JFActivist

NJ Claims Too Broke to Move People out of Institutions

From the NJ Real - Time News (9.22.10):

N.J. seeks to dismiss lawsuit alleging discrimination against people with disabilities
by Susan K. Livio

TRENTON — New Jersey is too broke to move 1,850 people with developmental disabilities out of institutions in the next five years, so a lawsuit demanding it do so should be dismissed, an attorney representing the state said today.

The case stems from a federal Supreme Court ruling that says federal law protects the right of disabled people to live in "the most integrated setting’’ safely possible...

..."Every state says ‘we don’t have the money now,’" said Samuel Bagenstos, a deputy attorney general from the U.S. Justice’s Department’s civil rights division...

...Bagenstos was dispatched from Washington, D.C., to testify for a legal advocacy group, Disability Rights New Jersey, which brought the suit. The group wanted U.S. District Court Judge Anne Thompson to rule the state was violating the Americans with Disabilities Act and order it to move people into the community.

The state offered its empty pockets defense after Thompson refused to allow a more controversial approach: that the state cannot be sued and the 20-year-old disabilities act violates states’ rights and should be declared invalid.

Thompson barred that "sovereign immunity" defense last year when the state offered it to fend off a similar lawsuit.

>>> For the Full Article

Thank you Judge Thompson for barring that argument from your courtroom.  Way to add insult to injury, New Jersey, denying the constitutionality of the ADA in general in attempting to get out of compliance with the Olmstead decision.  How many times will we have to fight this battle before states accept their moral and legal responsibilities?  Add your comments below.

Welcome to a New Era in Health Care: Affordable Care Act Goes into Effect

Revolutionary Health Care Law Takes Effect

From the HealthCare.gov at the Department of Health and Human Services (9.23.10):

In the six months since President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law, we have been hard at work implementing the law and focusing on putting consumers ahead of insurance companies. 

Already, millions of Americans are seeing the benefits:

• Nearly 4 million employees working for small businesses can benefit from small business tax credits to help employers cover their employees.
• Thousands of uninsured Americans who had been locked out of the market due to pre-existing conditions have signed up for the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan. 
• More than 2,000 businesses have been accepted into the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program, which provides them much needed financial support to continue coverage for retired Americans not yet eligible for Medicare. 
• More than one million Medicare beneficiaries have received a $250 check to help them afford the cost of prescription drugs in the Part D “donut hole” coverage gap.  In addition, beneficiaries in the donut hole will see more money in their pockets, thanks to a 50-percent discount on brand name drugs in 2011.

We’ve also kept a close eye on insurance companies, calling out unjustified premium increases and encouraging them to put in place common sense policies.

And today, a number of other benefits are beginning to take effect.

Insurers will no longer be able to:

• Deny coverage to kids with pre-existing conditions. Health plans cannot limit or deny benefits or deny coverage for a child younger than age 19 simply because the child has a pre-existing condition like asthma.
• Put lifetime limits on benefits. Health plans can no longer put a lifetime dollar limit on the benefits of people with costly conditions like cancer
• Cancel your policy without proving fraud. Health plans can’t retroactively cancel insurance coverage – often at the time you need it most - solely because you or your employer made an honest mistake on your insurance application.
• Deny claims without a chance for appeal. In new health plans, you now have the right to demand that your health plan reconsider a decision to deny payment for a test or treatment. That also includes an external appeal to an independent reviewer.

Consumers in new health plans will be able to:

• Receive cost-free preventive services. New health plans must give you access to recommended preventive services such as screenings, vaccinations and counseling without any out-of-pocket costs to you.
• Keep young adults on a parent’s plan until age 26. If your health plan covers children, you can now most likely add or keep your children on your health insurance policy until they turn 26 years old if they don’t have coverage on the job.
• Choose a primary care doctor, ob/gyn and pediatrician. New health plans must let you choose the primary care doctor or pediatrician you want from your health plan’s provider network and let you see an OB-GYN doctor without needing a referral from another doctor.
• Use the nearest emergency room without penalty. New health plans can’t require you to get prior approval before seeking emergency room services from a provider or hospital outside your plan’s network – and they can’t require higher copayments or co-insurance for out-of-network emergency room services.

Check out our latest video about these changes here: http://bit.ly/aFJPiH

Make sure you visit HealthCare.gov for more information on new provisions going into effect today, September 23rd.

>>> Follow Health Reform Implementation at AAPD.com

>>> For the NCD Release Applauding this Milestone

>>> For the White House Fact Sheet on Health Care Implementation as of 9.23.10

Nominate Disability Rights Leaders Today: USA Network Launches "Characters Unite Award"

From NBC (9.20.10):

USA NETWORK ANNOUNCES 2^nd ANNUAL CHARACTERS UNITE AWARDS TO RECOGNIZE COMMUNITY HEROES FIGHTING PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION

Network Partners with Bright House Networks, Charter, Comcast, Cox Communications, Mediacom, Suddenlink and Time Warner Cable to Solicit Nominations and Honor Recipients with $5,000 Grants

Nomination Period Opens Monday, September 13^th with PSA Featuring Royal Pains Star Reshma Shetty

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – September 13, 2010 – USA Network announced today the launch of the 2^nd Annual Characters Unite Awards; part of its Characters Unite community affairs campaign to address social injustices and bridge cultural divides.

The awards were created to recognize extraordinary individuals who have made a significant and lasting difference in efforts to fight prejudice and discrimination, while increasing tolerance and acceptance. This year, eight winners will each receive a grant of $5,000 from USA Network and its MVPD (multichannel video programming distributor) partners to donate to his/her project or related nonprofit organization.  The honorees also will be featured in an on-air vignette and online.

The MVPD partners in the Characters Unite Awards include: Bright House Networks, Charter, Comcast, Cox Communications, Mediacom, Suddenlink and Time Warner Cable. 

 “Characters Unite is all about finding common ground in our increasingly diverse society,” said Bonnie Hammer, president, NBC Universal Cable Entertainment and Universal Cable Productions. “Our awards program celebrates the people who roll up their sleeves and build bridges across the issues that divide us.”  

  "We're proud to join our distribution partners in showcasing the resilience of those who combat injustice and intolerance across the country,” said Bridget Baker, President, NBC Universal TV Networks Distribution. “Honoring these individuals continues to resonate with our distributors, who support a celebration of such ‘characters’."

The nomination period for the CHARACTERS UNITE AWARDS begins on Monday, September 13th and runs through Friday, October 8^th.  Throughout this month, USA Network and its MVPD partners will air a special PSA featuring Reshma Shetty, star of the USA network hit series ROYAL PAINS, that encourages viewers to go to charactersunite.com to nominate themselves or someone they know who is, for example, tackling teen bullying, advocating against hate crimes, promoting diversity, championing equal rights, or donating time or resources to give all people opportunities.

Entries, including a maximum 500-word essay on how the nominee meets the criteria of character, impact and influence, can be submitted at charactersunite.com.  Complete rules and regulations also will be posted on the website beginning on September 13^th.  The winners will be announced in mid-November, during USA’s Characters Unite Month. 

The 2009 recipient of the Characters Unite Award was Brian Jeffrey, an English teacher from Rancho Cucamonga, CA, who co-founded Socially Together and Naturally Diverse (STAND), clubs where students can confront stereotypes and celebrate their diversity. 

The Characters Unite initiative also has included PSA campaigns, a National Town Hall moderated by Tom Brokaw, the acclaimed documentary “American Character Along Highway 50,” a pledge drive for unity at charactersunite.com and partnerships with 20 nonprofit partners championing civil and human rights. USA will use all its resources to promote Characters Unite during the November/December holiday season and unveil extensive new programming, promotions and digital content. 

The Characters Unite twenty non-governmental partners include American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, American Association of People with Disabilities, American Federation of Teachers, Anti-Defamation League, Asian American Justice Center, Children's Defense Fund, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association,  General Board of Church & Society of The United Methodist Church, GLAAD, Human Rights Campaign, Human Rights First, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People,  National Association of Counties, National Council of La Raza, National Education Association, National Council of Women's Organizations, National Congress of American Indians, National Parent Teacher Association and Southern Poverty Law Center.

 

 ABOUT USA NETWORK

USA Network is the #1 network in all of basic cable and is seen in over 98.5 million U.S. homes.  A division of NBC Universal, USA is the cable television leader in original series and home to the best in blockbuster theatrical films, acquired television series and entertainment events. The award-winning USA website is located at www.usanetwork.com. Characters Welcome.

USA Network is a program service of NBC Universal Cable a division of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience.

 

ABOUT CHARACTERS UNITE

Characters Unite, USA Network’s new community affairs program, was created in January 2009 to address the social injustices and cultural divides still prevalent in our society. Created on the simple premise that life is richer when people see beyond stereotypes and appreciate individual differences, Characters Unite kicked off with a national on-air public service campaign and a multimedia pledge drive for unity and understanding. 

Inspired by USA Network’s iconic “Characters Welcome” brand and with the support of leading national not-for-profit organizations, the ongoing, multimedia campaign is dedicated to supporting activities and messaging that combat prejudice and intolerance while promoting understanding and acceptance – on-air, online, and in communities across the country. 

AZ: Disability Vote Activists Mobilize for November Election

From the Arizona Center for Disability Law (9.22.10):

VOTING IN THE ARIZONA GENERAL ELECTION
Tuesday, November 2, 2010

If you have accessibility problems on election day, contact The Arizona Center for Disability Law.  The will be staffing a call center.

 If you would like the the contact information for your County Recorder, you can reach them at 1-800-927-2260.   On Election Day, November 2, the Center will be open from 7 AM to 7 PM to answer any of your questions regarding voting accessibility.

We would like to commend them for this service, it will be invaluable in this election season.

Do you know of you or anyone else in your state providing a similar service for reporting Election Day issues?

*******************************************************

The Arizona Center for Disability Law wants everyone who is registered to be able to vote. This includes people with disabilities who may have difficulty voting for a variety of reasons.

The next election is the General Election on November 2, 2010.

There are many ways to vote.

Polling place. You can vote on November 2 at your polling place. Early voting at various locations in the state begins on October 7, 2010.

Absentee. If you are unable to get to your polling place, you can request an absentee ballot. You can vote in the privacy of your home and mail in your ballot prior to Election Day.

Permanent Early Voter List. By filling out the form online or requesting an early voting form from the Arizona Secretary of State department, you will automatically receive an early ballot for every eligible election. The deadline to register for the November election is October 4, 2010 by midnight. You can register to vote or to be on the early voting list at the State Department’s website at http://www.azsos.gov/election.

>>> Download the AZ Nov Election 2010 Flier for more Information

2011 Brings Down Cost of Drugs to Medicare Beneficiaries in Donut Hole

From HHS (9.23.10):

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Medicare beneficiaries in donut hole will see 50-percent discount on brand name drugs in 2011

Vice President Joe Biden, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced that the nation’s pharmaceutical manufacturers will provide 50 percent discounts on the cost of covered brand-name prescription drugs for beneficiaries in the Medicare Part D coverage gap, or donut hole, starting in 2011.

Vice President Biden and Secretary Sebelius made the announcement on a grassroots conference call with seniors from across the country. On the call, the Vice President and the Secretary discussed the benefits of the Affordable Care Act for seniors including the prescription drug discounts and provisions in the law that help fight fraud and make certain preventive care and annual wellness exams, free for most Medicare beneficiaries.

Seniors and people with disabilities enrolled in Medicare drug plans will also find next year that through the use of the new tools provided by the Affordable Care Act, premiums are stable and the number of prescription drug plans that voluntarily help fill the donut hole has increased. In August, CMS reported that the average 2011 Medicare prescription drug plan premium will remain similar to rates beneficiaries are currently paying this year – an increase of $1.

Beneficiaries will soon receive their 2011 Medicare & You handbook and find updated information at www.medicare.gov and 1-800-Medicare in mid-October.  Users of the Medicare Plan Finder, available at www.medicare.gov, will be able to compare plans’ quality summary rating from the previous year, identify which drugs are included on a plan’s formulary, and compare the cost ranges for plans available in their communities.

More information is available at www.healthcare.gov, a new web portal made available by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  A fact sheet on the Medicare Part D discount can be found at www.HealthCare.gov/news/factsheets.

To read the entire HHS Press Release issued today it will be posted here shortly:  http://www.hhs.gov/news/

AAPD CEO on Federal Board for Patient-Centered Healthcare Research

From AAPD (9.23.10):

AAPD’s President and CEO Appointed to PCORI Board
GAO Announces New Appointments to PCORI Board of Governors

The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the country’s largest cross-disability membership organization, is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew Imparato, AAPD’s President and CEO to the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Board of Governors.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 established PCORI as a non-profit organization to assist patients, clinicians, purchasers, and policy-makers in making informed health decisions by carrying out research projects that provide quality, relevant evidence on how diseases, disorders, and other health conditions can effectively and appropriately be prevented, diagnosed, treated, monitored, and managed.  The Patient Protection Act directs the Comptroller General to appoint 19 of the 21 members of the PCORI Board of Governors. Today, PCORI announced AAPD’s President and CEO, Andrew Imparato, is appointed as one of the inaugural PCORI Board Members. Imparato will be part of this team, charged with reviewing the research given to the government regarding healthcare reforms and implementation.

“I am delighted and honored to have been asked to help shape this important new Institute by the Government Accountability Office,” said Imparato.  “People with disabilities have much at stake as the parameters for comparative effectiveness research get defined, and all Americans stand to benefit when the interests of health care consumers are kept at the forefront of policymaking in this critical area.”

Members of the PCORI Board will be appointed for a six-year term and may be reappointed for one subsequent six-year term. Imparato will serve a term of four years (until September 2014)...

>>> For More See the AAPD Website

From the GAO (9.23.10):

PRESS RELEASE

GAO ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENTS TO NEW PATIENT-CENTERED OUTCOMES RESEARCH INSTITUTE (PCORI) BOARD OF GOVERNORS

Gene L. Dodaro, Acting Comptroller General of the United States and head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), today announced the appointment of 19 members to the Board of Governors for the new Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI).

"The research to be developed by PCORI has the potential to improve the quality of health care for people across the nation,” Dodaro said. “This outstanding group of individuals brings an impressive range of knowledge, expertise and professional experience to this important initiative."

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 established PCORI as a non-profit organization to assist patients, clinicians, purchasers, and policy-makers in making informed health decisions by carrying out research projects that provide quality, relevant evidence on how diseases, disorders, and other health conditions can effectively and appropriately be prevented, diagnosed, treated, monitored, and managed.  The Act directs the Comptroller General to appoint 19 of the 21 members of the PCORI Board of Governors. In addition to these 19 members appointed today, the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the Director of the National Institutes of Health, or their designees, are the other two members who will serve on the PCORI Board. The Act also directs the Comptroller General to appoint not more than 15 members to a Methodology Committee of PCORI.  A Federal Register notice calling for nominations to this Committee is expected to be issued by September 30th.

Members of the Board will be appointed for a six-year term and may be reappointed for one subsequent six-year term.  The terms of the PCORI board members are staggered, with the first set of appointments made in September 2010 set at two, four, and six years.

Commissioners whose first term will expire in September 2016 are:

•       Eugene Washington, MD, MSc, Vice Chancellor, UCLA Health Sciences, and Dean, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles. Dr. Washington will serve as the chair of the PCORI Board of Governors.

•       Steven Lipstein, MHA, President and Chief Executive Officer, BJC Health Care, a non-profit health care delivery system. Mr. Lipstein will serve as the vice chair of the PCORI Board of Governors.

•       Christine Goertz, DC, PhD, Vice Chancellor for Research and Health Policy, Palmer College of Chiropractic and Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research.

•       Sharon Levine, MD, Associate Executive Director for The Permanente Medical Group of Northern California, a large multi-specialty group practice within Kaiser Permanente’s integrated delivery system.

•       Ellen Sigal, PhD, Chairperson and founder of Friends of Cancer Research, a cancer research think tank and advocacy organization.

•       Harlan Weisman, MD, Chief Science and Technology Officer, Medical Devices and Diagnostics, for Johnson & Johnson.

•       Robert Zwolak, MD, PhD, a vascular surgeon at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and professor of surgery at the Dartmouth Medical School.

Commissioners whose first term will expire in September 2014 are:

•       Lawrence Becker, Director, Strategic Partnerships and Alliances, Xerox Corporation.

•       Arnold Epstein, MD, the John H. Foster Professor and Chair of the Department of Health Policy and Management at Harvard University School of Public Health, and practicing internist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

•       Andrew Imparato, JD, President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Association of People with Disabilities.

•       Robert Jesse, MD, PhD, Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Health and National Program Director for Cardiology, Department of Veterans Affairs.

•       Freda Lewis-Hall, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of the Pfizer Medical Division.

•       Grayson Norquist, MD, MSPH, Professor and Chairman, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center.

Commissioners whose first term will expire in September 2012 are:

•       Debra Barksdale, PhD, RN, Associate Professor, University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill School of Nursing.

•       Kerry Barnett, JD, Executive Vice President of Corporate Services and Chief Legal Officer, The Regence Group.

•       Allen Douma, MD, Chief Executive Officer of Empower, LLC, and a member of the AARP Board of Directors.

•       Leah Hole-Curry, JD, Program Director for the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) program, Washington State Health Care Authority.

•       Harlan Krumholz, MD, Harold H. Hines, Jr. Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology and Public Health at Yale University School of Medicine.

•       Richard E. Kuntz, MD, Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific, Clinical, and Regulatory Officer of Medtronic, Inc.

Attached are brief biographies of the new board members. The official announcement of the appointments will be published in the Federal Register. For more information contact Mary Giffin of GAO's Health Care team at 202-512-7114, or Chuck Young in GAO's Office of Public Affairs at (202) 512-4800, or visit the GAO Health Care Advisory Committees web page at http://www.gao.gov/about/hcac%3Chttp://www.gao.gov/about/hcac.  The Act requires that in appointing the board, the Comptroller General “consider and disclose any conflicts of interest as defined by the Act” on GAO’s website.  Please click here (http://www.gao.gov/about/hcac/patientcentered_conflicts.html) for more information.

#####

The U.S. Government Accountability Office, known as the investigative arm of Congress, exists to support Congress in meeting its constitutional responsibilities. GAO also works to improve the performance of the federal government and ensure its accountability to the American people. The agency examines the use of public funds; evaluates federal programs and policies; and provides analyses, recommendations, and other data to help Congress make informed oversight, policy, and funding decisions. GAO's commitment to good government is reflected in its core values of accountability, integrity, and reliability.

#####

Following are brief biographies of the members of the PCORI Board of Governors:

...

Andrew Imparato, JD, is President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), Washington, DC, a national, nonpartisan membership organization of people with disabilities, their family members and supporters. Prior to joining AAPD, he served as general counsel and director of policy for the National Council on Disability, an independent agency advising the President and Congress.  He also served as a special assistant to the Commissioner of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Counsel to the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Disability Policy, and staff attorney at the Disability Law Center. He received a BA from Yale University and a JD from Stanford University Law School.

...

The Comptroller General is required to “consider and disclose any conflicts of interest” as defined by the Act on GAO’s website.  Please click here (http://www.gao.gov/about/hcac/patientcentered_conflicts.html) for a list of the Board member’s associations the Comptroller General has determined fit within the Act’s definition of a “conflict of interest.”

>>>For the Full Release with all bios

Health Reform Goes in Live and People with Disabilities and Chronic Illnesses Feel Relief

From The White House (9.23.10):

Health Reform Goes in Live

Six months ago, Gail O'Brien didn’t know whether or not she would be able to treat her cancer.  Betsy Burton wasn't sure if she could afford to keep paying the skyrocketing premiums for her employees' health insurance. Paul Horne was struggling to make ends meet after his prescription drug coverage hit the "donut hole."

The thing about these stories is that they could happen to anybody.  Millions of Americans -- maybe even you or someone you know -- have been struggling for years with our broken health care system.  These stories are what inspired me to fight for the Affordable Care Act and made me so proud to sign this landmark legislation into law six months ago.

Every day, I hear from Americans like Gail, Betsy and Paul, and a few of these folks have stepped forward to bravely share their stories with the entire country. Take a minute to hear what they have to say:

>>50 States/50 Stories. Listen Now

The Affordable Care Act is already making a difference in the lives of millions of Americans.  And starting tomorrow, the Patient's Bill of Rights goes into effect, ending some of the worst abuses of the insurance industry and putting you, not your insurance company, in control of your health care.

Here's what the Patient's Bill of Rights means for you:

*     No more discrimination against kids with pre-existing conditions.  Insurance companies can no longer bar families from purchasing coverage because of a child's pre-existing condition.

*     No more lifetime coverage limits. Insurance companies can no longer put a lifetime limit on the amount of coverage you can receive.

*     Young adults can now stay on their parent's plan.  Young adults can stay on their parent's health insurance plan up to age 26 if their job doesn't provide health care benefits -- a huge relief for many parents and recent college graduates.

*     Free preventive care.  If you join or purchase a new plan, the insurance company will be required to provide preventive care like mammograms, colonoscopies, immunizations, pre-natal and baby care without charging you any out of pocket costs.

*     Freedom to choose your own doctor. If you purchase or join a new plan, you have the right to choose your own doctor in your insurer network.

*     No more restrictions on emergency room care. Insurance companies will not be allowed to charge you more for out of network emergency services if you purchase or join a new a plan.

This is a long-overdue victory for American consumers and patients.  For years, millions of Americans have been at the mercy of their insurance companies as they jacked up rates, denied coverage or dropped patients all together.

Now, some opponents of this reform have pledged to "repeal and replace" all of the progress we've made over the past six months.  But I refuse to go back to the days when insurance companies could deny a child health care due to a pre-existing condition or impose a lifetime limit on care for a cancer patient.  Those days are over.

The Affordable Care Act provides basic rules of the road that make our health care system work for consumers.  It cuts costs and will help us begin to get our fiscal house in order.  And most importantly, it provides Americans with the peace of mind that their insurance will be there for them when they need it.

>>To learn more about the Patient’s Bill of Rights and the Affordable Care Act

Sincerely,

President Barack Obama

P.S. Last week, I surprised Gail O'Brien by calling her at home.  You can see what happened here

You're Invited: Latest Disability Statistics to be Released

From AAPD (9.21.10):  

Get The Latest Disability Statistics!

by Jenifer Simpson, AAPD Senior Director of Government Affairs

Everyone is invited to attend the release of the second Annual Compendium of Disability Statistics to be held on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, October 27th in Room 210/212 of the Senate Visitors Center, from 9:00-10:30am EDT.  A continental breakfast will be available.  The Compendium is an exciting new tool that brings together in one place disability statistics published by the various federal agencies.  The Compendium will make finding and using disability statistics easier when working on legislative and other matters relating to persons with disabilities, and should prove invaluable to your work.  This year the researchers have also added statistics on federal expenditures related to people with disabilities.
 
The Compendium is produced by the Hunter College Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Statistics and Demographics (Hunter StatsRRTC), which is funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). To attend, please RSVP to Paul Seifert via Email  paulseifert@rehabnetwork.org.  In addition, please specify to him any accommodation or accessibility needs at least two weeks before the briefing. 

AAPD is a technical assistance partner to the Hunter StatsRRTC and recommends use of these statistics by policymakers.

Religious Community Stands Together to Promote Disability Employment

From IDAC (9.18.10):

IDAC Statement of Solidarity

by Ginny Thornburgh, Director of AAPD Interfaith Initiative

We in the Interfaith Disability Advocacy Coalition (IDAC) are seeking to use the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act to focus attention on an issue that is of critical importance to all Americans--the issue of employment.  We are seeking sign ons for a Statement of Solidarity by the Religious Community Around Employment of People with Disabilities (posted on the AAPD Website and downloadable in pdf format below).  In this document religious organizations of all traditions come together to recognize that the vast majority of working-age Americans with disabilities would like to work, but are not participating in the labor force.  In fact, the employment rates for people with disabilities have not improved in the 20 years since the ADA was enacted into law, and there is evidence that disabled workers have been disproportionately affected by the current economic downturn.

Please join with us in signing on to the Statement of Solidarity which IDAC plans to release in October during National Disability Awareness Employment Month. The sign on of congregations, seminaries, denominations, faith groups and religious organizations will continue through September, 2011.

Once you have completed and returned the Sign On Form (immediately below) to IDAC@aapd.com, the name of your religious organization and its city and state will be listed at the bottom of the Statement of Solidarity on the AAPD website at www.aapd.com/IDAC/StatementofSolidarity . Please help us circulate the Statement of Solidarity throughout your faith community, and throughout the interfaith community and encourage all religious communities to sign on. 

>>>Download IDAC SIGN-ON FOR STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY

>>> Download IDAC Statement of Solidarity (pdf)

Signers as of September 18, 2010:

IDAC Members

American Baptist Home Mission Societies
Association of Jewish Family & Children's Agencies
Council for Health and Human Service Ministries United Church of Christ
Islamic Society of North America
The Jewish Federations of North America
Jewish Reconstructionist Federation
L’Arche USA
Lutheran Services in America Disability Network
Muslim Public Affairs Council
National Catholic Partnership on Disability
Rabbinical Assembly
Union for Reform Judaism
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society
Women’s Rabbinic Network

Religious Organizations

Brown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church - Baltimore, MD

Disability Employment Standards and Government Contractors

From AAPD (9.17.10):

*** Take Action: Send in Your Comments Today ***

Deadline : Tuesday September 21, 2010

 

 Speak Up for Disability Employment Standards in Government Contracts

by Robin Shaffert, AAPD

If you think federal contractors should hire people with disabilities, let your voice be heard. Comments due to OFCCP on Tuesday, September 21

The federal government office in charge of making sure that federal contractors engage in affirmative action for people with disabilities – the Office of Federal Contracts Compliance Programs -- is asking the public to comment on whether it should strengthen the affirmative action regulations for people with disabilities.
 
Federal contractors are required to engage in affirmative action to hire, retain, and advance people with disabilities.  Up until now, however, federal contractors have not been required to include goals and timetables for the hiring of people with disabilities like the ones they have for hiring minorities and women.

Let OFCCP know that federal contractors should be required to include goals and timetables for the hiring of people with disabilities in their affirmative action plans.  If goals and timetables are included, the government can measure whether federal contractors are hiring people with disabilities in significant numbers.

Sample comment: 

Federal contracting is a privilege, not a right.  To earn that right, federal contractors should be required to engage in real affirmative action that results in a significant increase in the hiring, retention, and advancement of people with disabilities.   OFCCP should revise Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act to require federal contractors to include goals and timetables for hiring people with disabilities in their affirmative action plans similar to the goals and timetables for minorities and women.

You can file comments electronically at www.regulations.gov.  The reference number is RIN:  1250-AA02.  You can also mail your comments to:

Ms. Barbara Bingham
Acting Director
Division of Policy, Planning, and Program Development
Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs
Room N3422
200 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20210