Disaboom ca90069 Blog

First Lady Speaks Out Against Thunder

Don Norte — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 19:09:00 GMT

My sentiments on the topic of "freedom of speech" versus cruel and demeaning portralys of people with disabilities echo that of First Lady Maria Shriver's Los Angeles Times OpEd piece in the August 22nd edition.The actions and language depicted in Hollywood require good judgment and sometimes cross the line from comedy to cruelness. However, unfortunately the minorities targeted as the brunt of a joke don't usually have a voice. People with disabilities are often glazed over in terms of support from the public, because they can not speak for themselves. When the motion picture industry is allowed to dehumanize and exploit any minority, whether it be by sex, race, sexual orientation, or disability it is more than a demeaning comment. It is the perpetuation of stereotypes and hate toward a specific class of people. The Hollywood community should listen to the voices of the public who are disgusted about the thoughtless language used in Tropic Thunder. The future depends on what we as a public tolerate in the media. As a committee member serving on Governor Schwarzenegger's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities I hope we can work together to see this type of unacceptable portrayal has no place in our society.

Direct Express New Option For Seniors & People With Disabilities

Don Norte — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:25:00 GMT

Senior citizens, people with disabilities and other Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients may sign up for the optional card by calling toll-free 1-877-212-9991 or visiting http://www.USDirectExpress.com.

Nearly two million Social Security and Supplemental Security (SSI) recipients in the Midwestern states, mostly senior citizens and people with disabilities, will receive information about the new Direct Express card with their monthly checks in August.
About 4 million Social Security and SSI recipients nationally (approximately 800,000 in the Midwestern states) do not have bank accounts and, until now, have had to rely on paper check payments.
About 10.5 million senior citizens, people with disabilities and others still rely on paper checks for their Social Security and SSI payments.
Last year, 700,000 Social Security and SSI paper checks were reported lost or stolen and the payments had to be reissued.
The Direct Express card eliminates the risk of lost or stolen checks, giving people access to their money without the need to carry large amounts of cash. The cards are PIN-protected and funds are FDIC-insured.
Features built into the Direct Express card are aimed at reducing or eliminating the cost of using the card. There is no cost to sign up for the card and no monthly fee.
Cardholders can make purchases and get cash back at no cost wherever Debit MasterCard(R) is accepted. The Direct Express card can also be used to pay bills over the phone and internet and to get cash at ATMs.

FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Don Norte — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:48:00 GMT

This link is posted to assist people with disabilities to find employment opportunities with the federal government.

http://www.opm.gov/disability/PeopleWithDisabilities.asp

Disabilities Law Supported by GOP nominee John McCain

Don Norte — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:26:00 GMT

28 July, 2008
As a member of the Republican party I'm pleased to see that presidential candidate John McCain is pledging support for a proposal to expand protections for disabled people under an 18-year-old landmark civil rights law.

The Supreme Court generally has exempted from the law‘s protection people with partial physical disabilities, as well as people with physical impairments that can be treated with medication or devices such as hearing aids.

A month ago, the House passed a bill called the ADA Restorations Act to extend protections to people who take medicine to control epilepsy, diabetes or cancer, or use prosthetic limbs. McCain, a co-sponsor of the 1990 law, said he intends to support a similar bill in the Senate.

Many states are looking to outreach to people with disabilities for the upcoming Presidential election. California Secretary of State Debra Bowen is in the process of meeting with officials from the Veterans Administration to be sure that there is an effort to include disabled vets in the voting process. We are excited in California that this sort of outreach is receiving possitive feedback. This means that people with disabiliites and the men and woman who have served our country receive increased accesibility to the democratic process. It is an important effort and hopefully all the other states will have programs to increase the visibility of people with disabilities in the election process from coast to coast. There are an estimated 37 million people with disabilities who are eligible to vote in the United States.

BUSH IGNORES PENDING ADA RESTORATION ACT

Don Norte — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 17:31:00 GMT

A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America: Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 2008

Last update: 10:13 a.m. EDT July 25, 2008

WASHINGTON, Jul 25, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has helped tear down barriers for millions of people living with disabilities. On the anniversary of this important legislation, our Nation underscores our commitment to ensuring that all individuals have an equal opportunity to realize their full potential.

On July 26, 1990, President George H. W. Bush signed this groundbreaking Act into law, better enabling citizens with disabilities to participate fully in all aspects of life. Over the course of nearly two decades, this Act has made our schools and workplaces more welcoming, helped change attitudes that once seemed unchangeable, and expanded opportunity for many exceptional Americans. The ADA is one of the most successful civil rights laws in our history and has been an essential part of countless American lives.

My Administration is committed to working to empower those with disabilities so that all our people can achieve the American dream. Building on the success of the ADA, the New Freedom Initiative of 2001 has had a positive impact for many of our citizens. Technological advances have helped individuals gain greater access to everyday life. Students with disabilities are given the tools they need to succeed, and in the workplace, innovative hiring and employment practices are helping to integrate Americans with disabilities into the workforce. The Ticket to Work and AbilityOne programs have helped them become more self-sufficient by expanding access to employment. Our Nation has benefited from the progress we have made since the enactment of the ADA, and it is our responsibility to continue working toward a country where all people are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.

On this anniversary, we highlight our commitment to the ADA and celebrate the progress that has been made toward full participation of people with disabilities in our society.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim July 26, 2008, as a day in celebration of the 18th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. I call on all Americans to celebrate the vital contributions of individuals with disabilities as we work towards fulfilling the promise of the ADA to give all our citizens the opportunity to live with dignity, work productively, and achieve their dreams.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fourth day of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.

GEORGE W. BUSH

SOURCE: White House Press Office

White House Press Office
1-202-456-2580

The Golden Arches Accused of Discriminatory Practices

Don Norte — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:18:00 GMT

The Legal Aid Society Employment Law Center of San Francisco filed charges with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Tuesday (today), alleging that the McDonald’s in downtown Berkeley unlawfully discriminated against one of its employees and her two co-workers because of their developmental disabilities.

Claudia Center, a senior staff attorney with the Legal Aid Center, said the center’s investigations revealed that at least three employees with severe disabilities were fired without notice or explanation when the franchise was sold in March.

A former employee, Lisa Craib, diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome caims that she was dismissed from the McDonald's on the corner of University and Shattuck avenues, where she has worked for 21 years
cleaning tables, preparing salads and bussing.

The blow apparently was sparked after the fast food franchise was sold to a new owner in March 2008.
“At the end of my shift on March 18, my supervisor told me that I ‘was no longer part of the team,’” Craib said. “I was extremely upset. I felt as though my home was being taken away from me. It hit me really hard.”

“I believe that the new owner selected workers with disabilities for termination,” Lisa Craib stated in one of her claims. She also said that two co-workers with disabilities, and who are Regional Center clients, were fired the same week as she was.

Nick Vergis, the new owner of the McDonald’s franchise did not comment about the charges.

Vergis contends “other than what has been reported in the media, I have not received any notice of a legal claim that has been filed against me,” the statement said. “I have a strict policy prohibiting any form of discrimination in hiring, termination, or any other aspect of employment. I comply with all applicable laws—including the American Disabilities Act—and continually strive to maintain an environment in which everyone feels valued and accepted. Beyond that, it would be inappropriate to further comment or speculate.”

With all the talk about promoting the employment and integration of workers such as Lisa Craib and her coworkers, in my opinion these actions are contratry to and cast serious doubt upon McDonald’s much publicized commitment to hiring people with disabilities.

JULY IS DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH

Don Norte — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:17:00 GMT

July is Disability Pride Month, and this year people with disabilities have new legislation to provide protection against discrimination. On June 25, the House, with broad bipartisan support (402-17), passed a vital civil rights bill: the ADA Amendments Act.

The bill, which is expected to come before the Senate soon, would make it easier for people with disabilities to prove employment discrimination. It would restore the legal protections established when Congress passed and the first President Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The passage of the ADA on July 26, 1990, was a historic event for people with disabilities. But, contrary to what Congress intended, it has been difficult for the estimated 51 million disabled Americans to obtain protection from the ADA.

The court has set an overly demanding standard for qualifying as disabled. And the court has ruled that people with disabilities such as diabetes, cancer, multiple sclerosis and epilepsy, who function well with “mitigating measures,” such as medications or hearing aids, are not protected by the ADA, even if they encounter disability-based discrimination. Keep a watch out and encourage your representatives in the Senate to pass the ADA restoration Act.

Project Lifesaver A Useful Tool

Don Norte — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:37:00 GMT

Project Lifesaver is a tracking system based on a signal transmitted by bracelets. The bracelets will be worn by people enrolled in the program because they are at risk of wandering. Alzheimer's, autistic and Down syndrome patients, as well as people who have suffered traumatic brain injuries, can be considered at higher risk for wandering from their homes or health care facilities.

The project is a relief to some families with small children and the elderly who wear the bracelets, allowing them to zone in on missing people, minimizing the time it takes to find them.

Project Lifesaver is used by 726 agencies in 42 states across the country.

For registration information contact http://www.projectlifesaver.ca/registration.html

WASHINGTON DC AND ADA-COMPLIANCE ON THE HORIZON?

Don Norte — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:17:00 GMT

I'm a bit shocked, insulted and embarrassed that after all these years since the Americans With Disabilities Act was adopted, nearly 20 years ago, that only now the House of Representatives decides to comply? House leaders announced Monday that they plan to install wheelchair lifts in their chamber so that people with disabilities will have access to the speaker's podium.

The renovations, which will allow people in wheelchairs to reach the speaker's rostrum, are expected to take a year. Even if the building has historic concerns, one has to wonder how it could take a whole year with a contractor doing this work.

Nancy Pelosi is a bit out of touch. When she was quoted by the Associated Press saying "Our commitment to a barrier-free workplace sends an invaluable message to all Americans that the House will lead by example," it's very patronizing and shows that she might just recycle her soundbites when she can't think of an answer.

It should have been high on the list of Washington's elected officials to make government buildings accessible the first time the US went into the Persian Gulf in the early 90's.

This is such a picture of what is wrong in Washington. Not giving people with disabilities access to speak at a public podium goes against the fundamental values that are important to all Americans.

"Since Congress requires businesses across the country to accommodate the needs of individuals with disabilities, it is fitting that we should follow the rules we set for others," Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio said. Exactly my sentiments, Mr. Boehner, but why wasn't this raised a decade ago?

The plans were announced by Pelosi, Boehner and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland. They did not immediately say how much the renovations would cost.

The White House needs to quit with all the lame spins and transparent retoric that still has the victims of Katrina sitting in limbo, homeless and abandoned. I guess we should see some movement from the recent floods in the midwest sometime around 2030.

President Bush Plan to Update National ADA Policy

Don Norte — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:16:00 GMT

Sweeping ADA update would affect millions

By ROBERT PEAR

The New York Times

WASHINGTON — The Bush administration is about to propose far-reaching rules that would give people with disabilities greater access to tens of thousands of courtrooms, swimming pools, golf courses, stadiums, theaters, hotels and stores.

The proposal would substantially update and rewrite federal standards for enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act, a landmark civil-rights law passed with strong bipartisan support in 1990.

The new rules would set more stringent requirements in many areas and address some issues for the first time, in an effort to meet the needs of an aging population and growing numbers of disabled war veterans.

More than 7 million businesses and all state and local government agencies would be affected. The proposal includes some exemptions for parts of existing buildings, but any new construction or renovations would have to comply.

The new standards would, for example, affect the location of light switches, the height of retail service counters and the use of monkeys as service animals.

The Bush administration approved the proposal in May after a five-month review. It is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on Tuesday, with 60 days for public comment. After considering those comments, the government would issue final rules with the force of law.

The proposal is stirring concern. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce says it would be onerous and costly, but advocates for disabled people say it does not go far enough.

The Census Bureau says more than 51 million Americans have a disability, with nearly two-thirds reporting severe impairments.

Proposed requirements

The proposed rules, under development for more than four years, flesh out the meaning of the 1990 law, which set forth broad objectives. The 215,000-word proposal includes these new requirements:

• Courts would have to provide a lift or ramp to ensure that people in wheelchairs could get into the witness stand.

• Auditoriums would have to provide a lift or ramp so wheelchair users could "participate fully and equally in graduation exercises and other events."

• Any sports stadium with a seating capacity of 25,000 or more would have to provide safety and emergency information by posting written messages on scoreboards and video monitors to alert people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

• Light switches in hotel rooms could not be more than 48 inches high. The current maximum is 54 inches.

• A new swimming pool with a perimeter of more than 300 feet would have to provide "at least two accessible means of entry," such as a gentle sloping ramp or a chair lift.

The Justice Department estimated the changes would cost $23 billion.

Under the 1990 law, businesses are supposed to remove barriers to people with disabilities if the changes are "readily achievable," meaning they can be "carried out without much difficulty or expense."

The Bush administration is proposing a safe harbor for small businesses. They could meet their obligations in a given year if, in the prior year, they had spent at least 1 percent of their gross revenues to remove barriers.

Curtis Decker, executive director of the National Disability Rights Network, a coalition of legal advocates, said: "Safe harbors make us very nervous. A small business could spend the requisite amount of money and still not be accessible."

Randel Johnson, a vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said the proposed rules "are so long and technically complex that even the best-intentioned small business could be found out of compliance by a clever lawyer looking to force a settlement."

Limits on service animals

The proposed rules affirm the right of people with disabilities to use guide dogs and other service animals in public places, but they tighten the definition to exclude certain species.

When the existing rules were adopted in the early 1990s, the Justice Department said, few people anticipated the current trend toward "the use of wild, exotic or unusual species" as service animals.

The proposed rules define a service animal as "any dog or other common domestic animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks" for a person with a physical or mental disability.

Under this definition, monkeys would not qualify as service animals. The proposed rules also would exclude snakes and other reptiles; amphibians; rabbits, ferrets and rodents; and farm animals such as horses, pigs and goats.

The rules confirm that people with disabilities can use traditional wheelchairs, power wheelchairs and electric scooters in any public areas open to pedestrians. But shopping centers and other public places could impose reasonable restrictions on Segway vehicles, golf carts and similar devices.

Coastal Cities Summit 2008: Values & Vulnerabilities

Don Norte — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:15:00 GMT

I've heard some positive feedback from my last blog about disaster preparedness for people with disabilities. My brother lost his home in a hurricane in Homestead Florida, so I'm sensitive to the issue.

The importance of being prepared can never be stressed enough. One person commented that in an emergency Walgreens will provide you with a weeks worth of your medications. I don't know if this is a policy practiced by any other chain or mom and pop pharmacies.

I've been sent some information about a Coastal Cities Summit for people to get together to take responsible action to reduce environmental impacts and prepare to address our vulnerabilities that come with the territory of living in a coastal community.

It's important that people with disabilities have a voice at this conference. Seniors and children are generally require more assistance in a disaster whether or not they are living with a disability.

Please pass this information along to your teachers, elected officials, friends, family, and anyone you know in the disabled community. I'm glad to see their are people thinking ahead and outside the box when it comes to our health and safety.

The International Ocean Institute-USA and the city of St. Petersburg, FL, are hosting a Coastal Cities Summit 2008: Values & Vulnerabilities, www.coastalcties.org, on November 17-20, 2008, to address the complex challenges that coastal city leaders face as populations increase, resources are depleted, and the impacts of climate change are felt. The Coastal Cities Summit intends to bring together coastal city leaders, managers,academics, and trade professionals to discuss environmental, social, economic, and public policy challenges and viable solutions.

The 3 ½ day conference will focus on three themes: Climate Change, Risk and Vulnerability, and Sustainable Development. The planners are soliciting speakers on four areas that are particularly relevant to coastal cities: freshwater, pollution, energy, and port security. All sessions are intended to give a long-needed voice to those on the front lines taking leadership on climate change, providing implementation and response plans, and continuing to focus on protecting citizens from possible extreme events and human-induced degradation.

REGISTER NOW!!! Abstract submission and registration now open! Submission deadline - May 15.. Early registration deadline - July 31.

BEING PREPARED SAVES LIVES

Don Norte — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 00:36:00 GMT

The U.S. Census Bureau reported that in 2002 about 18 percent of Americans said they had a disability, and 12 percent had a severe disability.

Earthquakes are not uncommon in California, however many are unnoticed if they are 3 or less on the riecter scale. An earthquake the scale of the one experienced in May of 2008 in China has confirmed the number of deaths to be over 69,000. Geological experts have announced that it is highly likely California will experience an earthquake of similar magnitude within the next 30 years. Employers can and should do the two of the most important things in a disaster-prepare and respond.

People with disabilities will need to be addressed in emergency preparedness, and may need assistance. Co-workers should do drills and work as a team to make sure everyone is accounted for.When Hurricanes Katrina and Rita walloped the Gulf Coast in 2005, many people with disabilities were chased from their coastal homes by gale force winds and surging tides. Some were separated from their service animals, others from their needed medications, and still others from their wheelchairs and other mobility devices.

Wherever you live, in any state, mother nature shows her force and we need to be ready, not afraid.

LOST IN TRANSLATION

Don Norte — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 16:58:00 GMT

The Chinese government apparently put yet another dark smudge on this year's Olympic games by referring to people with disabilities as "crippled" among other choice words left to better judgement, or is that the treatment of people with disabilities is just another frame of mind that hasn't yet caught up with the civilized world. http://blogs.wsj.com/chinajournal/2008/06/02/olympics-organizers-lost-in-translation/?mod=googlenews_wsj

I'm personally disappointed that the location of the Olympics represents a poor decision being that so many other countries that do not operate under a repressive regime could benefit.

I know people say the Olympics are not the place for politics, but the reality is China is getting wealthier while our economy is sliding faster than the $137 dollar a barrel oil we are forced to buy. How about areas that were hit by tsumanis, tornados or New Orleans that need help? Isn't it ironic that China is where Walmart and lots of department stores set up manufacturering? Couldn't the committee see beyond corporate chums who spin this wheel in the name of sport? Let's choose the next location a bit more wisely, preferably one that has clean air and doesn't coat the lungs with toxins? How about a common goal, starting with humanity?

BUT ARE THEY HYBRIDS?

Don Norte — Fri, 30 May 2008 23:03:00 GMT

Great new transportation idea that is being seen in major cities. They run on compressed natural gas, gasoline, or "other fuels", which could affect the marketability of the vehicle.

http://www.disaboom.com/Living/transportation/sweet-chariot-cool-cabs-hit-the-street.aspx

Face to Face Communication

Don Norte — Fri, 30 May 2008 20:39:00 GMT

by Don Norte

Friday, May 30, 2008

(San Diego, California)

Jason Curry, CEO and Co-founder of UbiDuo is a busy man. Fortunately I was lucky to listen to his presentation with my collegues serving on the CA Governor's Committee on Employment of People With Disabilities. Yesterday's meeting in San Diego would not have been possible without new technology geared toward assimilating people with disabilities in the workplace. It is the wave of the future. Many have told me that that even sign langauge can't match the level of dialogue a person with hearing can have with a non-hearing person. I guess it might be what some of us without hearing disabilities experience at foriegn movies or operas where their are subtitles.

I hope everyone gets a chance to be familiar with this product. I hope California can lead the way and be as creative as possible. Hat's off to the staff at the Governor's office for arranging this very valuable demonstration.

http://www.scommonline.com/about.php