JFActivist

Let Deaf Americans Serve Their Country

via the Washington Post (7.21.11):  

by Robert Weinstock

In May 1971, near the end of my junior year in high school, I participated in Armed Forces Day activities at the U.S. Naval Academy. I was immediately enchanted by the academy and Annapolis. When I returned to school the following week, I asked my guidance counselor if I could apply to the Naval Academy. He said that he didn’t think so, “because you have to be able to hear to serve our country"...

My outlook changed in the fall of 1972, when I entered Gallaudet College (now university) as a freshman. For the first time, I lived and studied among other deaf and hard-of-hearing students. Thirty-nine years later, I know there is no limit to what a deaf person can do...

>>>For the Full Article

For Some with Autism, Jobs to Match Their Talents

via the New York Times (6.30.11):

For Some With Autism, Jobs to Match Their Talents

by David Bornstein

Steen B. Iversen tests mobile phones for the Danish telecommunications firm TDC. Before landing his job two and a half years ago, Iversen, 50, who has been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, spent more than 12 years looking for work. “It’s always been somewhat traumatizing,” he said. “I have had jobs, but I always got fired. People would laugh about me behind my back and laugh at me to my face. Those problems have more or less been a problem for me from childhood.”

In the working world, Iversen said, his biggest problem was communication. “Most of the time it simply was that people didn’t understand me and I didn’t understand them,” he said...

>>>For the Full Article

 

How can we utilize Specialisterne's example to advocate for increased employment opportunities for PWD? Please share your thoughts below.

Watch AAPD's First Virtual Town Hall on YouTube

From AAPD (7.8.11):

Watch AAPD's Virtual Town Hall on YouTube

People with disabilities from across the country watched, listened to, and questioned AAPD's new President and CEO in our first ever Virtual Town Hall on June 29.  The event was also live tweeted at @AAPD.  If you were not able to participate on the day of the event, you can still watch and listen to the event which has been captioned and posted to YouTube.  Topics of discussion included voting, employment, Medicaid cuts, and more.  Viewers asked questions about getting involved in the legislative and electoral processes and how to improve educational access for kids with disabilities.  The discussion was lively and informative. Furthermore, Mark shared his vision for our organization and his plan include more town halls.  So check out this event and check back for information about the next town hall.

>>> To Watch the Virtual Town Hall

Know Your Rights! DOJ Issues New Technical Assistance Document on Enforcement of Olmstead

via The Department of Justice (6.23.11):

Justice Department Issues Technical Assistance Document on Enforcement of the Supreme Court Decision in Olmstead v. L.C.

WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice released a new technical assistance document describing public entities’ obligations and individuals’ rights under the integration mandate of title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the 1999 landmark Supreme Court decision, Olmstead v. L.C.  The Olmstead decision held that the ADA requires public entities to provide community-based services to persons with disabilities when such services are appropriate; the affected persons do not oppose community-based treatment; and community-based services can be reasonably accommodated.  The document also provides questions and answers on a variety of ADA enforcement issues related to Olmstead. 

Additionally, in commemorating the 12^th anniversary of the Olmstead decision yesterday, the department launched a new section of its ADA website, www.ada.gov/olmstead, providing information and resources about the decision and its enforcement. In addition to the newly created technical assistance document, users can visit the site to find briefs filed by the Department, as well as other materials relevant to this important area of law. 

The ADA website provides easy access to an extensive collection of ADA technical assistance materials and settlement agreements, as well as information about enforcement, mediation, technical assistance and certification activities and links to other sites with ADA information. The addition of the new Olmstead section of the site will provide critical information to individuals with disabilities, advocates and state and local officials responsible for complying with the ADA’s integration mandate...

 

>>>To Read the Full Press Release

 

Knowledge is power! How will you help spread the word about this crucial information? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Meet Mark! AAPD to Host Virtual Town Hall with New President & CEO

via AAPD (6.21.11):

 

What’s On Your Mind? Ask AAPD’s New President & CEO Mark Perriello!

Take the opportunity to share what’s on your mind! Join AAPD’s new President & CEO Mark Perriello for a virtual town hall at noon on Wednesday, June 29. Mark will answer your questions live about the future of AAPD, employment issues, disability, the 2012 presidential election and any other issues affecting our community.

We want to learn what’s important to YOU – our community. Our town hall is open to anyone, and there will be video, audio and live captioning

This is your chance to let us know what you’re thinking!

You can participate by tuning in to www.livestream.com/AAPD.To submit a question, please email it to communications@aapd.com.

We will be accepting questions prior to the event and live during the event.

 

PWD Comprise Just 1% of Primetime Network TV Roles

via The American Spectator (6.3.11):

Hollywood's Invisible Minority

by Daniel Allott

Quick question: When was the last time you saw a character with a disability on TV?

If you're a fan of Glee or CSI, perhaps it was quite recently. If not, it may have been a while -- characters with disabilities comprise just 1% of primetime network TV roles.

In fact, only six of the 587 series-regular roles on scripted network primetime television last fall had disabilities, according to a recent study. And only one of those six was portrayed by a disabled actor.

People with disabilities continue to challenge our assumptions and make remarkable strides in many areas of life. But they remain largely absent from the area in which their presence could benefit us the most: entertainment.

>>>For the Full Article...

Transportation Security Administration Criticized for Treatment of Passenger with Severe Mental Illness

via the Association for Airline Passenger Rights (6.15.11):

Association for Airline Passenger Rights Expresses Outrage Over TSA's Treatment of Passenger with Severe Mental Illness; Cruel Treatment Exhibited by TSA Agents Warrants Immediate Review

The Association for Airline Passenger Rights ("AAPR") today expressed outrage over the Transportation Security Administration's ("TSA") cruel treatment toward a 22-year old passenger with several mental illness despite concerns expressed by his family that he had the mental capacity of a 2-year old. The incident, which occurred at Metro Detroit's McNamera Terminal (DTW) while the family was flying to Disney World, demonstrates that an immediate need exists for TSA's to review its policies to prevent future abuse and humiliation of passengers with physical, sensory, cognitive and mental disabilities. AAPR contends that the incident violates the spirit of the Air Carrier Access Act of 1986 (ACAA).

"We don't accept airlines violating the rights of passengers with disabilities, and we need to hold our government to the same basic standards," argued Brandon M. Macsata, Executive Director of the Association for Airline Passenger Rights. "This sort of inexcusable treatment of a passenger with severe mental disabilities, who was under parental supervision at the time nonetheless, cannot and must not be tolerated. If it wasn't a violation of the ACAA law - which is designed to protect very basic rights afforded to passengers with disabilities - then it surely goes against the spirit of the law"...

>>>To Read More on This Incident...

Do YOU have a travel horror story? Please share your experience below or send to policy@aapd.com.

10 Best Practices Schools Can Use to Help Students Living with Mental Illness

via the National Alliance on Mental Illness (6.15.11):
 

Ten Best Practices for Schools

Schools play a critical role in helping students diagnosed with mental illnesses reach their full academic and functional potential. The academic performance and behavioral functioning of students significantly improves when their mental health needs are effectively addressed. NAMI calls on schools to adopt the following ten best practices:

1. Train teachers and staff on the early warning signs of mental illnesses and how to effectively communicate with families about mental health related concerns. To learn more about NAMI’s Parents and Teachers as Allies publication and in-service education program, visit www.nami.org/caac.

2. Train school professionals in effective and research-based teaching methods and behavioral interventions, including positive behavior interventions and supports (PBIS – as described at www.pbis.org).

3. Educate the entire school community about mental illnesses, including providing age-appropriate information about these conditions in the health curriculum, to help ensure a broader awareness about mental illnesses and to reduce stigma.

4. Develop and implement a plan to reduce the unacceptably high dropout and failure rates of students with mental illnesses. This includes providing a comprehensive functional behavioral assessment for students that need it and implementing effective classroom interventions. Schools cannot do this alone. NAMI stands ready to call on other community leaders to work to reduce school dropout and failure rates for these students.

5. Provide research-based and effective school-based mental health services and develop an effective link to the community mental health system for students with more intensive mental health service needs

6. Develop effective partnerships with families that recognize the value of their input about how a student’s illness impacts their academic work, peer relationships and interaction with others in the school community. These partnerships will recognize the importance of cultural competence.

7. Provide appropriate accommodations for students when they are needed , including a safe place to quiet down, additional time for completing home and school work, the assignment of a mentor, flexibility in the school day schedule and other individualized and appropriate accommodations. When appropriate, refer students for an evaluation for special education services.

8. Provide effective transition services and supports for students returning to school after receiving treatment away from school and for those transitioning between different school levels and/or into life in the community. Provide guidance for teachers and staff on effective supports for students returning to school after time away.

9. Develop effective anti-bullying policies so that students with mental illnesses are not targeted for bullying or singled out as bullies as a result of symptoms of their illness.

10. Develop effective crisis prevention and intervention services to help prevent and address psychiatric crises, youth suicide and related serious public health concerns.

NAMI applauds schools working to make a positive difference in the lives of students with mental illnesses! 

 

Would you add any other best practices to this list? Please share your ideas in comments below.

TASH to Host Briefing on National Efforts to Restrict the Use of Restraint and Seclusion Practices

Via TASH (6.13.11):

TASH to Hold Congressional Briefing on National Efforts to Restrict the Use of Restraint & Seclusion Practices in Schools June 28

How you can help: 

1. Please attend if you are in the Washington, D.C., area. RSVP to Dara Baldwin at dbaldwin@tash.org 

2. Spread the word by downloading the congressional briefing flyer and sharing this important announcement with friends, family, colleagues and members of the media 

Tuesday, June 28, 2011
12-1:30 p.m. ET
B-338 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.  

TASH welcomes all congressional leaders, legislative staff, advocates, educators and families to participate in this important briefing on national efforts to restrict the use of restraint, seclusion and aversive interventions in school settings. This critically important educational briefing will be held on Tuesday, June 28, from 12-1:30 p.m. ET in Room B-338 Rayburn House Office Building. 

Children are injured and traumatized by restraint, seclusion and aversive interventions every day in schools across the United States. In January 2009, the National Disability Rights Network issued a report detailing the harmful use of these interventions in more than two-thirds of states, involving public and private school children as young as three years old. 

To learn more about the dangers of seclusion and restraint in schools, successful strategies for helping schools transition into safe schools that no longer use seclusion and restraint practices, and understand the merits of current public policy efforts to reduce the use of these dangerous practices, please join us for the upcoming congressional briefing on June 28. Since lunch will be provided, the courtesy of an RSVP is requested (please email Dara Baldwin at dbaldwin@tash.org). 

Speakers include  

Barb Trader, Executive Director, TASH
Joan Gillece, Project Manager, National Association of State Mental Health Program DirectorsMichael Remus, Director of Student Support Services, Deer Valley Unified School District
Linda Bambara, Professor, Lehigh University College of Education
Janice LeBel, Director of Program Management, Massachusetts Department of Mental Health Child & Adolescent Division
Phyllis Musumeci, Founder, Families Against Restraint and Seclusion 

Co-Hosts of the Briefing include the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, National Down Syndrome Society, National Autism Association, and Families Against Restraint and Seclusion 

>>>For More Information on the Briefing...

>>>To Download a Flyer...

Abuse in Residential Care Facilities: How Long Will It Continue?

via Time Magazine (6.7.11): 

Why So Much Abuse Is Allowed to Continue in Residential Care

by Maia Szalavitz

The stories are beyond horrifying: an autistic boy crushed to death by a "restraint" gone awry; a disabled woman's diaper pulled aside as she is raped; an elderly woman left to lie on a urine-soaked box spring for six days after being beaten.

In two of the nation's largest states, major media investigations this spring revealed hellish conditions in institutions for the disabled: The New York Times exposed ongoing violations, including physical and psychological abuse, in state-run homes for the developmentally disabled, while the Miami Herald uncovered similar tales of maltreatment and neglect in assisted-living homes for the elderly...

>>>For the Full Article...

How do you feel that institutional living settings increase PWD's vulnerability? How can these abuses of power be prevented? Please share your thoughts in comments below.