[nfbwatlk] Fw: Proposal for a Seattle Commission on DisabilitiesIssues

Tue Nov 4 06:39:25 UTC 2008

I think you're right.  It would be detrimental to us.  And it doesn't make 
any sense.  It couldn't possibly meet anybody's needs if it's trying to 
serve different types of disabilities.

Kaye
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
To: "NFB of Washington Talk" <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, November 03, 2008 7:39 PM
Subject: [nfbwatlk] Fw: Proposal for a Seattle Commission on 
DisabilitiesIssues

> Fellow Federationists:
>
> This guy seems to have a fixation that people with disabilities have it
> terrible in Seattle. I've received numerous posts and I believe someone
> put one of them on this list a while back.
>
> Frankly, I think the idea of a city disabilities commission to be
> absolutely wacko! If, as the guy says, disabilities are diverse, than no
> single commission dealing with multiple disabilities could address the
> needs of each disability properly. In fact, I think a commission like
> that would be downright harmful in that it would allow all and sundry to
> think they'd solved the problem and thus not have to pay attention to
> the real problems of the blind, the deaf, the developmentally-disabled
> and on and on ad nauseum.
>
> Were I a citizen of Seattle, I'd right opposing this nonsense.
>
> Read below.
>
> Mike Freeman
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Chris Leman" <cleman at oo.net>
> To: "Neighbor" <cleman at oo.net>
> Sent: Sunday, November 02, 2008 11:01 PM
> Subject: Proposal for a Seattle Commission on Disabilities Issues
>
>
> One outcome of the Oct. 28 Seattle Neighborhood Summit was a proposal
> for a City commission on disablities issues.  The present system is not
> working well, in which there is typically one disabled invidual on the
> Human Rights Commission and one on the Pedestrian Advisory Board.  The
> disabled community is extremely diverse, and would benefit from having
> the voice of a City commission. As reflected in the letters below, some
> individuals are advancing such a proposal to members of the City
> Council.  Whatever your views, please consider writing to the
> Councilmembers about this issue.   The issue is urgent right now because
> of the ongoing budget process.
>
> Seattle City Council: P.O. Box 34025, Seattle, WA 98124-4025
> sally.clark at seattle.gov 684-8802
> tim.burgess at seattle.gov 684-8806
> tom.rasmussen at seattle.gov 684-8808
> jean.godden at seattle.gov 684-8807
> richard.conlin at seattle.gov 684-8805
> jan.drago at seattle.gov 684-8801
> bruce.harrell at seattle.gov 684-8804
> nick.licata at seattle.gov 684-8803
> richard.mciver at seattle.gov 684-8800
>
> The above alert was prepared by Chris Leman, (206) 322-5463,
> cleman at oo.net, as an individual.   Please share this message with others
> who may wish to make a difference.
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Mary Beth Lum <mblum08 at gmail.com>
> Date: Sun, Nov 2, 2008 at 1:44 PM
> Subject: Request for Disability Rights Commission
>
> Dear Councilmember Licata,
>
> My name is Mary Beth Lum.  I am a long time resident of Seattle and an
> active member in the Disability Community.  I am directing this letter
> to you in your role as the Chair of the Culture, Civil Rights, Health &
> Personnel Committee, as well as to the entire Council, to request that a
> Commission on Disability Rights be established under the Office of Civil
> Rights.
>
> The current commissions (Human Right Commission, Women's Commission and
> the Sexual Minorities Commission) were created as arms of the Office of
> Civil Rights to help them better serve minority populations and the
> unique issues they face.
>
> Because the Disability Community encompasses such a broad range of
> people, and the issues of this community are complex, it is not
> reasonable or sufficient to place the onus of addressing this spectrum
> on the shoulders of one person (i.e., a single representative on a city
> board, task force or commission).  This misses a large percentage of the
> population.  A commission would serve as a forum for hearing all voices
> of the Disability Community.
>
> Although legislation exists to address discrimination and the particular
> barriers, both physical and attitudinal, faced by people with
> disabilities, they continue to be marginalized and lack access to
> housing, transportation, employment and recreation, among other things.
> The establishment of a Disability Rights Commission would help support
> the OCR and the City Council to properly address these types of issues
> and to proactively respond to them.
>
> Not addressing the concerns of the Disability Community is actually a
> disservice to the city of Seattle and its citizens.  Incorporating
> People with Disabilities in the planning and creation of city projects
> and programs will enrich and enhance neighborhood diversity, and
> contribute to the economic vitality of our communities.  [HB 2794]
>
> I respectfully ask for your action to create this commission.
>
> Sincerely,
> Mary Beth Lum  2743 NE 140th St. Seattle, WA 98125  (206) 235-2706
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: Julianfwheeler at aol.com
> Subject: Request for Establishment of Seattle Commission on Disabilities
> Issues
>
> Councilman Licata, Chair of the Civil Rights Committee,
>
> To follow up on the communication below, I hereby request that you and
> the Seattle City Council consider establishing a Seattle City Commission
> on Disabilities Issues for the reasons given below.
>
> Furthermore, I hereby request that you and the city council consider
> repositioning the budget and staff arrangement of the Seattle Office of
> Civil Rights (OCR) for the purpose of accommodating the new Commission
> as requested.
>
> Thank you for your time.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Julian Wheeler,
> Seattle Human Rights Commission
> (title provided for personal identification purposes only.)
>
> Copied Text From Previous Communication Follows:
>
> Dear Councilmember Licata, et al.,
>
> Please accept this letter as a request that the Seattle City Council
> consider establishing a commission on the subject of issues that concern
> the disabled in Seattle, e.g., a Seattle Commission on Disabilities
> Issues.
>
> I respectfully ask for your consideration for the following reasons:
>
> 1. The disability community is at once unique and widely defined. Such a
> commission as requested would be a visible venue that would serve to
> direct petitions for redress of grievances by the disability community
> and its supporters to the City. Also, it would provide a tool for
> ascertaining the extent of concerns that impact the disability
> community, and will give the City, and the office that will staff it,
> the ability to gain an advance sense of issues that arise at any given
> moment, including through the activities of its commissioners.
>
> 2. This would provide the disability community the opportunity to
> express its concerns in a forum where it will be heard as one community,
> wherein its concerns will be heard by a body of commissioners whose
> definition and majority will be composed by those whose affinities
> should favor pursuit of disabilities issues, discussions and solutions.
> Currently, addressing disabilities issues through different bodies with
> at least one representative of the disability community puts its input
> at risk of marginalization, given the possibility that disability
> community representatives can be out-voted on these bodies, i.e.,
> advisory boards, task forces, city commissions, etc.
>
> A commission as requested will give the disability community a chance to
> thereby speak with one coherent and united voice. It will further
> provide the disability community with an opportunity to resolve issues
> that are internal to the community, so as to build on what unites it and
> thereby strengthen its ability to ascertain emerging issues.
>
> 3. There are issues currently impacting the disability community
> disproportionately, where the shares of people with disabilities who are
> so impacted are greater than its share of the population in general,
> resulting in needs that are not being adequately met. These issues
> include, but are not limited to: employment, transit, homelessness, and
> police conduct.
>
> These issues are going either unmet, or are characterized by the broader
> community as being of lesser importance.  This can lead to, for
> instance, community projects not incorporating sufficient accessibility
> as to make them usable by many people with disabilities.  Ultimately,
> this may make it more difficult for people with disabilities to pursue
> employment, entertainment, housing, or other opportunities.
>
> Additionally, I further request that the city staff this requested
> commission with the Seattle Office of Civil Rights, which can further
> pursue its mission to promote social justice for everyone.
>
> Thank you for your consideration.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Julian Wheeler, Member,
> Seattle Human Rights Commission (for personal identification purposes
> only).
>
>
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