February l4, 2002

President George Bush
White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC  60001

Dear President Bush:

Ten years ago the veterans with disabilities grouped together to get a law passed to make their lives and other persons with disabilities a better life.

The ADA law was passed and finally become a reality. Independence, accessibility and dignity are very important to us. Hoping everyone will see us as an equal and not as person with a disability that has to use an appliance to get around. The Constitution gives everyone rights but persons with disabilities had to add the ADA law because of DISCRIMINATION.

One very important item was forgotten to be part of this law. In order for this law to be enforced correctly a State Bureaus for Disabilities should have employed persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities should be part of the inspectors. We know what we need better than anyone. If this were setup this way from the beginning we would not be having the problems we have now and accessibility would be a REALITY.

Enclosed you will find copies of letters regarding problems with accessibility. These letters have fallen on deaf ears including the Justice Department. Instead of this law becoming a reality it has become somewhat of a nightmare. The ADA law is suppose to give us the dignity accessibility and independence we deserve. We should not be treated that we are stupid and don’t know what works for us. A member of the IL. Bureau of Disabilities told me they knew what we needed and were very well trained. They didn’t have to reply to our complaints.

A very important item that effects our lives just as much is, financial. I have been talking to other people with disabilities that were forced to go on Disability because they lost their job. I asked them if Social Security stopped their disability check the same way they did with me. A few said yes and it hurt them financially they had to go to food shelters and their wife’s pay just didn’t cut it. People that were single said they would never pay the government back 2 for l to have them give it to pay a foreign country, fifty-three billion dollars. President Bush, we did not go on to disability because we wanted it. It was forced because of a disability caused a disease, accident, war, and birth defects. I have MS and lost my job, I became a liability. I did not take an early retirement. I was forced into it just like thousands of others. This law has to change.

People with disabilities still have to work part-time to keep us going financially. Can you live on a thousand dollars a month? Please let me know how!!!!!!!!!

Our government takes from people with disabilities that can’t find full-time work because of our condition. We are still being discriminated against and still treated like second rated citizens. Try to go for a job in a wheel chair, walker or a cane and see if you get hired no matter how qualified you are? What is sickening about all this our government sends 53 billion dollars to a foreign country to help them and people with disabilities working part-time can only make $10400.00 gross give the government their taxes and live on the net. Then get penalized 2 for 1 pay back. Who is being DISCRIMINATED and who is STEALING from us now and getting away with it?

I am getting help to set up a web page for the people with disabilities. Asking all the same questions and what we need to do to get our voice heard and stop being treated as if we don’t exist.

President Bush, please don’t have a deaf ear. We need your help, too. We are part of the Constitution and we come FIRST not LAST.

Cordially,


Rosemarie A Botthof
460 Eagle Dr    Apt 106
Elk Grove Village, IL  60007
Enc.