilities while claiming that their vision for education in America would result in “No Child Left Behind.” The Bush Administration and the Republicans in Congress are keen to increase the accountability of teachers and students, but won’t be held accountable for fully funding programs that provide education to America’s children.

As President, Carol Moseley Braun will work with Congress to fully fund IDEA by 2010, so that school districts and states are not faced with yet another unfunded mandate for the education of America’s children. America cannot continue to let the talents of people with disabilities remain untapped; fully funding the IDEA and early intervention programs will allow America to fully avail every American’s talents, including people living with disabilities.

Carol Moseley Braun for President: a commitment to people living with disabilities.

As President, Ms. Braun will appoint a Presidential Advisory Commission on Disability Policy, to work to ascertain that the approximately 10% of Americans living with disabilities will have a voice in the White House.

As President, Ms. Braun will sponsor an annual White House Conference on Disability, to assess the progress of efforts towards mainstreaming, accessibility, and accommodation for people with disabilities and to provide a forum for innovation and new ideas calculated to reach those goals.

As President, Ms. Braun will require that all federal agencies apply and enforce all civil rights laws.

As President, Ms. Braun will work with Congress to expand aid to states to provide the integrated, community-based housing and services to people living with disabilities, in full compliance with the L.C. v. Olmstead (1999) decision.

America cannot prosper or progress without tapping the talents of every American. Providing for the education of children with disabilities, requiring accommodations in public and private institutions and places of employment, and protecting and defending the civil rights of people with disabilities will help our country tap the talent and skills, the experience and aptitudes of every American. By expanding our country’s capacity and building a more inclusive society we Americans will benefit and we will be better able to meet the challenges of this century.

| Benefits | Info | Join | Other Sites | News | Feedback | Calendar | Home |