Why the Disability Community Is Grieving
11-9 by Judy Endow Our grief is deep. 11-9 feels so much to our disability community like 9-11 to our society. Our grief is deep. We are not being overly dramatic. Yes, 9-11 saw significant loss of life. Living, breathing people – lots of them – died that day. The reason those of us in the disability community feel this sort of grief today is because our human worth is on the chopping block. We know today that many of our friends, neighbors, fellow citizens out there in the community at large have voted against our humanity. For some
Disability Policy: Clinton versus Trump
In a few weeks will have elected a new President of the United States. Many of us get our information from watching TV. The trouble with this is we only get the information the TV decides is news worthy. Unfortunately, most things concerning disability are not newsworthy. This means that rather than seeing a candidate’s disability policy on the evening news we are more likely to see a candidate’s latest purported scandal whether it is about deleted emails or admitted past sexual abuse. While these things can be informative, I think it is helpful to also understand where the two
Take Action to Keep All Students Safe at School! || Stop Hurting Kids
Stop Hurting Kids needs all supporters of the Keeping All Students Safe Act to take action and urge members of the U.S. Senate to co-sponsor this bill.
The Importance of Supports
"If we invested a mere one-tenth of the amount of money that we currently pour into causation into empowering Autistic people to communicate, that young man and hundreds of thousands more like him would be able to communicate their needs to us today. I am not here today to speak for every Autistic person – that’s impossible. What I am here for is to argue for every Autistic person to have the same opportunity to communicate that I have come to enjoy thanks to the support that I have been lucky enough to receive in my life." Ari Ne'eman
Meet the Members of the 2013 National Council on Disability
The National Council on Disability works to further equal opportunity, self-sufficiency, independent living, inclusion and full integration of people with disabilities into the civic, social, and economic fabric of American life.
Supporting United States Ratification of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities – Why Every Voice Counts!
CALLING ALL SENATORS .It’s time for the U.S. To take their seat at the table In support of global disability rights . RATIFY THE CRPD I have a confession to make: I can only vaguely recall skimming the e-mails that made their way to my inbox in late November and early December last year that called upon the disability community to contact their senators in support of U.S. ratification of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). It's not that I didn't realize the importance; I just thought to myself "Oh, I should help.
This Is Autism by Amy Sequenzia
Today we are flashblogging to counter Autism Speaks’ wrong view of autism. We are showing what autism really is. We speak for ourselves, even if Autism Speaks refuses to listen. The rest of the world will.
ASAN President Ari Ne’eman on the DOE’s New Stance on Bullying Prevention
Comments from Autistic Self-Advocacy Network President Ari Ne’eman, delivered on August 20th, 2013 during a call with with stakeholders from the education and disability communities on the Department of Education’s new guidance on bullying prevention and IDEA. Presenters on the call included OSEP Director Melody Musgrove and White House Associate Director of Public Engagement Claudia Gordon.
Jobless rate for disabled Americans still high 22 years after landmark law
Twenty-two years after passage of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act, the employment rate for people with disabilities is still dismally low, and advocates want to change that. “The ADA … has made a difference in the lives of people with disabilities … but [for employment] the needle hasn’t moved,” says Helena Berger, executive vice president of the American Association of People with Disabilities in Washington.
Wanting More and Finding Disability Justice
White House Champion of Change recipient Mia Mingus is writer, organizer, and member of the Bay Area Transformative Justice Collaborative. Disability was always framed as a sad or bad thing, as something unfortunate that happened to me, a tragedy, a flaw. My experience with the medical world was one about “fixing” me and making me more “normal” and less disabled. This of course, echoed my experience of the world at large. I never saw disabled women in the media being desired or living whole complex lives, let alone disabled women of color. The messages always boiled down to: disability is
How Will the Affordable Care Act Affect People With Disabilities?
The Thinking Person's Guide To Autism interviews Ari Ne'eman of The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network about specific advantages, opportunities, and sticking points of the Affordable Care Act for People with Disabilities
Thank You, Ed Roberts
"And we’re going to develop leadership, that has a fundamental difference and that is, it's inclusive . It believes in people, and in our strengths together . And we are going to change our society. " Ed Roberts
EveryBody: An Artifact History of Disability in America
The Smithsonian's Web exhibit of the history of people with disabilities in America shown through photos.
Senator Harkin Delivers Speech in ASL Upon ADA Passage in 1990
Upon passage of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 13th, 1990, Senator Tom Harkin delivered a speech on the Senate floor in American Sign Language. Harkin, whose brother Frank was deaf, was the lead Senate author of the ADA, which was enacted later that year. His speech is the first in American Sign Language to be delivered from the Senate floor.
ADAPT
ADAPT is a national grass-roots community that organizes disability rights activists to engage in nonviolent direct action, including civil disobedience, to assure the civil and human rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom. The ADAPT Youth Summit will take place on in Chicago, Illinois. We are training young people with disabilities on direct action and nonviolent civil disobedience. If you are interested in supporting this year’s event or participating in next year’s group, please email Josue at adaptyouthsummit@yahoo.com.
Senator’s Call for Transition Action Plan An Excellent Idea
Democrat Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey has introduced a bill focused on transition services for students with developmental disabilities who are transitioning to post-high school life. The legislation, known as the Assistance in Gaining Experience, Independence and Navigation Act of 2013, or the AGE-IN Act, calls for: - Funding for research to determination the best ways to support students with developmental disabilities who are about to leave school. - Creation of a nation strategic plan focused on transition planning for students with developmental disabilities. - Grants to train "transition navigators" to assist students with developmental disabilities to plan for
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization run by and for Autistic people.
The Need to Reassess the Sheltered Workshop
An emerging story in Rhode Island is raising discussion about sheltered workshop environments for people with intellectual disabilities and the culture of discrimination that they create. Discrimination? Yes. These environments, originally intended to ensure that people with intellectual disabilities had work to do and and a safe place in which to do it, have become the exact opposite. They're also created a culture where it's permissible to not only view people with intellectual disabilities in extremely outdated ways and to treat them accordingly. The most recent story that's brought these issues to the public's attention revolves around a a school
America, the CPRD, and the Global Plight of Disabled Children
A new United Nations report, "The State of the World's Children", finds that children with disabilities are the least likely to receive health care or go to school and are among the most vulnerable to violence, abuse and neglect. With the most recent data available suggesting that 1 in 20 children aged 14 or younger (approximately 93 000 000) has a disability. it's clear that we're in the middle of a child welfare crisis. Not so, according to United States Senators who failed to ratify a United Nations convention designed to ban discrimination on the basis of disability and to
Federal Agencies Seek Public Input on Transition Issues for Youth
The U.S. Departments of Labor, Education and Health and Human Services, in partnership with the Social Security Administration, are asking for input about the best way to ensure a successful transition from school to work life for youth with disabilities. For two weeks, starting on May 13, youth with disabilities and their families can share their thoughts on improving transition outcomes via this Web Interface. Policymakers, educators, and service providers are also invited to take this opportunity to share concerns about the “regulatory and legislative barriers that young people with disabilities are facing in accessing employment, education, Social Security and
Deaf, Blind Sue Over Web Shopping
Anne Taylor uses a Google Nexus 7 tablet at the National Federation of the Blind in Baltimore. Commerce has moved online. Now, the disability lawsuits are following. Advocates for disabled Americans have declared that companies have a legal obligation to
The Reality Is Not What We Think
Shocking infographic on the wealth distribution in America.
Breaking News from Autistic Hoya: The End of Torture at the JRC?
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick filed a motion to vacate (render null) the 1987 settlement agreement that has permitted the Judge Rotenberg Center to use aversives, including the notorious electric shock GED devices.
Letter from National Council on Disability (NCD) to the President Following Newtown Tragedy
December 20, 2012 The President The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: On behalf of the National Council on Disability (NCD), an independent federal agency, and in response to your recent national call to act
Editorial: Disabled Senate rejects U.N. rights treaty
Former Senate Republican leader Bob Dole is wheeled into the Senate on Tuesday.(Photo: CSPAN2 via AP) Dole, a former party leader and a disabled veteran, tried to champion the treaty in the Senate. The opponents persuaded 38 Republican senators to vote n
Which Congressman Is Blocking Bill That Would Protect Kids with Autism?
Legislation aimed at protecting children with autism and other disabilities from being injured in school has stalled in the House of Representatives at the hands of a single member who objects to federal intervention. Minnesota Republican Rep. John Kline
Emily Willingham “Autism Bingo: The Congressional Hearing Version”
Our science editor Emily Willingham live-tweeted Thursday's Congressional autism hearing from the perspective of a scientist, autism parent, critical thinker, and human. She Storified and annotated the experience, turning offensive keywords and laughable
ASAN Statement on Upcoming House Autism Hearing
“We’re profoundly concerned by the decision by the House Committee on Oversight & Government Reform to convene a hearing on autism next week without the inclusion of any Autistic witnesses or representatives from organizations run by Autistic people. Jus
For collegians with disabilities, success linked to mentoring, self-advocacy
(Phys.org)—A Rutgers study of recent New Jersey college and university graduates with disabilities has found that students attributed their academic success to a combination of possessing such strong personality traits as self-advocacy and perseverance,
Justice Department Settles with Florida Bus Companies Over Accessibility Violations
The Justice Department reached four settlement agreements with over-the-road bus companies in Florida in the last month, to ensure that bus transportation is accessible for people with disabilities. The settlements under the Americans with Disabilities A
Wendy’s Franchisee to Settle Lawsuit for Refusing to Hire Applicant with Hearing Disability
DALLAS - CTW L.L.C., a Wendy's franchisee, has agreed to pay $41,500 and provide other significant relief to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today. The EE
Landmark Decision Promoting Accessible Books for the Blind
Baltimore, Maryland (October 11, 2012): The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) today applauded a decision issued on October 10, 2012, by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, which permits the distribution of millions of book
Netflix pledges to caption all content by 2014
Netflix will offer closed captions on all TV and movie content by September 2014 as part of a settlement with a deaf Massachusetts viewer who sued the company. The on-demand Internet streaming service agreed to the settlement Tuesday in U.S. District Cou
National Council on Disability (NCD) Releases Report on Rights of Parents with Disabilities & Their Children
WASHINGTON, DC -- On Thursday, September 27, the National Council on Disability (NCD), an independent federal agency, released “Rocking the Cradle: Ensuring the Rights of Parents with Disabilities and Their Children” -- a groundbreaking policy study, inf
I Stand With Henry
What Henry is doing is advocating for his rights, at the same time that he reminds us of our own rights and about how far we still have to go.
I am the 20 % and the RNC
Henry takes his bi-partisan message of inclusion and civil rights for all to the Republican National Convention.
Looking to November, Disability Advocates Call for Accessible Polling Places
A Federal Court Judge will hear testimony Monday about how to make city polling sites more accessible for people who use wheelchairs or have vision impairments. Earlier this month, U.S. District Judge Deborah Batts ruled there were pervasive barriers at
National Federation of the Blind Applauds National Council on Disability Report
Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: “We applaud the National Council on Disability for its strong affirmation of the value, equality, and dignity of workers with disabilities, and for its recommendation that Section
The Americans with Disabilities Act: CEC Celebrates 22nd Anniversary
On July 26, 2012 the United States will mark the 22nd anniversary of key landmark legislation, the Americans with Disabilities Act, also known as ADA (Public Law, 101-336). Signed into law by President George H.W. Bush, this historic legislation resulted
Dole, Coehlo Urge Congress To Ratify Convention On Rights Of Persons With Disabilities
(The Hill) July 18, 2012 WASHINGTON, DC-- [Excerpt provided by Inclusion Daily Express] As two individuals with disabilities who served in Congress, the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990 was not only a proud moment in our careers, it
New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council
The New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council is a Federally-funded New York State Agency working under the direction of the Governor's Office. The DDPC is responsible for developing new ways to improve the delivery of services and suppo
Support the Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities (CRPD)
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is an international treaty that outlines the obligations of ratifying countries to promote, protect, fulfill, and ensure the rights of persons with disabilities. It embodies the American id
ASAN Public Comment on Defining HCBS in 1915i
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network applauds the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ decision to move forward on regulations defining the scope of settings acceptable under the 1915i state plan option. We concur with CMS that this definition, once
National Council on Disability (NCD) Honors Life of Justin Dart
Listen to the heart of this old soldier. As with all of us the time comes when body and mind are battered and weary. But I do not go quietly into the night. I do not give up struggling to be a responsible contributor to the sacred continuum of human life
43 arrested in Capitol protest over service cuts
Sacramento -- Hundreds of home care workers and their clients filled the hallways of the state Capitol on Wednesday, shouting and cheering as they made a last-minute push to save the In-Home Supportive Services program from the budget ax. Forty-three peo
Report: Disabled Face Transportation Barriers
WASHINGTON, DC -- Two civil rights organizations are highlighting disparities in transportation access for people with disabilities. "Equity in Transportation for People with Disabilities," a report by The American Association of People with Disabilities
OT students on reliability of ADA-Compliance Assessment Toolkit
Misericordia University student researchers recently had their findings about the reliability of the Americans with Disabilities Act-Compliance Assessment Toolkit (ADA-CAT) presented at the California State University, Northridge Annual International Tec
Autistic Hoya: End the torture. Make this go viral.
The public must see what the Judge Rotenberg Center is doing. Their experts claimed that the public would not understand the content of this video without "proper context." There is no context that justifies the use of torture against anybody ever. The public has not merely a right but a responsibility to watch this video and share it everywhere.
Epidemic, Awareness and Us, Autistics
By now everyone knows about the new numbers on autism diagnosis. And we have already seen the media jumping in the alarmist train: IT IS AN EPIDEMIC! My friend and I decided to look up some definitions for this word that has been used to classify me. This is what I found in one on line dictionary: epidemic noun a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time: a flu epidemic. a disease occurring in such a way. a sudden, widespread occurrence of a particular undesirable phenomenon: an epidemic of violent crime. Am I a
Bill Introduced regarding special needs trust
H.R. 4329 -This bill or resolution was assigned to a congressional committee on March 29, 2012, which will consider it before possibly sending it on to the House or Senate as a whole. To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the payment of monthly annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan to a supplemental or special needs trust established for the sole benefit of a disabled dependent child of a participant in the Survivor Benefit Plan.
HHS Announces New Members of Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC)
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today that she has invited 15 individuals to serve as public members on the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC). The IACC is a federal advisory committee established by th
National Council on Disability (NCD) Releases New Recommendations & Guidance on Managed Care for People with Disabilities
The National Council on Disability appreciates the need to reform health care and life-long services and supports delivered through Medicare and Medicaid programs to all citizens, including those with disabilities. The role of state agencies is the lynch
Employer Best Practices for Workers with Caregiving Responsibilities
In 2007, EEOC issued guidance explaining the circumstances under which discrimination against workers with caregiving responsibilities might constitute discrimination based on sex, disability or other characteristics protected by federal employment discr
Education Department Awards $24.6 Million in Grants To Support Teacher and Principal Development
U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan today announced the award of nearly $24.6 million for three grants to improve student achievement by increasing the effectiveness of teachers and principals. Funded under the Supporting Effective Educators Development
AT&T Accused of Improperly Billing for Service for Deaf
The Justice Department has accused AT&T of knowing that a calling service it offered for the deaf was being used by Nigerian swindlers and others to steal from American merchants. The department, which intervened in a whistle-blower lawsuit in federal co
250 children living in nursing homes in Florida should get home care
Five year old Andi lives in a nursing home in Tampa because his family says the state won't pay for 24-hour care that would let him live with his two brothers and parents. A second lawsuit claims several thousand other children could end up in those facilities in Florida because of decisions by the state about their care.
Obama Signs ‘Thank You’ to Deaf Supporter
President Obama didn’t miss a beat last week when he encountered a group of deaf students along a rope line after his speech at Prince George’s Community College in Maryland. “I am proud of you,” signed Stephon, a 26-year-old coll
Police need training on autism
The arrest of an autistic teenager who could face four years in a Michigan prison shows the need to train police on dealing with autistic people, advocates say. In Maxson's case, Dungan said, he only became violent Feb. 9 when officers tried to handcuff him, and he was then stunned with a Taser and pepper-sprayed.
Lives Not Worth Living : by Amy Sequenzia
The title of this blog is an expression seen in many blogs written by disabilities advocates and self-advocates. Wasn’t his life worth living? Isn’t mine or the lives of all disabled people? The murder of 22 year-old autistic George Hodgins prompted the latest, very strong protests from the autistic community against the media coverage focused on the “reasons” for the killing, while ignoring George’s, the victim, life.
Makayla Norman,14, was starved to death last year, attorney general calls for change
The Ohio attorney general is calling for change after learning a girl who starved to death was forgotten by the school system. Makayla Norman, 14, suffered from cerebral palsy and could not feed or care for herself. She died in Marc
New ADA accessibility requirements took effect March 15
For the first time in history public fitness centers, public swimming pools, recreational facilities, parks, golf and mini-golf courses, detention facilities and courtrooms, playrooms and amusement rides must adhere to the governments accessibility requirements. The rules also clarify issues that have come up in the 20 years regarding bathroom dimensions, reach ranges and accesible routes.
The Center on Human Policy, Law, and Disability Studies
The Center on Human Policy, Law, and Disability Studies (CHPLDS) is an expansion of the Center on Human Policy, which was founded by Dr. Burton Blatt in 1971. The Center is a network of academic programs, centers, student organizations, and affiliated faculty whose research, teaching, and advocacy seeks to promote the rights of people with disabilities locally, nationally, and globally, and to facilitate a critical examination of disability as an aspect of diversity in society.
National Disability Rights Network
NDRN’s mission is to promote the integrity and capacity of the P&A/CAP national network and to advocate for the enactment and vigorous enforcement of laws protecting civil and human rights of people with disabilities. The Protection and Advocacy (P&A) network was created by Congress after the Willowbrook scandal unearthed the horrible conditions in that institution. Read more about the Network's history here. The newly created P&A agencies began to realize that in order to be able to advocate for their clients, they needed a national voice in Washington, DC for their own protection, survival and growth. This was especially true, as soon
Police assaulted boy with autism
Metropolitan Police (Met) officers assaulted a 16-year-old boy with severe autism by forcing him into handcuffs and leg restraints during a school trip, the High Court has ruled. The judge said the boy, now 19, also had his human rights breached. The boy, who also has epilepsy, was subjected to disability discrimination and false imprisonment, it was ruled.
Activists Seek To Curtail Restraining Students
WASHINGTON (AP) — Tens of thousands of students, most of them disabled, are strapped down or physically restrained in school, and disability advocates hope that a new Education Department report detailing the practice of "seclusion and restraint" will sp
Burton Blatt Institute chairman to testify before National Council on Disability on future of disability law and policy
NCD is an independent federal agency that makes recommendations to the president and U.S. Congress to enhance the quality of life for all Americans with disabilities and their families. The public may join the meeting in a listening-only capacity (with t
Racial disparities found in school arrests
(L to R) Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano answer questions from students following an earthquake drill at Carnahan High School of the Future in St. Louis on Apr
U.S. Department of Education Announces Overhaul of IDEA Compliance System; More Emphasis on Student Outcomes
On Friday, the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) announced that it will revamp IDEA’s compliance system to better emphasize student outcomes, such as academic performance and graduation rates for students with disa
UNESCO | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
UNESCO works to create the conditions for dialogue among civilizations, cultures and peoples, based upon respect for commonly shared values. It is through this dialogue that the world can achieve global visions of sustainable development encompassing observance of human rights, mutual respect and the alleviation of poverty, all of which are at the heart of UNESCO’S mission and activities. The broad goals and concrete objectives of the international community – as set out in the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – underpin all UNESCO’s strategies and activities. Thus UNESCO’s unique competencies in education, the sciences,
Planet of the Blind: D.J. Savarese, My Friend, Our Ally in Disability Rights
I am a lucky man. Although I bear the emotional scars of a tough childhood—a disability childhood, one with bullying, cruel teachers, lots of loneliness—I have had the startling fortune to meet magnificent people throughout my life.
SPREAD THE WORD TO END THE WORD 03.07.12
Respectful and inclusive language is essential to the movement for the dignity and humanity of people with all disabilities. However, much of society does not recognize the hurtful, dehumanizing and exclusive effects of the word “retard(ed).” It is time to address the minority slur “retard(ed)” and raise the consciousness of society to its hurtful effects.
Partners in Policymaking
Nearly twenty five years ago, the Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities created a ground-breaking, innovative training program called Partners in Policymaking® to teach parents and self-advocates the power of advocacy to change the way people with disabilities are supported, viewed, taught, live and work. During the past two decades, important issues have been confronted and dramatic changes have been made.
Probe: Disabled patient abuse cases overlooked
California has assembled a police force to protect about 1,800 of its most vulnerable patients - men and women with cerebral palsy, severe autism and other mental disabilities who live in state institutions and require round-the-clock monitoring and prot
GCAC Presents: VSA Ohio at the intersection of art and disability
Since its founding in 1986, VSA Ohio has evolved to become a community that helps inspired artists connect with their passions. Bridging arts and disability, their programs and services focus on providing equal opportunity, full participation, independen
Former UCLA Student Fights Cuts to Disabled, Elderly
Governor Jerry Brown recently introduced a new state budget calling for deep cuts in many departments. Looking through the huge document, it’s easy to get lost in the fine print -- the line items, the pie charts -- and overlook the people who will actual
Obama ignores special ed, again…
“Fully Funding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act: Barack Obama has been a strong and consistent advocate for fully funding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Congress promised to shoulder 40 percent of each state’s “exc
CEC Member Brings UDL to the Senate!
For the past few years, George Van Horn, Special Education Director at the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation (BCSC) in Colombus, Indiana and current Indiana CEC President has implemented a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework across th
38 Disability Organizations Oppose House ESEA Proposal
The organizations oppose the draft Student Success Act because “it abandons accountability for the achievement and learning gains of subgroups of disadvantaged students who for generations have been harmed by low academic expectations.
Brick Walls
“Oh, that’s ok! We plan on donating. If we aren’t a match, we come from a large family and someone will donate. We don’t want to be on the list. We will find our own donor.” “Noooo. She—is—not—eligible –because—of—her—quality– of –life—Because—of—her—mental—delays” He says each word very slowly as if I am hard of hearing. “STOP IT NOW!” The anger is taking over. Thank God. Why did it take so long to get here? The social worker is writing some things down.
They call me Barney Fife
One out of four people that use accessible parking spaces, should not be using them. One out of four people think it's ok to park in a spot specifically designed and strategically to make it easier for someone who uses a wheelchair to have enough space to actually open the door to their van? Ok to park in a space designated for someone who has a heart condition so they don't have to walk quite as far?
Charter Schools
Charter schools are an idea dreamed up by an obscure education professor in the 1970s which have grown into a primary alternative to traditional public schools. One in 17 Florida students attended a charter school last year, a number that has increased almost six-fold in a decade. The original charter school model focused on local leaders forming an oversight board and spelling out the school’s mission, goals and methodology in a contract or charter.
ASAN disappointed with President Obama’s choice for committee on disability
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network, the nation's leading advocacy group run by and for Autistic adults, today expressed concern and disappointment over President Obama’s announcement Tuesday of his intent to appoint anti-vaccine activist Peter H. Bell as a member of the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities. “Bell’s appointment shows such contrast to the forward motion the Obama administration has shown in the areas of autism and disability as a whole..
Supreme Court Says NO to IDEA Case
In the special education case, Compton Unified School District v. Addison (Case No. 10-886), the justices had asked the U.S. solicitor general's office for its views last April on a question under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act: whether a parent may bring a claim in a due-process hearing that a district violated the law's "child-find" provision.
Stephen Hawking- Asking big questions about the universe
Professor Stephen Hawking asks some big questions about our universe -- How did the universe begin? How did life begin? Are we alone? -- and discusses how we might go about answering them.
Autism Support Network
The mission of Autism Support Network is conveyed in our tagline: connect, guide and unite. Our goal is to short-cut the uphill battle individuals and families undertake when faced with autism – whether that means the initial diagnosis, the day-to-day living and coping needed, relationship and therapeutic strategies and the latest information.
Senate Introduces Bill Limiting Restraints, Seclusion – On Special Education – Education Week
A U.S. Senate bill filed late last week would limit physical restraint and locked seclusion of students—measures often used with students with disabilities who are considered out of control, harmful to themselves or others, or in need of being calmed. Iowa Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin's "Keeping All Students Safe Act," via Senate Introduces Bill Limiting Restraints, Seclusion - On Special Education - Education Week.
Office of Special Education Programs
The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) is dedicated to improving results for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities ages birth through 21 by providing leadership and financial support to assist states and local districts. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) authorizes formula grants to states, and discretionary grants to institutions of higher education and other non-profit organizations to support research, demonstrations, technical assistance and dissemination, technology and personnel development and parent-training and information centers. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 was signed into law by President George W. Bush on December 3, 2004. As the nation's special education law, IDEA serves approximately 6.8 million children and
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) understands the many challenges still facing individuals with disabilities and their families. Therefore, OSERS is committed to improving results and outcomes for people with disabilities of all ages. OSERS supports programs that serve millions of children, youth and adults with disabilities. OSERS is comprised of the Office of the Assistant Secretary (OAS) and three program components: the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), theNational Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), and theRehabilitation Services Administration (RSA).
United States International Council on Disabilities
The U.S. International Council on Disabilities (USICD) is a non-profit, membership, constituent-led organization committed to building bridges between American and international disability communities and cultures. Through a wide range of projects and programs, USICD promotes the inclusion of disability perspectives in U.S. foreign policy and aid and provides opportunities for domestic disability rights organizations to interface with their international counterparts. USICD’s major initiatives leverage a membership that spans organizations and individuals in more than 30 U.S. states and a number of foreign countries. USICD's Board of Directors includes leading experts in domestic and international disability issues.
Rights Task Force
The Rights Task Force is part of The Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities and focuses on civil rights and protections for people with disabilities, and for enforcement of rights provisions by federal agencies. Issues covered include the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504, and protections secured through the Individuals with Disablities Education Act (IDEA)
President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities
The mission of PCPID is to provide advice and assistance to the President of the United States and the Secretary of Health and Human Services on a broad range of topics that impact people with intellectual disabilities and the field of Intellectual Disabilities. Undergirding the Committee’s mission is the goal to improve the quality of life that is experienced by people with intellectual disabilities, by upholding their full citizenship rights, independence, self-determination, and life-long participation in their respective communities.
Office for Civil Rights
The mission of the Office for Civil Rights is to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence throughout the nation through vigorous enforcement of civil rights. An important responsibility is resolving complaints of discrimination. OCR also provides technical assistance to help institutions achieve voluntary compliance with the civil rights laws that OCR enforces. An important part of OCR's assistance is partnerships designed to develop creative approaches to preventing and addressing discrimination.
National Information Center for Children & Youth with Disabilities
NICHCY serves the nation as a central source of information on: ■disabilities in children and youth; ■programs and services for infants, children, and youth with disabilities; ■IDEA, the nation’s special education law; and ■research-based information on effective practices for children with disabilities.
Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund
The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, founded in 1979, is a leading national civil rights law and policy center directed by individuals with disabilities and parents who have children with disabilities. The mission of the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund is to advance the civil and human rights of people with disabilities through legal advocacy, training, education, and public policy and legislative development.
Disability.gov
Disability.gov is a federal government website that provides an interactive, community-driven information network of disability-related programs, services, laws and benefits. Through the site, Americans with disabilities, their families, veterans, educators, employers and many others are connected to thousands of resources from federal, state and local government agencies, educational institutions and non-profit organizations.
TASH- Disability Advocacy Worldwide
TASH is an international leader in disability advocacy. Founded in 1975, TASH advocates for human rights and inclusion for people with significant disabilities and support needs – those most vulnerable to segregation, abuse, neglect and institutionalization. TASH works to advance inclusive communities through advocacy, research, professional development, policy, and information and resources for parents, families and self-advocates. The inclusive practices TASH validates through research have been shown to improve outcomes for all people. TASH is governed by a board of directors and is supported by a network of members, volunteers, committees and chapter organizations. The TASH membership includes a diverse
Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities
The Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities is a coalition of approximately 100 national disability organizations working together to advocate for national public policy that ensures the self determination, independence, empowerment, integration and inclusion of children and adults with disabilities in all aspects of society. The Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) envisions an American society in which all individuals, aided by an enabling government, have the freedom and opportunity to exercise individual decisions concerning their own lives, welfare and personal dignity. CCD envisions a society in which communities are fully accessible to all individuals with disabilities and their families, where
Benefits.gov
Benefits.gov (formerly GovBenefits.gov) was launched in an effort to provide citizens with easy, online access to government benefit and assistance programs. The program's mission is to reduce the expense and difficulty of interacting with the government while increasing citizen access to government benefit information. The site's core function is the eligibility prescreening questionnaire. Answers to the questionnaire are used to evaluate and compare with the eligibility criteria for more than 1,000 Federally-funded benefit and assistance programs. Each program description provides citizens with the next steps to apply for any benefit program of interest.
Autism Support Network
The mission of Autism Support Network is to connect, guide and unite. Their goal is to short-cut the uphill battle individuals and families undertake when faced with autism – whether that means the initial diagnosis, the day-to-day living and coping needed, relationship and therapeutic strategies and the latest information. Their support community collectively pools global knowledge and support from all those touched by ASD. Designed as a place by those living with ASD, for those with ASD, and those seeking social connection, peer guidance, and a feeling of community with those that understand.
ADA Portal
The ADA Document Portal Allows users to search a collection of ADA-related documents that have been produced by federal agencies and organizations receiving federal funds.
American Association of People with Disabilities
The American Association of People with Disabilities is the nation's largest cross-disability organization. They promote equal opportunity, economic power, independent living, and political participation for people with disabilities. Their members, including people with disabilities and their family, friends, and supporters, represent a powerful force for change. Over 50 million Americans with disabilities and their supporters have the power to achieve full civil rights for all. They are powered by their vision of a community whose voice is heard through the halls of government, in our culture, and in our communities.
Charter Schools Excluding Students with Significant Disabilities in Florida
A new report by the Miami Herald and StateImpact Florida – a National Public Radio initiative - confirms CEC’s ongoing concern that many charter schools are failing to serve students with disabilities, particularly students with significant disabilities
Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities
The Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities is a Coalition of national consumer, advocacy, provider and professional organizations headquartered in Washington, D.C. Since 1973, the CCD has advocated on behalf of people of all ages with physical and mental disabilities and their families. CCD has worked to achieve federal legislation and regulations that assure that the 54 million children and adults with disabilities are fully integrated into the mainstream of society. CCD does this by: Identifying and researching public policy issues, developing testimony and policy recommendations and encouraging innovative solutions to public policy concerns. Educating members of Congress in an effort
Ad Hoc Developmental Disabilities Task Force
The Ad Hoc Developmental Disabilities Task Force monitors the Developmental Disabilities Bill of Rights Act and the administration of the program through the Administration on Developmental Disabilities. The Act is authorized every three years and regulations and policy guidelines are developed based on the statute. The Task Force also reviews other developmental disability related issues.
AAIDD
The American Association on Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities promotes progressive policies, sound research, effective practices, and universal human rights for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Best and Worst States for Disability Services
UCP's invaluable analysis of Medicaid for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities reports that progress is being made for community inclusion, but every state has room for improvement. According to the report Vermont provides the best services for individuals with disabilities and Missippi provides the worst. There are still approximately 58,000 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities living in facilities with 16 or more beds.Too much money is being spent isolating people in these large instititutions and the waiting lists for services has also increased dramatically, up 56% from 2005 to 2009. Top ten states in terms of quality of
Toronto Police Defend Handcuffing a 9 Year Old Child with Autism
CTV reports that a 9 year-old boy with Asperger's Syndrome was handcuffed by police officers responding to 911 calls from Toronto's Fairbank Memorial Day Care Center about an "uncontrollable autistic boy" . Toronto police officers are defending their decision to handcuff the 9 year old child. On July 28th the police received two calls from the day care center where the child was reportedly was throwing chairs, tables, and yes, even paint. Reports say the child was upset after being bullied by other children during lunch about his disability. The school placed him in an empty classroom after
The Advocacy Center
The Advocacy Center empowers individuals with disabilities and their families to advocate for themselves and realize their personal goals. Together we build strong, inclusive communities by increasing the ability of community members to support and value all individuals.
National Council on Disability Report Examines How to Improve Access to Health Care, Special Education and Services for USMC Family Members with Disabilities
WASHINGTON, Nov. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On November 28, the National Council on Disability (NCD) will release "United States Marine Corps Exceptional Family Members: How to Improve Access to Health Care, Special Education, and Long-term Supp