[WestMALocals] Press Release| Broadhurst Urges Disabilities Debate

[Owen Broadhurst]

 Owen R. Broadhurst
96 Elbert Road
Agawam, MA  01001-3202
413.786.1508

AGAWAM- The Green-Rainbow Party candidate for State Representative in the
Third Hampden District, Owen R. Broadhurst of Agawam, declared in a recent
statement that he is "proud and truly quite honored" to have among his
campaign staff Ms. Martina Robinson of Belchertown as his Disabilities
Outreach and Issues Coordinator. "Ms. Martina Robinson is a tireless and
committed disability rights activist who very recently campaigned for
Selectboard in Belchertown, and also presently now serves as a disabilities
issues advisor for the gubernatorial campaign of Green-Rainbow Party
candidate Grace Ross. I'm proud and truly quite honored to have this
extraordinary woman on my campaign staff."

One of Ms. Robinson's most recent initiatives was to petition competing
candidates for state representative in the district to join Mr. Broadhurst
in a debate on issues of disability rights and access. "I'm sorry to say
that few candidates, if any, seem at all willing to debate these issues
before the primaries - but we must continue to call attention to these
issues affecting so very many disabled and elderly residents in the
district," Broadhurst noted. "With Ms. Robinson's able assistance and sage
input, I drafted a platform plank adopted by the Green-Rainbow Party to
reinforce our committment to having the state at long last in compliance
with the ground-breaking Olmstead decision. This is a basic and essential
human rights issue, but politicians of the two major parties have resisted
implementation for years. We need to know how the various candidates plan to
challenge their very own parties' incredibly sorry track record in this
area."

Broadhurst observed that the rights of disabled and elderly Medicaid
recipients in need of care to "the least restrictive setting" for their care
has not in fact been but newly secured with legislation passed July 24th of
this year, but is a right secured through the historic Olmstead decision.
"The legislature did not introduce any new rights, but at long last finally
stopped dragging its feet in recognizing a right established by the Supreme
Court of the United States. The bill expanding home care for those in long
term care may now finally put the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in
compliance with a law that it has flouted for years."

Broadhurst noted that much more still needs to be done. "We need more
cost-effective and humane strategies for children with severe disabilities
and autism. We need to clear the waiting list for children with severe
disabilities to be reintegrated into their families rather than shelved in
private facilities. We need better staff retention and development within
community services," Broadhurst argued.

Broadhurst urged passage of a series of bills to defend the rights of people
institutionalized, to facilitate higher quality care for long term care
patients, and to strengthen the direct care workforce:

* S.376/ H.1120, the Act to Ensure the Human Treatment of People With
Disabilities, as filed by Sen. Jarrett Barrios and Rep. Barbara L'Italien.
This bill would prohibit use of any procedure that causes pain or denies
aspects to basic human needs such as adequate sleep, food, shelter, bedding
or bathroom facilities.

* S.1352, to promote training of law enforcement officers in responding to
mental health emergencies.

* H.2885, an Act Relative to Rates for Human and Social Service Programs.
This bill would allow human service providers Medicare reimbursement rates
appropriate to true cost of services provided.

* S.784, to provide higher education loan forgiveness for direct care human
service workers.

* H.2847 as introduced in 2005, An Act Relative to the Authority of the
Disabled Persons Protection Commission Expanding the Definition of Mandated
Reporter. This bill would include firefighters, paramedics, emergency
medical technicians and correctional officers among mandated reporters.

* Legislation to fully fund Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and
Children Program (EAEDC) to meet current eligibility standards and provide a
10% cost of living adjustment.

* Legislation to fully fund inpatient care for the Massachusetts Department
of Mental Health

Broadhurst urged immediate action to correct the legislature's record of
slashing of Medicaid funding for basic and essential needs. "I firmly
support restored coverage for prosthetics, orthotics, dentures, eyeglasses
and chiropractic therapy via single-payer health care plans," Broadhurst
noted.

Broadhurst urged also full implementation in Massachusetts of the Ticket to
Work/ Work Incentives Act, and observed that freedom for the more than 8200
wrongly deprived of freedom and liberty within the state would save
taxpayers some $221,400,000 per year. "The Supreme Court's landmark 1999
Olmstead vs LC decision on the American with Disabilities Act must finally
now be fully implemented," said Broadhurst. "This is a question of basic
human rights, and also one of tremendous waste and inefficiency."


-- 
Owen R. Broadhurst
Candidate for State Representative
Third Hampden District
http://www.owenbroadhurst.org