AMPUTEE
SUPPORT GROUP OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA NEWSLETTER
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Monthly Meetings: |
First Tuesday of every month, 7:30-9:00
pm, Telestar Court Building, Gemini Room, 2990 Telestar Court, Falls
Church, Virginia 22042 |
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Contacts: |
Treasurer - Daphne
Burroughs, 703-369-2615 Secretary - Dorsey
Vengrouskie, 301-946-9335 Database Manager, Newsletter Editor –
Beth Harris, 540-439-3656, betheharris@earthlink.net Visitation Coordinator - George Willis,
703-971-2883, gwillis464@aol.com Communications
Coordinator - John Vengrouskie, 301-946-9335 Community Outreach Coordinator – Stan
Smith, 703-931-6040 Telephone Committee
Chair - Paula Golladay, 703-820-7987, pgolladay@cox.net Librarian – Jason
Bulger, 301-680-2159, jason.bulger@medstar.net |
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Web Page: |
www.inova.org/rehabilitation/amputee_support.htm |
Support Group Meeting
On Tuesday, August 3, 2004, the Amputee Support Group of Northern Virginia held its regularly scheduled monthly meeting in the Telestar Court Building, Gemini Room. Only twelve people attended the meeting and it was mostly the “same old folks” that always come to see if we have any new amputees. But, if you weren’t there, you missed seeing Jeanne and lots of discussions and news.
Jeanne McCormick and her husband, Steve, were at the meeting. Jeanne and Steve are visiting for the summer and dropped into the meeting and it was great to see them! Jeanne is an above-knee amputee who started out with a knee disarticulation from trauma. I remember visiting her in the hospital. She was my second peer visitation and was a very easy visitation because she was awake and aware and had a million questions and almost no inhibitions. We just sat and talked and talked and talked. She was an active member of ASGNVA before she and her husband moved to Texas (too bad for us). She’s been receiving the newsletter (via email) while she was in Texas so that she could keep up with the group. Jeanne traded in her knee disarticulation for a true above-knee amputation and is much happier with her prosthesis now. I asked her about that and, except for the fact that she’s lost weight and her socket doesn’t fit right now (there’s a few of us with that problem currently), she’s much more active and happy as a true above-knee amputee. Anyway, it was great to see you and Steve, Jeanne! Hope you come back in September.
Pat and Joce were unable to attend this month because Joce is having some “other” problems but she checked in and hopes to join us next month.
Other than that, the same old people attended the meeting: Irv and Aida, George, Betty and Helmut, Dorsey, Daphne, Jason, Jack and Beth. Jack doesn’t always attend meeting but he’s fairly religious about it. Betty and Helmut can’t always get to the meeting. The rest of us almost always attend because we have “jobs” to do for the group. So that accounts for about 10 members of the group. I’d like to know where the other 140 of you were. Are you alive? Interested? Are the meetings boring? How about attending and making some suggestions or pitching in some? Or even just calling one of the contact people and making suggestions? Do you still want to have a support group? A newsletter? The “worker bees” are getting pretty tired of doing everything and getting no response from the rest of you. How about some feedback – good, bad or indifferent – just let us know you’re alive and what your thoughts are on the support group. Speak up – it’s YOUR support group.
Irv was our “guest moderator” at the meeting and he had a lot of news to impart. He’s been working hard to promote the support group and, hopefully, raise some money for the ASGNVA fund so that we can continue to have the support group and send out newsletters and New Amputee Information Packets. The activities he’s been involved in are detailed in the News and Announcements section of this newsletter.
News and Announcements
Guest Speaker at ASGNVA September Meeting – It finally happened and I wasn’t even sitting down. George Willis called me up and said that he had arranged for a speaker for the ASGNVA September meeting. YES! Thank you George! He called his local fire station, Jefferson Station, and spoke with Chief Carlton Burkhammer who will provide a lecturer on “Home Fire Safety” with an emphasis on persons with disabilities for our group in September. I don’t know if the Chief will have handouts, but I will probably have some. Please come to the meeting and support George and his efforts to improve our meetings and perhaps learn something that might save your life someday.
Fairfax County Disability Services Board Disability Services Beacon – On that same note (safety), the DSB’s Disability Services Beacon Summer 2004 edition is all about “Preparing for an Emergency.” If you are not already receiving the Beacon and would like to receive this free publication, please call 703-324-5421 or TTY 703-449-1186, or send an email to disabilityservices@fairfaxcounty.gov. The Disability Services Board also has an E-News weekly online newsletter that is informative and can be requested at the same time.
ASGNVA Members Featured in Transportation
Security
Administration Training Video – As reported last
month, five
members of the Amputee Support Group of Northern Virginia were asked by
the
Transportation Security Administration to act in a training video TSA
was
making concerning security screening of persons with prosthetic devices.
On June 14, Irv Axelrod, Keith
Bridgett, James Humes, Barbara Johnson and Bob McKenna
picked up
their scripts and, for many hours, worked hard to produce the training
video. These volunteers were directly
responsible for the new Screener Standard Operating Change that became
effective June 21 nationwide. It specifically states:
"under
no circumstances should a
screener require or accept
someone's offer for removal of a prosthetic
device."
Sandra Cammaroto, Program Manager,
Screening of Persons with Disabilities Program, invited Irv to the
“opening” of
the film and presented Irv with a plaque “In appreciation for steadfast
commitment in the establishment and sustainment of Transportation
Security
Administration’s Screening of Persons with Disabilities Program”. Charlie Crone also received a plaque for the
assistance that Nascott Rehabilitation Services has given to the
Transportation
Security Administration and his personal time and dedication given as a
member
of the TSA Disability Coalition. Paddy
Rossbach, RN, President and CEO of the Amputee Coalition of American
also
received a similar plaque. Thank you
Irv, Keith, James, Barbara, Bob and, of course, Charlie.
ASGNVA 20TH Anniversary Party
and
Fundraiser – This
year, 2004, marks the 20th anniversary of the formation of
the
support group known as the Amputee Support Group of Northern Virginia
(ASGNVA). During that time, ASGNVA has
had many highs and lows. Currently we
are at an all time high in membership but an all time low in funds and
active
volunteers. Here are some of the
achievements of the support group:
- Our newsletter goes out
to 163 members – 125 regular members (amputees, family and friends) and
38 associate members (doctors, hospitals, prosthetists, rehab
personnel, etc.).
- To save on costs of the
newsletter (our greatest expenditure) we email the newsletter to 76
members and only have to pay printing and postage costs to mail the
newsletter to 49 members. If you receive
this newsletter and have an email address, please let us know so we can
further minimize our newsletter costs.
- Our web site was added
to the Inova Fairfax Hospital web site. Ok,
so it’s not “our” web site, but we’re on there. Amputees
can search the hospital site and come up with us. It’s
a great contact link and we’ve worked long and hard to get the web page
up there and get it corrected and updated and we should be proud of it.
- Our bylaws.
We are probably one of the few amputee support groups that
even have a set of bylaws. Are they
perfect? No, but other groups are already
using them as a template and I think we should be proud that we’re
actually that organized.
- We have a very good New
Amputee Information Packet for new amputees. It’s
a little overwhelming but, as you well know, there’s lot’s to learn
about your new life as an amputee.
- And we have a great
group of people. I know a lot of you
personally and you are great. You don’t
come to meetings, but I like you.
- AND WE’VE BEEN IN
EXISTENCE AND SUPPORTING AMPUTEES FOR 20 YEARS!
At this point in time, ASGNVA has
monies in the Foundation to continue operating for another 6 months. As a result, to celebrate our anniversary
and to raise some money, we will be having a Tupperware Party
fundraiser/pot
luck/anniversary party for our October meeting. This
will be in place of our Watermelon Social, as we
don’t have funds for that at this time.
Forty percent of the sales will go to
the Amputee Support Group of Northern Virginia if the item is ordered
from the
“Fund Raiser Catalog”. Fund Raiser
Catalogs will be available at the September meeting to take home and
get
orders. You can get orders from anyone
including yourself. You can also go
online (www.tupperware.com)
and view
products or order from any Tupperware catalog but, in that case, ASGNVA
only
gets 10% of the sale.
But the October meeting should be fun
– a real Tupperware party with games and prizes and good food and
fellowship! Please plan on attending
and getting to know your fellow amputees and having fun.
And remember to bring a “goodie” to share or
a bottle of soda or something and we’ll “party hardy”.
I’ll bring paper products.
ASGNVA Member Speaker At Arlington
Civitan Club – Irv Axelrod
was asked to speak at an
Arlington Civitan Club meeting. In case
you aren’t familiar with the Civitans, here’s some Fast Facts
from their
website:
- Civitan International is
a worldwide community service
organization of men, women and teenagers in 24 countries on four
continents
joining together to perform community service projects.
-
Civitan emphasizes
helping people with developmental
disabilities. However, Civitan clubs perform a variety of service
projects that
address the unique needs of their communities.
One of our members has a husband who is
a Civitan in Arlington and he came to an ASGNVA meeting where Irv was
presiding. After the meeting he asked
Irv if he would be interested in talking to the Civitan Club and Irv
said yes
(you go Irv!). And Irv did just that on
August 10, 2004. He was served a nice
dinner and talked about “The History of the Amputee Support Group of
Northern
Virginia” with a synopsis of the many worthwhile projects our members
have
accomplished in the past 20 years. He
also spoke about his life as a landmine victim and decision to become
an
amputee, his life as an amputee and work with the Amputee Support Group
of
Northern Virginia and his personal conviction to help amputees. Thank you, Irv, for spreading the news about
amputees and networking with the Civitan Club of Arlington.
Two Members Attend Peer Visitation
Seminar At Walter
Reed – Two members of the
Amputee Support Group of Northern Virginia, Irv Axelrod and Tom
Porter,
attended a Peer Visitation Seminar given at Walter Reed Hospital on
July 24,
2004. If you recall from the April
2004 issue of the ASGNVA Newsletter, the Amputee Coalition of
America and
Walter Reed Hospital have teamed up and consulted with their experts
about rehabbing
young amputees and establishing a program in which other young amputees
counsel
them. Out of this was born a unique
Peer Visitation Seminar specifically designed for young soldiers to
assist them
in returning to civilian life as soon as possible.
Irv commented that this seminar was very different from the
seminar that the ACA presented to ASGNVA a few years ago.
And thanks, Irv and Tom, for your time and
energy as I’m sure these new amputees will benefit from your counsel
and years
of experience as an amputee to help them adjust to their new lives.
Fourth Annual Kit Callahan’s Miracle Mile
Event –
The 4th
Annual Miracle Mile 8K Run/Walk and Brain Injury Awareness Fair will be
held on
October 3, 2004, from 7:30 am to noon at George Mason University in
Fairfax,
Virginia. The Miracle Mile is a
fund-raiser to promote community outreach and education about brain
injuries. The proceeds from the event
benefit Brain
Injury Services, Inc. and the Northern Virginia Brain Injury
Association;
Congressman Tom Davis is the Honorary Chairperson this year. Go online
and
visit www.KitsMiracleMile.org
for more details and register online at www.SignMeUpSports.Com.
Metro Access – If you utilize the
services of
Metro Access (MTA) and are experiencing difficulties with their
services (late
or missed pickups, etc.), please call and report these problems to MTA
at
410-727-3535 or call the Complaint Representative at 410-468-4973. The more input that is received, the better
Metro Access will be able to analyze the situation and make corrections.
Washington Amputee Association Pot Luck
Picnic –
WAA is
having their Annual Pot Luck Picnic on Saturday, August 28,
2004, from
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, at National Rehabilitation Hospital, 102 Irving
Street, NW,
Washington, DC, in the rear of the dining room on the ground floor. All amputees, their families and friends are
welcome to attend for a fun day with lots of food and to mingle with
other
amputees. You may bring your favorite
dish to share with everyone. Parking is
free – just make sure to bring your parking tickets with you to have
them
validated before you leave the picnic.
Shenandoah
University
Needs Volunteers for Introduction to Physical Therapy Class – Dr.
Melissa Wolff-Burke, Shenandoah University, Division of Physical
Therapy, is
looking for a few good amputees to volunteer for the Introduction
to
Physical Therapy class. It will be
a great help to their future therapists to have your assistance.
For
this
class Dr. Wolff-Burke is asking you to sit with a small group of
students and
talk to them about your amputation.
They will be taking your history, and asking you questions. They are very interested in what you have to
say as they have had little contact with “real patients”.
You will not need to get
up or do
any exercise. It would help if you
could wear loose fitting clothing similar to what you may have worn
while you
were in rehabilitation. If you are
comfortable taking off your prosthesis and describing the on/off
procedure to
the students, that would be interesting to them, but you absolutely do
not need
to do that. There is a lot to talk
about with your prosthesis on.
- Date:
October 13, 2004
- Time:
8:30-10:00 am
- Location: 333 West Cork
Street, Winchester, VA, second floor, Classroom C
- Contact:
Dr. Missy Wolff-Burke, 540-545-7238, fax 540-665-5530, mwolff@su.edu
Please
call and leave a message with Dr. Wolff-Burke if you
can attend or if you have any questions.
The
students and Dr. Wolff-Burke are looking forward to it.
Services and Products
ASGNVA
Lending Library – Come to a meeting and
borrow a book or see what
new handouts are available. We have a
lot of good information for you to borrow and/or to take.
And Jason keeps dragging it in and no one
even looks at what’s available on the table.
There are copies of Active Living, inMotion,
stuff from
the Amputee Coalition of America, books, and lots more.
For more information, contact Jason Bulger on the Nascott
web
site, http://www.nascott.com/.
Member Updates
Jenny
Southerly
– Jenny’s newsletter was returned with a new address on
it. I changed her address in the
database and re-sent the July newsletter to her. Jenny
– you moved! Where
are you? How are you?
Call in and let somebody know what’s
happening with you. Please.
Donnie
Harrison
– I have the unfortunate job of telling you that one of
our members, Donnie Harrison, died on July 29, 2004.
Donnie didn’t attend too many meetings or ASGNVA events but he
was always fun when he did. And we’ll
miss him. Our condolences go out to his
wife and family. If you would like to
sign his guest book, click on the link in the box below.
Donald "Donnie" Harrison 
HARRISON, DONALD "Donnie"
On
Thursday, July 29, 2004 of Alexandria, VA. Husband of Diana M.
Harrison; father
of Amy M. (Donald) Wray and Angie R. (David) Morris; son of Dorothy E.
Harrison; brother of Gail M. (Cary) Nevitt and Betsy A. (Roy)
Shifflett. He is
also survived by five grandchildren, Jessica, Allison and Donald Wray,
Jr. and
Madison and Mackenzie Morris. Family will receive friends on Monday,
August 2
from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the JEFFERSON FUNERAL CHAPEL, 5755
Castlewellan
Dr. (just south of the intersection of Franconia Rd. and S. Van Dorn),
Alexandria, VA and where a funeral service will be held on Tuesday,
August 3 at
11 a.m. Interment Mt. Comfort Cemetery.
Scheduled Events
Conference
on Emergency Preparedness For People With Disabilities - The National Organization on Disability, in
partnership with the US Department of Homeland Security and the
National
Capital Region, announces a Conference on Emergency Preparedness For
People
With Disabilities. This conference is
the first to focus on disaster preparedness, response, and recovery
specific to
the unique emergency needs of people with disabilities.
High-level authorities from the emergency
management, disability, and special needs communities, government
agencies,
private business, and the service, advocacy, and care networks will be
at this
forum to share and learn about each other’s experiences, resources, and
best
practice models.
About
Conference Participants: Decision
Makers and high-level authorities from the Emergency Management,
Disability,
Government, private business and service industries will be at this
forum to
share and learn about each others experiences, resources and best
practice
models.
About The
National Capital Region: The National Capital
Region's goal in hosting the
Conference on Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities is to
facilitate an exchange of information and dialogue between emergency
response
agencies and special needs populations regarding emergency preparedness
for
people with disabilities. By providing an opportunity for exchange of
experiences and effective practices, regional leaders intend to enhance
emergency preparedness programs with respect to people with
disabilities and
empower special needs populations to take active roles in preparedness,
response, and recovery initiatives.
About the
National Organization on Disability (N.O.D.): Founded
in 1982, the National Organization
on Disability promotes the full participation and contribution of
America's 54
million men, women and children with disabilities in all aspects of
life.
About the
Emergency Preparedness Initiative (EPI): Compelled by the attacks
of
September 11, 2001, N.O.D. launched the Emergency Preparedness
Initiative to
ensure that emergency managers address disability concerns and that
people with
disabilities are included in the emergency planning process. N.O.D.
seeks to
increase communication and cooperation between emergency managers and
the
disability community, and to educate people with disabilities about
what they
can do to be prepared.
Highlights
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Workshop Sessions
Thursday,
September
23rd
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Evacuation Issues for
People with Disabilities
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Emergency Preparedness
Material designed for Special Need
Populations
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Workplace Model Plans
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Accessibility and Alert
Systems: Opportunities and
Challenges in Serving People with Sensory Disabilities Disaster
Response for
Pediatric Populations with Disabilities
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Developing a Strategic
and Inclusive Approach to Emergency
Preparedness and Disaster Planning that Benefits People of All Abilities
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Impact of Specific
Disasters on Senior Populations
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Funding Emergency
Preparedness for People with
Disabilities: A Workshop for Grantmakers and Grant Seekers
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Live Demo Session
Friday,
September 24th
- Planning with the
Visiting Nurse Service (VNS) about Infectious Disease and Bioterrorism
for the Home Based Care Population
- Disaster Mental Health
Issues and Service Delivery in the Disability Community
- Emergency Planning -
Legal Issues and Disability Rights
Training Sessions
Several dynamic training sessions ranging in length from 2 hours to
half a day
will be scheduled and pre-registration required.
Training Session September 23
Developing Emergency Plans for the disabled & medically fragile
population
including: Independent Living, Licensed
Facilities and County Plan (separate from general population plan). The training class focuses
on planning, response, and recovery during a major crisis, i.e.
affecting large
numbers of people. It will address the integration of need, resources,
responsibilities, and seek solutions. County Agencies, facility
Administrators
& Executive Directors, and organizations working with the disabled
will
benefit from this class.
Location - Hyatt
Regency Crystal City, 2799 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington,
Virginia, Tel:
703.418.1234
Registration
- Register online for
the conference
at http://www.nataliepshear.com/events/nod/index.cfm
- Download
registration materials at http://www.nataliepshear.com/library/download/nod.pdf,
available in Adobe PDF format
For
More Information
- For general information please contact:
Sarah
Campbell: 202.833.4456 x 103, or by
email to: Sarah@nataliepshear.com
World
of Possibilities
Disabilities Exposition – The World
of Possibilities Disabilities Exposition will allow an opportunity for
an
anticipated 6-10,000 attendees to explore a vast array of products and
services
such as: assistive and adaptive technology, durable medical equipment,
computer
software, mobility products, living aids and more – all conveniently
displayed
to see, touch and compare in a one-stop shopping experience. This will give individuals, who do not
typically have easy access to comparison shopping, a hands-on
opportunity to
try devices and speak directly to equipment representatives about the
products
and services.
-
Dates:
October 22 – October 24, 2004
-
Location:
Dulles Expo Center, Chantilly, VA
-
Sponsored by: Caring Communities, Inc.
- Web Site:
www.caringcommunities.org
-
For more information
contact: Mona Freedman, RN at caringcommunities@adelphia.net
ASGNVA
Monthly Meeting – The next monthly
meeting is
September 7, 2004. Remember to attend,
pick up your Tupperware books and listen to our guest speaker!
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August |
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1 Chepi DiCalogero
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3 ASGNVA Meeting
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6 Andrew Ryder
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10 Winchester ASG Meeting
Fredericksburg (FAAST) Meeting
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11 Barbara Johnson
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13 Daniel Cripps
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15 Art Tracy
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17 Washington Amputee Association Mtg Cancelled
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18 Kernan ASG
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20 Ernesto Gomez
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26 Georgetown ASG
Ability With Mobility
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28 Washington Amputee
Association Annual Pot Luck Picnic
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September - National Sickle Cell Month |
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5 Suicide
Prevention Week
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6 Rob Chalkley |
7 ASGNVA
Meeting
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8 Dorsey Vengrouskie
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12 National
Reye's Syndrome Week
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14 Winchester ASG Meeting
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15 Kernan ASG Meeting
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19 National
Rehabilitation Week
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20 Tony Bernardo
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21 WAA Meeting
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23 Georgetown ASG Meeting
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24
National
Women's Health and Fitness Day |
25 Ramon Reyes
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26 Patti Skinner
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27 Family
Health and Fitness Day USA
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30 Ability With Mobility ASG
Mtg
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Ability With Mobility – Last
Thursday of the month, 6:00-8:00 pm, 2nd floor, Adventist
Rehabilitation
Hospital of Maryland, 9909 Medical Center Dr, Rockville, MD. Contact Sandy Shehadeh, 240-864-6200.
Fredericsksburg
Area Amputee Support Team (FAAST) – 2nd Tuesday
of the
month, 7:00-9:00 pm, The disAbility Resource Center, 409 Progress
Street,
Fredericksburg, VA. Contact Greg
Wright, 540-899-2655 or 800-333-4102.
Georgetown University
Hospital Amputee Support Group – 4TH
Thursday of every month, 7:30-9:00 pm, Martin Marietta Conference Room,
Lombardi Cancer Center, Entrance 1 (park in the Levey Center; handicap
parking
available; transit access can drop off/pick up at this location). Call
202-444-8037 and leave a message.
Kernan Hospital Amputee
Support
Group
– 3rd Wednesday of the month, 6:00-8:00 pm,
Room G604, Kernan Hospital, 2200 Kernan Dr., Gwynn Oak, MD. Contact Mark Senker at 410-581-7027.
Laurel
Amputee Support Group - Meets on
the 3rd
Tuesday of each month from 6:00-8:00 P.M. in Conference room B (first
floor) at Laurel Regional Hospital, 7300 Van Dusen Road, Laurel,
MD 20707.
Contact Jeanne Askins, 301-497-7901.
Washington Amputee
Association (WAA) – National Rehabilitation
Hospital, 102 Irving
Street, NW, Washington, DC, Ground Floor Dining Room (rear section,
near the
windows and behind the partition), 3RD Tuesday of each month
from
6:30-8:30 pm. Contact Roy Dwyer
(301-897-2816) or Becky Lehman, RT/NRH, 202-877-1578,
rebekahlehman@juno.com.
Winchester Amputee
Support
Group
– 2nd Tuesday of the month, 5:30-6:30 pm,
Conference Room, 2nd floor, Winchester Rehabilitation
Center, 333 W.
Cork St, Winchester, VA. Contact
Christie Augustine, 540-536-5113.
Landmark
Disability Survey Finds Pervasive Disadvantages
2004 N.O.D./Harris Survey Documents
Trends Impacting
54 Million Americans
WASHINGTON, D.C. JUNE 24, 2004 – Americans with
disabilities are at a critical disadvantage compared to other Americans
in ten
key areas of life, according to the 2004 National Organization on
Disability/Harris Survey of Americans with Disabilities, released in
Washington
today. Continuing a trend, the survey found slow and modest progress in
the
indicators, which Harris has tracked since 1986.
Harris Poll Chairman
Humphrey
Taylor, who directed related surveys in 1986, 1994, 1998 and 2000,
highlighted
statistics:
- Only 35% of people with
disabilities reported being employed full or part time, compared to 78%
of those who do not have disabilities.
- Three times as many live
in poverty with annual household incomes below $15,000 (26% vs 9%).
- People with disabilities
remain twice as likely to drop out of high school (21% vs 10%).
- They are twice as likely
to have inadequate transportation (31% vs 13%), and a much higher
percentage go without needed health care (18% vs 7%).
- People with disabilities
are less likely to socialize, eat out, or attend religious services
than their non-disabled counterparts.
- Not surprisingly given
the persistence of these gaps, life satisfaction for people with
disabilities also trails, with only 34% saying they are very satisfied
compared to 61% of those without disabilities.
"Progress
is too slow, and the gaps are still too
large," said National Organization on Disability President Alan A.
Reich.
"Looking back four years, or ten years, to our earlier N.O.D./Harris
surveys, we see Americans with disabilities heading in the right
direction. But
people with disabilities remain pervasively disadvantaged. Our goal of
full
participation is a dream deferred. I hope that the findings we are
releasing
today will inspire legislators, public officials, and the American
people to
rededicate themselves to this goal. A fifth of Americans have
disabilities;
everyone knows people with disabilities; and anyone can acquire a
disability at
any time. Everyone has a stake in these findings."
In
addition to the primary findings, Mr. Taylor reported several others of
note:
- Although 22% of employed
people with disabilities report encountering job discrimination, this
is a dramatic drop from 36% four years ago.
- The severity of
disability makes a significant difference in all of the gap areas, and
people with severe disabilities have much greater disadvantages.
- People with disabilities
are much more worried about their future health and well-being. Half
are worried about not being able to care for themselves or being a
burden to their families, compared to a quarter of other Americans.
- Americans with
disabilities rely on assistive technology, and a third say they would
lose their independence without this technology.
- People with disabilities
are more likely to have a common sense of identity with other people
with disabilities; 56% now say they do, compared to 47% in 2000.
"Depending on the severity and type of disability that one has, some doors open but certain other doors close," said Mr. Hall, who lost both legs in a 1978 highway accident. "The N.O.D./Harris Survey does a good job of pointing out these societal problems and highlights the real gaps we face as citizens with disabilities."
Key "Indicators" by
Severity of Disability (2004)
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|
Very or Somewhat Severe Disabilities |
Slight or Moderate
Disabilities |
All People With Disabilities |
People Without
Disabilities |
|
Base: |
677 |
571 |
1267 |
988 |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
Employment - Works either full or
part-time (18-64) |
21 |
54 |
35 |
78 |
|
Education* - Has not graduated from
high school |
21 |
21 |
21 |
11 |
|
Socializing - Socializes with close
friends, relatives, or neighbors at least twice a month |
75 |
84 |
79 |
89 |
|
Attendance at Religious
Services - Goes to church,
synagogue, or any other place of worship at least once a month |
44 |
56 |
49 |
57 |
|
Entertainment/Going Out
- Goes
to a restaurant at least twice a month |
49 |
66 |
57 |
73 |
|
Political
Participation** - Registered to vote in
1996 Presidential election |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Income* - Annual household income
$15,000 or less |
27 |
25 |
26 |
9 |
|
Access to
Transportation* - Inadequate
transportation considered a problem |
39 |
21 |
31 |
13 |
|
Health Care* - Did not get needed care
on at least one occasion in past year |
24 |
11 |
18 |
7 |
|
Satisfaction with Life -
Very
satisfied with life in general |
27 |
42 |
34 |
61 |
*These variables are
“negative,” i.e., a high score is
“bad”
**Source:
1996
Current Population Survey
Results!
Why, man, I have gotten a lot of results. I know several thousand
things that
won't work. –
