JFActivist

DOL Dedicates $20 Million to Improve Employment Outcomes for PWD

via the U.S. Department of Labor (5.31.11):

DOL Announces About $20 million to Fund State-Run Programs Aimed at Improving Employment Outcomes for People with Disabilities

The Department of Labor's (DOL's) Employment and Training Administration (ETA), in coordination with DOL's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) announces the availability of approximately $20 million for a second round of cooperative agreements to state agencies that administer the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). These funds provide an opportunity for states to develop and implement a plan for improving effective and meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in the workforce.

"Workers with disabilities suffer from one of the lowest employment rates of any group in the American population, even in times of prosperity," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "It is vital that state and local agencies work together with private sector partners to improve these statistics. Through this second round of funding, we are expanding the Disability Employment Initiative to include programs in additional states."

>>>For the Full Article...

What steps do you feel need to be taken in order to improve employment outcomes for PWD? Share your thoughts in comments below.

PSA Featuring Glee Cast Member Equates the R-Word with the N-word and other Slurs

From the JFA Moderator (5.31.11):

PSA Featuring Glee Cast Member Equates the R-Word with the N-word and other Slurs

AAPD is excited that the campaign to reshape popular opinion about usage of the r-word has a new tool to wield. In an appropriately uncomfortable PSA from the campaign to "Spread the Word to End the  Word," Lauren Potter, a self-advocate who plays Becky Jackson on "Glee" and as such accepted AAPD's 2011 Image Award, states "it is not acceptable to call me a r----- or call yourself or your friends  r-----ed when they do something foolish."  Titled "Not Acceptable," this new PSA makes it clear that the R-word is no different from other slurs which are widely recognized as unacceptable. The clip features  people of various minority groups saying it is not acceptable to use the slurs that were once commonly  used toward them.

Controversial for its usage of offensive slurs, the PSA aired during the season finale of Fox's "Glee" last Tuesday and is slated to be shown on a number of other networks including CBS, MTV, USA Network, and the Turner Networks TNT, TBS, truTV and CNN.  However, out of sensitivity for families with young children, it will only be shown after 9pm and within programmng that is rated TV-14 or higher.

While we still have a long way to go, I am encouraged when looking back over the last few years of news and media around the R-Word.  There has been real progress in reshaping the public's thoughts and language regarding people with intellectual disabilities, and I think this PSA will go a long way toward educating people, young and old, about respect.  For a brief review of our progress and ways that AAPD has engaged on this issue, check out the sites below.

Rosa's Law Passed and signed into law
http://jfactivist.typepad.com/jfactivist/2010/09/victory-senate-unanimously-passes-rosas-law-to-remove-r-word-from-federal-books.html
http://jfactivist.typepad.com/jfactivist/2010/10/president-obama-signs-rosas-law.html

Spread the Word to End the Word 3.3.10
http://jfactivist.typepad.com/jfactivist/2010/02/rword-controversy-coast-to-coast-and-how-to-get-involved.html

Rahm Emanuel Joins the Campaign to Spread the Word to End the Word
http://jfactivist.typepad.com/jfactivist/2010/02/rahm-emanuel-joins-rword-campaign.html

Tropic Thunder Boycott
http://jfactivist.typepad.com/jfactivist/2008/08/nyt-disability.html
and the take down of the "Simple Jack" marketing website http://jfactivist.typepad.com/jfactivist/2008/08/simple-jack-mar.html

>>> To sign the plege to spread the word to end the word
 

>>> For more information on this video check out the Spread the Word to End the Word webpage

>>> For Lauren Potters other campaign to fight bullying

Tens of Thousands of Soldiers Denied PTSD Care and Benefits

via The Physical Evaluation Board Forum (5.31.11):

How the Army Denied Tens of Thousands of Soldiers PTSD Care and Benefits

For eighteen years the Army used the wrong standard to determine the degree of disability and the amount of benefits due to Soldiers with mental health conditions, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The standard the Army used, at first, was at least recognizable as related to the correct standard. However, the correct standard was updated in 1996 and for 12 years afterwords the Army used a completely erroneous standard to deny benefits to those who need it most- disabled Warriors with injuries so severe they could not continue to serve. The result was denial of health care and compensation to the most vulnerable. Though there have been clear strides to address the problems, as late as this month the US government has defended its use of the wrong standard in court. And nothing has been done to address the tens of thousands of Soldiers who were improperly rated. In a time with record high suicides by Soldiers, this cannot stand...

>>>For the Full Article

What steps do you feel the US government should take to address the issue of PTSD among soldiers? Please share your thoughts in comments below.

Disability Health Care Coalition Survey: Need Your Participation by Tomorrow, June 1!

via AAPD (5.31.11):

Disability Health Care Coalition Survey: Your Participation Needed by June 1

AAPD is a member of a disability-based health care & assistive technology coalition known as The ITEM Coalition. More at http://www.itemcoalition.org/  ITEM advocates to make sure rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices are covered by insurance plans as the marketplace changes. To make sure this happens, ITEM is collecting information on typical coverage of these services and devices by employer-sponsored health insurance plans. We’re particularly interested in things like physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, etc. and devices  (durable medical equipment) and things like orthotics, prosthetics, or other assistive devices.

If you -- or someone you are responding for --  have health insurance through an employer and you have (or previously had) a disability or chronic condition, please take a moment to respond to this quick online survey called “Insurance Coverage of Rehabilitative and Habilitative Devices,” at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LY58SY5

 Your participation in the survey will help AAPD and our colleagues in the ITEM coalition ensure that healthcare reform best serves the needs of individuals with disabilities and chronic conditions. The survey has 10 questions and should only take 5 minutes to complete. Your responses will be kept anonymous. We will use the answers to make sure these things continue to be covered!

If you have questions about the survey or about the ITEM coalition, please contact Theresa Morgan at the ITEM Coalition via E-mail Theresa.morgan@ppsv.com

Action Alert: Strengthen Social Security for Those That Serve our Nation

via StrengthenSocialSecurity.org (5.30.11):  

Action Alert

Strengthen Social Security for Those that Serve our Nation!

Memorial Day is more than a three-day weekend to celebrate the unofficial start of summer with a BBQ.  It’s a day when we remember the service and sacrifice of the men and women who have served in our nation’s military.  

Military men and women contribute to Social Security just like other working Americans, from their first paycheck at boot camp, to their last paycheck at the end of their career. As for any other working American who contributes, Social Security needs to be there for veterans and their families. For example:

● More than 771,000 veterans receive Social Security disability benefits.

● Most of the more than 4,000 children who lost a parent since the beginning of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars now receive Social Security survivors benefits.   

● Social Security currently pays benefits to over 9 million veterans—about 4 in 10 veterans today—and the vast majority of veterans will become Social Security beneficiaries in the future.

Take Action Here! Strengthen Social Security Now!

Veterans and military families gave their all for our country.  It is our obligation to fight to ensure that they receive every benefit they deserve.  This means reminding Congress that those who serve our nation, should never have to worry about any benefit cuts. After all, Social Security belongs to them – and to all of us.

>>>To See a Copy of the Veteran's Report

 

Photo ID Debate: How Will This Affect PWD's Voter Turnout in 2010?

via MSNBC.com (5.25.11):

Voter ID debate could change 2012 landscape

After raising the alarm in 2008 that voter fraud could tip the election to Democrats, Republicans are using their victories in last fall’s gubernatorial and state legislative contests to ensure that their fears of deception at the polls don’t materialize in future elections.

In key 2012 battleground states, Republican legislators and governors have been moving to change election laws in order to deter vote fraud, or Democrats say, to limit the number of voters.

Michael McDonald, expert on voter turnout at George Mason University said people without drivers’ licenses, disproportionately the poor, young and elderly, would be especially affected by photo ID requirements....

>>>For the Full Article

The Brennan Center for Justice has found that "although most Americans have government-issued photo ID, studies show that as many as 12% of eligible voters nationwide do not; the percentage is even higher for seniors, people of color, people with disabilities, low-income voters, and students". How do you feel photo ID legislation will affect voter turnout among PWD?

Man Dumped from Wheelchair by DC Police Speaks Out, AAPD's Helena Berger Comments

via MyFoxDC.com (5.23.11):   

Disabled Man Injured During Arrest at U Street Metro Speaks

by MAUREEN UMEH & MATT ACKLAND 

A wheelchair bound man, arrested by Metro Transit Police last week in an incident some say was unjustified is speaking out. It comes as Metro Police officials launch a formal review of the incident.

Dwight Harris ended up with injuries to his face that required several stitches and a huge bandage after his arrest Thursday afternoon outside the U-Street/Cardozo Metro stop.

A witness captured the incident on their cell phone and posted it on YouTube.

Harris was arrested for assault on a police officer and drinking in public.

"They tell him to stand, and he can't really stand if he's in a wheelchair, and they slammed him on the ground, and the whole side of his face is just leaking," said Fields.

The American Association of People with Disabilities is also commenting about the video. Acting CEO Helena Berger says she was shocked when she first saw it.

"This is not the first time that someone with a disability is basically mistreated, and I think this goes to the bigger question: Where's the training for law enforcement?" Berger said.

The two officers have since been placed on administrative leave.

>>>For the Full Article

The U St. incident is not the first time law enforcement has used unwarranted and brutal force against a person with a disability. In 2008, Tampa, FL deputies dumped a quadriplegic man from his wheelchair. In 2009, Alabama police pepper sprayed and tasered an innocent deaf man.

How can we prevent police brutality against people with disabilities? What would improved training for law enforcement look like? Share your thoughts in comments below.

Low Pay Rates for PWD: Exploitation or Opportunity?

via The Columbus Dispatch(5.22.11):

Far below minimum wage

Some say low pay for the disabled is immoral; others view the federal law as a godsend

By Jill Riepenhoff

Thousands of adults with Down syndrome, autism and other developmental disabilities work in Ohio at jobs that pay less money than a teen-age baby sitter earns.

Some clean hotel rooms for 40 cents an hour. Others sew table linens for 79 cents an hour. Some assemble automotive parts for $2.15 an hour or answer telephones for $3.75 an hour.

The majority don't earn half of the state minimum wage of $7.40.

A little-known provision in the 73-year-old federal wage law allows employers to pay less than minimum wage if adults have disabilities that limit their productivity.

The Fair Labor Standards Act once dictated how little was too little to pay a worker. But today, there is no floor, clearing the way for some to earn as little as a penny an hour.

The wage issue has divided the very community that seeks the highest quality of life for people with disabilities. The difference of opinion is stark:

"It's immoral," said Curtis L. Decker, executive director of the National Disability Rights Network.

"This has been a godsend," said Ted Williams, whose autistic son earns a low wage at his job in Columbus...

>>>For the Full Article

With critics saying low wages show that people with disabilities are being exploited and supporters saying the pay rates reflect opportunities, where do you stand? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Action Alert: Tell Congress NO to Three More Years of the "Combating Autism Act"

via The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (5.26.11):

Action Alert

Tell Congress NO to Three More of the "Combating Autism Act"

Please call!

You can reach them through the Capital Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 by giving your state and asking to be put through to your Senator.

Today, Senators Menendez and Enzi will be introducing legislation extending the Combating Autism Act for three more years. The Combating Autism Act was passed in 2005 without the involvement or consultation of a single Autistic person, let alone the broader self-advocate community. Without legislative action by Congress, the Act would expire on September 30^th of this year. While we respect the Senators' good intentions, the Menendez-Enzi legislation would freeze in place the current flawed CAA programs, which fail to make any provision for services, do not incorporate anything about adults on the autism spectrum and exclude self-advocates.

What you can say:

• A three year extension of the existing Combating Autism Act means a three year delay before Congress takes any meaningful action on services for Autistic people across the lifespan. It means three years before any new supports for adults on the autism spectrum are introduced and three years before any of the problems with the status quo are fixed. We can't afford to wait that long. 

 

• CAA's existing programs enable a severe bias in the autism research agenda against services and adult issues. According to the recently released IACC Research Portfolio, less than one percent of autism research dollars spent in 2009 went to research relating to adults while only three percent went to research about improving services, supports and education! This inequity calls out for change.

  

• CAA's existing structure excludes the very people who should be at the center of the autism conversation: Autistic people ourselves. By locking in place for another three years a bill that was passed without the involvement of self-advocates, Congress would be sending a message that the needs and perspectives of Autistic adults don't matter.

 

Call Congress today at (202) 224-3121! Remember to call twice in order to reach both of your Senators.

If for accessibility reasons you need to e-mail your Senators instead you can find their e-mails on the Senate website at this link.

 

We need your help to remind Congress they can't ignore the voices of the Autistic community. As always, Nothing About Us, Without Us!

 

 

Judge Rotenberg School Founder Steps Down After Indictment

From Disability Rights International (5.26.11):

Director of Massachusetts "Shock School" Resigns After Being Indicted on Criminal Charges

Dear Supporters,

Today, we can celebrate a small victory. The director of the Judge Rotenberg Center (JRC) of Massachusetts, which uses electric shocks to punish children and young adults with disabilities, has resigned in the face of criminal charges. Disability Rights International documented the use of electric shock and long-term restraints at this facility in our report Torture not Treatment published last year.

Matthew Israel, founder and director of JRC, was charged with misleading a grand jury and destroying evidence in relation to an incident in 2007 in which a prank phone call to the center from a person posing as an employee led to two children with disabilities being given dozens of electrical shocks for absolutely no reason. One of these children was restrained and given 77 shocks over three hours.

Yesterday, Israel accepted a court settlement which requires him to resign as director, and sentences him to five years of probation...

>>> For More from DRI

More Coverage Below

via The Washington Examiner (5.25.11):

Court indicts founder of Mass. special-education school

via NPR (5.26.11):

Founder Forced To Leave Controversial Special Needs School

via the Canton Patch (5.26.11):

Judge Rotenberg Center's Founder Responds to Indictment, Allegations

via The Boston Globe (5.25.11): 

Rotenberg founder set to face charges

Matthew Israel's tactics have been condemned as barbaric and savage by many top medical and mental health professionals.

 By Patricia Wen and Brian McGrory

The founder of the controversial Judge Rotenberg Educational Center is scheduled to face criminal charges in Dedham today arising from a night in 2007 when two special needs teenagers at the center were wrongfully administered dozens of electrical shocks, according to the father of one of the victims and another person with knowledge about the case.

In a deal reached with the state attorney general's office, Matthew Israel, 77, is expected to be spared prison time in return for stepping down from the Canton-based center that he founded 40 years ago and accepting a five-year probationary term, said Charles Dumas, the father of one of the two victims in the 2007 case who said he spoke yesterday with prosecutors. As part of the agreement, the school's day-to-day activities will also be overseen by a court-approved monitor...

>>>For the Full Article

 

The Rotenberg Center consistently receives state approval to continuing operating, despite administering skin-shock treatments to students as a disciplinary measure. How can this story be used to advocate against the use of seclusion and restraints? Share your thoughts in comments below.