20th Anniversay of the ADA Today

The first National Disability Policy Summit in Washington, D.C. kicked off today, the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, hosted by the National Council on Disability (NCD) and its partners. The landmark Act became law on July 26, 1990, signed by then President George H. W. Bush. ADA, you've come a long way, baby, but much work remains.

For an ADA Anniversay Toolkit, visit: http://sedbtac.org/ada/publications/ada_anniversary/index.php#packet

DOJ To Propose New ADA Rules

The Justice Department will publish four new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) proposals addressing website accessibility, captioning and video description in movie theaters, accessible equipment and furniture, and 9-1-1 emergency call centers accessibility. The Advance Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) for public comment will be published in the Federal Register on July 26, 2010. The new regulation proposals are needed to keep up with “...technological advances that were unimaginable 20 years ago,” according to Attorney General Eric Holder.

Visit http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2010/July/10-crt-850.html for the entire press release.

AG Holder Comments on ADA "Revolution"

Attorney General Eric Holder spoke yesterday at the American Association of People with Disabilities “Justice for All” Event. He quoted past Attorney General Thornburgh, the AG when the ADA became law, noting the legislation has been “another emancipation, [recognizing] the right of people with disabilities to come into mainstream society – to come into the restaurant or the concert hall or house of worship or movie theater…or the workplace, and, above all, to long-term prospects for a future life of hope and achievement.” To read the full text of the speech, visit: http://www.justice.gov/ag/speeches/2010/ag-speech-100721.html

New CRCC Category

CRCC announces Category R - a new CRC Exam eligibility category providing increased opportunity for CRC certification. Category R expands certification eligibility through the attainment of a post-graduate advanced certificate or degree in lieu of a second Master's degree in Counseling or Rehabilitation Counseling.

Qualified individuals with advanced degrees in thirteen areas of study may be eligible to sit for the CRC Exam upon completion of an integrated program of study focused on rehabilitation counseling coursework and having demonstrated acceptable employment experience. Further details on Category R can be found on pages 9-10 of the CRC Certification Guide. The category is similar to the previous "D4" category phased out by CRCC several years ago.