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SEIU Convention Passes Resolutions Supporting the Rights of People with Disabilities

At the 2008 SEIU Convention held in June, SEIU members from all corners of the United States and Canada came together and passed a bold plan for change centered on the theme of "Justice for All". Many of the resolutions included in the Justice for All platform call for equal rights for people with disabilities.

Here are excerpts from a few of the resolutions:

  • Let it be resolved that SEIU will actively support federal and state initiatives to re-balance our nation’s long-term care system to reallocate resources toward home and community based services, particularly consumer-directed care.

  • Let it be resolved that SEIU will take an ongoing leadership role to contribute to policy change that removes artificial barriers to the employment of persons with disabilities and emphasize the abilities and innovations of people with disabilities who engage in any paid work.

  • SEIU will work in partnership with other groups to develop initiatives and policies that support employment of persons with disabilities in good union jobs with access to benefits.

  • SEIU will work with employers to create more flexible job descriptions and work rules that facilitate the employment of persons with disabilities. SEIU will create and share contract language that facilitates the employment of persons with disabilities.

  • SEIU, through its publications, websites and other communications with staff, members, employers and policy partners, will address cultural barriers and misinformation that limit the acceptance of persons with disabilities in the workforce.

SEIU has a strong track record of supporting the rights of people with disabilities. Our union supports the Community Choice Act (S. 799 & H.R. 1621) currently in the US Senate and House, and supported it's predecessor - MiCASSA. We are also the only national union to have endorsed the Community Imperative which supports the right to community living for people with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities.

To find out more about SEIU's support for the rights of people with disabilities, read Dennis Rivera's letter to disability rights advocates.