BELOW
IS THE LETTER THAT IS BEING SENT. The letter will be sent to numerous members of
congress. This example letter went to my own member of the United States House on 1/06/2007. As of today, I have not received any responses to the below letter from the listed
federal politicians.
John Waltz did a great job of composing this letter. You
can email John at: wallysparks76@yahoo.com
Americans Who
Support PTSD Veterans
Reasonable Disability Accommodations for the PTSD disabled... NOW
According to the federal Department of Veterans
Affairs,
There
are 98,000 "NEW PTSD Vets"
These accommodations should be determined by medical specialists; and our
federal and state Supreme Courts.
But our federal politicians must bring this major concern to our country's
attention now! Currently, there are no accommodations
for the PTSD disabled, reasonable or otherwise. Don't America's Veterans deserve something in return for their sacrifices...?
Honorable Congressman Scott Garrett
United States House
1318 Longworth
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear
Honorable Congressman Garrett,
As a member of Americans Who Support PTSD Veterans we
are writing in concern of the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Veterans. We personally feel that veterans
who have PTSD have historically been treated like second class citizens. This is sad for individuals who fought for this great
country only to come home and be ignored. We want to address this issue with all of the senators and congressman to hopefully
get someone to listen to our plight.
Veterans with PTSD have been subjected to a stigma where
they are considered to be misfits who have no grasp on reality. PTSD is a disability and should be treated as such, especially
when it comes to reasonable disability accommodations. Violations of these rights should be considered a federal crime and
should be investigated and prosecuted properly. Currently there is a strong focus on discrimination towards an individual’s
race or sex which we feel that same focus should be put on veterans with PTSD. PTSD is a real mental illness and should be
treated with a high sense of importance.
Every March in the federal calendar it is stated
that: “SEXUAL HARASSMENT IS A FORM OF DISCRIMINATION.” Not taking away anything from Sexual harassment and discrimination,
but if harassment is a form of discrimination, why isn't PTSD harassment a form of discrimination? Harassing
anyone with PTSD should be a Civil Rights discrimination crime and should be punished as such by the federal government, even if the federal and state governments are doing the harassing.
There have been some improvements in the Veteran Affairs system
but they are simply not enough and more has to be done. For a veteran to get service connected benefits, they have to wade
through an eternal sea of red tape and wait years for an answer. Can you imagine not being able to work and left with no means
to support yourself? Hence, the huge and growing amount of homeless veterans.
The claims process should be much simpler than it is now and we
feel that the only way that this is going to be done is putting more money into training those that handle the claims. There
is a serious riff between veterans and the VA because of the mistreatment that has been historically portrayed. As veterans
we also ponder why illegal immigrants get so much of our tax money to feed, clothe and send illegal immigrants to school rather
than helping the veterans that provided the way and means for the choice to be made.
There is always the idea
that politicians are bought and sold to the highest bidder. To me this is not the case; rather the issue is that there has
never been a push to make sure veterans with PTSD get the treatment and compensation they deserve. With the advent of technology,
veterans are able to access information easier and thus are now becoming more vocal about their rights.
Just consider that to date, 98,000 military personnel have come back from
Afghanistan and Iraq since the conflicts began and are now diagnosed with PTSD.
This does not account those that are in denial or have not
gone to the VA for help. Someone with PTSD, who has not been informed of the symptoms, begins to think they are
crazy, and the world would be a better place if they didn't exist. Due to this there have been too many suicides by suffering veterans.
If nothing is done, and the politicians sit by idle, then a big catastrophe is inevitable. Our question for you is where do
you stand?
Respectfully
yours,
John
“Jack” Cunningham
2 Wilson Road 20B
Sussex,
NJ 07461
Telephone
973-875-1608
This
letter sponsored by:
Jack
“John” Cunningham/ John Waltz
John
Waltz did a great job of composing this letter. You can email John at: wallysparks76@yahoo.com
Americans
Who Support PTSD Veterans
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Americans_Who_Support_PTSD_Veterans/
Personally, I'm hoping that federal protection of
Due Process for the PTSD disabled should be considered a Reasonable Disability Accommodation. How the State of New Jersey has been denying
me my Due Process for over six years now is a disgrace to all of America. Details and evidence at: http://www.capveterans.com/americans_who_support_americas_veterans/id11.html
PTSD Veteran Support· Email Group
Founded:
Apr 21, 2006
There are already 7,270 Members
And Growing Everyday...
"YOU ARE NOT ALONE."
War_Zone_Related_Stress_Reactions
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/PTSDveteranSupport/