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Groups > Disabled Support > Discussions > Topic: In The NEWS - Items Relevant to Disabled
Topic: In The NEWS - Items Relevant to Disabled

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Teresa D.	Regeneration of Cells! January 29, 2009 1:56 PM Science & Tech (tags: scientists, research, science, humans, news ) Darren - 7 hours ago - youtube.com This is an amazing video about regeneration and limbs and organs, etc, regrowing!!! A must see!!! http://www.care2.com/news/member/879997016/1029860 [ send green star]
Teresa D.	HOW PETS REDUCE STRESS January 26, 2009 6:17 PM /> Health & Wellness (tags: health, humans, treatment, animals, cats, dogs ) Teresa - 1 minute ago - thepurrfectcompanions.com Animals and our pets can be a great way to reduce our every day stresses and anxieties. It is not easy to deal with our fears and anxieties, however, spending time with animals can makes us feel better. Here is a list of ways of how animals can help us http://www.care2.com/news/member/531904814/1027193 [ send green star]
Carrie P.	ADAWatch.org October 31, 2008 1:23 PM ADAWatch.org National Coalition for Disability Rights NEWS RELEASE October 31, 2008 Disability Rights Organizations Express Outrage Over Attacks at McCain-Palin Rally (Washington, DC) The National Coalition for Disability Rights (NCDR) pushed back today against the McCain-Palin campaign for ridiculing the legal rights of people with disabilities. News reports describe McCain-Palin campaign representative Senator Kit Bond (R-Mo), joining Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin at a rally in Rush Limbaugh's hometown of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, mocking Presidential candidate Senator Barak Obama for stating that he's looking to nominate judges who empathize with "the disabled." "It's Halloween and it seems that Sarah Palin's mask of support for people with "special needs" is slipping. Despite past pandering to people with disabilities, McCain-Palin are actually opposed to vital disability legislation like the Community Choice Act and they want to appoint judges who will further roll back the civil rights protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act," declared NCDR's founder and president, Jim Ward. NPR's Nina Totenberg has reported that McCain-Palin's and conservatives' "most oft-mentioned prospects" for nomination to the Supreme Court include Ohio Judge Jeffrey Sutton. Sutton was opposed by hundreds of disability organizations when he was nominated by President Bush after successfully weakening the ADA with states' rights arguments. As a sitting judge, he has recently supported the execution of criminals with developmental disabilities and has undermined the Help America Vote Act(HAVA). Disability rights advocates are further incensed that the McCain-Palin campaign has reframed this civil rights struggle, one founded in concepts of equality, dignity and self-respect, as an issue of "special needs." Disability rights advocate, Steve Gold states, "Yes we need support services. Yes we need inclusive education. Yes we need integrated employment. Yes we need equal rights. This not "special". These needs are based on us, people with disabilities, equal members of our communities. We are not inspirational nor are we "special". We are PROUD PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES who should push back when anyone describes us as anything but equal members of our communities." The National Coalition for Disability Rights is a nonpartisan nonprofit that does not endorse political candidates. We are a coali [ send green star]
Echo E.	October 29, 2008 5:54 PM Invisible disabilities... please note Disability and Social Stigma Health & Wellness (tags: multiple chemical sensitivity, MCS, chemical injury, toxic injury, sick building syndrome, environmental illness, idiopathic environmental intolerance, chemical, environment, industry, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia ) Lourdes - 25 minutes ago - mcs-america.org An estimated 15 - 20% of the population suffers from one or more disabilities. A few of these disabilities are 'visible disabilities'. A visible disability is one that apparent to a causal observer, such as the use of a wheelchair. [ send green star]
Mandy M.	September 21, 2008 1:08 PM 24 Therapy Animals Can Reduce Stress, Pain, Grief, Fear And Loneliness /> Animals (tags: therapy animals, animals, cats, dogs, humans, pets, disability, nursing home, seniors ) - tricities.com In fact, therapy animals have been known to lower blood pressure, increase physical motivation, encourage speech and increase a person's will to live. [ send green star]
Michael B.	July 24, 2008 10:16 AM CC: I am so sorry to hear that savages have took over in that group. Its a shame when a group is trying to do well for many people that others have to try and ruin it for those in need of support. I hope that the group owner and co-host can delete those problem post and ban the members causing the problems. I also want to thank you for giving all these news tips of news in related to the disabled. It means a lot to so many. Michael B. [ send green star]
C C S.	July 22, 2008 7:03 PM Savage's comments Infuriate Autism Community http://www.care2.com/news/member/119649473/822785 [ send green star]
C C S.	July 05, 2008 6:36 PM Painless Shoulder - FDA Approves Surgical Procedure to Alleviate Shoulder Pain http://www.care2.com/news/member/234119459/800594 [ send green star]
C C S.	July 05, 2008 5:08 PM It quickly went to the front page...and I received my 1st gold note on my new profile Peace, C.C. [ send green star]
C C S.	July 05, 2008 12:58 PM Pain in Fibromyalgia is linked to Changes in Brain Molecule http://www.care2.com/news/member/119649473/801756 [ send green star]
Michael B.	May 25, 2008 4:35 PM Hello Everyone: I just wanted to let you know how thankful I am that you are taking part in posting these items for all of us to see. I do hope that at least some of you are getting some really good information from these things and will take any action that is necessary. Please keep on posting any news items that are relevant to the Disabled right here. Michael B. [ send green star]
Mandy M.	May 24, 2008 6:25 PM 54 For Treating Blindness, Scientists Look to Algae - popsci.com Cloning the green goo's factories for producing light-sensitive proteins could lead to more effective treatments for certain types of blindness More: http://www.care2.com/news/member/331119473/752083 [ send green star]
Mandy M.	May 22, 2008 10:35 AM 56 New Artificial Cornea Could Restore Vision For Millions Worldwide /> Health & Wellness (tags: vision, blind, blindness, disabled, artificial cornea, research, study, medicine, health, healthcare, interesting ) Mandy - 1 day ago - sciencedaily.com An improved artificial cornea, which could restore the vision of more than 10 million people worldwide who are blind due to diseased corneas, finally is moving toward reality, scientists in California conclude in a new analysis of research on the topic. More: http://www.care2.com/news/member/331119473/746150 Please read and note if you have some time. Thanks a lot and have a great day! Mandy [ send green star]
Mandy M.	May 15, 2008 8:13 AM 25 Clampdown on Disability Bullying Society & Culture (tags: disability, school, disabilities, disabled, children, child, society, special needs, bullying, education, prevention, interesting ) - news.bbc.co.uk Schools in England are being advised on how to stop the bullying of children with special needs or disabilities. More: http://www.care2.com/news/member/331119473/743263 Please note if you have a moment to read it. Thanks. [ send green star]
Mandy M.	May 12, 2008 12:59 PM 1 Independent Transport 'Key to Independent Living' /> Health & Wellness (tags: disabled, disability, independent living, accessibility, government, interesting, society, health, housing, employment, transportation, mobility ) - 24dash.com The Government's Independent Living Strategy sets out over 50 commitments covering all aspects of disabled people's lives, from housing, employment and health to transport and social care. More: http://www.care2.com/news/member/331119473/740448 [ send green star]
Mandy M.	May 11, 2008 10:47 PM 1 No Parenting Break for Those With Aging Disabled Children Society & Culture (tags: disabled, disability, developmentally disabled, parents, caregivers, family ) - iowacaucus.com At 47, Brenda DeWees is one of a growing number of aging, developmentally disabled Americans who are being cared for by their parents or other family members. More: http://www.care2.com/news/member/331119473/739763 [ send green star]
Mandy M.	May 07, 2008 7:57 PM 1 Disabled Residents Sue Caltrans - With Video Society & Culture (tags: disabled, disabilities, lawsuit, Caltrans, access, accessibility, americans with disabilities Act, blind, wheelchair, ADA complianceinteresting, rights, transportation ) - abclocal.go.com People with disabilities are suing Caltrans over public sidewalks they control and maintain. They say Caltrans has failed to give the disabled "equal access" to the roadways. [ send green star]
Mandy M.	May 06, 2008 9:34 PM 22 Dogs Step Up to Training - Assistance Canines Gain Bus-Riding Experience /> Animals (tags: animals, dogs, pets, guide dogs, assistance, blind, blindness, visually impaired, Guide Dogs for the Blind ) - rosevillept.com When a dog becomes a blind person’s sight, it becomes clear why canines have been tagged man’s best friend. They safely guide the person from one destination to another while providing companionship and a sense of security. [ send green star]
Mandy M.	May 01, 2008 2:45 PM 1 Democrat Wants to Require Disability-Friendly Internet Phones, Video Science & Tech (tags: disability friendly, disabilities, disabled, internet phone, computer, computers, design, internet, news, tech, technology, accessibility, disability advocates ) - news.com most TVs and telephones must be outfitted with special features for people with hearing, vision, and speech impairments under U.S. law. Now an influential Democratic congressman wants to expand those requirements to their Internet counterparts. [ send green star]
Mandy M.	April 30, 2008 7:51 PM 1 Smart Pens Help Blind See Science & Tech (tags: blind, blindness, visually impaired, smart pen, braille, NewTechnology, technology, tech, computer, computers, learning, training, education ) - ivanhoe.com Blind students are about to speed up their learning curve thanks to a new "smart" pen. Did you know, just three characters of Braille take up an inch on a page? This new pen can condense that information into just one smart dot. [ send green star]
Mandy M.	April 27, 2008 4:59 PM Dealing with Disabilities Quote: " Imagine being told you cannot shop at a local store. Or travel along a downtown sidewalk. Or find reliable transportation. Imagine being told your civil rights just don't matter. Sounds unthinkable, yet, in effect, that's what happening every day to people living in Muncie. They are our neighbors, our co-workers, our friends, our family members. ... ..." More: http://www.care2.com/news/member/331119473/723984 [ send green star]
Mandy M.	April 19, 2008 10:07 PM Here is another disability related story and it's a positive one A Guide Dog With Clout Calls It a Day http://www.care2.com/news/member/331119473/715331 [ send green star]
Mandy M.	April 18, 2008 9:55 PM Impending disabilities legislation to have impact on hotels BY CHRIS NELSON SAN ANTONIO – Big changes are coming to Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and to help its members prepare for the new regulations, the Asian American Hotel Owners Association held a special forum on the issue at its annual convention March 27 in San Antonio. The U.S. Department of Justice will have the final decision on the new regulations, which the U.S. Access Board – an independent agency within the federal government that focuses on accessibility issues for disabled persons – approved in July 2004. When the Justice Department will make its decision no one knows for sure. But Carolyn Doppelt Gray, a partner at the Chicago-based law firm of Barnes & Thornburg LLP and the forum host, said that it is imperative that business owners do what they can to ensure that their facilities are in compliance with Title III, which applies to public accommodations. “That’s the thing, we’re not sure what changes the government is going to make, or when, but I fully expect that we will see some new regulations,” Gray, who works out of Barnes and Thornburg’s Washington, D.C. office, and heads up the firm’s Disability Practice Group, said. “That’s why it is in the best interest of business owners – no matter what kind of business you’re talking about – to prepare for these changes.” Title III applies to private entities that are open to the public. These include restaurants, hotels, theaters, retail stores and shopping centers, grocery stores, parks not owned by government entities, hospitals and doctor’s offices and law offices. Under Title III, no individual may be discriminated against on the basis of disability with regard “to the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, or accommodations of any place of public accommodation by any person who owns, leases (or leases to), or operates a place of public accommodation.” According to Gray, the Justice Department is studying a number of revisions to the ADA’s accessibility guidelines, including: Enhanced scoping for public entrances, van parking, passenger loading zones, stairways and telecommunication devices at pay phones for persons with hearing or speech impairments. New or clarifying provisions that cover access to different types of elevators (destination-oriented, limited-use/limited application and residential elevators), drinking fountains, kitchens and kitchenettes, washing machines and clothes dryers, signs, dispersed wheelchair seating, windows and residential dwelling units. Reduced scoping for unisex toilet rooms located at a single location and for wheelchair spaces in large assembly areas. So why is the Justice Department tinkering with the ADA’s accessibility guidelines, anyway? According to Gray, the department wants to improve property access to disabled persons, including access within the workplace; it wants to improve the format and usability of the guidelines to facilitate compliance, it wants to harmonize the guidelines with model building codes and industry standards, and ensure that the requirements for both the ADA and Architectural Barriers Act are consistent. The latter is an act passed in 1960 that requires access to facilities designed, built, altered or leased with federal funds. The Access Board’s guidelines are not binding, but instead serve as a guideline for enforceable standards that are adopted by other federal agencies. Under the ADA, the Department of Justice – and in the case of transit facilities, the Department of Transportation – are responsible for enforceable standards based on the Access Board’s guidelines. These agencies are planning to update their ADA standards based on the Access Board’s new guidelines. Several other agencies, including the General Services Administration, the Department of Defense, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Postal Service are also responsible for developing standards used to enforce the ABA. Gray expects the Justice Department to issue a notice of the proposed rule-making order sometime this spring, to be followed by a 60-day public comment period. However, when the department will issue its final ruling on the Access Board’s recommendations is anyone’s guess. The Justice Department answered this question in a posting to its Web site last October. “It's a common question posed to the Board since its release of new design guidelines for facilities covered by the ADA and ABA. These guidelines will drive updates of the standards used to enforce the ADA and ABA. The standards, which are maintained by a handful of other federal agencies, are what must be followed, not the Access Board's guidelines. The board’s guidelines are not enforceable or mandatory in and of themselves, but instead serve as a baseline for updating the standards that are. “The responsible agencies are updating their ADA or ABA standards on separate tracks and their progress to date is varied. As part of this work, the agencies will indicate when the new standards will take effect.” “We’re taking a wait-and-see approach,” Gray said. Source: http://www.indusbusinessjournal.com/ [ send green star]
Erik K.	Americans with Disabilities Restoration Act January 11, 2008 10:59 AM Greetings, I discovered this information on an online community for people with disabilities with which I subscribe to called Disaboom. It's a great resource for news, advice, networking, jobs, and forums. The Americans with Disabilities Act does not protect whom it was established to inviting discrimination in the workplace. The Americans with Disabilities Act was established July 26, 1990. This legislature was implemented to protect persons with disabilities and even the playing field for equal opportunity employment. A person is considered disabled if they meet the following three requirements: 1. 1. He or she has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of his/her major life activities 2. 2. He or she has a record of such an impairment 3. 3. He or she is regarded as having such an impairment. jfodEver since the Americans with Disabilities Act was inducted, it has been subject to stricter interpretation due to precedence from cases ruled over by the Supreme Court. Topics such as, is working a “major life activity” were doubted. These questions and doubts directly impacted the lower courts. Persons persons suffering from epilepsy, diabetes, cancer, HIV, muscular dystrophy, hearing loss, mental illness and multiple sclerosis are no longer protected if they are able to carry out "major life activities" due to medical aid. They are viewed as “too functional” to have a disability and denied their protection previously covered by the ADA. The issue now arises that a person is “too disabled” to do the job, but not “disabled enough” to receive protection from the very Act established to do so. It is up to us to to restore the Americans with Disabilities Act to what Congress had originally intended. Be on the lookout for a petition currently being made to demonstrate the peoples' support on this matter. Only we can protect our rights and our way of life. Thank you Here is the direct link to the forum at Disaboom.com: http://community.disaboom.com/discussions/t/2490.aspx [ send green star]
Frank H.	“Driven” Exhibition Opens at Smithsonian’s September 06, 2007 7:39 PM “Driven,” an exhibition highlighting the works of emerging artists with disabilities, opens at the Smithsonian’s S. Dillon Ripley Center Sept. 15. It features the works of 15 finalists selected from 204 applicants ranging in age from 16 to 25. The exhibition closes Dec. 31. This year’s assignment challenged artists to illustrate the motivational force behind their personal vision—what moves them to create art. Grand prize awardee Jacolby Satterwhite, from Baltimore, won with his oil on canvas painting “Remission and Resilience.” First awardee Laurel Ebenal, from Ellensburg, Wash., submitted her digital photograph “Faun” and second awardee Elizabeth Lanier, from Chicago, submitted the archival ink jet print on photo rag paper “Staring.” The awardees of “Driven” will receive a total of $60,000 in awards. Other artists featured in the exhibition include the following: · Sarah Beren (Rochester, N.Y.) · Isaac Caruso (Phoenix) · David Castro (Visalia, Calif.) · Elayna Flodin (Beaverton, Ore.) · Wes Holloway (Katy, Texas) · Ryan McDonnell (Northampton, Mass.) · Jessica Merrell (Albuquerque, N.M.) · Anjali Poddar (Andover, Mass.) · Patti Pogodzinski (Jacksonville, Fla.) · Holly Schuh (Altura, Minn.) · Merlin Strivelli (Asheville, N.C.) · Hannah Zurko (Wooster, Ohio) “This is the Smithsonian’s fourth year working with VSA arts, and each year, I am impressed with the talent that comes to the fore as a result of VSA arts’ call for entries for this annual contest,” said Ellen Dorn, director of the International Gallery. “I hope that all the visitors who see the exhibit will go away with the knowledge that they have seen works from young artists who are truly ‘driven’ to create works of art that reflect their lives.” VSA arts is an international nonprofit organization founded in 1974 by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith to create a society where people with disabilities learn through, participate in and enjoy the arts. It provides educators, parents and artists with the resources and tools to support arts programming in schools and communities. VSA arts showcases the accomplishments of artists with disabilities and promotes increased access to the arts for people with disabilities. Each year, millions of people participate in VSA arts programs through a network of affiliates and in more than 60 countries around the world. VSA arts is an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center of the Performing Arts. The exhibition is the sixth collaboration between VSA arts and Volkswagen of America. The Smithsonian’s International Gallery, located in the S. Dillon Ripley Center on the National Mall at 1100 Jefferson Drive S.W., presents temporary exhibitions in art, history, science and technology that complement the Institution’s existing educational programs and collections. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., except Dec. 25, and admission is free. [ send green star]
Frank H.	Commissioner Astrue Extends Social Security’s Quick Disability Determination Nationwide September 06, 2007 7:33 PM -- "Final Rule Will Accelerate Benefits to Those Deemed Clearly Disabled" Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, announced that Social Security has issued a final regulation to extend the quick disability determination (QDD) process to all State disability determination services. Under QDD, a predictive model analyzes specific elements of data within the electronic claims file to identify claims where there is a high potential that the claimant is disabled and where evidence of the person’s allegations can be quickly and easily obtained. “The quick disability determination has been very successful and efficient so far in New England and I am happy to say it will help people filing for disability benefits anywhere in the United States. This is a very important step we are taking at Social Security to improve our disability programs,” Commissioner Astrue said. “I also am proud of our improvements with pending disability cases that have reached 1,000 days waiting for an appeal hearing. We have aggressively worked on these cases and now have fewer than 600 pending, down from more than 63,000 cases in October of last year.” Social Security currently receives more than 2.5 million new Social Security disability cases and more than 2.3 million Supplemental Security Income cases each year. In New England, where QDD began on a test basis, cases constituted slightly less than 3 percent of all new cases. Of those, 97 percent of the cases identified have been decided within 21 days and the average decision time is 11 days. Since the model does not yet incorporate as many diseases as it can, Commissioner Astrue has committed to expanding the number of cases that can be identified while maintaining the same level of accuracy. “The length of time many people wait for a disability decision is unacceptable,” Commissioner Astrue said. “I am committed to a process that is as fair and speedy as possible. While there is no single magic bullet, with better systems, better business processes and better ways of fast-tracking targeted cases, we can greatly improve the service we provide this vulnerable population.” The final regulation is effective as of September 5, 2007, and will be gradually implemented over the next several months. For more information about Social Security’s disability programs, go to www.socialsecurity.gov [ send green star]
Frank H.	Why No One Will Hire Me August 29, 2007 1:51 PM Sunday, October 29, 2006; B08 I've seen the awkward stares and the compassionate smiles, and I've heard the reassurances and words of encouragement. I've also read the letters and taken the phone calls: I'm sorry, but we've found someone else to fill the position. Although discrimination in hiring the disabled is illegal, as codified in the Americans With Disabilities Act, it nevertheless occurs. I am a case in point. I'm a one-legged man, and I can't get a job. In February 2005 I lost my leg to cancer, a sarcoma on my right tibia. I walk with the aid of a prosthesis and a cane. I can walk, stand for prolonged periods, go up and down stairs, and drive a car. By trade, I'm a writer and editor -- office work. I have more than 23 years of professional experience. I have an impressive portfolio and have won awards. Yet employers will not touch me. That last statement is not bitterness but experience. For nearly a year, after I was laid off as staff writer for a Washington-area association, I've applied for hundreds of writing and editing jobs in Washington, Baltimore and the surrounding area. I've had more than a dozen face-to-face interviews. They have all resulted in the same state of affairs: I don't have a job. Here's how it typically works: I respond to a newspaper or Internet employment notice with a cover letter, résumé and writing clips. The human resources person calls me for a telephone interview. She is impressed with my résumé and clips; she gauges my interest; we set a time and date for an on-site, in-person interview. As I hang up the phone, my expectations are high. They like me! I'm on my way to getting a job! When I show up at the employer's office, my expectations begin to lag as the receptionist sees me walk with my cane as I approach her desk. She is momentarily taken aback by the man with a limp, but she quickly screws a warm smile onto her face. In the reception area, I'm met by more warm smiles, and then I'm invited into an office. The interview goes well. They say they are impressed with my past work. They outline the job responsibilities, ask questions, answer my questions. It is a pleasant encounter. Then, I follow the advice I received from my job counselor -- I bring up the subject of my disability. The thinking is this: It is illegal for a potential employer to ask an applicant about a disability. If I don't bring up the subject, I will leave the interviewer with doubt in his mind. He can see by the way I walk that something is wrong with me, but he won't necessarily know what. No one will hire a person he has a doubt about. So I broach the subject: You've noticed that I walk with a cane. That's because I have an artificial leg. But I can assure you that it does not interfere with my ability to do my job. Oh, no, no, no, say the interviewers emphatically. That has no bearing on our hiring process! You would be hired on the strength of your skills and talents. A physical disability doesn't have anything to do with the job. At the end of the interview everyone shakes hands, and warm smiles and assurances abound. They show me to the door, I go home, and a week or so later, I get a letter or a phone call: Thank you for your interest, but we've selected another candidate. Good luck in your career search. For the past year, the routine hasn't varied. The names, faces and employers change, but the result is the same. I do not get hired. I realize that active prejudice is probably not in play in these situations. Human nature is. Think of it: If you're a company looking at your bottom line and you're faced with two candidates of equal skills -- one has a disability and one does not, whom would you choose? This is just my story. But most people with disabilities who are able and willing to work have similar tales. It's not fair, but that's the way it is. I suppose we disabled people can always work at Wal-Mart, giving out happy-face stickers for minimum-wage pay, but most of us are capable of doing better than that. I only wish the working world would give us a chance to prove it. -- Chuck Jones New Market, Md. cjnewmarket@aol.com [ send green star]
Frank H.	Willing, Able -- and Unemployable August 29, 2007 1:49 PM By Ann Bauer Monday, October 30, 2006; A17 My 18-year-old son shambles. There's no other word for it. He walks like an old man: scraping the soles of his feet on the floor, tilting his head to one side and tucking it into the space between his neck and shoulder. What's more, he's mammoth. At 6-foot-3, with at least two inches of moppy hair, he towers over nearly everyone he meets. Because of a penchant for sugary coffee drinks and Qdoba's 3-Cheese Nachos with grilled sirloin, which he buys with the money his grandparents send him, he weighs around 250 pounds. But these are the least of my worries. Today, what I fret about most is the fact that after two years of submitting applications, taking tests and going in for interviews, he cannot get a job. Andrew has autism. He was nonverbal from age 4 until 6, and he speaks now, but only with effort. He's also one of the most acute, sensitive young men I've ever known. He is superb at math and chess, weak in the literary arts. Lost when it comes to anything social, from dinner-table conversation to romance. Mostly, he just flashes a persistent, crooked smile. Above all, he's eerily, compulsively responsible. I was a single mother for five years, and when I left the house, I put him in charge. I would come back to a spotless kitchen and a pile of laundered and folded clothes on my bed. When he was 16, I told him it was time to get a part-time job. I took him first to the coffeehouse where I wrote each morning, introduced him to the manager and took my usual table. But even from a distance, I could see things weren't going well. The "interview" took three minutes, ending abruptly when the manager offered Andrew a cup of coffee and my son -- ever conscious of the rules -- insisted on paying for it, fumbling with his wallet and spilling coins all over the floor. I switched coffeehouses and tactics. Next, I took Andrew to Target, a company known for its history of working with disabled people. Only there's a catch: I was told when I called that their policy was to employ "visibly handicapped" workers. People in wheelchairs qualify, as do those with Down syndrome. My son, with his eccentricities and halting speech, does not. What's more, Target administers a computerized psychological screening test designed to eliminate people on the outer edges of the bell curve. People like Andrew. It turns out many companies that hire hourly workers now use this method to winnow the candidate pool. Questions such as "What do you think is the most important quality in a friend?" flash on a screen. At 17, my son had never made a friend. This was the source of his disability. He had no idea how to answer. Perhaps, I decided, a "starter" job was in order, somewhere he could gain experience and ease into working. So I called a local nursing home that was only too happy to have him volunteer. Twice a week, Andrew spent his afternoons there, visiting elderly people and trundling a library cart from room to room. The residents grew to rely on him. He was unfailingly patient and kind. Yet, when a job came open in dining services -- for someone to take meals to bed-bound residents -- he was turned down, the volunteer coordinator told me, because the hiring manager thought him odd. Recently, I married a wonderful man whose belief in Andrew rivals mine. "But he's so smart and responsible," said the new stepfather when I explained our now two-year-old predicament. "Don't worry. We'll find him a job." It turned out he had a friend -- second-shift supervisor at a factory -- who was willing to coach a very timid new hire. Everything had been arranged: The high school Andrew attends scheduled him for morning classes and work-study in the afternoon; I'd given Andrew a car and even coaxed him into getting a haircut. The first order of business was to go to the employment agency that handled the factory's paperwork, take a simple math test and fill out a W-9. Andrew aced the test, completed the forms he was handed and was told he'd be on staff within a week. Then my husband's friend called, his voice breaking with frustration. He couldn't hire Andrew, after all; the agency had refused to process the application. One of the screeners there was uncomfortable with my son: She had called him -- he apologized before saying the words -- "a potential liability." Several people have told us that this, finally, is an actionable offense. We could go after the agency for discrimination. But to what end? Legal action wouldn't get Andrew, now nearly 19, working. What it would do is force him to defend himself and his abilities in court -- this young man who's still reluctant to speak at school. My son is one of many: Some time in the next decade, the Autism Society of America estimates, the number of people in this country who have autism will hit 4 million. I wonder if, when these children reach the age of 18, they too will be unemployable. Or if, perhaps, the work we're doing with Andrew now will mean a different experience for those who follow. Ann Bauer is the author of the novel "A Wild Ride Up the Cupboards." View all comments that have been posted about this article. [ send green star]
Frank H.	From the Creators of Normal People Scare Me, comes a Film about Siblings & Disabilities: The Sandwic August 29, 2007 1:48 PM Keri Bowers, co-director of the hit film, Normal People Scare Me; a film about autism, has teamed up with her son Jace to share the story of brothers and sisters functioning in their daily lives with a sibling having a variety of disabilities, including cerebral palsy, mental retardation, Downs syndrome, autism, and others. “The Sandwich Kid” is the vehicle to bring this underreported issue to light. “With no laws such as (ADA) American with Disabilities Act, or IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), or other uniform or legislative supports in existence to support this vulnerable population, we are overlooking an important segment of our society. Brothers and sisters most often give away their services (often life-long) for free to siblings affected by disability. From personal care, health care, social and life skill supports, estate, and financial planning, siblings often do it all with no remuneration.” says Keri. “It’s time we acknowledge this vulnerable population, and take a stand to look at how we (as a society) can make a difference. This perspective leads Keri to ask an important theoretical question in the film “Imagine if for just one day only, millions of sibs were to strike and stop supports and care for their sibling. Can you even begin to imagine what the fiscal cost alone would be? In the millions? Billions? Forget the emotional and physical toll such a hypothetical strike would create.” In short, we are taking siblings for granted as a global community. Jace’s relationship with his brother, Taylor, who experiences autism, was the seed for this film which gives a voice to this silent majority. “Sandwich Kids – siblings in the middle of a disability (a family disorder) and the need to grow in their own lives - are not provided the supports they need to fulfill their roles.” says Keri, who saw first-hand how challenged her two boys were in relationship to one another and to Taylor’s autism. Keri hopes her film will get people talking about these issues, and maintains that the time is now for brothers and sisters to speak out. “Siblings have a right to ask for, and to receive proper supports in psychological, medical, financial, estate planning, etc., which are currently only offered in few areas by smaller organizations well aware of their plight. “Siblings give up so much. In fact, siblings are the longest lasting relationship a person will have in his/her lifetime. It’s time we look at the sacrifices and joys of their roles, and begin to take a stand to support their efforts.” But there is also an upside. Siblings of people with disabilities tend to be more compassionate human beings. They are more patient, and often become involved in community activities and charitable pursuits. They often choose careers in care giving, healthcare, psychology and other human-centered work. In this pointed documentary, 12-year-old Jace, uses his wit and powerful character to interview subjects and extract tears and laughter along the way. The interview subjects—young and old—are sometimes brave, helpful, forgiving, angry, fearful, and powerful individuals, who bring unique perspectives to the life of a sibling. The Sandwich Kid makes its world debut in Manhattan on May 15, 2007, 8:00pm at the Jewish Community Center, on May 19, 7:00pm in Long Island at the Sid Jacobson Jewish Community Center, with a preview at the Beverly Hills Fine Arts Theater on June 1st at 7:00pm. Proceeds from the Beverly Hills event will benefit United Cerebral Palsy. For New York to register, call 646-505-5708 or visit jccmanhattan.org; $20 members; $25.00 non-members For Long Island contact: Sid Jacobson Jewish Community Center, 516-484-1545 or visit sjjcc.org; this event is free For Beverly Hills, to purchase tickets go to studioscreenings.com; $15.00 tickets, proceeds benefit United Cerebral Palsy [ send green star]
Frank H.	United Cerebral Palsy Releases State Medicaid Rankings August 29, 2007 1:46 PM Report Gauges How States Provide Community-Based Services to Americans with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities under Medicaid United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) reports that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities being served by Medicaid are not getting the community-based supports they need in every State. The report, The Case for Inclusion 2007, ranks all 50 States and the District of Columbia. At the top of the list are: (1) Arizona, (2) Alaska, (3) Vermont, (4) Massachusetts, and (5) California. At the bottom are (51) Mississippi, (50) Texas, (49) District of Columbia, (48) Ohio, and (47) Illinois. “Every American wants the opportunity to live and work in their community,” said Stephen Bennett, President and CEO of United Cerebral Palsy. “The top-performing states in our rankings do a better job promoting independence and productivity in safe, quality community settings, but we still have far too many people with disabilities not getting the service and supports they desperately want and need. We can and should do better.” Some of the report’s key findings include: · Forty one states have 176 large state institutions (more than 16 beds) housing 39,000 Americans; · Only 16 states direct more than 80% of funding to people living in the community; · Sixteen states report very large and long waiting lists for services; and · Only one in four people with disabilities participates in competitive employment. “This report provides families and advocates a tool to compare how their State is performing in relation to the rest of the country,” said Tarren Bragdon, an expert in healthcare policy and author of The Case for Inclusion 2007 for UCP. “Despite much improvement over the last couple of decades, the report makes it clear that inclusion is not the reality for all Americans with intellectual and developmental disabilities.” Nationwide, Medicaid serves almost 545,000 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, spending $28.8 billion in fiscal year 2005 or almost $53,000 per person per year. While individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities make up just over one percent of all Medicaid recipients, services to the population account for 9.4 percent of all Medicaid expenditures. In addition, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are among Medicaid’s most vulnerable beneficiaries. More than 99 unique data elements and guidance from a wide body of national disability experts were considered to create comprehensive state snapshots. The full United Cerebral Palsy report and state-by-state data are available online at ucp.org/medicaid. This is the second year UCP has ranked states on their Medicaid-funded services to Americans with intellectual and developmental disabilities. About United Cerebral Palsy United Cerebral Palsy is one of the nation’s leading organizations serving and advocating for the more than 54 million Americans with disabilities. Through its nationwide network, United Cerebral Palsy offers services to individuals, families and communities such as job training and placement, physical therapy, individual and family support, early intervention, social and recreation programs, community living, and instruction on how to use technology to perform everyday tasks. For more information, visit ucp.org or call (800) 872-5827. [ send green star]
Frank H.	New International Building Code Leaves Out Accessibility Proponents August 29, 2007 1:45 PM The United Spinal Association, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Access Board were unsuccessful in their attempt to preserve accessible accommodations for some apartments at the May 24 hearing in Rochester, NY. Instead the 2007 Supplement of the International Building Code (IBC) will no longer require apartments undergoing alterations to provide adaptability features to accommodate people with limited access. In the past, any alteration to more than 20 units in an existing building would trigger a requirement for two percent of the units to be provided with basic adaptability features. Citing cost restrictions, The National Association of Home Builders and the National Multi-Housing Council testified against United Spinal Association, HUD and U.S. Access Board’s alternative proposal that aimed to avoid slashing the program. In response to the new codes, United Spinal Association President Paul Tobin said, “It is unconscionable that this insignificant number of dwelling units required to accommodate people with disabilities was eliminated.” He added, “The very difficult task of finding usable housing for our members, who are veterans and other individuals with spinal-cord injury and disease, just became that much harder.” [ send green star]
Frank H.	In The NEWS - Items Relevant to Disabled August 29, 2007 1:45 PM This thread is for sharing general news articles that impact the disabled. [ send green star]