AAPDNEWS WINTER 2004 Vol. 6, Issue 1 AAPD RECOGNIZES AND THANKS IBM FOR SPONSORING THIS ISSUE OF AAPDNEWS. "TODAY, TECHNOLOGY IS THE CENTER OF MANY OF OUR PERSONAL LIVES AND FOR SAP, IT IS OUR LIVELIHOOD. OUR SUPPORT OF AAPD IS A NATURAL EXTENSION OF SAP'S COMMITMENT TO MAKING ACCESSIBLE SOLUTIONS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, CUSTOMERS, AND PARTNERS WORLDWIDE. THROUGH SAP'S ACCESSIBILITY COMPETENCE CENTER AND OUR INDUSTRY-LEADING RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENTS, ACCESS NEEDS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IS BEING ADDRESSED." BILL MCDERMOTT CEO AND PRESIDENT SAP AMERICA, INC. GALA CORPORATE CHAIR DEAR AAPD MEMBERS: WORKING FOR JUSTICE IN 2004 DEAR AAPD MEMBERS, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK OUR MEMBERS FOR YOUR ADVOCACY AND ACTIVISM IN 2003, AND YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT OF AAPD AND OUR PARTNERS IN THE DISABILITY MOVEMENT AND BROADER CIVIL RIGHTS COALITION. 2003 HAS BEEN A YEAR OF GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT, OUTREACH AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR AAPD. IN 2003, • IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN FOUNDATION, AAPD HOSTED ITS FIRST NATIONAL CONFERENCE, A FORUM FOR WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR ALLIES DESIGNED TO BRING TOGETHER DISABILITY ACTIVISTS AND FEMINISTS AROUND A COMMON AGENDA OF EMPOWERMENT; • AAPD EXPANDED ITS CONGRESSIONAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM AND LAUNCHED A NEW INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, BRINGING 17 DISABLED COLLEGE STUDENTS TO WASHINGTON, DC FOR THE SUMMER TO WORK ON CAPITOL HILL AND IN FEDERAL AGENCIES; • AAPD HELPED TO GROW DISABILITY MENTORING DAY FROM 3,500 MENTEES IN 2002 TO OVER 6,000 MENTEES PARTICIPATING IN ALL 50 STATES AND 14 FOREIGN COUNTRIES IN 2003; • IN RECOGNITION OF ITS WORK IN COALITION WITH OTHER CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS, AAPD WAS ELECTED TO SERVE ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE ON CIVIL RIGHTS, THE LARGEST AND BROADEST CIVIL RIGHTS COALITION IN THE U.S.; • AAPD HAS SPEARHEADED NATIONAL EFFORTS TO IMPLEMENT THE HELP AMERICA VOTE ACT (HAVA) AND DRAMATICALLY IMPROVE THE ACCESSIBILITY OF POLLING PLACES AND ELECTION EQUIPMENT; AND • AAPD HAS HELPED TO ORGANIZE AND GROW CROSS-DISABILITY COALITIONS TO GET OUT THE DISABILITY VOTE IN SEVERAL STATES, LED BY MISSOURI AND TENNESSEE. IN MISSOURI, BETWEEN THE 1998 AND 2002 MID-TERM ELECTIONS, VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES INCREASED THEIR TURNOUT BY 17 PERCENTAGE POINTS, VOTING AT A HIGHER RATE THAN THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN 2002. IN 2004, AAPD LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING WITH OUR MEMBERS AND ALLIES TO: • INCREASE VOTER PARTICIPATION OF VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES BY ONE MILLION VOTES OVER THE 2000 ELECTION; • CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR SWIFT IMPLEMENTATION OF HAVA; • ENSURE THAT PUBLIC OPINION POLLS AND EXIT POLLS INCLUDE QUESTIONS THAT WILL IDENTIFY VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES; • LAUNCH A NEW PUBLIC POLICY AND RESEARCH PROGRAM TO HELP REALIGN FEDERAL AND STATE POLICIES SO THAT THEY CONSISTENTLY SUPPORT THE GOALS OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA); • CHALLENGE CANDIDATES FOR NATIONAL OFFICE TO DECLARE THEIR SUPPORT FOR KEY DISABILITY COMMUNITY PRIORITIES LIKE THE MEDICAID COMMUNITY ATTENDANT SERVICES AND SUPPORTS ACT, STRONG ENFORCEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF ADA, THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT, AND OTHER DISABILITY RIGHTS LAWS; AND • CONTINUE TO EXPAND OUR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, INTERNSHIP, MENTORING AND CAREER EXPLORATION PROGRAMS SO THAT WE INVEST IN THE PEOPLE WHO ARE POISED TO TAKE THE DISABILITY MOVEMENT TO NEW HEIGHTS IN YEARS AHEAD. THANKS FOR YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT, ACTIVISM, LEADERSHIP, AND HARD WORK. TOGETHER, WE ARE HELPING TO REALIZE THE VISION OF THE ADA. ANDREW J. IMPARATO AAPD PRESIDENT AND CEO IMPARATOA@AOL.COM COURT ORDERS TOUCH SCREEN VOTING FOR JACKSONVILLE, FL IN AN INTERIM BENCH RULING ON JANUARY 14, 2004, SENIOR US DISTRICT JUDGE WAYNE ALLEY ORDERED THAT ACCESSIBLE VOTING MACHINES MUST BE IN PLACE FOR FLORIDA'S AUGUST PRIMARY THIS YEAR. IN AAPD V. HOOD (WRITTEN DECISION TO FOLLOW), THE JUDGE FOUND THAT JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA VIOLATED THE ADA AND THE REHABILITATION ACT WHEN DUVAL COUNTY PURCHASED AN OPTICAL SCAN VOTING SYSTEMS. "WE'RE THRILLED THAT HE'S RULED THERE HAS BEEN A VIOLATION OF THE ADA," SAID DOUGLAS BALDRIDGE OF HOWREY, SIMON, ARNOLD, AND WHITE, WHO TRIED THE JACKSONVILLE CASE. "WE LOOK FORWARD TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN DUVAL COUNTY BEING ABLE TO VOTE IN AN INDEPENDENT AND DIGNIFIED MANNER." THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THAT LEGAL ACTION PRECIPITATED BY AAPD HAS RESULTED IN A VICTORY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN A CITY OR COUNTY, FORCING A LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO ADD ACCESSIBLE TOUCH SCREENS TO A RECENTLY PURCHASED VOTING SYSTEM. OPTICAL SCAN SYSTEMS ARE PAPER SYSTEMS WITH BUBBLES THAT MUST BE FILLED IN, LIKE ON THE SAT EXAM, A PROCEDURE THAT IS NOT ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. MEMBER CHAT BY DIANE DEANGELIS, DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND MEMBER SERVICES DIANEDEANGELIS@EARTHLINK.NET AAPD MEMBERSHIP CONTINUES TO GROW: NUMBER OF AAPD MEMBERS FROM JUNE 2002-DECEMBER 2003 JUNE 2002 – 26,000 MEMBERS DECEMBER 2002 – 36,000 MEMBERS MARCH 2003 – 41,000 MEMBERS JUNE 2003 – 47,000 MEMBERS SEPTEMBER 2003 – 55,000 MEMBERS DECEMBER 2003 – 66,000 MEMBERS THERE IS STRENGTH IN NUMBERS! OUR UNIFIED VOICE IS STRONG AS WE CARRY FORWARD THE MESSAGE THAT AMERICA'S ADULTS AND CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES DESERVE EQUAL ACCESS TO ALL THAT OUR SOCIETY OFFERS. KEEP YOUR MEMBERSHIP CURRENT SO YOUR VOICE WILL ALSO BE HEARD. MEMBERSHIP IN DCU AND OTHER UNIQUE AAPD MEMBER BENEFITS HELP TO DRIVE MEMBERSHIP INCREASE THANKS TO THE SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY OF ITS MEMBERS AND THE ADDITION OF NEW, CRITICALLY-NEEDED MEMBER BENEFITS, AAPD HAS WITNESSED A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN ITS MEMBERSHIP-- UP MORE THAN 225% OVER THE PAST 18 MONTHS, FROM 26,000 IN MID-2002 TO 66,000 BY THE END OF 2003. MUCH OF THIS GROWTH IS DUE TO AAPD'S PARTNERING WITH THE DIGITAL FEDERAL CREDIT UNION (DCU), WHOSE MEMBERSHIP IS OPEN TO AAPD MEMBERS. IN ADDITION TO A FULL RANGE OF TRADITIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES, DCU OFFERS AAPD MEMBERS TWO UNIQUE LOAN PROGRAMS: MOBILITY LOANS FOR ADAPTED VEHICLES AND ACCESS LOANS FOR ANY PRODUCT, DEVICE, OR BUILDING MODIFICATION DESIGNED TO ASSIST SOMEONE WITH A DISABILITY. ACCESS LOANS, WHICH HAVE PAYBACK TERMS OF UP TO 72 MONTHS, CAN BE USED FOR THE PURCHASE AND TRAINING OF SERVICE ANIMALS, LIFTS, COMPUTERS AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT, WHEELCHAIRS AND SCOOTERS, VEHICLE HAND CONTROLS, HEARING AIDS, AND MANY OTHER PRODUCTS. SINCE FIRST OFFERING MOBILITY LOANS IN JUNE 2002, DCU HAS LOANED MORE THAN $28 MILLION TO AAPD MEMBERS FOR ADAPTED VEHICLES ALONE! AAPD MEMBERS HAVE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO PROCURE LOANS FOR HOME MORTGAGES, NEW AND USED VEHICLES, HOME MODIFICATIONS, ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY, AND MANY OTHER PRODUCTS AND SERVICES. DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO NEEDS THESE TYPES OF LOANS BUT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO SECURE FINANCING? THEN URGE THEM TO JOIN AAPD AND DCU AT THE SAME TIME BY CALLING DCU AT 800-328-8797 OR 800-395-5146 (TTY). AAPD IS PROUD OF ITS COMMITMENT TO ADVANCING THE ABILITY OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY AND CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIETY THROUGH PARTNERS LIKE DCU. AAPD IS ALSO PROUD OF ITS CORE PROGRAMS OF VOTING, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, MENTORING AND CAREER EXPLORATION, AND ADVOCACY. A HEARTY "THANK YOU" IS EXTENDED TO ALL OUR MEMBERS WHO RETURNED THE SURVEY PUBLISHED IN THE LAST ISSUE OF AAPDNEWS. IF YOU HAVE NOT YET DONE SO, THERE IS STILL TIME – JUST COMPLETE THE SURVEY AND RETURN IT TO US. YOUR RESPONSES PROVIDE VALUABLE INFORMATION WHICH ENABLES AAPD TO BETTER SERVE YOU. AAPDNEWS, A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION, PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN ASSURING THAT AAPD MEMBERS ARE KEPT APPRISED OF THE LATEST NEWS ON NATIONAL POLICIES AND ISSUES, PARTICULARLY IN THIS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEAR. WE URGE YOU, THEREFORE, TO PASS ISSUES ALONG TO FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS, AND TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO JOIN AAPD SO THAT THEY, TOO, CAN REAP THE BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP. AAPD ALSO CONTINUES TO REFINE AND IMPROVE ITS EXTENSIVE WEBSITE, WWW.AAPD-DC.ORG, WHERE NEWS AND ARTICLES OF INTEREST TO THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY ARE UPDATED DAILY. THE AAPD WEBSITE EXPERIENCES MORE THAN 100,000 UNIQUE PAGE VISITS EACH MONTH! WITH SUCH AN EXTENSIVE MEMBER BENEFITS PROGRAM, WHY DOES AAPD KEEP ITS MEMBERSHIP FEE SO LOW? WE WANT EVERYONE WHO NEEDS THEM TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR SIGNIFICANT MEMBER BENEFITS. WE APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF OUR CURRENT MEMBERS AND ARE DELIGHTED TO SEE INCREASING NUMBERS OF BOTH NEW AND RENEWING MEMBERS. IF YOU'RE NOT YET A MEMBER, AND A FRIEND OR COLLEAGUE HAS GIVEN YOU THIS ISSUE OF AAPDNEWS, THEN PLEASE JOIN US. IF YOU'RE ALREADY AN AAPD MEMBER, THEN PLEASE STAY WITH US BY RENEWING YOUR MEMBERSHIP. AAPD MEMBERS ALSO HAVE THE OPTION OF JOINING OR RENEWING FOR TWO OR THREE YEARS. LET'S ALL WORK TOGETHER TOWARD OUR GOAL OF 100,000 AAPD MEMBERS. IT'S ABOUT MORE THAN JUST GROWING A MEMBERSHIP DATABASE. IT'S ABOUT CREATING POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT AND HAVING "STRENGTH IN NUMBERS," WHICH ENABLES AAPD TO SEEK OUT AND NEGOTIATE EVEN MORE TANGIBLE BENEFITS. TICKET TO WORK AND WORK INCENTIVES IMPROVEMENT ACT CHAMPION TO RECEIVE 2003 HENRY B. BETTS AWARD SUSAN M. DANIELS, PH.D., PRINCIPAL OF DANIELS AND ASSOCIATES, A FIRM THAT FOCUSES ON TRANSFORMING DISABILITY POLICY INTO PRACTICE AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS, AND CHAMPION OF THE TICKET TO WORK AND WORK INCENTIVES IMPROVEMENT ACT (TWWIIA), HAS BEEN SELECTED TO RECEIVE THE 2003 HENRY B. BETTS AWARD. AN EXTRAORDINARY LONGTIME DISABILITY RIGHTS ADVOCATE, DR. DANIELS' MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS ON BEHALF OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES INCLUDE, WHILE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR DISABILITY AND INCOME SECURITY PROGRAMS OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (SSA), LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR THE TWWIIA. DR. DANIELS CONTRACTED POLIO AT SIX MONTHS OF AGE. THOUGH SHE SPENT MUCH OF HER YOUNG LIFE IN REHABILITATION INSTITUTES AND HOSPITALS, HER PARENTS STRIVED FOR HER FULL INDEPENDENCE. SHE WENT ON TO GRADUATE SUMMA CUM LAUDE FROM MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY (BEFORE CAMPUSES WERE ACCESSIBLE), AND RECEIVED HER MASTERS OF PSYCHOLOGY FROM MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY AND PH.D. IN PSYCHOLOGY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA. DR. DANIELS SERVED AS CHAIR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION COUNSELING AT THE LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER, WHERE SHE DEVELOPED A PROGRAM TO TRAIN INDIVIDUALS TO WORK WITH PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES IN COMMUNITY-BASED SETTINGS. SHE ALSO WROTE EXTENSIVELY, LECTURED INTERNATIONALLY ON DISABILITY ISSUES, SERVED AS BOARD CHAIR OF THE LOUISIANA PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY AGENCY, AND CO-AUTHORED WHO CARES: A HANDBOOK ON SEXUALITY AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, THE FIRST BOOK EVER PUBLISHED IN THE U.S. ON DISABILITY AND SEXUALITY. DR. DANIELS HELD A NUMBER OF SENIOR FEDERAL POSITIONS, INCLUDING DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF THE REHABILITATION SERVICES ADMINISTRATION AND ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER FOR THE ADMINISTRATION ON DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES IN THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. SHE INITIATED THE HOME OF YOUR OWN PROGRAM TO ASSIST PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN BECOMING HOMEOWNERS AND SUPPORTED A NATIONAL HOME OF YOUR OWN TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER TO EXPAND HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO OTHER STATES. THE HENRY B. BETTS AWARD WILL BE PRESENTED TO DR. DANIELS AT THE ANNUAL AAPD LEADERSHIP GALA ON MARCH 16, 2004. THE HENRY B. BETTS AWARD WAS CREATED BY THE PRINCE CHARITABLE TRUSTS AND THE REHABILITATION INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO IN 1989 TO RECOGNIZE THE LIFELONG WORK OF A DISABILITY RIGHTS LEADER, AND IS ADMINISTERED BY AAPD. IT IS NAMED IN HONOR OF HENRY B. BETTS, M.D., AN AAPD NOARD MEMBERS AND A PIONEER IN THE FIELD OF REHABILITATION MEDICINE WHO STARTED HIS CAREER WITH THE INSTITUTE IN 1964. AAPD HOSTS THIRD ANNUAL LEADERSHIP GALA AN EVENING OF ADVOCACY, AWARDS AND RECOGNITION AAPD WILL HOLD ITS THIRD-ANNUAL LEADERSHIP GALA ON MARCH 16 AT THE WASHINGTON HILTON IN WASHINGTON, DC, WITH A RECEPTION FOLLOWED BY A DINNER AND AWARDS CEREMONY. THE 2004 STEERING COMMITTEE IS CO- CHAIRED BY THE HONORABLE TONY COELHO, MRS. DON EVANS, MRS. NORMAN MINETA, AND MRS. F. JAMES SENSENBRENNER. THE 2004 CORPORATE CHAIR IS BILL MCDERMOTT, CEO AND PRESIDENT OF SAP AMERICA, INC. AT THE GALA, AAPD WILL PRESENT THE HENRY B. BETTS AWARD (IN COLLABORATION WITH THE REHABILITATION INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO) TO THE HONORABLE SUSAN M. DANIELS. AAPD WILL ALSO PRESENT PAUL G. HEARNE/AAPD LEADERSHIP AWARDS TO THREE EMERGING LEADERS OF THE DISABILITY RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND THE FIRST ANNUAL LINDA CHAVEZ- THOMPSON AWARD TO MS. CHAVEZ-THOMPSON IN RECOGNITION OF HER LONGSTANDING LEADERSHIP TOWARDS THE INCLUSION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES WITHIN THE LABOR MOVEMENT. GUEST SPEAKERS AND PARTICIPANTS WILL INCLUDE THE HONORABLE DON EVANS, SECRETARY OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, AND THE HONORABLE NORMAN Y. MINETA, SECRETARY OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. THE HONORABLE TONY COELHO WILL BE THE MASTER OF CEREMONIES. ATTENDEES WILL INCLUDE AAPD MEMBERS AND OTHER DISABILITY RIGHTS ADVOCATES, SENIOR MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, AND BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS. AAPD RECOGNIZES AND EXTENDS ITS SINCERE GRATITUDE TO ALL COMMITTEE MEMBERS, VOLUNTEERS, AND SPONSORS OF THE 2004 AAPD LEADERSHIP GALA, WITHOUT WHOM THERE WOULD NOT BE THIS EXTRAORDINARY EVENT. AAPD ALSO EXTENDS SINCERE GRATITUDE TO ITS CORPORATE PARTNERS WHO, OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS, HAVE HOSTED A SERIES OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS: AMERICAN AIRLINES, SAP AND VERIZON. THREE EMERGING DISABILITY LEADERS TO RECEIVE 2003 PAUL G. HEARNE/AAPD LEADERSHIP AWARDS AAPD IS DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE FOLLOWING THREE INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN SELECTED BY A NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO RECEIVE THE 2003 PAUL G. HEARNE/AAPD LEADERSHIP AWARDS FOR EMERGING LEADERS WITH DISABILITIES: CHERI BLAUWET, MENLO PARK, CA; ALISON ASHLEY HILLMAN, WASHINGTON, DC; AND KEVIN LONG, MINNEAPOLIS, MN. THE 2003 PAUL G. HEARNE/AAPD LEADERSHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS WERE SELECTED ON A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE APPLICATION BASIS BY A NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO RECEIVE CASH AWARDS OF $10,000 TO FURTHER THEIR WORK IN THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY. THEY WILL RECEIVE THEIR AWARDS AT AAPD'S THIRD-ANNUAL LEADERSHIP GALA, AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WILL MAKE THE PRESENTATIONS. THE MILBANK FOUNDATION FOR REHABILITATION ESTABLISHED THE PAUL G. HEARNE LEADERSHIP AWARDS IN 1999 TO REALIZE PAUL G. HEARNE'S GOAL OF CULTIVATING EMERGING LEADERS TO CARRY ON THE DISABILITY MOVEMENT. ADMINISTRATION OF THIS PROGRAM WAS PASSED TO AAPD IN 2000, AND THE MILBANK FOUNDATION FOR REHABILITATION CONTINUES TO PROVIDE MAJOR PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP. THIRTY-FOUR (34) AWARDS OF $10,000 EACH HAVE BEEN MADE TO DATE. AAPD IS GRATEFUL TO THE ADDITIONAL SPONSORS OF THE PAUL G. HEARNE/AAPD LEADERSHIP AWARDS PROGRAM: THE MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC AMERICA FOUNDATION AND THE SETH SPRAGUE EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE FOUNDATION. BIOGRAPHIES OF THE 2003 PAUL G. HEARNE/AAPD LEADERSHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS CHERI BLAUWET IS A WORLD-CLASS ATHLETE, MEDICAL SCHOOL STUDENT, AND A COACH FOR YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES. SHE IS ALSO THE FOUNDER OF THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR DISABILITY ADVOCACY (IIDA). CHERI, A PARAPLEGIC SINCE BEING INJURED ON HER FAMILY'S FARM AT THE AGE OF ONE, GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA WHERE SHE ALSO COACHED WHEELCHAIR TRACK. CURRENTLY, SHE ATTENDS STANFORD SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND HOPES TO RECEIVE AN M.D. AND A MASTERS OF PUBLIC HEALTH. WHILE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA, CHERI FOUNDED IIDA, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION CREATED TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN DEVELOPING NATIONS. SHE CONTINUES TO SERVE IIDA AS ITS DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS. A FOUR-TIME PARALYMPIC MEDAL WINNER (SYDNEY 2002) AND INTERNATIONAL WHEELCHAIR RACER; CHERI HAS DONE EXTENSIVE WORK IN THE AREA OF ADAPTIVE ATHLETICS AND IS NOW A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE U.S. PARALYMPICS. ADDITIONALLY, SHE HAS WON SEVERAL MARATHONS. CHERI'S GOALS ARE TO BECOME A DEVELOPMENTAL PEDIATRICIAN AND TO BECOME INVOLVED IN INTERNATIONAL HEALTH POLICY. SHE ALSO PLANS TO CONTINUE TO LEVERAGE HER ATHLETIC TALENTS TO PROMOTE A GENERAL AGENDA OF DISABILITY RIGHTS. ALISON ASHLEY HILLMAN IS A PSYCHIATRIC SURVIVOR WHO, AFTER RECEIVING HER BACHELOR'S DEGREE WITH DISTINCTION FROM CORNELL UNIVERSITY, WAS HANDCUFFED AND TAKEN TO THE PSYCHIATRIC WARD OF HER LOCAL HOSPITAL AND DIAGNOSED WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER. SHE ROTATED IN AND OUT OF A LOCKED WARD FOR FIVE MONTHS, WENT THROUGH BANKRUPTCY, AND WAS ON FOOD STAMPS, MEDICARE AND SSI. FOR TWO YEARS SHE EXPERIENCED FIRSTHAND THE VAST BARRIERS THAT PEOPLE WITH PSYCHIATRIC DISABILITIES FACE. BUT ALISON SURVIVED, RECEIVED HER LAW DEGREE CUM LAUDE FROM AMERICAN UNIVERSITY'S WASHINGTON COLLEGE OF LAW IN 2002, AND FULFILLED HER DREAM OF BECOMING AN INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER. SHE WAS AWARDED A NEW VOICES FELLOWSHIP TO WORK WITH MENTAL DISABILITY RIGHTS INTERNATIONAL (MDRI). SHE SERVES AS DIRECTOR OF MDRI'S AMERICAS ADVOCACY INITIATIVE WORKING FOR THE INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH MENTAL DISABILITIES. SHE IS CONFRONTING AND ADDRESSING THE VERY BARRIERS SHE EXPERIENCED. SINCE OCTOBER 2002, ALISON HAS BEEN CONDUCTING A STUDY OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN PERU, INVESTIGATING ABUSES IN PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS, ANALYZING AVAILABLE SERVICES FROM AN INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS FRAMEWORK, AND IDENTIFYING VIOLATIONS OF NATIONAL DISABILITY LEGISLATION. IT IS ALISON'S HOPE THAT THE LEGAL CASES SHE IS WORKING ON WILL NOT ONLY ESTABLISH LEGAL PRECEDENT IN THE INTER-AMERICAN SYSTEM THAT RECOGNIZES AND ENFORCES THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH MENTAL DISABILITIES, BUT ALSO DETERMINE THAT THERE MUST BE COMMUNITY ALTERNATIVES FOR PEOPLE WITH MENTAL DISABILITIES AND THAT DETENTION IN PSYCHIATRIC FACILITIES IS INAPPROPRIATE. ALISON'S GOALS ARE TO EMPOWER CONSUMER-DRIVEN SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH WORKSHOPS AND TRAININGS IN ADVOCACY, HUMAN RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH MENTAL DISABILITIES, DOCUMENTATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM FOR CONSUMER-RUN ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS. KEVIN LONG IS A FOUNDER AND CEO OF THE GLOBAL DEAF CONNECTION (GDC) IN MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, AN INTERNATIONAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO DEVELOP SELF-SUSTAINING, SUCCESSFUL CYCLES OF DEAF EDUCATION, AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS THROUGH MULTI-CULTURAL EXCHANGE, SUPPORT, AND MENTORING PROGRAMS. THESE CYCLES WILL ASSIST DEAF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD TO INCREASE THEIR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY. IN 1995, KEVIN, WHO HAS DYSLEXIA AND WHO AT THAT TIME HAD AN "I CAN'T DO IT" OUTLOOK, STARTED A FOR-PROFIT BUSINESS IN LIEU OF FACING COLLEGE. THOUGH THAT VENTURE PROVED SUCCESSFUL, HE REALIZED THAT HE REQUIRED ACADEMIC BUSINESS SKILLS TO SUCCEED AND REALIZE HIS DREAMS, AND TACKLED COLLEGE HEAD-ON WITH AN "I CAN" ATTITUDE BY UTILIZING NOTE TAKERS AND TUTORS. HE RECEIVED HIS BA IN INTERNATIONAL NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT FROM METROPOLITAN STATE UNIVERSITY AND HIS AAS IN SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETING FROM ST. PAUL TECHNICAL COLLEGE. KEVIN CREATED GDC AFTER HE SERVED AS A VOLUNTEER TEACHER AT A SCHOOL FOR DEAF CHILDREN IN KENYA, WHERE HE FELT INSPIRED TO WORK FOR BETTER EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP CREATION FOR DEAF COMMUNITIES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. SINCE FOUNDING GCD, HE HAS ORGANIZED MULTIPLE GROUPS OF DEAF AMERICANS TO KENYA, JAMAICA, AND THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, TO WORK WITH AND SERVE AS MENTORS TO DEAF PEOPLE. THROUGH GDC'S COLLEGE SUPPORT PROGRAM, A PROGRAM THAT IS A FIRST-OF- ITS KIND IN AFRICA, 13 DEAF KENYANS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED SCHOLARSHIPS AND FULL-TIME KENYAN SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS AT A TEACHERS COLLEGE IN KENYA. GCD NOW PROVIDES UNIQUE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE DEAF COMMUNITY IN THE U.S. AND INTERNATIONALLY. KEVIN WAS AWARDED AN ASHOKA FELLOWSHIP IN 2002, AND EXPLAINS THAT, EQUIPPED WITH THE RECOGNITION AFFORDED HIM THROUGH THE FELLOWSHIP, HE IS ABLE TO USE HIS OWN EXAMPLE AS A LEADER WITH A HIDDEN DISABILITY TO CONVINCE GOVERNMENTAL INSTITUTIONS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF EQUAL ACCESS TO EDUCATION IN THE DEAF COMMUNITY. KEVIN'S PRIMARY GOAL FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS IS TO FOCUS ON GDC'S EXPANSION. FIRST LINDA CHAVEZ-THOMPSON AWARD TO BE PRESENTED AT GALA AAPD WILL PRESENT THE FIRST-EVER LINDA CHAVEZ-THOMPSON AWARD AT ITS MARCH 16 LEADERSHIP GALA TO LINDA CHAVEZ-THOMPSON, AFL-CIO EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, IN RECOGNITION OF HER LONGSTANDING LEADERSHIP TOWARDS THE INCLUSION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES WITHIN THE LABOR MOVEMENT. CHAVEZ-THOMPSON WAS ELECTED EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE AFL-CIO AT THE FEDERATION'S 1995 CONVENTION AND WAS RE-ELECTED TO A NEW FOUR- YEAR TERM IN 2001. SHE IS THE FIRST PERSON TO HOLD THIS POST, AND SHE IS THE FIRST PERSON OF COLOR TO BE ELECTED TO ONE OF THE FEDERATION'S THREE HIGHEST OFFICES. A NATIVE OF LUBBOCK, TEXAS, CHAVEZ-THOMPSON IS A SECOND-GENERATION AMERICAN OF MEXICAN DECENT. SHE HAS 35 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE LABOR MOVEMENT, BEGINNING IN 1967 WITH HER FIRST WORK FOR THE LABORERS' LOCAL UNION IN LUBBOCK. AS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERATION, CHAVEZ-THOMPSON REPRESENTS THE LABOR MOVEMENT IN A WIDE VARIETY OF NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING HER SERVICE AS A MEMBER OF THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE WORKER RIGHTS CONSORTIUM, AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE UNITED WAY OF AMERICA, AS A VICE CHAIR OF THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE, AND AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF THE CONGRESSIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS INSTITUTE. CHAVEZ-THOMPSON SERVED ON THE PRESIDENT'S COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WHEN IT WAS CHAIRED BY THE HONORABLE TONY COELHO DURING THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION. SHE HAS TWO ADULT CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, BOTH OF WHOM LIVE IN HER NATIVE TEXAS. 2004 AAPD LEADERSHIP GALA SPONSORS: LEAD SPONSOR SAP PLATINUM SPONSOR INDEPENDENCE TECHNOLOGY GOLD SPONSORS AMERICAN AIRLINES PFIZER SILVER SPONSORS ALTRIA AVENTIS BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB COMPANY CONTINENTAL AIRLINES DARDEN RESTAURANTS HEWLETT-PACKARD NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BROADCASTERS NATIONAL STRUCTURED SETTLEMENTS TRADE ASSOCIATION (NSSTA) NISH RECORDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA (RIAA) SBC COMMUNICATIONS VIACOM VERIZON BRONZE SPONSORS AARP BELLSOUTH MACROMEDIA MICROSOFT ORACLE CORPORATION POTOMAC ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY (PEPCO) SPRINT UNITED SPINAL ASSOCIATION WALT DISNEY COMPANY BENEFACTORS DIGITAL FEDERAL CREDIT UNION (DCU) ELI LILLY LOCKHEED MARTIN NEWS CORP. LTD. NOVARTIS POWERS PYLES SUTTER & VERVILLE, P.C. TRAC FONE UNITED AIRLINES WISCONSIN ENERGY CORPORATION SUPPORTERS ADVAMED AMERICA'S ATHLETES WITH DISABILITIES BENDER CONSULTING SERVICES, INC. MARWOOD GROUP PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA (PVA) SUNTRUST FRIENDS AEROVIRONMENT MILLENNIUM PHARMACEUTICALS U.S. PARALYMPICS PAST PAUL G. HEARNE/AAPD LEADERSHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS - WHERE ARE THEY NOW? LEARN ABOUT SOME OF THE GREAT THINGS RECIPIENTS HAVE DONE SINCE RECEIVING THEIR AWARDS AND HOW THE AWARDS HAVE HELPED THEIR ADVOCACY WORK. PAUL G. HEARNE/AAPD LEADERSHIP AWARDS WERE CREATED IN 1999 TO CARRY ON THE WORK OF PAUL HEARNE, AAPD'S FOUNDER AND A RENOWNED DISABILITY RIGHTS LEADER. THEY WERE DESIGNED TO HELP REALIZE HIS GOAL OF CULTIVATING EMERGING LEADERS TO CARRY ON THE DISABILITY MOVEMENT. TO DATE, 34 AWARDS HAVE BEEN PRESENTED WITH THREE MORE TO BE PRESENTED AT THE 2004 AAPD LEADERSHIP GALA ON MARCH 16TH. EVERY AWARDEE RECEIVES AN UNRESTRICTED CASH AWARD OF $10,000, WHICH IS INTENDED TO FURTHER HIS OR HER STRONG ADVOCACY WORK IN THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY. IT IS INSPIRING TO REPORT THAT ALL PAST PAUL G. HEARNE/AAPD LEADERSHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS ARE ON THE MOVE AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE! THEY CONTINUE TO MAKE THEIR MARKS IN THE MOVEMENT, EACH BUILDING UPON THEIR WORK AS THE RESULT OF WINNING A PAUL G. HEARNE/AAPD LEADERSHIP AWARD. HERE'S A QUICK OVERVIEW: •TWO INDIVIDUALS HAVE CREATED NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO CONTINUE THEIR WORK ON BEHALF OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. •REACHING OUT TO ASIAN/PACIFIC ISLAND AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES HAS BEEN THE CORE FOCUS OF TWO RECIPIENTS. •A FEW HAVE CHOSEN WORK FOR FEDERAL AGENCIES AS THEIR CHOSEN PATHS. •SEVERAL ARE RECOGNIZED LEADERS IN THE NON-PROFIT WORLD – ONE WORKING TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF PRODUCTION FOR AFFORDABLE WHEELCHAIRS INTERNATIONALLY; ANOTHER WORKING INTERNATIONALLY TO IMPROVE THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES; AND ANOTHER WRITING NATIONALLY-CIRCULATED ALERTS ON UPDATES IN DISABILITY RIGHTS ADVOCACY. INDIVIDUAL AWARD RECIPIENTS HAVE: •BUILT A HIGH-TRAFFIC WEB SITE TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ON PSYCHIATRIC DISABILITIES. •GONE INTO ACADEMIA TO DIRECT THE EDUCATION OF TOMORROW'S SOCIAL WORK PROFESSIONALS. •WORKED TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE ABILITIES OF PEOPLE WITH DOWN SYNDROME. •RAISED MONEY FOR ACCESSIBLE PLAYGROUNDS AROUND THE COUNTRY. •ACTIVELY PROMOTED THE POLITICAL PARTICIPATION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. COLLECTIVELY, THIS CADRE OF RECOGNIZED LEADERS IS LEAVING ITS MARK ON THE WORLD OF DISABILITY AND BEYOND, WITH EACH DEMONSTRATING HIS OR HER DISTINCTIVE AND SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO MAKE SOCIETY WORK BETTER FOR EVERYONE. THE FOLLOWING ARE QUICK SUMMARIES OF SPECIFIC PATHS THAT SOME OF THE PAUL G. HEARNE/AAPD LEADERSHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS HAVE TAKEN: CARRIE GRIFFIN BASAS (2002) GRADUATED FROM HARVARD LAW SCHOOL AND PRACTICED CIVIL RIGHTS AND PUBLIC INTEREST LAW BEFORE DECIDING TO IMPLEMENT HER HEARNE AWARD DREAM BY CREATING HIREABILITIES, WHICH CONNECTS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WITH EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. OLLIE CANTOS (2000) USED HIS HEARNE AWARD MONEY TO BUILD THE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION PROGRAM AT THE WESTERN LAW CENTER FOR DISABILITY RIGHTS, AND IN 2002 WAS HIRED BY AAPD TO BE ITS FIRST GENERAL COUNSEL AND DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS, WHERE HE ALSO COORDINATES THE DISABILITY MENTORING DAY PROGRAM. MATTHEW CAVEDON (2000), NOW A HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMAN, CONTINUES HIS ADVOCACY WITH PUBLIC SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS AND HIS WORK WITH BOUNDLESS PLAYGROUNDS. HE HAS BEEN HONORED WITH SEVERAL MAJOR AWARDS FOR HIS WORK. ALICIA CONTRERAS (2001), PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF WHIRLWIND WOMEN, CONTINUES TO WORK TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF WHEELCHAIRS PRODUCED IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. ROBERT "BOBBY" COWARD, JR. (2000) IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DISABLED INDIVIDUALS FOR REAL EMPOWERMENT AND COMMUNITY TRAINING (DIRECT), WHICH PROMOTES ACCESS TO COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES AND SUPPORTS, HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, AND OTHER ENDEAVORS THAT ENCOURAGE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES' FULL PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY LIFE. MICHAEL CHING (1999) COMPLETED HIS MASTERS DEGREE IN COMPUTER SCIENCE FROM STANFORD UNIVERSITY IN 2003 AND JOINED IBM RESEARCH AS A SOFTWARE ENGINEER. DANIEL DAVIS (2001) GRADUATED WITH HIGHEST HONORS IN HISTORY FROM U.C. BERKELEY AND IS NOW A POLICY ANALYST FOR THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON INDEPENDENT LIVING (NCIL). ANNIE FORTS (2001), A PERSON WITH DOWN SYNDROME, CONTINUES PROMOTING HER "UP" SYNDROME PHILOSOPHY AS SHE VOLUNTEERS IN HER COMMUNITY AND PURSUES A NATIONWIDE PUBLIC SPEAKING CAREER AS A SELF-ADVOCATE AND MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER. CLAUDIA GORDON (2002) DONATED A PORTION OF HER AWARD TO REVAMP THE NATIONAL BLACK DEAF ADVOCATES' WEBSITE AND NEWSLETTER. SHE IS NOW AN ATTORNEY ADVISOR WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES. DAVID GONZALEZ (1999), THE FIRST PERSON WITH A PSYCHIATRIC DISABILITY TO RECEIVE THE AWARD, WORKS FOR A SPECIALLY DESIGNED RESEARCH PROJECT, NEW YORK WORKS, WHICH IS FUNDED BY THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION AND THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS WITH PSYCHIATRIC DISABILITIES IN OBTAINING COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT. MARLENE HUFF (1999) EARNED HER PH.D IN SOCIAL WORK, IS AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY AND ALSO SERVES AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE SOCIAL WORK PROGRAM. PETER CODY HUNT (2002) IS THE STUDY COORDINATOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH MODEL CENTER ON SPINAL CORD INJURY AND A DOCTORAL CANDIDATE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SCHOOL OF HEALTH AND REHABILITATION SCIENCE. KRISTEN JONES (2001) IS PURSUING HER MASTER'S DEGREE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION, AND WAS RECENTLY CHOSEN TO WORK ON A GRANT PROJECT IN HOUSTON CALLED CAREER JOURNEYS, AN E-MENTORING NETWORK FOR YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES. JENNIFER "JENNY" KERN (1999) IS A CONSULTANT WITH MOBILITY INTERNATIONAL USA (MIUSA) AND THE DISABILITY RIGHTS EDUCATION AND DEFENSE FUND (DREDF). SHE HAS ALSO LED DISABILITY RIGHTS TRAINING IN TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN, SAN JOSE, AND COSTA RICA. JAMES R. MEADOURS (2000) COMPLETED HIS SEVEN-YEAR TENURE ON THE NATIONAL BOARD OF SELF-ADVOCATES BECOMING EMPOWERED AND IS ACTIVE WITH PEOPLE FIRST OF LOUISIANA, PLAYING A SUBSTANTIAL ROLE IN BUILDING THE GROUP TO MORE THAN TWENTY CHAPTERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. SHARON LYNN NGUYEN (2000) DEVOTED HER AWARD FUNDS TO WORKING WITH THE PEOPLE OF VIETNAM TO ADVANCE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND TO CONDUCTING AGGRESSIVE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION EFFORTS AMONG VIETNAMESE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES. SHE NOW WORKS AT TEAM OF ADVOCATES FOR SPECIAL KIDS (TASK) AS A VIETNAMESE OUTREACH COORDINATOR. FRANCES S. PRIESTER (2001) IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH, WHICH ANNUALLY SERVES MORE THAN 12,000 CONSUMERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. LAUREN TERUEL (2000) WAS MISS DEAF AMERICA (2000-2002) AND IS AN OUTSPOKEN ADVOCATE FOR ENHANCED LITERACY AMONG MEMBERS OF THE DEAF COMMUNITY. SARAH LOUISE TRIANO (2002) EMBARKED ON A NATIONWIDE DISABILITY PRIDE TOUR IN 2003 TO HELP BREAK DOWN THE INTERNALIZED SHAME AMONG PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES, SUPPORT A SYSTEMATIC REDEFINITION OF "DISABILITY," AND PROMOTE THE BELIEF IN SOCIETY THAT DISABILITY IS A NATURAL AND BEAUTIFUL PART OF HUMAN DIVERSITY THAT DISABLED PEOPLE CAN TAKE PRIDE IN. SABRINA-MARIE WILSON (2000) IS BUILDING HELP IN ENCOURAGING ABILITIES AND RECOGNIZING TALENTS (HEART), AN ORGANIZATION SHE FOUNDED TO PROMOTE A SUSTAINED VISION FOR FULL INDEPENDENCE AND SOCIETAL PARTICIPATION AMONG PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC OR TERMINAL ILLNESS. ALL OF THESE DISTINGUISHED LEADERS - AND ALL OF THE OTHER PAUL G. HEARNE/AAPD LEADERSHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS NOT HIGHLIGHTED HERE – ARE WORKING TO PAVE THE WAY FOR BETTER LIVES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH ALL TYPES OF DISABILITIES. SPACE CONSTRAINTS DID NOT PERMIT EXTENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS IN THIS ISSUE OF AAPDNEWS, BUT PLEASE VISIT THE AAPD WEBSITE (WWW.AAPD-DC.ORG) TO READ MUCH MORE ABOUT THE EXTRAORDINARY ADVOCACY WORK THAT PAST PAUL G. HEARNE/AAPD LEADERSHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS ARE DOING. VOTER-VERIFIED PAPER BALLOTS: A SOLUTION IN SEARCH OF A PROBLEM BY JIM DICKSON AAPD VICE PRESIDENT, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AND DIRECTOR, DISABILITY VOTE PROJECT THIS ARTICLE FIRST APPEARED IN ELECTIONS TODAY, VOL.11 NO. 3 – 2003. VOTER-VERIFIED PAPER BALLOTS ARE NOT ONLY UNNECESSARY; THEY CONSTITUTE A MAJOR THREAT TO THE MODERNIZATION OF THE NATION'S OBSOLETE VOTING SYSTEM. CAL TECH AND MIT REPORT THAT IN 2000, ROUGHLY TWO MILLION AMERICANS WENT TO THE POLLS, VOTED AND LEFT, BELIEVING THAT THEIR BALLOTS WERE GOING TO BE COUNTED. THESE VOTERS HAD THEIR VOTES TAKEN AWAY BECAUSE OF THE HIGH RATES OF ERRORS INHERENT IN PUNCH CARD, LEVER, AND OPTICAL-SCAN MACHINES. TOUCH-SCREEN SYSTEMS ARE PROVEN TO HAVE THE LOWEST ERROR RATE. ELECTRONIC VOTING ON TOUCH-SCREEN MACHINES HAS BEEN IN USE FOR 40 YEARS. NOT ONE ELECTION IN FOUR DECADES HAS BEEN SPOILED BY THE USE OF DIRECT RECORDING ELECTRONIC (DRE) MACHINES. IN THE SAME TIME PERIOD, SCORES OF ELECTIONS HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BY THE USE OF PAPER VOTING. EVERY ELECTION SYSTEM IS IMPERFECT; EVERY METHOD OF VOTING IS SUBJECT TO MALICIOUS ATTACK OR INADVERTENT DAMAGE. THE QUESTION IS: WHAT IS THE PROBABILITY OF SUCH AN ACCIDENTAL OR MALICIOUS DEED? ELECTIONS ARE LAYERED WITH HUMAN SAFEGUARDS, PROCEDURAL PROTECTIONS, AS WELL AS MODERN HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE SYSTEMS. IF WE TRUST OUR WORK, FINANCES, AND SAFETY TO COMPUTERS, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THE SAME WITH OUR ELECTIONS. RUNNING AN ELECTION IS LIKE FLYING AN AIRPLANE. THERE ARE COMPUTERS ON BOARD WITH BACK-UP SYSTEMS, BUT THERE IS ALSO A CAPTAIN AND CO-PILOT. ON-BOARD COMPUTERS, LIKE THE COMPUTERS USED FOR ELECTIONS, ARE NOT ACCESSIBLE TO JUST ANYONE. BEFORE A CITY OR COUNTY CAN BUY A MACHINE, IT MUST GO THROUGH VIGOROUS TESTING AND CERTIFICATION, FIRST AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND THEN AT THE STATE LEVEL. THE MACHINE MANUFACTURERS DO NOT DESIGN THE BALLOT OR PROGRAM THE MACHINE; BOTH ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE LOCAL CITY OR COUNTY OFFICIALS. ONCE THE MACHINES ARE PROGRAMMED FOR A SPECIFIC ELECTION, THEY ARE STORED IN SECURE FACILITIES WITH TAMPER-EVIDENT LOCKS AND SEALS AND ARE ONLY DISTRIBUTED TO THE POLLING PLACES THE DAY BEFORE THE ELECTION. ON ELECTION DAY, EACH MACHINE IS OPENED AND INITIALIZED IN THE PRESENCE OF POLL WORKERS AND JUDGES (IN MOST STATES, FOUR INDIVIDUALS IN EACH POLLING PLACE). EACH MACHINE IS CHECKED TO CONFIRM THAT THERE ARE NO VOTES REGISTERED ON IT. THE MACHINES AND THE PROGRAMS THAT RUN THEM, INCLUDING THE TABULATING SOFTWARE, ARE NOT ACCESSIBLE FROM THE INTERNET. IF A ROGUE PROGRAMMER WANTED TO STEAL AN ELECTION, HE WOULD HAVE TO GAIN ACCESS TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MACHINES ONE AT A TIME. DRES ARE THE ONLY VOTING SYSTEMS THAT OFFER MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES THE ABILITY TO CAST A SECRET, INDEPENDENT, AND VERIFIABLE VOTE BY READING THE BALLOT VIA EARPHONES FOR THE VOTER. I AM BLIND, AND I HAVE NEVER CAST A SECRET BALLOT. ACCORDING TO THE CENSUS, THERE ARE 11.5 MILLION AMERICANS WHO, BECAUSE OF BLINDNESS OR HAND-ARM DISABILITIES, HAVE HAD TO USE THIRD-PARTY ASSISTANCE. AFTER THE 2000 ELECTION, MANY AMERICANS FOR THE FIRST TIME ASKED THEMSELVES, "WAS MY BALLOT MARKED PROPERLY?" THOSE OF US WITH DISABILITIES ASK OURSELVES THIS QUESTION EVERY TIME WE VOTE. AUDIO BALLOTS ARE ALSO IMPORTANT TO CITIZENS WHO SPEAK MINORITY LANGUAGES. LIKE MY GRANDPARENTS, MILLIONS OF IMMIGRANTS BECOME CITIZENS. THEY OFTEN LEAVE THEIR COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN WITHOUT ACQUIRING READING PROFICIENCY IN THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGES. MILLIONS OF OTHER AMERICAN CITIZENS HAVE LIMITED READING ABILITY, AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO LISTEN TO THE BALLOT AND VOTE WITHOUT EMBARRASSMENT OR INSECURITY. THERE ARE FOUR MANUFACTURERS WHOSE DRE MACHINES ARE ACCESSIBLE TO DISABLED INDIVIDUALS: DIEBOLD, SEQUOIA PACIFIC, HART INTERCIVIC AND ELECTIONS SYSTEMS AND SOFTWARE. NONE OF THESE OFFERS A VOTER-VERIFIED PAPER BALLOT. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THERE IS NO VOTER-VERIFIABLE PAPER BALLOT MACHINE ON THE MARKET THAT HAS BEEN CERTIFIED FOR USE AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL. A TOUCH-SCREEN SYSTEM THAT OFFERS AN ACCESSIBLE VOTER- VERIFIED BALLOT HAS NEVER BEEN USED IN AN ACTUAL ELECTION. INTRODUCING NEW VOTING TECHNOLOGY WILL TAKE YEARS. AFTER A NEW SYSTEM IS DESIGNED, IT MUST BE TESTED: WILL THE MACHINES RUN FLAWLESSLY FOR 12 HOURS? ARE THEY EASY TO SET UP AND OPERATE? AFTER THESE TYPES OF QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN SATISFACTORILY ANSWERED, THE MACHINES ARE GIVEN REAL WORLD TRIALS IN A NUMBER OF ELECTIONS WITH SMALL TURNOUTS, SUCH AS SCHOOL BOARD OR COUNTY COMMISSIONER ELECTIONS. ONCE THE MACHINES ARE PROVEN TO WORK FLAWLESSLY, THEY CAN BE USED IN A PRIMARY ELECTION WITH THE GENERAL ELECTION TO FOLLOW. OFTEN A COUNTY OR A CITY WILL FIRST DEPLOY THE NEW SYSTEM IN ONLY PART OF ITS JURISDICTION. THE PUBLIC AND POLL WORKERS MUST BE TAUGHT, IN ADVANCE OF ELECTION DAY, HOW TO USE THE NEW EQUIPMENT. YEARS OF RUNNING ELECTIONS AND TESTING NEW VOTING SYSTEMS HAVE TAUGHT US THAT NEW SYSTEMS MUST BE INTRODUCED SLOWLY, DELIBERATELY AND INCREMENTALLY. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A NEW VOTING TECHNOLOGY BROUGHT TO MARKET IN LESS THAN FOUR YEARS. IF WE GO TO PAPER, THEN THE TWO MILLION AMERICANS WHO THOUGHT THEY HAD VOTED BUT DID NOT GET THEIR VOTE COUNTED IN 2000 WILL NOT HAVE THEIR VOTE COUNTED IN 2004, 2006 OR EVEN 2008. ANNOUNCEMENTS AAPD BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTION TO BE HELD IN JUNE : AAPD'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS YOUR BOARD--EVERY MEMBER IS ENCOURAGED TO CAST A BALLOT IN THIS IMPORTANT ELECTION. LOOK FOR YOUR MAIL-IN BALLOT IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF AAPDNEWS. BUREAU OF TRANSPORTATION STATISTICS (BTS) DISABILITY TRANSPORTATION SURVEY RESULTS AVAILABLE : FREEDOM TO TRAVEL (THE BTS SURVEY REPORT) IS NOW AVAILABLE AT THE BTS WEBSITE. TO ACCESS THE REPORT, GO TO THE BTS HOMEPAGE AT HTTP://WWW.BTS.GOV. IN THE "WHAT'S NEW" WINDOW, CLICK ON "FREEDOM TO TRAVEL - TRANSPORTATION AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES." THE ETHEL LOUISE ARMSTRONG FOUNDATION 2004 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION AVAILABLE -- DEADLINE JUNE 1: ELA SCHOLARSHIPS, WHICH RANGE FROM $500 TO $2000, PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO WOMEN WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES WHO ARE ENROLLED IN A COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY GRADUATE PROGRAM IN THE UNITED STATES AND ARE BASED ON MERIT AND ARE GIVEN IN AN OBJECTIVE AND ON A NONDISCRIMINATORY BASIS. APPLICATIONS AND GUIDELINES ARE AVAILABLE AT WWW.ELA.ORG. TICKET TO WORK AND WORK INCENTIVES ADVISORY PANEL RELEASES EN ADVICE REPORT : THE TICKET TO WORK AND WORK INCENTIVES (TWWIIA) ADVISORY PANEL HAS RELEASED THE FINAL DRAFT OF ITS ADVICE REPORT TO CONGRESS AND THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (SSA) REGARDING THE CURRENT LOW LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT NETWORKS (EN) PARTICIPATION IN THE TICKET TO WORK PROGRAM. THE REPORT, ADVICE REPORT TO CONGRESS AND THE COMMISSIONER OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION: THE CRISIS IN EN PARTICIPATION: A BLUEPRINT FOR ACTION, CAN BE ACCESSED ON THE WEB AT HTTP://WWW.SSA.GOV/WORK/PANEL/PANEL_DOCUMENTS/REPORTS.HTML. WHAT CHILDREN ARE BEING LEFT BEHIND? : EDUCATION WEEK'S EIGHTH-ANNUAL QUALITY COUNTS REPORT, WHICH EXAMINES WHAT THE 50 STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ARE DOING TO INTEGRATE STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES INTO TESTING AND ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEMS, ASKED STATES TO PROVIDE DATA ON THE PERCENTAGE OF GENERAL- VERSUS SPECIAL-EDUCATION STUDENTS (IN GRADES 4, 8, AND 10 IN 2002-03) WHO TOOK STATE TESTS IN READING AND MATH. ONLY 13 OF THE 37 STATES THAT PROVIDED DATA HAD TESTED 95 PERCENT OR MORE OF THESE SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS. IT ALSO ASKED WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL ENROLLMENT OF GENERAL- VERSUS SPECIAL-EDUCATION STUDENTS SCORED AT OR ABOVE PROFICIENT ON THOSE TESTS. ON FOURTH-GRADE READING TESTS, 30 OF THE 39 STATES HAD ACHIEVEMENT GAPS OF 30 POINTS OR MORE, AND IN SIX STATES, THE GAP WAS MORE THAN 50 POINTS! IN ADDITION, EDUCATION WEEK POLLED 800 GENERAL AND SPECIAL-EDUCATION TEACHERS, A MAJORITY OF WHOM BELIEVE THEIR SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS MAKE "SIGNIFICANT ACADEMIC PROGRESS," BUT MOST QUESTION WHETHER SUCH STUDENTS SHOULD HAVE TO MEET THE SAME ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS AS OTHERS THEIR AGE. FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO HTTP://WWW.EDWEEK.ORG/SREPORTS/QC04/. RESEARCH SHOWS 57 PERCENT OF ADULT COMPUTER USERS BENEFIT FROM ACCESSIBLE TECHNOLOGY -- MICROSOFT KICKS OFF AGING WORKFORCE CAMPAIGN ACCESSIBLE COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY, OFTEN ASSOCIATED ONLY WITH PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, CAN BENEFIT A MUCH LARGER SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION, ACCORDING TO A NEW STUDY CONDUCTED BY FORRESTER DATA AND COMMISSIONED BY THE MICROSOFT CORPORATION. IT SHOWS THAT 57 PERCENT OF CURRENT WORKING-AGE COMPUTER USERS MAY BENEFIT FROM ACCESSIBLE TECHNOLOGY BECAUSE OF MILD TO SEVERE VISION, HEARING, DEXTERITY, SPEECH, AND COGNITIVE DIFFICULTIES AND IMPAIRMENTS. AS THE U.S. POPULATION CONTINUES TO AGE, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE THESE IMPAIRMENTS WILL INCREASE, AND MORE PEOPLE WILL LIKELY TURN TO ACCESSIBLE TECHNOLOGY TO MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF THEIR CHANGING PHYSICAL ABILITIES. "FUTURE ECONOMISTS STUDYING 21ST-CENTURY WORKFORCE TRENDS WILL FIND THE MOST SUCCESSFUL COMPANIES WERE THE ONES THAT SAW THE WORKER SHORTAGE LOOMING AND PUT IN PLACE STRATEGIES TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT," SAID BETH B. BUEHLMANN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR WORKFORCE PREPARATION, U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. "VALUING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF AGING WORKERS AND PROVIDING THE ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES TO HELP RETAIN THEM IN THE WORKPLACE ARE TWO SUCH STRATEGIES." TO HELP ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, MICROSOFT KICKED OFF AN AGING WORKFORCE CAMPAIGN TO EDUCATE AGING WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS ON HOW ACCESSIBLE TECHNOLOGY CAN HELP THEM KEEP THEIR COMPETITIVE EDGE AND HELP BUSINESSES RECRUIT AND RETAIN AGING WORKERS. ONE CAMPAIGN GOAL IS TO MAKE MORE PEOPLE AWARE OF HOW THEY CAN MAKE THEIR COMPUTER EASIER TO USE BY ADJUSTING BUILT-IN MICROSOFT WINDOWS OPERATING SYSTEM OPTIONS, SUCH AS THE TEXT SIZE AND COLOR AND SYSTEM SOUNDS. THE CAMPAIGN TAKES A LIGHTHEARTED APPROACH AND INCLUDES HELPFUL INFORMATION AT THE NEW WEB SITE CALLED OVERVIEW OF AGING AND ACCESSIBLE TECHNOLOGY HTTP://WWW.MICROSOFT.COM/ENABLE/AGING/. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO CENSOR TV CAPTIONING -- DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DICTATING WHAT IS OR IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR DEAF PEOPLE: ADVOCACY ACTION NEEDED FROM A RELEASE BY KELBY N. BRICK, ESQ. ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LAW ADVOCACY CENTER NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THE DEAF (NAD) LAST OCTOBER, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THE DEAF (NAD) URGED PRESIDENT BUSH TO OVERTURN A RECENT DECISION BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO DECLARE ALMOST 200 TELEVISION SHOWS INAPPROPRIATE FOR CAPTIONING BY THE DEPARTMENT'S TECHNOLOGY AND MEDIA SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES PROGRAM. ACCORDING TO NAD PRESIDENT ANDREW J. LANGE, THE DEPARTMENT'S ACTION IS GOVERNMENT CENSORSHIP AND CONTRADICTS PRESIDENT BUSH'S PROMOTION OF FAMILY VALUES AND PARENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY. THE NAD LETTER TO PRESIDENT BUSH IS LOCATED AT: WWW.NAD.ORG/OPENHOUSE/ACTION/ALERTS/CAPTIONINGCENSORSHIP/PR.HTML SINCE THEN, THE NAD HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON DISABILITY (NCD: WWW.NCD.GOV) TO HAVE THE DEPARTMENT REVERSE ITS DECISION. IN DECEMBER, THE NCD SENT A LETTER TO SECRETARY OF EDUCATION RODERICK PAIGE URGING HIM TO TAKE ACTION TO REVERSE THE DEPARTMENT'S DECISION. A COPY OF THIS LETTER CAN BE FOUND AT: WWW.NCD.GOV/NEWSROOM/CORRESPONDENCE/PAIGE_12-15-03.HTML. A SUMMARY OF THE NAD AND NCD EFFORTS CAN BE FOUND AT: WWW.NAD.ORG/OPENHOUSE/ACTION/ALERTS/CAPTIONINGCENSORSHIP/NCDSUPP ORT.HTML. ADVOCACY ACTION NEEDED THE NAD CONTINUES TO COMMUNICATE WITH CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS AND STAFF—WHO NEED TO HEAR FROM INDIVIDUALS--URGING THEM TO TAKE ACTION ON THIS ISSUE. AAPD MEMBERS AND FRIENDS ARE URGED TO WRITE LETTERS TO THEIR LOCAL AND STATE CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES AND EXPRESS THEIR OPINION ABOUT THE CENSORING, AND ALSO ENCOURAGED TO CONTACT THEIR LOCAL MEDIA, NEWSPAPER, AND TELEVISION STATIONS TO REQUEST A NEWS STORY. CHANGE IN MEDICARE'S POWER CHAIR COVERAGE HURTS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES YOU MAY NO LONGER BE ABLE TO COUNT ON MEDICARE TO PAY FOR YOUR POWER CHAIR, THANKS TO NEW MEDICARE GUIDELINES AND PRACTICES. UNTIL RECENTLY, MEDICARE REIMBURSED THE COMPANY THAT PROVIDED THE CHAIR THE USUAL 80 PERCENT OF THE CHAIR'S COST. HOWEVER, WITH RECENT GROWTH IN DEMAND FOR POWER WHEELCHAIRS AND MANY HIGHLY PUBLICIZED CASES OF FRAUD, MEDICARE ADMINISTRATORS ARE NOW TAKING A MORE SCRUTINIZING LOOK AT REIMBURSEMENT REQUESTS IN AN EFFORT TO SAVE MONEY. ACCORDING TO A RECENT ARTICLE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES, VICTORIA TARPEY, THE OWNER OF MED-CARE SUPPLY, A SMALL COMPANY IN PATTERSON, N.Y., SAYS MEDICARE HAD DENIED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR NEARLY TWENTY (20) OF HER CUSTOMERS. ONE RECENT CASE, A NUN WAS DENIED WHEN THE AGENCY RULED HER CHAIR WAS NOT MEDICALLY NECESSARY, DESPITE AFFIDAVITS FROM HER DOCTOR STATING THE ARTHRITIS IN HER KNEES PREVENTED HER FROM TAKING EVEN A SINGLE STEP. THE TIMES ARTICLE CONTENDS THAT MUCH OF THE NEW DEMAND HAS BEEN DRIVEN BY SHADY COMPANIES TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE RELATIVELY LOOSE MEDICARE APPROVAL PROCESS. BEN ST. JOHN, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, SAID FEDERAL PROSECUTORS HAVE ALREADY WON CONVICTIONS IN MORE THAN A DOZEN CASES AND ARE TRYING MORE THAN FIFTY OTHER CASES IN TWENTY STATES, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND PUERTO RICO. AS FEDERAL OFFICIALS AROUND THE COUNTRY BEGAN PROSECUTING CASES, OFFICIALS AT THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES (CMS), THE AGENCY THAT RUNS MEDICARE, INITIATED A PROGRAM TO CRACK DOWN ON ABUSES. AS PART OF A 10-POINT PROGRAM, THE AGENCY SAID IT WOULD BEGIN "A MORE DETAILED SCREENING PROCESS" FOR NEW SUPPLIERS AND REQUIRE STRICTER OVERALL MONITORING. AAPD'S PRESIDENT AND CEO ANDREW IMPARATO WAS QUOTED IN THE TIMES ARTICLE SAYING, "IT'S ALL JUST STARTING TO SINK IN WITH THE DISABLED COMMUNITY. IF THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT FRAUD, THERE ARE WAYS TO CRACK DOWN ON BAD ACTORS THAT DON'T REQUIRE A ONE- SIZE-FITS-ALL APPROACH TO WAYS TO PAY FOR POWER WHEELCHAIRS. THEY ARE GOING TO FORCE PEOPLE TO IMPOVERISH THEMSELVES IN INSTITUTIONAL SETTINGS. PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT COMMITTED FRAUD ARE PENALIZED, AND THE PUNISHMENT DOESN'T FIT THE CRIME." THE NEW MEDICARE ACT: WILL IT PROVIDE ALL THE PROMISES MADE WATCH FOR A FULL IN-DEPTH LOOK AT MEDICARE IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF AAPDNEWS BOTH CONGRESS AND THE MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES IT WAS DESIGNED TO SERVE ARE MEETING THE NEW MEDICARE ACT AND PRESCRIPTION PLAN WITH SCRUTINY. CONSERVATIVE CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS, NOT LIKING THE ORIGINAL PRICE TAG OF $395 BILLION, ARE ENRAGED BY THE NOW ESTIMATED COST OF AT LEAST $534 BILLION. DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, WHO WERE VIRTUALLY SHUT OUT OF WRITING THE LEGISLATION AFTER FIRST SUPPORTING THE WHITE HOUSE, ARE CALLING THE MEASURE A PARTISAN EFFORT ON THE PART OF THE ADMINISTRATION. THERE ARE TWO OFFICIAL INVESTIGATIONS GOING ON NOW INTO HOW THE MEASURE WAS PASSED. AND, MANY ELDERLY AND DISABLED BENEFICIARIES ARE ASKING, "WHERE'S THE BEEF?" ACCORDING TO MARIE COCCO, A NEWSDAY COLUMNIST, THE HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE IS PROBING ALLEGATIONS BY RETIRING REP. NICK SMITH (R-MICH) THAT REPUBLICAN LEADERS PROMISED TO DONATE $100,000 TO HIS SON'S CONGRESSIONAL RACE IN EXCHANGE FOR SMITH'S VOTE. HE VOTED AGAINST THE BILL. THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE, A WATCHDOG GROUP EXAMINING THE ADMINISTRATION'S TAXPAYER-FINANCED ADVERTISING ABOUT THE DRUG PLAN, IS TRYING TO DETERMINE IF THE $12.6 MILLION AD CAMPAIGN IS LEGITIMATE PUBLIC SERVICE OR POLITICKING. COCCO CONTENDS THAT EVEN THE CONSERVATIVE NATIONAL TAXPAYERS UNION HAS CRIED FOUL, DEMANDING THAT THE ADS BE STOPPED BECAUSE THEY ARE "A POLITICAL AND FISCAL INSULT TO TAXPAYERS." ALL THAT SAID, WHERE DOES THE ACT STAND IN REAL HEALTH CARE INITIATIVES? WHAT CAN MEDICARE RECIPIENTS EXPECT FROM THE NEW ACT? THE MEDICARE ACT AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLAN, DESCRIBED AS "A BEGINNING," HAS A TIMELINE THAT DOESN'T REALLY KICK IN FOR TWO YEARS - JANUARY 2006. UNTIL THEN, DRUG DISCOUNT CARDS WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM JUNE 2004 - JUNE 2005. IN JANUARY 2005, SOME ANNUAL DEDUCTIBLES WILL INCREASE FROM $100 TO $110 AND CONTINUE TO INCREASE ANNUALLY. DEPENDING ON INCOME LEVELS AND ANNUAL DRUG COSTS, SOME RECIPIENTS WILL SAVE LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY, SOME WILL SAVE NOTHING, AND THE ACT DOES NOTHING ABOUT LOWERING DRUG COSTS IN AMERICA. IF SOMEONE HAS A MEDIGAP POLICY THAT INCLUDES DRUG BENEFITS, THEN THEY ARE INELIGIBLE FOR THE NEW MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PROGRAM. ADDITIONALLY, MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES RECEIVING FREE DRUGS THROUGH MEDICAID WILL BE ASKED FOR CO-PAYS UNDER THE NEW LAW BUT ALSO MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO ALL OF THE DRUGS COVERED BY MEDICAID. DRUG DISCOUNT CARDS, AVAILABLE IN MAY FOR JUNE 2004 - JUNE 2005 COVERAGE, ARE AVAILABLE TO BENEFICIARIES WHO ARE NOT IN MEDICAID OR HAVE NO OTHER DRUG COVERAGE. MANY BENEFICIARIES WILL PAY AN ANNUAL FEE OF $30 FOR THE CARD AND RECEIVE TEN TO FIFTEEN PERCENT OFF NORMAL PRICES FOR BRAND-NAME DRUGS AND FIFTY PERCENT OFF FOR GENERICS - THIS WILL VARY FROM CARD TO CARD AND THERE WILL BE AT LEAST TWO DIFFERENT CARDS. PRIVATE COMPANIES THAT MEET MEDICARE STANDARDS AND NEGOTIATE LOWER PRICES FROM DRUG MAKERS WILL OFFER THE CARDS. LOW-INCOME BENEFICIARIES WHO SIGN UP FOR MEDICARE DISCOUNT CARDS CAN ALSO RECEIVE A $600-PER-YEAR CREDIT TO BUY PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. ELIGIBILITY FOR THIS DISCOUNT IS AN ANNUAL INCOME OF BELOW $12,350 IF SINGLE AND $16,670 FOR COUPLES WITH NO OTHER DRUG COVERAGE. THERE IS NO ENROLLMENT FEE, BUT THERE IS A FIVE OR TEN PERCENT CO-PAY FOR EVERY PRESCRIPTION. THERE ARE MANY CONFUSING ISSUES AND QUESTIONS WITH THE NEW PRESCRIPTION DRUG PROGRAM. THE NEXT ISSUE OF AAPDNEWS, WHICH WILL COME OUT BEFORE THE JUNE 2004 DISCOUNT CARD AVAILABILITY, WILL PROVIDE AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THE NEW ACT AND THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFITS. IN IT, WE WILL TRY TO ADDRESS YOUR QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS REGARDING THE NEW ACT AND HOW IT WILL AFFECT YOUR HEALTH CARE AND DRUG COSTS. ONCE AGAIN, SUPREME COURT HEARS ADA CASE CHALLENGING CONGRESS'S AUTHORITY THIS PAST JANUARY, THE U.S. SUPREME COURT HEARD ARGUMENTS IN THE TENNESSEE V. LANE CASE. AT ISSUE AGAIN IS WHETHER CONGRESS HAD THE AUTHORITY TO ALLOW STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO BE SUED FOR MONEY DAMAGES FOR VIOLATING TITLE II OF THE ADA. TITLE II PROTECTS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES FROM DISCRIMINATION IN ACCESS TO PUBLIC FACILITIES AND THE PROVISION OF PUBLIC SERVICES. AT ISSUE NOW IS THE RIGHT OF PRIVATE CITIZENS TO SUE OVER ALLEGED VIOLATIONS, LIKE THE LACK OF AN ELEVATOR IN THE SMALL-TOWN COURTHOUSE WHERE LANE WAS SCHEDULED TO APPEAR IN 1996. BECAUSE THE COURTHOUSE DID NOT HAVE AN ELEVATOR, LANE CRAWLED UP TWO FLIGHTS OF STAIRS TO GET TO THE COURTROOM. HE WANTS TO SUE THE STATE OF TENNESSEE FOR UP TO $100,000 FOR THIS HUMILIATING TREATMENT THAT VIOLATED THE ADA. HE CRAWLED UP THE POLK COUNTY COURTHOUSE STEPS ONCE FOR AN APPEARANCE IN A RECKLESS DRIVING CASE, BUT WAS ARRESTED FOR FAILING TO APPEAR IN COURT WHEN HE REFUSED TO CRAWL A SECOND TIME AND WHEN COURTHOUSE EMPLOYEES CLAIM HE REFUSED OFFERS OF HELP. THE CASE SETS UP THE SAME CONFLICT OF STATE'S RIGHTS AND THE POWERS OF CONGRESS THAT THE RECENT GARRETT CASE DID WHERE THE COURT RULED IN FAVOR OF STATE'S RIGHTS AND AGAINST THE ADA. AAPD PARTICIPATED IN AN AMICUS BRIEF SUPPORTING THE DISABLED RESPONDENTS ALONG WITH FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL DICK THORNBURGH AND OTHER DISABILITY GROUPS. AAPDNEWS WILL REPORT ON THE COURT'S DECISION REGARDING TENNESSEE V. LANE WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS CASE GO TO AAPD'S WEBSITE AT WWW.AAPD-DC.ORG. BEGINNING WITH THIS ISSUE OF AAPDNEWS, AAPD WILL HIGHLIGHT EXECUTIVES WITH DISABILITIES WHO HAVE MADE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN THEIR ORGANIZATIONS. AAPD WANTS READERS TO KNOW THE STORY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS— WHAT HAS MADE THEM SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR CAREERS, WHAT THEIR PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS ARE CONCERNING HOW PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES CAN BE BROUGHT INTO THEIR INDUSTRIES AS WELL AS THE WORLD OF WORK AND CAREERS, AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH AAPDNEWS READERS. WE HOPE THAT THIS COLUMN WILL NOT ONLY BE INFORMATIVE TO READERS, BUT ALSO PROVIDE THEM INSIGHT INTO THE MULTITUDES OF IMPACTS THAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES HAVE HAD ON THE JOB IN DIVERSE FIELDS. WE WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS AND FEEDBACK TO THIS AND ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED IN AAPDNEWS. A CONVERSATION WITH MICHAEL TAKEMURA -- MICHAEL TAKEMURA, A RESIDENT OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, IS DIRECTOR OF THE HEWLETT-PACKARD (HP) ACCESSIBILITY PROGRAM OFFICE. IN THIS POSITION, HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPING THE OVERALL STRATEGY FOR HP'S ACCESSIBILITY EFFORTS. HIS OFFICE GUIDES CORPORATE-WIDE ACCESSIBILITY IN PRODUCT DESIGN, ENGINEERING, PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, DOCUMENTATION, WEB, SERVICES, SUPPORT, AND PROGRAMS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. HE HAS BEEN IN THE TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY FOR MORE THAN FIFTEEN YEARS, REPRESENTING HP AND COMPAQ COMPUTER CORPORATION FOR MORE THAN TEN YEARS, WITH STRATEGIC ROLES IN MARKETING AND SALES ORGANIZATIONS. HE ALSO SERVES ON NUMEROUS COMMUNITY, BUSINESS, AND GOVERNMENT BOARDS AND COMMITTEES. IN MAY 2003, HE WAS ELECTED BY THE AAPD MEMBERSHIP TO SERVE ON THE AAPD BOARD OF DIRECTORS. FOR MICHAEL TAKEMURA, LIKE MANY OF US, LIFE HAS BEEN AND CONTINUES TO BE A JOURNEY OF UPS AND DOWNS AND OPPORTUNITIES TAKEN AND MISSED WITH ONE EXCEPTION. MICHAEL IS ON A JOURNEY THAT OFTEN PARALLELS THE JOURNEY OF HIS EMPLOYER, HP. MICHAEL AND HP BOTH UNDERSTAND THAT THE MORE WE KNOW AND DO, THE MORE THERE IS TO KNOW AND DO, OR THE MORE SURFACES WE SCRATCH THE MORE CHALLENGES WE SEE. MICHAEL'S JOURNEY TOOK AN UNEXPECTED DIRECTION WHEN, AT AGE 19, HE WAS IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT THAT LEFT HIM PARALYZED FROM THE WAIST DOWN. HE WENT ON TO GRADUATE FROM CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY, WHICH HE DESCRIBES AS THE TIME OF HIS LIFE WHEN HE FACED THE GREATEST PHYSICAL BARRIERS; HE WAS JUST ONE OF TWO STUDENTS ON THE CAMPUS WHO HAD A VISIBLE DISABILITY. MICHAEL DESCRIBES HIMSELF THEN AND NOW AS A "CLOSET" ADVOCATE WHO, RATHER THAN LEADING THE CHARGE, HAS WORKED TO BREAK BARRIERS THROUGH PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS. HIS FIRST JOB IN TECHNOLOGY WAS WITH FIRST DATA CORP. AND, THOUGH MANY WOULD LOOK AT MICHAEL'S CAREER AS EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL AND FULL OF OPPORTUNITIES, HE WOULD TELL YOU THERE WERE ALSO SOME POOR CHOICES MADE ALONG THE WAY. LEARNING FROM HIS EXPERIENCE, HE ADVISES YOUNG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ENTERING HIGHER EDUCATION OR THE WORKFORCE TO FIND A MENTOR, SOMETHING HE WISHES HE HAD DONE. HE SAYS THIS WOULD HAVE KEPT HIM FROM MAKING SOME MISTAKES. HE ALSO ADVISES YOUNG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO NOT ONLY BE MENTEES, BUT ALSO FIND OTHERS TO MENTOR, LIKE HE HAS DONE. MICHAEL SAYS, "LEARNING AND TEACHING USUALLY GUIDE OUR JOURNEY IN CLEARER DIRECTIONS." FROM FIRST DATA CORP. HE WAS HIRED BY COMPAQ (WHICH MERGED WITH HP TWO YEARS AGO) WHERE HE MANAGED MAJOR ACCOUNTS. IN THOSE DAYS MICHAEL, LIKE MOST PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, BELIEVED HE HAD TO WORK TEN TIMES HARDER THAN EVERYONE ELSE TO PROVE HE COULD DO THE JOB. THAT'S A THEORY HE HAS SINCE ABANDONED. MICHAEL BELIEVES THAT SOME PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE ABLE TO MAKE EMPLOYMENT WORK BETTER THAN OTHERS BECAUSE OF SKILL LEVEL AND PERSONALITY; OTHERS HAVE JUST NOT BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY. THIS IS WHERE A MENTOR CAN HELP. WHEN THE ADA PASSED, HE REALIZED THAT THE MORE WE PUBLICLY ADDRESSED AND WORKED TO ELIMINATE BARRIERS, THE MORE BARRIERS WE FOUND, A REALIZATION WHICH IS STILL TRUE TODAY BOTH PERSONALLY AND IN HIS WORK. IN 1999, A VICE PRESIDENT AT COMPAQ ASKED MICHAEL TO LOOK INTO SECTION 508 AND ADVISE THE COMPANY ON ACCESSIBILITY. ACCORDING TO MICHAEL, ACCESSIBILITY HAD BEEN A PART OF BOTH COMPAQ'S AND HP'S EFFORTS FROM THE BEGINNING, AND IT REMAIN THE MAJOR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HP AND MANY OF ITS COMPETITORS TODAY. IT WORKS BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN A COMMITMENT BEGINNING FROM THE TOP OF THE COMPANY DOWN, BUT ALSO BECAUSE IT MAKES GOOD BUSINESS SENSE. MICHAEL EXPLAINS THAT FIFTY- SEVEN PERCENT OF CURRENT WORKING AGE COMPUTER USERS BENEFIT FROM ACCESSIBLE TECHNOLOGY AND ONE-THIRD OF THE US ADULT POPULATION HAS A VISION PROBLEM. FROM PORTABLE COMPUTERS (LAPTOPS) THAT OPEN EASILY WITH ONE HAND TO WEBSITES AND CELL PHONES THAT ARE MORE USER FRIENDLY FOR PEOPLE WITH AND WITHOUT DISABILITIES, HP PARTNERS WITH MULTIPLE COMPANIES THAT WORK TO MAKE THEIR PRODUCTS MORE ACCESSIBLE. IN FACT, HP AVERAGES ELEVEN NEW PATENTS EVERYDAY, AND IS THE FIFTH LARGEST PATENT RECIPIENT IN THE U.S. WITH 21,000 PATENTS ON FILE. JUST A FEW YEARS AGO, MICHAEL'S JOURNEY TOOK ANOTHER IMPORTANT TURN WHEN HE REALIZED HE COULD TURN MUCH OF HIS LIFE OVER TO GOD. HE SAYS HIS DEEP FAITH HAS GIVEN HIM A NEW FREEDOM HE NEVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE BEFORE, AND HE USES THIS FREEDOM TO HELP OTHERS BREAK BARRIERS AND TO TEACH UNDERSTANDING AND DIVERSITY. HE STRONGLY PRAISES GINNY THORNBURGH, LAST YEAR'S HENRY B. BETTS LAUREATE, FOR HER WORK IN BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS AT AMERICA'S CHURCHES AND SYNAGOGUES. WHEN ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYTHING ELSE HE WANTED TO ADD TO OUR CONVERSATION, MICHAEL SAID, "I'M NOT ANYONE SPECIAL, I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITIES." AAPD BELIEVES THAT MICHAEL IS MUCH TOO MODEST. ****************************************************************** AAPD MEMBERSHIP/RENEWAL APPLICATION ____ NEW AAPD MEMBERSHIP ____ RENEWAL AAPD MEMBERSHIP (MEMBERSHIP NUMBER: _____________) I NEED AN ALTERNATE FORMAT FOR MEMBERSHIP MATERIALS: ____ BRAILLE ____ LARGE PRINT ____ AUDIO CASSETTE ____ COMPUTER DISK ____ SEND TO EMAIL _____________________________________________ NAME: ______________________________________________ STREET: ______________________________________________ CITY: ______________________________________________ STATE: _______________________ ZIP: _____________________ PHONE/TTY: ___________________________________ EMAIL: __________________________________________ FAX: __________________________________________ ENCLOSED IS MY MEMBERSHIP PAYMENT FOR: ____ $20 (THREE YEARS) ____ $15 (TWO YEARS) ____ $8 (ONE YEAR) I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MAKE A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTION TO AAPD IN THE AMOUNT OF: ____ $10 ____ $20 ____ $50 ____ OTHER $ ________ TOTAL PAYMENT: $ _________ METHOD OF PAYMENT: ____ CHECK ENCLOSED ____ VISA ____ MASTERCARD ____ DISCOVER ____ AMERICAN EXPRESS CREDIT CARD NUMBER: EXPIRATION DATE: NAME ON CREDIT CARD: SIGNATURE: MAIL ENROLLMENT FORM TO: AAPD MEMBERSHIP SERVICES P.O. BOX 97045 WASHINGTON, DC 20090-7045 TOLL-FREE: 1-866-241-3200 (V/TTY) PLEASE CALL OR MAIL NOTIFICATION OF ANY ADDRESS CHANGES. ============================================ AAPD BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS CHAIR: JAMES WEISMAN, GENERAL COUNSEL, UNITED SPINAL ASSOCIATION VICE CHAIR: HELEN ROTH, DISABILITY POLICY CONSULTANT TREASURER: JAMES J. BILLY SECRETARY: MARGARET STATON, FOUNDER, ELA FOUNDATION DR. HENRY B. BETTS, CHAIRMAN, REHABILITATION INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO FOUNDATION JUDY BREWER, DIRECTOR, WEB ACCESSIBILITY INITIATIVE, WORLD WIDE WEB CONSORTIUM JUDI CHAMBERLIN, NATIONAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER THE HONORABLE TONY COELHO RICHARD ELLIS, DIRECTOR, FEDERAL AFFAIRS, VERIZON MARILYN HAMILTON, VICE PRESIDENT, GLOBAL PLANNING & STRATEGIC SERVICES, SUNRISE MEDICAL THE HONORABLE JUDITH E. HEUMANN, THE WORLD BANK TIM HOLMES, CONFEDERATE TRIBES OF GRAND RONDE JOHN D. KEMP, PRINCIPAL, POWERS, PYLES, SUTTER & VERVILLE, P.C. EDWARD KENNEDY, JR., MARWOOD GROUP PAUL MARCHAND, STAFF DIRECTOR, THE ARC AND UCP PUBLIC POLICY COLLABORATION FRANCES PRIESTER, DIRECTOR FOR CONSUMER AND FAMILY AFFAIRS, DC DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH THE HONORABLE LYNN RIVERS DEBRA ROBINSON, SPEAKING FOR OURSELVES CHERYL SENSENBRENNER ROBERT SILVERSTEIN, DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR THE STUDY AND ADVANCEMENT OF DISABILITY POLICY MICHAEL TAKEMURA, DIRECTOR, ACCESSIBILITY PROGRAM OFFICE, HEWLETT- PACKARD FRED WEINER, SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR PLANNING, GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY DUNCAN WYETH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MICHIGAN COMMISSION ON DISABILITY CONCERNS TONY YOUNG, ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, NISH AAPD MAIN OFFICE: 1629 K STREET NW, SUITE 503 WASHINGTON, DC 20006 TOLL-FREE: (800) 840-8844 (V/TTY) FOR AAPD MEMBERSHIP INQUIRIES: TOLL-FREE: (866) 241-3200 (V/TTY) AAPD MILFORD OFFICE 258 MAIN STREET, SUITE 203 MILFORD, MA 01757 VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT: WWW.AAPD-DC.ORG 43