The Economics of Disability: My Question for President Obama
As many of you know. President Obama will be answering questions about the economy submitted at WhiteHouse.gov during a town hall event Thursday.
Here is the video I recorded (transcript after the jump). Please take a moment and go to the website to vote for it (search for "Community Choice Act").
TRANSCRIPT:
My name is Becky Blitch, Ms. Wheelchair Florida 2005. I am a 28-year-old graduate student.
I am quadriplegic due to a severe neuromuscular disability called spinal muscular atrophy.
I would love to be working, paying taxes, and contributing to the economic well-being of my community. But if I were to get a job, I would lose the health benefits I receive from the state and my father's employer, and I would likely not be able to afford my own private insurance, if I was even able to qualify.
There are millions of smart, dedicated Americans like myself who have disabilities or chronic illnesses who would go to work in a heartbeat if they knew they would not be jeopardizing their health by doing so.
In this time of economic crisis, our country cannot afford to force people who are able and willing to work to stay home and live off government benefits. Not only does this strip us of our dignity, it is simply bad economic policy.
I have two questions:
First, how would your healthcare plan affect the employment options of people with disabilities?
Second, the Community Choice Act of 2009, introduced Tuesday, would eliminate many of the financial disincentives to employment people with disabilities face. Will you support this legislation in Congress and sign it, should it pass?