SOURCES:
Protesters disrupt meeting about
Protesters disrupt state meeting
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/6157643.html
Protesters disrupt state council meeting, angry about conditions at state schools
(INCLUDES VIDEO of Protest)
RELATED:
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities, established by the United Nations, is December 3, 2008. This year’s themes are Dignity and Justice, and the "Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Dignity and Justice for All of Us". It is also the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
About 10% of the world’s population (650 million people) has disabilities. However, many people with disabilities still do not have rights equal recognition before the law and legal, freedom of expression and opinion, and the right to participate in political and public life. About 80% of the global population of people with disabilities, or about 400 million people live in poor countries where a significant link between poverty and disability exist.
The UN. Enable website says, “2008 is a significant year in the international human rights movement, given the entry into force on 3 May of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol, legally binding instruments which set out the legal obligations of States to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities”.
To find out which countries have ratified the Convention, and which have not, visit the UN website at: http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?navid=18&pid=257
The Michigan Protection and Advocacy Service is suing
According to the Detroit News, the program Fialka-Feldman attends “… was designed for college-age students with cognitive disabilities who couldn't be admitted to
SOURCES:
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081128/METRO02/811280401
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081129/SCHOOLS/811290380
RELATED:
The documentary and website, “Through the Same Door” chronicles Fialka-Feldman’s search for inclusive housing.
http://www.throughthesamedoor.com/
Disability Nation’s article, “
http://www.disabilitynation.net/blog/battle-inclusion-michigan
The American Association for People with Disabilities (AAPD) reports on the four core themes of President Barack Obama’s Plan to Empower Americans with Disabilities:
Early in his campaign, Barack Obama responded to an AAPD questionnaire developed and submitted with the National Council on Independent Living, ADAPT, and Self Advocates Becoming Empowered. Obama will have a full-time Assistant to the President for Disability Policy in the White House Domestic Policy Council to carry out his disability Plan.
To work with President-Elect Obama on disability-related concerns during his transition and in his administration, AAPD is creating a talent bank of interested AAPD members. Send Resumes to resumes@aapd.com.
"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that
Despite his lack of person-first language, his recognition of people with disabilities as part of America's diversity is noteworthy.
For a Full Text Transcript of the speech, go to:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/28/us/politics/28text-obama.html
For You Tube videos of the speech, go to:
http://video.google.com/videosearch?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&channel=s&hl=en&q=obama+acceptance+speech&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&oi=video_result_group&resnum=4&ct=title#
Washington DC, USA-- People with certain cancers and other severe conditions will have their disability claims fat-tracked under a new Social Security program, which may result in disability decisions in a matter of days, not months. Michael J. Astrue, head of the Social Security Administration says new Compassionate Allowances initiative will apply to 25 rare diseases and 25 cancers. Disorders and diseases include inoperable forms of breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, bladder, kidney, and bone cancers, acute leukemia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Creutzfeldt-Jakob and Gaucher diseases, and Rett Syndrome. The new process uses rapid action computer scanning for key terms, resulting in 95% claim acceptance. The president of the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), Peter Saltonstall, says the new allowances are "an outstanding achievement" for people with certain rare diseases.
SOURCES:
Social Security speeds disability claims review
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iehbar0cfRyF-t4ZjGfDc0BZglAgD942RP9G0
New Compassionate Allowances for Social Security Disability Represent 'Outstanding Achievement,' NORD Says
RELATED:
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
Social Security’s List of Compassionate Allowances:
USA-- DiversityInc, a leading publication on diversity and business, has publishes its annual list of top employers for people with disabilities. DiversityInc began in 1998 as a web-based publication with a print magazine added in 2002. DiversityInc.com has a large career center online. The organization makes the following five recommendations for employers to increase disability diversity in the workplace:
SOURCES:
http://www.diversityinc.com/public/4533.cfm
RELATED:
The 2008 DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for People With Disabilities
http://www.diversityinc.com/public/3573.cfm
The 2008 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity
Rights for the Disabled
Congress approves landmark protections for disabled workers.
Monday, September 22, 2008; A14
IT WENT largely unnoticed in a week of economic upheaval, but Congress approved one of the more momentous pieces of civil rights legislation in recent years. The bill, passed overwhelmingly in the House and by unanimous consent in the Senate, will significantly broaden protections for the disabled. It instructs the Supreme Court to act "in favor of broad coverage," a distinction that should make it easier for disabled workers to claim discrimination. By explicitly arguing for a less constrictive interpretation, lawmakers sought to restore the intent of the original Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990; the Supreme Court has imposed a consistently narrow interpretation of the ADA. President Bush has said that he will sign the bill into law despite previous concerns that the legislation would spur excess litigation.
The legislation is the result of two years of remarkable cooperation between business groups and disability rights organizations. The compromise strikes a balance as it guarantees rights for workers with "actual or perceived impairments." For example, airlines can no longer discriminate against prospective pilots if the applicants employ "mitigating measures," such as corrective eyewear. At the same time, the bill limits unwarranted claims by requiring that workers prove they have a disability that "would substantially limit a major life activity when active." The bill will also provide protection, for the first time, to workers with serious ailments such as diabetes, epilepsy and cancer.
Business and disability groups are pleased with the final version of the bill and said that collaborating on the legislation should reduce the number of lawsuits over its implementation. The direct language of the bill, and the laudable cooperation that forged it, should also improve employment levels for the disabled. Two out of three people with significant disabilities are unemployed, a disturbing statistic that disability organizations say is unchanged from when the original ADA became law. This time, Congress's intent is clear, and we hope the courts follow it.
NCRAOFFICE@aol.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Contact: Jennifer Mullin (Harkin) 202-224-3254
Mark Eddington (Hatch) 202-224-5251
HARKIN, HATCH MEASURE FULFILLING PROMISE OF AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT PASSES SENATE UNANIMOUSLY
Legislation responds to Supreme Court decisions that narrowed the definition of disability
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) today announced that the Senate had approved by unanimous consent a bill that would clarify the law's intent and ensure that all Americans with disabilities are protected from discrimination. The bill will need to be acted upon by the House of Representatives before being sent to the President's desk.
The Senate bill is similar to bipartisan legislation introduced in the House by Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner that passed by a 402-17 margin this summer.
Considered to be one of the landmark civil rights laws of the 20th century, the ADA was designed to protect any individual who is discriminated against on the basis of disability. The law was passed with overwhelming bipartisan support and was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush.
Since the ADA became law, a series of court decisions have narrowed the category of who qualifies as an "individual with a disability," contrary to Congressional intent. By raising the threshold for an impairment to qualify as a disability, these court decisions have deprived individuals of the discrimination protections Congress intended to provide.
The ADA Amendments Act would remedy this problem and restore workplace protections to every American with a disability. The bill leaves the ADA's familiar disability definition intact, but takes several specific steps to direct courts toward a more generous meaning and application of the definition. The legislation would make it easier for people with disabilities to be covered by the ADA because it effectively expands the definition of disability to include many more major life activities, as well as a new category of major bodily functions.
"With today’s vote, we have restored the promise of the ADA which was signed into law 18 years ago," said Harkin, the chief author of the original ADA. "The protections afforded under this historic law have been eroded and the result is that people with serious conditions like epilepsy or diabetes could be forced to choose between treating their conditions and forfeiting their protections under the law. That is not what Congress intended when we passed the law, and this bill is the right fix."
"This is a historic day," said Hatch. "This bill continues our ongoing effort to expand opportunities for individuals with disabilities to participate in the American Dream. Passage of the ADA Amendments Act ensures that the Americans with Disabilities Act will continue to help change lives. I'm proud to have worked with my good friend Tom Harkin in crafting this monumental bill that enjoys such strong bipartisan support."
The ADA Amendments Act enjoys strong support by advocacy groups, including most national disability organizations, 23 major veterans organizations, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, the Society for Human Resource Management, and the Human Resources Policy Association.
PRNewswire via COMTEX— Media coverage of Sarah Palin and her son, Trig, is full of disabling, non-person first language. Media reports on Trig variously describe him as a “Down syndrome baby” and “Down syndrome child” who is “afflicted”. The preferred means of speaking and writing about people with disabilities is Person-First, a style of communication that puts the person before any mention of his or her disability and avoids the use of value-negative terms, such as afflicted or suffers. Person first language demonstrates that disability is not the sole defining characteristic of a person, any more than an individual is solely defined by hair or skin color. Cynthia Kidder, CEO of Band of Angels (http://www.bandofangels.com), a national outreach group says, “Language sets a tone and standard of expectation… This discussion must include the power of language and the influence of the media in shaping national standards for language.”
SOURCE:
Palin's VP Nomination Highlights Media's Disability Language Gaffes
RELATED:
American Speech and Hearing Association Guide to Person First Language:
http://www.asha.org/about/publications/journal-abstracts/submissions/person_first.htm
http://www.disabilityisnatural.com/peoplefirstlanguage.htm
“Disaboom's Survey Shows Disabled People Urge Presidential Candidates To Address Disability Issues”
http://www.rttnews.com/Content/BreakingNews.aspx?Node=B1&Id=698347%20&Category=Breaking%20News
“91% of People With Disabilities Believe They Receive Less Attention From Presidential Candidates Than Other Groups”
http://www.financialnewsusa.com/news.php?rlsid=2066RELATED:
“People With Disabilities Choose Obama, Disaboom Poll Shows”
Disaboom has 2008 Election coverage available: http://www.disaboom.com/Living/Election08/Default.aspx