Thursday, February 5, 2009

Support Funding for Centers for Independent Living

To: Dianne Feinstein, Barbara Boxer

I am writing to urge you to support funding for Centers for Independent Living in the stimulus bill.

I am writing to let you know how deeply concerned I am about the Senate decision to eliminate stimulus funding for Independent Living Centers (ILC). ILCs play a critical role in assisting people with disabilities in living independently, gaining employment and living in the community rather than institutions.

In California, there are 29 Independent Living Centers located throughout the state. California’s Independent Living Centers provide information and referrals, direct services, systems advocacy, employment development, personal assistant referrals, housing assistance, peer support, independent living skills training, assistive technology advocacy, and many other services.

Centers all across the nation play need to play a critical role in making sure that people with disabilities are not left out of the opportunities for employment that the stimulus will create.

Make sure that YES WE CAN includes People with True Disabilities!

Sincerely,

Charles Bean

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Reduce H-1B Visas

Senator Boxer, Feinstien and Congressman Thompson,

I am concerned about the opportunities being opened for more foreign workers to be imported into our country.

At this time, we should not be importing or allowing a larger number of H-1B Visas to bring foreign workers into our country. We should be working on stimulating our economy through providing jobs for those already here in the country.

In order to meet the needs of our country, though those already here in the country legally, I would hope to see more opportunities promoting education and more training opportunities for those just entering and those currently in the workforce.

As an individual, disabled, I believe there are human resources already here in the States to fill many positions with the appropriate training. We often overlook resources in front of our noses, and knowing from my personal experience, there are many disabled and abled human resources not properly being used, or given the opportunity.

I may be incorrect in my observations, but I know appling for jobs on an average of two a week for the past two years, I feel bringing more individuals into the States under the H-1B visa program only lowers my opportunity to become self-reliant and off the social welfare system.

So, I request as an individual, you to consider cutting back on increasing H-1B visas and increasing the opportunities needed by providing more for education and training opportunities to meeting a change economic system facing a new world.

Sincerely,

Charles Bean