People with disabilities in Alaska can no longer be paid less than the minimum wage.

Courtesy of Think Progress: 

As of Friday, Alaskan businesses will no longer be allowed to pay disabled workers less than the minimum wage, which is currently $9.84 an hour. 

“Workers who experience disabilities are valued members of Alaska’s workforce,” said the state’s Department of Labor and Workforce Development Acting Commissioner Greg Cashen, in a press release. “They deserve minimum wage protections as much as any other Alaskan worker.” 

The state announced last week it would repeal the regulation first put in place in 1978. Alaska joins New Hampshire and Maryland as the first states to get rid of sub-minimum wage for employees with disabilities, an act which is entirely legal under federal law, and has been since 1938 when the Fair Labor Standards Act was implemented. 

The minimum wage exception was initially created to help those with disabilities get jobs, but despite its intentions, the legislation still fell short. Disability advocates argue the law is outdated and that many disabled individuals can succeed in jobs earning minimum wage or more, and that no other class of people faces this kind of government-sanctioned wage discrimination. In addition to being paid a sub-minimum wage, employees with disabilities often perform their jobs in what are called “sheltered workshops.” This term is generally used to describe facilities that employ people with disabilities exclusively or primarily, but has been interpreted by disability advocates as a form of segregation in the workplace.

I think this is a very positive step forward for Alaskans with disabilities.

However I do understand why the law was likely implemented in the first place.

After all many of the people diagnosed with a disability require more supervision, and supports, than the average minimum wage worker. 

There is also the fact that many of them cannot make too much money or risk losing their social security payments.

But times are changing and with new workplace modifications, and more reliance on machines doing much of the work, there are increased opportunities for these individuals to find employment that may seem repetitive to some or not intellectually stimulating to others.

Trump spokesperson Kellyanne Conway dismisses comments by Meryl Streep because she did not mention 16 year old disabled boy tortured on Facebook video. Update!

.@KellyannePolls: I didn't hear #MerylStreep use her platform to give a shoutout to the mentally challenged boy who was tortured live on FB. pic.twitter.com/hswzMWOPuF

— Fox News (@FoxNews) January 9, 2017

Courtesy of Mediaite:  

“My initial reaction is I’m glad Meryl Streep has such a passion for the disabled,” said Conway Monday morning. “because I didn’t hear her weigh in and I didn’t hear her use her platform Ainsley to give a shoutout,” to the young boy in Chicago. 

Conway continued, “So, I’d like to hear from her today.” Conway, the first woman in history to successful lead a presidential campaign, noted that Trump has repeatedly “debunked” the claims that he publicly mocked the disability of Serge Kovaleski of The New York Times. While Conway spoke, Fox & Friends showed images of Streep with Hillary Clinton.

Yeah I seriously doubt that Meryl Streep is going to respond to this nasty little bitch.

Streep used her national platform to discuss the negative impact that the disgusting antics of the next president was having on the country. And she had every right to do so.

Conway's transparent attempt to distract from her message and shame her, will only work on the people who were ignorant enough to vote for her boss.

And let's face it they already hate everybody in Hollywood.

Update: I think this belongs here.

 Now that, is a burn.

Hillary is really killing it with these ads.

Donald Trump doesn't see people like Anastasia—he only sees disability. pic.twitter.com/0aDgpwHtjv

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 24, 2016

I have to admit that I am really looking forward to the debate tomorrow night.

I think Clinton has prepared an arsenal of information about Trump that his shit spewing will be unable to deflect or dilute.

The head of the police union explains that the North Miami cop who shot the black man was actually aiming for the autistic guy next to him playing with a toy truck. Oh, well okay then.

Courtesy of CNN: 

The police shooting of an African-American caregiver, who was lying in the street trying to help an autism patient, was accidental, according to the local police union representing the North Miami officer. 

The officer had intended to shoot the patient, whom he thought posed a danger, but accidentally shot the caregiver instead, said John Rivera, the President of the Dade County Police Benevolent Association. 

Charles Kinsey, a behavior therapist, was shot Monday by police -- an incident which has sparked outrage. Footage released by Kinsey's attorney showed his client lying on the ground holding both hands in the air, next to a 23-year-old man with autism. 

Rivera offered an explanation Thursday, saying that the police officer opened fire because he thought the white individual, whom they later learned is a man with autism, was going to harm Kinsey. 

"This wasn't a mistake in the sense that the officer shot the wrong guy or he thought that Kinsey was the bad guy," he said in a press conference Thursday.

Mr. Kinsey, that black caregiver who was shot, had this to say:  

Kinsey told WSVN that his patient was holding a toy truck, not a firearm. He said he tried to explain the situation to officers. 

Cell phone footage showed Kinsey lying in the street with his hands in the air. 

"All he has is a toy truck," he shouted. "I am a behavior therapist at a group home."

After shooting him the cops rolled him over and placed handcuffs on him.

At this point I do not even care which one of the two people the officer was firing at, because to shoot at either one of them is completely indefensible.

Look I work with clients very much like this young man with the truck, and I can tell you that they would be almost completely unable to comply with shouted requests coming from the police. 

And the more upset they got the more likely it would be that their actions appeared out of control and possibly aggressive.

Police need to have significant training in how to deal with people with disabilities or who are suffering with a mental illness or deficiency.

There is a way to calm them down and often gain their compliance, but I can guarantee it will not happen with guns drawn.

On the other hand I would like to suggest that this Mr. Kinsey be given a fucking raise and perhaps receive some kind of award or something, because that is a dedicated professional, and deserves all the recognition that he can get.

SuperPAC supporting Hillary Clinton goes after Donald Trump for mocking the disabled.

Courtesy of HuffPo: 

In the 60-second spot, titled “Grace,” Columbus, Ohio, parents fondly speak about their young daughter, who was born with spina bifida. They then recount their horror after seeing the presumptive GOP nominee mock New York Times reporter Serge Kovaleski, whose arthrogryposis impairs his arm movements. 

“The children at Grace’s school all know never to mock her. And so for an adult to mock someone with a disability is shocking,” the mother says in the ad. 

“When I saw Donald Trump mock someone with a disability, it showed me his soul, it showed me his heart. I didn’t like what I saw,” added the father.

Seems like a pretty powerful ad that simply uses Trump's own words against him.

I imagine there are literally dozens of ads that can be written using that same approach.

You know you would think that ads like this would convince Sarah Palin that she cannot continue to support Trump, after all she is supposed to be such a defender of folks with special needs or disabilities.

But then I remembered how she responded when that video of Trump first surfaced:

“Oh yeah, I I saw the footage, I think it was just yesterday, or two days ago,” said Palin. “Yeah. And um, again, if that was mocking an individual, if that’s accurate, then, no, you don’t — I — it’s terrible, its terrible.”

Yeah, but certainly not terrible enough to keep her from shaking her water filled pom poms on his behalf. 

Sarah Palin is not convinced that Donald Trump mocked a person with disabilities, because she does not trust the news.

Courtesy of Buzzfeed: 

“Um, I don’t know entirely the context,” Palin said on SiriusXM radio. “I mean, if for sure there was mocking of one individual who does have, or any [unclear] individual who has a special need. Um, that’s bad, obviously. I’ve seen others do that. You know we saw the president mocking — while he was sitting as president — mocking those who participate in the Special Olympics.” 

“And I mean, that’s, that’s like a gut punch when you hear that kind of thing,” she continued. “I don’t like it. And, you know, everybody’s gotta be a bit better than that.”

Oh yeah GOT to attack the President in every interview right Sarah? (BTW here is the President's remark. You can decide if they constitute a "gut punch" for yourself.)

Palin goes on with her attempt to give Trump a pass: 

“Well again, I haven’t known what the whole context is, you know,” Palin added. “We’ve been uh — delved into and dived into — this book tour, so, you know, I haven’t really turned on the new in the past couple of days. But again—” 

“But respectfully, but respectfully, you’ve seen the footage, right,” interjected radio host Michael Smerconish. Palin responded she had, and if Trump mocked an individual it would be “terrible.” 

“Oh yeah, I I saw the footage, I think it was just yesterday, or two days ago,” said Palin. “Yeah. And um, again, if that was mocking an individual, if that’s accurate, then, no, you don’t — I — it’s terrible, its terrible.” 

“But um, again, I’m not gonna buy into the narrative without knowing all the facts that he purposefully was talking about, um, a New York Times reporter or editor who had the special needs — yeah, I won’t buy into it until I know the facts, but I apply that to every issue. I’m not gonna just buy into what I’m seeing on TV because I don’t trust everything that I see on TV and hear on the news.”

Gee lack of trust in the media certainly did not stop her from jumping all over the President for his one casual remark. Did it?

Here is Trump mocking the reporter.

That seem pretty clear, doesn't it Sarah?

Here, does this image of the reporter side by side with Trump's mocking make it easier?

Well of course it doesn't, because this is Trump. And Palin needs to kiss his ass just in case he actually wins the nomination.

After all Sarah Palin's indignation only extends to non-Christians, liberals, and those who believe in facts. 

Trump mocks reporter's disability, then denies mocking reporter's disability, demands apology from mocked reporter's newspaper.

Courtesy of the Washington Post:  

A day after he was widely rebuked for mocking a reporter with a physical disability, business mogul and reality TV star Donald Trump on Thursday denied that he had done so and accused the reporter of “using his disability to grandstand.” 

Trump also demanded an apology from the New York Times, the reporter’s employer, which earlier in the week issued a statement condemning Trump for ridiculing “the appearance of one of our reporters.” 

The incident occurred Tuesday at a rally in South Carolina, as Trump was defending his recent claim that he had witnessed thousands of Muslims cheering in New Jersey on Sept. 11, 2001, as the World Trade Center towers collapsed. On stage, Trump berated Times investigative reporter Serge Kovaleski for his recent recollection of an article he wrote a few days after the attacks, which Trump has been citing to defend his claim. 

Trump appeared to mock Kovaleski’s physical condition; the reporter has arthrogryposis, which visibly limits flexibility in his arms.

Part of Trump's defense is that he does not even remember meeting this reporter, so how could he mock his appearance?

In his statement Thursday, Trump said:  

“I have no idea who this reporter, Serge Kovalski [sic] is, what he looks like or his level of intelligence. I don’t know if he is J.J. Watt or Muhammad Ali in his prime — or somebody of less athletic or physical ability. Despite having one of the all-time great memories I certainly do not remember him.” 

“Kovaleski must think a lot of himself if he thinks I remember him from decades ago — if I ever met him at all, which I doubt I did,” Trump said. “He should stop using his disability to grandstand and get back to reporting for a paper that is rapidly going down the tubes.”

So Trump claims to have one of the "all-time great memories" which apparently does not retain information that might make him look like an asshole.

How handy.

That must be helpful when Trump makes insults about a woman's face,   mocks a celebrities weight, or accuses a reporter of bleeding from "wherever."

Deputy sheriff shackles nine year old with behavioral problems. This is NEVER the right thing to do!

Courtesy of EAG News:

The boy’s wrists were too small for the handcuffs, so Kenton County Deputy Sheriff Kevin Sumner put them around the misbehaving child’s biceps. 

The boy, known as S.R. in a federal lawsuit, “has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and a history of trauma,” WKYT reports. 

A video of the incident, which occurred at a Covington, Kentucky public school, was released in conjunction with the suit. 

The boy wasn’t the only one allegedly treated that way. A 9-year-old girl was also shackled by the school resource officer in the same manner. 

“Both children were being punished for behavior related to their disabilities. Neither was arrested nor charged with any criminal conduct,” according to the news station. 

“Shackling children is not okay. It is traumatizing, and in this case it is also illegal,” says Susan Mizner, disability counsel for the ACLU, which has filed a lawsuit on the children’s behalf. 

“Using law enforcement to discipline students with disabilities only serves to traumatize children. It makes behavioral issues worse and interferes with the school’s role in developing appropriate educational and behavioral plans for them.”

This is the very population of children that I work with and let me tell you that you simply do NOT want to involve the police unless you have no other choice. 

I would also suggest that if this young child really only has a diagnosis of ADHD that this school is tragically ill equipped to deal with him, or any children with even more disruptive behaviors.

And this ACLU spokesperson in right on the money when she suggests that this response only serves to traumatize these kids further and make them much harder to handle moving forward.

Trust me I have been cursed at, spit upon, had my hair pulled, been bitten, and had a boy threaten to kill my entire family. In none of those instances did I use unnecessary force or traumatize the client in any way.

You either have the skills to deal with this population or you do not. And quite often law enforcement officials are simply not trained appropriately, nor do they have the temperament required. 

Sarah Palin pimps a 60 Minutes "expose" on the Social Security Disability Insurance program. Well you know what THAT means!

One time Palin supporter, who may be having second thoughts.

Courtesy of the Heartless Harridan's Facebook page:

In case you missed it, "60 Minutes" did an excellent segment on the waste and fraud in the Federal Disability Insurance Program. Kudos to Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and his staff for leading the investigation into this. And thank you, CBS, for covering it! 

She then links to this story on 60 Minutes in which Steve Kroft, with the help of Senator Coburn and some shady attorneys, supposedly lays bare the overwhelming fraud within the Social Security disability programs.

Now in my job I actually do some work with this program so I was surprised at how aggressively and unfairly 60 Minutes seemed to go after them. And apparently I was not alone, as indicated in the comments section of their own website.

Here is a sampling:  

I am a Social Security Disability Attorney in New York City. I watched the website recording of a 60 Minutes spot that aired last night and was disheartened by the sophistry I witnessed. Anytime I hear words like "It's been called a Secret Welfare System," which has been ravaged by waste and fraud, I cringe. First of all, I would like to know who has called it a secret welfare system --incendiary remarks like that must be backed up with facts. Secondly, who says it has been ravaged by waste and fraud -- this uncorroborated remark was left hanging out there as if it accurately reflected the System as a whole.

I also find it troubling and unacceptable that the only attorneys discussed in the program were Binder and Binder and Eric C. Conn. There were so many others you could have contacted about their experiences with the System. 

 Mr. Kroft, this irresponsible and short-sighted report should never have aired. I am surprised and disappointed in 60 Minutes, a program I have long admired, Please go back to the drawing board and deliver a revised program worthy of the name 60 Minutes. 

Here is another: 

Agree with all that this is a shameful 60 Minutes segment. Not that I doubt some lawyers are making money or that some of our fellow citizens are marginal disability recipients. Rather that 60 Minutes has what I hope is sheer ignorance (and not something else) wrapping the sheep's clothing of revealing fraud around the wolf of Tom Coburn who is a fervent advocate of Republican efforts to destroy America's safety net. Coburn's fundamental mission is not to reform Social Security Disability, but to destroy it by privatization. Too bad 60 Minutes is an enabler in his efforts. 

And another: 

I am one of the allegedly evil attorneys on TV .It might help for people to learn the day I heard of this story the two clients I signed up are typical of our business. The first was a fellow with very bad sarcoidosis affecting many aspects of his ability to work including hands , feet, breathing ,stamina. He was trying for many years to learn what was wrong with him but could not get access to treatment or meds. He is a very religious , humble man who would love to work and has been unable for years ; his church may not be able to help any longer. 

The second was a family whose mother described an adult daughter unable to work for many years now with debilitating psych issues since age 8 including a horrific set of symptoms associated with obsessive compulsive disorder along with severe depression . Ridicule and stigmatize her associated panic attacks after you have spoken with her and her family. The mom called because she reported she never wanted to bother with a claim before , but recognizes she can no longer support this adult daughter whom she had home schooled . 

The truth , as I tell interviewees each day, is that contrary to the harsh stereotypes now circulating with the help of 60 Minutes and other media is that it is very hard to get Social Security disability ;they're gonna think and treat you with cynicism and sometimes almost like a fraudster . Scapegoating those on the receiving end of " hard things happen to good people " is not fair reporting and does great damage. Tom

Then I did a quick Google search to find out if any other news outlets had addressed this obviously biased report.

I quickly found this over at Media Matters:  

Christian school kicks out disabled student because of need for service dog.

Courtesy of KATU:  

After she was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes, Anika Bjornson, a 5th grader from Tualatin, had enough to worry about. 

Irritability, dangerous complications from low blood sugar, even comas were all concerns. 

But now Bjornson must also switch schools in order to bring her trained service dog to class with her. 

Bjornson, who suffers from Type I diabetes, takes her 9-month-old lab, Bassie, with her everywhere she goes. Bassie is professionally trained to detect changes in blood sugar using scent and “paws” the 10 year old when her sugar is too high or too low. 

That’s how Bjornson knows to prick her finger and conduct a more detailed blood test. 

"I would feel really hot and shaky, like I couldn't really balance myself," Bjornson said. 

She and her mom, Debbie, recently asked her school permission to bring the service animal to class with her, thinking they were covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

But the school, Horizon Christian Elementary, said no. 

Bjornson says school administrators worried other kids might suffer from pet allergies, classmates would be too distracted by the dog, or Bassie would simply make a mess in the school building.

Now usually Anika's rights to have her dog with her to keep her safe would be protected, but sadly she attends a Christian school, and they are exempt from following those silly government rules.

Private schools run by churches may be exempt, because the ADA does not apply to “religious organizations or entities controlled by religious organizations”.

Now you might think the school would simply allow the very necessary animal into the school to ensure the safety of one of their students, after all it is the "Christian" thing  to do, but you would be wrong.

But don't feel badly for Anika. Even though she has to leave her friends and change school, she will now attend public school and get a REAL education that is not based  allegiance to God instead of the understanding of math and science.

Oh and in her new learning environment Anika finally gained the acceptance and support that was missing from her old school:

"The teacher requested me," she said. "He wanted me in his class because he loves animals." 

 (H.T to the Friendly Atheist)