What are your legal rights…?
The Fight For Your Legal Right To Stair Lifts And Other Aids
This is definitely an important political and social question to solve as the Baby Boomer generation is nearing, and passing, the age of 65. As a society, we need to decide if the basic needs of our disabled citizens are there inherent rights, and if so, provide them with suitable financial aid.
Unfortunately, in the United States, the situation of getting adequate medical payments for durable equipment from public and private medical care is deteriorating, in some cases rapidly. This is despite the Americans with Disability Act, which supposedly makes it a necessity, at public expense, to aid in the increase of the mobility of disabled Americans.
However, in a case of twisted logic, the State of Wisconsin argues that Stair lifts, power Wheelchairs, etc, are not covered under medical aids since they are not directly “medical care” for the patient.
“So, before buying a Stair Lift, you should research whether funding is available for them. Medicare may be able to provide some limited funding, but if you have private health insurance, start with them first.”
Click here to follow the link to our Medical Insurance page…and read more about our basic needs.
In America, if you are denied financial assistance for Assistive Technology you have to then apply for a hearing in order as to make a legal appeal!! These legal fights are intensifying, because whether you receive financial aid for stair lifts and other aids is not about receiving charity. It is about your right as an American and as a human being.
But what is an assistive aid…?
Assistive aids can include cell phones, scooters, van conversions, wheel chair ramps, or even exotic devices such as pneumatic elevators. It can also include a residential elevator for your home, bath chairs for your bath, or walking devices which you might need. Even your personal computer may need to be modified so you can use it!
In the State of Iowa, a program has been created called InfoTech. This Iowa Program for Assistive Technology has been formed to help fight for the rights of the disabled to help them improve their lives. They are helping people navigate the bureaucratic process to get stair lifts, cell phones, scooters, van conversions, wheel chair ramps or wheel chair lifts. If their request is denied, they help with the process of filing an appeal.
“In a landmark case in the State of Connecticut, the state agreed in 2003 to make a case by case determination whether each individual Medicaid recipient was entitled to payments for stair lifts. This comes under the category of durable equipment to help disabled people move up and down stairs.”
Another important law that is relevant to these cases is the Americans with Disability Act. This law has been used to force the construction of elevators on public trains and subways across the country and also to have “wheelchair accessible” public buses put into service.
This Act is designed to prohibit discrimination of a person based on their disability, which is equivalent to discriminating against someone because of their racial beliefs, their sex, colour of their skin, or other distinguishing feature.
This law helps guarantee your right to stair lifts, wheel chairs, etc, especially if you need them to get a job or continue holding a job. These laws also ensure that persons with disabilities have access to public programs such as community programs or senior centres.
Persons with disabilities are entitled to "reasonable accommodations" that will make these programs accessible to them. So before you think these Technologies are too expensive for you, remember that you, as a citizen, have the same Rights as a non-disabled person.