Disability and Human Rights

So, a couple of things I have been pondering:

Possible topics for scholarly papers:
~ Political and policy implications facing the disability movement.
~ The Framework of Disability: The intersection of disability and human rights in the United States. Within this topic, I would explore whether or not leaders working in the disability field have or have not adopted a human rights framework and what impact this has had on disability policy and intervention, if there is an active resistance within parts of the government and how the resistance has a trickledown affect in the disability community, and are communities really inclusive and is their a need for policy change.


I also am interested in how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and the American with Disabilities Amendments Act (ADAA) of 2008 only protect PWDs who are able to perform specific job functions. The ADA and the ADAA also do not protect PWDs' earnings. No where does the legislation state that PWDs have the right to earn a livable wage. HELLO? According to the 2007 Cornell University Disability Status Report, the employment rate of PWDs is 36.9 percent, whereas the employment rate of people without disabilities to be 79.7 percent. That is a 42.8 percent gap, which is almost half of all people disabilities. Anyone else seeing a problem with this and a need for policy change? The unemployment rate of individuals with disabilities is incredibly high, which means that they are still experiencing poverty, inequalities regarding health care, and discover injustices and disincentives when attempting to obtain and maintain employment while attempting to leave the Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) and the Social Security Income (SSI) systems.

With the closing of Mayview State Hospital in 2007, many individuals with psychiatric disorders have been discharged and expected to assimilate into society (with the average stay in a psychiatric hospital 7 years). I went to a presentation before Christmas regarding the closing of Mayview. They have found that the supports and services of community treatment teams are crucial in the success of individuals with psychiatric disorders becoming successful and active community members. However, few changes in employment have occurred. One reason is due the age of individuals discharged. Many are older and have not had experience with technology to become gainfully employed. For many individuals, being discharged from Mayview meant emancipation and not eviction. It is important to recognize the recovery process for individuals with psychiatric disorders. Recovery IS a process, and individuals in society at large must become aware of the fact that people CAN have symptoms and also have a better quality of life (QOL) and recovery. There are 5 psychiatric hospitals still operating in Pennsylvania; however, there is a plan to close all of these facilities in the next 8-10 years. The big question, is "how are we, as rehabilitation counselors and advocates, going to help people with disabilities gain and maintain competitive employment?"

I am going to leave you with a couple unique agencies and websites concerning psychiatric disabilities.

Peer Support and Advocacy Network
I have met the director, Shirlee Hopper-Scherch, who is a wonderful advocate.

NAMI of Southwestern PA

Allegheny County Coalition for Recovery

The Willard Suitcase Exhibit The Pennsylvania Mental Health Consumers Association is sponsoring the exhibit at the University of Pittsburgh August 30 - September 30, 2010. If you won't be able to attend, you can tour the exhibit and learn of some of the patients who were hospitalized. It is very interesting. It shows that we have come a long way, and it shows that we still have a long to go in the disability community and in the human rights arena.

Further exploration is needed in the area of disability and human rights. The United States has taken the first step in addressing this issue, when President Obama signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD), in July of 2009.