Michigan Disability Resistance

I’m part of a disability campaign group called Trailblazers, a sub group of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign. Two years ago the group carried out an investigation into the accessibility issues faced by disabled passengers when travelling. One of the main issues resonated deeply with my own situation:  the inability to access planes.

My own wheelchair has been specifically designed to suit my posture to create as much comfort as possible. This means that it is impossible for me to sit in a standard airline seat, so travelling by plane is out of the question. Reading the information gathered by Trailblazers, I discovered that I was not alone in this dilemma. So I decided to form a campaign to encourage the aviation industry to research methods that would allow wheelchairs to be taken on board planes and fitted with restraints to secure the chair in place.

The main focus of the campaign so far has been contacting airlines, airline safety regulators, MPs, and engineers to discover why nothing has been or is being done. After being given a lot of valuable information, I have learnt that part of the problem has been that there is confusion as to whose responsibility it is to fund and implement the research required to reach a solution.

KEY FINDINGS:

• The July Kaiser Health Tracking Poll finds that most Americans (61 percent) continue to hold unfavorable views of the plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), including over four in ten (44 percent) who say they have “very unfavorable” view. The share of the public with negative views of the law has increased slightly in the past month, from 55 percent to 61 percent. Views of the Republican plan to repeal and replace the ACA continue to vary widely by party and a large intensity gap remains, with Democrats being nearly three times as likely to hold a “very unfavorable” view as Republicans are to hold a “very favorable” view (71 percent versus 25 percent, respectively).
• Nearly two-thirds of the public opposes (65 percent) major reductions in federal funding for Medicaid as part of a plan to repeal and replace the ACA, and most continue to oppose these reductions even after hearing arguments in support of them. About half of Republicans and those who approve of President Trump support major reductions in federal funding for Medicaid.
• Seven in ten (71 percent) Americans would rather see Republicans in Congress work with Democrats to make improvements to the ACA but not repeal the law, while one-fourth (23 percent) say they would rather Republicans continue working on their own plan to repeal and replace the ACA. Large shares of Democrats (91 percent) and independents (72 percent) would like to see Republicans in Congress work across the aisle to make improvements to the ACA. Trump supporters are divided with similar shares saying Republicans in Congress should continue working on their own plan (47 percent) as saying they want them to work with Democrats on improving the ACA (46 percent). Slightly more than half of Republicans (54 percent) want Congressional Republicans to continue working on their own plan to repeal and replace the 2010 health care law.
• The majority of the public thinks the current replacement plan being discussed does not fulfill most of the promises President Trump has made about health care.

https://goo.gl/BrJQ5k

Shady businesses, you're on notice. This robot lawyer is coming after you if you play dirty.

Noted legal aid chatbot DoNotPay just announced a massive expansion, which will help users tackle issues in 1,000 legal areas entirely for free. The new features, which launched on Wednesday, cover consumer and workplace rights, and will be available in all 50 states and the UK. 

While the bot will still help drivers contest parking tickets and refugees apply for asylum, the service will now also help those who want to report harassment in the workplace or who simply want a refund on a busted toaster.

"The expansion is into consumer rights, from fighting your landlord to getting a refund when something isn't delivered on time," says DoNotPay creator Joshua Browder. "I think businesses should be forced to treat consumers better, and consumer rights bots will hopefully change that."

Lawyers, after all, are notoriously expensive. But DoNotPay's lawyers are free. And these automated lawyers are especially helpful for low-income individuals who need to fight common legal issues. 

"I hope DoNotPay gives more people a way to stand up for their rights."

Through DoNotPay, a user has a simple, instant message-like conversation with a bot by typing their issue in their own words. Even colorful complaints like, "My airline screwed me" will be registered by the system.

Then, a virtual lawyer decides how to best help a user based on their answers to a series of questions. The bot usually crafts a claims letter with the the information provided, potentially saving hundreds of dollars in legal fees. DoNotPay can also connect users to outside aid, like a nonprofit that provides pro bono representation or avenues for action in more serious cases.

The legal guidance is free, instant, and — in some cases — life-changing.

Senate Majority Leader McConnell has given his fellow Republicans a warning: if they do not pass a bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, they will be forced to work with Democrats on more modest legislation to address challenges in the ACA's marketplaces. A new Kaiser Family Foundation poll to be released Friday suggests that's actually what the American people would like to see happen.