Category Archives: Our News & Commentary Blog

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Disability Rights Iowa Accuses Governor of Abandoning Those in Nursing Homes to Greater Abuse and Neglect

abuse, Back Door Euthanasia, deregulation, disability rights iowa, iowa, neglect, nursing homes, Our News & Commentary Blog, politics, Tea Party

There’s a really disturbing story out of Iowa that could be the tip of the iceberg in terms of what could be playing out nationally in the current economic and political climate. Clark Kauffman, of the Des Moines Register, writes that Group says Branstad actions cause nursing home deaths:  An organization that advocates for disabled … Continue reading Disability Rights Iowa Accuses Governor of Abandoning Those in Nursing Homes to Greater Abuse and Neglect →

Guest Blog: Paul Timmons – It’s Time to Stop Playing Nice With the Emergency Management Community After Continued Failure to Serve Disabled Disaster Victims

emergency management, fema, Inc., Our News & Commentary Blog, Paul Timmons, Portlight Strategies, red cross, susan dooha

 Shortly after posting Susan Dooha’s blog post on the lack of accessibility she encountered in emergency shelters during Hurricane Irene, I asked a friend and colleague if he’d be interested in writing a reaction/followup to Susan’s post.  Paul Timmons has a lot of experience with disaster relief – what entities such as the Red Cross … Continue reading Guest Blog: Paul Timmons – It’s Time to Stop Playing Nice With the Emergency Management Community After Continued Failure to Serve Disabled Disaster Victims →

CNN: “Choosing death can be like a ‘birth,’ advocates say” – NDY and NCD perspectives included

assisted suicide, barbara coombs lee, cnn, Compassion & Choices, Conflation and Con jobs, media coverage, national council on disability, ncd, Oregon, Our News & Commentary Blog

Two interesting and fairly unusual related things happened over the last two weeks. First, CNN reporter Elizabeth Landau contacted both NDY and the National Council on Disability (NCD) for interviews in connection to a story on assisted suicide.  This was surprising considering that when CNN ran a mini-media tour with Jack Kevorkian during the promotion … Continue reading CNN: “Choosing death can be like a ‘birth,’ advocates say” – NDY and NCD perspectives included →

Guest Blog: Susan Dooha on “Lessons Not Learned” in NYC Emergency Shelters for PWDs

emergency management, fema, Hurricane Irene, New York City, oem, Our News & Commentary Blog, susan dooha

Intro:  Over this last weekend, many people in the disability community were watching the progress of Hurricane Irene and hoping that – finally – disabled people were being properly taken into account in emergency plans.  Judging from the reports from Susan Dooha, Executive Director of the Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York (CIDNY), … Continue reading Guest Blog: Susan Dooha on “Lessons Not Learned” in NYC Emergency Shelters for PWDs →

NJ Governor Vetoes POLST Bill, Suggests Revisions

advance directives, legislation, life-ending decisions, life-sustaining treatment, new jersey, Our News & Commentary Blog, policy, POLST

Much of the state level legislative activity concerning POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) has been carried out under the general public’s radar. But when Governor Chris Christie vetoed the New Jersey POLST bill yesterday, it hit the news feed. According to NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM and the Governor’s veto message – While noting the prospective benefits in … Continue reading NJ Governor Vetoes POLST Bill, Suggests Revisions →