Ouch weblog: individual blog entry
14 Sep 07, 1:05 AM - Cold Shoulder
The 大象传媒 has news about the Swiss government both because he's a Muslim and because he has a disability. According to the article, the Swiss government claimed that the man's disability would put too much of a burden on the country's taxpayers. The discrimination evident in this decision is appalling, of course. But it also makes me wonder if the Swiss are similarly hostile to their own citizens with disabilities. And it makes me think about the plight of refugees with disabilities. They're a particularly vulnerable population who desperately need the social and health care services available in the developed world, but rising anti-immigrant sentiments in both Europe and the States are forcing many refugees with disabilities to live in the shadowy margins of their adopted homelands. It seems to be an issue that has received little attention, which probably shouldn't be that surprising.
Thanks to my friend Rose for the tip.
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At 10:23 AM on 14 Sep 2007, Chris Page wrote:
You don't even have to be a refugee. My parents were emigrating to Australia in the late 60's - but when I came along with Spina Bifida, they wouldn't let Mum and Dad continue with the process. This international disablism MUST be stopped.
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At 06:54 PM on 16 Sep 2007, Alison Fox wrote:
Does Switzerland have a DDA
I am visually impaired and wonder about how accessible its transport system is.
yes you meet excellent manners generally in hotels, shops etc.
but buses and trains are far more difficult than here in Scotland for people with other impairemnts as well as my own
I know the trains have some wheelchair accessible carriages , but there doesn't seem to be an accessible space in every carriage like there is on most Scotrail services
also, and remembering most disabled people don't use wheelchairs , the three high steps to some train carriages and also to the buses i went on cant be easy
I am writing this because everyone praises the Swiss transport system and knocks the British one which doesn't seem right
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At 09:39 PM on 16 Sep 2007, wheeliebear wrote:
I think more often than not those of us with disabilities ARE viewed as a tax burden....even when they are a native. I'm from the US and even though American Disability Act is "in effect" I know that I still encounter bias from the AB world. I was injured at 14yrs old so have never worked and my accident left me with both a spinal cord injury, and a brain injury.....yet I still get the feeling that my not having been able too work is still somehow my fault.
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