BILL CLINTON - A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE
                        by Bobby Simpson


People with disabilities need a national leader who will promote
independence, equal opportunity, integrated community living
options, consumer controlled personal care services and an active
role for us in public policy development.

We need a President who will:

ensure that our Civil and Human Rights are upheld through strict
adherence to the ADA and other Civil Rights Laws.  
involve us in setting up a national policy on disability that will
encourage independence and not dependence 
focus our national resources so that persons with disabilities will
have maximum choices to live, work and play in communities of our
choice.

That leader is Bill Clinton.  A bold statement?  Perhaps, but one
which I firmly believe.
A decade before the Americans with Disabilities Act Bill Clinton's
administrative actions ensured that state agencies provide
accommodations for persons with disabilities no matter the cost. 
Years before the ADA he hired qualified persons with disabilities
to high level positions in his administration, and not just to head
disability-related agencies.  As President, Bill Clinton would
continue to ensure that equal rights are based not on cost but on
qualifications.
I am proud to have worked closely with Bill Clinton and his
administration in Arkansas since l987.  I became a wheelchair user
at the age of l7.  For over 20 years I have been a vocal advocate
for the rights of persons with disabilities at the local, state and
national level.  As the executive director of an independent living
center for over seven years and a founding board member of the
National Council on Independent Living, I am a firm believer in the
philosophy of self-determination and empowerment .  I am convinced
that, as President, Bill Clinton will work with us to make civil
rights and the independent living philosophy the foundation on
which national disability policy is based.
Bill Clinton has shown that he is an intelligent, forward-thinking,
man of vision.  In 1987, Governor Clinton and his administration
sought out new leadership for the Arkansas State Vocational
Rehabilitation Agency.  When selecting a director of a State
Vocational Rehabilitation Agency the natural tendency of many
politicians and their administrations is to look to political
insiders, major campaign contributors or long term bureaucrats. 
That's not Bill Clinton's style.  His values for that job were the
values of others in his administration:  innovative, progressive
leaders who were knowledgeable of their subject matter and who
solicit the input of constituencies for the development of policy. 
Therefore, he and his administration chose a relative newcomer to
Arkansas, a qualified person with a severe disability and a strong
background in rehabilitation and independent living.  I've been
working very hard to prove that he made the right decision and I am
proud to be a part of his administration.
On numerous occasions Bill Clinton has sat at a conference table
with persons with disabilities, service providers, and other
involved members of the private and public sector discussing mutual
concerns such as the lack of accessible, affordable housing with
appropriate support services.  As one result of such discussions,
he established the Governor's Task Force on Supported Housing.  The
task force consists of people with disabilities, persons who are
elderly, service providers, real estate developers and bankers. 
The task force has identified legislative initiatives, policy
changes, and new service delivery approaches that enable persons
with disabilities and elderly people to live quality lives in
integrated community settings.  The effort has also produced a
fully staffed supported housing office, which serves as a catalyst
and source of technical assistance for those pursuing supported
housing initiatives.  Joint ventures involving persons with
disabilities, private, non-profit organizations, real estate and
financial institutions, have resulted in community living and
unique support system opportunities which would have been
impossible to achieve without such a collaborative effort.
Similar round table discussions have resulted in Bill Clinton
establishing the Governor's Task Force on Home and Community-Based
Services for persons with disabilities.  The majority of members of
the task force are persons with disabilities.  The task force will
submit recommendations to the governor, proposing new legislation,
public policy changes and new program initiatives, all designed to
assure that persons with disabilities are able to avoid
institutionalization and lead independent productive lives in the
community.  Task force efforts are resulting in draft legislation
for the upcoming session of the Arkansas General Assembly as well
as major policy recommendations which will result in increased
consumer control over services directly impacting the lives of
persons with disabilities.  Such initiatives reflect the Bill
Clinton I know.
Bill Clinton represents a new generation of leaders.  His style is
one of involvement and consensus building not old time autocratic
decision-making.  I know he is a man who believes we can do more
tomorrow than we are doing today and we can do it better.  His
actions have demonstrated that he believes people are one of our
greatest natural resources. He believes if one listens to the
concerns of we the people, and involves us in seeking solutions
then the problems of tomorrow will be fewer and the future will be
bright.
Unfortunately, some people active in disability rights have little
knowledge of Bill Clinton.  Some only know of his strong support
for our civil rights.  Others only know that a dozen members of
Americans Disabled for Attendant Programs Today (ADAPT) occupied
his office in the State Capitol in December 1991.        The highly
publicized protest was a result of cuts in the Arkansas Department
of Human Services Medicaid-funded Personal Care Program.  ADAPT
wrote a letter to Governor Clinton protesting the cuts with a
deadline for a response.  The deadline passed with no response from
Governor Clinton.  What many people don't know is that Bill Clinton
had never been shown the letter.
Most experienced ADAPT activists expected to be forcibly removed
after making their way into the Governor's private office, full
ofvaluables and cherished personal possessions.  Such was even
suggested by certain nervous security officials, but Bill Clinton,
who was out of state at the time, said "absolutely not".  He
invited the ADAPT group to make themselves at home in his office,
instructed security to stay out of the way and began a process of
identifying the issues and negotiating a fair and equitable
solution.  Through a midnight teleconference call, Bill Clinton and
ADAPT members reached an agreement which restored funding cuts
imposed in the Medicaid Personal Care Program.  Bill Clinton
ensured that the resources were there to expand the Personal Care
Program in spite of the downturn in our nation's economy.
Bill Clinton demonstrated how a true leader should react in a
crisis.  He has a firm belief that people with disabilities have a
right to live with appropriate supports in the community.  He
understood that the reduction in personal care services could
result in some individuals with severe disabilities being forced
into institutions.  Bill Clinton took action.  His legislative
initiatives have increased eligibility, consumer involvement and
attendants' wages.  Today Arkansas is one of the minority of states
which chooses to participate in the Medicaid Personal Care Program. 
Even though federally mandated nursing home rate increases and
other similar federal requirements have a devastating impact on our
Medicaid Program, Bill Clinton has refused to allow any cuts in the
personal care program.  As our next President, Bill Clinton will
make a national consumer-controlled Personal Assistance Services
program a reality.  That's the Bill Clinton I know and respect.
Bill Clinton represents a new generation of leadership which we so
desperately need in order to move our country progressively into
the 21st century.  He has a strong social conscience and vision for
the country which was formulated in the backdrop of the civil
rights movement of the 1960's and evolving independent living
movement.  His philosophy and attitudes are in harmony with those
of us seeking equality, opportunity and self determination for
people with disabilities.  Bill Clinton's administration will be
one of progressive vision, inclusion, and consensus building.  We
will not only have a voice in his administration but also a viable
role to play in making our country great once again.
This is the Bill Clinton I know.  I hope you will join me and
demonstrate the political power of persons with disabilities, our
friends, families and supporters by electing Bill Clinton as the
next President of the United States.