Editorial: Disabled Indians deserve better

"While there's nothing new about the fact that there is a lack of resources on the Navajo Nation, a 2007 survey of American Indians living with disabilities in the Four Corners educated all of us about how shocking and grave the situation has become.

The survey found that 41 percent of American Indians living with disabilities could not get the services they needed in schools. An additional 27 percent reported a child was disciplined unjustly in school for behavior related to a disability.

Conducted by the Native American Disability Law Center, the survey confirmed a number of suspicions about students with disabilities and quality of education, Director Therese Yanan said.

The findings raise questions for the law center, Yanan said. With a staff of 11 attorneys and advocates based in Farmington and Gallup offices, it lacks the resources to address every complaint."

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Disabled American Indians certainly deserve better (The Farmington Daily Times 3/19)

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