CPWD Update

Let freedom ring for us too.

Dear President-Elect Obama,

11/21/2008

By: Julie Redenbaugh Aird

Senator Barack Obama
Washington D.C. Office
713 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear President-Elect Obama,

CONGRATULATIONS, PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK OBAMA!! WHAT AN AWESOME VICTORY!! You spoke of equality for the entire human race when you included us in the list of diver-sity you beautifully presented in your acceptance speech on November 4, 2008. My name is Julie Redenbaugh Aird. I am a proud person; part of the community of people with disabilities. The way you included people that are “disabled and non-disabled” together in the mix of people highlighted the equality that people with disabilities strive to achieve as a group. We are NOT “special needs” individuals, but an equal and vital part of the American culture! Thank you for NOT attaching that label unto us! I enjoy the diversity of the United States of America. I voted for you because I be-lieve you whole-heartily embrace diversity too. With your brilliance and compassion, we, as Americans have a chance to heal this broken nation and world. As an U.S. citizen I am passionate about all of the big issues facing our nation and hope for unity. I lend my voice, however, to issues that rarely hit the spotlight.

President George Bush Sr. signed the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990; a law promising to give equal rights to people with disabilities. It is now 2008 and we are still waiting for our dream of equality to come true. People with disabilities face institution-alization, lack of accessible and affordable housing, unemployment and underemploy-ment, lack of personal care support in the community to name a few of the inequalities. The fulfillment of the dream has not been realized for millions of our fellow citizens. Let freedom ring for us too.

At a Get Out the Vote rally at the University of Colorado campus in Boulder, CO I had the privilege of shaking Michele’s hand and very briefly speaking with her, along with other members of our disability rights group, Boulder ADAPT. We expressed apprecia-tion for your support of the bipartisan, Community Choice Act (S 799). Our local chapter is part of national ADAPT which has been fighting desperately to get this national legis-lation passed so people with disabilities throughout our nation can have a choice to live in freedom in their own homes with community supports. Michele listened to us intently and treated us with the dignity. It excites me to know that this kind of understanding and treatment of ALL of us is undoubtedly a characteristic found in you, our president-elect of the United States of America!

TOGETHER, YES WE CAN! FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE FOR ALL!!

Julie Redenbaugh Aird

P.S. Today as my husband, Lowell and I were walking with our dogs around our neighborhood we stopped to talk with a neighbor, Jamie and his pet Shih Tzu named Gumbo. Jamie told us that Shih Tzus are hypoallergenic, don’t shed and the biggest plus, they LOVE children! HAPPY PUPPY SHOPPING!!

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Let freedom ring for us too.
Dear President-Elect Obama,
11/21/2008 By: Julie Redenbaugh Aird
	Senator Barack Obama Washington D.C. Office 713 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear President-Elect Obama, CONGRATULATIONS, PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK OBAMA!! WHAT AN AWESOME VICTORY!! You spoke of equality for the entire human race when you included us in the list of diver-sity you beautifully presented in your acceptance speech on November 4, 2008. My name is Julie Redenbaugh Aird. I am a proud person; part of the community of people with disabilities. The way you included people that are “disabled and non-disabled” together in the mix of people highlighted the equality that people with disabilities strive to achieve as a group. We are NOT “special needs” individuals, but an equal and vital part of the American culture! Thank you for NOT attaching that label unto us! I enjoy the diversity of the United States of America. I voted for you because I be-lieve you whole-heartily embrace diversity too. With your brilliance and compassion, we, as Americans have a chance to heal this broken nation and world. As an U.S. citizen I am passionate about all of the big issues facing our nation and hope for unity. I lend my voice, however, to issues that rarely hit the spotlight. President George Bush Sr. signed the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990; a law promising to give equal rights to people with disabilities. It is now 2008 and we are still waiting for our dream of equality to come true. People with disabilities face institution-alization, lack of accessible and affordable housing, unemployment and underemploy-ment, lack of personal care support in the community to name a few of the inequalities. The fulfillment of the dream has not been realized for millions of our fellow citizens. Let freedom ring for us too. At a Get Out the Vote rally at the University of Colorado campus in Boulder, CO I had the privilege of shaking Michele’s hand and very briefly speaking with her, along with other members of our disability rights group, Boulder ADAPT. We expressed apprecia-tion for your support of the bipartisan, Community Choice Act (S 799). Our local chapter is part of national ADAPT which has been fighting desperately to get this national legis-lation passed so people with disabilities throughout our nation can have a choice to live in freedom in their own homes with community supports. Michele listened to us intently and treated us with the dignity. It excites me to know that this kind of understanding and treatment of ALL of us is undoubtedly a characteristic found in you, our president-elect of the United States of America! TOGETHER, YES WE CAN! FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE FOR ALL!! Julie Redenbaugh Aird P.S. Today as my husband, Lowell and I were walking with our dogs around our neighborhood we stopped to talk with a neighbor, Jamie and his pet Shih Tzu named Gumbo. Jamie told us that Shih Tzus are hypoallergenic, don’t shed and the biggest plus, they LOVE children! HAPPY PUPPY SHOPPING!!