dejerine
10-14-2007, 01:52 PM
In reflection on Alan Hess's recent article, "Reality Central Pain", as well as my own experiences with the problem of ordinary dress for those with severe skin hypersensitization, I was distressed to learn that the government office assigned to enforce the Americans with Disablity Act had never considered the special needs of those with central pain, particularly as pertaining to the need to appear in court or at work in less clothing than is normally worn.
I request that as many as possible write to John Wodatch, at the ADA administration dept. and request that he assign a group to draft guidelines for accomodation to Central Pain. Please write to him with your thoughts.
The Americans with Disablity Act is administered by John Wodatch. The Department of Justice lists no email for him so one must write.
His address is
John Wodatch
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Civil Rights Division
Disability Rights Section - NYA
Washington, D.C. 20530
This might be a model letter:
Dear Mr. Wodatch,
Please assign a committee to draft rules for accomodation to Central Pain under the Americans with Disability Act. Central Pain is a syndrome involving the most severe pains known. Indifferent treatment of those with central pain has resulted in a deprival of civil rights. For example, how is someone in pain so severe that normal clothing cannot be worn able to appear in court, if no notice of our difficulties has been made public. We may need additional time, excuse for an early break, or temperature adjustments (via clothing worn) to enable us to appear in public or to find employment. Most of those with central pain have motor impairments as well, but accomodation to pain needs to be addressed, particularly as it applies to employment rights.
Such guidelines might include:
1) Allowing of modified dress so long as modesty is maintained
2) Permitting employment despite the painfulness of certain activities to be avoided which do not affect performance of the work to be done. This may require special seating, proximity to heat vents, aids in work to minimize muscle cramping or tiring.
3) Urging of courts and public offices to accomodate to special needs of those with central pain, including special measures for temperature regulation or touch minimization.
You never know when some protracted appearance in public may be necessary and you don't want to fight the battle by yourself. This is the highest use of our tax dollars, or at least among the highest, to let those charged with the duty draft guidelines to protect us.
I request that as many as possible write to John Wodatch, at the ADA administration dept. and request that he assign a group to draft guidelines for accomodation to Central Pain. Please write to him with your thoughts.
The Americans with Disablity Act is administered by John Wodatch. The Department of Justice lists no email for him so one must write.
His address is
John Wodatch
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Civil Rights Division
Disability Rights Section - NYA
Washington, D.C. 20530
This might be a model letter:
Dear Mr. Wodatch,
Please assign a committee to draft rules for accomodation to Central Pain under the Americans with Disability Act. Central Pain is a syndrome involving the most severe pains known. Indifferent treatment of those with central pain has resulted in a deprival of civil rights. For example, how is someone in pain so severe that normal clothing cannot be worn able to appear in court, if no notice of our difficulties has been made public. We may need additional time, excuse for an early break, or temperature adjustments (via clothing worn) to enable us to appear in public or to find employment. Most of those with central pain have motor impairments as well, but accomodation to pain needs to be addressed, particularly as it applies to employment rights.
Such guidelines might include:
1) Allowing of modified dress so long as modesty is maintained
2) Permitting employment despite the painfulness of certain activities to be avoided which do not affect performance of the work to be done. This may require special seating, proximity to heat vents, aids in work to minimize muscle cramping or tiring.
3) Urging of courts and public offices to accomodate to special needs of those with central pain, including special measures for temperature regulation or touch minimization.
You never know when some protracted appearance in public may be necessary and you don't want to fight the battle by yourself. This is the highest use of our tax dollars, or at least among the highest, to let those charged with the duty draft guidelines to protect us.