Sanimatic Toilet

Sanimatic Toilet

0inShare

French bathroom furnishings company SFA has created a line of adjustable fixtures that can be easily installed without the need for major construction work. Their Sanimatic Toilet system is a motorized frame that makes your toilet bowl height adjustable. The unit can be adjusted to any height between 38 cm and 75 cm (around 15" to 29.5") and can lift a load of 150kg (around 330lbs.)
A waterproof remote control allows users to raise and lower the unit as well as flush the toilet. Pivoting grab bars can be attached to the frame to be raised and lowered along with the toilet bowl. The frame can be partly embedded into the wall or securely attached to the wall's surface.
More information about the Sanimatic Toilet. 

Source: http://www.universaldesign.com/products/featured-product/1393-sanimatic-toilet.html

Brown signs ADA lawsuit abuse measure into law

Brown signs ADA lawsuit abuse measure into law

BY JESSICA M. KARMASEK

 

 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed into law a bill aimed at helping businesses comply with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, without facing the ever-growing threat of frivolous lawsuits.

Brown, a former state attorney general, signed Senate Bill 1186 Wednesday.

The bill, authored by Senate Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, and Sen. Bob Dutton, R-Rancho Cucamonga, intends to curb predatory ADA lawsuits, in particular against small businesses in the state.

Nearly 40 percent of ADA lawsuits in the nation are filed in California.

Specifically, the legislation bans "demand for money" letters. In these letters, lawyers often order businesses to pay a set amount, plus their exorbitant legal fees, in exchange for dropping the case.

In addition, SB 1186 requires attorneys to send a notice letter, listing any alleged construction-related violations, at least 30 days before filing a lawsuit.

It also prevents "stacking" of multiple claims to increase monetary damages, requiring a plaintiff to explain the need for multiple visits to the same business with a known uncorrected barrier to access.

SB 1186 also significantly reduces damages against business owners who correct alleged violations within 30 to 60 days of receiving a complaint.

Also, the legislation requires landlords to disclose whether their buildings or properties are state certified and in compliance with ADA laws.

"We are extremely pleased that Gov. Brown recognized that disabled access lawsuits are out of control and that change was needed," Kim Stone, president of the Civil Justice Association of California, said in a statement Wednesday.

CJAC is an industry-sponsored group that advocates for legal reform.

"This bill should provide some relief to small business owners who are making good faith efforts to comply and it should help reign in unscrupulous plaintiffs' lawyers who have been exploiting the Americans with Disabilities Act for financial gain," Stone said.

"There was little optimism going into 2012 that the Legislature would address this issue, but thanks to (U.S.) Sen. Dianne Feinstein's advocacy and the persistence of (state) Sens. Steinberg and Dutton, a legitimate attempt at reform has now been enacted."

Stone thanked Brown for signing the bill, and said she hopes it will make a "significant difference."

In a statement Wednesday, Steinberg said SB 1186 is a compromise that applies a "common sense approach" to resolve difficult issues.

"The whole point of our state and federal disability access laws is to remove barriers for the disabled, giving them full and equal access to businesses like everyone else. Up until now, unfortunately, it was often cheaper and quicker for business owners to settle out of court than to remove those obstacles," he said.

"SB 1186 will instead provide more incentives to fix the violations and enhance accessibility."

The bill is an urgency measure, meaning it will take effect immediately.

From Legal Newsline: Reach Jessica Karmasek by email at jessica@legalnewsline.com.

Filed Under: Hot Topics

Serving People with Disabilities During and After Isaac

Categories: Disability.Blog News

LaPlace, La., Sep. 11, 2012 – A FEMA Mitigation specialist talks to a Hurricane Isaac survivor in a Disaster Recovery Center. Photo courtesy of FEMA.

By Guest Blogger Marcie Roth, Director, Office of Disability and Integration Coordination.
In honor of National Preparedness Month, Disability.Blog is re-posting the following from FEMA Blog.
Even before Tropical Storm Isaac hit the Gulf coast, FEMA disability integration specialists from across the nation were preparing to travel to the areas that would be hardest hit. There, they would join other FEMA personnel and countless others from voluntary and community organizations, local, state and federal government, and the private sector who would answer the call to help the survivors of Isaac’s lingering and widespread deluge of rain and wind.
Right now, FEMA has seven Disability Integration Advisors serving in Louisiana and Mississippi. Their expertise is guiding the actions of the officials who lead FEMA’s response in areas hardest hit by Isaac. They are experts in disability inclusive emergency management who use their knowledge to prevent, address or solve problems for individuals with access and functional needs and their communities.
Our Disability Integration Advisors work with state and local government officials to coordinate and advise on issues such as:

• The availability of accessible transportation,
• Evacuations from nursing homes, group homes, assisted living facilities, and people served under state programs, such as mental health and developmental disability programs,
• Access to prescription medication,
• Access to medical, personal assistance services and durable medical equipment in shelters.

On a daily basis, they also address the need for access to effective communication such as remote and in-person sign language interpreting, captioning services, public lines in support of video phones and caption phones. In addition, they reach out specifically to the disability community in the affected area and facilitate collaboration with federal, state, local and Tribal government concerning evacuation, application for FEMA assistance, accessible messaging, and cleanup tips.
Often, advisors have the opportunity to talk with disaster survivors and help them firsthand. Linda Landers, one of our Disability Integration Specialists, is working in Louisiana where she recently helped a mother and her adult son who has a spinal cord injury. After several days without power, they were forced to make a decision to shelter in place or travel from Jefferson Parish to a shelter in Baton Rouge. When the family decided to shelter in place, Linda made sure that local emergency responders and emergency management were aware of their decision and knew how to contact them. Throughout the night and next day, Linda checked in with them to be sure they were not in danger. The power has since been restored and all are doing well.
Ongoing support for recovery
As FEMA and the states began setting up Disaster Recovery Centers, FEMA disability integration advisors assessed conditions to determine potential issues, such as physical accessibility so people using wheelchairs can easily enter a building or area. They also looked for equipment that ensures effective communication by people who have low vision or are blind and others who are hard of hearing or deaf when filing assistance claims in Disaster Recovery Centers. Below is a video that explains some of the communications equipment that is available at Disaster Recovery Centers:
FEMA’s Disability Integration Advisors will continue to ensure those with access and functional needs have equal access to the assistance and services available after Isaac. Visit our webpage to learn more.
For More Information:

• Read the National Preparedness Month Presidential Proclamation
• Pledge to Prepare by joining FEMA’s National Preparedness Coalition
• Explore Disability.gov’s Emergency Preparedness Section

Marcie Roth is the director of the Office of Disability Integration and Coordination at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. In this role, she leads the agency’s commitment to meet the access and functional needs of children and adults with disabilities in emergency and disaster preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation. Before coming to FEMA, Ms. Roth was President and CEO of Global Disability Solutions Group, a leading national organization promoting diverse workforce initiatives with a focus on disability issues. She also served as a senior member of the Obama for America Disability Policy Committee and served on President Obama’s Justice and Civil Rights Transition Team.3

Source:http://usodep.blogs.govdelivery.com/2012/09/24/serving-people-with-disabilities-during-and-after-isaac/

Intellectually Disabled Workers Awarded $1.3M for Pay Discrimination by Henry's Turkey Service

Further Proceedings on Disability-Based Abuse and Harassment Allegations Lie Ahead

DALLAS -- Hill Country Farms Inc., doing business as Henry's Turkey Service, violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by paying 32 workers with intellectual disabilities severely substandard wages, a judge has ruled in a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).  The court ordered the company, based in Goldthwaite, Texas, to pay its former employees lawful wages totaling $1.3 million for jobs they performed under contract at a turkey processing plant in West Liberty, Iowa between 2007 and 2009. 
The EEOC alleged in its lawsuit (No. 3:11-cv-00041, filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, Davenport Division,) that Henry's Turkey exploited a class of disabled workers because their intellectual impairments made them vulnerable and unaware of the extent to which their legal rights were being violated.
In this latest ruling, Senior U.S. District Court Judge Charles R. Wolle found that, rather than the total of $65 dollars per month Henry's Turkey paid to the disabled workers while contracted to work on an evisceration line at the plant, the employees should have been compensated at the average wage of $11-12 per hour, reflecting pay typically earned by non-disabled workers who performed the same or similar work.  The EEOC's wage claims for each worker ranged from $28,000 to $45,000 in lost income over the course of their last two years before the Henry's Turkey Service operation was shut down in February 2009.  
"This case reflects the Commission's longstanding commitment to enforce the anti-discrimination laws nationwide on behalf of all workers, including workers with intellectual disabilities and other vulnerable communities," said EEOC General Counsel P. David Lopez.  "It is a serious mistake for any employer not to adopt safeguards against unlawful discrimination based on the assumption that workers will not exercise their rights due to fear or the lack of understanding."
Robert A. Canino, regional attorney for the Dallas District Office of the EEOC, which is litigating the case, said, "I believe that this positive result furthers the ongoing discussion about how far our country has come in promoting and supporting employment opportunities for persons with mental, intellectual and developmental disabilities.  Unfortunately, this case also reflects the sad reality that we still have a ways to go to ensure that employment of persons with disabilities does not require them to sacrifice their true earning capacity or their human dignity." 
In its motion for partial summary judgment, the EEOC argued that Henry's Turkey Service was not justified in paying disabled workers wages that were lower than the minimum wage for Iowa where they lived and worked, and that the disabled workers, some of whom had performed the work for over 25 years, were due the same wage rate as non-disabled workers.  In support of its motion, EEOC included the statement of a West Liberty Foods supervisor, who stated that the contracted Henry's workers were as productive as other workers in the plant, and that they actually demonstrated their knowledge and skills to persons who were being hired to replace them as the Henry's Turkey contract operations were winding down.

The EEOC also submitted evidence from West Liberty Foods records showing that while the plant paid Henry's Turkey Service as much as $11,000 per week for the work performed by the crew of 25-30 disabled men, Henry's paid the men only an average of $15 per week each.
Henry's maintained that it should be credited with wages for providing a 100-year-old former schoolhouse as living quarters.  The EEOC submitted evidence, however, from various witnesses, including admissions by Henry's supervisors, that the "bunkhouse"-- from which the men were later evacuated -- was closed down by the state fire marshal as unsafe, its heating was inadequate, the bug-infested building had rodent problems, and the roof was in such disrepair that buckets were put out to catch water pouring in.  The EEOC's position, supported by testimony of the U.S. Department of Labor, was that it was unlawful for the company to deny the disabled workers their full wages and benefits by claiming a "credit" for these substandard living conditions.
Dr. Sue Gant, an expert witness, supported the EEOC's claims that the company's scheme involved purposeful financial exploitation of the trusting workers. She concluded that Henry's conduct "including acts of deliberate misrepresentation" about wages and expenditures, was profit-driven and deprived the workers of "economic independence and self-sufficiency." She further declared that the company "took advantage of the workers. . .knowing that they would not likely be discovered because the workers were disabled."
"Company officers were never able to explain why they were deducting about $1,000 per month from each employee's wages to cover the company's alleged room and board and expenses, while simultaneously pulling out hundreds of dollars per month from each of the men's personal Social Security SSI and disability benefit accounts to reimburse itself for the very same described 'expenses'," added Regional Attorney Canino.  Anyone could plainly see that the math just didn't add up, while the personal costs to the men continued to multiply."
In addition to the discriminatory pay practices which are the subject of the court's order, the EEOC's suit also alleges that the company subjected the disabled workers to abusive verbal and physical harassment, unnecessarily restricted their freedom, and imposed harsh punishments and other adverse terms and conditions of employment such as requiring them to live collectively in substandard living conditions and failing to provide proper health care.  The EEOC's trial on these remaining issues regarding mistreatment of the workers is currently scheduled for March 2013.
The EEOC enforces the nation's laws prohibiting employment discrimination.  Further information about the EEOC is available at www.eeoc.gov.

Source: http://www1.eeoc.gov/eeoc/newsroom/release/9-19-12a.cfm

Join the Expedition

Categories: Community Life, Health

By Guest Blogger Wayne Connell, Founder and President, Invisible Disabilities Association
In recognition of National Disabilities Month, every October for the past five years, the Invisible Disabilities Association (IDA) has hosted an awards banquet in Lone Tree, Colorado. This year’s banquet will take place on October 14^th. This event allows IDA to honor amazing individuals and organizations from around the nation who are making a difference in the lives of people touched by illness, pain and disability. We also feature incredible keynote speakers such as National Speaker Hall of Fame Inductee Karyn Buxman, RN, MSN, CSP, CPAE; New York Times bestselling author Capt. Luis Carlos Montalván and New York Met’s World Series Champion Ed Hearn. This year we invite you to “Join the Expedition.”
Dictionary.com defines an expedition as, “an organized journey or voyage for a specific purpose.” Much time and planning goes into preparing for an expedition. Sometimes it requires learning a new language; sometimes it forges ahead into difficult places. An expedition often requires a map, unless the territory is unknown and uncharted. And of course lots and lots of cool equipment and tools are needed. Finally, an expedition usually requires a partner or a team to go with you, and a group back home cheering you on.
The problem with the expedition of caregiving or living daily with illness and pain is that you rarely have the opportunity to prepare or pre-plan. It just happens! IDA wants to help people to become “expedition ready” even in the midst of the journey.
IDA’s 5^th annual banquet will feature Antarctic Mike (Pierce) and his wife, Angela, as keynote speakers. Mike and Angela have been on a very long expedition. Mike is a professional speaker, executive recruiter, avid adventure athlete, world record holder and a husband. Angela Pierce is a wife, a blogger and someone who lives daily with disability and has done so most of her life. Together, they are an amazing team!
Mike has completed marathons in some of the world’s coldest climates including the Canadian Arctic, Siberia and twice in the Antarctic. He has set world records in endurance swimming and cycling as well. Adventure sports have changed Mike’s life in many ways, including teaching him the importance of being mentally focused and conditioned to run the most challenging, important and worthwhile expedition, that of helping Angela manage her lifetime disability. Read more of their story on Disability.Blog.
The good news is there are a group of people and organizations from around the nation who are journeying alongside people touched by illness, pain and disability. IDA will be honoring them on this great evening. IDA honorees include:

• 2012 Advocacy Award Honoree: Suzanne Mintz has been chosen based on her passion and advocacy as the founder of the National Family Caregivers Association. She has set the example for others by caregiving for her husband, Steven, who is living with Multiple Sclerosis. She has used her experience to inspire and advocate for other caregivers.

• 2012 Caregiver Award Honoree: John O’Brien has been chosen based on his passion and commitment to personally care for his wife and her journey with illness. This passion for people living with illness and pain also moved John to co-found Central Coast Senior Services, a home care agency which provides professional and compassionate caregiving.

• 2012 Corporate Award Honoree: Debbie Marriott Harrison has been chosen for her personal journey as a caregiver and champion of those living with invisible disabilities, including her own children. In addition, Debbie is an example for others in her role as Senior Vice President of the Marriott Corporation, a company that is leading the way with a disability-friendly atmosphere for both their guests and employees.

• 2012 Founders Award Honoree: Dick Layton has been chosen based on his personal involvement with IDA’s founder Wayne Connell as a mentor and as a strategic advisor to the entire IDA organization. Dick uses his passion to help others by making a difference in their lives and their organizations and therefore multiplying his impact and reach. Dick Layton is a currently a Managing Partner at Kenton Talent Management.

• 2012 Healthcare Award Honoree: Kermit Crawford has been chosen based on his leadership role at Walgreen’s as the President of the Pharmacy, Health and Wellness Services and Solutions and his focus on the wellbeing and health of all Americans. Kermit has led Walgreens in the development of programs and services such as the Take Care Clinics, Health Corner TV, Health Screening Tours and the Walk with Walgreens initiative.

• 2012 Impact Award Honoree: Jan Chambers has been chosen based on her desire and passion to positively impact people living with fibromyalgia and pain through her work as the President of the National Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Association.

• 2012 Inspiration Award Honoree: Bob Woodruff has been chosen because as a traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivor he inspires others with TBI to keep fighting and to use their challenges and triumphs to help encourage others. Bob founded the Bob Woodruff Foundation to honor and encourage veterans, as well as service men and women living with invisible disabilities. Bob is an amazing inspiration and is making a difference in the lives of others.

• 2012 Invisible Hero Award Honoree: Anna Bigham has been chosen based on her work as the founder and executive director of the nonprofit organization Hidden Wounds. After enduring the tragic loss of her brother, Anna has dedicated her life to serving military personnel living with invisible disabilities by bringing them hope and inspiration.

• 2012 Medical Award Honoree: Dr. Marshall Thomas has been chosen based on his passion to provide exceptional clinical care and research for patients living with mental health disorders through his leadership as the Executive Director of the University of Colorado’s Depression Center. Under his guidance, the Depression Center has become a recognized leader in research and treatment of depression, as well as a much needed community resource for health professionals and the public about mood disorders.

• 2012 Perseverance Award Honoree: Angela Pierce has been chosen based on her amazing perseverance as she lives each day with illness from childhood, ongoing long term pain and life threatening injuries caused by a major climbing accident 27 years ago. In addition, despite her circumstances, Angela shares her story, as well as her struggles and triumphs, in order to encourage others in person and through the internet.

• 2012 Research Award Honoree: Envoy Medical Corporation has been chosen based on its cutting edge research, and the creation of the Esteem®, an implantable, invisible, prosthetic hearing restoration device.

• 2012 Volunteer Award Honoree: Frances Owens has been chosen based on her lifelong, passionate volunteerism with multiple charities serving people living daily with illness and disability, as well as for those recovering from tragedy. Frances’ current work with Developmental Pathways and the HeartLight Center is inspiring. Her volunteerism with Anchor Center for the Blind, Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, The Children’s Hospital, The Colorado Autism Society, women’s heart health and Denver Health’s Newborns in Need is an example to be followed.

In addition, check out our great expert chats on the first ever Online True Help® Disability Web Expo sponsored by Allsup, which will be held on September 27^th. Register today for this free event. Topics include:

• “Be Expedition Ready – Learn about preparing for the journey of care giving” by Antarctic Mike
• “Ready, Set, Thrive – Nine new rules for engaging change and managing stress” by Jeff Vankooten
• “7 Realities of the Invisible Becoming Visible” by Wayne Connell, IDA Founder and President
• “Communication Do’s and Don’ts for People with Disabilities” by Kathe Skinner, MA, LMFT
• “Humor for Health & Well-Being” by Karyn Buxman, RN, MSN, CSP, CPAE
• “Your Changing Brain – The owner’s manual to your mind” by Rick Watson

We hope you “Join the Expedition” with us this year in Denver. We believe we all need each other, and even though the journey can be difficult and lengthy, it can be endured with the help of others. IDA will continue to take the lead and provide support and guidance along the way. To register or learn more about the banquet, please go to www.JoinTheExpedition.org.
Wayne Connell, the founder and president of the Invisible Disabilities Association (IDA), established the organization in 1997 out of the desire to educate friends and family about his wife’s debilitating illness. Soon afterwards, people around the globe began sending emails sharing how IDA had changed their relationships with their loved ones. He is co-author of the booklet, “But You LOOK Good, How to Encourage and Understand People Living with Illness and Pain.” Wayne’s background fueled his passion for helping people living with illness, pain and disability. His experience includes that of a professional, multitasking husband caregiver with an extensive background in management, media and technology. This man on a mission quickly launched IDA into a world-wide outreach for millions living with invisible disabilities.

Source: http://usodep.blogs.govdelivery.com/2012/09/19/join-the-expedition/

Introducing the New Ticket to Work Website!Introducing the New Ticket to Work Website! Categories: Benefits, Employment

Introducing the New Ticket to Work Website!Introducing the New Ticket to Work Website!
Categories: Benefits, Employment

By Guest Blogger Bob Williams, Associate Commissioner for the Social Security Administration’s Office of Employment Support Programs

I’m pleased to announce the redesigned Ticket to Work website! The new portal, www.socialsecurity.gov/work, is your entry point to program information, resources and news about our employment support programs.

We provide many ways to connect with the Ticket to Work program! People who receive Social Security disability benefits and want to work, or are already working, can find the following resources on the site:
Real Success Stories from people who used their Ticket to go to work and improve their life.
A Find Help tool to search for service providers who can help you explore your employment and earnings options.
Employment Network (EN) report cards to help you choose the EN that best fits your needs.
The Choose Work blog, featuring news about our programs and other employment topics.
FREE monthly Work Incentives Seminar Event (WISE) webinars and access to past webinars for viewing anytime.
Easy access to Social Security’s Ticket to Work Help Line, social media and email updates.

The website also offers:
Access to information and resources for Ticket to Work service providers.
Access to information about Social Security’s Office of Employment Support Programs, which administers the Ticket to Work program.

Socialsecurity.gov/work, the Ticket Help Line and WISE webinars (both live and archived) allow you access to information when you want it and how you want it, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I urge you to visit the website, call 1-866-968-7842 (V) or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY/TDD) or email us at support@chooseworkttw.net today! As always, if you are seeking one-on-one assistance, contact the Ticket Help Line to speak with knowledgeable representatives who can answer your questions and help you get started.

We believe these tools will enable you and other beneficiaries like you to better access the information, resources and supports you need to make more informed choices about how you can go to work, increase your earnings and perhaps one day leave cash benefits behind for a better, more secure life.

Bob Williams is the Associate Commissioner for the Social Security Administration’s Office of Employment Support Programs. Previously, he was the Commissioner of the Administration on Developmental Disabilities and later headed the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Disability, Aging and Long Term Care Policy.

Source:http://usodep.blogs.govdelivery.com/2012/09/20/introducing-the-new-ticket-to-work-website/

Filing a Video Description Complaint with the FCC Video Described Television Programming: the Rules

Filing a Video Description Complaint with the FCC
Video Described Television Programming: the Rules

FCC rules require local TV station affiliates of ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC located in the top 25 TV markets (http://www.stationindex.com/tv/tv-markets) to provide 50 hours per calendar quarter (about 4 hours per week) of video-described prime time and/or children's programming. Live or near-live events may but are not required to provide video description.
 
 Schedule of video described programming (https://docs.google.com/document/d/12HN-8UeDWGj1Y_NjHQxAsEwYjqNxq3sYHrgL5zrw3F8/edit?pli=1)
 Local TV stations in markets smaller than the top 25 also may provide video description but are not required to do so. Check with your local TV stations.
 Many Public Broadcasting System (PBS) stations also provide video description on a number of programs. Check with your local PBS station.
 The requirement to provide video description is extended to local TV station affiliates of ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC located in the top 60 television markets beginning July 1, 2015 (http://www.stationindex.com/tv/tv-markets).

The top 5 non-broadcast networks - Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, TBS, TNT, and USA - must provide 50 hours per calendar quarter (about 4 hours per week) of video-described prime time and/or children's programming.
 Subscription TV systems (offered over cable, satellite or the telephone network, including, but not limited to, Comcast, AT&T U-verse, Dish Network, DIRECTV) with 50,000 or more subscribers must carry video description.
 Subscription TV systems with fewer than 50,000 subscribers also may provide video description but are not required to do so. Check with your subscription TV provider.

If, after reading these FCC requirements for video description of television programming, you wish to file a complaint, use the information that follows as a guide in composing that complaint.
How to File a Video Description Complaint

This is a step by step guide for filing complaints regarding the new video description requirements with the Federal Communications Commission, (FCC). Before filing a complaint you should make every attempt to work with your cable or satellite provider to resolve the situation to your satisfaction. You should keep records of your attempts to resolve the inability to receive descriptions and include that information in your complaint.
 
 Prepare your complaint including the following information.
 
 First Name and Last Name:
 Address 1:
 Address 2:
 City, State, Zip Code:
 Telephone Number:
 E-mail Address:
 
 Your preferred format or method of response to the complaint by the Commission
 and defendant is:   (Choices are: Letter; Internet E-mail; ASCII Text; Audio-Cassette Recording; braille; Facsimile (fax); Telephone (Voice); TRS (designate form of TRS and appropriate contact information); TTY.
 
 Your complaint is about Video Description (audio narrated descriptions of a TV program's key visual elements)
 
 1. Provide the name, address and telephone number (if known) of the company(s) involved in your complaint:
 Name:
 City, State, Zip Code:
 Telephone number (if known):


 2.  Provide the following:
 a. Television station call sign and network name (if applicable), or channel name (e.g., "WZUF, CBC," "WZUE-TV," "Sportingchannel West"):
 b. Channel Number (e.g., "13"):
 c. Station or subscription TV provider system location: City, County, State.
 d. If you pay to receive television programming, name and type of subscription service (e.g., Comcast; DIRECTV; Dish Network):
 f. Name of program(s) involved:


 3.  Provide a narrative for your complaint and include the resolution you are seeking.
 
 What to Include in Your Narrative
 
 Include enough information to demonstrate that the video programming distributor has violated or is violating the FCC’s video description rules, such as the name of the program or show; the date and time when it was shown; and a detailed description of the video description problem, including specifics about the frequency and type of problem (e.g., video description available during only part of the program or missing in its entirety – but remember that not all programming must be video described under the FCC’s rules).
 
 Tell the FCC what specific relief or satisfaction is being requested;
 
 Include any additional information that may assist in processing your complaint.
 
 File your complaint
 E-mail your complaint to dro@fcc.gov.
 Mail your complaint to:

Federal Communications Commission
 Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau
 Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division
 445 12th Street, S.W.
 Washington, DC 20554.
 
 Use the Disability Access Complaint Form 2000C at https://esupport.fcc.gov/ccmsforms/form2000!formSelection.action.
 File your complaint by phone (888-225-5322).

IMPORTANT: This info above is not ADAAG Consulting Service property it has a Copyright © 2012 American Council of the Blind All content made available in publications, in any media on any web site domains administered by ACB, or as a broadcast or podcast on ACB Radio, archived or not, is considered to be the property of the American Council of the Blind. Those responsible for creative content may allow their materials to appear elsewhere with prior notification to the ACB national office and with appropriate attribution. Source on the web: http://acb.org/node/1014

Justice Department Reaches Settlement with Bank of America to Resolve Allegations of Discrimination Against Recipients of Disability Income

Department of Justice

Office of Public Affairs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Justice Department Reaches Settlement with Bank of America to Resolve Allegations of Discrimination Against Recipients of Disability Income

Settlement Provides Compensation to Victims Identified by the Department of Justice and Establishes Procedures for Treating Borrowers Fairly Who Receive Disability Income

 Bank of America N.A. has agreed to maintain revised policies, conduct employee training and pay compensation to victims to resolve allegations that it engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination on the basis of disability and receipt of public assistance in violation of the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA).

 

 The settlement, which is subject to court approval, was filed today in federal court in Charlotte, N.C., where Bank of America is headquartered.  The terms of the settlement require Bank of America to pay $1,000, $2,500 or $5,000 to eligible mortgage loan applicants who were asked to provide a letter from their doctor to document the income they received from Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).  Applicants who were asked to provide more detailed medical information to document their income may be paid more than those who were asked to have a doctor verify their source of income. Bank of America will hire a third party administrator to search approximately 25,000 loan applications involving SSDI income to identify any other victims.  Under the settlement, Bank of America will conduct training of its underwriters and loan officers and will monitor loan applications to ensure that applications from disabled individuals are treated in a manner consistent with applicable law.

 This lawsuit arose as a result of three complaints filed by loan applicants with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  After investigating the complaints, HUD undertook a broader investigation into Bank of America’s practices.  Bank of America revised its policies for documenting disability income during HUD’s investigation.  The Assistant Secretary of HUD elected to have the case heard in federal court and referred the case to the Department of Justice.  The HUD complainants will receive a total of $125,000 to their harm and compensate them for costs associated with their loan applications.

 

 “Loan applicants with disabilities should not be subjected to invasive requests for medical information from a doctor when they are applying for credit,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.  “Today’s settlement shines a light on a practice that violates the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act.”

 

 The settlement comes after an investigation by the Justice Department.  Bank of America cooperated fully with the department’s investigation into its lending practices and agreed to settle this matter without contested litigation.  The lawsuit was developed and filed by the Fair Lending Unit of the Housing and Civil Enforcement Section in the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.  Since the Fair Lending Unit was established in February 2010, it has filed or resolved 22 lending matters under the Fair Housing Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, and the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act.  The finalized settlements in these matters provide for a minimum of $370 million in monetary relief for more than 200,000 individual borrowers.

 

 “HUD and DOJ are committed to ensuring that lending institutions do not break the law. This settlement vindicates the rights of disabled homebuyers who were singled out just because they rely on disability payments,” said John Trasviña, HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity.  “Applicants who are otherwise qualified for a home loan should not have additional requirements placed on them because they have a disability.”

 

 “This settlement confirms the resolve of this office to protect the civil rights of citizens in our district from illegal discriminatory practices,” said Anne M. Tompkins, U.S. Attorney of the Western District of North Carolina.  “Discrimination in lending has profound consequences that will not be tolerated.”

 

 Today’s announcement is part of efforts underway by President Obama’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force (FFETF) which was created in November 2009 to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. With more than 20 federal agencies, 94 U.S. attorneys’ offices and state and local partners, it’s the broadest coalition of law enforcement, investigatory and regulatory agencies ever assembled to combat fraud. The task force has established financial fraud coordinators in every U.S. attorney’s office around the country to help make these broad mandates a reality on the ground. Since its formation, the task force has made great strides in facilitating increased investigation and prosecution of financial crimes; enhancing coordination and cooperation among federal, state and local authorities; addressing discrimination in the lending and financial markets and conducting outreach to the public, victims, financial institutions and other organizations. Over the past three fiscal years, the Justice Department has filed more than 10,000 financial fraud cases against nearly 15,000 defendants including more than 2,700 mortgage fraud defendants. For more information on the  task force, visit www.stopfraud.gov.

 

 A copy of the complaint, as well as additional information about fair lending enforcement by the Justice Department, can be obtained from the Justice Department’s website at www.justice.gov/fairhousing.
12-1116
Civil Rights Division

Source: http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2012/September/12-crt-1116.html

“Section 508 Report to the President and Congress: Accessibility of Federal Electronic and Information Technology.”

The Justice Department announced the release of its report 

“Section 508 Report to the President and Congress: Accessibility of Federal Electronic and Information Technology.” 

The report, authorized under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. § 794d), provides findings based on a survey of federal agencies on the accessibility of their electronic and information technology and the procedures used to implement the requirements of Section 508.

Section 508 requires federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology (EIT) accessible to people with disabilities, unless certain exceptions apply. EIT includes telecommunications products (such as telephones), information kiosks and transaction machines, websites, multimedia, and office equipment, such as copiers and fax machines, computers, software, firmware and similar products and services. Specifically, Section 508 requires federal agencies to ensure that EIT they develop, procure, maintain, or use allows employees with disabilities and members of the public seeking information or services to have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to that available to people who do not have disabilities. Section 508 also requires the attorney general to report and offer recommendations periodically to the President and Congress on the state of federal agency compliance with Section 508.

In 2010-2011, the Department created survey instruments and solicited answers from federal agencies about their implementation of Section 508. The survey requested data in four important areas: procurement, general processes for implementing Section 508, administrative complaints and civil actions, and website compliance.

For more information, including a press release, you can visit the Department’s Section 508 home page at www.ADA.gov/508.

U.S. Access Board to Hold Public Meetings on Bus Accessibility

U.S. Access Board to Hold Public Meetings on Bus Accessibility

The Access Board will hold public information meetings in the next few weeks to collect further information on bus accessibility as part of its update of the ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Transportation Vehicles. The meetings will focus on the usability of recent bus designs that allow a portion of deployed ramps to remain inside the vehicle to minimize their exterior projection.

The first meeting will be held September 19 at the Board’s conference center in Washington, D.C. A second meeting will take place October 2 in Seattle at the American Public Transportation Association’s annual conference. These meetings are open to the public and those with an interest in the topic are encouraged to attend. The Board also will be accepting written comments on this subject until October 31, as indicated in a published notice.

For further information, visit the Board’s website or contact Scott Windley at windley@access-board.gov, (202) 272-0025 (voice), or (202) 272-0028 (TTY).

Public Meetings on Bus Ramps and Updates to the ADA Vehicle Guidelines

September 19, 9:30 – 1:30

Access Board Conference Center

1331 F Street, NW, Suite 800

Washington, DC

October 2, 2:15 – 5:30

Washington State Convention Center, Rooms 611-612

800 Convention Place

Seattle, WA

Justice Department Settles with Pennsylvania School for $715,000 Over Exclusion of Child with HIV

Department of Justice
Office of Public Affairs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Justice Department Settles with Pennsylvania School for $715,000 Over Exclusion of Child with HIV

 The Justice Department announced today that it and the AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania have reached a settlement with the Milton Hershey School of Hershey, Pa., to remedy alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).    The agreement resolves allegations that the school violated the ADA by refusing to consider a child, known by the pseudonym Abraham Smith, for enrollment due to the fact that he has HIV.

 

 Under the settlement agreement, the school is required to pay $700,000 to Smith and his mother, adopt and enforce a policy prohibiting discrimination and requiring equal opportunity for students with disabilities, including those with HIV, in the school’s programs and services, and to provide training to staff and administrators on the requirements of the ADA.    T he school must also pay a $15,000 civil penalty to the United States.

 

 “Children should not be denied educational opportunities simply because they have HIV,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division.    “This settlement sends a clear message that unlawful discrimination against persons with HIV or AIDS will not be tolerated.”

 

 “This is a very significant case, affirming the rights of persons with HIV, and we applaud the school for working so cooperatively to amend its position on this matter,” said Zane David Memeger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

 

 The ADA requires public accommodations, including private schools such as the Milton Hershey School, to provide individuals with disabilities, including people with HIV, equal access to goods, services, privileges, accommodations, facilities, advantages and accommodations.

 

 The Department of Justice provides a webpage specifically dedicated to information about the ADA and HIV at www.ada.gov/aids.     Those interested in finding out more about these settlements or the obligations of public accommodations under the ADA may call the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA information line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TDD), or access its ADA website at www.ada.gov.    ADA complaints may be filed by email to ada.complaint@usdoj.gov.
12-1102
Civil Rights Division

Taking Accessible Gaming to the Next LevelTaking Accessible Gaming to the Next Level

September 13, 2012

Taking Accessible Gaming to the Next LevelTaking Accessible Gaming to the Next Level
Categories: Community Life, Technology


By Guest Blogger Steven Spohn, Editor-in-Chief, AbleGamers

For the past eight years, the AbleGamers Foundation has been diligently advocating for more accessibility in digital entertainment. We have reached out to video game developers and publishers alike, gone to conferences and expos and attended meetings at the headquarters of many AAA gaming studios. We gave the same speeches to anyone who would listen, and our message was clear – the disability community needs these options.

A few years ago, the responses we got from developers started to change. We no longer heard excuses about why games couldn’t afford to add more accessibility options, or how difficult it would be to do. We also stopped getting asked questions about why accessibility was important. Today, developers are recognizing the importance of the disabled gaming community. What we hear now is the overwhelming question of how games can be made more accessible.

On Wednesday, September 12th, that question was finally answered. Includification is a brand-new publication from The AbleGamers Foundation that includes numerous detailed explanations of common problems for gamers with disabilities, solutions for those problems, printable checklists, developer exercises and personal letters from industry insiders to the game industry.

The companion website, www.includification.com, holds all of the same great information without the fancy graphics and explanations. This website will be a resource for developers to find, at a glance, specific solutions to common and not so common problems.

We have been working on these guidelines for more than two years, and they have been seen by half a dozen major AAA gaming studios that all approved of our message. I honestly could not hold more gratitude in my heart for those who helped put this together.

These accessibility guidelines will serve as a roadmap to help developers reach out to the community of gamers with disabilities in ways I can’t even describe. The joy of helping someone get back to doing something they used to love doing so much, or try something for the first time that they are now able to do just like anyone else, is truly one of the greatest joys in life. I hope by reading these real world examples that developers can see how each and every accessibility option they add to their newest title helps real people in real situations.

Best of all, it was the developers that have become champions of accessibility who really helped put this paper together. We have an entire section right in front of the document that explains very clearly how adding accessibility is a benefit to everyone involved. All of the options suggested by the document help a wide range of people who want to play games, without harming anyone who doesn’t need the options. For those who need them, the options can be there to lend a hand, and those who do not need them will never even know they are there.

Video game accessibility is important for the more than 33 million people with disabilities in the United States who play video games, not to mention the countless others who live in countries throughout the world. It’s about time we laid all of our cards on the table and took accessibility to the next level. Together, we can make sure there are no barriers to fun.

For more information:

Visit the Includification website at www.includification.com or download the Includification Guide in PDF format.

Steve Spohn is the Editor-in-Chief of AbleGamers and Outreach Chair for the AbleGamers Foundation. He has been interviewed as an expert in gaming with disabilities and assistive technologies by MSNBC, CNN, PC World, G4, and multiple international journals. Steve has travel a crossed the country as a speaker at various events including PAX East, Games for Health, Assistive Technology Centers, universities and many developer studios. In his off time, he is a web designer, gamer, writer, and on to his newest endeavor, learning Japanese. He holds degrees in Visual Communication, Information Technology, Web Design and Writing, with an MFA in Fiction Writing as his next goal. Steve is an active social media user and you can always find him on Twitter, Facebook and on AbleGamers forums.

Miles Kimball Company to Pay $95,000 To Settle EEOC Disability Discrimination Suit

PRESS RELEASE
 9-12-12

Miles Kimball Company to Pay $95,000 To Settle EEOC Disability Discrimination Suit

Deaf Employee Was Fired After Being Denied Interpreter, Federal Agency Charged

GREEN BAY, Wis. - The Miles Kimball Company, an Oshkosh, Wis.-based direct marketer of consumer gifts and household products, will pay $95,000 and furnish other relief to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today.

According to the EEOC's suit (EEOC v. Miles Kimball Co., No. 11-C-850), while working in Miles Kimball's Information Technology Department in 2007, deaf employee Laura Nejedlo was assigned to use a new software program for the company's computer system, but was denied her requested accommodation of a sign language interpreter for training and so could not fully utilize the new program. In February 2008, Nejedlo was fired after 13 years of successful employment.

Denying an employee a reasonable accommodation and then firing her because of her disability violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The EEOC filed suit in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process.

The consent decree settling the suit, entered by U.S. District Judge William C. Griesbach today, provides that Miles Kimball will pay Nejedlo $95,000 and prohibits future discrimination. Also, the company is required to train its managers and supervisors regarding an employer's obligations and the rights of employees under the ADA.

"The recent ADA amendments have re-focused attention on providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities," said John C. Hendrickson, regional attorney of the EEOC's Chicago District Office, which is responsible for EEOC litigation in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota. "Sometimes we need to reinforce, through litigation, the message that disabled individuals are productive workers if they are given an equal chance to compete in the workplace. We appreciate Miles Kimball's willingness to provide relief for Ms. Nejedlo and to ensure that discrimination does not recur."

According to Miles Kimball's website, the company has 1,300 employees in its Oshkosh facilities. One of America's largest direct marketers of consumer gifts and household products, Miles Kimball is a subsidiary of Blyth, Inc., of Greenwich, Conn.

The EEOC's litigation efforts were led by Senior Trial Attorney Dennis R. McBride of its Milwaukee Area Office and Associate Regional Attorney Jean Kamp of its Chicago District Office.

The EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting discrimination in employment. Further information is available on its website at www.eeoc.gov.

New resources help older Americans and people with disabilities maintain their independence

News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 September 11, 2012
Contact: HHS Press Office
(202) 690-6343

New resources help older Americans and people with disabilities maintain their independence

Seniors, people with disabilities and their families get assistance from local resource centers

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced $12.5 million in awards to Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) to support older Americans and people with disabilities stay independent and receive long-term services and supports.

These grants, funded by the Affordable Care Act and the Older Americans Act, support counselors who help individuals and their caregivers identify and access long-term services and supports, regardless of income or financial assets.

“Whether someone is in the hospital and ready to be discharged, or living at home but needing additional care, an options counselor can help them evaluate their needs and sift through the options available in their community to create a plan that meets their needs,” Secretary Sebelius said.

ADRCs are “one-stop shops” for older adults, people with disabilities, their caregivers and families to get the information and services they need as their health and long-term care needs change.

ADRCs offer a single, coordinated system of information and access for people seeking long-term services and supports and help consumers and their families identify options that best suit their needs.

ADRCs also make it easier for state and local governments to manage resources and monitor program quality through coordinated data collection and evaluation efforts.

The ADRCs are made possible through a collaborative effort led by the Administration on Community Living and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), both agencies of the Department of Health and Human Services. The Veterans Health Administration, an agency of the Department of Veterans Affairs, is a key partner.

Currently, all 50 states and four territories are operating or are in the process of implementing an ADRC.

Two different types of grants are being announced. Part A is for states or territories receiving an initial ADRC grant for an Enhanced ADRC Options Counseling Program. Part B is for states and territories receiving continuation funding.

For more information about the grants, recipients and the ADRC initiative, see http://www.hhs.gov/acl/news/adrc-grants09112012.html

Mesothelioma & Its Debilitating EffectsMesothelioma & Its Debilitating Effects

Mesothelioma & Its Debilitating EffectsMesothelioma & Its Debilitating Effects
Categories: Disability.Blog News


By Guest Blogger Douglas Karr, Petty Officer Second Class (Retired), United States Navy Veteran

Mesothelioma is not one of the more common cancers being contracted nowadays, but it is no longer considered rare. Due to the increase of diagnosed cases in recent years, awareness is extremely important and the number one goal of this post.

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is cancer caused by exposure to asbestos fibers. It occurs in the mesothelium, a thin membrane encompassing the body’s internal organs and cavities. Mesothelioma is classified into three different types: pleural, peritoneal and pericardial.
Malignant pleural mesothelioma normally originates in the chest cavity and will sometimes involve the lungs.
Peritoneal mesothelioma will start in the abdomen then spread to areas such as the bowel, spleen or liver.
Pericardial mesothelioma, the rarest of the three, involves the heart.

If you know you have been exposed to asbestos during your life, whether it was at work or at home, you should regularly go to the doctor for an examination. The scariest part about this deadly cancer is its latency period. A person may have been exposed to asbestos up to 40 years prior to noticing any symptoms of the disease. In some cases the cancer can progress into the later stages before being diagnosed, which does not bode well for the victim.

Some symptoms one should be on the look out for are anemia, blood clotting disorder, bowel obstruction, chest pain, dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), fluid effusion (swelling or fluid retention), hemoptysis (coughing up blood), nausea and weight loss.

The aggressive nature of mesothelioma tends to lead to an unfavorable prognosis. The stage of the cancer, as well as the health of the individual, plays a significant role in life expectancy. Survival rates for cancer are normally quoted in what is called the relative five-year survival rate. This rate for mesothelioma patients is 10 percent. The current one-year survival rate is 40 percent. Although these numbers seem ugly, these survival rates are much higher than they were decades ago. This is due to increased awareness and funding, which has lead to some phenomenal scientific breakthroughs.

Mesothelioma Can Cause Disability

There are many ways a person who suffers from mesothelioma may become disabled. Many of the treatments used (e.g. radiation, chemotherapy or surgery) have debilitating effects. Radiation can cause fatigue, lung damage and vomiting. Chemotherapy can cause nausea and vomiting. Radiation combined with chemotherapy can make the side effects worse. The symptoms from these two treatments are sometimes only temporary but can have long lasting effects for the remainder of a person’s life.

Surgery is performed to either relieve pain and discomfort caused by a tumor or to remove the mesothelioma area entirely. However, mesothelioma is often hard to treat, because it tends to spread along nearby surfaces, nerves and blood vessels. In order to undergo curative surgery, a patient must be in otherwise good health and the tumor must be able to be completely removed. Surgery is very risky and may not be entirely successful. It could even lead to a continued spread of the mesothelioma.

Quality of life after curative surgery will not be equal to a person who had never had mesothelioma, because the surgery involves removal of the pleura, diaphragm, pericardium, as well as the whole lung on the side of the tumor. A patient may spend the rest of their life on pain medication, anti-nausea medication and could even have serious nerve damage after these treatments. If the mesothelioma victim undergoes surgery to remove a lung, they will live the remainder of their life on one lung, which can limit the person in various ways.

For more information about malignant mesothelioma, visit the American Cancer Society.

Honorably discharged from the United States Navy almost 17 years ago, Douglas has collaborated with The Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance to write for their Veterans Blog, and is passionate about sharing his experiences with other Veterans and members of the military community. In addition, Douglas maintains a social networking website exclusively for Navy Veterans, NavyVets.com, and runs his online marketing agency, DK New Media. Douglas resides in Indianapolis, Ind., with his two children, Bill and Katie.

**The information in this post is the view of the guest blogger and is not intended to act as medical advice to replace the expertise and judgment of your cancer care team.

Souce: http://usodep.blogs.govdelivery.com/2012/09/12/mesothelioma-its-debilitating-effects/

U.S. Department of Education Awards More Than $9.8 Million to Fund Centers for Parents of Students with Disabilities

U.S. Department of Education Awards More Than $9.8 Million to Fund Centers for Parents of Students with Disabilities
September 11, 2012

Contact:   Press Office, (202) 401-1576,  press@ed.gov



The U.S. Department of Education today announced the award of more than $9.8 million in grants to 16 states to operate 25 Parent Training and Information (PTI) Centers for parents of students with disabilities. The Department also awarded $1.1 million to provide funding for 11 Community Parent Resource Centers (CPRCs) in nine states and Puerto Rico.

With the new grants, the Department now funds 101 information centers for parents of children and youth with disabilities. Every state has at least one PTI that assists parents as they work to ensure their children receive a free, appropriate public education as guaranteed by federal law. In addition, CPRCs provide services to underserved parents of children with disabilities in targeted communities throughout the country.

"Parent Centers are critical in helping to empower parents and families who have children with disabilities," U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said. "These centers help parents understand the services to which their children are entitled and deserve under the law. They also are powerful resources in communities across the country."

The centers provide parents with the training and information they need to work with professionals in meeting the early intervention and special needs of children with disabilities. Many parent information centers work closely with state and local school systems to engage parents in working collaboratively to improve outcomes for their children. The network also includes CPRCs, which receive grants to assist underserved populations such as minority parents in the Denver and New Haven, Conn., metro areas. For a list of U.S. Department of Education-funded parent training and information centers, visit www.parentcenternetwork.org.

The following is a list of the grants the Department announced for Parent Training and Information Centers, and Community Parent Resource Centers. The award amounts and contact information for local project directors are included.

Parent Training and Information Centers
AR — Arkansas Disability Coalition, Wanda Horton, wanda.horton@adcpti.org, $258,634
CA — Team of Advocates for Special Kids, Inc.—Region 1, Brenda Smith, brendas@taskca.org, $791,336
CA — Team of Advocates for Special Kids, Inc.—Region 2, Marta Anchondo, martaa@taskca.org, $648,741
CA — Exceptional Parents Unlimited, Inc.—Region 3, Bobbie Coulbourne, bcoulbourne@exceptionalparents.org, $220,881
CA — Parents Helping Parents, Inc.—Region 4, Jane Floethe-Ford, jane@php.com, $577,426
CA — Rowell Family Empowerment of Northern California, Inc.—Region 5, Kathleen Lowrance, sklowrance@aol.com, $220,881
CT — Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center, Inc., Nancy Prescott, nprescott@cpacinc.org, $276,016
GA — Parent to Parent of Georgia, Inc., Robin Blount, robin@p2pga.org, $664,791
IL — Family Resource Center on Disabilities—Region 1, Michelle Phillips, michelle.phillips@frcd.org $548,612
IL — Family Matters Parent Training and Information Center—Region 2, Debbie Einhorn, deinhorn@fmptic.org, $281,878
KS — Families Together, Inc., Lesli Girard, lesli@familiestogetherinc.org, $292,033
MI — Michigan Alliance—PTI Region 1, Caryn Ivey, caryn@michiganallianceforfamilies.org, $239,170
MI — Michigan Alliance—PTI Region 2, Michelle Miller, michelle@michiganallianceforfamilies.org, $403,970
MT — Parents, Let's Unite for Kids, Roger Holt, rholt@pluk.org, $227,965
NE — PTI Nebraska, Bridget Cannon-Hale, bcannon-hale@pti-nebraska.org, $224,894
NJ — Statewide Parent Advocacy Network of NJ, Diana Autin, diana.autin@spannj.org, $496,829
NM — Parents Reaching Out to Help, Inc., Kendra Morrison, kmorrison@parentsreachingout.org, $277,918
OH — Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities—Region 1, Lee Ann Derugen, leeannd@ocecd.org, $241,824
OH — Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children Disabilities—Region 2, Margaret Burley, margarettb@oceod.org, $468,392
OR — Family and Community Together, Roberta Dunn, roberta@factoregon.org, $283,543
SC — Parents Reaching Out to Parents of South Carolina, Mary Eaddy, meaddy@proparents.org, $289,373
TX — Partners Resource Network, Inc—Region 1 PATH, Alexis Smith, asmith_prnpath@sbcglobal.net, $667,779
TX — Partners Resource Network, Inc—Region 2 TEAM, Julissa Porro, jporroprnteam@sbcglobal.net, $667,779
TX — Partners Resource Network, Inc—Region 3 PEN, Teresa Lytle Howell, penproject@sbcglobal.net, $377,223
UT — Utah Parent Center, Helen Post, helenp@utahparentcenter.org, $246,148

Community Parent Resource Centers, each funded at $100,000
AR — Arkansas Support Network, Inc., Candia Nicholas, cnicholas@supports.org
CA — Napa Valley Child Advocacy Network, Inc.—Parents CAN, Marlena Garcia, marlenag@parentscan.org
CO — Denver Metro Community Parent Resource Center, Yvette Plummer, yvettep@denvermetrocprc.org
CT — African Caribbean American Parents of Children with Disabilities, Ann Smith, asmith@afcamp.org
NJ — Association for Special Children & Families, Angela Abdul and Julie Rikon, ascfamily@hotmail.com
NC — FIRST, Janet Price-Farrell, janet@firstwnc.org
NC — Family Support Network HOPE, Vickie Dieter, vbdieter@fsnhope.org
OR — Oregon FIRST, Gabriella Bolivar, orfirst.gmbolivar@gmail.com
PA — Mission Empower, Jill Hrinda-Patten, advocate@missionempower.org
PR — Centro Margarita, Gladys Marrero, centromargarita@yahoo.com
VA — Formed Families Forward, Kelly Henderson, formedfamiliesforward@verizon.net

Source: http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/us-department-education-awards-more-98-million-fund-centers-parents-students-dis

In the Shadow of Greatness – Honoring Those Who Have Sacrificed

In the Shadow of Greatness – Honoring Those Who Have SacrificedIn the Shadow of Greatness – Honoring Those Who Have Sacrificed
Categories: Veterans & Military

By Guest Blogger Major Elizabeth Kreft, Military Legislative Fellow, Co-Author, In the Shadows of Greatness


Like thousands of Americans, September 11 will always be a day when I pause to remember the brave men and women who served and gave all for our country. And just as important, it’s a day to remember those who never intended to sacrifice so much, but their stories still remind us of the courage and honor it takes to wake up every morning and be an American.

It seems so simple some days, doesn’t it? We wake up, get dressed and either go to work or take care of our families and pursue life without much turmoil. But every day we breathe is a day that we bravely and purposefully embody the traits of a free nation. And today deserves an extra dose of inspiration, so I hope to share that with you – our calling for Veteran Awareness and Resource support through In the Shadow of Greatness.

On that Tuesday morning, 11 years ago, my classmates and I were seniors at the United States Naval Academy, walking to class and preparing for another day of leadership training and military mentorship.

When the first plane struck, we paused in curiosity and watched, wondering how something like that could have happened on a clear, blue-sky day.

When the second plane hit the towers, we knew we were at war.

As we hunkered down in our company areas waiting for instructions and watching the news unfold, we slowly began to realize this moment would completely change the path of our military service.

And throughout the next decade, as we commissioned into the Navy and Marine Corps (and yes – two of us went into the Air Force) we immediately began to employ our lessons of leadership in more ways than we could have ever known. Flying sorties over Iraq, providing relief to Katrina victims, surviving IEDs attacks in Afghanistan and more, my classmates and I went farther, served more and experienced leadership challenges we never could have predicted on that fateful September morning.

When we were able to pause and reflect on just how much we had seen and accomplished in a matter of ten years, several classmates wanted to document our experiences to share them with as many people as possible, in the hopes that our narrative would inspire others to serve, to lead and to embrace the post-9/11 generation of military members.

More than one hundred USNA grads contributed to the book “In the Shadow of Greatness” and 33 of those stories are captured in the hardcover edition. More stories are shared online at http://shadowofgreatness.com/.


Serving our country as a uniformed military member has been an amazing opportunity. Much like the rest of life, it has been a balance of joys and struggles. Having the chance to deploy to Afghanistan and bring my experience to the front lines was an honor I’ll never forget, but you only gain that chance by sacrificing other important things, like family time and the safety and security of home.

Disabilities impact more than 46,000 veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq – emotional and physical, some debilitating. Our nation is doing more now than ever to support these Veterans, and our book is dedicated to helping the organizations that support Veterans with disabilities as they transition back to civilian work.  We are grateful to share our voices with those who also understand sacrifice.

Life is about finding that proper balance. Finding the balance between sacrifice and service, between accepting risk and taking on a new experience, between struggling with a disability and overcoming the day-to-day challenges. In our book, we tried to find the balance between humbly sharing our stories and proudly explaining why we think the post-9/11 generation is ready to lead the nation into its next great era.

We hope you enjoy reading it, and we join with you today in honoring all those who have sacrificed in the name of freedom and liberty.

Get a sneak peek inside the book.

Source:http://usodep.blogs.govdelivery.com/2012/09/11/in-the-shadow-of-greatness-honoring-those-who-have-sacrificed/

Higher Smoking Rates among People with Disabilities Lead to Major Health Risks

September 10, 2012

Higher Smoking Rates among People with Disabilities Lead to Major Health RisksHigher Smoking Rates among People with Disabilities Lead to Major Health Risks

Categories: Health

By Guest Blogger Janet Porter, MPH, Program Director, Break Free Alliance, Health Education Council


Smoking prevalence among people with disabilities is nearly 50 percent higher than among people without disabilities (29.9 percent versus 19.8 percent) according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tobacco use remains the number one preventable cause of death in the United States.

Disparities in smoking prevalence, in addition to barriers to the use of preventive services (such as traveling to a doctor′s appointment) put people with disabilities at risk for declining health. It is not clear as to why the smoking prevalence is higher among people with disabilities, but it should definitely be an area for further examination.

Research confirms that people with disabilities are less likely than people without disabilities to receive preventive health care; and therefore, they have a higher risk of illness and disease. The 2005 Surgeon General′s Call to Improve the Health and Wellness of Persons with Disabilities indicated that the resulting higher health care expenditure costs and productivity losses for people with disabilities, which exceed $300 billion, can be understood as a result of too little attention to the other health needs of these individuals by health providers.

Quitting smoking is the most important step smokers can take to improve their overall health and reduce their risk for disease. Approximately 10 percent of smokers have a smoking-related chronic disease, primarily heart disease or emphysema. Smokers who quit will, on average, live longer and have fewer years living with a disability. It is vital that health care providers ask patients about their smoking behavior and advise them to quit!

It is also important to note that the tobacco industry spends millions of dollars each year marketing their deadly products to vulnerable populations. The industry has recently produced a number of new smokeless tobacco products that are designed to be used in locations where smoking is not allowed. These products keep people addicted and can also pose additional health risks. Don’t be fooled by the tobacco industry’s tactics – be aware of these products and their health risks. It is critical to educate children and young adults about their dangers! Also, support the adoption of tobacco-free policies in your community, workplace and schools.

Break Free Alliance, a national network funded by the Centers for Disease Control, Office on Smoking and Heath, has been working to educate policy makers, health care providers, social service workers and others about the burden of tobacco use in vulnerable and medically underserved populations. If you have an interest in helping with this important mission, please visit the Alliance at www.breakfreesupport.org.

Remember, quitting smoking is the best thing someone can do for their health! People with and without disabilities who smoke can call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) (TTY 1-800-332-8615) or visit www.smokefree.gov for quitting assistance.



Janet Porter Bio

Janet Porter has worked in tobacco prevention and education for the past 20 years and currently serves as the Program Director of Break Free Alliance, a national network that works to reduce tobacco use in populations of low socioeconomic status. She has authored numerous abstracts and publications related to tobacco policy and prevention approaches in the community-based setting and serves on numerous committees and workgroups to address tobacco use in specific populations. She completed her undergraduate degree in Health Science from California State University, Sacramento and obtained her Master’s Degree in Public Health from Loma Linda University, School of Public Health.  She is also a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES).

Source: http://usodep.blogs.govdelivery.com/2012/09/10/higher-smoking-rates-among-people-with-disabilities-lead-to-major-health-risks/

Justice Department Seeks to Intervene in Lawsuit Against Law School Admission Council (LSAC)

The Justice Department announced yesterday that it seeks to intervene in a class action lawsuit against the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) in federal court in San Francisco to remedy violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The department’s proposed complaint in intervention in the lawsuit, The Department of Fair Employment and Housing v. LSAC, Inc., et al., alleges LSAC’s practices of routinely denying needed testing accommodations and flagging test scores achieved with certain testing accommodations violates the ADA.

People interested in finding out more about the ADA and the Department’s recent motion to intervene and proposed complaint in the LSAC lawsuit can access the ADA website at http://www.ADA.gov or call the toll-free ADA Information Line at (800) 514-0301 or (800) 514-0383 (TTY). 

Access Board Advisory Committee on Medical Diagnostic Equipment to Hold First Meeting

Access Board Advisory Committee on Medical Diagnostic Equipment to Hold First Meeting

The Access Board’s Medical Diagnostic Equipment Accessibility Standards Advisory Committee will hold its first meeting September 27 and 28 in Washington, D.C. The Board chartered this committee to advance its development of new accessibility standards for medical diagnostic equipment which it proposed for public comment earlier this year. The committee will advise the Board on matters associated with public comments the Board received.

For further information, visit the Board's website or contact Rex Pace at pace@access-board.gov, (202) 272-0023 (v), or (202) 272-0052 (TTY). Committee meetings are open to the public.

MDE Accessibility Standards Advisory Committee Meeting

September 27 and 28

Access Board Conference Center

1331 F Street, NW, Suite 800

Washington, D.C.

Note: For the comfort of all participants and to promote a fragrance-free environment, attendees are requested not to use perfume, cologne, or other fragrances.