AAPDnews FALL 2006 Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Restore ADA Protections On September 29, House Judiciary Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner, Jr. (R-WI) and House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) introduced bipartisan legislation that would restore protections for Americans with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). H.R. 6258 is titled the “Americans with Disabilities Act Restoration Act of 2006.” The ADA was originally passed into law with the intent of providing all individuals with disabilities full participation and independence. Over the course of the past 16 years, the Courts have whittled away at the law, questioning the intent of Congress and whether the 1990 Congress had the power to regulate states and private businesses in this matter. The Courts have even said people were not disabled when they were, and they have agreed with employers and businesses, not with people with disabilities, more than 90 percent of the time. In December of 2004, the National Council on Disability (NCD), an independent federal agency, put forth an ADA Restoration Act in its publication “Righting the ADA.” The recommendation was not a massive rewrite of the law, but a bill designed to restore the ADA to its original intent. The NCD-recommended definition would bar discrimination against anyone “on the basis of disability,” a change from the current language that bars discrimination “against an individual with a disability,” wording that has been narrowly construed by the Courts. The proposed language would be in keeping with the intent of the original language that an individual is protected by the ADA because he or she may be “regarded” or “perceived” by an employer as having a disability. According to Chairman Sensenbrenner and Congressman Hoyer, replacing “against an individual with a disability” with “on the basis of a disability" harmonizes the ADA with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination “on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, and sex.” Prohibiting discrimination “on the basis of a disability” will enable individuals utilizing the ADA to focus on the discrimination that they have experienced rather than having to prove that they fall within the intended scope of the ADA. This phrase presumes that an individual is a member of the protected class if they are disabled, which the current language – “against an individual with a disability” - does not. Chairman Sensenbrenner stated, “The landmark ADA has helped ensure American citizens no longer live in isolation but live as independent, self sufficient members of our communities. In recent years, however, the Supreme Court has slowly chipped away at the broad protections of the ADA and has created a new set of barriers for disabled Americans. This bipartisan legislation will enable disabled Americans utilizing the ADA to focus on the discrimination that they have experienced rather than having to first prove that they fall within the scope of the ADA’s protection. With this bill, the ADA’s ‘clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination on the basis of disability’ will be properly restored and the ADA can rightfully reclaim its place among our Nation’s civil rights laws.” Congressman Hoyer said: “As the lead Democratic sponsor of the ADA in the House, I harbored no illusions that this legislation would topple centuries of prejudice overnight – nor that we could legislate that prejudice out of existence. Over the last 16 years, this landmark law has ushered in significant change. However, the Court’s interpretations of this historic law have been largely inconsistent with the original intent of Congress and President George W. Bush in enacting the ADA. For example, people with diabetes, heart conditions and cancer have had their ADA claims kicked out of court because, with improvements in medication, they are considered ‘too functional’ to be considered ‘disabled.’ Congress intended the law to be broadly – not narrowly – interpreted. The new legislation, which will help restore the original intent of the ADA.” Although there has been some discussion within the disability community about how and when the ADA Restoration Act should be handled in Washington, everyone agrees we need an ADA Restoration Act to help make it clear what peoples’ rights really are, what the Congress meant when it defined “disability” for the ADA and help stop the misunderstandings and bad court decisions. AAPD encourages its members to contact members of Congress and ask them to support ADA Restoration and not support any bills or amendments that would make the ADA weaker. Call members of Congress toll-free at 1-(877) 224-0041 (V) or the House at (202) 225-1904 (TTY) or the Senate at (202) 224-3019 (TTY). For more information go to www.aapd.com. Advocates Battle FCC Over TV Closed Captioning Rules AAPD and Other Advocacy Groups File Applications for Review of Recent FCC Decisions Advocacy groups, including AAPD, protested recent Federal Communications Commission (FCC) decisions that would roll back closed captioning on television for persons with hearing disabilities and for others who use this assistive technology. In October, in coalition, AAPD filed Applications for Review and a Stay on an Order at the FCC about recent decisions involving misinterpretation of the closed captioning rules and procedural mishandling of requests for exemptions from closed captioning. The FCC enforces the statutory requirement to close caption television programming, enacted in the Telecommunications Act of 1996. These regulations set up a phase-in of closed captioning over eight years, with a requirement that 100 percent of all new TV programs be closed captioned beginning January 2006 unless captioning is an undue burden. In general, the cost of captioning has dropped over the eight years of implementation and should be an expected production cost. One Application for Review opposed an August 2006 FCC Public Notice that “clarified” that TV stations in the nation’s top 25 most lucrative markets needed only to “try” to closed caption emergency information on television. This FCC Notice also said they would not “second guess” the TV station’s judgment about what critical details needed to be provided. Previous public notices had emphasized the closed captioning requirement for the top 25 TV markets and the importance of “critical details.” Emergency information on TV typically is about tornadoes, hurricanes, fires, floods, terrorist situations or other threats, and the action steps viewers should take in response. Another Application for Review was filed at the FCC in response to a September FCC Order that granted permanent waivers from closed captioning for TV programs made by two non- profit entities. In this Order, the FCC stated it was “inclined favorably” to grant similar requests by other non-profits who assert they “couldn’t afford to closed caption or the cost of captioning might curtail other activities.” This FCC decision undercut the current rule for an undue burden analysis to receive exemption from having to caption. It also overturned a previous requirement where petitioners for exemption should ask for financial assistance from TV distributors to help with captioning costs. Then, without notice, the FCC sent out hundreds of letters that were unlimited waivers from closed captioning. Worse, several hundred requests for exemption were not posted to the FCC website, a practice that in the past made them publicly available for opposing comment by disability community members. AAPD denounced the Order and letters and responded rapidly with Action Alerts, as did other coalition members, flooding the FCC with opposition from the disability community. Advocates believe the FCC will respond to demands to correct procedural errors, but it is not clear at time of printing whether the FCC will rescind the Order that re-interpreted how undue burden analyses are conducted when TV programmers ask for exemptions from closed captioning. Members of the disability coalition working to ensure the FCC does not continue on the path of reversing previous captioning policy include AAPD, Communication Services for the Deaf (CSD), Deaf and Hard of Hearing Consumer Advocacy Network (DHHCAN), Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), National Association of the Deaf (NAD), NorCal Center on Deafness (CA) and Telecommunications for the Deaf Inc. (TDI). Pro bono attorneys working with TDI, the lead disability coalition member, are with Bingham McCutchen, an international law services firm. New Medicare Mobility Device Coverage Determination Harmful for Individuals with Disabilities As of press time, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) planned to implement several changes to its mobility device benefit that will hinder access to high functioning power wheelchairs, the types of power wheelchairs often required by individuals with long-term disabilities and chronic conditions. CMS’s proposed action would lower the Medicare reimbursements for power wheelchairs and scooters, depending on the model of the equipment. For information regarding the fee structure, visit the AAPD website: www.aapd.com/ News/medicare/PartnerTipSht11272-P.htm. According to Andrew J. Imparato, President and CEO of AAPD, in a paper jointly released with the Clinicians Task Force, “The Medicare mobility benefit as we knew it is gone. CMS has chipped away at the benefit over the last three years, and this latest step ensures that people living with disabilities will get little help from Medicare when they need a power wheelchair to remain independent and out of institutions.” Last month, clinicians and advocates representing seniors and people living with disabilities charged CMS with “dismantling” the Medicare benefit for power mobility equipment. “Because of the recent changes, people with severe disabilities will no longer have access to the wheelchairs they need to address their daily mobility needs,” said Barbara Crane, PhD, PT, ATP, and Co-Coordinator of the Clinician Task Force in the same jointly released paper. “Clinically, it is standard professional practice to address all mobility needs for typical daily activities; essentially, these cuts will sentence people to live their lives in institutions or they will be forced to hire caretakers. The costs of caretakers and institutionalization will ultimately far outdistance the price of a wheelchair.” Many suppliers from around the country already say they will stop providing mobility equipment or go out of business because the Medicare reimbursement payments will be too low to cover the cost of acquiring the chair, fitting the patient and servicing the equipment. Three months ago, Medicare issued a final local coverage determination (LCD) for power mobility devices that would implement a series of new payment codes for power wheelchairs and scooters and create coverage standards for devices with functional capabilities that place them into Group 1 (low functioning), Group 2, or Group 3 (high functioning). Initially the new LCD stated that in order to qualify for a high functioning Group 3 device, a beneficiary must be unable to independently stand and pivot to transfer due to a neurological condition or myopathy. However, because of an incredible advocacy effort, Medicare made changes to the new coverage to eliminate that requirement. Still remaining, and just as serious, the recent coverage determination could also implement a new interpretation of the “in the home” restriction by denying access to wheelchairs that have capabilities that are deemed unnecessary for indoor use. Medicare currently covers wheelchairs that are needed by individuals for use in their homes but has not prevented individuals from using the devices outside of their homes. “This is an intolerable situation that amounts to dismantling an important Medicare benefit for senior citizens and people living with disabilities,” Imparato concluded. ADVOCATE ACTION REQUESTED AAPD is asking its members, friends and other advocates to call members of Congress toll- free at 1-(877) 224-0041 (V) or the House at (202) 225-1904 (TTY) or the Senate at (202) 224- 3019 (TTY). •Press Medicare to rescind the new power wheelchairs coverage policy (LCD) and seriously examine the impact of these reimbursement cuts on individuals requiring Group 3 (high functioning) wheelchairs. •Support legislation to eliminate Medicare’s “in the home” restriction on mobility devices (S. 3677/H.R. 5983). Without enactment of this important legislation, Medicare will continue to utilize this discriminatory coverage restriction that prevents access to appropriate mobility devices for people with disabilities. AAPD MEMBERS Full Participation Now Dear Members: Two troubling developments this Fall call into question our government’s commitment to one of the central goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the disability rights movement: the principle that people with disabilities have a right to participate fully in all aspects of society. On September 13, the Federal Communications Commission issued an order granting two requests for exemptions from closed captioning requirements that have been in place since 1996. The order was particularly troubling because it appeared to invent new arguments that certain covered entities can use to get out from under their obligations to caption their video programming (see related story on page one of this newsletter). Also in September, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced their intent to implement new rules that would dramatically reduce coverage for wheeled mobility for Medicare beneficiaries (see related story on page one of this newsletter). These new rules, if implemented, will take an already skimpy Medicare benefit and make it even harder for people with significant disabilities to get the right wheelchair that they need to live as independently as possible. These actions, by two different federal agencies, create new barriers to full participation at a time when we should be implementing strategies to reduce or eliminate such barriers. As we look forward to a new Congress and many new administrations at the state level in the wake of this November’s elections, I think we have an opportunity to educate our elected officials about what we mean and don’t mean by “full participation.” Full participation does NOT mean people with disabilities have equal access when it is convenient and when it doesn’t cost too much. It does NOT mean that we have to fight to retrofit new technologies to build in accessibility. It does NOT mean a continuation of the institutional bias in Medicaid and draconian cuts to Medicare that prevent or undermine the independence and freedom of people with significant disabilities. Full participation means people with disabilities are treated as full and equal citizens. It means, in the words of one of my favorite ADA bumper stickers, that we get to “boldly go where everyone else has gone before.” The new Congress has the opportunity to make a difference for people with disabilities living in America. If the new Congress is truly committed to full participation, it will: •Pass the Medicaid Community Attendant Services and Supports Act (MiCASSA) and the Community Living Assistance, Services and Supports (CLASS) Act so that people have a real choice in where to live and aren’t forced into nursing homes and other institutions against their will; •Pass the ADA Restoration Act so that people with a wide variety of disabilities do not have their cases thrown out when they challenge employment discrimination because a court determines that they are functioning too well to come within the statute’s protected class; •Pass genetic non-discrimination legislation so that people seeking genetic tests do not have to fear that the results will be used to discriminate against them in employment or in obtaining health insurance; •Fund housing and transportation programs that address the serious and growing shortage of affordable, accessible housing and address ongoing transportation barriers, particularly in rural areas; •Promote livable communities that enable people to “age in place” and enjoy access to family and friends across the lifespan; •Fund enforcement and implementation of civil rights laws like ADA, the Help America Vote Act, and IDEA, and make sure that the actions of CMS, the FCC, and other federal agencies are not undermining those laws’ important goals; and, more broadly; •Through oversight hearings and town hall meetings around the country, raise the visibility of the ongoing barriers to full participation faced by children and adults with disabilities and their families and call public attention to the critical need for these barriers to be removed, particularly as our aging population starts bumping up against them. Full participation campaigns can be initiated at the state and local levels as well, and used as a tool to organize across organizational boundaries to push for systems change that will lead to more independence and greater economic self-sufficiency for our community. I look forward to working with AAPD members and our allies around the country to make the 110th Congress the “Full Participation Congress.” Andrew J. Imparato AAPD President and CEO AAPD CEO Presented Health and Human Services Highest Achievement Award On October 25, Andrew J. Imparato, President and CEO of AAPD, was honored and recognized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for his leadership of AAPD and his important contributions to life in this country. The award was presented at the annual HHS Secretarial event, hosted by the HHS Office on Disability, to celebrate the abilities of people with disabilities and those making a difference in the lives of people with disabilities of all ages. Imparato was one of four individuals who were presented with the Secretary’s Highest Achievement Award. Save the Date for AAPD Gala Join AAPD in honoring the recipients of the Henry B. Betts Award, the Paul G. Hearne/AAPD Leadership Awards, and the Linda Chavez-Thompson Award at the Sixth Annual Leadership Gala, Wednesday, March 7, 2007, at the Capital Hilton in Washington, DC. For more information or to offer your support, please contact the AAPD Leadership Gala response line at (703) 556-0863 (V), (703) 556-0448 (TTY), or via email at AAPD@hayespr.com. AAPD and Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) Partnership a Hit with Members With more than 60 percent of AAPD members joining DCU and more than 5,000 AAPD members already receiving Mobility Vehicle or Access Loans from DCU (to the tune of $150 million), it is no wonder “No one can go wrong at DCU” is the phrase most often used by AAPD members. AAPD’s partnership with DCU began in 2002 and, today, is one of the most popular member benefits offered. Members tell AAPD, DCU understands their situation, why they have certain equipment needs and what budget constraints they may have. Always before, most say, it was a hassle – trying to explain to a bank employee, with no disability experience, why special equipment was needed. At DCU “they get it.” Additionally, most can’t believe how fast the whole process is. According to AAPD members who have received loans from DCU for a mobility vehicle, they were approved for the loan and had their new vehicle within three weeks – sometimes less. For Veronica Bartholomew, a veteran, the loan application and approval were quick and easy and it took only one week for her to have her new van, lift and all. Bartholomew says, “I would tell anyone with a disability to go through DCU .” For David Mertens, not only was he surprised by how easy the whole process was, but a new van means he and his wife can continue to travel to art festivals, rodeos and pow-wows where he sells his art. Mertens says, “I was dumb founded by how much the people at DCU understood what I needed and how fast I was approved for the loan. It was too good to be true.” Whereas everyone has their own experience and story about DCU, all agree the respect and dignity they were provided were overwhelming. Further, all agree access to a vehicle shows others in the community how independent people with disabilities are – going to work, shopping, etc. For many DCU has provided them with a lifeline to the community. Moreover, a lot of AAPD members who have taken advantage of a DCU mobility vehicle loan are giving back to the community by providing transportation to other people with disabilities. DCU also offers AAPD members consumer loans, ATM cards, savings and checking accounts, IRA’s, no-fee credit cards and mortgages. For more information go to www.aapd.com. AAPD is working hard to provide the benefits that are of greatest importance to its members. AAPD is presently researching a host of affodable new benefits for its members in 2007, including: * Physician, dentist and hospital benefits * Prescription discounts * Discount on diabetic supplies * Discounts on Lasik and eyewear * Accidental Medical/AD&D benefits * Term life insurance * Group dental policy * Discounted outpatient diagnostic lab work * Long term care insurance * Adapted vehicle insurance Shonda McLaughlin New AAPD Program Manager AAPD is delighted to announce Dr. Shonda McLaughlin as its new Program Manager of Mentoring and Leadership Programs. McLaughlin is a Georgia native who has both professional and personal experiences with disability. Prior to coming to AAPD, she served two years as an Assistant Professor at Emporia State University, Emporia, KS. She was also at Langston University, Oklahoma City, OK, where she taught graduate students in the field of rehabilitation counseling. McLaughlin earned her doctorate in Rehabilitation Education and Research from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR. Before that she served as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor with Georgia’s State Rehabilitation Services in Valdosta, GA, assisting students in the transition from school to work. SSA Board Issues Report on Improving the Social Security Hearing Process For the past two years, the Social Security Advisory Board has been examining the Social Security Administration (SSA) hearing process, focusing attention on issues of consistency, productivity, long processing times and large backlogs, hearing office management and the relationship between the agency and its corps of administrative law judges. On the basis of this study, the Board has developed recommendations addressing those issues. The Board’s report is available now in a preliminary electronic version www.ssab.gov/documents/HearingProcess.pdf. Printed copies will be available at a later date. Resolution 235 Passes Both Houses House Conference Resolution 235, which states that “each state should require any candidate for a driver’s license to demonstrate, as a condition of obtaining a driver’s license, an ability to associate the use of a white cane and guide dog with visually impaired individuals and to exercise increased caution when driving in proximity to a potentially visually impaired individual” passed the House in July and was agreed to in September by both chambers. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND SHORT TAKES >> Call DOJ Hotline to Report Voting Problems The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has set up a system to collect information and complaints when voters with disabilities have access problems voting. You can contact the DOJ at (800) 253-3931 (V) or (888) 305-3228 (TTY). According to sources at the DOJ, the phone line will be available for several weeks after the November 7 mid-term elections. For more voting information go to www.aapd.com. More than 600,000 Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Beneficiaries Must Apply for Low-Income Subsidy According to an article in The Washington Post, more than 600,000 low-income Medicare beneficiaries who were automatically enrolled in the Medicare prescription drug benefit and received a subsidy toward premium costs this year will have to apply to receive the subsidy for 2007 because their eligibility status has changed. The article reports some advocates are concerned that the affected beneficiaries might not understand a letter sent by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) explaining the change. The advocates also are concerned that beneficiaries who are aware of the change will have problems completing the six-page application for the subsidy. CMS is quoted saying it has informed insurers who sponsor Medicare drug plans and community organizations of the change and encouraged greater outreach to the affected beneficiaries. In addition, the agency will allow the affected beneficiaries to switch to lower premium plans for an extra three months beyond the open enrollment period, which runs from November 15 through December 31. National Public Radio (NPR) Receives Grant to Develop Accessible Radio Technology The U.S. Department of Education’s National Institute of Disability Rehabilitation and Research recently awarded a grant to NPR and WGBH’s National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM) to develop accessible radio technology for people who are Deaf, hard of hearing, blind or visually impaired. The Accessible Digital Radio Broadcast Services grant, in the amount of $150,000 for the first year, will help fund an anticipated three-year research and development project to prototype, field test and assess the cutting-edge radio technologies to serve the needs of people with sensory disabilities. For more information, contact Emily Lenzner at elenzner@npr.org or Mary Watkins at mary_watkins@wgbh.org. Agency and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) Grants Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt announced nearly $6 million in additional funding to 22 states to expand their efforts to establish single entry points to long-term care for families who are trying to learn about and access services in their communities. To date, 43 states have received more than $40 million in support under the ADRC initiative, which is jointly administered by the Administration on Aging (AoA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). States are using ADRC funds to better coordinate and redesign their existing methods for providing seniors, younger people with disabilities and family caregivers with information and personalized assistance in accessing services such as meals-on-wheels, personal care, housekeeping, specialized transportation, assisted living and nursing home care. Judge Allows NFB Suit Against Retailer Target to Proceed Group Sues for Web Accessibility This past October, a federal judge in California allowed the National Federation for the Blind’s (NFB) case against Target to proceed, rejecting the retailer’s argument that its website wasn’t subject to the ADA. NFB is suing Target because its website is inaccessible to blind Internet users. The case could set a precedent for the Internet. For more information go to www.aapd.com. SSA Board Issues Report on New Disability System for 21st Century This fall, the bipartisan Social Security Advisory Board issued a report recommending broad changes to our system of providing employment-related supports for individuals with disabilities. To see the report, go to www.ssab.gov. Sanitary Napkins and Tampons Unavailable for Women with Disabilities Living in Nursing Homes and Institutions in Chicago and Elsewhere Many women with disabilities living in nursing homes and institutions are not provided with sanitary napkins and tampons, though this is required by federal regulations mandating that nursing homes provide certain supplies for residents on Medicaid or Medicare, including these supplies. Many are told they have to buy sanitary napkins and tampons out of the $30 they receive monthly from their Supplemental Security Income (SSI) allowance. Additionally, women are not allowed to leave the facility to purchase these products due to a “level policy” recently instituted in many Chicago nursing homes that prohibits residents from going on family visits or independent passes unless several strict requirements are met. As a result, some nursing home/institution staff are forcibly suppressing the periods of women with disabilities through continual DepoProvera and other methods. For more information on how you can help contact the Pad Patrol c/o Sarah Triano, Access Living, 614 W. Roosevelt Road, Chicago, IL 60607, (800) 613-8549. The Pad Patrol is collecting sanitary napkins and tampons and distributing them to women who need them. If you know a woman with a disability who is being denied access to sanitary napkins/tampons send her their way and they will help her. EEOC Works to Stop Decline in Employment of People with Disabilities The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) plans to sponsor educational events and seminars aimed at reversing the steady decline in the number of federal employees with severe disabilities. The agency recently launched a special section on its website www.eeoc.gov/initiatives/lead, where announcements and information on federal hiring of people with disabilities will be posted. EEOC Commissioner Christine M. Griffin will head the initiative titled Leadership for the Employment of Americans with Disabilities (LEAD). The EEOC said LEAD will try to increase awareness among federal hiring officials about the drop-off in employment of people with disabilities and educate agencies on how to use special rules to bring the people with disabilities on board. LEAD also will seek to educate job applicants with severe disabilities on how to apply under the special rules. 2006 AAPD Board Members Kathleen Behan – Washington, DC Joyce A. Bender – Bender Consulting Services, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA James J. Billy – Silver Springs, MD The Honorable Ralph Boyd, Jr. – Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, McLean, VA Linda Chavez-Thompson – AFL-CIO, Washington, DC The Honorable Tony Coelho – Alexandria, VA, AAPD Board Secretary Wendy Elliott-Vandivier – Philadelphia, PA The Honorable Judith E. Heumann – World Bank, Washington, DC Alison A. Hillman – Mental Disability Rights International, Washington, DC Bradley P. Holmes – Washington, DC Vail Horton – Keen Mobility, Portland, OR Gregg Howard – Independence Technology, Warren, NJ Andrew J. Imparato – AAPD, Washington, DC Edward Kennedy Jr. – Marwood Group, New Haven, CT Richard Knowles – SAP Americas, Marietta, GA Helen Roth – Logan, UT, AAPD Board Chair Leslie Schmid, Chicago, IL Cheryl Sensenbrenner – Alexandria, VA, AAPD Board Treasurer Margaret Staton – ELA Foundation, Montecito, CA, AAPD Board Vice-Chair Fred Weiner – Gallaudet University, Washington, DC James Weisman - United Spinal Association, Jackson Heights, NY, AAPD Board Immediate Past-Chair Frances W. West – IBM Research, Cambridge, MA Betty Williams – Arc of Indiana, Richmond, IN Tony Young – NISH, Vienna, VA How Can You Help AAPD? It is that time of year again when many of us think about selecting organizations for year-end giving. We hope AAPD is near the top of your list. Thanks to our generous contributors and sponsors, AAPD is able to create and implement programs for people with disabilities that focus on equal rights, empowerment and independence. We are proud of the fact that last year, AAPD put 93 percent of its revenues back into these programs. Here is just a sample of what AAPD does for you and the national disability community: •AAPD engages in Public Policy Advocacy, and Research (including testifying before Congress, helping to write legislation and keeping a close watch on the court system) to further the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act. •AAPD hosts Disability Mentoring Day, a national mentoring program that provides career exploration and job-shadowing opportunities to thousands of jobseekers and students with disabilities across the U.S. •AAPD’s paid summer Internship Programs give college students with disabilities the opportunity to learn about the political process by working on Capitol Hill or to gain real world work experiences and perfect I.T. skills by working in Federal agencies. •AAPD’s Disability Vote Project works in every community of America to eradicate longstanding barriers to voting, educates voters with disabilities on their constitutional rights and ensures their rights are represented by legislators and in all polling places around the country. •AAPD’s Leadership Awards Programs annually recognize emerging leaders with disabilities whose projects and advocacy have positively impacted the disability community and provide them support to advance their project platforms and help to inspire others in disability rights. •AAPD has built a reputation of trust and respect with government and business officials at both the national and local levels. Through this, AAPD has educated key decision makers in a scrupulously nonpartisan manner about the needs of people with disabilities. •AAPD staff members represent each of you on critical boards such as the Medicaid Commission and the Social Security Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Advisory Committee. •The AAPD website brings disability news and advocacy alerts to individuals all over the world. We know many of our members advocate for full participation for all. You can also work for full participation by financially supporting AAPD as an organization that is making a difference in the fight for equal rights for all individuals. Please remember AAPD this year in your year-end giving with a gift of any size. We pledge we will continue to represent all of our members all over the country during the upcoming year with the same financial responsibility as in the past. Thank you for your support! Name Address City State Zip Gift Amount: $ Gift Type: General Contribution Honor Gift Memorial Gift In memory or in honor of: If you make a memorial gift or a gift to honor someone, AAPD will send notification to that person’s family. Please provide the name and address of the person to whom that notification should be mailed: Name Address City State Zip Payment Information: Check enclosed payable to AAPD VISA MasterCard Discover AmEx Credit Card Number Expiration Date (Month/Year) Name on Credit Card Signature Credit card donations can also be made by calling (800) 840-8844 (V/TTY) Return this form and contribution to: AAPD • 1629 K Street, NW, Suite 503 • Washington, DC 20006 New Cornell/AAPD Disability Status Reports Available By Andrew J. Houtenville, Ph.D. On October 4, the Cornell University Rehabilitation Research and Training Disability Demographics and Statistics (StatsRRTC) released the 2005 Disability Status Reports. The Annual Disability Status Reports provide policy makers, disability advocates, reporters, and the public with a summary of the most recent demographic and economic statistics on the working- age (ages 21-64) population with disabilities at the national and state levels. They contain information on the population size, prevalence, employment, earnings, poverty, household income, renting, and activity limitations of working-age people with disabilities, as well as the composition of this population by age, race, gender, and educational attainment. Comparisons are made to working-age people without disabilities, and across types of disabilities. For example, the Status Reports states that there are 21,455,000 people with disabilities of working age (21-64), 12.6 percent of the total working age population in 2005. And that 38.1 percent of people with disabilities are employed, compared with 78.3 percent of people without disabilities, making an employment gap of 40.2 percentage points. The statistics in the Status Reports are generated using data from the American Community Survey (ACS) data — a Census Bureau survey designed to replace the decennial census long form. Regrettably, comparisons to the 2004 Disability Status Reports are not advisable due to changes in the ACS program. So it is not known whether the employment gap between people with and without disabilities increase or decreased between 2004 and 2005. To access the Status Reports, go to www.Disability Statistics.org. The Stats RRTC is a collaborative effort of Cornell University, AAPD, and other leading research organizations. It is funded by the U.S. Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). Disability Mentoring Day 2006 Mentee Participation Grows to 15,000 Volunteer Local Coordinators and Businesses Play Invaluable Roles AAPD’s Disability Mentoring Day Program (DMD) continues to reach and benefit thousands of students and young adults with disabilities. It is estimated that more than 15,000 will have participated this year by the time all programs have concluded and the numbers are calculated – a 15 percent increase over last year’s program. Additionally, more DMD locations nationally are going from a single-day celebration to a year-round program of mentorship, thus helping to link young people and jobseekers with disabilities with businesses and government offices in their area. Crucial to the growth of this program is the commitment and dedication of AAPD’s on-the- ground local coordinators, who work in a volunteer capacity to ensure the success of DMD. AAPD is indebted to the more than 300 individuals who served as local coordinators this year and developed successful programs in their regions. An example of a program that works effectively each year is in Idaho Falls, Idaho, where Irene Jones, who is the Disability Resources Services Coordinator at Eastern Idaho Technical College, has been the DMD local coordinator since 2001. Thanks to her efforts, mentees have a wide array of job-shadowing opportunities, to include riding along with a sheriff, spending the day at a professional theatre where they meet with the cast and director, shadowing a mortician, or selecting from a variety of other potential careers. Though small, the Idaho Falls DMD program is on target with helping place students with disabilities in their dream job for a day. According to Jones, participants are asked to identify their career objectives and then matched with mentors in the community who represent those jobs. All events are individual, with no more than two mentees participating at any one location. Even the Mayor of Idaho Falls participates as a mentor. According to Jones, being a small program in a more remote area has both its advantages and disadvantages. The main disadvantage is a lack of corporate donors, but the greatest advantage is the tremendous volunteer help. DMD also works because of the businesses - both local and national businesses - that participate as host mentors around the country. This started at the highest level this year, when Darden Restaurants, which is the world’s largest casual dining restaurant company, (with 1400 restaurants nationally, including Red Lobster and Olive Garden) signed on as the Lead Sponsor of DMD. But Darden’s participation went well beyond financial participation – it was also significantly hands-on. The directive was given by the CEO to all restaurants around the country to participate (by hosting mentees and/or by providing food for local DMD activities) and to work with the local coordinators to make that happen. “At Darden we strive to make a positive difference in peoples’ lives, and are proud to partner with the American Association of People with Disabilities on Disability Mentoring Day,” said Clarence Otis, Jr., Chairman and CEO of Darden Restaurants. “Many people with disabilities learned about different jobs and found out what they are good at and what they like.” Both public and private sponsors, including the Social Security Administration, the U.S. Department of Education and Verizon, sponsored DMD on the national level and participated in a number of ways, helping to further build the program in local communities and offering jobshadowing opportunities to young people with disabilities. If DMD is not a part of your community, make it a key community activity next year. AAPD provides all of the assistance you will need. For more information go to www.dmd-aapd.org. or contact AAPD by email at DMDAAPD@aol.com. AAPD extends its gratitude to all of this year’s DMD corporate and public sponsors. For a complete listing go to the DMD website: www.dmd-aapd.org. AAPD MEMBERSHIP/RENEWAL APPLICATION New AAPD Membership Renew AAPD Membership # Alternate format: Braille Cassette Large Print CD Email Name Street City State Zip Phone Email My membership payment for: 1 year ($15) 2 years ($25) Student ($10) Limited Income ($10) Supporting ($50) (two year renewal plus $25 contribution to support Limited Income memberships) Check enclosed # VISA MasterCard Discover American Express Credit Card # Exp. Date Name As It Appears On Card Signature Please return this completed form and your payment to: AAPD Member Services P.O. 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