January 22, 2004
Sender: Senators Tom Harkin and Lowell Weicker, Jr.
Subject: Vote as if your life depended on it

Dear Disability Advocate:

Our fellow comrade, Justin Dart, said it best: "Vote as is if your life depended on it. Because it does."

We are writing to ask for your support, urge you to cast your vote, and seek out your friends and family to do the same in your state's primary election for Howard Dean -- a strong advocate for the disability community.

As a physician, Howard Dean supported disability rights, practiced patient education and experienced the challenges posed by the health insurance industry firsthand. As a result, he understands the barriers to affordable, quality health care that many persons with disabilities face. As Governor, Dr. Dean made Vermont a national leader by expanding access and services to persons with disabilities, while balancing the state's budget for 11 years. Howard Dean offers the combination of skill and personal experience to advance disability rights as U.S. President.

As Governor, Howard Dean achieved many gains for the Vermont disability community:

• Governor Dean more than doubled the number of individuals with disabilities placed in employment by Vocational Rehabilitation.
• Governor Dean's home and community-based services have empowered thousands of Vermont's elderly and people with disabilities to live independently.
• Vermont's Attendant Services Program is a model for consumer-directed independent living services for adults with physical disabilities. It now serves 250 Vermonters.
• Governor Dean was a leader in making state buildings ADA accessible, and increased funding for this goal each year that he was in office.
• Governor Dean improved services for persons with mental illness in a variety of ways, including insurance parity.  He improved accountability for in-patient psychiatric care and increased salaries for mental health care providers.
• Governor Dean invested in Vermont's children - he delivered health care for nearly every child in Vermont and dramatically increased childhood immunizations.
• Governor Dean expanded prescription coverage for seniors and made coverage more affordable, if not free, to those in need.

As a Presidential candidate, Dr. Dean has advocated bold and meaningful reforms, including:

• Full endorsement of Tony Coelho's employment platform for workers with disabilities.
• ADA enforcement and restoration of the original scope of the ADA.
• Full funding of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
• Enactment of the Medicaid In-Home Community Attendant Services and Supports Act (MiCASSA).
• Enactment of the Family Opportunity Act.
• Increased technical support for state implementation of Olmstead plans for community-based sustainable living.
• Commitment to address communication and information issues for individuals with hearing disabilities.
• Adequate resources for civil rights enforcement.
• Appointment of a "Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy," and other executive appointments.

In his 20 years in public life, Dr. Dean has been an extraordinary advocate for persons with disabilities. Please pass this letter along to our friends in the disability community and help turn out the vote for Governor Dean.

Together, we can elect Howard Dean -- a leader who will make the White House accessible again.

With great respect and regards,

Tom Harkin                                       Lowell Weicker, Jr.
U.S. Senator                                     Former Governor and U.S. Senator
Founder of the ADA                            Founder of the ADA


"On behalf of myself, Judith and the whole campaign, I am gratified for the disability  community's support -- thank you. Together, we can make the dream of full inclusion for Americans with disabilities a reality -- Please Vote!! And spread the word." -Howard Dean
 

Join Dean today!

 The ADA is one of the most important civil rights laws ever passed by Congress. By requiring public buildings to be accessible and by outlawing discrimination on the basis of disability in employment and public accommodations, the ADA has provided new opportunities for more than 54 million people living with disabilities. Above all, the ADA has changed attitudes. It has led to new respect and dignity for individuals with disabilities. It has empowered citizens to confront discrimination and recognize their civil right to be treated fairly. This law holds out the promise that individuals with disabilities will be welcomed as full members of the American community.

We encourage everyone to take the initiative to form your own group, create your own web site, set up your own chats, send out your views and take action to help us TAKE BACK AMERICA!

Take Action NOW:

• Join your local Meetup
• Organize an event in your neighborhood. Get your friends together to watch Governor Dean's videos.
• Create your own website or Yahoo Group for your community to talk about Governor Dean.
• Take the Organizing School crash course in grass roots campaigning
• Start a Dean Team fundraising club, and hold a house party!
• Register to vote, and make sure all your friends are registered to vote.
• Tell a friend about Americans with Disibilities for Dean.

Highlights:

Check out Governor Dean's Disability Rights Platform.

Check out Governor Dean's plan for Mental Health Reform.

Check out the Dean for Deaf America Blog!

Get Governor Dean's speech transcripts here.

Long-Term Care (Large Print Format)

Gephardt's "Mediscare" Tactics (Large Print Format)

Dean Corps to Clear Paths at Camp Courageous

Supporters of Governor Howard Dean Volunteer at Camp for Children

Monticello—Members of Dean Corps, a group of Governor Dean supporters who take part in community projects, cleared walking paths and trails Sunday, August 24, at Camp Courageous in Monticello, IA making the trails accessible to campers with special needs.  Governor Howard Dean first became involved in politics through community service.  Following in that tradition of community involvement, Dean supporters in Iowa began organizing themselves into Dean Corps chapters this summer to find ways to commit to their community.                                                                                  

Camp Courageous of Iowa is a year round camp for people of all ages with special needs.  Individuals with disabilities, as well as their families, experience year-round recreational and respite care activities in a camp setting.  Campers learn to try a variety of creative and challenging activities and experience success, which enhances self-esteem.  Over 4500 campers are served each year.

Over the summer Dean Corps chapters have been involved in a variety of community projects.  The Cedar Rapids Dean Corps held a mock caucus for a youth entrepreneurship program at the Jane Boyd Community Center.  The Quad Cities Dean Corp chapter has delivered water to runners during the Bix and spent the weekend helping clean up Duck Creek.  The Iowa City Dean Corp chapter has gathered more than 400 pounds of donated food for the Johnson County Crisis Center and volunteers at the Center once a month. Dean Corps chapters across the state and country have committed to their community in similar ways. At August's MeetUp.com events across Iowa, Dean supporters collected donations of school supplies which local teachers took to schools and teachers they know are in need.

To get Dean material or information in alternative formats: email info@... or call toll-free 1-866-DEAN-4-USA.