The Patriotic Earthling (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
orbitaldiamonds) wrote2009-08-14 11:08 pm
orbitaldiamonds) wrote2009-08-14 11:08 pm
Disability One-Stop Shop: Brainstorming!
Awhile ago, Fizzy sent me this article and this report, and tonight we've been talking about a disability one-stop shop for the USA similar to what's being suggested for Australia.
I thought on it and thought on it after I first read the report, and thought, I'd like to be one of the consultants for such a program. It'd be quite a rewarding job. And realized that such a program wouldn't just benefit disabled people in terms of access and quality of life, it'd benefit abled and disabled people in jobs. Skilled care workers, people to train those skilled workers, plus administration and office staff (that's where I hope to come in, as a consultant who meets with families and arranges funding/services/whatnot).
Anyhow, we were talking about what such a "one-stop shop" would need and have.
It would need funding and resources and staff to help people with disabilities, their family, friends, and carers.
Ideas for things it could have:
:: Guidelines, but with lots of leeway to make sure individuals get help with their individual needs.
:: Respite vacations (or at least discounts on them--could work with travel agencies) for family and/or carers to help prevent burnout.
:: A constantly-updated list of accessible vacation spots and amenities.
:: Statewide maps of public transportation, available in multiple languages and formats (recordings, print, online, Braille, etc.)
:: Grant/loan programs for accessibility improvements to buildings and public areas.
That's what we've come up with in a few hours.
So, any ideas? How can the ones we have be improved? I definitely plan on posting this to disability comms, but if my privilege is showing (I'm actively educating myself, but it happens--it even happened during this discussion with Fizzy), I'd rather have that kick in the pants/whack with a stick/whatnot here first. While I've agonized over whether or not I count as disabled, apparently I do count (since my issues do prevent me from doing some things, if not much), my experience doesn't hold a candle to, say, Fizzy's or Tria's experiences.
Just...know that I'm trying, okay? And that I really want to do this, to take it to advocacy organizations and to Washington. Help? (And bear with me?)
Edit, Aug. 15th:
Another idea:
:: An Angie's List-type website of buildings by level of accessibility, maybe with some different rating systems for different types of needs.
Edit, Aug. 16th:
An idea related to the last: businesses with good ratings might want to advertise it (say, in their show windows or in their phone book ads). Like HRC gay-friendly and gay-unfriendly lists, there could be Accessible and Inaccessible lists on the website. :)
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I thought on it and thought on it after I first read the report, and thought, I'd like to be one of the consultants for such a program. It'd be quite a rewarding job. And realized that such a program wouldn't just benefit disabled people in terms of access and quality of life, it'd benefit abled and disabled people in jobs. Skilled care workers, people to train those skilled workers, plus administration and office staff (that's where I hope to come in, as a consultant who meets with families and arranges funding/services/whatnot).
Anyhow, we were talking about what such a "one-stop shop" would need and have.
It would need funding and resources and staff to help people with disabilities, their family, friends, and carers.
Ideas for things it could have:
:: Guidelines, but with lots of leeway to make sure individuals get help with their individual needs.
:: Respite vacations (or at least discounts on them--could work with travel agencies) for family and/or carers to help prevent burnout.
:: A constantly-updated list of accessible vacation spots and amenities.
:: Statewide maps of public transportation, available in multiple languages and formats (recordings, print, online, Braille, etc.)
:: Grant/loan programs for accessibility improvements to buildings and public areas.
That's what we've come up with in a few hours.
So, any ideas? How can the ones we have be improved? I definitely plan on posting this to disability comms, but if my privilege is showing (I'm actively educating myself, but it happens--it even happened during this discussion with Fizzy), I'd rather have that kick in the pants/whack with a stick/whatnot here first. While I've agonized over whether or not I count as disabled, apparently I do count (since my issues do prevent me from doing some things, if not much), my experience doesn't hold a candle to, say, Fizzy's or Tria's experiences.
Just...know that I'm trying, okay? And that I really want to do this, to take it to advocacy organizations and to Washington. Help? (And bear with me?)
Edit, Aug. 15th:
Another idea:
:: An Angie's List-type website of buildings by level of accessibility, maybe with some different rating systems for different types of needs.
Edit, Aug. 16th:
An idea related to the last: businesses with good ratings might want to advertise it (say, in their show windows or in their phone book ads). Like HRC gay-friendly and gay-unfriendly lists, there could be Accessible and Inaccessible lists on the website. :)
---