Paul Ryan's Vision for the U.S. Education System

Writing in The Atlantic, Jordan Weissmann summarizes Rep. Paul Ryan's plan for education in two words -- "cut" and "privatize." Read "How Would Paul Ryan's Vision Change the U.S. Education System?"

Ryan's budget proposal calls for massive cuts in non-discretionary funding, but does not include specific amount for education or other programs. Current Education Secretary Arne Duncan has estimated that the Ryan budget may cut $2.2 billion from special education funding that goes to the states (currently at $11.6 billion) and $2.7 billion from the $14.5 billion that poor school districts get in Title I funds.

"The House budget report includes a few other interesting details about funding for K-12 and higher education," Weissmann reports. "It suggests killing the interest subsidies on some student loans and curtailing the income-based repayment program for college debt. It would also streamline some of the 82 programs that deal with teacher quality."

"Like most of the modern GOP, [Romney and Ryan are] two men who believe the government needs to move aside and let the private sector handle things. Including teaching."

Vouchers: What Would They Mean for Special Education?

Last night, Education Week sponsored a debate at Teachers College at Columbia University on education between education advisers for President Obama and Governor Romney. I'll post the video and transcript when it's available soon. If you care about education, especially special education and Title I funding for families in poverty, I strongly encourage you to watch the debate. I guarantee it will give you more substantive information on education policy than you'll get in tonight's presidential debate.

In the debate, much time was devoted to the candidates' differing strategies to improve education and choice for students and parents. Romney has advocated turning Title I and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) into a voucher program. Next to health care reform and Medicaid, this may be the most important issue in this election for people with disabilities. The Romney camp argues that vouchers will give families more choice and reward good schools; the Obama camp agrees with the concept of choice, but are concerned about removing the protections that the federal law currently provide.

As background, I recommend these two articles by Nirvi Shah, who does a great job reporting on special education issues for Education Week. Keep up on this and other special ed issues by following her "On Special Education" blog.

Read "Details of Romney's School Choice Plan Emerge," May 24, 2012. Excerpt:

"Many advocacy groups warn parents against using vouchers for students with disabilities because, in doing so, they give up their rights outlined in federal education and disability laws. And they may not know that.

" 'We have to remember that a family with a child who has a disability never really has the same choice as others. By virtue of having a disability that qualifies them for an Individualized Education Program, a private school for instance, would never guarantee via a voucher that they would provide a free appropriate public education and the services outlined in the IEP,' said Laura Kaloi of the National Center for Learning Disabilities.

"In addition, the Council for Exceptional Children's Lindsay Jones says that it's the wrong time to consider siphoning special education funding from public schools.

" 'This proposal's potential to take money out of our public school system and place it in the hands of private business is also especially concerning at this point in time,' Jones said. 'School districts around the nation have seen deep cuts in funding over the last few years as our nation confronts a recession, increased needs, and declining revenues. These cuts have impacted districts' ability to provide services to children in need—further cuts won't help.' "

Read "Would Romney Voucher Plan Equalize Special Ed. Opportunities?" June 8, 2012.

Shah cites an article from the Atlantic by a parent and attorney who says "there's already a system of vouchers built in: Schools that believe they can't provide the right educational services and environment a student needs can choose to send that student to a private school, at the public school's expense. It's called private placement."

Shah reports, the author "goes on to say that for Romney's plan to work, state and local special education dollars would also have to become portable, something I can't imagine every state and school board agreeing to. Many special education advocates oppose vouchers, however, because unlike private placements, students lose their protections under federal law—the very law that would be paying for their private schooling under Romney's proposal—IDEA."

Will Romney Cut Funds for Autism Program He Supported in Massachusetts?

As explained in this article, "Would President Romney Cut Medicaid Funds for Program Governor Romeny Asked For?," in 2008 "Governor Romney signed a law directing the state to ask the federal government for more Medicaid money for home and community support services for autistic children who, without that support, would be classified as at risk of being placed in an institution....Today the program is helping 160 children and their families get services at home."

In three years, the state will need to ask the federal government to renew those funds. What would a President Romney do with that request? As President Clinton warned in his Democratic Convention speech, "They also want to block-grant Medicaid, and cut it by a third over the coming 10 years. And a lot of that [Medicaid] money is…spent to help people with disabilities, including a lot of middle-class families whose kids have Down syndrome or autism or other severe conditions. And honestly, let’s think about it, if that happens, I don’t know what those families are going to do."

The Republicans went after Senator Kerrey as a flip-flopper in 2004, and I realized at the time that any elected official with a record could be charged with the same thing. In that election, it seemed to stick, and it leaves me wondering why Romney's not being pinned with the same label.

As Governor, Romney passed one of the most progressive health care reform laws in the nation, which has increased the number of residents covered by health insurance from 90 percent to 98 percent. The program ended discrimination by insurance companies, mandated coverage, and provided government subsidies to make the mandate feasible. The program closely resembled President Obama's Affordable Care Act.

And that's what's so interesting. Romneycare was a model for Obamacare. MIT economist Jonathan Gruber advised both Romney and Obama on their plans. And now Romney's number 1 issue is repealing the Affordable Care Act, which he says he'll do on his first day in office.

With that in mind, it's hard to know who the real Romney is, and what he's likely to do as president. He hasn't laid out clear plans, so you have to read between the lines of his speeches, look at his running mate's record and plans, and look at his record as governor. And even then, you just don't know.

Advocates Agree: Health Care Law is Good for People with Disabilities

No presidential election comes down to one issue, but you could argue that the choice between President Obama and Governor Romney comes down to two -- the economy and health care. Obama supporters will tell you that the president inherited a big mess, and the economy is showing signs of improvement as a result of his actions. Romney supporters will say we're on the wrong path and need a business leader like Romney to set a new direction.

For health care, Obama supporters will tell you that health care reform is a major success because it guarantees coverage that can't be taken away, even for people with pre-existing conditions. Romney, on the other hand, has vowed to repeal the Affordable Care Act on his first day in office.

While others will debate those topics, my focus is whether the president's version of health care reform helps or hurts people with disabilities. The consistency of views among major disability organizations is revealing. As nonprofits, these groups do not endorse candidates, but listen to what they had to say when the Supreme Court upheld major portions of the legislation in June 2012. (Links are to more complete statements.)

“People with disabilities and their families have their lives dictated by the status of their health insurance. The Supreme Court’s ruling today tells these families they can make decisions about what is best for them as a family, and not be controlled by fear of losing health insurance coverage.” --Katy Neas, senior vice president of government relations at Easter Seals

“People with intellectual and developmental disabilities have been waiting for generations for the insurance reforms put in place by the Affordable Care Act.  Today’s ruling removes any doubts that the law Congress enacted should stand and will benefit millions of people with and without disabilities. It ends discriminatory insurance practices and makes health coverage more affordable and accessible – important protections which too many people with disabilities have been deprived of for too long." --Marty Ford, director of public policy, The Arc

“Today’s court decision will ensure that health insurance companies cannot deny coverage based on preexisting conditions or discriminate based on an individual’s health status. This is the essence of why the disability community supported the ACA and we are thrilled that the Supreme Court decision protects these reforms that are at the heart of health reform efforts.” --Donna Meltzer, Chair, Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities

“This decision is a victory for all Americans. It means parents of a child with cancer won’t face bankruptcy paying for his treatments because of the insurance company’s lifetime cap. It means a woman with Multiple Sclerosis will receive the same health coverage as her colleagues who do not have a pre-existing condition. It means more people with disabilities will be able to live full lives in our communities rather than nursing homes.” --Mark Perriello, President and CEO, American Association of People with Disabilities

 "For millions of Americans with disabilities who rely on home and community-based services to live, learn, and earn in America, the ruling today by the Supreme Court on the Affordable Care Act is arguably the most significant decision since passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act 22 years ago.” --Jonathan Young, chair of the National Council on Disability

For more information:
"Top Reasons Why The Arc Supports the Affordable Care Act"
"Health Care Ruling A Win, Disability Advocates Say," by Michelle Diament of Disability Scoop.

The Candidates on Health Care: A Detailed Review

Kaiser Health News analyzes the health records and plans of President Obama, Governor Romney, and Congressman Ryan. Review them for yourself -- these are very detailed documents.

Obama on Health Care

Romney on Health Care

Ryan on Health Care

Easter Seals on Campaign Issues: Exclusive Interview

I'd like to thank Katherine (Katy) Beh Neas, senior vice president for government relations at Easter Seals, for taking the time to talk with me about critical disability issues as we approach the 2012 presidential election. Katy has been focused on these issues since the late 1980s, when she worked in the Senate on legislation including the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. In her current role, she monitors and analyzes federal legislation and regulations affecting children with disabilities and their families, particularly in the areas of autism, early intervention, early childhood education, special education and budget and appropriations.

We discussed the record of the Obama Administration, health care reform, special education, and key differences between the candidates' positions.

Q: When you consider the issues that are important to people with disabilities, how would you assess the commitment and the actions of the Obama Administration? What has been done well, and what requires more attention?

A: First, what's been done well: Easter Seals launched a major initiative in 2011 – Make the First Five Count – to reduce the number of young children who enter kindergarten with a disability or developmental delay that hasn’t been identified or addressed. Our research shows that approximately 1 million kids fall into this category. An element of the MFFC campaign is advocacy to increase funding for the federal early intervention program, Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. President Obama’s budgets have called for increases in Part C over the past two years. We are very pleased with his leadership in this area. In addition, the President has championed health care for people with disabilities in the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid and Medicare.

What needs more attention? Easter Seals was disappointed that the Administration is not working on implementation of the CLASS Act – the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act – this policy was adopted as part of the Affordable Care Act and would establish a voluntary long-term care assistance policy.

Q: The Easter Seals strongly supported the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the major portions of the Affordable Care Act. How could the ACA be strengthened to meet the needs of people with disabilities. What are the biggest benefits?

A: While there are many benefits within the ACA, some of the insurance market reforms are truly transformational. The elimination of pre-existing condition exclusions for kids and extending coverage to dependent children are huge first steps. Families with kids with disabilities no longer have to worry about whether their child will be dropped from coverage because of a chronic condition or disability. We are also working to shape how the rehabilitation and habilitation benefits are designed so that people with disabilities of all ages can get the appropriate habilitation services that can help a child gain a skill he or she never had or help an adult slow down the regression of a disability. The bulk of the ACA comes online in 2014. Our hope is that the law stands and that states will continue to work to meet this important deadline.

Q: Governor Romney has vowed to repeal the ACA on his first day in office, if he's elected. Would that have any immediate impact on families living with disabilities?

A: Prior to the enactment of the ACA, most people with disabilities were unable to buy health insurance on their own. Pre-existing condition exclusions made it virtually impossible for children or adults with disabilities to get coverage outside of an employer provided plan or outside of a government program like Medicaid. For many, Medicaid eligibility requires the individual to have an extremely low income. The ACA changed all of that, and today, no child with a disability can be dropped from coverage because of a pre-existing condition. For this reason alone, Easter Seals opposes repeal of the ACA.

Q: You've helped lead the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities since its founding. Has health care reform been a contentious issue among the 50 organizations that are part of that consortium? What principles do they agree on, and where has there been debate?

A: I’ve been a member of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities for 21 years, and chair its Education Task Force. My colleagues at Easter Seals have been very involved in the CCD Health, Long Term Services Supports, Employment and Training and other Task Forces. This coalition has a solid track record of working across disparate groups to find areas of agreement. I believe that there was very strong support for health reform among the majority of groups. I have attached a copy of the CCD principles on health reform as well as Easter Seals’ principles.

Q: In all the talk about health care reform and Medicaid, the topic of education seems to be a much lower priority. Yet for students with disabilities, services funded by the Individuals with Disabilities Act are a daily need. What do you think of the Romney-Ryan proposal to privatize special education funding?

A: Funding for special education services is always a hot topic. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a civil rights law that requires states to provide a free, appropriate public education to each child with a disability regardless of the nature or severity of the disability. Congress also provides billions of dollars each year to states to help them meet their obligation. The law currently provides the rights to a child to have his or her special education needs met at no cost to his or her family. Easter Seals believes that funding for quality early education and care services is the best way to decrease special education funding. We know that when kids get their special needs addressed before they enter kindergarten, they need less special education services. Our goal should be to focus on what works – to ensure that every child has a chance to succeed and with that success comes a more productive and independent life.

Q: For my readers who are studying the records and platforms of the presidential candidates, what would you say are the biggest differences between the candidates' philosophies and policies as they affect disability issues?

A: The treatment of Medicaid is among the biggest difference between President Obama and Governor Romney. President Obama is working to protect access to appropriate services to children with disabilities and long term services to adults with disabilities that are currently available under the Medicaid program. Governor Romney’s platform proposes to alter the Medicaid program from one that guarantees specific services to one that is a block grant to states that eliminates any guarantees.

Q: Is there any other information you think families should have as they prepare to vote this year?

A: This election is really important. Elected officials at all levels of government will make decisions that affect the lives of children and adults with disabilities and their families. I would urge all of your readers to educate themselves about the positions of the candidates and then vote. Elected officials need to know how their priorities either support or hinder the quality of life of children and adults with disabilities. It’s up to all of us to educate them.

If you want to learn more about these issues, Katy recommends "Principles for Health Care Reform from a Disability Perspective," prepared for the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, and the Easter Seals' principles for health care reform.

Visit the Easter Seals website, learn about the Make the First Five Count initiative, or read Katy's bio.

Voting with a Disability: State-by-State Info

The website NonprofitVote.org has resources for voting with disabilities in every state. Look up your state and help protect the rights of all voters.

Ryan Budget: "Dangerous to People with Disabilities"

At times in his political career, Governor Romney has been known as a solid moderate. As governor of Massachusetts, he was praised by noted liberal Senator Ted Kennedy for pushing for progressive health care reform and expanding coverage for that state's residents. In fact, "Romneycare" became a model for "Obamacare," and both Romney and Obama relied on the same adviser to help shape those plans.

But as the Republican Party shifts to the right, Romney sent a strong signal to the right wing of the party when he selected Rep. Paul Ryan as his running mate. Unlike Romney, Ryan has a clear voting record at the federal level, and his proposals for the federal budget are the closest we have to a Romney-Ryan policy plan.

If you are concerned about disability issues, you don't need a crystal ball to see how disability advocates will react to a Romney-Ryan agenda. All you have to do is look back to March and see the reaction to his proposed budget as chairman of the House Budget Committee. The Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), a group of 113 organizations representing the needs of people with disabilities, issued a strongly worded statement calling his proposal 

"dangerous for people with disabilities as it calls for deep cuts to Medicaid, deep cuts in spending for non-defense discretionary programs that support the health and well-being of people with disabilities, and would lead to tens of millions of Americans losing their health insurance or become underinsured."

 Donna Melzer, chairperson of CCD, said:

“The programs that would be cut under this bill make up the safety net of programs that people with disabilities of all ages depend upon. This Budget Resolution flies in the face of the Budget Control Act of last August, which was carefully negotiated and set already tough spending caps on both defense and non-defense programs. This budget goes much deeper than those caps. CCD urges a more balanced approach to deficit reduction.”

CCD's statement also said:

"Chairman Ryan says that these cuts to programs are necessary due to the nation’s severe fiscal situation. However, these cuts, and in some cases even wholesale elimination of programs, would surely be worse. Under Chairman Ryan’s budget many more people with and without disabilities will be in dire straits losing access toboth physical and mental health care that is urgently needed, veterans would not benefits from critical health and employment services, and children will not have access to supports and services in the education arena. This is not the America that CCD envisions for anyone."

And what did Governor Romney said about that same plan?

“I’m very supportive of the Ryan budget plan. I think it’d be marvellous if the Senate were to pick up Paul Ryan’s budget and adopt it and pass it along to the President.” [source: Ryan Lizza, "Fussbudget: How Paul Ryan Captured the GOP," The New Yorker, Aug. 6, 2012]

Which Candidate Has Autism Speaks Endorsed?

Autism Speaks is the largest and arguably the most influential autism advocacy group, so who are they endorsing in the 2012 election? Sorry, that's a trick question, because as a tax-exempt organization, they do not endorse candidates for federal office. But the organization has an online election center with this statement:

"On November 6, 2012, voters across the United States will go to the polls to elect our next President and a new Congress. Autism Speaks is asking all candidates seeking to serve our country after this election to advance a federal autism policy that will commit to these following principles:

• a national plan to address the autism crisis with urgency
• principled leadership to guide the federal response to autism
• accountability for results from the federal research investment"

In an earlier post, I shared the detailed analysis of the candidates' positions from The Arc, but Autism Speaks has a much briefer summary of its policy principles -- so short that I can show you the whole thing:

"Autism Speaks urges all candidates running for President and Congress in 2012 to commit to these principles in establishing federal autism policy:

• The autism crisis demands a focused, coordinated, and accountable response by our public health agencies. We support the creation of a meaningful interagency structure and process to address the autism epidemic more aggressively and with a focus on results. That process should produce an effective attack on the medical condition and lay out an action plan to achieve those steps. Such a plan must address autism through research, prevention and treatment.
• Insufficient prioritization of federal research dollars for autism is evident not just from the social and economic burden of autism, but from the growing consensus within the scientific community that a broader initiative to unlock the secrets of the human brain would produce dramatic results. This new knowledge would not only improve the quality of life for millions of Americans (including those with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and a variety of mental health conditions, including autism), but could significantly reduce the projected future national debt of the United States.
• Progress in science should be coupled with ending insurance marketplace discrimination against people with autism and their families. Any health care reform and health insurance reform effort should include affordable access to effective, evidence-based autism treatments, including applied behavior analysis. This is especially true for the children of those who have served our country in the armed forces."

With these principles in mind, which candidate do you think will be most likely to advance an effective autism policy at the federal level?

Ryan's Medicare Plan: The Threat to Disabled Americans

In an Aug. 21 article in the Los Angeles Times, David Lazarus reports, "The Disabled May Be Hurt Most by Paul Ryan's Medicare Plan." The article points out that Governor Romney's running mate's plan to reform Medicare would have a devastating effect on the 8 million people with disabilities covered by the program.

The article quotes Tricia Neuman of the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation: "People with disabilities are among the most vulnerable of the Medicare population. They have chronic conditions that require ongoing care, and, in many cases, they have relatively low incomes."

Lazarus: "The question is: Do we live in the sort of country that turns its back on people in need? Or do we live in the sort of country that rises to the challenge of giving everyone a fair chance at a healthy life?"

Study: Disability Concerns May Sway Votes

As reported in Disability Scoop on Oct. 1, a recent survey of 1,000 likely voters showed that 51 percent have a family member or close friend with a disability -- and that relationship could affect their vote in this year's presidential election. The survey did not specifically ask about preferences for the individual candidates.

Conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, the "Public Opinion on Disabilities" survey revealed that about half think the government is doing enough for people with disabilities, and the other half say more is needed. And the issue seems to be more influential for Democrats than Republicans.

Video: President Obama on Disabilities

While President Obama and Governor Romney did not attend the National Forum on Disability Issues on Sept. 28, the president did send this video message.



President Obama's campaign website also has a page devoted to disability issues.

Education Debate Oct. 15: Watch It Live!

Education advisers to President Obama and Governor Romney will debate on education issues on Oct. 15 at 7:00 p.m. Eastern. The debate will be held at Teachers College at Columbia University in New York, and will be available through a live webcast. Register for the webcast.

The event is called "Taking the Election to School: Making Education a Focus of the 2012 Election" and will feature Jon Schnur (for Obama) and Phil Handy (for Romney). A panel discussion featuring education journalists and other experts will immediately follow the debate.

Get the speakers' bios and register to watch the live webcast.

Tough Questions on Disabilities: Obama Responds

President Obama has received mixed reviews from the disability community. On this blog, I was vocal in my criticism of his appointment of Secretary Arne Duncan as Education Secretary, and I was underwhelmed with Duncan's record and actions in the area of special education.

The American Association of People with Disabilities asked both campaigns for their responses to a detailed questionnaire. President Obama's campaign responded; Governor Romney's campaign did not. What did the president's team have to say about his record? Read the document for detailed answers in areas of health insurance, education, independent living, transportation, employment, and more.

Since I've been particularly focused on the president's record on special education, here's part of his answer on that topic:

"For over 35 years, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) has guaranteed students with disabilities their right to a free, appropriate public education and has helped millions of students with disabilities receive an education that prepares them to be full participants in our economy and our communities. My proposed budget will expand opportunities for people with disabilities, by increasing funding for IDEA state grants, and providing a $20 million increase for the IDEA Infants and Families program. My budget also provides a $28 million increase for Promoting Readiness in Minors in SSI (PROMISE)...to find and evaluate innovative approaches to improving outcomes for children and their families who receive Supplemental Security Income.

"My Administration is working with Congress to reform the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law. We will work to ensure that students with disabilities are included in all aspects of the law, including appropriately measuring achievement gaps and working to close them so that every child is on track to succeed. And until Congress acts, we will provide states flexibility from the most burdensome requirements of the law if they are willing to set higher, more honest standards for all students, including students with disabilities."

Family Videos: "Don't Cut Our Lifeline"

The Arc has launched a campaign called "Don't Cut Our Lifeline,"which underscores the very real impact Medicaid funding has on families living with disabilities. These videos are powerful reminders that when we talk making radical changes to government programs -- and slashing funding -- we're talking about people's lives.

"Don't Cut Bailey's Lifeline":

"Don't Cut Greysen's Lifeline":

"Don't Cut Clare's Lifeline":

Medicaid Cuts Threaten "Lifeline" for Families

The Arc, which has been advocating for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities for 60 years, is taking a powerful stand against proposals to slash funds for Medicaid and impose spending caps -- both of which could have devastating consequences for people with disabilities and their families.The Arc's position paper for its "Don't Cut Our LIfeline" campaign states the concerns very clearly:

The Arc Opposes Spending Caps and Deep Cuts to Medicaid

Spending caps and deep cuts to Medicaid can lead to block grants and other structural changes that will devastate the Medicaid program and put the health and safety of people with I/DD at risk. Block grants could force bad choices and cause substantial conflict as groups with diverse needs compete for scarce dollars. 

What is at Stake for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities?

While there is no way to be certain about what states would do, we know there will be real life consequences, such as:

• Losing home and community‐based services and supports. Waiting lists would quickly grow and it could create a crisis for the 730,000 people with I/DD living with aging caregivers.
• Losing other critical services such as personal care, prescription drugs, and rehabilitative services. If funds become scarcer, states may decide to stop providing these services altogether.
• Being forced into unnecessary institutionalization. We could return to the days when states “warehoused” people with disabilities in institutions. Federal quality standards would either be diminished or eliminated and states might once again see this as an acceptable policy option.
• Shifting the costs to individuals or family members to make up for the federal cuts. The costs of providing health care and long term services and supports will not go away, but will be shifted to individuals, parents, states, and providers.
• Losing their entitlement to Medicaid. Currently if a person meets the eligibility requirements (generally poverty, age and/or disability), he or she is entitled to the services available under the state Medicaid program. People could lose all access to health care services.

Side by Side: A Look at the Issues by The Arc

Founded in 1950, when few programs were available for people with intellectual disabilities, The Arc is the largest national community-based organization advocating for and serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, the Arc is legally prohibited from taking positions in support of or in opposition to any candidate for public office. But the organization has created one of the best analyses of the Democratic and Republican Party platforms on its priority issues.

Download the document here.

I encourage you to review this entire eight-page document for yourself, but here are a few of my observations.

1. Education
President Obama has expressed his support for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and has stated that it would be more effective if fully funded.

The Republican platform supports the IDEA's "goal of minimizing the separation of children with disabilities from their peers," but it does not support the program itself. In addition, I can tell you firsthand that the next sentence reveals a big disconnect from the reality of people with disabilities: "We urge preventive efforts in early childhood, especially assistance in gaining pre-reading skills, to help many students move beyond the need for IDEA’s protections." Yes, families should have access to early intervention (but Romney-Paul aren't offering additional funding for that) -- but even the best programs will not eliminate the needs for long-term support.

The Republican platform says most IDEA money should be provided to families in the form of vouchers. Read my recent post on this topic.

2. Civil Rights
No candidate is going to come out against civil rights. There are really no clear differences between the platforms, except the Republican platform specifically asserts "the sanctity of human life and affirm that the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed."

3. Medicaid
The Republican platform encourages an overhaul of the Medicaid program, saying "It is simply too big and too flawed to be managed in its current condition from Washington." It encourages shifting power to the states: "For the aged and disabled under Medicaid, for whom monthly costs can be extremely high, states would have flexibility to improve the quality of care." What's not stated is that they would also have the flexibility to not improve the quality of care, and the option to reduce care.

The Democratic platform: "The President and the Democratic Party will fiercely oppose the harsh cuts in Medicaid that would inevitably lead to no or significantly less health care for millions of Americans with disabilities, workers with disabilities, and families raising children with autism, Down Syndrome, and other serious disabilities."

Read The Arc's position on Medicaid cuts.

4. Medicare
The Republican platform calls for an overhaul of Medicare, Social Security, and Medicaid, with a focus on personal responsibility and free market competition.

The Democratic platform: "Nearly 50 million older Americans and Americans with disabilities rely on Medicare each year, and the new health care law makes Medicare stronger by adding new benefits, fighting fraud, and improving care for patients. And, over 10 years, the law will save the average Medicare beneficiary $4,200."

Voting & Policy Resources from Leading Disability Groups

I have my own opinions and biases, so I want to offer several other resources to help you educate yourself about the issues that are important in the 2012 election and give you several ways to register to vote and make sure that everyone you know votes, including those with disabilities. Here are a few of the best resources I've found. Do you have others to share?

The Arc's "Get Involved" Section
This website section summarizes issues important to The Arc, a detailed comparison of the party platforms, and summaries of Medicaid, civil rights, education, employment, Social Security, and other issues. Also links for register to vote and get to the polls. Do you know that in 2008, the voter turnout rate for people with disabilities was 7.2 percent lower than people without disabilities? The Arc's theme for this election year is "We've Got the Power. Vote in 2012."

Autism Speaks Election Center
Includes a summary of policy principles, a link for voter registration, and signup for Autism Votes to get involved and to receive action alerts. Also a news section that tracks the candidates.

Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities
This is a coalition of about 100 national disability organizations working together to advocate for national public policy that ensures the self-determination, independence, empowerment, integration and inclusion of children and adults with disabilities in all aspects of society. Their site has excellent commentaries on issues of importance to people with disabilities and their families.

Disability Scoop

Disability Scoop is a nonpartisan website that calls itself "the premier source for developmental disability news" -- and it's hard for me to argue with that description. Over the next few weeks, you might want to follow their political news. And in general, I highly recommend the website as a news source, and you should consider signing up for their weekly emails.

Pre-Existing Conditions: "Romney's Sick Joke"

In an Oct. 4 op-ed in the New York Times, Paul Krugman may have touched a nerve, considering his piece has garnered 600 comments and counting. Titled "Romney's Sick Joke," Krugman fact-checks Romney's claim in the first presidential debate that his health plan covers pre-existing conditions.

But his advisers said before and after the debate that pre-existing conditions are not covered. Krugman asks: "Was Romney lying? Well, either that or he was making what amounts to a sick joke."

The truth: Romney's plan would cover people with pre-existing conditions who 1) already have a health plan that covers their condition and 2) can afford to pay the premiums if they lose their job. Over the past decade, fewer jobs offer health insurance. And that's already in current law.

Under Romney's plan, an estimated 89 million would not have insurance, which represents a third of the population under 65 years old. Another way to look at it is that 45 million people who would have health insurance if President Obama would lose it if Romney wins. Under the Affordable Care Act, people who have insurance don't have to worry about losing it, but a repeal of the ACA would remove that security.

Politico also covered the issue in this article, "Romney's Pre-Existing Condition Plan: A Tweak and a Handoff to the States."

Krugman writes that this is "the issue that should be at the heart of this election." What do you think, and do you support Obama's or Romney's approach to health coverage?

Vouchers for Special Education? The Threat to Students

Throughout this campaign, Governor Romney has been largely silent on one of the issues that is most important to families with children with special needs -- education. Romney and Ryan have a consistent theme of downsizing government and reducing government control in almost every area, including education. While they are not saying specifically how that would affect federal programs that ensure that children with special needs receive an appropriate education, there have been suggestions that have families worried.

As a parent of a third-grader with special needs, I've learned that getting the services she's entitled to is very hard. It requires research, professional advice, and the support of parents who have been through the same challenges. And that's in a county that's supposed to be one of the best for special education. And it's with the protections that the federal government provides. Imagine if those protections were loosened.

The law that governs special education is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and the biggest issue about the program is that it has been woefully underfunded and therefore not as effective as it could be. IDEA provides about $11.6 billion to states and local education entities each year to serve roughly 6 million students, which is far less than the districts need for these specialized services.

Romney wants to turn the program into a voucher system. It makes sense from a perspective of "reduce the federal government and let the states and parents pick up the costs," but in practice, the idea poses a substantial risk to families who are already struggling with major financial needs. Read about his plan in Education Week.

In this commentary, "Romney's Radical Plan for Title I and IDEA,"a speech therapist in a public school points out the flaws in Romney's logic:

"Not all Title I or IDEA kids are the same; not all need identical services....Imagine two IDEA special education students, Abby and Ben. Abby has only a mild speech impairment, and receives 30 minutes/wk of speech therapy at school. But Ben has multiple, severe disabilities. He requires Life Skills classes; speech, physical, and occupational therapy; an orientation and mobility specialist; and an aide to help him with activities of daily living like eating and toileting. Will Abby and Ben each get the same flat voucher amount to put in their backpacks? If not, what formula will you use to determine how much each student should get?

"And of course, Title I and IDEA help pay for programs and equipment that are not student-specific. For example, my district has all kinds of equipment to help kids with disabilities participate in regular PE classes with their peers. One piece of equipment may be used throughout the day by multiple students. I'm a speech therapist, and we have test instruments and therapy materials that we share across schools, when needed. It's not always cost-effective to buy software for one student with a learning disability, but it becomes much cheaper the more site licenses you buy....Does anyone really believe that a tiny charter school is going to be able to provide all of this support on Johnny's $1,000 voucher?

"[In Romney's opinion] we cannot help each other out by pooling money for insurance so that everyone can have health care. We cannot help each other out by pooling education funds so that all kids, no matter how severe their needs, can get the education they deserve. No, Romney's going to do away with any hint of collectivity; put a random dollar value on your child's education; and give him a coupon for Voucherville instead."

Campaign Reps Square Off on Disability Issues

Unfortunately, President Obama and Governor Romney chose not to participate in the National Forum on Disability Issues. Instead, the campaigns were represented by Ted Kennedy Jr. (for the Obama campaign) and Rep. Cathy McMorris-Rodgers (R-Wash.) (for the Romney campaign).

Read a summary by Jeff Gorman, "Surrogates Discuss Jobs, Education for People With Disabilities at National Forum," from The Mobility Resource.

While Kennedy focused on the protections that the government provides for families, Rep. Rodgers said the government has a "paternalistic" attitude toward people with disabilities and an attitude of 'can't,' not 'can.'"

Rep. Rodgers' comment reflects one of my criticisms of Secretary Arne Duncan's work on special education. Almost the only way he ever referenced special education was when he talked about giving students more opportunity to succeed -- to improve test scores, to give more children a chance to attend college. But my opinion is skewed by the fact that my own daughter is an example of someone who will fall through the cracks if the only focus is college preparation. What she and so many other students need -- and are legally entitled to -- is an education that gives them the skills they need to succeed in life, whether or not that means college.

If Secretary Duncan favored the "high achievers" and was a less effective advocate for the broad category of special education students, at least he hasn't argued for cutting government services for people with disabilities, which Governor Romney (and even more so, Rep. Ryan) advocate. While Rep. Rodgers understands many of these issues, as a mother of a child with Down syndrome, the word "paternalistic" is usually code for "cut services and let families fend for themselves."

And in many ways, that's what this election comes down to. As a society, do we want to fight for the rights and protections for all citizens, or do we believe in survival of the fittest?

What do you think of this debate?

Dole, Coehlo Agree: "Disabled Voters Possess Untapped Political Power"

In a joint op-ed, former Republican senator Bob Dole and former Democratic congressman Tony Coehlo. "Disability touches the lives of virtually every American," they write. "Individuals with disabilities, their families and friends represent one of the largest voting blocs. When it comes to elections, however, few pundits or candidates fully recognize the untapped power of this community."

They also point out that returning veterans are expanding the number of Americans with disabilities, currently estimated at 57 million people, or 19 percent of the population. In fact, one of four veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan have some form of disability.

Dole and Coehlo were sponsors of the Americans With Disabilities Act. Read the op-ed from Politico.

Obama vs. Romney: Weigh In

After a respite, Special Needs Truth is back to report on the last few weeks of the presidential election -- as always, with a strong focus on what this election will mean for people with disabilities and the families who care for them.

In this first post on the election, I have no commentary, but a question: Do you think people with disabilities will be better off if we re-elect President Obama or elect Mitt Romney? And why? I'll share my own perspectives in the coming weeks.

Please comment and share this post with others!

Sarah Palin: Advocate?

Sarah Palin is back in the news about special needs, after writing an article about raising a child with Down Syndrome in Newsweek's "The Daily Beast." Read "Life With Trig: Sarah Palin on Raising a Special-Needs Child." Because she writes as a mother and takes no position on any policies affecting people with special needs, it remains unclear how she is fulfilling her pledge to be an advocate in this area.

About a year ago, that same "Daily Beast" column carried the headline "Sarah Palin Snubs Disability Advocates." A few snippets:

Peter Berns, CEO of The Arc: "Since the end of the presidential election, we haven't heard Sarah Palin articulate any specific policy proposals [on disability]. [She] "has unfortunately politicized the issue in ways that are not productive, and it has converted what really are bipartisan issues into partisan ones."

Adam Pockriss, a spokesperson for Autism Speaks, noted that since a fundraising walk in 2009, "Palin hasn’t had any further involvement with Autism Speaks, nor has she taken a position on any autism-related policy items, to our knowledge."

Andrew Imparato, president of the American Association of People with Disabilities: "We'd like to see her go back to some of the policy issues, like Medicaid costs at the state level and how that will affect children and adults with disabilities. There are a lot of issues out there that we haven't seen her weigh in on. So the jury's still out on how strong of a disability advocate she wants to be."

Thoughts?

Rate Your School District on Special Ed

Sites like Special Ed Ratings are only as good as the ratings people provide. So search for your school district and share your thoughts to help other families. The site is at www.specialedratings.com.

And Now a Word from Your Child's Special Education Teacher

Thanks to Google Plus, I've discovered a new blog and a a great advocate. Dennise Goldberg writes for the Special Education Advisor, and this post caught my eye: "Secrets from Your Child's Special Education Teacher." I highly recommend it.

Take a look at the Special Education Advisor website, and you can follow them on Facebook.  Dennise is on Twitter as @specialedadvice and Google+.

ADA Turns 20

Today President Obama celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Read his remarks.

New Members of President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities

President Obama has appointed an impressive group of advocates to the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities. The web post includes short bios.