[LGT-National] President Obama and this Friday

[Mark_Johnson at shepherd.org]

On Friday when President Obama signs the UN Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities, think about Article 19 - Living Independently
and Being Included in the Community and this country's institutional bias.

States Parties to the present Convention recognize the equal right of all
persons with disabilities to live in the community, with choices equal to
others, and
shall take effective and appropriate measures to facilitate full enjoyment
by persons with disabilities of this right and their full inclusion and
participation in the community, including by ensuring that:

a) Persons with disabilities have the opportunity to choose their place of
residence and where and with whom they live on an equal basis with others
and are
not obliged to live in a particular living arrangement;

b) Persons with disabilities have access to a range of in-home, residential
and other community support services, including personal assistance
necessary to support living and inclusion in the community, and to prevent
isolation or segregation from the community;

c) Community services and facilities for the general population are
available on an equal basis to persons with disabilities and are responsive
to their needs.

The President should start implementation by removing the institutional
bias in long term care.

UN Convention,  http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?navid=12&pid=150