JFActivist

FEMA Seeks Comments on Disaster Recovery Planning by Dec. 15

Emergency Issues! Disability Advocates & Services Providers to Strengthen FEMA National Disaster Recovery Plan

On December 8, 2009, AAPD staffer Jenifer Simpson -- and individuals from a number of other disability organizations -- attended a National Disability Recovery Leaders’ Forum at the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) headquarters in Washington, D.C. The three-hour meeting, held in FEMA’s External Affairs “Ready Room,” was hosted by Marcie Roth, Senior Advisor to FEMA on Disability Issues.

 

The intent was for participants to shape and develop high-level strategic operational guidance to the agency for a Report to the President that is due April 1, 2010. This report will be a framework going forward and will incorporate many recommendations gleaned from this meeting and related field meetings held in New Orleans, Memphis, New York City, Salt Lake City and Los Angeles.  Although clearly linked, the conversation addressed “recovery after,” not “preparedness for” emergencies. Emerging themes to be addressed in the report are:

 

--defining and measuring recovery success (metrics and others means);

--recovery planning;

--partnerships and coordination;

--communications (especially multi-modal and different languages);

--leadership;

--programs and funding;

--accountability, timeliness and flexibility;

--building back communications to be safer, stronger and smarter;

--roles and responsibilities clarification and local capacity;

--training.

 

The overarching recommendation from the disability organizational participants at this meeting was for disability representation at all levels and within all FEMA-related activities, for accessibility statutory compliance, and for inclusive funding and programmatic approaches.

 

Disability participants were from ATAP, NDRN, NOD, TDI-CEPIN, WID, and Enable-US, Temple University and other groups. Teleconferencing in were disability representatives from California, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, and New York City.  HUD and DHS representatives also attended the meeting in addition to over seven FEMA employees including Curtis Carleton, the FEMA employee responsible for pulling the report together. The meeting was opened by Beth Zimmerman, Associate Deputy Administrator for FEMA Operations and Tracie Wareing, Counsel to DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano.  Also attending was Margaret Schaefer, of DHS Civil Rights office, who represented the federal Interdepartmental Coordinating Committee on Emergency Preparedness and People with Disabilities.

 

Everyone in the disability community is encouraged to contribute further to this “stakeholder dialogue” through entering Comments & Recommendations on the FEMA website by end of day Tuesday December 15, 2009. FEMA website with prompted questions is at http://www.disasterrecoveryworkinggroup.gov/questionnaire/  Do let them know what your thoughts are today on at least a few of the questions!

 

More about FEMA at http://www.fema.gov/about/index.shtm

 

Item provided by Jenifer Simpson, Senior Director for Government Affairs, AAPD. For questions, please contact jsimpson@aapd.com

JFAAN Seeks Employment Commission

*** Take Action: Sign On Today***

From the Justice For All Action Network (12/7/09):

Dear Friends and Allies:

 One of JFAAN’s priorities is to increase the employment and economic self-sufficiency of people with disabilities.

 The JFAAN Employment Task Force has developed, with lots of input from many disability organizations, the attached proposed draft Executive Order that we are about to ask the Obama Administration to issue that will create a Commission on Employment.  It incorporates and goes beyond some of Obama’s campaign platform promises to create such a Commission on Employment and Social Security disability benefits. 

>>>Proposed Exec-Order Creating Commission (Word)

We are signators to the below letter to President Obama requesting that he announce his Executive Order.  The letter suggests that if he is able to announce it before the first anniversary of his Presidency, it could enable the members of the Commission to be appointed in time for the Commission to hold its first meeting on or before the 20^th anniversary of the ADA on July 26, 2009.

We urge as many organizations as possible to sign on to the letter requesting the President to issue the attached Executive Order. Note that by signing on to the letter you indicate your organization’s endorsement of the Executive Order.  If your organization’s procedures do not enable you to give an organizational endorsement by this deadline, we encourage an officer of your organization to sign on as an individual and, if possible, to indicate his or her title with the organization.  

As we intend to deliver the letter to the White House on Friday, December 11, the deadline for sign-on’s is 10:00 am Thursday, December 10^th.  Send your sign on authorization – with full organizational names (no acronyms please) to United Spinal Association’s Director of Legislation amorris@unitedspinal.org.

Thank you for supporting this important effort.

Executive Order Cover Letter:

The Honorable Barack Obama

President

The United States of America

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

Washington, D.C. 20500

 

Dear Mr. President,

The Justice for All Action Network (JFAAN), a national coalition of organizations of, by, and with people with disabilities, applauds you and your Administration for declaring employment of people with disabilities as a top priority.

As follow-up to our June 29, 2009 letter outlining the JFAAN Employment Team Policy Recommendations as a roadmap out of poverty for millions of Americans with disabilities, we offer the attached draft Executive Order establishing a Commission on People with Disabilities, Employment, Economic Empowerment and Social Security as a blueprint to carry out your campaign assurances through concrete action.

As a measurable benchmark of your Administration's commitment to the employment and economic self-sufficiency of people with disabilities, we look forward to your announcing your Executive Order to establish such a Commission. We anticipate it will create a national dialogue on these important issues. 

The 20^th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) coming up on July 26, 2010, offers an ideal opportunity for milestones. If you are able to announce your Executive Order before the end of your first year as President in January 2010, it could enable the Commission to be appointed in time to hold its first meeting on or before the 20^th anniversary of the ADA.

The attached draft Executive Order is endorsed by the signatories to this letter. It reflects due diligence, considerable thought and input from a broad perspective of stakeholders and subject matter experts, including employed subject matter experts with disabilities, who remain resources to your Administration in bringing the Commission to full fruition.

We are happy to work with Special Assistant for Disability Policy Kareem Dale and other Administration leaders to establish this historic Commission that will finally bring full access to the American dream for millions of men, women and children with disabilities for generations to come.

Signatories, 

Action Alert: Send Stories of Inaccessible Medical Services and Equipment

*** Take Action ***  Report Problems Accessing Medical Services or Equipment: inaccessible tables, inadequate lifting practices at medical clinics, etc.

to Jennifer Wolfsheimer at 202-370-3210 or jwolfsheimer@equalrightscenter.org

From The Equal Rights Center (12/8/09):

New Initiative Examines Accessibility of Health Care System

 

In response to complaints about inaccessible medical services and equipment, the Equal Rights Center (ERC) has launched a new initiative aimed at eliminating this form of discrimination.  The initiative began after three ERC members who use wheelchairs called the ERC to report denial of services, inaccessible tables, and inadequate lifting practices at medical clinics in Washington, D.C. 

 

“The inaccessibility of basic medical equipment, such as examination tables, seriously compromises the quality of care individuals with disabilities receive,” said ERC Executive Director, Don Kahl.  “Not providing equal preventative and urgent care services to a large segment of our population is not only illegal but also a disservice to our entire country.”  

 

These complaints are not the first encountered by the ERC in addressing accessibility barriers.  In 2005 the ERC advocated for accessible medical facilities and reached a settlement with Washington Hospital Center, which mandated that medical facilities, such as examination rooms, examination tables and other medical equipment be made accessible.  The settlement also addressed inadequacies in policies and procedures to ensure that patients with disabilities receive the assistance they need to eat, drink, and otherwise care for themselves.

 

“A health center should be a place of safe harbor for all individuals,” said Jennifer Wolfsheimer, the ERC’s Disability Rights Manager.  “Equal treatment at health centers not only improves the wellbeing of the individuals who visit, but also improves the lives of the entire community through a more healthy and active citizenry.”

 

In an effort to ensure people with disabilities do not encounter similar forms of discrimination, the ERC has began an initiative to educate people with disabilities about their rights and health care providers about their responsibilities and, when necessary, advocacy and enforcement directed at those who violate the laws protecting people with disabilities.

 

If you or anyone you know have encountered accessibility issues at a health facility or if you would like to get involved in this initiative please contact Jennifer Wolfsheimer at 202-370-3210 or jwolfsheimer@equalrightscenter.org

Bipartisan Lawmakers to Introduce Legislation to Protect All Children in Schools from Abuse

Press Release from Congress (12/7/09):

Bipartisan Lawmakers to Introduce Legislation to Protect All Children in Schools from Abuse

Legislation will, for the first time, prevent harmful restraint and seclusion in classrooms

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Wednesday, December 9, U.S. Reps. George Miller (D-CA) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) will hold a press conference to introduce new legislation to protect all children in schools from misuse of restraint and seclusion. Miller is the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee and a member of Democratic leadership, McMorris Rodgers is a member of the Committee and the Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference.

 

This legislation is the first national effort to prevent and reduce harmful restraint and seclusion in schools. A recent U.S. Government Accountability Office investigation found hundreds of allegations that schoolchildren have been abused, and some even died, as a result of the inappropriate use of restraint and seclusion in classrooms; a disproportionate number of them were children with disabilities. Yet unlike in hospitals, and other medical and community-based facilities that receive federal funding, there are currently no federal policies that prevent the misuse of restraint and seclusion in schools. State regulation and oversight varies greatly; many states provide no guidance or assistance regarding these behavioral interventions.

 

WHO:             U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee

U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), a member of the House Education and Labor Committee and Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference

                        Families of children who have been the victims of harmful restraint and seclusion in classrooms

                        Additional participants TBA

 

WHAT:          Press Conference to Introduce Legislation to Prevent Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools

 

WHEN:          Wednesday, December 9, 2009

11:00AM EST

 

WHERE:       Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room

                        2175 Rayburn House Office Building

                        Washington, D.C.

 

NOTE TO MEDIA:   Members of the press interested in attending this event must RSVP to Melissa Salmanowitz at Melissa.Salmanowitz@mail.house.gov or 202-226-0853. Television cameras planning to cover the event must arrive no later than 10:30 am for setup.

 

This press conference will be webcast live from the Education and Labor Committee website at http://edlabor.house.gov

White House Seeks Input on Job Creation

From the White House (12.2.09):

On Thursday, President Obama is hosting a discussion at the White House to explore every possible avenue for job creation. Small business owners, CEOs, economists, financial experts, and nonprofit groups, as well as Americans who have felt the impact of this economic crisis firsthand, will be there to share ideas.

But you don't need to be here on Thursday to participate. You can join the discussion by organizing your own jobs forum with your family, friends, and co-workers -- because these conversations can take place in living rooms and conference tables, not just arenas and convention centers.

We're looking for community leaders like you from all across the country to host discussions from now until December 13th.  Your community jobs forum will be a source of insights and ideas that will inform the President's approach to job creation.

To get started, let us know you're interested, and we'll send you information that may help you organize a successful jobs forum in your
community:

>>>Get Started

In the coming days, we'll follow up with discussion questions and other materials to help make your event as productive as possible. We're not able to offer an events center where anyone can find events already happening, so if you haven't heard of one in your area, start your own and reach out to your network for participants.

After the event, we'll provide a simple online tool for you to submit job creation ideas and thoughts.  Back here at the White House, we'll compile your feedback and send it to the Oval Office for review.

With all of us working together, we'll get America working again. Get started organizing a jobs forum in your community today.

>>>For More

>>> To Register to Host a Forum

Look forward to hearing from you,

Valerie

Valerie Jarrett
Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement The White House

New Global Education Initiative Partners with World Cup 2010

From the Global Partnership for Disability and Development (12.3.09):

This International Day of Persons with Disabilities represents one of many efforts focused on the inclusion of all persons, including those with disabilities, to receive a quality education. Quality inclusive education is a human right, as proclaimed in Article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and international cooperation is necessary to make this a reality.

A global campaign is now underway, coordinated by the Global Campaign for Education and backed by many within the disability movement, promoting a clear message: to provide education for the 75 million children out of school, as well as achieving the other EFA goals. With the partnership of FIFA, 1GOAL will use the platform of the World Cup 2010 in South Africa to promote mass public awareness and political will on EFA. 

To call attention to the need for MDG2 and the EFA goals to be inclusive, the African Decade of Persons with Disabilities, the Global Partnership for Disability and Development, Inclusion International, the International Disability and Development Consortium, and VSA arts have launched INITIATIVE24, a Global Campaign to Promote the Inclusion of Children with Disabilities in Education for All. INITIATIVE24 has four elements: Networks, Legal Resource, Policy Engagement/Advocacy and Public Education and Awareness.

 

We invite you today to let your voice be heard and to join us by adding your signature through the 1Goal Campaign website and by working through 1GOAL to promote the call for inclusive education. Please go to www.join1goal.org to sign up now. 

 

By signing on the 1Goal Campaign, you will add your voice along with FIFA, its international football stars, the football world, and countless others – individuals and organizations, educators, political figures, celebrities, artists– who have already given their voices to this awareness campaign. 

 

More information about 1GOAL and Initiative 24 is available outside the conference room 4 or by contacting the partners at initiative24@vsarts.org. 

 

 

ON DECEMBER 3

 

THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

 

DO YOUR PART TO HELP CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES GO TO SCHOOL

 

 

 

1. Today, 75 million children around the world are denied access to school. One-third of these are children with disabilities. Unable to read or write, they face a lifetime of poverty.

 

2. Together, we can change this! Since 2000, with action and cooperation among governments, civil society, and donors, 40 million more children are now in school.

 

3. Education for All (EFA) will only happen if all children receive a quality education, including children with disabilities.

 

4. Delivering quality education needs more resources. Leaders of developing countries must spend 20% on education, abolish fees, provide professional teachers, and ensure children are in school, not at work. Leaders of developed countries must provide their fair share of funding, work together on a global response, invest in teachers, and include countries with the greatest need.

 

5. Respecting the United Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities means that investment in education must include children with disabilities and ensure that they receive the individualized support they need to fully participate.

 

6. The 2010 World Cup is a moment for us to shine – let’s leave a legacy of education. Global football stars, the football world, and its governing body, FIFA, are behind the 1GOAL campaign.

 

 

HOW YOU CAN HELP

 

Join 1Goal at www.join1goal.org

 

Send us a message calling for the inclusion of people with disabilities in education using the arts (picture, video, drawing, writing, etc) at initiative24@vsarts.org. Your artwork will be exhibited on an online gallery and included in future awareness campaigns.

 

 

Together let’s make sure that all children, including the 25 million children with disabilities out-of school, receive a quality education by 2015.

URGENT: Do You Still Care About Long Term Services and Supports?

National Call-In Day TOMORROW, Thursday, December 3rd

Call your Senators at this toll-free number: (800) 958-5374

Senator Gregg (R-NH) just spent some time on the Senate floor bashing the CLASS Act.  Senator Baucus (D-MT) (Manager of the health reform bill) interrupted him briefly to say, “Frankly, I’m no fan of the CLASS Act myself.”  

See below for info on a national call-in day tomorrow and for the need to collect stories ASAP.  Please feel free to adapt the alert [when you pass it along].  This is critical.  There will be an amendment to strike the CLASS Act.  We need a full-scale effort to build support for keeping CLASS Act in the bill when the amendment is offered.  

I believe this is an empowerment issue.  Some Senators have expressed the view that people with disabilities who need long term services belong in Medicaid!  That would mean continued impoverishment for life to qualify for needed supports.  We need the CLASS Act to offer an alternative to forced impoverishment in the future!

Marty Ford

From the Arc and UCP Disability Policy Collaboration (12/2/09):

Background:

The U.S. Senate is now debating its health care reform bill, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. And while the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act has stayed in the bill this far, it could be stripped from the bill any day now.   In fact, we just learned that there will be an amendment to eliminate the CLASS Act from the bill.

 

Our contacts on Capitol Hill tell us that one of the biggest obstacles for the CLASS Act is misperception among Members of Congress and their staff that people with disabilities belong in the Medicaid program and cannot work.  We must set the record straight and let our Senators know that, while Medicaid is an essential safety net, millions of people who now have or later develop disabilities work and want to take personal responsibility for their long term care needs. This is an empowerment issue - People should not be forced into poverty to get the support they need.

 

You can help by doing two things:

 

1) Plan to participate *tomorrow* December 3 in a national call in day.  Join advocates from around the country in making our voices heard!  Please call both of your Senators.  The toll free number is (800) 958-5374.  Here is a Sample Script:

Hello. I am calling to ask Senator ___________________ to make sure the CLASS Act remains in the final health reform bill and to oppose any amendment to strip it from the bill. The CLASS Act will help people to remain independent at home.

 

 

2)           Tell us your long term services and supports story NOW.  Stories are being gathered to share during Senate debate on the health care reform bill. We are seeking personal stories that fall under two categories:

 

Looking Back - What could have been if the CLASS Act program had been available.  Story examples include:

•        You worked for many years and discovered that you were financially unprepared for your long term services and supports needs after you became disabled in a car accident.  If you had been able to pay into the CLASS Act program, you could have paid an attendant to help you remain in your own home and not been forced to move into a nursing home before it was necessary.

•        Your sister who has a developmental disability held a job for several years until her health worsened and she required assistance with daily activities such as transportation and meal preparation.  Had she been able to pay into the CLASS Act program, she could have paid an attendant to help her with these activities of daily living and remained employed.

•        Your wife became disabled after having a stroke.  Had she been able to pay into the CLASS Act program, she could have used the cash benefit to pay for services and supports in the state where you had planned to move to.  Instead, she had to spend down all her savings to qualify for Medicaid and you and your wife were unable to move.

•        Your father’s retirement savings were depleted to pay for his long term care needs.  If he had been able to pay into the CLASS Act program, he could have made the necessary modifications to his home to accommodate his wheelchair and covered his other needs instead of relying on you and your sibling who tapped into your own children’s education funds to help pay for his care.

 

Looking Forward - What could be if the CLASS Act program becomes available. Story examples include:

•        You just started your career.  If the CLASS Act program becomes available, you know that you can be take personal responsibility for your own care and be more self sufficient should you become disabled for any reason.

•        Your son has a disability and is currently employed.  If the CLASS Act program becomes available, he will be able use the cash benefit to purchase the services and supports that he needs to remain employed for as long as possible.

•        Your husband is starting to plan for his retirement. If the CLASS Act program is available, you know that, if he becomes disabled, you will not have to divorce him in order to keep his household income below the Medicaid eligibility level to receive long term services and supports.

•        Your mother is nearing retirement.  If the CLASS Act program becomes available, she can start paying in and supplement her private long term care insurance plan that provides limited coverage.

 

You can submit stories online at http://surveys.aahsa.org/EFM/wsb.dll/s/30g179 , or use the questions in this survey to help guide you in writing your story.  If you would prefer to just email your story (instead of the survey), please send it to acosta@thedpc.org

 

 

Thank you in advance for your advocacy and your commitment to improving the quality of life for millions of people with disabilities and older Americans.  For more information, see www.passtheclassact.org.

 

SC: Sex Assault Scandal Breaks while State Increases Funding for Institutions

From Patricia Harrison (11/20/09):

At yesterday's South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs Commission meeting, a spokesperson objected to Whitten Center being referred to as an "institution."  She claimed that Whitten Center should be called a "Gated Community" instead - no joke, she really said that.

I am all for families having a choice of safe residential options, including well run ICF/MRs, but here's some history on this particular "gated community" and what South Carolina is doing to force people who have disabilities into facilities like this:

Here's a report at http://www.goupstate.com/article/20081121/ARTICLES/811211009?Title=Whitten-Center-liable-in-sex-assaults

Whitten Center liable in sex assaults

Caregiver pleaded guilty to attacking 3 mentally handicapped clients

By Robert W. Dalton

Published: Friday, November 21, 2008 at 3:15 a.m.

Officials at the Whitten Center didn't believe John Doe when he told them he was being sexually assaulted by Daniel Maxwell Bradley, a caregiver at the Clinton facility for the mentally handicapped. They said Doe had a history of making false claims against employees.

That all changed when the FBI came knocking at the door, and agents didn't come empty-handed. They had photographs, taken by Bradley and shared on the Internet, of the assaults.

Bradley eventually pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting three residents...

Just last week, CMS approved an increase in reimbursement rate beginning Jan 1, 2010 of 70% for respite services provided to waiver participants who "choose" to receive their respite services in ICF/MR's like Whitten.  SCDDSN and CMS eliminated an option, which cost less than 1/3 the daily rate of ICF/MR services, where waiver participants could receive respite services at home for less than $70 a day.  CMS approved the elimination of some home based services and the reduction of others that the State claimed were required due to budget reductions.  BUT SCDDSN transferred more than $31 million of funds generated by the Recovery Act (federal stimulus funds) to a rainy day fund in July and about half the stimulus funds they will receive this year will be transferred to that rainy day fund, while home based services are being slashed and more people will be forced into these "gated communities."  This change in the MR/RD Medicaid waiver was approved by CMS, despite the fact that they knew about the failure to use tens of milions of dollars allocated to provide services and the failure of the State Medicaid Agency to protect residents of residential programs from abuse, neglect and exploitation, which was reported by the SC Legislative Audit Council:
 
http://lac.sc.gov/Reports/2008/DDSN.htm
 
When one parent asked the Chairman of SCDDSN this summer to please prevent these cuts and to maintain her son's home based services, the Chairman compared the parent's request to her own son's request that Santa Clause bring him a four wheeler for Christmas:  "Somebody's got to pay for it" she told the parent.
 
And 2009 is the Year of Community Living?  If you're as appalled as I am about CMS approving these changes, please contact your representatives in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to share your opinions.  Ask them to require South Carolina to comply with Olmstead and to give the new director of SCDDSN the funds she needs (which are now sitting in a rainy day fund) to run the agency and to protect people like Billy from these "Gated Communities."

-Patricia L Harrison

Last Chance: AAPD Invites You to Celebrate the Holidays with the Radio City Rockettes!

Help AAPD and Celebrate the Holidays with the Radio City Rockettes!

 

The auction ends Nov. 28, so bid today!

AAPD is auctioning off four (4) tickets to a performance of the 2009 Radio City Christmas Spectacular in NYC on eBay! 100% of proceeds from the auction of these orchestra location seats will be donated to the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD).

 

Enjoy the exhilaration and wonder of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the world-famous Radio City Rockettes, and help support a great cause!

To visit the auction’s Web page: http://bit.ly/62GXDq

To read more about the Radio City Spectacular: http://www.radiocitychristmas.com/

Action Alert: Tell DOT to Stop Discriminating Against Travelers with Psychiatric Disabilities

Action Alert: Tell DOT to Stop Discriminating Against Travelers with Psychiatric Disabilities

From the Psychiatric Service Dog Society (11/24/09):

In May 2009, new Air Carrier Access Act regulations were enacted requiring differential treatment of passengers using Psychiatric Service Animals (PSAs) as opposed to those using other types of service animals.  Air passengers with PSAs (and only that type of service animal) must provide the airline with 48 hrs notice and a letter from their mental health practitioner who they must be seeing within 12 months of flying.  People with any other type of disability who use service animals do not have to provide any notice, documentation or disclosure of disability.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) enacted these changes due to concerns people might misrepresent pets as PSAs. They cite abuse of a special class of pet, called Emotional Support Animals (ESA).  However, these animals are pets not service animals.

Requirement of documentation and notice for PSAs is not a solution because people will simply fake other types of service animals. DOT has opened a comment period ending December 17, 2009 for people to respond to these new rules.

The Psychiatric Service Dog Society's comments regarding these changes can be downloaded, and are summarized below:

http://www.psychdog.org/attach/PSDSACAAcomments.pdf

1) These changes discriminate against an entire class of people with disabilities.
2) There is no data regarding fraudulent use of psychiatric service animals.
3) Abuse of the ESA category is not a valid reason to discriminate against people with PSAs
4) People with PSAs are no more inclined toward fraudulent behavior than those with any other type of service animal.

ESAs are pets that have been granted status by the DOT. They are not service animals.  PSDS proposes no documentation be required for any service animal.  Documentation may be required for ESAs or they may be eliminated from in-cabin air travel.

Additional background information can be found here:
http://www.psychdog.org/comm_talkback.html

To read the request for comments and to submit a comment, please visit:
http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#documentDetail?R=0900006480a2662c

Please submit a statement by December 17th and circulate this to others in the disability communities.  Minimally, you can state "I agree with the Psychiatric Service Dog Society's position".  If you want to include more detail, you may copy the PSDS position summary from above, or craft your own statement.

Please contact me for more information!  Thank you in advance for your support.

Veronica Morris
Psychiatric Service Dog Society Volunteer
veronica@psd-user.net