December 31, 2007
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
Op-Ed
Insurance coverage for mental health still limited
Jeffrey A. Lieberman
is chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
The recent shootings in Nebraska and Colorado, while tragic, are only the most recent in a series that have captured national headlines.
November 16, 2007
NCIL Testimony for U.S. Senate HEALTH, EDUCATION, LABOR AND PENSION COMMITTEE
Subject: Restoration of the ADA
November 15, 2007
Dear Chairman Kennedy, Ranking Member Enzi, and Distinguished Members:
We are writing on behalf of the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) to strongly urge you to support the ADA Restoration Act of 2007, S. 1881. Since enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, people with disabilities have made substantial strides toward societal inclusion and full participation. However, in recent years, a number of Supreme Court decisions have significantly reduced the protections available to people with disabilities in employment settings. Restoring the Act to Congress’ original intent would enable people with disabilities to secure and maintain employment without fear of losing their job because of their disability. Congress clearly intended to cover the full spectrum of disabilities, both visible and invisible.
NCIL is the oldest cross-disability, national grassroots organization run by and for people with disabilities. Our members include Centers for Independent Living, State Independent Living Councils, people with disabilities, and other disability rights organizations. As a membership organization, NCIL advances Independent Living (IL) and the rights of people with disabilities through consumer-driven advocacy. NCIL envisions a world in which people with disabilities are valued equally and participate fully.
A key part of our work is to implement the integration mandate of the Americans with Disabilities Act by moving people with disabilities out of institutions and into community-based settings so they can control their own destinies and live independently. NCIL also works tirelessly to ensure that the Americans with Disabilities Act and other crucial civil rights laws are not only fully implemented, but also enforced.
[Editor’s Note: Background, and Issues, listed in full below, were also included in this letter]
We welcome the opportunity to comment on this critical civil rights law and look forward to a robust discussion of ways in which we can work together to achieve the full promise of the ADA.
Sincerely,
John A. Lancaster
Executive Director
Kelly Buckland
President
NEWS RELEAE: ACLU
ACLU Commends Senate Committee for Support of ADA Restoration Act (11/15/2007)
Washington, DC – The American Civil Liberties Union commends the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Chairman Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Ranking Member Michael Enzi (R-WY), for holding a hearing on S. 1881, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Restoration Act of 2007. The ACLU also acknowledges the leadership and vision of Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) for their co-sponsorship and support of this important legislation.
"Today’s hearing is an excellent opportunity to examine a shortfall of the Americans with Disabilities Act – the fact that many people with disabilities remain excluded from employment discrimination protections," said Caroline Fredrickson, director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office. "People with epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, cancer, bipolar disorder and diabetes have been denied ADA protection because of a series of U.S. Supreme Court decisions restricting the definition of disability."
Chai Feldblum, a former ACLU legislative counsel, was a principal author of and advocate for the original ADA in conjunction with the disability and civil rights communities. At today’s hearing Professor Feldblum, now with the Georgetown University Law Center, will call on Congress to restore the promise and intent of the ADA. She will urge Congress to make it clear to the courts that the ADA extends to all people with disabilities, regardless of mitigating measures, if they have suffered employment discrimination on account of their disability.
"It’s time to fix the confusion caused by the courts," said Joanne Lin, ACLU legislative counsel. "The courts have created a Catch-22 wherein individuals taking medication or using other measures to manage their disability may no longer qualify as ‘disabled’ under the ADA and are now denied protection from employment discrimination."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Pa. court denies expansion of hate-crimes law
HARRISBURG - An expansion of Pennsylvania's hate-crimes law to cover gays and the disabled has been nullified by a state court, which found that the legislature unlawfully used an agricultural-crime bill to make the changes.
NEWS RELEASE: STATE SEN. RAY MUSTO
MUSTO GUEST SPEAKER INSPIRES SENATE
HARRISBURG, November 15 - Stephanie Jallen, a resident of Wyoming and guest of state Sen. Ray Musto (D-Luzerne), addressed the Pennsylvania Senate on Tuesday where she shared a story of courage, determination, and triumph.
Due to a rare birth defect, now 11-year-old Stephanie was born with an underdeveloped left arm and had her left leg amputated when she was an infant.
“Overcoming all of these obstacles, Stephanie is an accomplished soccer player, dancer, and skier,” Musto said. “She is upbeat, positive, and inspirational to everyone she encounters.”
Stephanie is one of Sen. Musto’s most driven constituents.
“Stephanie, at 11-years old, has shown more courage and determination than many show in a lifetime,” Musto said. “She is an inspiration to us all and her phenomenal journey to help those affected by the same disabilities has only just begun.”
A talented skier, Stephanie recently took a trip to Colorado where she encountered US Marine amputees back from the Iraq War. The Marines thought that her story was powerful.
“I told them they would overcome this challenge as long as they believe in themselves and kept going,” Stephanie said. “Hard knocks can put you down, but they cannot keep you down unless you let them.”
Stephanie Jallen is currently focusing all of her energy on making the Paralympics as a skier. Several fundraisers have been set up in her town to help afford the costs associated with making the team.
“Stephanie vowed that one day she will come back to the Senate floor with a medal from the Paralympics,” Musto said. “I wish her the best of luck in her endeavors and hope she fulfills her dreams of making the team.”
PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE
Autism: Individual approach yields results
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Karen Kane, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Is it a neurodevelopmental disorder or a biomedical disease?
Does it have a treatable cause or should "remedies" be limited to therapies for the behavioral symptoms?
PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE
City housing authority ends year with surplus
The Pittsburgh Housing Authority board yesterday approved a $101.6 million budget for next year that marks a reversal of past deficit spending.
NEWS RELEASE: HOMES FOR OUR TROOPS
Homes For Our Troops Announces 'Build Brigade' for its Third Pennsylvania Home
Homes For Our Troops, VP/Chief Project Officer, Kirt Rebello, will be available for interviews at 112 Oesterle Lane,(Ross Township), Pittsburgh, PA at 11:00 AM on November 15, 2007.
Ross Township, PA (PRWEB) November 15, 2007 -- Homes For Our Troops, a non-profit organization that provides specially adapted homes for severely wounded veterans, announced today that it will launch a "Build Brigade" event for a specially adapted home building project for SPC James Fair.
SPC Fair sustained life-altering injury due to a roadside bomb. The explosion in November 2003 left the Coraopolis soldier completely blind and took both of his hands. The blast also sent shrapnel throughout James' body, severely injuring his right leg and causing a traumatic brain injury.
James's home is the third project that Homes For Our Troops has undertaken in Pennsylvania. Homes For Our Troops has completed 17 projects through out the US and has 20 additional projects in various stages of construction.
Build Brigade:
On November 15, 16, 17 we will be hosting a marathon build event (that we call a "Build Brigade") at the site of James's project located at 112 Oesterle Lane, Ross Township), Pittsburgh, PA. Beginning at 8:00 AM, our goal for the 3 day event will be to erect James's home by completing the framing, roofing, windows, doors and siding with the help of many volunteers. Basically we will be going from floor to a standing structure in 3 days! Please come join us for this event!
Kirt Rebello, VP/Chief Project Officer for Homes For Our Troops, and local volunteers in the community of Pittsburgh, would like to extend an invitation to your organization to join this event with SPC Fair.
Who: Homes For Our Troops, Inc. is a Taunton, MA based non-profit organization that (at no cost to the veterans they serve) provides specially adaptive housing to severely wounded veterans returning from the War on Terror,: www.homesforourtroops.org
SPC James Fair and members of the local community:
http://www.homesforourtroops.org/site/PageServer?pagename=SpcJamesFair
What: Press Conference by Homes For Our Troops, VP/Chief Projects Officer Kirt Rebello and members of the local community to launch a "Build Brigade" at its 3rd Pennsylvania project for SPC James Fair.
When: November 15, 2007 at 11:00 AM, Work and kick-off ceremony will begin at 8:00am.
Where: 112 Oesterle Lane,(Ross Township), Pittsburgh, PA
NEWS RELEASE: NATIONAL COUNCIL ON DISABILITY
National Council on Disability to Discuss Accessibility and Universal Design for People with Disabilities at Boston Meeting
WASHINGTON—The National Council on Disability (NCD) will conduct a panel discussion on accessibility and universal design at the Hyatt Regency Boston, One Avenue de LaFayette, Boston, Massachusetts, on Thursday, November 29, 2007, from 3:00 p.m. until 4:30 p.m.
Speakers include:
Marylyn Howe, NCD Board Member
Deborah Buck, Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs
Larry Goldberg, WGBH Public Television
Judy Brewer, Web Accessibility Initiative
Valerie Fletcher, Adaptive Environments
Their remarks will be followed by a question and answer session.
In 2004, the National Council on Disability published Design for Inclusion: Creating a New Marketplace (http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2004/online_newmarketplace.htm), a report demonstrating how an accessible society can be accomplished through Universal Design. Universal design is a process to ensure that the built environment, including electronic and information technology, is inclusive, accessible, and usable by everyone, including people with disabilities. Incorporating universal design processes is one solution to accommodating people with disabilities that also improves the usability of the products for the rest of the population.
This panel discussion is part of NCD’s quarterly board meeting, which will be held Thursday, November 29, 2007, from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.; Friday, November 30 from 8:30 a.m. until 3:45 p.m.; and Saturday, December 1 from 8:15 a.m. until 11:15 a.m.
Public comment sessions will be held Thursday, November 29 from 4:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. and on Friday, November 30 from 1:15 p.m. until 1:45 p.m. A toll-free call in line will also be available to the public during those times. The number is 800-369-1120, and the pass code is NCD Council Meeting. There will also be a reception at the hotel for all meeting participants, audience members, and people with disabilities from the community on Thursday afternoon from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
NCD is an independent federal agency and is composed of 15 members appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. We provide advice to the President, Congress, and executive branch agencies to promote policies, programs, practices, and procedures that—
(A) guarantee equal opportunity for all individuals with disabilities, regardless of the nature or severity of the disability; and
(B) empower individuals with disabilities to achieve economic self-sufficiency, independent living, and inclusion and integration into all aspects of society.
To carry out its purposes, NCD believes it is vital to hear from communities around the country on what works and what does not for people with disabilities. NCD members and staff are pleased to have the opportunity to visit Boston and learn firsthand about the experiences of people with disabilities from Massachusetts and the surrounding states.
For more information, please contact NCD’s director of communications Mark S. Quigley at mquigley@ncd.gov or by telephone at 202-272-2004.
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