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Volume 07                                                                     Issue 27                                                  July 9, 2007              

Welcome to Monday Morning in Washington, D.C., published weekly by The Arc of the United States. We will bring to you news of interest to self advocates and their families, volunteers, professionals, and supporters of the disability movement. Please send any comments to mmwdc@thearc.org. You are welcome to reproduce and distribute items from Monday Morning in Washington, D.C., but please credit Monday Morning in Washington, D.C. (The Arc of the United States, 2007).

 

The Arc of the United States advocates for the rights and full participation of all children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Together with our network of members and affiliated chapters, we improve systems of supports and services; connect families; inspire communities; and influence public policy.

 

[NOTE: Having trouble reading this newsletter?  Read it online.] [Past Issues]

 

IN THIS ISSUE:  

 

Americans with Disabilities Act Anniversary-July 26


Did you know that 18 percent of Americans have some kind of disability and that, after the age of 80, that number jumps to 72 percent? Check out USA.gov's link to the U.S. Census Bureau - http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/010102.html  to see more statistics about Americans with disabilities.

Thanks to the Americans with Disabilities Act - signed into law on July 26, 1990-those with disabilities are guaranteed equal opportunities in employment, public services and accommodations, and telecommunications. Visit DisabilityInfo.gov - http://www.disabilityinfo.gov/digov-public/public/DisplayPage.do?parentFolderId=500, the federal government's one-stop web site for people with disabilities.

 

A mother's view of a word that wounds: 'Retard' - Opinion - USATODAY.com

 

 http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2007/07/a-mothers-view-.html

 

Unspent HOME Funds Returned to HUD, Information Bulletin #215 (7/07)

In the past seven years, nearly $17 million dollars from the HOME Investment Partnership program was returned to HUD for failure of a participating jurisdiction to meet the statutory two-year commitment requirement.  That is, each year HUD allocates HOME funds.  Recipients, state and local participating jurisdictions, must commit how these funds will be actually spent within two years.  If this requirement is not satisfied, the uncommitted HOME funds must be returned to HUD as and they are lost by the participating jurisdiction.

As was explained in recent Information Bulletins, HOME funds can be used as Tenant Based Rental Assistance grants  for low income persons. These are like housing vouchers.  Given the desperate need for housing vouchers, it is quite amazing and depressing that the following jurisdictions, rather than allocate the funds as Tenant Based Rental Assistance, returned these HOME funds because the jurisdiction did not commit them to TBRA grants.

Click here to read the jurisdictions and the amount of HOME funds lost: http://www.stevegoldada.com/stevegoldada/archive.php?mode=A&id=216;&sort=D

Steve Gold, The Disability Odyssey continues

Back issues of other Information Bulletins are available online at http://www.stevegoldada.com
 

DisabilityInfo.gov

Resources for People with Disabilities  Update: ABILITY House Program

 

In partnership with Habitat for Humanity affiliates, each ABILITY House is an accessible home built for a family where one or more members have health conditions or disabilities. The project also reaches out to volunteers, including veterans and students with disabilities, to help in building the homes. This information has recently been updated, and is now available - http://www.disabilityinfo.gov/digov-public/public/DisplayPage.do?parentFolderId=118

 

Employment Laws & Regulations  for Job Seekers Update:  What To Do If You Think You Have Been Discriminated Against

 

Fact sheet from the Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy addresses common questions related to employment-related discrimination on the basis of disability. This information has recently been updated, and is now available - http://www.disabilityinfo.gov/digov-public/public/DisplayPage.do?parentFolderId=5082

 

Mental Health  Update:  New Resources on Borderline Personality Disorder and Bipolar Disorder

 

Several new resources including information on Borderline Personality Disorder and Bipolar Disorder as well as myths and facts relating to mental illness.  This information has recently been updated, and is now available - http://www.disabilityinfo.gov/digov-public/public/DisplayPage.do?parentFolderId=151

 

Health News & Events Update: Citizenship Guidelines for Medicaid Eligibility

 

Final rule on citizenship for Medicaid eligibility expands the types of documentation that can be used to establish citizenship and exempts certain groups from the requirements. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. - http://www.disabilityinfo.gov/digov-public/public/DisplayPage.do?parentFolderId=138

 

Transportation News & Events  Update:  New Members Sought for Transportation Steering Committee

The Community Transportation Association is seeking individuals willing to serve as state or local representatives on the Steering Committee for the National Resource Center for Human Service Transportation Coordination (NRC). The NRC provides states and communities with the support they need to coordinate transportation services for people with disabilities, older adults and individuals with lower incomes. Application Deadline: July 20, 2007. This information has recently been updated, and is now available - http://www.disabilityinfo.gov/digov-public/public/DisplayPage.do?parentFolderId=5010

Institute for Community Inclusion National E-News 7/2/07
ICI Bridges Digital Divide

 

Certain hard-to-reach populations within the United States and the United Kingdom are being excluded from online government services and transactions (e-government) through lack of access. These groups of individuals, including rural, poor, senior, disabled, and/or ethnic-minority populations, and their degree of access to e-government were the focus of a six-month study conducted by Heike Boeltzig, a research associate with ICI, and Doria Pilling, a UK researcher.

 

Their report identifies the technical and social barriers currently limiting access to e-government in these two countries, and examines how individuals currently without access could benefit most from the use of online government services. Also, the authors propose their own 10 recommendations for increasing access to and use of the Internet among the hard-to-reach.

 

Bridging the Digital Divide for Hard-to-Reach-Groups - http://communityinclusion.org/project.php?project_id=44

 

A Fundamental Ingredient of Employment Support

Check out ICI's new publication, "Self-Determination: A Fundamental Ingredient of Employment Support" on the ICI website. This document defines self-determination and describes its use in the realm of employment services. For the five key principles of self-determination, and a list of ways to incorporate self-determination in employment support take a look at ICI's newest Tools for Inclusion Issue.

 

Self-Determination: A Fundamental Ingredient of Employment Support - http://www.communityinclusion.org/article.php?article_id=205

Contact the Institute for Community Inclusion - Email: ici@umb.edu - Phone: 617/287-4300 voice, 617/287-4350 TTY
Website: http://www.communityinclusion.org 

Walgreen's story hiring people with a disability on NBC Nightly News

In case you missed it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2akb4v2cUQ

Microsoft: No more keyboards!

 

http://www.jibjab.com/view/162744

 

Bodies . . . The Exhibition

http://www.bodiestheexhibition.com/

 

CMHS Consumer Affairs E-News: July 2, 2007  Vol. 07-106
CDC: THE HEALTHY BRAIN INITIATIVE: A NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH ROAD MAP TO MAINTAINING COGNITIVE HEALTH

 

"The Healthy Brain Initiative: A National Public Health Road Map to Maintaining Cognitive Health" comes at a critical time when scientific interest in cognitive health is beginning to meet the burgeoning demand of the public in maintaining cognitive function. It sets in motion a course of action for establishing partnerships, making cognitive health a prominent public health issue, and preparing society for concerted efforts to maintaining the cognitive health of older Americans.

A National Public Health Road Map to Maintaining Cognitive Health lays out a shared vision for a "work in progress," one that builds on the foundation of the work done to date, establishes a framework within which to view the findings of that work, links related and complementary activities, and shapes the work of the future. It represents both a call to action and a guide for implementing a coordinated approach to moving cognitive health into the national public health arena.

The Road Map was written to bring together multiple partners, agencies and organizations. We anticipate many partners and agencies, including CDC, will develop their own collaborative plans to move the actions listed within the Road Map forward over the next 3-5 years. For information on Healthy Brain Initiative click here.

A National Public Health Road Map to Maintaining Cognitive Health

Full Road Map (PDF-2.6Mb) http://www.cdc.gov/aging/pdf/TheHealthyBrainInitiative.pdf

Executive Summary (PDF-176Kb) http://www.cdc.gov/aging/pdf/TheHealthyBrainInitiative.pdf

A limited number of hard copies of A National Public Health Road Map to Maintaining Cognitive Health are available. A single hard copy can be requested at ccdinfo@cdc.gov.
 

Family Voices of North Dakota e-News

STUDY IDENTIFIES OPTIONS FOR IMPROVING DIET QUALITY AMONG FOOD AND NUTRITION PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS

 

Could Behavioral Economics Help Improve Diet Quality For Nutrition Assistance Program Participants? incorporates findings from behavioral economics, food marketing, and psychology into a framework that can be used to explore new methods of improving individuals' diets and health.

 

The report, published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service, is based on a study that focused on four of the largest assistance programs: the Food Stamp Program; the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); and the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs (school meal programs). Selected topics include standard policy levers that influence food choices and how simple rules of thumb may influence what individuals choose to eat, how much they eat, and how they evaluate these decisions after the fact.

 

A summary, conclusions, and references are provided. The report is intended for use by health professionals, educators, policymakers, researchers, and others in expanding considerations for food policy, nutrition education, and social marketing. The report is available at http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/err43/err43.pdf.

 

Kids on Wheels

 

A magazine for young people who use wheelchairs, is working on a story on young activists and is looking to hear from young wheelchair-users who are activists in their communities. The activism need not necessarily be disability-related. The activism could be with regards to the environment, health care, peace, animals, or disability and accessibility. The individual does not have to use a wheelchair (although they may use one part-time) and the primary focus is on young activists, so younger age groups are preferred. Anyone who is interested should email Laura Kaminker, Associate Editor of Kids on Wheels, at laurakaminker@gmail.com  or call her at 212-781-2238 or 416-619-7615. SOURCE: Kids on Wheels

U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy-A series of new factsheets for youth with disabilities addressing subjects including workplace accommodations and when to share information about your disability with an employer.

AAP Launches Patient Safety Web site

 

Any medical error is disturbing, especially in Pediatrics. Reports of such errors might leave you wondering what you can do to ensure a safe health care environment for your patients. The American Academy of Pediatrics has just launched a new Safer Health Care for Kids web site - http://www.aap.org/saferhealthcare for physicians, allied health professionals, administrators, parents, and caregivers, who are seeking pediatric patient safety information and strategies.
 

 "Healthy Start, Grow Smart."


HHS is proud to present organizations the opportunity to order the series of pamphlets for parents and caregivers, called "Healthy Start, Grow Smart." This series consists of 13 issues beginning with information on newborns through the first year of life and provides valuable, age-appropriate information about health, safety, nutritional needs, and early cognitive development that has been proven to help babies thrive. These guides are provided free of charge to assist organizations in reaching out to families. The pamphlets are available in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese, You can review the written product through the downloadable versions also found on the website. http://www.ntis.gov/cms/index.aspx 

 

New FEMA Disability Coordinator

 

FEMA Administrator David Paulison announced that Cindy Lou Daniel will fill the new FEMA Disability Coordinator position established by the Post Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006.  The Disability Coordinator will be responsible for providing guidance and coordination on national emergency planning and relief efforts for individuals with disabilities. No stranger to the advocacy community, Cindy is a former staff member of The Arc of Northern Virginia and most recently worked at the National Organization on Disability (NOD) on their Emergency Preparedness Initiative.  She conducted research on the effects Hurricane Katrina had on people with disabilities and created an informational help desk for emergency agencies on various disability-related subjects.  The press release announcing the appointment is available at: http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=37220.


 

Until Next week

  

The Arc of the United States, 1010 Wayne Avenue, Ste. 650, Silver Spring, MD 20910, Phone: 301-565-3842, Fax: 301-565-3843, Email: mmwdc@info.thearc.org, Web: www.thearc.org

 

Disclaimer: MMWDC publishes information about issues and events that we believe to be important and likely to be of interest to advocates and others interested in inclusion of persons with disabilities in all parts of society.  However, MMWDC and The Arc of the United States and TheArcLink Incorporated do not necessarily endorse all events, sponsoring organizations and reports which appear.