DUDE Renames DHS
DUDE, 22.12.2004 16:12
Does DHS mean "Department of Human Suffering" for the Disabled?
the disability community has lost its faith in the system...
...It seems that the old habit of throwing the aged and disabled down the cliff in ancient Sparta may have been more humane than the present situation, in which the disabled are given too little to live and too much to die.
We the disabled live now constantly under a swinging sword, not knowing when it may fall and cut us off. Thus, we are terrorized not by any outside fanatics, but by our own State government.
Click here for "Perfectly Mobile?" -
Watch the short video to see what it's like
The bowl of food isn't for her dog.
DUDE (Disabled United in Distressing Environments)
Voice of the Voiceless Power of the Powerless
273 Bridge Street
Ashland, OR 97520
(541) 488-5639
dude@cybernetisp.net
Does DHS Mean "Department of Human Suffering" for the Disabled?
Nathan Jacobi, Ph.D., DUDE President
In his recent principles for future Oregon budget the Governor states that "the most vulnerable Oregonians will have their basic food, health, and shelters needs met". The DHS proposed budget, being higher than that of last year, has further draconian cuts to services to disabled and seniors, thus making mockery of the Governor's own words. The following examples illustrate the tragic effect of these cuts on the disability community.
Consider the case of Christine Fondren, who was recently dropped from priority level 10 to 18. Level 18, the least severe disability level recognized for disability benefits, no longer qualifies for benefits, along with all levels numerically higher than 13. Suffering from an advanced Lupus condition, using breathing equipment, shifting from a walker to a wheelchair, and needing to be supported, sometimes carried, when needing to use utilities, she was deemed to be quite independent, being evicted from an assisted living facility, losing her OHP and medical and care-giving service. As these lines are being written she is struggling for survival, a condition in which she has been tossed to the street.
Or consider Katrina Laurent, severely disabled with a variety of conditions including blindness, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, osteoporosis, and more. She had been demoted from priority level 5 to 15. She was partially reinstated, with the net effect of her "victory" losing most of her care-giving hours. DUDE has posted on the Internet a 5-num video describing how, being able to crawl in her apartment without support, she is deemed to be perfectly mobile. The video will be mailed to anybody interested upon contacting us.
Or consider Rhea Jacobi, my wife, survivor of children polio and a stroke, who can use only one of her 4 limbs. She was dropped from level 9 to 13 and was terminated from services. It turned out that both her evaluations were incorrect, as her acute need of assist in mobility had been totally ignored. Had she been correctly evaluated by her case worker, she would have dropped from 5 to 7, in which case DUDE would have never been created.
These examples are not isolated anecdotes, but illustrate a widespread malaise in DHS practices. They not only terminated from services slightly disabled clients, as originally claimed, but have redefined a large number of severely disabled clients as being not disabled enough to be eligible for disability benefits and services. As a result of this abuse the disability community has lost its faith in the system, and the public, as it becomes more aware of these atrocities, is becoming increasingly outraged at these practices, which cannot be tolerated in a civilized society. In fact, it sometimes seems that the old habit of throwing the aged and disabled down the cliff in ancient Sparta may have been more humane than the present situation, in which the disabled are given too little to live and too much to die.
We the disabled live now constantly under a swinging sword, not knowing when it may fall and cut us off. Thus, we are terrorized not by any outside fanatics, but by our own State government.
What needs to be done to remedy this unacceptable situation? All indications are that DHS is under such severe restrictions, that its case workers are forced to ignore their won rules and regulations, being probably subject to termination quotas. The DHS needs to undergo reform, and have its practices and procedures audited and corrected. Such reform would have to be implemented by the Governor in collaboration with the legislature. The current policy is a slap in the face to the basic principles of the ADA, stipulating that we the disabled need to have fair access to activities of daily living. What is currently supported instead are activities of daily survival only.
In the previous biennium the State legislature and government have shown total lack of moral, social, and political will power to handle this grave situation. In the upcoming session, starting in a few days, will they do any better, and will they be able to make human services human again? DUDE (Disabled United in Distressing Environments) can be contacted at dude@cybernetisp.net.
e-mail:: dude@cybernetisp.net
Homepage:: http://www.usdudes.org (pending)
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What is happening 12.02.2005 - 23:47 I was watching channel 31 this morning from my home here in Medford Oregon and I was absolutely appaled at what I was seeing. What is happening in our state that makes it ok to make people with disabilaties live like animals? my gosh have we moved back into the years when people were deemed not fit for society because they did not fit what was called as productive or acceptable? I saddens my heart to think that this is really happening and it seems myself included that this in not a topic of everyday conversation as to why this is happening and what is being done to stop this travisty. I am aware of the fact that the state really does take their time in addressing issues that they feel are unimportant and petty and the reason that I am aware of this is because my sister is in this group of people. She has been without a wheelchair going on 2months now which to some may seem as a very short time, but for her it has been a lifetime of red tape, filling out this form and that form, seeing this doctor and that doctor to tell her the same thing that "we are working on it" while in the interim I see her spirit failing her because she cannot get out and be mobile when she wants to. By rights all people have dignaty and want to be independent and because of red tape and whatever unknown reason we have to wait for them to "work on it" I would like to put the question out there if this were the govenors mother or sister or daughter would this be happening I think not! Sincerely, April Buzard April> e-mail:: spyderkelly7@earthlink.net
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