| Volume 08 | Issue 24 | June 16, 2008 |
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]
The Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation is seeking candidates for one year fellowships in Washington, D.C. Information on the professional fellowship program can be found at: http://www.jpkf.org/Fellowship_guidelines/Professional_Fellow_app.html. Information on the parents/family fellowship program can be found at: http://www.jpkf.org/Fellowship_guidelines/Parent_Fellow_app.html
NCD Bulletin - A Monthly Publication of the National Council on Disability (NCD)
The Bulletin, which is free of charge and available at NCD’s Web site (www.ncd.gov), brings you the latest issues and news affecting people with disabilities. To subscribe to the NCD listserv, go to http://listserv.access.gpo.gov, click on Online mailing list archives, select NCD-NEWS-L, click on Join or leave the list, then complete the short subscription form. Editorial comments can be sent to Bulletin editor Mark S. Quigley (mquigley@ncd.gov).
REFERENCE POINTS:
TACE Centers Notices
The Rehabilitation Services Administration published the final priority and the notice inviting applications for the regional Technical Assistance and Continuing Education (TACE) Centers in the June 5, 2008 Federal Register (Volume 73, Number 109, pages 32006 - 32016). A summary and link to the TACE Notice of Final Priority can be reviewed at:
http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister/finrule/index.html?src=ln
. A summary and link to the TACE Notice Inviting Applications can be reviewed at:
http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister/announce/index.html?src=ln
Nominations due for the Leadership in Caregiving Award.
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2008 Rosalynn Carter
Caregiving
Award. The purpose of the award is to recognize leadership in
implementing
innovative and creative partnerships between community agencies and
caregiving researchers that bridge the gap between science and
practice. The
partnerships reflect best practices in providing effective caregiver
supports to professional, family, and volunteer caregivers.
The award winning team will be announced at the RCI's Annual
Conference:
October 23 and 24, in Americus, Georgia. First Lady Rosalynn Carter
will
present the team with a cash award of $20,000, to support efforts in
implementing effective caregiver interventions at the community level.
For more information, visit: http://www.rosalynncarter.org/
The 2008 RCI national conference is scheduled for October 23 & 24, 2008 in Americus, Georgia. Visit the conference web site: www.RCIConference08.org
[nectac-enotes] NECTAC eNotes - June 13, 2008
Current and past issues of eNotes can be viewed online at http://www.nectac.org/enotes/enotes.asp
NECTAC Web Updates - June 11, 2008
The following new resources are now available on the NECTAC Web site:
The topic pages - http://www.nectac.org/topics on our Web site, including TA event resources such as recorded presentations and meeting handouts, are continually maintained by our topic specialists and are available to all. Our publications - http://www.nectac.org/pubs/pubs.asp can all be downloaded. Subscription to our weekly eNotes - http://www.nectac.org/enotes/enotes.asp compilation is open to all.
[nectac-enotes]
The National Head Start Association's HeadsUp! Training Network
The HeadsUp! Network is a subscriber training service operated by the National Head Start Association. The network uses satellite television
to deliver workshops, the latest research, and 10-12 hours of training each month to thousands Head Start and early childhood educators. This
month HeadsUp will air the following two programs produced by the Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL) and
the Technical Assistance Center on Social Emotional Intervention for Young Children (TACSEI):
June 17, 2008 - Practical Strategies for Teaching Social Emotional Skills (31 min.)
June 24, 2008 - Promoting Social Emotional Competence (22 min.)
For more information on the HeadsUp! Training Network go to http://www.heads-up.org/
For information on how to subscribe and group rates go to http://www.heads-up.org/contact/signup.htm
There are several key programs that provide family support but they are dangerously under funded. Starting right now and throughout the summer, Congress will be deciding how much money to provide federal programs for the coming year.
Background
While over 80% of all long-term services and supports are delivered informally, little funding is provided to support family and other informal caregivers. Investing in family support is fiscally wise. The economic value of informal caregiving is over $350 billion a year. American businesses lose between $17.1 and $33.6 billion annually in lost productivity costs due to family members providing informal supports. Respite and other supports contribute to the well-being of caregivers and can reduce undesirable, costly placements in nursing homes and other institutions. Funding for programs that provide family support has not kept pace with growing demands and pressures on families. Three important programs are:
If this issue is important to you please take action. Thank you.
Action Needed
Contact members of the House and Senate Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittees. Urge them to provide additional funding for family support programs at the levels recommended below, which are consistent with recommendations from the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD).
Act Team Coordinator, The Fifth Freedom Network, 227 E. Washington Blvd, STE 304, Fort Wayne, IN 46802 46802, t@fifthfreedom.orgwww.fifthfreedom.org
Fifth Freedom Network
HR 3985 Over-the-Road Bus Transportation Accessibility Act of 2007
“Over-the-road” transportation needs to change in order to stop discrimination against people with disabilities.
The intent of this bill is to eliminate access problems of private inter-city bus companies who ignore the ADA. These private companies do not have stations and are known in the industry as curbside carriers. Some of these carriers ignore the ADA which can result in discrimination.
For instance, there have been situations where people who are blind have been denied transportation because of their guide dogs. Sometimes when they are permitted to ride, they are asked to sit in the back of the bus.
HR 3985 would require the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the office at the department of transportation (DOT) that licenses and regulates privately-operated bus carriers, to fully consider ADA compliance when it grants and revokes operating authority to passenger motor carriers. FMCSA has repeatedly stated that it will not consider ADA compliance in its licensing decisions.
This bill’s intention is to require registration by any person or entity providing transportation using over the road buses. The rule will require compliance with ADA accessibility guidelines.
This bill is being referred to the committees on Commerce, Science and Transportation.
According to the poll from www.washingtonwatch.com, 27% of its readers are in favor of this bill. This bill is in great jeopardy and needs a lot of support. If you would like to help eliminate the access and discrimination problems against people with disabilities we urge you to write to your representative in Congress.
To express support for HR 3985:
It would be best to email your letter to:
The following link will lead you directly to a website where you can write your representative. https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml
June 2008 NCPAD Monthly Newsletter
NCPAD NEWS
A monthly publication of NCPAD - the NATIONAL CENTER on PHYSICAL ACTIVITY and DISABILITY www.ncpad.org
June 25 Caregiver Satellite Broadcast
On June 25th, CMS will host the third in its series of satellite broadcasts focused on family caregivers. This broadcast offers CMS and it partners a unique opportunity to specifically focus on the health and well-being of caregivers across the country and those who support them in their efforts.
The National Alliance for Caregiving conducted a study in 2006 that showed that more than 2.5 million family caregivers in homes across the nation suffer from depression, stress and rapidly declining health, often putting the needs of loved ones before their own. The goal of this broadcast is to provide caregivers and providers with information on the impact caregiving can have on health, self-care tips for caregivers, the approaches taken by several organizations to support family caregivers and spotlight several innovative programs that encourage caregivers to care more for their own health. The broadcast includes an esteemed panel who are thought leaders in their fields. The broadcast will be introduced by Acting Administrator, Kerry Weems, and moderated by Gail Hunt, CEO of the National Alliance for Caregiving.
The upcoming broadcast, entitled “Health Implications of Caregivers" will be professionally produced in partnership with the DHHS New Freedom Initiative (NFI) http://www.hhs.gov/newfreedom/, and will feature a panel of experts who will address challenges facing caregivers in managing their own health and highlight various resources in response to these needs. The broadcast will air on June 25th from 11:00 -12:30 PM. MDT
The “Health Implications of Caregiving” broadcast is a unique opportunity for us here at CMS, to reach out to organizations that work to support caregivers in their interaction with Medicare and Medicaid. That is why we have invited you to come and learn about new and innovative programs developed to help caregivers maintain their health.
We invite your participation in one of several ways:
To participate please RSVP by June 20, 2008 by contacting Gloria Baca at (303) 844-6217 or via e-mail at gloria.baca@cms.hhs.gov or Lisa Dubois at (303)844-3521 or lisa.dubois@cms.hhs.gov. Additionally please register as an attendee or downlink site at http://www.blsmeetings.net/caregivers/index.cfm
DisabilityInfo.gov
Technology News & Events Update: RESNA 2008 Annual Conference
This year's Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) conference will take place June 26-30 in Arlington, VA. The conference program may be downloaded in .pdf - http://www.resna.org/Conference/RESNAFinal2008.pdf or Word - http://www.resna.org/Conference/RESNAFinal2008.rtf formats. You are subscribed to Technology News & Events for DisabilityInfo.gov. This information has recently been updated, and can be accessed by visiting this link: http://www.disabilityinfo.gov/digov-public/public/DisplayPage.do?parentFolderId=5015.
DisabilityInfo.gov
Health News & Events Update: Health Implications of Caregiving
Satellite broadcast from the Administration on Aging (AoA) will take place on June 25, 2008 from 1:00 - 2:30 PM EST. Register to watch this broadcast which will provide viewers with information on how caregiving impacts the health and well-being of caregivers. http://www.blsmeetings.net/caregivers/watch/index.cfm
This information has recently been updated, and can be accessed by visiting this link: http://www.disabilityinfo.gov/digov-public/public/DisplayPage.do?parentFolderId=138.
DisabilityInfo.gov
Grants & Funding in Education Update: Disability Rehabilitation Research Projects
Updated information on several new grant opportunities, including Disability Rehabilitation Research Projects, Technology & Media Services for Individuals with Disabilities and Technical Assistance & Dissemination to Improve Services & Results for Children with Disabilities.This information has recently been updated, and can be accessed by visiting this link: http://www.disabilityinfo.gov/digov-public/public/DisplayPage.do?parentFolderId=5097.
DisabilityInfo.gov
Employing People with Disabilities Update: America's Business - The Power to Transform
Hiring people with disabilities is good for business. Employees with disabilities have proven they have a positive impact on businesses' bottom line. They adapt to different situations and circumstances. They add to the range of viewpoints businesses need to succeed, offering fresh ideas on how to solve problems, accomplish tasks and implement strategies. This information has recently been updated, and can be accessed by visiting this link: http://www.disabilityinfo.gov/digov-public/public/DisplayPage.do?parentFolderId=13.
Virginia: MFP Introduction Memorandum
This is available on the DMAS website at the following link:
http://www.dmas.virginia.gov/downloads/pdfs/mm-MFP.pdf
You may also find additional information regarding MFP through the DMAS
website at the following link:
http://www.dmas.virginia.gov/ltc-home.htm#External_Links_to_Related_Programs -
This link takes you directly to the Olmstead Site for Virginia.
Or if you prefer, you may visit the Olmstead site directly at the following
link:
http://www.olmsteadva.com/mfp/
DMAS will be conducting training sessions for providers in July. Please
visit the DMAS website at the following link for notifications of available
training sessions:
http://www.dmas.virginia.gov/ln-upcoming_events.htm
One-Stop Toolkit Resources of the Week Technical Assistance Project
NCWD/Youth
The National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD/Youth) assists state and local workforce development systems to better serve youth with disabilities. The NCWD/Youth, created in late 2001, is composed of partners with expertise in disability, education, employment, and workforce development issues. Funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), the NCWD/Youth is housed at the Institute for Educational Leadership. http://www.ncwd-youth.info/
SSA Ticket to Work: What’s New
Welcome to The Work Site's "What’s New" page. Here you will find exciting news about proposed changes, upcoming events, and other useful information. Please check it periodically, especially for the newest information about the Ticket to Work Program. http://www.ssa.gov/work/whatsnew.html
Kennedy Center live webcast of "Church of 80% Sincerity"
On June 14, 2008 The Kennedy Center in Washington DC did a live webcast of a one hour version David Roche's widely acclaimed signature piece, The Church of 80% Sincerity as part of the VSA arts Start with the Arts Family Festival .
The url: http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/millennium/ After the webcast the show will continue to be available as on the Kennedy Centers Millennium Stage archives.
The "Church of 80% Sincerity" tracks the inspiring, poignant, wickedly funny and sometimes heart-breaking story of David's journey from shame to self-acceptance. David's powerful vignettes and keen observations invite the sweet (and sometimes raucous) laughter that flows from the recognition that we are all flawed and struggling beings. He provides an irresistible and unforgettable glimpse of his (and your) inner beauty and worth, offering profound encouragement in dealing with whatever life brings you.
For more informaton about David Roche and his work visit his web site at www.davidroche.com
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.