JFActivist

Actress Jennifer Aniston Catches Heat for Use of R-Word

From Disability Scoop (8.20.10):

Jennifer Aniston Criticized For Using ‘R-Word’
By Michelle Diament

Actress Jennifer Aniston is the latest in a string of public figures to take heat for using the word “retard.”

While appearing on Live with Regis and Kelly on Thursday, ... [regarding a recent photo shoot] host Regis Philbin said, “you’re playing dress up.” Aniston replied, “Yes, I play dress up. I do it for a living, like a retard.”

>>> For the Full Article

>>> For a brief media summary reporting this most recent incident

Deadline Extended to 12.15.10: AAHD is Accepting Applications for 2011 Undergrad or Graduate Scholarship

*** Deadline Extended to December 15, 2010 ***

AAHD Accepting Applications for 2011 Scholarship Program

*** Deadline November 15, 2010 ***

From the American Association on Health and Disability (8.19.10):

The American Association on Health and Disability (AAHD) 2011 Scholarship Program: AAHD seeking applicants for 2011 Scholarship Program.  Applicants must have a documented disability, majoring in a field related to disability and health and be enrolled in undergraduate or graduate school. Please circulate to friends and colleagues.  The deadline is November 15, 2010.  Donations to the AAHD Scholarship Fund are greatly appreciated and 100% of donations go directly to fund the Scholarship Program-no overhead!! Visit www.aahd.us to learn more about the AAHD Scholarship Program.

Thanks, Your colleagues at AAHD.

Paul Longmore, Disability Activist and Historian, Passes at Age of 64

From the National Spinal Cord Injury Association (8.20.10): 

Paul Longmore, 1946-2010

By New Mobility   

Paul K. Longmore, Ph.D., a disability activist and historian whose work had a major impact on the development of the disability rights movement, died Aug. 9 in his home at the age of 64.  

Longmore's death has prompted tributes and outpourings of grief among disability activists and academics who knew him, both personally and through his writings and advocacy…  

…A professor of history and director of the Institute on Disability at San Francisco State University, Longmore wrote extensively on the history of people with disabilities and how they are perceived. His book, Why I Burned My Book and Other Essays on Disability, analyzed and challenged those perceptions on a wide range of fronts, from physician-assisted suicide to portrayals in media. "Previously, disability was defined as a set of limitations in the abilities of people with disabilities to function in society because of some pathology in us," Longmore said in July at a celebration of the 20th anniversary of the ADA. "The disability rights movement redefined disability as a problem mainly out there in society - not just in our bodies and minds but in society."… 

>>> For the Full Article

DC Area: National Center for Accessible Media Seeks Focus Group Participants with Vision Disabilities

From AAPD (8.18.2010):

DC Area: National Center for Accessible Media Seeks Focus Group Participants with Vision Disabilities

Recruiting for D.C. Area Focus Group, Accessibility of High Stakes Testing

by Jenifer Simpson, AAPD Senior Director of Government Affairs

The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC®) is working with WGBH's Carl and Ruth Shapiro National Center for Accessible Media (WGBH-NCAM) to conduct a focus group on the accessibility of the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT®) by people who are blind, have low vision or have a mobility impairment, and who use a keyboard vs. a mouse for online navigation. Your participation is requested. Preference is given to individuals who have had experience taking a high stakes graduate admission test.

Focus Group participants will be asked questions about test taking experiences including test functionality and navigation, and to provide preferences for potential delivery of accessible graphics and other imagery.  An honorarium will be offered, and transportation to the site of the focus group (Reston, VA) arranged and costs reimbursed.  Please send an email to access@wgbh.org with "participate" in the subject line. The focus group will be held in the morning of one of these three dates. Please include your preferences of dates by indicating first choice and second choice. Here are the dates: Thursday, September 16; Tuesday, September 21; Monday, October 4.  For further information please contact Mary Watkins, Director of Communications and Outreach, Media Access Group at WGBH, One Guest Street, Boston, MA 02135. Tel; 617 300-3700; Email mary_watkins@wgbh.org; more at http://www.access.wgbh.org
Follow the Media Access Group on Facebook and Twitter (@AccessWGBH)

AAPD Applauds Sen. Enzi for Release of Updated Accessibility Manual

From AAPD (8.25.10)

AAPD Applauds Sen. Enzi for Release of Updated Accessibility   Manual

 

Manual is Comprehensive Accessibility Guide to U.S. Capitol

WASHINGTON, DC – August 26, 2010 – The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the country’s largest cross-disability membership organization, commends U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY) for his initiative in releasing an updated version of his Accessibility Manual, a comprehensive guide to providing Senate offices and constituents with valuable information on accessibility throughout the U.S. Capitol Complex.

“The availability of this manual is incredibly important because all people should have equal access to the U.S. Capitol complex, and this guide helps make it easier for constituents and visitors with disabilities to navigate the Capitol,” said Andrew J. Imparato, President and CEO of AAPD.

According to a press release from the office of Sen. Enzi, who serves as Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, the third edition of the manual includes ideas and suggestions to help address the needs of staff, constituents and visitors with accessibility needs, including: basic rules of etiquette; locations of accessible routes and entrances; accessible room design; and emergency evacuation procedures.

>>>For the updated guide 

>>>For additional information about AAPD

>>> For a release about the manual from the office of Sen. Enzi

AAPD Commends Secretary of Labor for Focusing Attention on Disability Employment Issues

From AAPD (8.26.10):

AAPD Commends Secretary of Labor for Focusing Attention on Disability Employment Issues

Disability Questions Added to Population Survey for the First Time

WASHINGTON, DC – August 26, 2010 – The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the country’s largest cross-disability membership organization, applauds U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis for her focus on disability employment after Wednesday’s release of data that focused for the first time on the employment status of persons with a disability from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The data included information about the employment-population ratio for people with disabilities and the unemployment rate of persons with a disability for 2009. The information from the release was obtained from the Current Population Survey (CPS), which had questions added to it in June 2008 that were designed to identify persons with a disability, and 2009 was the first calendar year for which annual averages were available.

“I’ve worked for two decades to get the Department of Labor to pay attention to disability issues, and I’m excited at the steps taken under Secretary Solis to include people with disabilities in employment data,” said Tony Coelho, AAPD’s board chair.

Although the Department of Labor is making strides in collecting and releasing the data, the data shows we have more work to do regarding people with disabilities and employment. The data said that for all age groups, the employment-population ratio was much lower for persons with a disability than for those with no disability; unemployment rate of persons with a disability was well above the rate of those with no disability; persons with a disability were more than three times as likely as those with no disability to be age 65 or over; and nearly one-third of workers with a disability were employed part time, compared with about one-fifth of those with no disability.

“We appreciate the attention paid to the disability community by the Department of Labor, and we look forward to working with Secretary Solis to improve employment outcomes for people with disabilities in the future,” said Andrew J. Imparato, AAPD’s President and CEO.

This information comes after several important initiatives supported by AAPD including President Barack Obama’s Executive Order to increase the federal employment of individuals with disabilities and the Labor Department’s decision to seek input on ways to strengthen its regulations requiring federal contractors to employ qualified individuals with disabilities.

>>>For additional information about the release

>>>For additional information about AAPD

>>> For a summary of the media reaction to this report

Disability Mentoring Day National Launch Comes to DC

From AAPD (8.27.10):


2010 DMD National Launch Comes to DC

This year, AAPD is proud to bring the National Launch of our 2010 Disability Mentoring Day program to Washington, DC on October 20, 2010 for a day of high-level job-shadowing and a DMD Kick-off reception.

Each year, AAPD chooses one local DMD program from our network of over 350 local DMD Coordinators to host the DMD National Launch, where we focus attention on the many DMD programs operating across the country throughout the fall, generate press and media for the national DMD program, and highlight October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month.  This year, AAPD will bring the DMD National Launch to Washington, DC to lift-up our many public partners including the US Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy, US Department of Education, and Social Security Administration.  In addition, AAPD will be highlighting the President’s Executive Order to increase the number of federal employees with disabilities as a call to youth, students, and jobseekers with disabilities around the nation.

On October 20, 2010, in conjunction with the US Department of Labor, and with the support of the Lead National Sponsor of 2010 Disability Mentoring Day, Walmart, AAPD will host a kick-off reception featuring national leaders and key stakeholders championing mentoring as a critical transitional step for youth, students, and jobseekers with disabilities in achieving successful employment.  AAPD will hand-pick 20-40 high-level college students and recent graduates with disabilities bring them to Washington, DC and match them for one-on-one job-shadowing with senior Obama appointees, agency heads, and other senior national leadership.  These high level job-shadows will offer our emerging young leaders with disabilities the opportunity to experience first-hand the daily decision-making and work of our nation’s top leaders. 

>>>For more information about AAPD’s DMD program or to become involved in your local DMD program

Apply Now - AAPD is Now Accepting Hearne Leadership Award Applications

From AAPD (8.27.10):

AAPD is Now Accepting 2011 Hearne Leadership Award Applications

*** Deadline October 1, 2010 ***

AAPD is proud to launch our national search for emerging leaders with disabilities to receive the 2011 Paul G. Hearne Leadership Awards.  Applications must be received by October 1, 2010. 

Each year, the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) recognizes those outstanding emerging leaders with disabilities who exemplify leadership, advocacy, and dedication to and for the broader disability community. Two individuals, who are emerging as leaders in the cross-disability civil rights movement, will each receive $10,000 to help them continue their progress and further connect their work with the national outreach of AAPD.  The recipients of the 2011 Hearne Leadership Awards will also star in a short documentary film about their work and have an opportunity to attend and network with national disability leaders at the AAPD Leadership Gala in Washington, DC, March 15, 2011.

If you are an emerging leader with a disability, who wants to take your work to the national level, please apply for the 2011 Hearne Leadership Award before October 1, 2010.

>>>For the 2011 Paul G. Hearne Award Application

You're Invited - Teleconference on the Ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of PWD

From USICD (8.31.10):

*** Correction ***

Regrettably, when we scheduled the advocates teleconference to discuss movement on the CRPD for Thursday Sept. 9th, we overlooked that Rosh Hashanah in the Jewish calendar and Eid ul-Fitr in the Islamic calendar falls on that date.  To respect our constituents' religious observances and afford greater opportunity for participation, we are rescheduling the advocates teleconference for the following Thursday Sept. 16th.  We hope you will be able to join us on this new date. 

Revised Date and Time:

Thursday, Sept. 16, 2010

2:00 p.m. Eastern Time 

Call in info remains the same. See Below.

From USICD (8.24.10):

 Next CRPD Advocates Teleconference Call Sept. 9, 2010

by David Morrissey, Executive Director

Please join us for the next Advocates Teleconference to discuss movement toward U.S. ratification of the CRPD and related issues.
 
[Corrected See Above]
 
Topics for discussion include:

• ADA 20th Anniversary Wrap Up
• Political Shifts and Progress
• Sign-On Letters to Senators Kerry and Lugar 
• Conference of States Parties 2010: Highlights

The teleconference call-in information is below for your reference.  We look forward to your participation!
 
Teleconference Line: (218) 339-3600  (Note: We have opened a Free-Conference-Call.com line for these calls.  Participants are responsible for their own long distance charges.)
 
Access Code: 543553#
 
CART Real-time Transcription: http://www.streamtext.net/text.aspx?event=USICD  (Simply click this link at the start of the conference to view a text transcription of the discussion on your computer.  Please do not submit questions or comments to the CART operator. )
 
Submitting Comments: This will be an open forum teleconference with time for discussion included in the agenda.  For participants who do not speak, we will be available to read your comments or questionsduring the teleconference.  Please email dmorrissey@usicd.org and we will read your submissions during the discussion

Older Americans and People with Disabilities - Bridging the Disconnect

From Steve Gold (8.23.2010):

Older Americans and People with Disabilities - Bridging the Disconnect.

by Steve Gold

Information Bulletin # 320 (8/2010)

This Information Bulletin is an attempt to bridge and solidify advocates from two communities - older Americans and people with disabilities.  For many reasons, there has been a disconnect between them.

More than two years ago, we wrote "The Older Americans Act: Consumer Choice and Control over Long Term Care," (see February 9, 2007 Information Bulletin).  We reviewed how Congress' amendments to the Older Americans Act and its "Choices for Independence" began to provide services for people to remain in their homes, instead of going into nursing homes. 

The Older Americans Act was for the first time really focused on community!

The OAA provided grants for States to develop a "single point of entry"
for long-term care, so people would know what community-based services were available in order to avoid institutionalization.  This single point was through the "Aging and Disability Resource Centers" (ADRC).  It also adopted the "consumer model" so people could self-direct care and services.

The Older Americans Act is up for reauthorization in 2011. Yes folks, Congress will have to face whether or not the "Aging and Disability" centers will be refunded.  This reauthorization will provide a forum and opportunity for these two communities to discuss how well they have worked together, how well the ADRCs are functioning, if they are serving both older Americans with disabilities and younger Americans with disabilities and what changes should occur.

There are a number of issues which we hope both communities understand and
address:

1.  Medicaid is the same funding stream for long-term community care and
   nursing homes for all people with disabilities, regardless of age. 
   Cut-backs and reductions of Medicaid services impact every disabled
   person, and State legislatures' common attacks on services will hurt
   people regardless of age.

2.  Yes, these two communities do not agree on everything (e.g., assisted
   living, identifying oneself as having a disability), but there are
   unequivocally common interests.  In an era of reductions and attacks by
   States on community-based services, it is critical to put aside
   differences and join to fight what the two communities have in common.

3.  There really is power in numbers!  Can you imagine a State legislative
   hearing with twenty-five year old wheelchair uses holding hands with
   seventy-five year old wheelchair uses demanding their right to live in
   the community and not being dumped into nursing homes.

4.  How about next year, during the Congressional reauthorization
   hearings, joining forces?  Tell Congress that all people with
   disabilities, regardless of age, want the right to receive services in
   their own homes.

5.  The increased Medicaid funds for Money Follows the Person grants must
   focus on getting anyone out of nursing homes who wants to live in the
   community - not just people with disabilities under 60 years old. Older
   Americans do not enter nursing homes because they want to; they do not
   have community-based services offered to them. If both communities
   combined their efforts, they could have a significant impact of
   enhancing waivers - especially in those 20 States that have not yet
   received MFP grants but probably will be applying for them very soon.

6.  The Independent Living Centers serve many older Americans with
   disabilities. Yet, the AAAs and ILCs in most states keep each other at
   some distance.  As the under 60s younger Americans with disabilities
   become the over 60s older Americans with disabilities, yes it really
   happens, the disability issues and culture will cross the age barrier.
   Let's hope that the people take the lead and make these organization
   really work together.

To not take the 2011 reauthorization as an opportunity to address these issues and to jointly work out strategies is perilous.

POWER concedes nothing without a struggle.

    Steve Gold, The Disability Odyssey continues

Back issues of other Information Bulletins are available online at http://www.stevegoldada.com with a searchable Archive at this site divided into different subjects. 

To contact Steve Gold directly, write to stevegoldada@cs.com or call 215-627-7100.