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Struggle: A Word We All
Know Well Justin Dart called Year 2000 the "Year Of Struggle". Recently, someone asked me why. My response in not so many words was that even though we have come along way, we keep getting setback. Over the past week or so I have been thinking about how I can explain what I meant to you or to others. In the best way I can I will try to tell you why I agree with Justin Dart's view, what struggle means to me, and what is yet to come this year. As part of the disability community we all have our struggles. We are all too familiar with the word. Whether it is trying to get a piece of equipment or to find a job, it has been a struggle. Struggle, to me, does not have the negative meaning as you might think. It, to me, mean obstacle, something to work on, or a stepping stone. I believe that this is what Justin meant. Life, as a person with a disability is a struggle. Sure we have a lot more battles won, but there are a lot ahead of us all. Over the past 12 months we have seen the passage of many laws that have helped the disability as a whole. The SGA (Substantial Gainful Activity) amount that one can earn on Social Security has been raised, and now a person can maintain their Medical Assistance if needed while they work. All great things for employment for people with disabilities. Yet, when a person obtains a job their our many steps they must take and things they must face that they might never encounter if they never found employment. SSI or SSDI may decrease, rents that were based on incomes might be raised, and for a time a person may be loosing more than they are gaining. All of these are possibilities that may cause people with disabilities a great deal of fear. Does that mean that we give up? Not in my book. We just have to keep fighting for our rights and for legislation that may help us be successful with employment. This is the struggle. To fight for our rights, to be productive citizens to the best of our abilities. This July will mark the 10th year since the passage of the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act). This Act has given people with disabilities more freedoms than we ever had. It has made some previously untraveled territory by people with disabilities, reachable places in every sense. However, even today when I opened up my email box there was many alerts to write to our local legislators to encourage them to stand behind the ADA. There is talk of some places even abolishing or changing the ADA. While we can all hope that this does not happen, this unfortunately is always a possibility. So, we must do what we can as a community to protect us and thus protect ourselves. Just another part of the daily struggle. Mr. Dart was right, this year is a struggle, but I believe it is one we can face, and face with great strength. It is true - "We've come a long way baby" - but boy do we have a long way to go. If you would like to become more involved in advocacy, please call Diana at AIM. We all can do it!!! Here's to a year of Strength and AIMing HIGH!!
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