Fw: Traumatic Brain Injury Program Is Zero-Funded by President

----- Original Message -----
From: "PAUL SAUERLAND" <pjsauerland@verizon.net>
To: "M. Vieni" <miriamvieni@optonline.net>
Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2006 11:58 AM
Subject: Fw: Traumatic Brain Injury Program Is Zero-Funded by President

----- Original Message -----
From: "Justice For All Moderator" <jfa@jfanow.org>
To: <justice@jfanow.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 07, 2006 5:41 PM
Subject: Traumatic Brain Injury Program Is Zero-Funded by President

> National Disability Rights Network Warns Empty Promises
> Threaten Returning Troops
>
> President's Budget Zero Funds Critical Traumatic Brain Injury
> Programs
>
> WASHINGTON - Less than a week after delivering a State of the
> Union address in which he asserted that the "road to victory"
> is the one that brings our troops home, President Bush
> recommended eliminating the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
> program, which includes funding for Protection and Advocacy for
> Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury (PATBI) - programs
> essential to so many troops returning with disabilities
> acquired in combat.
>
> "At a time when traumatic brain injuries account for a higher
> proportion of casualties than in other wars, it is
> unconscionable that the President is recommending absolutely no
> funding for a program so essential to this population," said
> Curt Decker, executive director of the National Disability
> Rights Network (NDRN).
>
> Results of TBI screenings at the National Naval Medical Center
> show that 83 percent of wounded Marines and sailors had
> sustained temporary or permanent brain damage.
>
> Along with the estimated 5.3 million Americans already living
> with disabilities resulting from TBI, these service men and
> women face an array of advocacy needs provided by the PATBI
> program, including assistance with returning to work; accessing
> needed supports and services; and obtaining appropriate mental
> health, substance abuse, and rehabilitation services. Given the
> nature of their brain injuries, these individuals run a high
> risk of falling through the cracks if advocacy programs such as
> PATBI are eliminated, as recommended in the President's budget.
>
> "Last week the President told the nation that 'greatness is
> measured by who we are, and how we treat one another.' We call
> on Congress to prove that greatness by treating our returning
> members of the armed forces with the honor they are due," said
> Decker. "We call on Congress not only to deny the President's
> request for zero funding, but to increase funding for the PATBI
> program to ensure that all those who qualify are able to access
> these essential services."
>
> ___________________________________________________________
>
> The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) is the nonprofit
> membership organization for the federally mandated Protection
> and Advocacy (P&A) Systems and the Client Assistance Programs
> (CAP) for individuals with disabilities. Collectively, the
> Network is the largest provider of legally based advocacy
> services to people with disabilities in the United States.
>
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> Gwen Gillenwater, Moderator, JUSTICE FOR ALL -- A Service of
> the American Association of People with Disabilities.
>
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