Anne Sommers, the Policy Counsel for the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), moderates the JFActivist blog. For readers outside of the disability community, “JFA” stands for “Justice For All.”
Just a few days ago, Anne combed the platforms of the Republican and Democratic parties for items relevant to the interests and concerns of Americans with disabilities. The Republican platform has two items of particular interest to NDY activists and allies:
Physician-Assisted Suicide (from the section “Health Care Reform: Putting Patients First” and subsection “Funding Medical Research”) – We believe medicines and treatments should be designed to prolong and enhance life, not destroy it. Therefore, federal funds should not be used for drugs that cause the destruction of human life. Furthermore, the Drug Enforcement Administration ban on use of controlled substances for physician-assisted suicide should be restored.
(from the section “Maintaining the Sanctity and Dignity of Human Life”) – Respect for life requires efforts to include persons with disabilities in education, employment, the justice system, and civic participation. In keeping with that commitment, we oppose the nonconsensual withholding of care or treatment from people with disabilities, as well as the elderly and infirm, just as we oppose euthanasia and assisted suicide, which endanger especially those on the margins of society.
Needless to say, having it on paper and actually taking things on as priorities are two different things. Which also holds true for everything related to disability in both party platforms. At the very least, though it is worthwhile for us all to take a look at these platforms so we can look at the positions that the two parties have invited us to hold them to.
Check out “How are the RNC and the DNC talking about disability?” to see what Anne has culled from the two platforms. –Stephen Drake