No-Cost Disability Law Handbook

The DBTAC Southwest ADA Center announces the publication of The Disability Law Handbook, a 50-page guide to the basics of the Americans with Disabilities Act and other disability related laws.

The Disability Law Handbook answers questions about the Americans with Disabilities Act, the ADA Amendments Act, the Rehabilitation Act, Social Security, the Air Carrier Access Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, and the Fair Housing Act Amendments.

Individual copies of The Disability Law Handbook are available at no charge by emailing Rauseo@bcm.edu , or by calling Dionne Rauseo at 713.520.0232, ext.113. Other publicctions are available at: http://www.dlrp.org/html/publications/index.html
Listen to the Disability Law Lowdown Podcast at http://dll.ada-podcast.com

March 31- Spread the Word to End the Word Event

"R-word" awareness actitivities are scheduled nation-wide to "Spread the Word to End the Word", a campaign to stop the use of the word "retard". The "R Word" and stigmatizing references to people with intellectual disaiblities recently made headlines with President Obama's remarks on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno". View a clip of his comment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vE0yAEvVsUo (various clips are available).

Through “Spread the Word to End the Word,” an on-line youth rally Live stream will occur at www.schooltube.com, 12:35 PM Eastern Time. R-word Pledge Rallies will take place at
American University, Beirut, lebanon; all high schools in state of Delaware; school in the Fort Worth Independent School District, Texas; at the University of Kansas, Western Michigan University, University of Nebraska, Lincoln; Princeton University, and Slippery Rock University, Pennsylvania, just to name a few. Visit http://www.specialolympics.org/03-31-09_Spread_the_Word.aspx.

Several Critical Legislative Events This Week

WASHINGTON, DC— Several important legislative events are on slate this week, as reported by the National Rehabilitation Counseling Association through the ARC/UCP Capitol Insider.

Tuesday, March 24:

• Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL) will introduce the Community Choice Act (CCA) in both Houses of Congress. Under the CCA, people with disabilities and older people will select care options and supports in their own homes and communities. As Senators, both President Obama and Vice President Biden were CCA co-sponsors
• The House Education and Labor Committee will hold "The Importance of Early Childhood Development." For more information, please visit: http://edlabor.house.gov/hearings/2009/03/the-importance-of-early-childh.shtml
• The House Energy and Commerce Committee will hold "Making Health Care Work for American Families: Ensuring Affordable Coverage." Visit the following link for additional information: http://energycommerce.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1534&Itemid=1

Wednesday, March 25:

• The Senate Finance Committee's Heath Subcommittee, Sen. John Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Chair, will hold "What is Health Care Quality and Who Decides?" For more information, click on http://finance.senate.gov/sitepages/hearing031809.htm
• The House Homeland Security Committee will hold "PKEMRA (Post Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act) Implementation: An Examination of FEMA's Preparedness and Response Mission." Details are available at: http://homeland.house.gov/about/schedule.asp