Top Three Things I'd Like to See Obama Say About Disability in his Acceptance Speech

Barack Obama will accept the Democratic Nomination for President in front of a crowd of over 75,000 at Invesco Field in Denver, Colorado. This moment in history will be both unique and memorable, and the upcoming event has already drawn comparisons to speeches by John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King. It would also be a perfect moment for Barack Obama to take a strong stand in favor of civil rights and opportunity for the one in six Americans living with disability.

While Obama's Plan to Empower Americans with Disabilities is good, it doesn't go far enough, and Obama has missed several opportunities to connect with the disability community, including the recent National Forum on Disability Issues, during which Obama was out of the country. So, here's what I want to hear from Obama when he accepts his party's nomination:

3. "I support preserving the diversity of America, including ethnic diversity, cultural diversity, linguistic diversity, biodiversity, and neurodiversity."

As a minority himself, Barack Obama should understand that diversity is key to human rights in America. However, while his campaign web site says Obama supports funding research into causes of and treatments for Autism, what it doesn't say is anything along the lines of, "Obama supports the rights of those with Autism to exist, reproduce, and refuse a cure if one is developed." While it may be understandable that Obama doesn't wish to distract from his campaign's key issues by going up against well-funded organizations like Autism Speaks, I want to see at least some sort of recognition of the importance of neurodiversity/biodiversity from the candidate who's made his racial identity a central theme of his life and his campaign.

2. "I will reduce disincentives to work in the Medicare, Medicaid, SSI, and SSDI programs."

Hillary Clinton made this promise over a year ago. However, Senator Obama has yet to guarantee that he'll address the Catch-22 keeping people with disabilities who desire employment from finding and keeping jobs. Currently, those who depend on social support for income and health care risk losing their benefits if they earn even a meager income. It's not acceptable to force dependency upon people with disabilities by withdrawing benefits from employed persons earning some money, but not nearly enough to provide a modest home and needed health care.

1. "I will ensure that every person with a disability is permitted to make choices about his or her health care, including receiving in-home attendant services, refusing treatments that are unwanted, and receiving health care services that are wanted, regardless of the type and progression of their condition."

Obama strongly supports the Community Choice Act, which would allow individuals with severe disabilities to receive care in their homes, rather than in institutions. However, there are more issues to address related to making independent choices about one's health than just the nursing home vs. attendant care dichotomy. For example, a cancer patient was recently denied chemotherapy by the Oregon Health Plan, but told the plan would cover assisted suicide. Barack Obama pledges to sign universal health care legislation by his first term in office. While, indubitably, universal health care has many advantages for those with disabilities, issues like this must be addressed. No person should be forced to receive any treatment that he or she does not want, and no person should be forced into hospice care or, worse yet, assisted suicide, when he or she would rather continue to live, even if that person has a debilitating and terminal condition. In Canada recently, three doctors resigned their privileges because they felt strongly that an elderly man should be removed from life support against the wishes of his family. It is imperative that this mentality not be permitted to continue to migrate to the United States if universal health care is implemented. Obama could show political courage by challenging the party line most Democrats toed during the Schiavo case.

How about you? What are your top three for Obama and/or McCain, during their acceptance speeches?