The waiting game

It has been a few days since I've written. I'm just writing this as a quick update. I have been in Florida for almost nine months. For the most part, things are going well. However, there is one issue that has still been a struggle for my family and me. As some of you may know, taking care of a person with a disability often requires that one rely on others' help. People who are forced to rely on support from others usually have two options; they can either pay out-of-pocket or go through a state waiver.

            It is impractical for most people to pay out-of-pocket if I used myself as an example. I need 24-hour care. Suppose one was to pay out-of-pocket at the rate of $10 an hour that would equal the following.: $240 a day, $1680 a week, $6700 a month, and $80 640 a year. This is not a practical solution for the long term. The only long-term solution is to go with a state waiver. However, the waiver itself presents problems of its own.

              If one applies for the waiver, there's generally a waiting period of several months. In my case in Florida, it has taken 8 1/2 months even to get partial aid care.

While this partial aid care helps out a little, my family is left to help with my aid care or fund the rest. While I've been dealing with this issue, it has caused me to ponder a more significant problem.

            As of now, the aid care system is not federalized. It differs from state to state. This means that if a person gets many hours in one state, it does not transfer from one to another. There is no uniform formula for determining the maximum amount of hours someone could get. For example, the maximum in Pennsylvania is 84 hours a week, whereas, in North Carolina, the max is 30-40 hours a week. I am unaware at this point what the maximum amount of hours in Florida is. But I have been told the maximum amount falls short of the 84 hours in Pennsylvania I received.

              I consider myself a moderate on most issues but when it comes to the aid care the system I feel as if the federal government needs to take over how it is run. If we can federalize healthcare, we should federalize care for those who need it the most. What would the federalization of aid care provide? It would provide a uniform system, which would examine individual needs. Still, more money would be given to the budgetary needs of the people who are using the service. This is just food for thought.

 

            Until next time thank you for reading & fear nothing but regret less!

The Disability News Network

           The news in America has become constant recycling of all the same stories. With the advent of cable news, the news is on 24/7 on some channel or another. You have three major providers, Fox News, CNN, and MSMBC. Along with these providers, you have local affiliates of ABC, NBC, and CBS. But all these channels tend to tell the same stories. Now there is a new type of news network out there.

 

            The Disability News Network, or DNN, is a news network run by DST, Developmental Service Trainers, in Ocala, Florida. DST is a personal care company, which uses the radio station to provide a voice for people with disabilities. Currently, they do not broadcast all the time and are in the process of re-vamping their broadcast schedule. Even though they are based in the U.S., now they only have 1200 listeners. Most of their listeners come from China and Switzerland. Although this is a young radio station, it only has been around three years; it provides an excellent outlet for people with disabilities. Below is the link to the website where you can find the live feed to the station. I am in preliminary discussions with DNN to host a radio show. Future posts will contain more details. Thanks for reading, and until next time, fear nothing and regret less.  

The Forced Poor No More

s. If you have a disability, life is generally a struggle. It can be a struggle that can make you healthier or a battle that overwhelms you. In America, since the 1990s, the disabled community has had some form of rights to protect various aspects of life. Those rights have been talked about by me and others extensively. What has not been discussed much is the financial burdens that people with disabilities and their families have to undertake.

            To care for a child with a disability is a monumental task. It will consume the lives of people around him/or her. It will strain all parties emotionally and physically, but perhaps most of all, financially. The financial burden can range anywhere from a couple hundred thousand to millions. The financial struggle covers every aspect of life- from transportation to aid care to medical care. When the child grows up, the battle does not end.

            In America, we have a system known as social security. In terms of financial help for those with disabilities, we have two programs under the system of social security; these programs are known as supplemental security income (SSI) and social security disability insurance (SSDI). These programs provide financial assistance but perpetuate a permanent second class because, to qualify for these programs, individuals can only take a minimum of an income in the bank. The exact maximum number for a payment allowed is $2,000 in cash assets. Along with these programs, a person with disabilities can rely on Medicaid and Medicaid waivers to provide specific assistance such as aid care services and, in some cases, transportation. Although the financial aid provided by SSI and SSDI is excellent, the system has its drawbacks.  As I asserted before, the current system perpetuates a second class mentality because individuals are not treated like their peers. It also perpetuates a desire not to work in some cases because individuals on SSI or SSDI may lose their benefits if they even get a full-time job. Will the system ever change?

            The answer to that question is hopefully, yes. The hope comes in the form of something known as the ABLE Act or The Achieving a Better Life Experience Act. The act was first introduced in 2013 by a bipartisan group of Congressman, including Senators Robert Casey, Jr., and Richard Burr. So what did they teach exactly? They introduced a bill that, in theory, will better the lives of persons with disabilities significantly. Currently, there are 58 million people with disabilities in the United States. Through negotiation and compromise, the bill was signed into law in later December 2014. One of the compromises made is that the bill would cover those with “a significant disability.” It is estimated that 10 percent of the 58 million disabled people in the U.S. would qualify under this term, approximately 5.8 million people. 

Since the passage of the law, there have been several questions about what exactly are ABLE Accounts and what they cover. An ABLE account is a tax advantage savings account, which is not the same as a special interest trust or a pooled fund. These accounts are tax-exempt accounts, which can cover qualifying expenses while not taking away from a person’s illegibility for Medicaid. The qualifying expense categories are aid care, medical, transportation, and housing. Other questions about ABLE Accounts have also risen; for example, what amount can one put into an ABLE account per year. Once ABLE Accounts are established by the end of 2015, individuals can develop ABLE Accounts and put up to $14,000 a year into the account. It is essential to know these accounts are not a save all but should be used to supplement other options such as disability trust.

The hope that ABLE Accounts can provide is excellent; no longer will persons with disabilities have to be confined to a financial second class. The regulations have not been written and are only in the works; one will have to wait and see how the act is translated from paper to action. One can only be optimistic and hope that the action will speak as loud as the legislation does.

 

Until next time, thanks for reading, fear nothing and regret less

"Is it Accessible?": Bubba Raceway Park

 

I recently moved back to the south after many years away. Not much has changed; people are still quiet, welcoming, the BBQ is always right, and dirt track racing is still the thing to do on a Friday night. Or at least what all the brochures say.  I was never a fan of dirt tracking racing when I was a kid, but I decided to give it a go since I moved back. One of the "best dirt track racing in the south" is in Ocala, Florida, at Bubba Raceway Park. When I first heard the name, I was skeptical. But then, I did more research. It's a racetrack sponsored and owned by a radio show host known as "Bubba the Love Sponge" although the name may sound different, and his show may not be your typical morning show, the racetrack is what it is advertised to be. Every Friday night beginning in March until the winter months, it is a premier dirt track course and family event.

The first time I went, I enjoyed the action-packed show while sitting near the gate while getting covered in mud. I wasn't concerned with accessibility; I was more concerned with drinking beer and enjoying the show. And I must say, I accomplished that goal quickly. I have since decided to make Bubba Raceway Park a weekly to by weekly tradition, depending on funds. Although I had fun, this blog is not necessarily meant to detail all my exploits. It is about accessibility. That brings me to my second trip to Bubba Raceway Park.

On April 17, I attended Monster Jam at Bubba Raceway Park. While I was at Monster Jam to enjoy the show, I also was there to examine accessibility. The Monster Jam show was great; it was conducted in a team-by-team format, which provided for an evening of mud flying fun. The accessibility of the park and event, however, was not so great.

For anyone who read my last blog post, they will know that 2015 marks 25 years since the ADA. The Bubba Raceway Park did not get the memo. I am aware that this is an outdoor park, so some of their requirements may be less strict, but I must say I was appalled by the venue's lack of accessibility. The trouble started when I went to park my vehicle with my friend. Nowhere on the property is there semi-hard ground to let ramps down in. For anyone who doesn't know, wheelchairs tend to get stuck very quickly in soft ground. Eventually, I could get unstuck and make my way to the tiny paved area that consisted of the line to get in. Here I found another problem. The gate that they expected me to pass through was too narrow for my wheelchair. On this one, though, I will give them credit. They allowed me to enter the seating area differently.

Earlier, I said they allowed me to enter the seating area; I very loosely use it when I display seating area. Don't get me wrong; there were bleachers for everyone else, but no designated handicap seating area. I was in my spot from the week before, sitting by some broken benches on a hill, close to the gate, which I didn't mind.  I minded the lack of control, the venue, and event staff over the area. One other handicap gentleman and I were sitting at the bottom of these broken benches with about 30-50 other people.  No big deal, right? Wrong. What I failed to mention about these people was that they were kids under the ages of 10. For those of you doing the math at home, kids under the age of 10 with no seating area designated equals kids running wherever they want to—included in the front of people in wheelchairs who can't see.

I could handle the minor inconveniences, though; I let it slide and tried to enjoy the show. What I could not let slide was the restroom facility arrangement. I don't know if it's just me not going to a lot of racing events before, or me expecting too much or racetracks not expecting handicap people, but all I could say about the restroom was that it left much more to be desired than one would like to begin with. It was not accessible for wheelchairs to enter it. There was a 3-foot step from the ground to the restroom, go-go gadget wheelchair? Oh wait, I don't have one of the fancy ones. Second and most upsetting was there answer to the non-accessible bathroom when I told the staff that I needed to use the restroom and couldn't get into it, they said something to the effect of "Block it off and go in front of the restroom by the sink and use your urinal there." So wait, I'm supposed to block off the restroom and prevent a line of drunken ass men from going to the bathroom and try to pee all at the same time? That doesn't sound like a formula for success or accessibility.

 

While I am stubborn and probably keep going to Bubba Raceway Park, I do not recommend anyone in a wheelchair going without a companion who is willing to go above and beyond to make sure you both have a good time. To answer whether this venue is accessible, the answer is no, but hopefully, if I keep going and complain enough, it soon will be.

"Is it Accessible?" Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood Florida

This year will mark the 25^th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. It was signed in July 1990. As a part of that Act, titles II, and III specified building accessibility requirements. The latest notifications for those requirements came in 2010. A small excerpt for those requirements is as follows: 

Each facility or part of a facility constructed by, on behalf of, or for the use of a public entity should be designed and built in such manner that the facility or part of the facility is readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities if the construction was commenced after January 26, 1992. 
Each facility or part of a facility altered by, on behalf of, or for the use of a public entity in a manner that affects or could affect the usability of the facility or part of the facility shall, to the maximum extent feasible, be altered in such way that the modified portion of the facility is readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities if the alteration was commenced after January 26, 1992 
These requirements, along with the others at ada.gov, are outstanding, but are they enough? And who is defining what is accessible? Granted, this Act covers a wide variety of disabilities ranging from disabilities to mental health to physical impairment. Indeed even the category of physical impairment has such a wide variety of disabilities. One could argue that it is hard to put on appropriate paper regulations to cover all disabilities. I am not arguing that point; my argument is that after 25 years, have we made that much progress? Is doing the minimum enough? I.e., if  I can get into the building with a ramp, but I can't get into the restroom, is that accessible. According to the regulations, the logical answer would be 'no,' but because some person with a disability could use the restroom, the place is deemed accessible. I am not asking for significant structural changes, just little ones that could benefit all. 
That being said, I was recently at The Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, FL. Gambling is a shared passion in many cultures; it is not discriminatory. All races, religions, and ethnicities may participate in gambling in some form or another. On my visit to the Hard Rock, I was no exception. I enjoyed my 2day getaway. I did a large amount of gambling, but more than just what hand I had in blackjack crossed my mind as I was gambling. As I often do, I found myself thinking like an advocate.  
Several things crossed my mind at once; however, most of them had to do with accessibility. As I was sitting on the casino floor, I realized how inaccessible the table gaming area was. If someone were in a wheelchair and by themselves, they would be faced with a few problems. For one thing, most of the tables are too high to see your cards from a wheelchair. Most of the tables are too high because there was on the lower table, which was reserved for people in wheelchairs. However, seeing as the casino floor contained well over seventy-five tables, one has to wonder if there could have been more effort put into the accessibility question in this part of the casino. If I were grading the table game area, I would have to give it a D. They were willing to move chairs for my companion and me, but the height of the tables presented a big enough problem that moving chairs around did not compensate for it. Although I would give the table gaming area a D, there are other hotel areas a casino to consider.
Apart from the table gaming section, the casino floor itself has an overwhelming number of slot machines. The slot machines are spaced out well enough that a person in an electric or manual wheelchair can navigate most areas without incident; this does not account for people standing in the way or not paying attention to their surroundings. Once selects a slot machine, there are two types to contend with. The old fashion slot machines set further forward from the platform, or the newer slots developed as if they are perfectly fit into their spots on the gaming floor. As a wheelchair user myself, I was forced to avoid the more recent slot machines, but I enjoyed the older slot machines with creative maneuvering. For this portion of the casino, I would have to give it a C+ grade for accessibility.
After one is done enjoying the gaming floor at the Hard Rock, there are many other activities to participate in places to see. The dining at the Hard Rock is exceptional. There are so many food choices that one could not be disappointed, and happily, most dining areas are accessible. Along with the dining area, there is a great pool. The pathway to the pool is complete a well designed so that there is no problem navigation around the pool even with all the vegetation. The dining and pool area gets a grade of a B. Because although the site itself is more comfortable to navigate, there is one glaring problem. To access any of the pool areas, there are no automatic doors. I did not visit any of the shops to include them in the grade would not be appropriate.
The final area to discuss is a handicap accessible room. Was the room handicapped accessible? For the most part, I would have to say the answer would be yes. While the bed and the TV are close to each other, this is not a problem that cannot be worked around. The room I was in came with a shower chair in the shower if you did not bring your own. The shower in an of itself was large enough so that a physically disabled person can be assisted. The only considerable problem was the fact that there was only one queen size bed in the room, and the ground took up a large portion of the room. This can be worked around but maybe an issue that the casino developers might look into improving upon. For the room overall, I would grade it with a B. 
Overall, accessibility needs to be re-examined in general. It is a shame that after twenty-five years that there is still not greater accessibility in society. In terms of Hard Rock, however, they do a reasonably respectable job in attempting to address the issue of accessibility. Overall my final grade for the Hard Rock Hotel, a casino in Hollywood, Florida, is a B. 
Thank you for reading, and until next time, fear nothing and regret less.

A Fresh Start

It has been nearly eight months since there has been anything new posted on this blog. A lot has happened in eight months hiatus. I have finished my master's degree program in Teacher Education. However, due to the trials and struggles that have occurred during that process, which can be read about in earlier entries, my focus has drifted away from teaching and advocacy for persons with disabilities.

Most of this blog has been dedicated to advocacy and discussing various issues that people with disabilities encounter. However, the point of view of the author, me, has changed. A lot of the writing in earlier entries came in a time of my life when I was unhappy with the circumstances faced with. I have since re-evaluated The Voiceless Minority. There was a time where I thought about abandoning the project altogether if I'm honest. However, I decided I would resurrect the blog at this time and take it in a slightly new direction. It will still address social issues, but I will also address practical problems.

One of our more critical topics that will be discussed is, "Is it Accessible?" In this series, I will break down all the places I've traveled to or have been. After doing so, I will examine specific criteria to determine whether areas are accessible by paper standards vs. accessible. Apart from the "Is it Accessible?" series, the blog will focus on current events and real-world issues that may or may not be related to disability. This shift in focus is not meant to take away from the foundation of this blog; rather, it is meant to demonstrate that people with disabilities have a highly engaged mind. To undertake this part of the blog, I may, at certain times, ask for issues to investigate from you, the readers. You can find my email to the right of any page, three-fourths of the way down the page, under the links that say, "Contact Me."



Thank you for reading, and I fear nothing and regret less.