Banner for Monday Morning in Washington, DC

Volume 07                                                                     Issue 9                                                           March 5, 2007              

Welcome to Monday Morning in Washington, D.C., published weekly by The Arc of the United States. We will bring to you news of interest to self advocates and their families, volunteers, professionals, and supporters of the disability movement. Please send any comments to mmwdc@thearc.org. You are welcome to reproduce and distribute items from Monday Morning in Washington, D.C., but please credit Monday Morning in Washington, D.C. (The Arc of the United States, 2007).

 

The Arc of the United States advocates for the rights and full participation of all children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Together with our network of members and affiliated chapters, we improve systems of supports and services; connect families; inspire communities; and influence public policy.

 

[NOTE: Having trouble reading this newsletter?  Read it online.]

 

IN THIS ISSUE:

 

 

CVS/Pharmacy Charitable Trust Lends Support to Students with Autism

The CVS/pharmacy Charitable Trust Announces Five-Year CVS All Kids Can Scholars Program at Autism Society of America's National Conference

The CVS/pharmacy Charitable Trust announced its five-year sponsorship of the CVS All Kids Can Scholars Program. First made public at the opening session of the Autism Society of America National Conference, each year the program will award $1000 scholarships to five students with autism to enable them to attend the college or trade school of their choosing. The program will be part of CVS' signature program, CVS All Kids Can, a five-year $25 million commitment by the CVS/pharmacy Charitable Trust and CVS/pharmacy to support children with disabilities
 

In creating the CVS All Kids Can Scholars Program, CVS/pharmacy looks to support the mission of CVS All Kids Can: to help children with disabilities learn, play and succeed in life. By encouraging students with autism to attain a post-secondary education, CVS/pharmacy hopes to increase their opportunities for success and allow them to achieve their greatest potential .

 

The goals of CVS All Kids Can are to raise awareness in schools and in local communities about the importance of inclusion; build barrier-free playgrounds so children of all abilities can play side-by-side; and provide medical rehabilitation and related services to children with disabilities. In addition to its work with the ASA, CVS/pharmacy and its more than 170,000 employees plan to help children with disabilities learn, play and succeed through partnerships with leading local and national nonprofit organizations including Easter Seals, The National Center for Boundless Playgrounds and many others.

About CVS/pharmacy Charitable Trust
The CVS/pharmacy Charitable Trust, Inc. is a private foundation managed by CVS Corporation (NYSE: CVS), which operates more than 6,100 retail and specialty pharmacy stores in 44 states and the District of Columbia in addition to its online pharmacy, CVS.com, and its pharmacy benefit management, mail order and specialty pharmacy subsidiary, PharmaCare. The Trust's mission is to provide funding for health care, education and community involvement initiatives in communities where CVS/pharmacy stores are located. General information about CVS is available through the Investor Relations portion of the Company's Web site at  http://investor.cvs.com, or through the press room portion of the Company's website, at  http://www.cvs.com/pressroom .
 

DisabilityInfo.gov 

Eligibility for Benefits  Update:  Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool (BEST)

 

The Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool (BEST) is a tool that you can use to find out if you might be eligible for benefits from any of the programs Social Security administers and other benefits programs. The tool screens for eligibility for Medicare, Social Security Disability, Social Security Retirement, Social Security Survivors, Special Veterans and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. http://www.disabilityinfo.gov/digov-public/public/ DisplayPage.do? parent FolderId=169

 

Youth Programs  Update:  Explore Your Future Program

 

Explore Your Future is a week-long summer career exploration program held at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf for deaf and hard-of-hearing high school sophomores and juniors. This information has recently been updated, and is now available - http://www.disabilityinfo.gov/digov-public/public/DisplayPage.do?parentFolderId=81  

 

ADA Best Practices Tool Kit for State and Local Governments--UPDATE

 

On February 27, 2007 the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued new installments of a technical assistance document designed to assist state and local officials in improving compliance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in their programs, services, activities and facilities.  These newly released documents address Effective Communication Requirements Under Title II of the ADA and 911 and Emergency Communications Services. This new information is located in the Hot Topics section of DisabilityInfo.gov - http://www.disabilityinfo.gov/digov-public/public/DisplayPage.do?parentFolderId=500, and may be also accessed by visiting DOJ's ADA website - http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/pcatoolkit/toolkitmain.htm .

 

Notice of Proposed Priority & Definitions: Improving the Postsecondary & Employment Outcomes of Youth with Disabilities

 

The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) proposes a priority and definitions under the Special Demonstrations Program administered by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) to be used for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2007 and later years. The priority is intended to improve the post-school and employment outcomes of youth with disabilities. Deadline for comments: March 19, 2007. This information has recently been updated, and is now available - http://www.disabilityinfo.gov/digov-public/public/DisplayPage.do? parentFolderId=81

 

Health Laws & Regulations  Update:  EEOC Guidance on Health Care Workers with Disabilities

 

Fact sheet explaining how the ADA might apply to particular situations involving job applicants and employees in the health care field. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. - http://www.disabilityinfo.gov/digov-public/public/ DisplayPage.do? parent FolderId=139

 

Children's Health Insurance: States' SCHIP Enrollment and Spending Experiences and Considerations for Reauthorization.

 

GAO-07-558T, March 1
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-558T Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d07558thigh.pdf
 

Money Follows the Person - The Texas Experience and Challenge -   Information Bulletin# 198 (2/07)

 

Texas started its Money Follows the Person program with only a state rider to its budget a number of years ago. It did not wait for Congress to offer an "enhanced federal match". Texas recognized that it could both SAVE state funds by providing community-based services and provide a true CHOICE for Older Americans and Persons with Disabilities.

Let's look at the Texas experience (data as of 11/30/06 and limited to those persons who enrolled in the MFP after 9/1/03, so the following numbers are an understatement):

There were 5,053 Texans with disabilities who left nursing homes and returned to the community.

A. Of these, 64% were female (3,254) and 36% male.
B. By age:

This means that 30% of the persons who used the Texas MFP were 80 years old and older.
C. By Living Arrangement:

Put another way, 68% moved from the nursing home to live in the community either to live alone or to live with their family!
D. By service group/program in the community:

The Texas Challenge for advocates of Older Americans and Disabled People:

If Texas could do this for 5,053 people WITHOUT a Money Follows the Person enhanced federal match grant, EVERY STATE can also do it! There was no magic in Texas. They just decided to do it. They put aside all the excuses and just did it.

Steve Gold, The Disability Odyssey continues

 

Reaching Out: Enrolling and Keeping Kids in the SCHIP Program

 

Alliance For Health Reform and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/healthcast/alliance/26feb07
During this briefing on the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), panelists discussed what is keeping about three-fourths of America’s nine million uninsured children from enrolling and answer these questions and others: how successful have state outreach, enrollment and retention efforts proved to be? Is there evidence that SCHIP outreach, enrollment and retention initiatives have affected Medicaid?

 

CMS Technical Assistance Database

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) - Launches Technical Assistance Database

Good news!  CMS has just launched an exciting new database to showcase the efforts of many of the technical assistance providers serving CMS' grantees. The "Technical Assistance Database" will allow you to see the wide range of activities that support and enrich the grantees under the New Freedom Initiative.  The database will contain important information regarding existing and upcoming research products, conferences, and significant meetings as well as a wide variety of toolkits, surveys, and policy briefs, intended to be of interested to the disability and long-term care community.

All stakeholders will be able to view the database.  CMS grantees, however, will be given access passcodes to enable them to post requests for technical assistance to the vast cadre of experts supporting CMS' initiatives.  To access the Technical Assistance Database, please go to www.DEHPG.net.  The user name for the database is "TAdatabase" and the "passcode" is Readonly#1.

Grantees are strongly encouraged to utilize the Technical Assistance Database.  To request a passcode, please e-mail your request to the CMS Resource Box at TAdatabase@cms.hhs.gov.  Please indicate your name, type of grant you represent, and your phone number in the e-mail.  In the near future, CMS will offer a training sessions, customized for the NFI grantees, to demonstrate the vast uses of this robust database.  We encourage you to request your passcode soon, so that you can avail yourself of this dynamic training.  Details regarding the trainings will be forthcoming.

 

hcbs.org > Clearinghouse CLIPS: March 2, 2007

A Guardian's Guidebook to Community Residential Services


Summary: A publication that may be useful for legal guardians as they consider or prepare for a a transition planning process for the person they represent. This book guides the process in determining if a person can live in the community, and what that community living environment would need to look like. The purpose of this guidebook is to provide information about the variety of community residential options available to adults with developmental disabilities who relocate from State Centers. Topic(s): Long-Term Care, State/Agency Information, Transition/Diversion from Institutions Source: Grantee produced, The Wisconsin Guardian Mentor Program More Info: http://www.hcbs.org/moreInfo.php/nb/doc/1839

 

Access and Inclusions for People with Disabilities


Summary: These two presentations cover community access and inclusion for persons with disabilities, a focus of the Idaho Real Choice Systems Change Grants. The presentations provide guidelines for planning for community access and a model for assessment of community inclusion.
Topic(s): Accessibility, Aging Issues, Developmental/Psychiatric Disabilities, Long-Term Care, Model Communities, Money Follows the Person, Physical Disabilities Source: Grantee produced, Idaho More Info: http://www.hcbs.org/moreInfo.php/nb/doc/1801

 

Being an Effective and Influential Guardian in Changing Times


Summary: Subtitled "An Information Booklet for Guardians of Individuals who are Protectively Placed and Living at a State Center", this booklet provides guardians with an updated view of changes currently taking place within the state of Wisconsin. It also encourage guardians to take a more active role in the planning and review processes that determine the appropriate residential setting for the persons they represent and encourages guardians to contact the Guardian Mentor program with questions. Topic(s): Long-Term Care, State/Agency Information Source: Grantee produced, The Wisconsin Guardian Mentor Program More Info: http://www.hcbs.org/moreInfo.php/nb/doc/1838

 

Consumer Involvement: Lessons Learned


Summary: How did the Massachusetts Real Choice grantees involve consumers and what are the lessons learned from the process? This presentation describes the systems created for consumer involvement in the design, planning, and implementation of the Real Choice activities. The fact sheet provide suggestions on how to involve consumers in a collaborative process. Topic(s): Consumer Direction, Organizational Change
Source: Grantee produced, Massachusetts More Info: http://www.hcbs.org/moreInfo.php/nb/doc/1812

 

Coordinating and Leveraging Long-Term Supports to Live More Independently with Assistive Technology and Home Modifications: Nebraska Case Study


Summary: This case study describes the leveraging and coordinating of multiple funding resources to provide increased access to home modifications and assistive technology in response to an assessment of individualized need. The Nebraska Assistive Technology Project serves as a single provider to conduct program eligibility for all funders, and provide assessment, determine need, and develop a service plan for consumers.
Topic(s): Housing, Long-Term Care Source: Rutgers/NASHP More Info: http://www.hcbs.org/moreInfo.php/nb/doc/1841

 

Coordinating and Leveraging Long-Term Supports with Affordable and Accessible Housing for Persons with Disability: Maryland Case Study


Summary: This case study describes an approach to public and private sector agencies coordinating and leveraging resources at a state and local level to expand affordable and accessible housing options for persons with developmental disabilities. Homes for America utilized low-income housing tax credits to set aside six units of housing in an affordable multifamily development to be converted to ownership at the end of a fifteen-year lease period for Medicaid beneficiaries. Topic(s): Housing More Info: http://www.hcbs.org/moreInfo.php/nb/doc/1844

 

Coordinating and Leveraging Long-Term Supports with Affordable Assisted Living in Public Housing: Florida Case Study


Summary: This case study describes the development and operations of assisted living units coordinated with independent senior units in a public housing location (Titusville Towers in Titusville, Florida). Because this example uses an existing facility, replication of this case study demonstrates that time and cost will be substantially less than new construction of an assisted living facility. The Titusville Housing Authority received approval from HUD to designate it as seniors-only housing. Topic(s): Housing Source: Rutgers/NASHP More Info: http://www.hcbs.org/moreInfo.php/nb/doc/1842

 

Coordinating and Leveraging Long-Term Supports with Licensed Affordable Assisted Living: Arkansas Case Study


Summary: This case study describes how a private sector entity, NCB Development Corporation, helped to coordinate and galvanize the existing efforts of essential partners to develop, plan, and finance a new assisted living facility, and coordinate appropriate funding sources for operational and client service expenditures. The Gardens at Osage Terrace was developed under the Coming Home Program, a demonstration program of NCB Development Corporation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Topic(s): Housing Source: Rutgers/NASHP More Info: http://www.hcbs.org/moreInfo.php/nb/doc/1843

 

Homeownership for People with Disabilities Forms


Summary: The Illinois Homeownership Coalition for People with Disability (HCPD) has a comprehensive set of documents pertaining to its advocacy and assistance for homeownership. The organizations goal is to assist people with disability in purchasing their homes, allowing them to maintain independence and living in their communities. Review the application, brochure and checklist. Topic(s): Accessibility, Developmental/Psychiatric Disabilities, Housing, Physical Disabilities, Resource Center, State/Agency Information Source: Grantee produced, Illinois More Info: http://www.hcbs.org/moreInfo.php/nb/doc/1794

 

Housemate Match Survey


Summary: This survey developed by the Illinois Department of Human Services is intended to match potential roommates by compatibility of habits and interests. The goal is to find a good match of potential housemates. Topic(s): Consumer Direction, Housing, Transition/Diversion from Institutions Source: Grantee produced, Illinois More Info: http://www.hcbs.org/moreInfo.php/nb/doc/1791

 

Independent Housing Inventory Sheet


Summary: The Independent Housing Development worksheet presents a series of steps that allow a person to determine whether he/she can consider him/herself eligible for homeownership and provides guidance as he/she embarks on this process. Topic(s): Housing, Physical Disabilities, Transition/Diversion from Institutions Source: Grantee produced, Illinois More Info: http://www.hcbs.org/moreInfo.php/nb/doc/1789

 

Housing Options Application


Summary: Housing grantees can use this application as a survey tool that allows service coordinators to get a snapshot of an applicant’s financial situation as he/she begins to research potential housing options. Topic(s): Accessibility, Housing Source: Grantee produced, Illinois More Info: http://www.hcbs.org/moreInfo.php/nb/doc/1790

 

Illinois Homeownership Coalition for People with Disabilities Homebuyers' Educational Manual


Summary: This manual provides guidance for people with disabilities who are interested in owning their homes. Topics covered include: financing homeownership, understanding credit and budgets, Fair Housing Laws, finding a home, home inspections, buying and closing on a house, and home maintenance and assistance. Topic(s): Developmental/Psychiatric Disabilities, Housing, Physical Disabilities Source: Grantee produced, Illinois
More Info: http://www.hcbs.org/moreInfo.php/nb/doc/1795

 

Legisbrief: Money Can Follow the Person in Long-Term Care


Summary: Legisbrief is a briefing papers that offers important issues of the day. This volume provides an overview of the new demonstration initiative entitled "Money Follows the Person." States now have additional support from the federal government. The new federal demonstration provides new financial incentives for states to initiate system of flexible spending for long-term services and supports that enables available funds to move with the individual to the most appropriate and preferred setting. Topic(s): Money Follows the Person Source: Rutgers/NASHP, National Conference of State Legislatures, NCSL More Info: http://www.hcbs.org/moreInfo.php/nb/doc/1827

 

Massachusetts Real Choice Presents: Consumer Involvement Strategies


Summary: Part of the Massachusetts Real Choice grants included community and consumer collaboration and input. The presentations work to introduce how the Real Choice grant aims to work on collaboration, integration collaboration into the pilot project, and review how consumer perspectives were used in the grant. Review the work and ideas on consumer involvement, the pilot evaluation and the consumer experience project. Topic(s): Accessibility, Consumer Direction, Developmental/Psychiatric Disabilities, Long-Term Care, Money Follows the Person, Physical Disabilities Source: Grantee produced, Massachusetts More Info: http://www.hcbs.org/moreInfo.php/nb/doc/1811
 

Meeting Summary: Money Follows the Person: Financing and Budgeting


Summary: This document summarizes the meeting on Money Follows the Person: Financing and Budgeting, convened by Rutgers Center for State Health Policy and the National Academy for State Health Policy, held on September 11-13, 2006 in Olympia, Washington. Participants discussed budgeting and financing approaches states can use to assist their residents in moving from institutions to community settings. This document will provide a brief description of the meeting and a guide to resources that were shared. Topic(s): Financing HCBS, Money Follows the Person
Source: Rutgers/NASHP More Info: http://www.hcbs.org/moreInfo.php/nb/doc/1840

 

Personal Care Assistance 40 Hour Training Curriculum


Summary: As part of its CPASS grant, Alaska developed a curriculum for personal care assistant training. This curriculum goes through the various responsibilities that a home health worker would encounter. The curriculum is a total of 40 hours, followed up by written exams. Topic(s): Consumer Direction, Employment, State/Agency Information, Workforce Source: Grantee produced, Alaska More Info: http://www.hcbs.org/moreInfo.php/nb/doc/1804
Planning Worksheets for Nursing Facility Transitions


Summary: This series of worksheets provides examples of what the Michigan Nursing Facility Transition grant used in planning the transition from the nursing facility to the community. Review the worksheets for Daily Living, Employment Planning, Financial Planning, Health Planning, Housing Planning, Planning Template, Self-Determination, Social and Transportation Planning. Topic(s): Accessibility, Aging Issues, Consumer Direction, Financing HCBS, Long-Term Care, Physical Disabilities, Sustainability, Transition/Diversion from Institutions Source: Grantee produced, Michigan
More Info: http://www.hcbs.org/moreInfo.php/nb/doc/1832

 

The Indicator: NCI’s Bimonthly Newsletter – November 2006
 

Summary: This is the latest newsletter of the National Core Indicators (NCI) program. The publication is designed to keep you abreast of developments and best practices in performance and outcome measurement as exemplified in initiatives among NCI participants. Issue 1, Volume 4 is a special issue dedicated to Member Profiles. Review the summaries for twenty-three states plus the Regional Center of Orange County in California. Topic(s): Developmental/Psychiatric Disabilities, Quality Source: HSRI More Info: http://www.hcbs.org/moreInfo.php/nb/doc/1829

 National Respite Conference Call for Papers

 

National Respite Conference (October 3-5, 2007, Huntsville, AL), "Help is on the Way!" Call For Papers.  Note that the Deadline for Submission is April 15, 2007. I am pleased to announce that our generous hosts for the 2007 Conference are the Alabama Lifespan Respite Network and the United Cerebral Palsy Huntsville and the Tennessee Valley!  For more information, contact Linda Lamberth, Project Manager, Alabama Lifespan Respite Network at (256) 237-3683 or at alabamarespite@aol.com.

Click here for the Conference Flyer: http://www.archrespite.org/Alabama_Conf_Flyer.pdf
 

National Organization on Disability to Recognize Association for Empowering Citizens with Disabilities

 

http://www.nod.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.viewPage&pageID=1430&nodeID=1&FeatureID=1654&redirected=1&CFID=12367052&CFTOKEN=12441838

The National Organization on Disability is announcing a competition for 40 eligible major non-disability associations from across America to recognize their work on behalf of people with disabilities. The associations are invited to demonstrate, via a special awards competition, their leadership in supporting local initiatives that benefit people with disabilities.

 

The competition, which is sponsored by Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the founding of the National Organization on Disability. To enter the competition, an eligible association must complete an official entry form and submit it to NOD no later than August 31, 2007.

 

2007 State of the Science in Aging with DD: Charting Lifespan Trajectories and Supportive Environments for Healthy Community Living
May 21, 2007
A Pre-Conference Symposium on Aging at the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities 131st Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia

 

This conference presents the current knowledge on the social, environmental and technological supports needed to promote the health and community participation of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout their lifetime. Key international researchers will present the latest research findings and their practical applications to set the agenda for future research in four thematic areas:

Conference Organizers

Key Sponsors

Co-Sponsors

To register and see more information, including the conference agenda please visit:   www.uic.edu/orgs/rrtcamr/RRTCADD_SOS.html.

 

Conference space is limited. If you are interested in attending the conference, please call Erika Magallanes at 312-413-1520 or email her at remagall@uic.edu. Please visit www.aaidd.org after February 28, 2007 for on-line registration.

 

New Books Available from the NADD Press

 

Please visit us at: http://www.thenadd.org

"Beast" is a novel about a talented young pitcher with autism
 

The book, titled "Beast" (a nickname given to Nathaniel Donch by a little league coach when he was eleven-years-old in honor of his pitching prowess) will be released in March of 2007, says father David Donch, author of the book. It is a fictionalized memoir based on events that took place throughout Nathaniel's little league years.
 

Information about the book can be found at www.BeastTheNovel.com. Media Contact: David Donch, 315-255-6866

MY BROTHER-new film-Actors with Down Syndrome

 

WEBSITES TO PREVIEW THE FILM AND FIND ADDITIONAL INFO: www.mybrotherthemovie.com , www.myspace.com/mybrotherthemovie ,
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzfVXAFuMdE 


One-Stop Toolkit Resources of the Week Technical Assistance Project

IMAGINE . . . EVERYBODY WORKS is presented by the Autism Society of America and APSE: The Network on Employment

 

Hyatt on Capital Square - Columbus, OH - May 10-11, 2007

http://www.autism-society.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=9277&news_iv_ctrl=0

 

IMAGINE . . . EVERYBODY WORKS is presented by the Autism Society of America and APSE: The Network on Employment.  This conference provides an opportunity for two associations to join as partners to advance employment for individuals with autism. We hope this conference will help people engaged in employment for individuals with autism to share information, sharpen their skills and reignite their commitment to the difficult task of advancing employment in their own communities.

 

The conference provides multiple venues for participants to gain new knowledge based on research and practical experience. Participants enjoy quality speakers, productive dialogues, formal and informal networking, and exhibits from vendors of tools and techniques they can utilize to enhance the employment outcomes and the lives of people with disabilities.

 

The conference is May 10-11, 2007 from 7:00 to 4:30 on Thursday, with a Networking Reception from 4:30 to 6:30, and exhibitors from 8:30AM Thursday to 1:00PM on Friday.  The conference fee is $250.00 payable to Indiana University and includes materials, morning beverages, a luncheon, and a networking reception. Access the URL for more information.

 

National Youth Leadership Network (NYLN) and Kids As Self Advocates (KASA) New!

 

http://www.fvkasa.org/nylnkasa/index.php

 

This is a website formed by two national programs for youth with disabilities. KASA believes young people with disabilities have control over their own lives and futures. NYLN is for young leaders with disabilities (ages 16 to 28). Its mission is about leadership, focusing on education, employment and independence.

 

U.S. Access Board:  A Federal Agency Committed to Accessible Design

 

http://www.access-board.gov/

 

The Access Board is an independent Federal agency devoted to accessibility for people with disabilities. Created in 1973 to ensure access to federally funded facilities, the Board is now a leading source of information on accessible design. The Board develops and maintains design criteria for the built environment, transit vehicles, telecommunications equipment, and for electronic and information technology. It also provides technical assistance and training on these requirements and on accessible design and continues to enforce accessibility standards that cover federally funded facilities.

 

The Board is structured to function as a coordinating body among Federal agencies and to directly represent the public, particularly people with disabilities. Half of its members are representatives from most of the Federal departments. The other half is comprised of members of the public appointed by the President, a majority of whom must have a disability.

 

The website includes information on Communication, Architecture and Transportation guidelines and standards, research, training, publications and enforcement.

 

Breaking Down Barriers: Employment and the Disability Community

 

DePaul University and Access Living of Chicago - February 2007

 

[If you would like to receive a MS Word Version of this report please send a request to Laura at laura-farah@uiowa.edu.]

 

This study examined the employment, vocational rehabilitation, and Ticket to Work experiences of 374 adults with disabilities.  The following is excerpted from the Overview of the Project and the Conclusion.

 

Historically, the disability community has experienced high rates of unemployment. Current data estimate that between 65 to 70 percent of people with disabilities are not employed (National Organization on Disability, 2004; U.S. Department of Labor, 2005).

 

Numerous federal initiatives have been enacted to address the employment crisis experienced by the disability community, including the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA), and Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 (TWWIIA). Despite these initiatives, significant unemployment persists among members of this group.

 

The main purpose of the Let's Roll Project was to examine the employment barriers experienced by people with disabilities, with an additional focus on the vocational rehabilitation (VR) system and the Ticket to Work (TTW) program. Funded in 2003 by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) and the Disability Research Institute (DRI), this three-year project included three main phases.

 

This three-year project revealed that although there have been attempts to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities, much work remains. In particular, our participants reported concerns with 1) losing medical and cash benefits, 2) the accessibility of their communities and worksites, 3) employer attitudes toward the disabled workforce, and 4) the vocational rehabilitation system.

 

Although the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act (TWWIIA) of 1999 responds to several employment concerns reported by people with disabilities, our findings indicated that our participants were not knowledgeable about this well-intended legislation. In addition, there seemed to be reluctance to learn about and participate in the Ticket to Work program, given that past employment and vocational rehabilitation efforts had not paid off.

 

Therefore, it is critical that we reach out to the disability community to ensure that they have accurate knowledge of new employment initiatives, have their concerns addressed, and are connected to employment services and programs in meaningful ways.

 

Assessing the Impact of Hurricane Katrina on People with Disabilities

 

Funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research - January 2007

http://www.rtcil.org/products/NIDRR_ExecutiveSummaryKatrinaReport.pdf (Executive Summary)

http://www.rtcil.org/products/NIDRR_FinalKatrinaReport.pdf (Final Report)

 

[The following is excerpted from the Background section of the report.]

 

In late 2005, a report was issued by the U.S. House of Representatives Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate the Preparation for and Response to Hurricane Katrina. It documents 90 specific failures at all levels of government in planning and response to Hurricane Katrina and the other Gulf Coast storms of 2005. Despite its comprehensiveness, this document pays little attention to the unique challenges associated with ensuring that the needs and priorities of persons with a wide range of physical and cognitive disabilities are met before, during, and after a disaster.

 

Building on prior work of investigators from the University of Kansas and University of New Mexico, including the CDC/ATPM funded Nobody Left Behind project at the University of Kansas, the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) sought to address this gap by funding a research project to identify major barriers faced by centers for independent living (CILs) and emergency managers in responding to the needs of people with disabilities with Hurricane Katrina. Through a combination of surveys, focus groups, and interviews in six research sites in the Gulf Coast states, investigators gathered information on the experiences of respondents and developed recommendations to address gaps in policy, planning, and practice.

 

FEDINFO E-letter from Pueblo, February 2007 Issue
DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME STARTS MARCH 11

 

Beginning in 2007, you will have an extra month to enjoy Daylight Saving Time (DST). For most of the United States, DST will begin at 2:00 a.m. on the second Sunday of March and end at 2:00 a.m. on the first Sunday of November (this year it is November 4th). The new start and end dates were set by the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

 

Moving your clocks ahead on March 11th is not the only thing you have to remember. The change in DST impacts many products, not just your PC. Anything with a date setting has the potential to be affected, like cell phones, PDAs, VCRs, clocks, telephones, DVD players, TiVO, and more. Check the manufacturers website for device-specific advice. We have a list of many corporations and their websites at ConsumerAction.gov. 

 

If you are a PC user, software patches and information are available on the Microsoft website - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/931836/

 

Be sure to check your bank deposits and online payments, since businesses may be affected by the DST change.

 

Computer software calendar and scheduling applications, such as Outlook, will be affected by the DST change so double-check to make sure your meetings and appointments are correct. Keeping a printed copy of your calendar is a good idea-in case any of your information gets overwritten during synchronization.

 

[Want to read previous issues of the Monday Morning in Washington, DC?  View them online.]

 

 

Until Next week

  

The Arc of the United States, 1010 Wayne Avenue, Ste. 650, Silver Spring, MD 20910, Phone: 3015653842, Fax: 3015653843, Email: mmwdc@info.thearc.org, Web: www.thearc.org

 

 Disclaimer: MMWDC publishes information about issues and events that we believe to be important and likely to be of interest to advocates and others interested in inclusion of persons with disabilities in all parts of society.  However, MMWDC and The Arc of the United States do not necessarily endorse all events, sponsoring organizations and reports which appear.