[StBernard] Roundtable disussion in Chalmette to provide forum for disabled

[Westley Annis]

Roundtable disussion in Chalmette to provide forum for disabled

Published: Monday, January 23, 2012, 11:21 AM     Updated: Monday, January
23, 2012, 11:30 AM

 By Becca Chapman 

Thomas Jefferson's introduction to the Declaration of Independence: "Life,
liberty, and pursuit of happiness," is intended to include all Americans,
not just able Americans. People with disabilities are often overlooked or
misunderstood, but they have the same needs, wants and rights as everyone
else. They just require the access.

Communities can help provide the avenue for that access by allowing it to be
shared with all of its members. On Jan. 26 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The
Guidance Center, 2626 Charles Drive, Chalmette, people with disabilities or
people with disabled loved ones will be able to voice their concerns to
legislators at the free 2012 LaCAN/LaTEACH Legislative Roundtable.

LaTEACH Area Coordinator Donnica Conway-Strawder said the event is mainly
for "individuals with developmental disabilities or parents of individuals
with children/adults with developmental disabilities that are currently
receiving or waiting to receive waiver services."

Conway-Strawder said waiver services enable people with developmental
disabilities to stay in their community so they can "work, live and
congregate in an inclusive environment rather than a costly segregated
institution," she said.

Legislators will be ready to listen to any thoughts, ideas or concerns. Some
of the legislators who attended last year's roundtable are Sen. Karen
Carter-Peterson and former Rep. Charmaine Stiaes.

Conway-Strawder said the meeting plans to address issues like: the reduction
or elimination of some waiver services and programs such as the Flexible
Family Fund, a monthly stipend to help offset some of the costs of raising
an individual with a disability.

"The event will also teach parents and individuals effective ways of
advocating for legislative change," she said. "Those with disabilities are
people first with feelings just like anybody else. They want the same things
we want, friendships, happiness, to be healthy. They are, like some of us,
proud. They may have to take a different journey to achieve some of those
things, but aren't we all on some kind of journey?"

For those who are unable to attend the meeting, another roundtable meeting
will be held Jan. 27 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Old Metairie Library,
2350 Metairie Road.

The event is free. Lunch will be provided. For planning purposes, please
register by contacting Delery Rice, LaCAN leader, at 504.722.8600 or
deleryrice at cox.net or Conway-Strawder at 504.943.0343 or
dconway at fhfsela.org.

The event is hosted by the Louisiana Citizens for Action Now, or LaCAN,
which stands specifically in favor of a service system that helps disabled
people live in their own home and not in a facility that is isolated from
the community, and Louisiana Together Educating All Children, or LaTEACH,
which fights for appropriate inclusive education and wants to keep families,
educators, and the public aware of newly discovered practices that with aid
students with disabilities in the classroom. 

Becca Chapman lives in Chalmette and writes about people and events in
Chalmette. She can be reached at chalmettematters at gmail.com or 504.481.6516

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