The Question
What have you done—and
what will you do in Congress—to safeguard and expand the rights,
services and community participation of people with disabilities
in Minnesota?
Pond's Response
I have been HIV positive
since 1992. At the time of my diagnosis I was unable to work, had
to leave my job, and became well acquainted with disability services
in our society. I’ve been there. I
have survived because of the vocational rehab services that enabled
me to transition to a job that was less stressful.
Since that time medications came along that have enabled me to combat
my disability. But most important in this transition was the help
I received that maintained my dignity and participation in society.
Education, employment, training, vocational rehabilitation, affordable
housing and transportation are what all disabled individuals need.
Unfortunately, the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, particularly
in Minnesota, has seen substantial decreases in funding, and this
must be reversed. The Minnesota Department of Vocational Rehabilitation
had to prioritize who they take as clients because of this financial
situation. People with the most severe disabilities get services
first: and those people who have minimal disabilities who can be
employed quickly are put on waiting lists for help with training
and education.
Cutting funds to these programs that results in prioritizing the
availability of services insures that both nationally and locally,
people with disabilities, who are chronically under and unemployed,
will be forced to remain on SSI, Medicare and Medical Assistance,
thus costing the tax payer MORE money. Fully funding these programs
is a moral imperative that only makes fiscal sense.
As your representative in
Congress I will make restoring funding and expanding services to
the disabled community a priority. ![]()
