CAREERS & the disABLED Mag Gives Kudo to Walgreens

DEERFIELD, ILLINOIS (BUSINESS WIRE) – CAREERS & the disABLED magazine has selected Walgreens as it’s private employer of the year for Walgreen’s commitment to recruiting, hiring and promoting people with disabilities.

Recently, Walgreen’s launched a disability employment program in conjunction with the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), with a commitment to hire people with disabilities for at least 10% of all service clerk openings in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas areas stores. CAREERS & the disABLED magazine publisher John Miller, says "We are pleased to name Walgreens for its commitment to recruit, hire and promote people with disabilities."

Senate Hold on NCD Nominee with Autism

An anonymous Senate member has placed a “hold” on President Obama's nomination of Ari Ne'eman (pronounced NAYmen) to the National Council on Disability (NCD). The hold prevents the nomination from being sent to the Senate floor for a vote. Mr. Ne'eman , the 22 year old founder of the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, has Autism and is high-functioning. When—and if— confirmed, he will be the first person with Autism to serve on the NCD.

Some critics are concerned about Ne'eman's youth and lack of experience, but others have more specific concerns. Jonathan Shestack, co-founder of Autism Speaks, a group dedicated to financing cure-based Autism research and the largest Autism advocacy group in the US, says about Ne’eman, “…he doesn’t seem to represent, understand or have great sympathy for all the people who are truly, deeply affected in a way that he isn’t”. Ne’eman has also organized protests over one of the group’s fund-raising videos.

The Senate recently confirmed President Obama’s other seven NCD nominees.

SOURCES:

Ari Ne’eman and the Controversy Over an Autism Cure

http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/thehumancondition/archive/2010/03/29/ari-ne-eman-and-the-controversy-over-an-autism-cure.aspx

Nominee to Disability Council Is Lightning Rod for Dispute on Views of Autism

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/28/health/policy/28autism.html

National Council on Disability Nominees

FROM THE NRCA/ARC/UCP NEWSLETTER:
Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, announced last week the Committee had approved nominations to fill positions at the National Council on Disability and other federal agencies. The nominees now move to the full Senate for confirmation.

The nominees for NCD membership are:

• Gary Blumenthal of Massachusetts
• Chester Alonzo Finn of New York
• Sara A. Gelser of Oregon
• Ari Ne'eman of Maryland
• Dongwoo Joseph Pak of California
• Carol Jean Reynolds of Colorado
• Fernando Torres-Gill of California
• Jonathan M. Young of Maryland