{"id":8926,"date":"2016-04-03T22:00:05","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T02:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/moonrider7.com\/en\/?p=8926"},"modified":"2016-04-03T22:48:46","modified_gmt":"2016-04-04T02:48:46","slug":"disability-rights-washington","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/moonrider7.com\/en\/2016\/04\/03\/disability-rights-washington\/","title":{"rendered":"Historical Background That Changed U.S. Dramatically and Current Efforts on Protecting Disability Rights ~Disability Rights Washington~"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"MoonRider7_Seattle\"
Seattle, WA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In Seattle, I have visited Disability Rights Washington, a private non-profit organization, and the designated\u00a0<\/span>protection and advocacy agency<\/span>\u00a0in Washington State. <\/span><\/p>\n

In 1977, the Governor chose Disability Rights Washington to protect the rights of people with disabilities statewide. <\/span><\/p>\n

The federal government provides money to the protection and advocacy agency in every US state and territory to protect and advocate for people with disabilities, and their rights. <\/span><\/p>\n

I have talked with Betty Schwieterman (Director of Systems Advocacy), Emily Cooper (Staff Attorney), and Tina Pinedo (Digital Communications Manager).<\/p>\n

\"MoonRider7_DisabilityRightsWashington_Interview\"
From left: Emily, Mizuki, Betty and Tina @Disability Rights Washington<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Today, in the US, many people with disabilities have equal opportunities to receive general education and work in various fields. <\/span><\/p>\n

However, children born with disabilities during 1940s to 60s were often placed into institutions by the recommendation of their doctors to their parents. <\/span><\/p>\n

Thousands of children were completely separated from the family and couldn\u2019t get out from the institutions. <\/span><\/p>\n

The condition in the institutions were actually horrible. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

One day, a former psychologist that worked in an institution, Willowbrook State School, snuck reporter Geraldo Rivera into one of the living units after hours.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Rivera took pictures and video footage, that exposed the horrific living conditions people with developmental disabilities were living in. <\/span><\/p>\n

Soon after, the information and images were shared with the in public: 6,000 people of all ages, crammed into a facility made for 4,000 \u2013 some not wearing clothes, and most receiving little to no care.<\/span><\/p>\n

In response to the public outcry following the scandal, Congress created the Protection and Advocacy network in order to protect and advocate on behalf of people with disabilities. <\/span><\/p>\n

Disability Rights Washington is the protection and advocacy agency in Washington State, and has federal access authority to monitor facilities where people with disabilities live and investigate incidences of abuse and neglect. <\/span><\/p>\n

Here is a video explaining what the P&A network is: <\/span><\/p>\n