Mike Ervin

The proposal contains important elements that could improve the lives of many disabled Americans. But the thrust of the overall proposal seems so wrongheaded that passing it as is may do more harm than good in the long run.read more

President Obama’s decision to create a commission on how to cut so-called entitlement programs is ominous news for millions of people with disabilities.read more

Congressional leaders should not be looking to finance health care reform on the backs of people with disabilities.read more

Hard economic times are even harder when you have a disability. But poverty and disability don’t have to be synonymous — if we design our policies well.read more

Many Americans who require the daily assistance of others to live in our homes and communities must turn to Medicaid for help covering the cost of that care. But first we usually have to impoverish ourselves just to become eligible.read more

This June 22, many people with disabilities should be celebrating the 10th anniversary of our independence day.read more

For the first time in many years, the White House is taking the side of people with disabilities. In his economic stimulus package that became law, President Obama included several provisions that will have a positive effect for this community.read more

By giving Lewis this honor, the board of governors of the Academy shows that its view of people with disabilities and our potential has not evolved in 50 years.read more

President-elect Barack Obama and the new Democratic Congress must repeal a terrible rule change that the Bush administration imposed while packing up.read more

As a candidate, he put forth a detailed agenda on this issue, recognizing the unmet needs of millions of Americans. Now the work begins.read more

Sen. Barack Obama should travel to Latin America.
His much-publicized trip to Afghanistan, Iraq, the Middle East and Europe made him look presidential.
But by not going to Latin America, he is giving short shrift to this crucial region.read more

We have made some progress since the ugly incidents in Jena, La. But we still have a long way to go to make the noose a thing of the past.

On August 31, 2006, a black student at Jena High School asked the principal if he could have permission to sit under the "white tree," the tree where white students typically congregated. The principal told the student to sit wherever he liked. The student and his friends decided to sit under the white tree.read more

I am one of millions of Americans with disabilities who rely on the assistance of others to navigate through each day. I hire people to help me get out of bed and into my wheelchair and to perform activities of daily living. My workers are paid through a state program that is essentially funded by Medicaid.read more

The Bush administration is now going after poor people who want to get out of nursing homes. Earlier this month, the Bush administration put forth new restrictions on Medicaid funding.read more

The videotape of a quadriplegic man being dumped from his wheelchair by a sheriff's deputy while in custody in Florida has stirred outrage and has led to the unpaid suspension of the deputy. For the 1.6 million people like me who use wheelchairs, the incident is particularly galling.read more