Accessibility
Blind
Man Drives Car Independently – (National Federation of the Blind). "The National Federation of
the Blind (NFB), the oldest and largest organization of blind people in the
nation, announced today that for the first time a blind individual has driven a
street vehicle in public without the assistance of a sighted person. Mark
Anthony Riccobono, a blind executive who directs technology, research, and
education programs for the organization, was behind the wheel of a Ford Escape
hybrid equipped with nonvisual technology and successfully navigated 1.5 miles
of the road course section of the famed track at the Daytona International
Speedway."
http://www.nfb.org/nfb/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=760
CNIB Appalled at Government Plans To Appeal Court Ruling Mandating Website Accessibility – (Canadian National Institute for the Blind). "CNIB, Canada's primary source of information and support for people with vision loss, is appalled at the federal government's decision to appeal a court ruling that ordered it to upgrade its websites to make them fully accessible for blind and partially sighted Canadians. . . The case was first brought to the courts in 2007 by Donna Jodhan, a blind Toronto-based accessibility consultant who encountered significant difficulties in accessing sections of federal government websites to apply for jobs and complete online Census forms. In November 2010, Ms. Jodhan won a Charter Challenge on the basis that some government websites denied the rights of Canadians with vision loss to equal benefit of the law guaranteed under Section 15, the equality provision, of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Federal Government has since filed a motion to appeal that ruling."
http://www.cnib.ca/en/Pages/Government-Appeal-Jodhan_Jan2011.aspx
Connect
2: Free Community Voicemail Service now at SMD Clearinghouse –
(Society for Manitobans with Disabilities).
"Connect 2 is a free voice-mailbox service for individuals who do not have
a phone, or a secure means of getting important messages. Service users can use
any phone to retrieve their messages – a friend's, a public phone, or a phone
at any one of the forty organizations participating in the program. Anyone
without a secure means of getting important messages from employers, doctors,
social service agencies, daycares, or other necessary communications, can
apply. Applicants must fill out an application and present some form of
identification. Voice-mailboxes are protected by the password that the service
user sets on the account. The free mailboxes are made available on a time
limited basis, usually six months to one year."
http://www.smd.mb.ca/news/1060/connect_2_free_community_voicemail_service_now_at_smd_clearinghouse.aspx
A
New bus for London – "Transport for All and other accessible
transport supporters stood outside Brixton bus garage in 2005 and waved the old
Routemaster into the annals of history. The old bus was iconic for sure, but
for many disabled people it also was completely inaccessible. Its time in the
Transport Museum was long due, and we welcomed the arrival of a bus fleet that
is heralded as one of the most accessible in the world. The revival of the
Routemaster was an election pledge by Mayor Boris Johnson, and was initially
met with some scepticism. Could the money have been spent on improving driver
training standards or indeed ramp technology instead? Nevertheless for many disabled
and older Londoners, a chance to design a bus from scratch has proved to be an
exciting prospect. From the start Transport for All has been keen to stress
that if the bus was to be accessible then it must involve disabled and older
bus users from the very beginning."
http://www.transportforall.org.uk/news/a-new-bus-for-london
NHTSA
already working to fulfill new Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act – "Have
you ever considered the safety consequences of cars that are actually too
quiet? On Tuesday, President Obama signed the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act
of 2010. In this law Congress requires the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration to ensure that electric and hybrid car manufacturers add noises
that alert the blind and other pedestrians."
http://fastlane.dot.gov/2011/01/nhtsa-working-to-fulfill-psea-of-2010.html
N.Y.'s
Metropolitan Opera Sued Over Disabled Access – by David
Glovin (Bloomberg Business Week). "The
U.S. government filed a civil lawsuit against New York's Metropolitan Opera,
accusing it of discriminating against opera-goers in wheelchairs or with visual
impairment. The Metropolitan Opera, in its 127th season, is accused of engaging
'in a pattern or practice' of discrimination by maintaining architectural
barriers that prevent or restrict the movement of the disabled. For the past
decade, 'the opera did not have a reasonable number of wheelchair seating
locations,' according to a complaint filed today in federal court in Manhattan.
'The opera did not have a reasonable number of seats that had no armrests or
that were equipped with folding or removable armrests.' The suit under the
Americans with Disabilities Act seeks to force the opera to provide the
disabled with equal access."
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-01-13/n-y-s-metropolitan-opera-sued-over-disabled-access.html
Progress
on Focus Indicators – by Jared Smith (WebAim).
"Nearly three years
ago we published a blog entry titled The plague of outline:0.
At the time, it was becoming increasingly common for web sites to disable the
focus indicators for links via CSS, thus making it nearly impossible for
sighted keyboard users to determine which link currently has keyboard focus.
Unfortunately, in recent years, this trend has continued with many popular web
sites removing the focus indicator, including Twitter,
LinkedIn, Flickr,
AOL, CNN, MySpace, ESPN,
etc. Visit these pages and (assuming you have vision), try to navigate via the
keyboard to see how entirely inaccessible this renders these web sites."
http://webaim.org/blog/progress-on-focus-indicators/
Removing
the obstacles: Disability access and the arts (in heritage buildings) –
(Australian Policy Online). "Many
arts organisations are located in heritage buildings, and many of these do not
provide disability access. It is often presumed that if a building has heritage
status, there is no capacity to provide or improve accessible design.
Accessible Arts, with the support of partners Arts Access Australia, UTS
Shopfront and the Arts Law Centre of Australia, has completed a research report
that reviews legislation and the issues related to providing access for arts
services and other organisations located in heritage buildings."
http://www.apo.org.au/research/removing-obstacles-disability-access-and-arts-heritage-buildings
Seniors,
people with disabilities no longer riding buses for free –
by Ben Wear (American-Statesman). "Lee
Horsley, partially disabled by a severely broken leg a couple of years ago,
spends his days looking for work and making periodic visits to the doctor. And
he gets to those appointments via the free bus rides Capital Metro has provided
to people with disabilities and seniors since 1989 .So Horsley, 45, was
startled to hear last week that beginning today, those rides will cost him 50
cents per boarding (half of the full price), or $15 for a 31-day pass. Also
today, Capital Metro will begin charging 50 cents for seniors and up to 25
percent more for its door-to-door rides for people with qualifying
disabilities. Starting Tuesday, it will lower prices on its MetroRail commuter
line."
http://www.statesman.com/news/local/seniors-people-with-disabilities-no-longer-riding-buses-1188408.html
What
are the barriers to the Internet for people with disabilities? – "The
Department of Justice wants to broaden the authority of the Americans with
Disabilities Act in regard to the Internet and specifically websites. Today is
the final day for public comment on that proposal. Meanwhile, new data has
emerged that shows far fewer people with disabilities using the Internet than
people without. The ADA was enacted in 1990, back when the Internet as we know
it today didn't exist. It was designed to give people access to the places they
could potentially go. But is the Internet a place? That's an issue that
certainly wasn't discussed then and hasn't gotten much clarification since. Dr.
Cyndi Rowland of the Center for Persons with Disabilities joins us and asks if the
Internet isn't a place but people still 'go' there, how do we accommodate those
with disabilities?"
http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/01/24/tech-report-barriers-to-the-internet/?refid=0
Campaigners
hail 'landmark' convention on disability rights – by Martha
Moss (The Parliment). "Disability
campaigners have welcomed the EU's ratification of the UN convention on rights
for people with disabilities. The convention aims to uphold civil, political,
social and economic rights for the more than 80 million people with a
disability in the EU. It commits signatories to ensuring that people with
disabilities enjoy their rights on an equal footing with other citizens. All 27
member states have also signed the document, and 16 have ratified it so far.
The European Disability Forum (EDF) pointed out that this is the first time
that the EU has ratified such a treaty, and described the news as a 'landmark
victory in human rights'."
http://www.theparliament.com/latest-news/article/newsarticle/campaigners-hail-landmark-convention-on-disability-rights/
Disability
Rights Online News January 2011 Issue Forty – (ADA). "Disability Rights Online
News is a bi-monthly update about the Civil Rights Division's activities in the
area of disability rights. The Division enforces laws prohibiting
discrimination based on disability in employment, housing, access to businesses
serving the public, access to government programs and services including voting
and public transportation, and unconstitutional conditions in institutions of
confinement."
http://www.ada.gov/newsltr0111.htm
Extreme
force – (Disability
Now). "Jody McIntyre quickly became the public face of resistance
during recent student protests after video footage emerged that appeared to
show him being dragged from his wheelchair by police. In an uncompromising and
unflinching interview he gives Paul Carter his views on the incident that made
him an overnight celebrity, and how he feels disabled people should come
together to fight the Government's cuts agenda."
http://www.disabilitynow.org.uk/living/features/extreme-force
A Justice
Department disability rights pioneer – (Washington Post). "John Wodatch may
be anonymous to most Americans, but the Department of Justice attorney has been
a pivotal behind-the-scenes player during the past four decades in breaking
down discriminatory barriers for tens of millions of people with disabilities.
Now chief of the department's disability rights section, Wodatch wrote the
first federal disability rights regulations in the 1970s, played an important
part in drafting the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and its
implementing rules, and since then has been devoted to enforcing the landmark
law."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/24/AR2011012402765.html
New
officials for race, disability discrimination – by Sabra
Lan (ABC). "The Federal
Government is promising to boost Australia's human rights watchdog by
appointing commissioners for both race and disability. The two commissioners
will replace the joint race and disability commissioner in July.
Attorney-General Robert McClelland says the issues of race and disability
discrimination are significant enough to warrant dedicated commissioners in
respect to each issue."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/01/27/3123297.htm
NSCIA
and United Spinal Association Join Call to Protect Health Care Benefits
Americans Have Gained through Affordable Care Act – (The National Spinal Cord Injury Association).
"National Spinal Cord Injury Association (NSCIA) and the United Spinal
Association joined more than 150 diverse national organizations speaking out in
opposition to the effort to repeal recent gains in health care benefits through
the Affordable Care Act at a press conference organized by Families USA. NSCIA
member Kimball Gray spoke on behalf of the two leading national membership
organizations promoting the rights and of the millions of Americans with spinal
cord injuries and disorders."
http://www.spinalcord.org/news.php?dep=1&page=0&list=2943
Behind
the Curtain - Austin Seraphin's Weird Blog – "Welcome
to Behind the Curtain. I started this blog when I did a radio show. After my
involvement ceased with the station, I decided to keep the blog going as a
platform for my thoughts. I hope you enjoy it. Topics covered include
technology, spirituality, blindness-related issues, politics, reviews,
vegetarian cooking, and anything else I feel like ranting about."
http://behindthecurtain.us/about/
For
Children with Autism, Don't Set the Bar Too Low – by Lisa Jo
Rudy (Autism Spectrum Disorders Blog).
"Not too many people with disabilities become role models for the rest of
the world. Some, like Stevie Wonder, are just so talented and able in a
particular area that their disability seems to become unimportant. Stevie
Wonder's musical talent loses nothing as a result of his blindness. But others,
like Helen Keller and Temple Grandin, are held up as models because they worked
like demons to achieve their goals despite ongoing, extraordinarily difficult
challenges. Helen Keller became an intellectual and author, in the face of
almost unimaginable odds. Temple Grandin became a world-renowned expert in
animal husbandry and an international speaker and writer, daily facing and
conquering her very real autistic challenges."
http://autism.about.com/b/2011/01/16/for-children-with-autism-dont-set-the-bar-too-low.htm
Professional Development
2011
Autism Center for Excellence (ACE) Webcast Series – (Autism Center for Excellence). "ACE will hold a series of seven
monthly webcasts beginning February 8 for educators, parents, program managers
and others who care for and work with children on the autism spectrum. Each
webcast is 45 minutes. Participants can chat with presenters after each
webcast. The Virginia Commonwealth University RRTC also has available many archived webcasts on
subjects including universal design for learning, job accommodations, Veterans
benefits, self-employment, intellectual disabilities and many other topics."
http://www.vcuautismcenter.org/registration/webcast/index.cfm?webcastID=173
'Diabetes'
Is Fifth Disability Intensive Course Introduced to College of Direct Support
(CDS) Curriculum – (PRNewswire).
"The College of Direct Support (CDS), an internet-based college for Direct
Support Professionals (DSPs) and managed in partnership by Elsevier I MC
Strategies and the University of Minnesota's Research and Training Center, has
introduced its newest Disability Intensive Course (DIC) into the CDS Curriculum
– Diabetes. This is the fifth DIC course to be added to the CDS curriculum,
joining courses on 'Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorders', 'Brain Injury', 'Cerebral
Palsy', and 'Depression' and is the 35th course in the CDS curriculum. The
author of the course is Kelly Nye-Lengerman, a Project Coordinator and author
at the University of Minnesota's Institute on Community Integration/Research
and Training Center, which is responsible for the development and authoring of
the CDS curriculum."
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/diabetes-is-fifth-disability-intensive-course-introduced-to-college-of-direct-support-cds-curriculum-112863909.html
Post-Secondary
N.C.
disability groups oppose new rule allowing community colleges to reject
potentially dangerous applicants - Allows rejection of 'dangerous' applicants –
by Jen Serdetchnaia (The Daily Tar Heel).
"The N.C. Community Colleges Board passed a new rule Friday allowing
community college officials on all 58 campuses to refuse admission to
applicants they deem as potential threats to campus security. But state
disability rights groups are concerned the rule might violate federal law. They
say it is discriminatory because it does not discern between applicants who
might pose a threat and those who have mental or physical disabilities that are
not dangerous. The rule will be implemented April 1 at the earliest, said Megen
Hoenk, spokeswoman for the board. The process started in August 2010. 'It would
allow boards of trustees to refuse admission to protect the health and safety
of applicants and individuals,' Hoenk said. Although Hoenk said the rule is not
in response to any specific incident, its passing comes on the coattails of the
Jan. 8 shooting in Arizona."
http://www.dailytarheel.com/index.php/article/2011/01/n.c._disability_groups_oppose_new_rule_allowing_community_colleges_to_reject_potentially_dangerous_a
Secondary
Guide
for High Schools on Creating Job Shadowing Opportunities for Youth with Disabilities –
(Heath Resource). "'How to:
Build Partnerships for Career Exploration - Using Job Shadowing to Explore the
World of Work' is a new guide is written for high schools on how to collaborate
with a postsecondary institution or other organization to plan and carry out a
job shadow day. The guide describes the preparation tasks that take place at
the high school and those that take place at partner sites, then provides
details for the job shadow day itself and follow-up activities. The guide includes
a suggested task timeline in the back that may be helpful as a planning tool.
Download the guide at http://www.ivrs.iowa.gov/Transition/BuildPartnershipsforCareerExploration.pdf"
http://www.heath.gwu.edu/news/guide-for-high-schools-on-creating-job-shadowing-opportunities-for-youth-with-disabilities/
In
Nation's Largest District, 1 In 3 Suspensions Handed To Kids In Special
Education – by Michelle Diament (Disability Scoop). "As the number of school suspensions grew
dramatically in New York City over the last decade, students with disabilities
appear to have fared among the worst, a new report indicates. Students in
special education accounted for about one third of all suspensions in New York
City public schools. This, even as such students represented fewer than 18 percent
of the district's students. The data comes from an analysis released this week
by the New York Civil Liberties Union and the Student Safety Coalition that
looked at suspension records for New York City schools from 1999 to 2009. The
organizations accessed the information through a series of Freedom of
Information Act requests."
http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2011/01/28/nyc-suspensions/12125/
Large
Network of Private Schools Pays $215,000 to Settle Lawsuit Alleging
Discrimination Against Children with Disabilities – (The United States Department of Justice).
"The Justice Department today announced the settlement of a lawsuit filed
to enforce the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) against Nobel Learning
Communities, Inc. (NLC), a private, for-profit entity that operates a
nationwide network of more than 180 preschools, elementary schools and
secondary schools. . . In its lawsuit, filed in April 2009 in the Eastern District
of Pennsylvania, the Justice Department alleged that NLC violated Title III of
the ADA by excluding from its programs children with disabilities, including
some children with autism spectrum disorder, Down Syndrome, Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder, and global developmental delays. NLC denies the
allegations."
http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2011/January/11-crt-051.html
Troubles
At School Increasingly Land Kids With Disabilities In Court –
by Shaun Heasley (Disability Scoop). "As
schools turn to law enforcement to deal with unruly kids, a new report
indicates that students in special education are up to twice as likely to
attract police attention. In the report from the public interest law center
Texas Appleseed, data from 26 Texas school districts shows that educators are
relying more and more on law enforcement to address school discipline issues.
Notably, the report indicates that police regularly issue misdemeanor tickets
to students as young as 6 for everything from using profanity to fighting. Such
tickets require students to go to court and often incur fines that can range
from $60 to $500. 'School-based policing is one of the fastest growing areas of
law enforcement,' said Deborah Fowler, deputy director of Texas Appleseed. 'Yet
school police officers receive little training specific to child development or
working in school environments.' Among students with disabilities, the
phenomenon is likely even more striking. Though just two of the 26 school
districts provided data specific to students in special education, these
children were ticketed at double the rates of their typically developing peers
in the districts."
http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2011/01/14/troubles-school-court/11933/
Job bias claims set new record on disability surge – by Sam Hananel (Bloomberg
Business Week). "Federal job bias complaints climbed to record levels
last year, led by a surge in workers claiming discrimination based on
disability. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission says charges of
disability discrimination rose by about 17 percent to 25,165 claims. Overall,
the agency received nearly 100,000 claims during the 2010 fiscal year, a 7
percent increase and the highest number in its 45-year history. The spike in
disability claims began in the months after Congress approved changes to the Americans
with Disabilities Act in 2009. The changes made it easier for people with
treatable conditions like epilepsy, cancer or mental illness to claim they are
disabled."
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9KM15SO0.htm
Report: People with Disabilities Struggle to Find
Quality Work – "Despite
federal and state laws that guarantee their right to live and work in their
chosen communities, people with disabilities struggle to find quality
employment. According to research from the National Disability Rights Network,
they face barriers such as segregated work, sheltered environments and low
wages. Chris Filler with the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence says
that, in Ohio, progress has been made through education and increasing
awareness to bring individuals with disabilities into the workforce."
http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/18185-1
Yes, ITKAN: Change IT expectations – by Sandra guy (Sun
Times). "A business model that empowers leaders, develops teamwork and
promotes a strategic vision is part of a Chicago technology group's efforts to
network, update members' skills and gain greater employment opportunities.
Steven Luker, a Portage Park native who lives in Wheaton, says the group,
called ITKAN for IT Knowledge Abilities Network, has introduced him to new
opportunities and given him greater confidence to 'get out there and talk to
people in the industry.' The methodical effort sounds like that of many Chicago
business networks. Yet ITKAN advocates for people with disabilities — some
profound enough to require extra efforts to overcome others' preconceived notions."
http://www.suntimes.com/business/3084284-417/disabilities-itkan-business-luker-chicago.html
Disability
group a company not a charity – by Chloé Fedio (The Star). "A Toronto charity
originally set up to help Jewish children overcome learning barriers was really
a business taking a hefty cut from disability support payments, a federal audit
shows. The taxman revoked the charitable status of the Canadian Ptach Society
last year for 'abusing' the federal disability support program. Auditors ruled
the charity was cooking up applications for people who do not meet the program's
criteria and then issuing bogus charitable receipts for commission fees. The
charity used the Canada Revenue Agency logo to advertise tax refunds as high as
$30,000. Today, the people who run the charity are behind the National Benefit
Authority, a Toronto company facing criticism for exploiting the disabled by
taking as much as 30 per cent of the tax refund. NBA is one of a dozen
companies aggressively marketing a service the government says is unnecessary:
they apply on behalf of families of the disabled who want a retroactive refund
on income tax paid over the past ten years."
http://www.thestar.com/news/article/923163--disability-group-a-company-not-a-charity
Govt
accused of double standards over care workers – (TVNZ). "Labour is accusing the
government of double standards for allowing New Zealand disability support
workers to be paid less than minimum wage, while denying foreign workers
employment because the minimum wage isn't being paid. Labour MP Darien Fenton
says 'thousands' of New Zealand caregivers have continued to be employed on
just $34 for a ten-hour shift. He said that is despite an Employment Court
ruling last year which found that 'sleepovers' required by Disability Support
provider, Idea Services, should be paid at least the minimum wage."
http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/govt-accused-double-standards-over-care-workers-4004235
New
exhibit helps children learn about disabilities – by Brian
Taff (ABC). "A one-of-a-kind
exhibit is now up and running at the Please Touch Museum. And most of the kids
who have tried it are coming away with a new perspective about life and people,
different from themselves. 'You pedal it backward if you want to go back, you
pedal it forward if you want to go forward,' explains Joseph Cerniglia. This is
not your average video game. It is part of an average day for millions of Americans,
their bodies or minds not fully able, a life most others won't ever fully
understand. But some kids just might. Dozens of children experienced a new
exhibit at the Please Touch Museum called Access/Ability."
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=7912112
Pepsi
Refresh Challenge Project – (The National
Spinal Cord Injury Association). "The Pepsi Refresh Challenge Project
is a novel new way to distribute philanthropic support in that it allows
visitors to the web site to vote on the fund raising requests they feel have
the most merit. At the end of every month, grants are awarded to the ideas that
get the most votes in their category that month. Proposals in the running in
January include ideas from groups like the National Organization for Rare
Disorders (NORD) and Disaster Ready People (DRP) -- but there are literally
thousands of ideas to choose from."
http://www.spinalcord.org/news.php?dep=1&page=6&list=2942
Government
Canada
New
year leaves disabled Nortel workers without benefits –
(The Canadian Press). "The new
year is bringing little joy to some 400 former Nortel employees who find
themselves abruptly cut off from their long-term disability benefits. Without
the benefits, the workers predict 2011 will herald a life of poverty and pain.
They fear they won't be able to afford to buy their prescription medications,
much less keep roofs over their heads or food on their tables. Disability
benefits were to cease as of midnight Friday as part of a court-approved
pension settlement among Nortel and its former employees. The once-mighty
telecommunications technology giant filed for bankruptcy protection two years
ago. The Harper government has nixed a Liberal proposal to give the affected
workers preferred creditor status when Nortel is finally dissolved, effectively
changing the settlement retroactively."
http://ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110101/nortel-disability-pension-110101/20110101/?hub=OttawaHome
Nortel
disabled benefits to be tax free – by Scott Taylor (Toronto Sun). "The tax man is
giving disabled Nortel employees a break. Canada Revenue Agency won't be
collecting taxes on the payments the workers get from their underfunded health
and welfare trust. On Dec. 31 the roughly 400 disabled employees lost their
disability, health, life, dental and pension benefits. They're now left as
common creditors, meaning they'll get only an average of about 34% of what they
had been living on. Many are afraid that they won't be able to afford their
everyday bills, much less expensive medications. Most are unable to work. 'This
is the first really good news we've heard,' the workers' court-appointed
representative, Sue Kennedy, said Thursday. 'Any little help is better than no
help at all.' Kennedy also said that she recently met with Government House
Leader John Baird, who said the government is looking into ways to further
assist the workers, though as yet nothing concrete has been offered. The
employees were thrust into this position because Nortel drastically underfunded
its trust fund."
http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2011/01/13/16880621.html
Ontario
updates disability supports – by Antonella Artuso (Toronto Sun). "The Ontario government's very definition of a
developmental disability has changed as the province modernizes the way it
supports vulnerable citizens. The days of large institutional facilities for
people with a developmental disorder are over in Ontario with the Dalton
McGuinty government moving to a community-based care model. Community and
Social Services Minister Madeleine Meilleur attained authority on Jan. 1 to
designate regional points of contacts that give individuals and families a
single place to start when searching for help. The developmental services
system was not as fair or as efficient as it should have been, government
spokesman Sandy Mangat said in an e-mail. Sometimes people with similar needs
received different levels of support depending on how they were assessed, what
agency they used and where they live, she added. The previous Developmental
Services Act in Ontario, over 35 years-old, was replaced in 2008 with new
legislation that is being implemented in stages. One of the key changes in law
is the definition of a developmental disorder for the purposes of accessing
services."
http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2011/01/16/16910346.html
Silent
struggle for Sask. residents with disabilities – by Sarah
Richter, with files from Amanda Ferguson (Global).
"A major movement to improve the lives of Saskatchewan's disabled is
underway in Regina. Thousands of people in the province live on less than
$1,000 a month, leaving them struggling to put food on the table and clothes on
their back. Bill and Linda Lawson are navigating through life with medical and
physical disabilities. They can only afford a small apartment due to a yearly
income of only $9,000. 'Everything I have is either given to me, or I got for
free,' Bill said. 'Everything including the clothes on me right now.' As they
bring their silent struggle to light Thursday morning, it becomes very clear
they are the lucky ones. Thousands of other people with disabilities live with
even less, meaning welfare is their only option."
http://www.globalregina.com/Silent+struggle+Sask+residents+with+disabilities/4140756/story.html
US
AAHSA
applauds launch of new CLASS Act Office – "The
Obama administration has established an office for the CLASS Act, a long-term
care and disability insurance program. The CLASS Office, which will be housed
in the Administration on Aging, will head implementation of the program.
Overseeing it will be Assistant Secretary on Aging Kathy Greenlee. Larry
Minnix, president and CEO of the American Association of Homes and Services for
the Aging, which has been a vocal proponent of the act, praised the
administration's move."
http://www.mcknights.com/aahsa-applauds-launch-of-new-class-act-office/article/193840/
Balancing
the cost of care – by Jim Spencer (Star
Tribune). "Lance Hegland got out of bed the way he always does. A
personal care assistant rolled his limp body back and forth, working a sling
underneath him, then cranked him aloft in a hoist and lowered him into a
motorized wheelchair. Hegland, who is 38 and has muscular dystrophy, will
endure almost anything to avoid going to a nursing home. What he may not
overcome are recent cuts to state-paid personal care assistance, known as PCA.
Allegations of billing fraud in a 2008 legislative audit and a 164 percent
increase in spending from 2002 to 2007 made PCA an easy target for officials
trying to reduce state spending. But the strategy to control a runaway program
also eliminated crucial services to hundreds and reduced services to thousands
of Minnesotans with disabilities. More severe cuts loom as the state confronts
a $6.2 billion deficit and has nothing but hard choices left to erase it."
http://www.startribune.com/local/113428589.html?elr=KArks:DCiUHc3E7_V_nDaycUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr
Congressional
Leadership Join Justice For All Action Network in Commemorating the ADA and
Announcing 20th Anniversary Agenda – by Sarah Peterson (AAPD). "At a press event at the
Capitol Building on Tuesday, February 23, 2010, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA),
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (MD-5) and Representative Cathy McMorris
Rodgers (WA-5) joined the leadership of the Justice For All Action Network
(JFAAN) in kicking off the celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Americans
with Disabilities Act. The legislators each reflected on the progress of the
last 20 years while recognizing the tremendous amount of work we, as a nation,
have yet to do in fulfilling the promise of the ADA—equality of opportunity,
full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for all
people with disabilities. Toward this end, the JFAAN steering committee
announced its legislative agenda for the 2010 Congressional Session in the
Spirit of the ADA Campaign."
http://jfactivist.typepad.com/jfactivist/2010/02/congressional-leaders-and-jfaan-announce-20th-anniversary-ada-agenda.html
Employment
Development Department phasing out paper checks – "This
just in: EDD replacing checks with debit cards. Ever so quietly, the state
Employment Development Department is joining the 21st century. Last month with
virtually no fanfare, the department began sending disability insurance and
paid family leave claimants a Visa-branded EDD debit card from Bank of America.
BofA administers the program free of charge to the state. The bank won't charge
cardholders, either, as long as they use the bank's teller machines and don't
exceed two out-of-network ATM transactions per payment cycle. Claimants can
also transfer some or all of their benefits by direct deposit into a checking
or savings account. The EDD debit cards are valid for three years from their
issue date. The department has been adding about 5,000 people per day to the
program. Assuming all goes according to plan, more than 400,000 disability and
family leave beneficiaries will be switched over from paper checks by the end
of February."
http://www.sacbee.com/2011/01/03/3294916/the-buzz-employment-development.html
HUD,
HHS Announce Joint Effort To Assist Nearly 1,000 Non-Elderly Persons With
Disabilities To Move From Institutions To Independence –
(U.S. Housing and Urban Development).
"U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan and
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today a
joint partnership between the two agencies to help nearly 1,000 non-elderly
Americans with disabilities leave nursing homes or other healthcare facilities
to live independently. This is the first time two federal agencies are offering
a combination of rental assistance, health care and other supportive services
targeted to this population."
http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/press/press_releases_media_advisories/2011/HUDNo.11-003
Some
in Congress look at incentives in disability benefit –
by Patricia Wen (Boston.com). "Key
members of Congress are demanding an investigation into whether a fast-growing,
$10 billion federal disability program designed to serve poor disabled children
is flawed in multiple ways, including the possibility that it creates
incentives for families to put those children on psychiatric drugs."
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/01/18/some_in_congress_look_at_incentives_in_disability_benefit/
Health/Wellness
CDC In The Dark About Health Of Americans With
Disabilities –
by Shaun Heasley (Disability Scoop). "Too
little is known about the health-related experiences of Americans with
disabilities, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a
first-of-its-kind report this week. Looking at health disparities among
different demographic groups, the report assessed how factors such as income,
race and gender impact the likelihood that a person will be healthy or sick.
The CDC found, for example, that lower income individuals are more likely to be
hospitalized for preventable conditions and the odds of suicide are greater
among men than women. Among people with disabilities, the report indicates that
having health insurance is more common as is living in inadequate housing.
Meanwhile, individuals in this group are also more likely to have conditions
like diabetes and hypertension."
http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2011/01/14/cdc-health-disparities/11923/
Legal
As
New York City Defends Medicaid Approvals, Fear of Suit's Fallout Grows –
by Anemona Hartocollis (New York Times).
"Medicaid fraud conjures up images of shady doctors, pharmacists and
businessmen being led away in handcuffs by federal agents as photographers snap
away and television cameras roll. But this week, Medicaid fraud investigators
struck out in a new direction as federal prosecutors brought a civil fraud
lawsuit accusing the New York City government of using the bureaucracy to run
its own Medicaid mill. And in the minds of several advocates for aged and
disabled people, the lawsuit raised new questions about health policy, just as
the government is expanding health care. The suit, filed on Tuesday in
Manhattan federal court, does not accuse officials of pocketing money for their
own gain. Instead, it says the city improperly authorized 24-hour in-home care
for thousands of patients, at a cost of $75,000 to $150,000 per year, without
obtaining required recommendations from doctors, nurses and social workers.
Because of that, Medicaid, the joint federal-state health insurance program for
the poor, paid 'at least tens of millions of dollars' in benefits that it
should not have, the lawsuit said."
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/13/nyregion/13medicaid.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss
Court
Upholds Involuntary Commitments For People With Disabilities –
by Michelle Diament (Disability Scoop).
"A law allowing people with developmental disabilities to be committed
involuntarily without any conviction of wrongdoing is constitutional, the
Nebraska Supreme Court ruled late last week. The ruling affirms a 2005 law
known as the Developmental Disabilities Court-Ordered Custody Act, which gave
the state the authority to place those with developmental disabilities in
mental hospitals if they are determined to be dangerous."
http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2011/01/31/court-involuntary-confinements/12136/
Disability
custody law upheld – by Martha Stoddard (Omaha World Herald). "The Nebraska Supreme Court on Friday
upheld a law passed after a developmentally disabled man stabbed a 5-year-old
boy in Lincoln. The law allows the state to keep developmentally disabled
people in custody if they are shown to pose a threat to others. The ruling was
the first to examine the constitutionality of the Developmental Disability
Court-Ordered Custody Act, under which the state can order placement and
services for people with developmental disabilities who are
considered dangerous. Friday's
ruling rejected arguments brought by a man, identified only as C.R., that the
law had denied him due process."
http://www.omaha.com/article/20110128/NEWS97/701299891/10111009
Media/Arts
A
little bit of Stephen Fry – (Disability
Now). "The much-loved writer, actor and TV presenter Stephen Fry
helped many other people with bipolar disorder 'come out' with a documentary
about his condition. He tells Sunil Peck why he believes people with mental
health problems should develop a sense of pride."
http://www.disabilitynow.org.uk/living/features/a-little-bit-of-stephen-fry
Claire
Danes Picks Up Golden Globe Win For 'Temple Grandin' –
by Michelle Diament (Disability Scoop).
"Actress Claire Danes won a Golden Globe for best actress in a television
movie Sunday night for her portrayal of autism self-advocate Temple Grandin in
a biopic of the same name. The film, which premiered on HBO last February, was
nominated for three awards including best mini-series or television movie."
http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2011/01/17/temple-grandin-golden-globes/11942/
CNIB
Opens Auditions for Third Annual iFactor Musical Competition –
(Canadian National Institute of the Blind).
"CNIB is calling all Canadians with vision loss who are 16 years of age or
older to unleash their inner rock star and audition for the 2011 iFactor
competition. Now in its third year, iFactor is CNIB's premier musical
competition for people with vision loss that offers a once-in-a-life time
opportunity to hone and share their musical talents. . . To enter this year's competition,
contestants must submit a video of their musical performance by June 9 on www.theifactor.ca."
http://www.cnib.ca/en/Pages/iFactor_2011_announcement.aspx
Disabled
Women Activists Change the World Through YouTube Music Video: Loud, Proud and
Passionate!(SM) – (Mobility
International). "Signing and singing with passion in Arabic, Spanish
and English, 54 disabled women activists from 43 countries celebrate the
achievements, pride and solidarity of women with disabilities around the world.
These leaders are revolutionizing the status of women and girls worldwide.
Filmed during Mobility International USA's (MIUSA) 5th International Women's
Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD), the Loud, Proud and
Passionate!(SM) music video release marks the beginning of MIUSA's 30th
Anniversary year-long celebration."
http://www.miusa.org/news/lppmusicvideo
The
face of 2012 – (Disability
Now). "Paralympian, television presenter, actor; Ade Adepitan is
firmly established as one of the country's most recognisable disabled people.
He talks to Paul Carter about his life, from his early days growing up in the
East End of London, through to being the figurehead for Channel 4's
groundbreaking coverage of the London Paralympics in 2012."
http://www.disabilitynow.org.uk/living/features/the-face-of-2012
From
dancing to disability– Bollywood gets serious – by Andrew
Buncombe (The Independent). "For
a long time, if you spotted a disabled character in a Bollywood film the
chances were they were there as a figure of fun. Their disability, be it a
speech impediment or a mental illness, was something to be mocked, either by
the other characters or else the sniggering audience. But something has
changed. In the last couple of years, a flurry of Hindi-language films starring
some of the industry's biggest names have featured differently-abled characters
in positive roles. Not only that, many of the films have been box-office hits
in India and beyond."
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/from-dancing-to-disabilityndash-bollywood-gets-serious-2197790.html
Media
Ignore Key Perspective About Arizona Tragedy – by David W.
Oaks (MindFreedom International). "Rep.
Gabrielle 'Gabby' Giffords has been well known for expressing concern about
those using mental health care services. After she and so many others were so
brutally shot in Arizona, the mainstream media do not appear to be showing that
same concern. The point of view of organizations made up of, by and for mental
health consumers and psychiatric survivors has largely been absent in the major
media avalanche following the shootings in Tucson. Today, the nation celebrates
the life of Martin Luther King, Jr., who devoted his life to giving voice to
those who are marginalized and ignored. For more than a week, media have been
airing debates about new laws that would directly impact those diagnosed with
psychiatric diagnoses, but media are not asking the groups representing that
constituency about their responses. Today, of all days, it is time to witness
the prejudice inherent in mainstream media about mental health consumers and
psychiatric survivors."
http://www.mindfreedom.org/campaign/media/giffords-mental-health
Missing
- disabled characters in children's fiction – (Disability Now). "Disney's decision
to re-imagine the wonderful Dickens classic A Christmas Carol in yet another
movie remake to be released next month has highlighted the shameful fact that
books, which are among the first building blocks in teaching children about
society, are still getting disability wrong. Very, very wrong. From beloved
timeless characters like Tiny Tim, Clara (in Heidi), the Seven Dwarfs and the
Hunchback of Notre Dame, to present day fiction written by best-selling authors
like Philip Pullman, Jacqueline Wilson and J K Rowling, disability is often
grossly mistreated and underrepresented."
http://www.disabilitynow.org.uk/living/features/missing-disabled-characters-in-childrens-fiction
''Need
to assess impact of films focusing on disability issues'' –
(OneIndia News). "Filmmaker
Govind Nihalani says there is an urgent need to assess the impact of films and
other initiatives taken for creating greater awareness among the general
public, about problems of the disabled. Inaugurating the 8th edition of the
first-of-its-kind travelling educational film festival, the 'We Care
Filmfest2011' on disability issues in Mumbai yesterday, he expressed hope that
the Tata Institute for Social Sciences (TISS) which had a disability centre
would help in this regard. He said it would be interesting to know if the
festival which had been held since 2003 had in fact made any impact on the
institutions where it was held or on the people who had come and seen the
films. Nihalani said that the 'We Care Film Fest'
was the only festival in the
world which was travelling to educational centres including mass communications
and disability institutions."
http://news.oneindia.in/2011/01/18/needto-assess-impact-of-films-focusing-on-disabilityissu-aid0126.html
Medical
FDA
panel advises more testing of 'shock-therapy' devices –
by David Brown (The Washington Post).
"An expert panel advising the Food and Drug Administration decided Friday
that electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) machines should undergo the same rigorous
testing as new medical devices coming onto the market - a decision that could
drastically affect the future of psychiatry's most controversial treatment. The
majority of the 18-member committee said not enough is known about ECT, also
known as 'electroshock' or simply 'shock' therapy, to allow the devices to be
used without more research into its usefulness and hazards. If the agency
follows the panel's advice, which it usually does, the two companies whose
machines are used in the United States will have to provide evidence of the
therapy's safety and effectiveness either from existing research or new
studies. If the FDA isn't convinced, the devices could be removed from use."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/28/AR2011012806328.html
Study
Linking Autism To Vaccines 'Elaborate Fraud', Journal Says –
by Michelle Diament (Disability Scoop).
"A now-discredited study that first suggested a link between vaccines and
autism was based on falsified data that was manipulated for financial gain, a
prominent medical journal charges. In an article published in the British
Medical Journal Wednesday, journalist Brian Deer dissects a since retracted
1998 study from the journal The Lancet. The research, which was conducted by
Andrew Wakefield, suggested that the onset of autism was connected to the
measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, vaccine. Deer's article documents the
experiences of the 12 children included in the original study. Of those,
Wakefield reported that eight experienced symptoms within 14 days of
vaccination. However, parents of the children told Deer that was not the case,
with some children regressing prior to vaccination and others failing to see
symptoms until months later."
http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2011/01/06/autism-vaccine-fraud/11851/
Researcher
Behind Debunked Autism-Vaccine Study Stood To Make Millions –
by Michelle Diament (Disability Scoop).
"A week after calling research that first suggested a link between autism
and vaccines an 'elaborate fraud' a follow-up article in the British Medical
Journal now says the researcher behind the study planned to make upwards of $43
million annually selling replacement vaccines and diagnostic products. In the
report published Tuesday, journalist Brian Deer reveals that Andrew Wakefield
held a patent for 'a 'safer' single measles shot.' Meanwhile, Deer reports that
Wakefield was in talks with investors to develop a business that 'was to be
launched off the back of the vaccine scare, diagnosing a purported — and still
unsubstantiated — 'new syndrome.'' A business plan for the venture indicates
that by year three, diagnostic kits alone were anticipated to garner $43
million per year. Among
Wakefield's business partners was
the father of one of the children in the original study, Deer found."
http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2011/01/12/wakefield-make-millions/11910/
Policy/Research
A
Dialogue on Reforming Disability Insurance: Supporting Economic Freedom for
People with Disabilities – by Julia Day and Jamie Streeter Wilson (World Institute on Disability). "In
2006, the World Institute on Disability (WID) put forward a variety of policy
proposals to improve the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) system,
aimed at ensuring that people with disabilities have the opportunity to fully
participate in the workforce and be economically self-sufficient. A central
proposal that came out of this project is the creation of a work support and
supplemental income insurance program that would help to decrease attachment to
the SSDI system and increase attachments to the workforce. In 2010, the Center
for American Progress (CAP) and The Hamilton Project (THP) jointly released a
paper outlining a similar policy proposal, with key differences in approach.
What follows is WID's response to the CAP/THP paper, written with the intention
of furthering the public discussion on this important issue."
http://www.wid.org/a-dialogue-on-reforming-disability-insurance-supporting-economic-freedom-for-people-with-disabilities
Annual
Disability Statistics Compendium: 2010 – (AccessTech
News). "Annual report on how people with disabilities in the U.S.,
including Veterans, are doing in terms of employment, health, health insurance
coverage, poverty and other major life issues. The report covers disability
prevalence and describes prevalence by age and disability type. Data show
that West Virginia had the highest prevalence rate, 18.8 percent, while Utah
had the lowest prevalence rate, 8.9 percent. Main source of data is from the
U.S. Census Bureau's American Community
Survey. This link opens a PDF document."
http://www.disabilitycompendium.org/Compendium2010.pdf
https://accesstechnews.wordpress.com/2011/01/28/annual-disability-statistics-compendium-2010/
'Census
2011 crucial for people with disabilities' – (Times of India). "Respondents of
different surveys usually hide identity of physically challenged persons in
their families. This might become a major hindrance in assessing the exact
number of physically challenged people in the country during the census slated
to begin from February 9, said prominent social worker Javed Abidi on Sunday. 'Six
to seven% of the population in India is disabled. But where are these people?
Census this year is important to gather information about the same. There is
still a social stigma attached to disability. Respondents might choose to
conceal disability. If the daughter's disability is revealed, the sister won't
get married,' said Abidi, director of National Centre for Promotion of
Employment for Disable People at a workshop at Ahmedabad Management
Association. The workshop was aimed at sensitising people to the importance of
providing accurate figures of people with different disabilities in the country
during the census."
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Census-2011-crucial-for-people-with-disabilities/articleshow/7393285.cms
Disability
support services 2008-09 – (Australian
Policy Online). "Disability support services 2008-09 reports on data
collected as part of the Commonwealth State/Territory Disability Agreement
National Minimum Data Set (CSTDA NMDS) between 1 July 2008 and 30 June 2009.
The NMDS provides information on services funded under the Commonwealth
State/Territory Disability Agreement to 30 December 2009 and its replacement,
the National Disability Agreement from 1 January 2009. This report describes
the service outlets and the uses of these services, including their support
needs and informal carer arrangements."
http://www.apo.org.au/research/disability-support-services-2008-09
People's Review Panel: Getting the Ontario Social Assistance Review
issues straight from people with lived experience of poverty – by Anne Makhoul and Richard Matern (Caledon). "A People's Review Panel composed of 18 members from
across Ontario will provide input into Ontario's Social Assistance Review.
People with lived experience of poverty are working with Voices from the Street
and Daily Bread Food Bank to record, analyze and summarize the policy barriers
which currently impede them."
http://www.caledoninst.org/Publications/Detail/?ID=915&IsBack=0
http://www.caledoninst.org/
Self-Help
New
DVD Educates Individuals and Families on SCI – (The National Spinal Cord Injury Association).
"Understanding Spinal Cord Injury, part of a new DVD series, is expected
to be available in March 2011 to help educate individuals and families about
their new spinal cord injury and options for post-trauma care. Narrated by Judy
Fortin, former CNN anchor and medical correspondent, the video features some of
the nation's top neuroscientists, physicians, and spinal cord injury experts to
help people understand their new injury, the path to recovery and functional
expectation. Understanding Spinal Cord Injury was produced by Shepherd Center
in collaboration with the American Trauma Society, the National Spinal Cord
Injury Association and the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation."
http://www.spinalcord.org/news.php?dep=1&page=0&list=2953
Sports/Recreation
A
Generation in Motion – by Raymond D. Cohen (Abilities). "These days it's hard to fathom, but barely a
generation ago many people with disabilities were locked up, warehoused and
denied access to the community— let alone the whole world. But times have
changed, and a quantum shift from institutionalization to inclusion has paved
the way, for many, towards a much greater level of social and economic participation.
We still have a ways to go, but suffice it to say that this generation of
people with disabilities is at the beginning of a very exciting adventure—
travel and accessible options are now more available than ever before. So, what
will it take to get us to the next step? One absolute prerequisite is a greater
understanding of the need for global accessibility and then the wherewithal to
ensure that new structures are built—and old ones reworked— with universal
access in mind."
http://www.abilities.ca/opinion/2010/12/15/my_word_issue_84/
Surfer's
Return to the Sea as a Quadriplegic – (Disaboom). "This is suddenly you:
Face down in the Pacific Ocean, 35 feet from land, and unable to move anything,
not your fingers nor any one of your toes. Your neck cannot move no matter how
hard you try to make it even wiggle, and it slowly occurs to you that the wave
that you thought you could take has cracked something in your body that has
paralyzed it, and you are probably going to drown right here in a few more
minutes. But this is not you. This is Nathan Gocke."
http://www.disaboom.com/disabled-sports/surfers-return-to-the-sea-as-a-quadriplegic
A
wilderness paradise for the disabled – by Darcy
Henton (Edmonton Journal). "Danny
Wein finds his freedom on the wilderness trails of a Kananaskis mountain
resort. In the nine years since he recovered from a nearly fatal motorcycle
accident in Bogota, Colombia, he has made William Watson Lodge in Peter
Lougheed Provincial Park his annual destination. Under swaying lodge pole pines
at the foot of spectacular mountains and the crystal-clear lake, the disabled,
34-year-old former scuba diver, skier and soccer player can be independent."
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/health/wilderness+paradise+disabled/4048826/story.html
Technology
Easing pain for burns victims using virtual reality – (BBC). "Burn
patients in the US are being helped to escape the pain of burn injuries by
immersing them in the virtual reality of a computer game during treatment.
Agony from severe burns can be one of the most intense and prolonged types of
pain you can experience. And for many, the rehabilitation treatment is as
painful as the initial burn. . . SnowWorld, set in an icy 3D canyon, was
developed by Professor Hunter Hoffman and Professor David Patterson at the
University of Washington Harborview Burn Centre in Seattle. It evolved out of
the scientific advances in the last decade in understanding pain. The aim of
the game is 'to make a very attention grabbing experience for the patient and
basically to give them a place to escape from their pain' says Professor
Hoffman."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12297569
Freedom Disability's Internet Tool Helps Customers
Survive the Wait for Disability Benefits – (PRWEB). "Freedom
Disability has developed an Internet tool called HelpWell that connects
customers to local, state and national benefit programs designed to help them save
money while they wait for a decision on their disability case from the Social
Security Administration (SSA). . . The HelpWell Internet tool links customers
to programs tailored to meet their specific needs such as prescription drug
discounts; medical services; utility assistance; transportation; caregiver or
childcare services; home repair services; tax savings; or veterans benefits."
http://www.benzinga.com/press-releases/11/01/p760178/freedom-disabilitys-internet-tool-helps-customers-survive-the-wait-for-
PredictAble – (Therapy Box).
"PredictAble is the brand new, revolutionary solution brought to you by
Therapy Box. An alternative to Proloquo2Go, we are proud to announce the
arrival of PredictAble. This ground-breaking solution has to be seen to be
believed. From AAC functionality to socially acceptable Apple cool features
PredictAble sets a new benchmark. By including Word Prediction as well as
Switch Access this solution meets the requirements of AAC users."
http://therapy-box.co.uk/predictable.aspx
Conferences
Canada
NDT
Introductory Course in the Treatment of Adults with Hemiplegia – March
1-5, 2011 | Toronto, Ontario. "This five-day introductory level course
provides a unique opportunity for health care professionals to gain insight
into the basic principles of the NDT approach and how it is applied in clinical
practice to promote recovery of function in individuals with neurological
impairments. Current theoretical foundations and evidence supporting an NDT
approach will be presented as well as specific and practical information about
management of the adult neurological patient. The information presented will be
appropriate to many all rehabilitation professionals and presented so as to be
incorporated into a variety of practice settings. The overall objective is to
enable participants to bring information back to their facility and apply it
toward promoting more functional movement and achieving functional outcomes
with their patients."
http://www.torontorehab.com/Events/Corporate-Events/NDT-Bobath-Introductory-Course-in-the-Treatment-of.aspx
Festival
of International Conferences on Caregiving, Disability, Aging and Technology -
FICCDAT 2011 – June 5-8, 2011 | Toronto, Ontario. "FICCDAT
could be thought of (modestly) as the olympiad of all conferences relating to
aging, disability, caregiving and technology. This is the second FICCDAT and we
intend to continue the tradition every four years. FICCDAT is an amazing
opportunity for you to transfer knowledge from your experience and your
research to an extraordinarily broad audience. You can submit abstracts to all
six major conferences, and you can attend and present at several conferences
for the cost of attending a single conference. What an efficient way to build
your cv!"
http://www.ficcdat.ca/main.cfm?cid=1559
9th International Conference on Smart Homes
and Health Telematics – June 20-22, 2011 |
Montreal, Quebec. "ICOST is a premier venue for presenting and discussing
research in the design, development, deployment, evaluation and understanding
of Smart Environments, Assistive Technologies and Health Telematics systems.
ICOST present research from interdisciplinary fields that utilize, integrate
and evaluate embedded computers, information appliances, micro/nano systems,
and multi-modal sensors, where computational intelligence is ubiquitous to
provide contextual, proactive and personalized applications to foresee services
for improving the quality of life and health of people in their home and
outside."
http://www.icost2011.org/
2011
Pain Management Conference – November18, 2011 | Toronto, Ontario. "'Pain
Management Across the Continuum: Bridging the Gap from Acute Care to
Rehabilitation and into the Community.' An invitation for abstracts is extended
to occupational therapists, physiotherapists, nurses, speech language
pathologists, social workers, dietitians, psycologists, physicians,
pharmacists, therapeutic recreationists, students as well as other clinicians
and administrators who practice in a Complex Care environment."
http://www.torontorehab.com/Events/Corporate-Events/Pain-Management-Across-the-Continuum--Bridging-the.aspx
U.S.
AAPD Leadership Gala – March 15, 2011 | Washington, D.C. "The 2011
AAPD Leadership Gala and Anniversary Celebration will feature the policy
makers, decision makers and thought leaders who successfully forged and passed
the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act and subsequently founded AAPD, the
largest cross disability membership organization in the United States, working
toward the economic self-sufficiency and political power for the more than 50
million Americans with disabilities."
http://www.aapd.com/site/c.pvI1IkNWJqE/b.6279357/k.1A4/2011_Leadership_Gala.htm
2011
Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium - Bridging the Gap Between the
Disability Rights Movement and Other Civil Rights Movements –
April 14-15, 2011 | Baltimore, Maryland. "The National Federation of the
Blind (NFB) and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)
will host the fourth Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium, 'Bridging the
Gap Between the Disability Rights Movement and Other Civil Rights Movements,'
on April 14-15, 2011, at the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan
Institute in Baltimore. The symposium will seek solutions to address the
misconception that disability rights is not a civil rights issue."
http://www.nfb.org/nfb/Law_Symposium.asp
Society for Disability Studies 23rd Annual
Conference – June 15-18, 2011 | San José California. "This
year marks the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and
2008 witnessed both the passage of the ADA Amendments Act and, on the
international stage, the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the
Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD). In passing the ADA Amendments Act,
the U.S. Congress sought to redress nearly twenty years of rulings that
severely narrowed the scope of protections afforded in the original bill. The
Convention formally marks a paradigm shift towards considering people with
disabilities as subjects who must be able to exercise their own rights, rather
than objects of medical inquiry or charitable intervention. These developments
seem to suggest gains in the history of disability rights, and yet many
disability activists contend that real gains can only be made if disability is
conceptualized as part of an intersecting network of historic and contemporary
power structures that must be addressed holistically and systemically."
http://www.disstudies.org/conference/2011_conference/2011_cfp/intro
AHEAD 2011: Sustainable Access through
Partnership - The 34th Conference of the Association on Higher Education And
Disability – July 11-16, 2011 | Seattle, Washington. "The
Association on Higher Education And Disability is pleased to announce its
thirty-fourth annual conference to be held in Seattle, Washington, July 11-16,
2011. The Association provides opportunities for professional development to
those who work to assure usable, sustainable and inclusive higher education
environments for students, faculty, and staff with disabilities and who believe
society is ultimately enriched by human difference."
http://www.ahead.org/conferences/2011
Overseas
New Frontiers in Persistent Pain – May 31-June 1, 2011 | Paris, France. "Following
the success of the first symposium on Synaptic Plasticity in Pain held at
King's College London, Abcam is pleased to announce a follow-up symposium to be
held over two days in Spring 2011, in Paris, France. The meeting will cover
various aspects of pain including:
·
Inflammatory and neuropathic pain
·
Bone cancer and visceral pain
·
New models of persistent pain
To encourage discussion and interaction, we are
combining outstanding and exciting science and a relaxed, pleasant environment.
This meeting will be a great place for junior scientists to present their work."
http://www.abcam.com/index.html?pageconfig=resource&rid=12881&viapagetrap=paris2011
The International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics | ICORR 2011
International Neurorehabilitation Symposium | INRS 2011 International
Conference on Virtual Rehabilitation |ICVR 2011 – June 27-July 1, 2011 | Zurich, Switzerland. "In
the summer of 2011 three international conferences in the field of
Rehabilitation Science and Engineering will join forces for a week of intensive
cross-disciplinary knowledge transfer. The International Conference on
Rehabilitation Robotics, ICORR2011, the International Neurorehabilitation
Symposium, INRS2011, and the International Conference on Virtual Rehabilitation,
ICVR2011, will host clinicians and engineers exchanging their experience in
different research areas. This great event will take place in Zurich,
Switzerland, from June 27 until July 1, 2011. All organizers are members of the
RITZ (Rehabilitation Initiative and Technology Platform Zurich)."
http://www.rehabweekzurich.com/
3rd International Conference - Education For All - Equal Opportunities
For Students And Graduates With Disabilities – June 29-July 1, 2011 | Warsaw, Poland. "The
conference is an excellent opportunity to meet with others and share knowledge
associated with full access to education for persons with disabilities. We
strongly encourage you to share your experiences at the biggest conference on
education of persons with disabilities in Eastern Europe. During the
conference, there will be a ceremonial party to celebrate 15th anniversary of
support system for students with disabilities at University of Warsaw. The
participants may count on special prices in selected hotels and on cheaper
flight with an official carrier, arranged especially for this conference."
http://www.disability.uw.edu.pl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=63&Itemid=78&lang=english
5th International Convention on Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive
Technology (i-Create) –
July 21-23, 2011 | Bangkok, Thailand. "In 2011, i-CREATe will be focusing
on using Assistive Technology for children with disabilities. We believed that
AT for early intervention will make it possible for children with disabilities
to be more independent at home, schools and in the community. A child with
speech problems can communicate using augmentative and alternative
communications. A child with learning disabilities can use accessible learning
tools in the classroom and a child who cannot use his hands can use on-screen
keyboard, switches or eyegaze system to assess the computer. Assistive
technology can mean anything from simple, homemade devices to highly
sophisticated environmental control systems. It can be adapted toys, computers
assess, powered mobility, augmentative and alternative communication devices,
special switches and other adapted tools to assist a child with learning and
interacting socially."
http://www.icreateasia.org/
Disabled Peoples' International 8th World Assembly – October 10-13, 2011 | Durban, South Africa. "This
four day Assembly will include one day Opening Plenary session, followed by two
days of parallel working groups and will be concluded with a final closing
plenary session.
The International Convention Centre Durban (ICC) is
one of the most advanced conference facilities in the world. Flexibility and
versatility are key factors in the design of this state-of-the-art
technology-driven centre."
http://www.dpi2011.co.za/