AFFIRMATIVE ACTION: PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIESMYTHS V. REALITY

MYTH: People in wheelchairs are the majority of people with disabilities.

REALITY: In 1992, one in five Americans were identified as disabled. It is estimated that there are 49 million Americans with a disability. About 10 percent of those use a wheelchair, cane, crutches or a walker. However, more than 90 percent have disabilities such as heart problems, developmental disabilities, diabetes, blindness, or other hidden disabilities such as asthma, learning disabilities, or epilepsy that do not necessarily affect their mobility. The most common functional limitations of people with physical disabilities are climbing, walking, lifting, hearing, seeing, and speaking.

MYTH: People with disabilities can't achieve equal rights without the help of non-disabled people.

REALITY: Since the mid-20th century, people with disabilities in the U.S. have been organizing and actively confronting prejudice and discrimination. Tactics such as legislative action, education, negotiation, litigation, and direct action have all been used by people with disabilities to make positive changes. People with disabilities participate in political and direct action just as any other group of oppressed people, and can be counted on for unique and creative direct action strategies.

What the disability rights movement really needs is allies to take direction from disability community leaders in the advancement of our civil rights.

MYTH: Business owners hate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) - it's too expensive, it's responsible for lawsuits that can drive them bankrupt, and they think it should be repealed!

REALITY: According to a July 1995 Harris Poll of executives of small, medium and large corporations, 82 percent surveyed believe ADA is worth the cost of implementation, and 80 percent said that their cost of accommodating people with disabilities since the passage of ADA has increased "a little or not at all." In addition, only 12 percent thought ADA should be weakened or repealed, while 78 percent said ADA should either stay just as it is or be strengthened! ADA works for American business!

MYTH: People with disabilities get all of their health insurance benefits from the government.

REALITY: Of the 29.5 million Americans with disabilities between the ages of 15 to 64, 18.4 million are covered by private insurance. Of the 11.1 million not covered by private insurance, 4.4 million are covered by Medicaid, and 5.1 million have no form of health insurance at all. People with disabilities - adults and children alike - die every year due to lack of health insurance. Under the current structure of health care in the U.S., lack of health insurance means that care is withheld.

MYTH: The biggest barriers to people with disabilities are physical ones.

REALITY: Many physical barriers can be corrected with a little money and some creative thinking. Negative attitudes and stereotypes about people with disabilities are much more difficult to conquer. When you or someone you know starts to make assumptions about what a person with a disability can't do, remember - you have more in common with people with disabilities than you think! People with disabilities go to school, have jobs, get married, have kids, worry about the state of healthcare, have fun, pay taxes, and try to make the most out of life - just like anyone else! All of our lives will be richer when we learn to value the unique talents and abilities each of us has to offer.

MYTH: Supporting people with disabilities is a real drain on America's economy!

REALITY: The 1990 U.S. Census concluded that over 60 percent of all working age Americans with disabilities are not participating in the work force either full or part-time. However, a January 1994 Harris Poll found that 79 percent of those people with disabilities who are not working WANT to work.

Each year, the federal government spends 40 TIMES more money to support people with disabilities not working than it spends to assist them to prepare for or find employment.

The lack of labor force participation of people with disabilities costs our nation's economy more than $200 billion annually. Today's Americans with disabilities have a proven potential for productivity, and their potential has not yet been realized. But we allow old attitudes to discriminate them out of school, workplace, and community.

Sources: National Organization on Disability, President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities, Job Accommodation Network, Americans with Disabilities:1991/92 by Jack McNeil, The Arc, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (US Department of Education), Survey of Income and Program Participation of the US Bureau of the Census, Harris Polls, Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, and Disability Issues Subcommittee and Affirmative Action Office of AFSC. Detailed source list available from AA office of AFSC at 1501 Cherry St., Philadelphia, PA 19102.

American Friends Service Commiteehttp://www.afsc.org/jobs/mythbstr.htm