It is AWESOME when big organizations make clear statements so RantWoman can save time and devote her efforts to all the other rant worthy topics in life
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Leading Disability
Organizations: President Trump’s Blame of Deadly Plane Crash on Disabled
Federal Workers Is Baseless, Irresponsible
For Immediate Release: January 30,
2025
Contact: Jess Davidson
at jdavidson@aapd.com; 202-975-0960
WASHINGTON D.C. - In remarks today at the
White House, President Trump cast potential blame for the tragic and deadly
plane crash that occurred last night near Ronald Reagan Washington National
Airport on people with disabilities employed by the Federal Aviation
Administration.
Soon after the President’s comments,
multiple news agencies reported that the air traffic control tower
was understaffed at the time of the crash. Despite these reports, the White
House has continued to double down on their baseless claims.
In response, the American Association
of People with Disabilities, American Council of the Blind, Autistic Self
Advocacy Network, Disability Rights, Education and Defense Fund, United Spinal
Association, National Federation of the Blind, and other leading disability
rights organizations issued the following statement:
The President’s remarks today suggesting
the deadly crash of Flight 5342 may have been the fault of public servants with
disabilities are irresponsible, disparaging, and wrong. It is extremely
inappropriate for the President to use this tragedy as an opportunity to
advance his anti-diversity hiring agenda. The focus of the federal government
and the entire nation should be on the emergency response, a thorough
investigation, and most of all, supporting the families and communities who
lost their loved ones in this tragedy.
People with disabilities proudly serve our
nation through government service in every federal department and agency.
Disabled employees, like non-disabled employees, are hired because they meet
the qualifications needed to do the job. The Federal Aviation Administration
has rigorous standards for hiring Air Traffic Controllers and all other FAA
employees.
Diversity hiring initiatives seek to expand
the pool of potential qualified talent for a role – they do not supersede the
qualifications and skills that the role requires. The implication that people
are being hired to do a job for which they are unqualified is an unfounded lie
that further reinforces harmful stereotypes against disabled people.
“The President is deliberately spreading
falsehoods to demonize the quarter of American adults who live with
disabilities rather than directing federal resources towards ensuring such a
devastating tragedy never happens again. This is part of a broader coordinated
attack on civil rights and equal opportunity across government. These attacks
do nothing to keep Americans safe and actually threaten our ability to ensure
safety by building the strongest possible aviation workforce,” said
American Association of People with Disabilities President and CEO Maria Town
Scott Thornhill, the Executive Director of
the American Council of the Blind, stated, “The tragic accident that
occurred last night near Reagan Washington National Airport is one we all are
deeply saddened about. This is not a time for political posturing or
speculation. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who
devastatingly lost their lives. We strongly denounce any insinuation that
hiring individuals with disabilities had any part in this horrific event.”
“One of the biggest factors keeping people
with disabilities out of the workforce is baseless stigma around our ability to
do our jobs. Despite ample data showing the capability and productivity of
disabled workers, disclosing a disability still makes job applicants 26% less
likely to even get a preliminary interview. Programs like the one President
Trump attacked have been part of the federal government’s work to eliminate
that stigma. It is deeply disappointing to see our government now deciding
instead to make it worse,” said Colin Killick, the Executive Director of
Autistic Self Advocacy Network
“The President’s harmful speculation
unfairly targets disabled workers and reinforces dangerous and baseless
stereotypes,” added Nicole Bohn, Executive Director of the Disability
Rights Education and Defense Fund. “Disability is not a liability, and
these narratives only serve to fuel discrimination, exclusion, and
stigma—particularly for disabled BIPOC workers who already face compounded
barriers in employment. Right now, the focus must be on supporting the families
and communities affected by this tragedy and ensuring a fact-based
investigation—not on scapegoating disabled people who belong in every
workplace, including aviation and public safety.”
“The cause of the terrible plane crash at
DCA last night remains unknown,” said Marlene Sallo, Executive Director of the
National Disability Rights Network. “Now is the time to thoroughly
investigate what caused this accident and support the families who lost loved
ones. It is not the time to blame or further stigmatize people with
disabilities.”
Mark Riccobono, President of the National
Federation of the Blind, stated, “Blind Americans share in our nation’s
mourning for the lives lost in last night’s tragic accident. We are shocked
that the President of the United States would reinforce unfounded
misconceptions of disability by codifying them in the Keeping Americans Safe in
Aviation executive order. We know that people with disabilities are among the
best and brightest. We also know that our focus today and in the days to come
should be on the lives lost not the misunderstanding of the lives of people
with disabilities.”
The National Organization of Nurses with
Disabilities (NOND), said, “NOND dramatically and strongly disagrees with
the statement made by the federal administration that people with disabilities
create unsafe conditions for others. The government’s statement is appalling,
dehumanizing and blatantly discriminatory. NOND supports DEI which is crucial
to promoting the full inclusion of marginalized populations including people
with disabilities. Research indicates that with age the incidence of disability
and chronic health conditions increases. Disability is not about those of us
who are disabled now; it is about our society at large.”
“Blaming people with disabilities for the
deadly crash at DCA is both misleading and deeply misguided. Individuals with
disabilities are hired under already stringent standards due to existing
biases, and when we secure employment, it is because we have clearly
demonstrated our ability to perform the job with excellence,” says United
Spinal Association President & CEO Vincenzo Piscopo. “As a person with
a disability myself, I can say without hesitation that I have proudly and
consistently contributed value in every role I have held. To suggest otherwise
is not only unfounded but also undermines the contributions of millions of
disabled professionals who excel in their fields every day.”
This statement is provided on behalf of the
following organizations:
American Association of People with
Disabilities
American Council of the Blind
Autistic Self Advocacy Network
Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network
Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
Disability Rights Education & Defense
Fund
National Coalition for Mental Health
Recovery
National Disability Rights Network
National Federation of the Blind
National Organization of Nurses with
Disabilities
Not Dead Yet
United Spinal Association
Scott Thornhill, MPA
Executive Director
American Council of the Blind
225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 660
Alexandria, VA 22314
(202) 559-2040
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