Marta
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/cbasaas/petition.html
To: President George W. Bush and Senator Arlen Specter (PA)
Petition to Establish a National Policy for Providing a Living Wage for Community-based Attendant Services
submitted by
People Who Rely on
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and Attendant Services
We believe that
• Disability is a natural part of human life; and
• Assistance from others often is necessary for individuals with significant disabilities of all ages to participate in and contribute to
society.
At present, there is no national policy to ensure a living wage for those who provide assistance to individuals with disabilities. Many
workers who are attendants receive
o poverty-level wages;
o no benefits, such as paid vacation, sick or personal days, days off like anyone else who works, health insurance or retirement
benefits;
o little recognition for the difficulty and immense importance of the work they do; and,
o minimal career advancement opportunities or pay raises.
We further believe that if we value people with disabilities, we must value those who provide the assistance that makes their lives
and futures possible by assuring a living wage and decent employment benefits. snip --