Editorial

EDITORIAL POLITICS AND DISABILITY Over the eight years of President Reagan's administration we saw drastic cutbacks in services to deaf and deafblind people. This was sometimes done directly, by legislation , but generally accomplished in subtle, more devious ways. For example, key positions were filled by political hacks with no professional background in deafness or related disciplines. Often these individuals had no interests in disability. They used their offices as political pork barrels. The recent HUD scandals are a more publicized example of what happened in education. Another technique employed was to completely cripple existing government employees who had important jobs. Frequently their travel monies and budgets were taken away, leaving individuals who were knowledgeable about deafness and motivated to render service totally incapable of doing anything. They were left to sit all day in small "cubicles" in Washington's Switzer Building and kill time. Without funds or the ability to get out into the field, sitting around, or answering letters from constituents of congressmen or other busy work was essentially all that was possbile. None of this made government more effective. It simply temporarily cut costs while curtailing investment in disabled persons. For this failure to invest in the human resource which disabled people represent, society will pay dearly in the future. Deaf and deaf-blind people denied effective education and vocational/technical training will not contribute as fully to the economy as they otherwise could have. All of these devious ways to cut immediate costs and to circumvent the provision of services to disabled people stand in sharp, disgusting contrast to the gross waste of the departments of Defense and Housing and Urban Development. President Bush has come into office strongly voicing a more compassionate, realistic attitude toward education and disability. Thus far, he and his administration have been ninety-nine percent rhetoric. For the disabled, the other one percent, that is, the one specific act of the Bush administration (other than talk) has been the appointment of Dr. Robert Davila to Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. Dr. Davila is an exceptionally bright, knowledgeable educator who has the background, commitment, and political skill to assure that funds and resources invested in disabled people will be effectively used. However, he will need administrative support and the autonomy to implement change. Whereas President Reagan hardly even condescended to give lip service to diabled persons, President Bush has made a point of verbalizing compassion, waving the flag, praising clean air, endorsing the family, and speaking highly of children. Deaf and deaf-blind people are now awaiting the action that would give integrity to his words. McCay Vernon, Editor AAD/July 1989 191 ...