President Obama used his speech on the 19th anniversary of the ADA to outline his disability policies — about time. And as strong an Obama admirer as I am, I think we’re in trouble.

The roughly 22-minutes-long clip opened with Obama’s admiration for his father-in-law, who had MS and “never complained,” even when he had to get up a flight of stairs with two canes, and how he “never missed a day of work.” Obama’s comments feed into the whole “super crip”  stereotype, and it’s troubling that Obama can’t identify the dynamic of oppression at play in his depiction of his father-in-law’s disability. Plus, what is he saying about those of us who do sometimes miss a day of work because of our disabilities? Or who can’t work? Not to mention can’t get up a flight of stairs?

Obama segues from his father-in-law’s plucky determination to a bunch of boiler-plate feel-good crap, and then, tellingly, lingers over the story of long-time community fixture Tony Coelho. “Discrimination was rife,” says Obama, wonderingly, as he told how Coelho wasn’t accepted into the priesthood or the Army because of his epilepsy.

Obama then spun a fanciful tale about how once upon a time in a republic long, long ago people like Coelho were commonly discriminated against because they had disabilities. But then in the year 1990 that all changed, and from that time forward all American citizens with disabilities had rights and lived very equal lives indeed.

Toward the end of the clip Obama finally began speaking in the present tense. He says the focus is shifting to disability rights in other countries, as he's authorizing the U.S. to finally sign on to the U.N Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities.

The crowd applauds.

Then, Obama talked about stem cell research, signing the Reeve Act and health care — all good things — as if they can be framed in the context of disability rights. But they can’t. Treatment, even world-class quality treatment, is not the same as civil rights, and the crowd knows it.

Obama waits for applause, but there is none.

Finally, finally, FINALLY in the last five minutes he mentions he’s beefing up funding for IDEA, strengthening anti-discrimination in the DOJ, and directing the Department of Transportation to do something or other for us. The crowd applauds. Obama also had this to say about ending the institutional bias: “… [people] living independently in their communities, if that’s what they choose.” Well, yes, of course, if they choose. But the way he said it almost seemed as if he doesn’t quite believe most would make that choice.

The speech ended as stereotypically as it began: Obama cited the type of disabled guy he personally respects. FDR, he said approvingly, never let on to the American people that he even had a disability, and FDR’s disability made no difference to his ability as president. Then Obama tried a cutesy attempt to articulate what historian Hugh Gallagher wrote about so brilliantly in “FDR’s Splendid Deception.” FDR’s disability DID make a difference, said Obama. But in a positive way.

Here’s what I wrote about this speech as the clip played: Jesus Christ, we’re screwed.

If this clip is indicative of Obama’s disability policies, then it’s clear Obama believes most of the hard work is already done (if it was ever that important to begin with), and mainly all we need now is better medical treatment, either through stem cell research or health care. Obama’s greatest praise is for the appeasers who never complain, and he gave just a passing pat on the back for the advocates who brought the ADA into being. Job done, he seems to say. No need for that type of unpleasantness any more.

But, oh yes, while we’re in a magnanimous mood, why don’t we beef up ADA enforcement a bit, says the tone of Obama’s speech. Too, let’s give lip service to the rights of Americans to live freely in the community. Maybe then they’ll stop handcuffing themselves to my house.   

Once again I can only conclude that Obama has a crip problem.

19 years ago after ADA was passed, Bob Kafka said "Follow the money. The battles will be like nothing we have seen." Now, with our new Prex continuing the bailout policies of Bush 2, it's Find the Money. We have just had the biggest wealth transfer in history from working class to super rich with the bank/auto industry bailouts. I agree that the Obama administration does not "get" disability and that we are in trouble. Also the temptation is huge for those in our movement who get Presidential appointment to go along to get along and save jobs and status. I'm only mildly encouraged about the meeting and very glad our national leaders mentioned Community Choice. Still, It seems we have to count on ourselves to keep our POV in the media and the pressure on in other ways. It will be an utter travesty if the Bush 2 admin ends up having done more in funding Money Follows the Person than Obama does for the passing and signing of The Community Choice Act.

Apparently he knows personally of disability only through his wife, who rightly should consider her father heroic considering the time, place, and circumstances. We're far, far down the list of Obama's priorities because of the war conditions and the economic crisis. Strangely, we ask relatively little: the CCA; a push on employment; strict enforcement of the ADA. Gary www.garypresley.com

Apparently he knows personally of disability only through his wife, who rightly should consider her father heroic considering the time, place, and circumstances. We're far, far down the list of Obama's priorities because of the war conditions and the economic crisis. Strangely, we ask relatively little: the CCA; a push on employment; strict enforcement of the ADA. Gary www.garypresley.com

Josie, Great job of capturing what so many of us have been thinking. Like you, I have been a strong Obama supporter, and like you, I'm beginning to realize that frighteningly, when it comes to disability policy and the civil rights of people with disabilities, the emperor has no clothes.

Obama's got more than a crip problem. His health care will give the Peter Singer's & Kevorkian's something to rejoice about. Health care too costly for the seniors & gimps. A pacemaker for a 100 year old? Obama says no, too expensive give a pain pill instead. The centenarian is now 105 but she'd be dead if Obama had his way. From infanticide to euthanasia. Yeah, we gimps have a mighty tall mountain to cross with Obama & Axelrod who believe in institutions. Community Choice? Not in this administration!

>>[people] living independently in their communities, if that's what they choose." Well, yes, of course, if they choose. But the way he said it almost seemed as if he doesn't quite believe most would make that choice. << Sometimes, I get the feeling that most ABs just wish we'd stay home and collect benefits and not make trouble.

WOW are we screwed. In May of 2009 the National Park service removed its wheelchair lift from the lakeview overlook in the Indiana Dunes national Lakeshore replacing it with-you guessed it, a long flight of stairs! IN 2004 the northern Indiana Commuter Transit District removed its wheelchair lift from the Beverly Shores Station (among others). The attorneys for the railroad sent me a letter saying that they do nto have to provide access at their stations as long as some of them are accessible! Is this the new state of access? Look for all ramps and wheelchair lifts to be similarly replaced in all national park and government facilities! I have pictures of the lift and the stairs after removal of the lift! Guess all of us paras and quads are going to have to magicaly learn to walk in this brave new world!

WOW are we screwed. In May of 2009 the National Park service removed its wheelchair lift from the lakeview overlook in the Indiana Dunes national Lakeshore replacing it with-you guessed it, a long flight of stairs! IN 2004 the northern Indiana Commuter Transit District removed its wheelchair lift from the Beverly Shores Station (among others). The attorneys for the railroad sent me a letter saying that they do nto have to provide access at their stations as long as some of them are accessible! Is this the new state of access? Look for all ramps and wheelchair lifts to be similarly replaced in all national park and government facilities! I have pictures of the lift and the stairs after removal of the lift! Guess all of us paras and quads are going to have to magicaly learn to walk in this brave new world!

"never complained," "never missed a day of work." If he were an AB person, we would admire him for these qualities. Instead we condemn him with our anger.

Hmmmm. I watched the video after reading your commentary, and we appear to have seen two completely different videos. Your interpretation of his tone of voice is simply not the way I heard it, at ALL, and the way you said that he referenced FDR is just plain incorrect; he said that FDR couldn't reveal his disability at the time because of prejudice. I did wince when he talked about his FIL who "never complained," though. And I was really dismayed that he never even MENTIONED the civil disobedience involved in passing the ADA.

President Obama has no issues with disability -- it's his speech writer who you should condemn. Cut the President some slack, and realize that he simply read a written speech. It's truly no big deal.

Interesting comments - I'm amazed at how everything this guy does is scrutinized to the nth degree. Let's don't forget he is pushing very hard to reform the health system (as an MD, I'm part of this system which needs some major change).....is this not a major benefit to those with disabilities? As other have said....give the guy some slack.

While the speech was far from perfect, I think you were looking too diligently for flaws. I do agree that he went overboard on the admiration of his father-in-law and the super-crip mentality. However you miss-understood his independent living statement, the exact words are: "To affirm the fundamental right of people with disabilities to live with dignity and respect wherever they choose." Perhaps it is in the ear of the beholder, I thought he meant "The right to live wherever you want to live." Although it have been cool if Obama had discussed how FDR had to hide his disability due to the time, I think his FDR remarks were good, they would have been really cool if he had said "To quote Hugh Gallagher..."

I just played and replayed Obama's Community Living remark and the word are "live wherever they choose." not "whenever" they choose. In fact he clearly punctuated the word "wherever." Still, good job of reporting on the speech! If you hadn't, I would not have known it was given, and more importantly I would not have played at and replayed it. Geeze, how dare you make me pay attention and think! What's next, making me take notice and write my representatives?!

We will all become a line item on a budget fighting each other for medical dollars. Who do you think will be at the end of the whip with this ridiculously underqualified fool for power? Who? Those whose voice can not be heard and without influence. He cares little about the able let alone the disabled. To blame his speechwriter is the epitome of hiding ones head in the sand.

A-men. The king has no clothes.

President Obma has a problem worse than a crip problem. It is that he tries to make decisions and pretend as if he knows something about the ADA act as well as other concerns our country faces or I should say our countrys People face. You have to get into the mud if you want to know all the mud has to offer or will give you. Or develop a relationship with someone who has been or is there and allow them to take a lead role. The level of UNDERSTANDING what the real situation is can not replace the limited ability some knowledge about it equips you to speak to and come to decisions regarding forward progress for the peoples sake. Kim

Nope, the President doesn't have a clue about disability, hence his willingness for "service animal" to mean only "dog" effective March 15, 2011. How big an idiot do you have to be to fail to understand that monkey service animals from Helping Hands are vital to people who can't open a bottle of water or wash their faces independently? How stupid not to leave those monkeys with full legal protection as "service animals" in case a disabled person and his or her monkey have to evacuate together in a natural disaster. Obama's own kid is allergic to dogs, but he thinks it's okay to leave no alternative species for dog allergic disabled people? Sign the petition to tell him this new legal definition of "service animal" is disaster waiting to happen. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/3/Save-Our-Service-Animals-non-disabled/

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A father-inlaw with MS! Make the Obama/DNC attck against Ann Romney and her horse Rafalca for therapy hypocrtical. Obama win at any cost. revisionistat best close to violating the ADA provisions of discriminating against disabilities and use of service animals

This is part of what I've been hammerin on fer months - this guy is no friend to people with disabilities! I wish the "leadership" in the community would wake up and read - Obamacare will not be the gift they say it is; going after "the rich" will not help anyone; and Republicans are not trying to screw you - they are trying to make us less dependent. But I've probably lost you all by now anyway....