Hi Steemit, my name is Parker and I have lived with a disease called Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Without going into much detail, this disease hinders my ability to gain muscle. I have been in a wheelchair for about 22 years but I don't let that get me down. I own my own business, I'm engaged to a beautiful lady that I met on Reddit, and I have just the right amount of friends to keep me happy.
I am not one to complain much and I am not one to throw politics into people's faces but recently the US government gutted the one thing that protects my rights. On February 15th, 2018 the House of Congress passed H.R. 620: ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017.
What does this mean?
"The ADA Education and Reform Act aims to crack down on such lawsuits, by amending the existing 1990 law to require a “notice and cure” period.
The legislation would require that any person claiming discrimination must first provide written notice, allowing 60 days for an owner to acknowledge receipt of the complaint, plus an additional 120 days before legal action can be initiated. No other civil rights legislation currently on the books contains such a provision.
The bill was introduced in January 2017 by Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX2), a member of the House Judiciary Committee where the bill was originally sent. The bill is H.R. 620."
TLDR: Businesses can deny me due to my special needs. This bill allows them to drag their feet on making accommodations to better suit the disabled.
Now, you might think this is not so bad but this is the beginning of a slippery slope that I don't want to see the US go down. Living with a disability I the US isn't horrible by any stretch of the mind but it is a fight. Throughout my entire life my parents and I have had to fight for just about everything. Hell, I am fighting my insurance right now to get a life-saving drug that cost close to a million dollars but they don't care. In the eyes of insurance companies and some businesses, I am a burden. I can promise you, I AM NOT A BURDEN!
I have plenty of stories pertaining to the ADA but this lady on Twitter explained it best.
To the 213 Republicans and 12 Democrats that voted yes on this bill: FUCK YOU! I hope you one day will have to feel the damage you have done.