[misc.handicap] Control ????

Russell.Hunt@f240.n620.z3.fidonet.org (Russell Hunt) (05/15/91)

Index Number: 15651

Your right about the issue of who controls the process but I feel
there is a very dangerous trap in being chauvanistic. I've been
heavily involved in disability advocacy at an Australian and
International level for more than a decade and there are some real
traps in relying soely on people with disabilities.

The truth is that as a group, we are as normal as we keep saying we
are which means that we have our fair share of people with
questionable motifs. Combine this with those who've had limited
opportunity to develop their people, worldly and technical skills
and you end up with plenty of people who just shouldn't be in
leadership positions. Trouble is the very posession os a disability
is to often seen as a credential rather than merely just identifying
you as part of an interest group.

The net result is that we as people with disabilities need to be
very discerning about who we let spek for us rather than just saying
that if they are disabled it's OK.

Also, just because somebody is good at getting together with others
to solve a problem locally (like getting ramps into a building) it
doesn't mean that they are suited to, or would want to, negotiate
policy with Gov leaders.

We need "different horses for different courses" rather than just
relying on one technique.

Regards........ Russell

--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!3!620!240!Russell.Hunt
Internet: Russell.Hunt@f240.n620.z3.fidonet.org