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You're Invited: US Paralympic Leadership Conference April 29-May 2

From US Paralympics (2.23.11):

REGISTER NOW!
2011 USOC Paralympic Leadership Conference 

April 29 - May 2
Colorado Springs, Colorado

Join us for the fourth annual USOC Paralympic Leadership Conference and learn alongside other leaders like you, in workshops led by top professionals in the Paralympic movement from across the country.

Blind adventurer Erik Weihenmayer announced as opening keynote speaker!
Erik Weihenmayer, the only blind man in history to climb the Seven Summits, including Mt. Everest, will deliver the opening keynote address at the 4th annual Paralympic Leadership Conference. Weihenmayer's story of conquering the toughest climbs in the world, and in life, will set the tone for this incredible weekend of learning and inspiration...

To learn more about the conference, visit www.usparalympics.org/leadershipconference

Sports and Disability: Study of Golfers with Disabilities

From the National Center on Accessibility (2.14.11):

A Study of Participation in the Game of Golf by Persons with Disabilities and Persons Who are Aging

The National Center on Accessibility is conducting a study on golf participation by persons with disabilities or who are aging. The purpose of the study is to determine what factors assist and/or present barriers to participating in the game of golf by persons who have disabilities or persons who are aging with health conditions. We are seeking volunteers to participate in our survey which would require approximately 10-15 minutes to complete via the Internet. Surveys completed online are anonymous and no personal identifying information is gathered or stored.

A number of important events have occurred in recent years such as the invention or improvement of assistive devices for use in golf; development of ADA guidelines for recreation facilities including golf facilities; and an increase in the number of organizations promoting golf for persons with disabilities. While one might assume that factors that promote the pursuit of playing golf have increased and barriers may have decreased, there is a need to determine the level of participation in golf by persons with disabilities, and what helps or hinders one’s interest in pursuing the game.  This research is being conducted by Drs. Sherril York and Kiboum Kim at the National Center on Accessibility at Indiana University, in partnership with the Wadsworth Golf Charities Foundation and the National Alliance for Accessible Golf. The study will be conducted using an on-line survey available via the Internet.

Who will be study participants?
Individuals with disabilities, and person who are aging who have health conditions can take part in the study.

Individuals with disabilities or health conditions must be:

1. At least 18 years of age or older
2. Currently residing in the United States.

What is the project about?
A survey asking a variety of questions related to the past, current and future interest in pursuing the game of golf and barriers to that participation will be available online or in alternate format upon request.
 
The survey takes about 10-15 minutes to complete. There is no cost to participate in this study. If you choose to complete the paper version, prepaid return envelopes will be provided.
 
You can access the survey through this web address: http://ncaonline.org/golfsurvey

Further questions?
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the project, please contact Sherril York (812) 856-4422 or shyork@indiana.edu

GAO Reports Students with Disabilities are Underserved in PE

From GAO (6.23.2010):

Study Finds Students with Disabilities Participate in Athletics at Regularly Lower Rates than Students Without Disabilites

Research has established that physical activity and participation in athletics provides important health and social benefits for children. Certain federal laws help ensure that kindergarten-12th grade schools provide students with disabilities opportunities to participate in physical education (PE) and extracurricular athletics equal to those of their peers. However, national associations have questioned whether students with disabilities receive opportunities similar to their peers.

... Schools provide students with and without disabilities similar opportunities to participate in PE but face challenges when serving students with disabilities. Students with disabilities spend similar amounts of time in PE class and exercising in class as students without disabilities, according to national data and GAO site visits. Most students with disabilities take PE with other students in general PE classes. To facilitate their participation, teachers may make accommodations for some students, such as providing additional modeling or repetition. Many state, district, and school officials GAO interviewed cited teacher preparation and budget constraints as key challenges to serving students with disabilities in general PE classes.

... Among the schools GAO visited, students with disabilities participated in athletics at varying rates, but at consistently lower rates than students without disabilities. Several factors, such as a student's disability type or outreach to students, may affect participation. Some schools or districts GAO interviewed provided opportunities by partnering with community programs or offering athletics designed specifically for students with disabilities, such as wheelchair basketball. District and school officials GAO interviewed cited a lack of information on ways to expand athletic opportunities, lack of clarity regarding schools' responsibilities, and budget constraints as key challenges.

Excerpts from Alliance in Support of Athletic Equity Release

Recognizing the limited information that existed about the state of physical activity opportunities for individuals with disabilities in the school setting, the Alliance worked in partnership with members of Congress, including Senator Tom Harkin (D‐IA), Rep. George Miller (D‐CA), Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy (D‐NY), and Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D‐MD), to request a GAO study to examine this issue in greater detail.

...Beverly Vaughn, Co‐founder/Executive Director of the American Association of Adapted Sports Programs (AAASP) said, "The results of this study show that we still have a long way to go in providing athletic equity in this country for students with physical disabilities. These students want to compete in sports just as their friends and siblings do, providing anything less than what other children receive on a regular basis is not an option."

...On the other hand, the lack of opportunity to participate in physical education and athletics has been linked to a higher prevalence of obesity and obesity‐related secondary conditions in youth with disabilities compared to youth without disabilities.

...To help close this gap, the GAO called on the Department of Education to provide resources to assist state and schools in serving students with disabilities in physical activity settings and to produce guidance to clarify schools’ responsibilities under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act to provide athletic opportunities for students with disabilities

>>>Download Alliance in Support of Athletics Equity_Release for GAO

White House Appoints Deaf Fellow and Deaf Fitness Council Member

From THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary (6.22.2010):

WHITE HOUSE APPOINTS 2010-2011 CLASS OF WHITE HOUSE FELLOWS 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the White House announced the appointment of 13 outstanding men and women to serve as White House Fellows. The White House Fellows come from diverse backgrounds, varied professions and all of the 2010-2011 Fellows have shown a strong commitment to public service and leadership. The 2010-2011 class of Fellows and their biographies are included below.
 
“This year’s White House Fellows are comprised of some of the best and brightest leaders in our country,” said First Lady Michelle Obama. “I applaud their unyielding commitment to public service and dedication to serving their community.”
 
The White House Fellows Program was created in 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson to give promising American leaders “first hand, high-level experience with the workings of the Federal government, and to increase their sense of participation in national affairs.” This unique position in our nation’s government encourages active citizenship and service to the nation. The Fellows also take part in an education program designed to broaden their knowledge of leadership, policy formulation, military operations, and current affairs. Community service is another important component of the program, and Fellows participate in service projects throughout the year in the Washington, D.C. area.
 
Selection as a White House Fellow is highly competitive and based on a record of remarkable early career professional achievement, evidence of leadership potential, a proven commitment to public service, and the knowledge and skills necessary to contribute successfully at the highest levels of the Federal government. Throughout its history, the program has fostered leaders in many fields including leaders in government, business, media, medicine, diplomacy and the military. Additional information about the White House Fellows program is available at http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/fellows..
 
2010-2011 Class of White House Fellows
 
...
 
Kubby Rashid, Jessup, MD. Kubby Rashid has been a member of the Gallaudet faculty since 1994, including a stint as Chair of the Department of Business <http://business.gallaudet.edu> . In addition to teaching, Dr. Rashid was active in faculty leadership and administration, and was co chair of a major initiative to reconfigure all academic programs at the University. Dr. Rashid served on the board of the World Deaf Leadership Program, guiding development projects for the deaf communities in South Africa and Thailand. She has also worked with individuals from many developing countries, helping deaf people learned to develop leadership skills and advocate for themselves. Dr. Rashid has previously been involved with the National Deaf Business Institute and taught several years for NDBI and Merrill Lynch's summer program for Deaf Business owners and would-be entrepreneurs. She was the first coordinator of the Bernstein Leadership Institute's Deaf Women's Leadership Program, and implemented the program and curriculum that form the core of the DWLP today. In 2008 she was appointed by Governor Martin O’Malley to a six year term on the Board of the Maryland School for the Deaf and also serves as a Board member of Discovering Deaf Worlds, an NGO dedicated to helping deaf people in developing countries.
 
....

>>> For the Original Release with a Full list of the Fellows

From THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary (June 23, 2010):

First Lady Launches President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition

Mrs. Obama joins Washington, DC-area kids to unveil expanded mission of Council, introduce 2010 Council Co-Chairs and Members

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, First Lady Michelle Obama joined kids from the Washington, DC area to launch the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition and introduce the 2010 Council co-chairs and members. In conjunction with the First Lady’s Let’s Move! initiative, this year President Obama has broadened the scope of the Council, formerly known as the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, to include a focus on healthy eating as well as active lifestyles. Yesterday, the President signed an Executive Order outlining the Council’s new emphasis on both good nutrition and physical fitness...

“This year we’re expanding the work of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition to include not just a focus on active lifestyles, but on healthy eating, too,” Mrs. Obama said. “The Council will play an important role in our effort to help combat childhood obesity in this country and I am grateful to the athletes, chefs, doctors and nutrition experts who are volunteering their time on the Council to help make a difference.”

The President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition is a committee of volunteer citizens who advise the President through the Secretary of Health and Human Services about opportunities to develop accessible, affordable and sustainable physical activity, fitness, sports and nutrition programs for all Americans regardless of age, background or ability. The Council’s mission is to engage, educate and empower all Americans to adopt a healthy lifestyle that includes regular physical activity and good nutrition. For more information about the Council and its members, visit www.fitness.gov

In addition to its presidential advisory role, the Council promotes and maintains the President’s Challenge Physical Activity and Fitness Awards program (President’s Challenge) which encourages all Americans to include physical activity – 30 minutes per day for adults and 60 minutes per day for youth – in their daily lives. For more information about the President’s Challenge programs, visit www.presidentschallenge.org.

President Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition:...

Curtis Pride, Appointee for Member, President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition

Curtis Pride is the head baseball coach at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC, and a retired Major League Baseball player. In 1996 as a member of the Detroit Tigers, Mr. Pride became the first regular full-season deaf player in the modern history of major league baseball. At the close of his career in 2008, he had played 421 games, achieved a .250 career batting average, 20 home runs, and 82 runs batted in. Prior to his professional career, his athletic proficiency spanned several sports. In high school he was a member of the U.S. soccer team that participated in the Junior World Cup in Beijing. In college he played part-time professional baseball for the Mets organization while also attending the College of William and Mary as a four-year starting point guard in basketball. In addition to coaching, Mr. Pride is active in the community, particularly with his Together With Pride foundation which aids hearing impaired children....

>>> For the Full Release

Toward Removing R-Word from Federal Books, U.S. Senate Committee Passes 'Rosa's Law'

From the Special Olympics (5.26.10):

SPECIAL OLYMPICS APPLAUDS U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE PASSAGE OF ‘ROSA’S LAW’

Removal of ‘Mental Retardation’ Seen as Major Step toward Greater Respect and Inclusion for People with Intellectual Disabilities

The Special Olympics movement applauds the passage of “Rosa’s Law” by the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Labor, Education and Pensions (HELP) as championed by Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) and Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wy.) to eliminate the terms “mental retardation” and “mentally retarded” from laws passed by its members.

Although originally a clinical term and introduced with good intentions, the term “mental retardation” and its pejorative form, “retard”, have been used widely in today’s society to degrade and insult people with intellectual disabilities. By instead using “intellectual disability” and “an individual with an intellectual disability” in federal laws, the U. S. Senate sends a strong signal that language is important and that no form of the R-word should be used to refer to any of its constituents.

“Respect, value, and dignity – everyone deserves to be treated this way. These traits don’t need to be earned,” said Dr. Timothy Shriver, Chairman and CEO of Special Olympics. “The Senate Committee’s passage shows that our elected officials understand and embrace this ideal. I congratulate Sen. Mikulski and Sen. Enzi for their vision and sensitivity to people with intellectual disabilities everywhere and urge the full U.S. Senate to pass this important legislation.”

The bill does not expand nor diminish services, rights, responsibilities or educational opportunities duly owed to individuals with intellectual disabilities. It simply makes the federal law language consistent with that used by the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, and the White House through the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities.

Special Olympics has a history of actions to change the way people refer to those with intellectual disabilities. In 2004, in response to its athletes‟ call for change, the Special Olympics International Board of Directors adopted a resolution to update the movement's terminology from “mental retardation” to “intellectual disabilities.” In 2008, Special Olympics launched its R-Word Campaign (www.r-word.org) to combat the inappropriate use of the word in common usage and helped lead protests against media use of the word such as in the film Tropic Thunder. And, in 2009, the youth-led “Spread the Word to End the Word” campaign launched with rallies in K-12 schools and universities around the country, enlisting young people to combat use of the word.

The legislation has 43 co-sponsors from both parties, including 17 members of the HELP Committee. In the next step of the legislative process, the bill will be considered by the full Senate.

The full text of Senator Mikulski’s statement, as prepared for delivery at today’s HELP Committee mark-up is available at http://media.specialolympics.org

Don't Miss It! NBC's Paralympic Recap Airs This Saturday

From the US Paralympics Team USA (3.9.10):

NBC Sports, Universal Sports to Broadcast 2010 Paralympic Winter Games Highlights

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. and NEW YORK- NBC Sports and Universal Sports announced today the multiplatform broadcast coverage of the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games presented by GE. Coverage on NBC Sports will include a ... a two-hour highlights program on Saturday, April 10 (3-5 p.m. ET).

..."The extensive coverage on NBC Sports and Universal Sports helps to raise the awareness of the Paralympics by telling the stories of these remarkable athletes, and demonstrates NBC Universal's commitment to the Olympic movement in the United States," said Gary Zenkel, president, NBC Olympics....

>>> For Full Article

2010 Paralympic Games Open In Flames of Glory

From Universal Sports (3.13.10):

Vancouver Paralympic Games officially start
CEO Furlong: 'You will feel their energy and their support every minute you are here'
By Jamie Blanchard

VANCOUVER -- With glowing hearts, Canada welcomed the world's top winter Paralympic athletes Friday, as the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games kicked off with the Opening Ceremony in front of a sold-out crowd of 60,000 spectators.

"While thousands will cheer you on in the stadiums, you can be assured that over 33 million Canadians are living this experience with you," Vancouver Organizing Committee CEO John Furlong told the athletes. "You will feel their energy and their support every minute you are here."

An estimated 1,350 athletes, coaches and officials from 44 countries, including 50 Americans, marching second to last before Canada, entered BC Place Stadium, giving high-fives to 400 children gathered in a welcome path. Team USA was led by flag bearer Heath Calhoun (Bristol, Tenn.), an Iraq war veteran who lost his legs in Mosul while serving with the 101st Airborne Division...

>>> For the Full Article

For More Coverage of the Paralympic Games:

NBC Sports http://www.vancouver2010.com/paralympic-games/

-Saturday, March 13, 1-2PM ET, Opening Ceremony Highlights

-Saturday, April 10, 3-5PM ET, Paralympic Recap

Universal Sports http://www.UniversalSports.com

-Monday, March 15-Tuesday, March 23, 6-8PM ET(re-air at 11PM), Daily Highlights

Additionally

- http://www.UniversalSports.com will offer on-demand re-airs, plus full-length event rewinds.

- http://www.usparalympics.org will offer daily video and news highlights.

Events: http://usparalympics.org/events/2569

and http://www.vancouver2010.com/paralympic-games/

50 Paralympic Athletes to Represent the US

From the US Olympic Committee (2.26.10):

USOC Announces the 2010 U.S. Paralympic Winter Games Team; 50 Athletes to Compete in Vancouver
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 26, 2010
 
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Today the U.S. Olympic Committee announced the 50 athletes of the U.S. Team that will compete at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver, B.C., March 12-21, 2010.
 
The U.S. Team, made up of athletes from 20 U.S. states, will compete in five sports (alpine skiing, biathlon, cross country skiing, sled hockey and wheelchair curling). A projected 600 elite athletes with a physical disability from more than 40 countries are expected to compete at the Games.
 
The following roster is comprised of the 50 athletes who will represent Team USA at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.
 
2010 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team (15)
Joe Howard (Kingston, Mass.), forward
Steve Cash (Overland, Mo.), goaltender
Taylor Chace (Hampton Falls, N.H.), defense
Jimmy Connelly (Galloway, N.J.), defense
Andy Yohe (Bettendorf, Iowa), forward
Brad Emmerson (Amherst, N.Y.), forward
Tim Jones (Mt. Ephraim, N.J.), defense
Taylor Lipsett (Mesquite, Texas), forward
Alexi Salamone (Grand Island, N.Y.), forward
Mike Blabac (Buffalo, N.Y.), goaltender
Nikko Landeros (Berthoud, Colo.), defense
Adam Page (Lancaster, N.Y.), defense
Josh Pauls (South Plainfield, N.J.), defense
Greg Shaw (Park City, Utah), forward
Bubba Torres (Riverside, N.J.), forward 

2010 U.S. Paralympic Wheelchair Curling Team (5)
Augusto “Goose” Perez (East Syracuse, N.Y.), skip
James Pierce (North Syracuse, N.Y.), vice skip
James “Jimmy Jam” Joseph (New Hartford, N.Y.), second
Jacqueline Kapinowski (Point Pleasant, N.J.), lead
Patrick McDonald (Orangevale, Calif.), alternate
 
 
2010 U.S. Paralympic Alpine Skiing Team (24 athletes, 3 guides)
MEN (14)
Mark Bathum (Seattle, Wash.), visually impaired
Carl Burnett (Cape Elizabeth, Maine/Bend, Ore.), sitting
Heath Calhoun (Grundy, Va./Aspen, Colo.), sitting
Nick Catanzarite (Winter Park, Colo.), sitting
Chris Devlin-Young (San Diego, Calif./ Campton, N.H.), sitting
Ralph Green (Brooklyn, N.Y./ Vail, Colo.), standing
Gerald Hayden (Winter Park, Colo.), sitting
Ian Jansing (St. Louis, Mo./Winter Park, Colo.), standing
Monte Meier (Park City, Utah), standing
George Sansonetis (Fraser, Colo.), standing
Joe Tompkins (Juneau, Alaska), sitting
Tyler Walker (Franconia, N.H.), sitting
Brad Washburn (Winter Park, Colo.), standing
John Whitney (Towson, Md.), standing
 
WOMEN (10)
Allison Jones (Colorado Springs, Colo.), standing
Ricci Kilgore (Reno, Nev.), sitting
Luba Lowery (Cumberland Foreside, Maine/Denver, Colo.), sitting
Alana Nichols (Farmington, N.M.), sitting
Hannah Pennington (Winter Park, Colo.), standing
Caitlin Sarubbi (Brooklyn, N.Y.), visually impaired
Laurie Stephens (Wenham, Mass.), sitting
Elitsa Storey (Sun Valley, Idaho), sitting
Danielle Umstead (Taos, N.M.), visually impaired
Stephani Victor (Park City, Utah), sitting
 
GUIDES (3)
Slater Storey (Sun Valley, Idaho) – guide for Mark Bathum
Rob Umstead (Taos, N.M.) – guide for wife, Danelle Umstead
Gwynn Watkins (Mt. Shasta, Calif.) – guide for Caitlin Sarubbi
 
2010 U.S. Paralympic Cross Country Skiing Team (6)
MEN (4)
Greg Mallory (Portland, Ore.), sitting
Chris Klebl (Heber City, Utah), sitting
Sean Halsted (Spokane, Wash.)/Twin Lakes, Idaho), sitting
Andy Soule (Pearland, Texas), sitting
 
WOMEN (1)
Monica Bascio (Evergreen, Colo.), sitting
Kelly Underkofler (St. Paul, Minn.), standing
 
2010 U.S. Paralympic Biathlon Team
Note:  These athletes will also compete in cross country skiing events.
MEN (1)
Andy Soule (Pearland, Texas), sitting
 
WOMEN (1)
Kelly Underkofler (St. Paul, Minn.), standing
 
Of the 50 U.S. athletes, 33 have competed in a prior Paralympic Games; 17 athletes will be making their Paralympic Winter Games debut. Vancouver will mark five Paralympic Games competitions for dual sport athlete (alpine skiing & cycling) Allison Jones and alpine skier Monte Meier.
 
Among the 50 athletes, five are U.S. military veterans:
Heath Calhoun (Grundy, Va.), alpine skiing – retired U.S. Army (Iraq War Veteran)
Chris Devlin-Young (Campton, N.H.), alpine skiing – retired U.S. Coast Guard
Sean Halsted (Spokane, Wash.), cross country skiing – retired U.S. Air Force
Patrick McDonald (Orangevale, Calif.), wheelchair curling – retired U.S. Army
Andy Soule (Pearland, Texas), cross country skiing & biathlon – retired U.S. Army (Veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom)

From the JFAModerator: 

To Watch the Paralympics Live

If you want to watch the Paralympics, a limited amount will be aired on NBC. You can also watch a fuller schedule at www.paralympicsport.tv

>>> For a Schedule of Paralympic Events

>>> For a Schedule of Programing on www.paralympicsport.tv

FANS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS GAIN ENHANCED ACCESS TO MLB.COM

From  Lainey Feingold, Law Office of Lainey Feingold (2/11/10)

NEW YORK, February 11, 2010 – Baseball fans with visual impairments will benefit from the implementation of functional improvements to MLB.com, the official Web site of Major League Baseball, and all 30 individual Club sites as a result of a joint collaboration between MLB Advanced Media, LP (MLBAM), the American Council of the Blind, Bay State Council of the Blind and California Council of the Blind. All three organizations applaud this fan initiative taken by MLBAM.

“MLBAM has undertaken groundbreaking work to make its web sites accessible and has assumed a strong leadership position among sports, media and entertainment properties in doing so,” said Mitch Pomerantz, President of the American Council of the Blind. “We certainly urge similar sites to make this level of commitment in following MLBAM’s lead.”

As part of its initiative, MLB.com launched an accessible media center for its MLB.com Gameday Audio™ subscribers, offering features such as volume control, ability to choose the home or away feed and access to archived games. Additionally, MLB.com has ensured that fans with visual impairments can continue to participate in the annual online voting programs associated with the All-Star Game and will be providing an accessibility page on its site detailing information on accessibility, usability tips and customer service resources. As it continues to deliver technological innovations for following baseball games, MLB.com will make additional accessibility enhancements available to fans with visual impairments.

Brian Charlson, a Boston baseball fan and Director of Computer Training Services at the Carroll Center for the Blind in Newton, Massachusetts, described how MLB.com’s accessibility efforts have improved his enjoyment of the game: “As a member of the blind community, the kind of changes MLB.com was willing to make on its web sites keeps me coming back for more. It shows how much can be done when people with disabilities find willing partners. For example, with the changes in Gameday Audio, I find myself enjoying switching back and forth between the home and away broadcasters the same way my sighted friends do. And knowing my votes were counted in this year’s All-Star balloting made listening to the game much more meaningful. I’m excited about what MLB.com has done and about its commitment to further improvements.”

MLB.com utilized guidelines issued by the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The web content accessibility guidelines are of particular benefit to blind baseball fans who use a screen reader, through which information on a page is read aloud, or magnification technology on their computers and who rely on a keyboard instead of a mouse.

About MLBAM
Established in June 2000 following a unanimous vote by the 30 Major League Baseball club owners to centralize all of Baseball’s Internet operations, MLB Advanced Media LP (MLBAM) is the interactive media and internet company of Major League Baseball. MLBAM manages the official league site,  www.MLB.com,and each of the 30 individual Club sites to create the most comprehensive Major League Baseball resource on the Internet. MLB.com offers fans the most complete baseball information and interactivity on the web, including up-to-date statistics, game previews and summaries, extensive historical information, online ticket sales, baseball merchandise, authenticated memorabilia and collectibles, fantasy games, live full-game video webcasts and on-demand highlights, live and archived audio broadcasts of every game, Gameday pitch-by-pitch application, around-the-clock hosted and specialty video programming and complete blogging capabilities. MLB.com offers more live events on the Internet than any other website in the world.

About the American Council of the Blind (ACB), Bay State Council of the Blind (BSCB) and the California Council of the Blind (CCB) The American Council of the Blind is a national consumer-based advocacy organization working on behalf of blind and visually impaired Americans throughout the country, with members organized through seventy state and special interest affiliates. The Bay State and California Councils are the Massachusetts and California affiliates of the ACB.  The ACB, BSCB and CCB are dedicated to improving the quality of life, equality of opportunity and independence of all people who have visual impairments. Their members and affiliated organizations have a long history of commitment to the advancement of policies and programs which will enhance independence for people who are blind and visually impaired.  Many members of ACB, BSCB and CCB are baseball fans.  More information about the organizations can be found by visiting ACB’s website, BSCB’s website, and CCB’s website.

Comment Below: Congratulations and Thank You MLB for recognizing the rights and value of fans with visual disabilities. Which sports do you think are the most or least accessible? How can we make sports accessible more accessible to those with other disabilities?

Action Alert: Save Accessible Parks Service Housing

From Peter Anziano (1/7/10):

I have been involved in an ongoing battle with the National Park Service regarding ADA compliance in our National Parks. The current battle and opportunity is Cumberland Island (Georgia), http://www.nps.gov/cuis/index.htm .

A "Reserved Lease Rights Retainee" living on the island, Doctor Ben Jenkins, has made his residence accessible to people with disabilities with the understanding that at the end of his lease term this year the dwelling would become park property. The Park Service is in the process of deciding what to do with the structure at the end of the lease,
http://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?parkId=371&projectId=28794

There is a STRONG push to have it demolished.

Twenty years ago it was mandated (ADA) that the National Park Service make all the national parks' major attractions universally accessible to staff, volunteers and visitors. In the Jenkins case the Park Service will be acquiring, free of charge this accessible residence in the developed part of the park that could be utilized for employee, volunteer and visitor housing. It should be noted the park does not have a single accessible residence for housing employees or the hundreds of visiting researchers, volunteers that come to the island every year to support the mission of the park or park visitors.  Some Park Service representatives state that Cumberland Island meets the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The park employees that work with the visitors every day have testified that this is blatantly false. I have lead multiple trips of discovery to the island and have found multiple barriers (Ferry, Docks, Trails, Beach Access, staff and volunteer housing, etc.).

The Jenkins estate is an asset to the National Park Service, providing the only accessible residence in the park, it is also equipped with an emergency generator making it self sufficient during storms and power outages.  The Jenkins structure is not located in or near the Wilderness, and access does not require driving through any portion of the Wilderness.

PLEASE take a moment to click the link below (or copy and paste it into your web browser) and complete the comment form and ask the National Park Service to maintain the Jenkins estate and/or allow a concessionaire to, so ALL may enjoy this natural resource.

This is a specific opportunity for the public to provide feedback in the initial stages of the planning process.  PLEASE COMMENT now as the comment period ends 01/31/2010 and we need a thousand comments to not be ignored.

Spread the word!!!

http://parkplanning.nps.gov/commentForm.cfm?parkID=371&projectID=28794&documentId=30789

Thanks for your help.