Dear Congressman Bilirakis, I am writing to you today on behalf of myself, my sisters and brothers with disabilities, and all of the people who will be born and acquire disabilities in the future. These individuals do not pay taxes, participate in or contribute toward their communities, or even shop in stores or eat in restaurants.
Most people have at least an inkling of what discrimination is about.
I am referring to an entire population of Americans who are treated differently much of the time in overt and subtle ways our entire lives. To say it is insulting and demoralizing is an understatement. I am one of the lucky ones. I use a wheelchair for mobility, respiratory equipment to help me breathe, and ParaTransit to get around. And I utilize 38.5 hours of Personal Assistant Services each week.