Issues
PHI endorses the advocacy of the following issues and encourages its Members to support them.
WERE STILL HERE!
October 10-16, 2010
- Visit a Rotary Club luncheon meeting telling them WE’RE STILL HERE! Suggestions and ideas available. Read more ...
- Enter a photo contest showing your life with polio.
PHI and RI Collaborate
Post-Polio Health International (PHI) and Rotary International (RI) call on Members of PHI to participate in a Rotary Club meeting the week of October 10-16, 2010.
First, connect with your local Rotary and ask them if you may present a program about polio and post-polio. Make arrangements now, because many Clubs book their speakers months ahead. Look under “Rotary” in your phone book or use the “Club Locator” on the website of Rotary International http://www.rotary.org/en/AboutUs/SiteTools/ClubLocator/Pages/ridefault.aspx If they are booked that week, accept any week available.
Second, ask them for the name of their member(s) who have been the most involved in polio eradication. Contact this person and invite him/her to help you present facts about polio eradiation and the late effects of polio.
What are the facts? Carol Pandak, Manager, Division of PolioPlus, and Rotarians Ann Lee Hussy and Al Bonney of Polio Survivors and Associates, add a Rotary Action Group, have supplied answers to questions about the polio eradication effort. Joan L. Headley, Executive Director of PHI, answered questions about the late effects of polio. Two documents are available:“A Rotarian’s Primer on Polio Eradication and Polio Survivor Support” and “Questions and Answers for a Visit to Rotary.”
Download both sets of questions and answers from www.post-polio.org or call 314-534-0475 for a copy.
Third, in collaboration with the Rotarian decide which of the questions you want to ask about polio eradication that he will answer; decide which questions you want him/her to ask you about the late effects of polio. Pick the ones that are the most appropriate for your town and country and practice your part of the Q & A presentation. Most programs are ½ hour or less. Check with the organizer.
Fourth, on the day of the meeting, thank the Rotarians for what they have accomplished and encourage them to finish the job, and, with the Rotarian, present your Questions and Answers.
Take along some materials for the Rotarians to let them know WE’RE STILL HERE! Watch www.post-polio.org for options that will be available soon.
Reminder: Visit www.post-polio.org for “A Rotarian’s Primer on Polio Eradication and Polio Survivor Support” and “Questions and Answers for a Visit to Rotary.”
Join the campaign – WE’RE STILL HERE!
Photo Contest for WE'RE STILL HERE!
Polio World, an informal group of leaders and advocates dedicated to promoting post-polio syndrome advocacy globally, has organized a photo collage contest. They are seeking entries from polio survivors featuring 3-4 photos showing how a survivor has journeyed with polio throughout life and to say WE’RE STILL HERE! Participating continents and countries have each created their own procedures. For more information, contact the appropriate representative below.
AFRICA – Barbara Gratzke, Int. Post Polio Support Organization, Ppsofsouthfl@aol.com
ASIA – Lisa Wang, National Chung Cheng University, Taiwan , kuoyuwang194@gmail.com
AUSTRALIA – Mary-ann Liethof, Polio Australia, mary-ann@polioaustralia.org.au
NEW ZEALAND – Susan Kerr, Post-Polio Support Society of New Zealand, susanvrm@clear.net.nz
EUROPE – Margret Embry, European Polio Union, margret@trexim.be
CANADA – Sue Jones, Polio Canada, SJones@marchofdimes.ca
USA – East of Mississippi River, Linda Priest, Atlanta Post-Polio Association, lindaleepriest@gmail.com
USA – West of Mississippi River, Micki Minner, Polio Epic ( Tucson ), mickiminner@msn.com
SOUTH AMERICA – Tatiana Mesquita e Silva, Liasion Associação Brasileira de Síndrome Pós-Poliomielite (ABRASPP), tatimsilva@gmail.com
Reminder: July 26, 2010 is the 20th Anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Join the nationwide celebration or conduct your own!
- Recognize the 20th Anniversary of the ADA ! Join a campaign to collect 2,010 proclamations of recommitment to the spirit of the ADA.
- Check American Association of People with Disabilities for history of the ADA, location of events and other ADA resources.
The Missouri History Museum ( St. Louis ) created a special exhibit The Americans with Disabilities Act: Twenty Years Later that will be open from June 26, 2010 to June 6, 2011. Check out the related website – actionforaccess.mohistory.org. PHI’s founder Gini Laurie is featured in the “Independent Living Movement” section. The site and the exhibit include photos from the PHI archives.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADAAA) of 2008 was signed into law on September 25, 2008.
Health Care Advocacy
Polio survivors, like individuals from other disability communities, require life-long intermittent intervention. Many chronically ill individuals have the dual challenge of managing their complex conditions while also negotiating innumerable obstacles to accessing quality health care. READ MORE about the advocacy of Reji Mathew, PhD ...
A Focus on Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities
On Tuesday and Wednesday, January 8 and 9, 2008, in conjunction with Homeland Defense Journal, the National Organization on Disability (www.nod.org) hosted a national conference, dedicated to addressing the emergency preparedness needs of individuals with all types of disabilities. Review the prepared remarks of Justice Department representatives, discussing the issue on a panel entitled "ADA Guidelines from the U.S. Department of Justice on Sheltering for Mass Care."
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. After five years of negotiations, countries have agreed on a new convention to protect the rights of persons with disabilities. READ MORE ...
Community Choice Act, initiated by ADAPT (www.adapt.org; adapt@adapt.org), supports using federal Medicaid dollars for a community- based alternative to nursing homes and institutions for people with disabilities.
The Senate version . S. 799, The Community Choice Act of 2007
S. 799 would amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide individuals with disabilities and older Americans with equal access to community-based attendant services and supports.
The House version . H.R. 1621, The Community Choice Act of 2007
H.R. 1621 would amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide individuals with disabilities and older Americans with equal access to community-based attendant services and supports.
Updated 7-9-10