Roundup of recent news and events concerning health and disabilities in America. includes seniors and veterans news and events.
The Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act (ADAAA) will take effect on January, 1, 2009. Now is the time to learn how disability will be defined under the new Amendments Act and how to avoid discriminating against those who have a genetic marker for a disease. The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) and the ADAAA will require employers to change their approach to applicants and employees with disabilities. In 1945, Congress enacted Public Law 176 and designated the first week in October as “National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week.” In 1962, the word “physically” was removed from the week’s name to recognize the employment needs of all Americans with disabilities. Finally, in 1988, Congress expanded the week to a month and changed its name to “National Disability Employment Awareness Month.”
The Justice Department filed a lawsuit today in federal district court in Nashville, Tenn., against Murphy Development, LLC, for failing to provide required accessible features for persons with disabilities at seven Nashville-area multi-family housing developments with more than 375 covered ground floor units.
The typical employer spends about $8,000 a year on an employee´s healthcare. This includes medical insurance, disability and worker´s compensation. As these costs climb, medical insurance is expected to rise at least 10% per year. Because work gives an worker a stable environment and support system, Employee Health Promotion Programs can have a great impact on decreasing high-risk behaviors. This impact results in decrease health claims cost, less absenteeism, and less short-term disability. http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/74486
SALISBURY - The Maryland State Highway Admistration is conducting a self-evaluation to identify features, such as sidewalks, that do not meet Americans with Disabilities Act current guidelines.
Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin has repeatedly pledged to be an advocate for parents of children with special needs. On the Democratic side, Sen. Joe Biden has voiced his concern for children with disabilities.
October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month. Recent articles in both the American Journal of Medical Genetics and Prenatal Diagnosis report that more than 90 percent of pregnancies prenatally diagnosed as Down syndrome are terminated. As prenatal testing becomes normative, expectant couples may be more likely to abort babies who are not exactly what they had hoped for. According to reputable studies, between 80 and 90 percent of the children diagnosed with Down Syndrome in the United States this year won’t make it into this world, simply because they have a positive genetic test in prenatal screening — a test which can be wrong.
Disability-Related Questions for Politicians - Those are the hot-button issues being debated during this presidential race, and as usual, the candidates take such broad stands that even the most complicated issue becomes a one-size-fits-all sound bite. But citizens with disabilities (there are 54 million of them) would like some specifics before they cast their votes. It's not just that the devil is in the details, but that their futures may very well depend on those details. More info
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger recently eliminated from the state budget the annual renters rebate for seniors that provided a little economic relief (up to $347 a year) to elderly persons on a fixed income. He did the same thing to the tax rebate for senior homeowners.
Fresno, CA, USA The Fresno Bee reports the arrest of Gilbert Garcia Chavez, 57, a bus driver for Safe Harbor Adult Day Care in connection with an alleged sexual assault of a 45-year-old passenger who had both physical and mental disabilities.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed a disability access bill that seeks to increase voluntary compliance with disability laws and curb lawsuits. It was a top legislative priority of business leaders. Senate Bill 1608 seeks to improve access to businesses and other public places for people with disabilities and promote compliance with access laws through use of state-certified specialists and a more collaborative legal process.
Celebrating 60 years in the Valley, Goodwill of Central Arizona is one of the oldest and largest nonprofit agencies in Arizona. Our commitment is to “Put People to Work” throughout Arizona by providing job skills training, education and career services to those with vocational disadvantages that can include physical and emotional barriers, welfare dependency, illiteracy and age. In 2007, we served 11,000 youth and adults on their quest toward self-sufficiency and placed more than 4,600 into competitive employment. For more information on Goodwill of Central Arizona visit www.goodwillaz.org.
Disabilities Act amended to include more Americans - President Bush signed into law the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 on Sept. 25. The act amends the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and directly overturns several decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court interpreting that landmark law. The ADAAA sends “an unmistakable message to the courts that the concept of disability is to be more broadly, rather than narrowly, construed.” Specifically, employers will bear the brunt of the act as far more people will fall within the definition of disability under the ADA.
Hillsborough County schools are violating federal requirements by not providing adequate services to students with disabilities, according to a coalition of advocacy groups. The Southern Poverty Law Center, the Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities and the NAACP held a press conference in downtown Tampa this morning to announce they have filed a class-action administrative complaint against the Hillsborough County School system alleging systemic violations of a federal law. http://www.wmnf.org/news_stories/6166
The North Dakota Attorney General's office has issued a warning to nonprofits dealing with Los Angeles-based The Grant Institute and has launched a formal investigation into the company's seminars in the state. Meanwhile, some of the organization's former instructors are initiating their own inquiries into the company's deals. "I am highly concerned about this company. I believe The Grant Institute previously has violated North Dakota law, and now it is not responding to requests for information from my Consumer Protection Division," North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem said in a written statement warning residents not to conduct business with the company. http://www.nptimes.com/08Oct/npt-081001-3.html
Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. will receive the Golden Key Employer of the Year Award for 2008 from the office of Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Friday. The award recognizes outstanding contributions and practices that improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities. ACS has hired more than 135 people with disabilities since a pilot program began in March. ACS works with agencies that support people with disabilities who refer appropriate candidates to ACS for possible hiring.
Recognized as the Best Company to Work for In New York, YAI/National Institute for People with Disabilities is an award-winning, nationally acclaimed network of not-for-profit health and human services agencies dedicated to building brighter futures for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities of all ages and their families.
Health and Disability News for American Seniors:
Various strategies could encourage elderly people to participate and stay in clinical trials, a pressing issue as the population ages, researchers suggest. Older participants are often specifically excluded from clinical trials, even those testing therapies that will be prescribed for older persons.
Due to an overwhelming response from community members planning to attend the “Safety for Seniors” presentation, it has been moved from its previous location, the Davis Library at 6400 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda, to a new location that can accommodate a larger audience, the auditorium of Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda.
Health and Disability News for American Veterans:
The Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2008, which passed Congress on Saturday and is being prepared for submission to the White House for President Bush’s signature, pushes the Department of Veterans Affairs to use electronic filing and processing of claims to try to improve the speed of claims decisions, reduce the disparity in decisions involving similar issues and cut the number of claims decisions that end up being overturned. http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/10/military_va_disability_100108w/
Coming Events:
The Center for Disabilities Studies (CDS) at the University of Delaware is hosting a public session in each Delaware county the last week of October to give Delawareans the opportunity to learn about Healthy Delawareans with Disabilities. The Sussex County public session will be held Monday, October 27, from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm at the Milford Public Library, 11 S.E. Front Street, Milford. The New Castle County public session is scheduled for Tuesday, October 28 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm at the Center for Disabilities Studies, 461 Wyoming Road, Newark. The Kent County public session will take place Thursday, October 30 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm at the Dover Public Library, 45 South State Street, Dover. Reservations are required to attend the public sessions and should be made by 4:30 pm on Wednesday, October 22 to Mary Thomas, Center for Disabilities Studies, at 302.831-2940 or maryt@udel.edu.
On Oct. 23, the Hopewell Bureau of Police, Hopewell Sheriff's Office and Virginia State Police will offer VIN etching to city residents at the Oaklawn Plaza Food Lion Parking lot.
Children and youths ages 3-18 with physical disabilities can participate in the six-week Pete's Pals program that offers community-based aquatic and motor therapies. The program is 5:30-7:30 p.m. each Wednesday from Oct. 1 through Nov. 5 at Faith Community Center, 5526 State Road 26, Lafayette. The cost is $60 per student, and scholarships are available. For more information, contact Susan Flynn, clinical associate professor of health and kinesiology, at ( 765 ) 494-3180, flynnsm@purdue.edu. Each participant will be assigned a trained clinician who will guide them through a variety of activities inducing physical fitness to improve muscular strength, endurance and flexibility; body awareness and special orientation; fundamental and motor patterns and sports skills; swimming and water safety skills; and sensory motor activities. Parents also can listen to speakers or participate in a support group during this time.
Disabilities health forum planned - Those wishing to make reservations for a free Oct. 8 public information forum on health care concerns for people with special needs must get them in by Monday, Oct. 6, according to the Washington County Disability Advisory Committee and Deafnet. Registration for attendance or accommodations at this event at Robinwood Medical Center, Room 142, blue or silver entrances at 11110 Medical Campus Drive, are needed via e-mail at p.martin@myactv.net or by calling 301-223-1316.
Volunteers are needed for the Anne Arundel County Commission on Disability Issues, a group of 21 residents who work to support residents with disabilities. Members include people with disabilities and members of their families, as well as a member of the Anne Arundel County Council and representatives of agencies that provide services to the disabled. Information: Pam Jordan, 410-222-4383, or e-mail exjord00@aacounty.org.
Volunteers are also needed to help with Disability Awareness Day 2008, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 25 at Westfield Annapolis Mall. County agencies will offer information and assistance to people with disabilities in the areas of transportation, employment, housing, recreation and access to services. Information: 410-222-4383 or Maryland Relay 7-1-1.
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