Planet of the Blind: Petition for AMA Disability Advisory Committee

Are you from the Chicago area? If so, what are you doing this weekend? The following announcement is borrowed from a post found on F.R.I.D.A. (Feminist Response In Disability Activism):

This weekend, the American Medical Association is in town at the Chicago Hilton! Hundreds of doctors are meeting to conduct AMA business. Let’s go tell them why they need to hear from people with disabilities!

It’s People with Disabilities Power Time!
Join FRIDA, ADAPT and Not Dead Yet in our AMA Rally!

Where: Chicago Hilton, 720 N. Michigan (meet us at the corner of Michigan and Balbo)
When: Sunday, June 24, 2007
Time: 11:30 am to 3:30 pm

What We Want: We want to ask the AMA to form a Disability Advisory Committee (DAC). We need to educate AMA members and the public about why we need a DAC and ask them to partner with us to set one up.

For those of us who can't attend this rally, we still have a voice. We can sign this Petition for AMA Disability Advisory Committee

Description/History:

Presently, the perspective of people with disabilities is not formally represented in the structure of the AMA. This petition calls for the AMA to demonstrate its commitment to the full inclusion of people with disabilities in the ongoing work of the AMA by creating a Disability Advisory Committee.

As the largest organization of medical doctors in the country, one of the AMA's primary purposes is to promote better public health for all, including people with disabilities. In order to achieve this goal, it is critical that the AMA regularly communicate with people with disabilties about matters that specifically affect them.

Several recent medical cases underscore the necessity for creating a formalized forum dedicated to a dialogue between the AMA organization and staff and people with disabilities, not least the recent controversial case involving the "growth attenuation" treatment that was given to the young girl known to us as Ashley, which involved procedures that violated state law.

This petition is part of an ongoing effort by advocates to seek AMA engagement on the creation of a Disability Advisory Committee as quickly as possible.

Steve and I have signed it. You can too. Help us spread the word, won't you?

Thanks,

Connie