Bonita! Thanx for joining us

Rain! Please stop by and Introduce yourself when you get a chance. I beleive Edward must be under-the-weather, so I'm doing my best as new host until he returns.

Peace, C.C.

I have seeing how the excuse of lack of funds is being patronized by private agencies and the government who should enforce the ADA.  Remember that I do come from a poor island but the excuse of being poor is not an excuse or ways of means to not comply with the ADA Law.  That ruling was done by Judge Gelpi on the federal case of the City of San Juan.

Many will not even consider expending time reading about situations that are taking place at the Territories of the United States but I believe that this input can certainly benefit many in the states and we can bring a common cause to the attention of the nation.  My purpose is to bring up the subject of lack of services at the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and foremost the lack of performance on the part of federal agents and federal representatives on the island.

The ADA Law is not enforced in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and their input is certainly needed on the cause of justice.  I tried to get a bachelors degree in Computer Engineering at IUPUI but my back problems and many other ailments were never answered by the famous Indiana School of Medicine.  In 1985 was very difficult to get a diagnosis of MS.  MRI’s was later introduced that finally helped on the diagnosis of MS.

I have a lot of knowledge on the computer field and I have put that knowledge to my advantage.  I do not speak perfect English but my knowledge has certainly proved to be a challenge to many.   I am learning every day and I put that knowledge to the test.

ADA is for all Americans and we need to work together and I hope that my introduction will not put you to sleep or feel that is a hopeless topic.  I will stay in touch.

Hi,

I was invited to the Group by Mr. Edward Janus.  I am currently a Spokesperson for Persons with Disabilities for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in the State of Florida.  I started my walk of being a Person with Disabilities on the year 2000 when I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (M.  It is amazing how the diagnosis broke my spirit and since no one had the answers and I was lost on the mist of being lost in our health care system (Miami, FL).  I did not have an option but to go back to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico were MS is considered a catastrophic condition and patients at that time had the right to a health insurance.

I learned the hard way all this different labels used in the system.  MS is label as a catastrophic condition in Puerto Rico because resources do not exist on the island or do not work.  Take for instance the transportation issue.  On the year 2004 my child endured an accident at the school bus and I had to do the things that she needed to be done as the paper work for the accident.  The Special Transportation Service in Puerto Rico in the year 2004 did not work for my situation.  I had to make the reservations two days ahead of time.  I did not have a choice but to use the Regular Bus Service but to my surprise the driver refused to open the lift for me because I use a 4 wheel walker due to the Multiple Sclerosis.  My balance is terrible so I need the device.

The driver continued to ridicule me as in getting on the bus and to even try to induce the other clients to do it.  This harassment continued all the way to my destination.  I called with my cell phone the supervisors for the Metropolitan Bus Authority and I filed a complaint with the local Advocator Office for Persons with Disabilities but both claims did not produce any solutions and when that happened I email the United States Secretary of the Transportation Department.  Mr. Mineta sent my complaint to the Office of Civil Rights for the FTA.

My claim produced the first ADA Audit to the Island, but I learned that the same happens to our neighbors the Virgin Islands and started to ask information of all the Territories of the United States.  I did not receive information since at that time the Census Report for the Territories was not finished and I started to learn to work thru the Federal Agencies. 

Although the ADA Law has to be enforce at all the Territories of the United States.  That is not the case.  Federal Agents prefer to play the political game too and they do not want to comply with their duties.  The Federal Agent tried to use that excuse as a venue to excuse himself from his duties but being a widow to an accountant and a Word War II Veteran has taught me to be diligent and to be bold. 

America is the land of the brave and we all have to use that knowledge to our own benefit, especially now that we are facing major cuts in all our services due to the lack of funds but we cannot allow losing our benefits that we have gain so far. 

Thanks for inviting me to your Group.  I am a Spokesperson for an organization for Persons with Disabilities from the territory of the United States the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,   O.V.I.D.A., Inc. (www.ovida.org, http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?gid=35973571982, http://1ovidainc.multiply.com/) in the State of Florida. 

My email is eileencurras902@hotmail.com and the email for the organization is ovidapr@gmail.com

Thanks again for the invitation,

Mrs. Eileen G. Currás widow to Hernández (WWII)

Welcome to Our New Members, and Please Introduce Yourself to our Group.
Darlene M. and Leslie B.
Thanks for joiing us.
Sincerely,
Edward Janus | Disability Advocate and Activist
10707 Wrightwood Ave. Northlake, IL. 60164
E-mails: EdwardJanus@msn.com
EdwardJanus@EdwardJanus.net
Web Site: www.EdwardJanus.net
My.Care2: http://my.care2.com/edwardjanus.

Welcome to Our New Members, and Please Introduce Yourself to our Group.

Veronica Kimbro, Lester S and Eric A.

Thanks for joining us.
Sincerely,
Edward Janus | Disability Advocate and Activist
10707 Wrightwood Ave. Northlake, IL. 60164
E-mails: EdwardJanus@msn.com
EdwardJanus@EdwardJanus.net
Web Site: www.EdwardJanus.net
My.Care2: http://my.care2.com/edwardjanus

Hey there Bob Cool outfit you are wearing! lol How's your freelance writing business going? Cheers from Bonnie

Hello to all,

I just wanted to thank Edward for accepting me as a member and to tell you how happy I am to belong to this extraordinary group of persons.  I am currently living in Switzerland although I was born in Portugal where I was an elementary teacher until last year.
I currently work as nanny and sometimes I try to do a little bit of activism - I know I must improve myself

I joined this group hoping to share  any possible help and also to listen to different opinions  and advice.

 Thank you again for accepting me.

With a great hug from Basel to all of you,
Wishing you a great week,
Ana

Hi,

I'm Bob Ellal and I've been disabled since 1991. Between that year and 1996 I went through a form of bone cancer four times--had two bone marrow transplants. The doctors gave up on me but I trained hard with a tai chi master--and over 12 years later I'm still here.

I'm building up a freelance writing business to supplement my disability income. Before my illness, I had worked in publishing and then the insurance industry as a writer. Need any work done--let me know.

I'm divorced and have two sons: Geoff, 21, in Special Forces; and Dylan, 18, at the New England Institute of Art. They are the reason I fought so hard to live, and they keep me going now.

Glad to say hello.

Bob

Welcome Ana,

Glad you joined us.

Love, Edward

Hi, my name is Martha Escalante and I just joined. II live in Chicago, IL.  haven't been officially declared disabled, but I have major depression and also suffer from migraines. I tried twice to get disability benefits, but was denied. I was told that in order to better my chances, I'd have to be totally unemployed for at least a year, but that's impossible. I live with my elderly parents and their my only source of income for now. I work and off for temporary staffing services, but I don't have a steady income. I'm 49, single with no kids so at least I don't have to worry about how to support my children. Anyway, my depression is finally under control after all these years. I take Cymbalta and it helps me really well, thank God. I take Imitrex for the migraines and that also helps. I get my meds free of charge through the patient assistance program from the pharmaceutical company.  I'm glad that's worked out for me, but financially I face a very gloomy future and it's pretty scarey.

Edward thanks for the invitation. A great cause blessings.
I am disabled my self, I have sever RA I have had 4 surgeries in the last 4 years.

Hi my name is pat im on disabilitie this is a wounderful idea for a group You never can have enough groups  like this thanks for the invite Rhea, im a retired nurse retired because of ostoparosis, osteoarthitis ect. ect. ect.,  and miss working its so hard to cope being out of work whats a easy way to deal with it?

Hello everybody My name is Dalia E. Hettfield. I work as pre-school teacher. Thanks dearest Rhea for the kind invitation to join this group. I like to help in whatever I can and in my possibilities. If you need my help you can count on me always.
Lots of Love and Respect for everybody,
Black Dalia

There's nothing I would like more to DO! I have been disabled since 1990 and it's almost 2009. HELP!  Thanks Ed.

Louise B.

Welcome,

Thank you for allowing me to join your group!

New member Edward Janus | Disability Advocate and Activist.

Wecome,

I am the host here at: Edward Janus | Disability Advocate and Activist Care2 Group.

I just wanted to introduce myself to this Group. Please Introduce Yourself also.

My name is Edward Janus.

I am a Disability Advocate and Activist. My Campaign and Mission is Fighting for Persons with Disabilities. And Making Our Voices Heard. My Causes are Governmental & Political Online Activism for Human Rights, Civil Rights, Animal Rights, Health Care Issues, Environmental Issues, Poverty Issues, Peace Issues, Hunger Issues, Abuse and Violence Issues.

A little bit more about me. I have Cerebral Palsy and an amputee (both legs) confined to a wheelchair. I am homebound, shut-in. I have worked to earn a living for almost 25 years. Then I had over ten surgeries on my cervical spinal column (neck area) in my lifetime. Now I have been on Permanent Social Security Disability since 1996. I was married and have a daughter. In 1999 an automobile while crossing a street, struck my wife. She died instantly. Now, I Live Alone. I receive only one household income. A Social Security check monthly. I would contact people by telephone, but I am also deaf. I cannot hear very well on the phone. You can reach me by email; all my activities and tasks are via Internet. Or you may send a regular postal mail. Please visit my main Web site: http://www.edwardjanus.net/

Sincerely,

Edward Janus | Disability Advocate and Activist

10707 Wrightwood Ave. Northlake, IL. 60164

E-mails: EdwardJanus@msn.com

EdwardJanus@EdwardJanus.net

Web Site: http://www.edwardjanus.net/ 

My Care2: http://my.care2.com/edwardjanus