NEWS

Gift for 2010
As a gift for the new decade, throughout January, we are providing a free digimag of our latest issue with Shemar Moore from Criminal Minds, which includes an article with David Lander who played Squiggy on Laverne & Shirley, humor therapy section titled "A Toast to Santa" and much more. Click on Shemar Moore digi-version and select "Add to Cart." During check out, use Coupon Code: freemoore
And if you're unemployed or from ABILITYJobs we'd like to offer you a free digi-subscription by clicking here use Coupon Code: freejob

Fox News - Job Hunt Series Asks ABILITY Magazine Jamie Colby of Fox News, reporting under the Job Hunt Series, asks ABILITY Magazine and ABILITY Jobs about issues surrounding the hiring of people with disabilities. Two video versions appeared on the Fox Network. The second video includes appearances with best selling author and AM writer Allen Rucker, comedian and AM humor therapy writer Jeff Charlebois, Vista member Dana Nelson, AM's Chet Cooper and Nancy Villere of Crush Photo Studios.....

Paving the Way in California - 2500 Miles of Access and More
In an unprecedented settlement, two individuals with disabilities, two disability rights organizations, and the California Department of Transportation (“Caltrans”) have reached a comprehensive plan that will provide access for persons with mobility and vision disabilities to 2,500 miles of sidewalk and Park and Ride facilities across the State of California that are owned or maintained by Caltrans. The settlement resolves two hard fought class action lawsuits that spanned over several years, alleging a denial of access for persons with mobility and vision disabilities to Caltrans sidewalks and Park and Ride facilities due to barriers such as curbs without curb ramps, a lack of detectable warnings (i.e. yellow truncated domes), sidewalks that are too narrow, and sidewalks with uneven and broken pavement. This is the largest single settlement reached on the issue of architectural access for persons with disabilities nationwide. Under the settlement, Caltrans has committed to a comprehensive plan for improving access to its sidewalks and Park and Ride facilities for persons with mobility and vision disabilities. The plan includes a financial commitment of $1.1 billion for the next 30 years. Caltrans will allocate $25 million for the first five.....

Largest Recovery Ever for Hazardous Waste Clean Up - $1.79 Billion
As a result of the largest environmental bankruptcy in U.S. history, $1.79 billion has been paid to fund environmental cleanup and restoration under a bankruptcy reorganization of American Smelting and Refining Company LLC (ASARCO), the Justice Department, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Department of the Interior and Department of Agriculture announced today. ASARCO is a leading producer of copper and one of the largest nonferrous metal producers in the United States. It is based in Arizona and is responsible for sites around the country that are contaminated with hazardous waste. The money from environmental settlements in the bankruptcy will be used to pay for past and future costs incurred by federal and state agencies at more than 80 sites contaminated by mining operations in 19 states. Those states are.....

Oldie, but Goodie
"Building Better Neighborhoods", is now on U-Tube. Though Concrete Change made the video back in 1994, it's still relevant as an advocacy tool today. But hopefully will be only of historical interest within about ten years, when the continuing work of advocates across the country will have resulted in all new houses having basic access.....

Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services Showcase Food Lion and Hyatt
In celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Andrew J. Pepin, executive administrator of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), US Department of Education, shares the following two stories: The Sign Said: FOOD LION Coming Soon! To some people in Wilmington, Delaware, that meant more local traffic, especially during rush hour. To others it was exciting to hear that a new supermarket was opening. To the counselors and employment specialists at the Delaware Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) it was great news—it meant getting people jobs. In June 2009, DVR Employment Specialist John Ludwig saw the help wanted sign and contacted the manager of Food Lion. He learned that stores were opening in two other Delaware towns, and that they were in need of a location to hold an employment fair. Initially, John offered to aide Food Lion in the interviewing process and proposed using a few DVR offices for the interviews. However, after a second conversation with the manager, he quickly realized that Food Lion’s needs were far beyond what he initially envisioned. John sought the assistance of District Administrator Cynthia Fairwell who requested a teleconference with Food Lion. She found that: Food Lion had plans to open....

Untapped Talent: Job Seekers with Disabilities
Finding and retaining dedicated, hardworking employees is a top concern for all employers, regardless of size or industry. Yet, a significant source of skilled, reliable employees remains largely untapped: people with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities possess many unique attributes, most markedly the flexibility to adapt to different situations and changing circumstances. Perhaps more than any other group, people with disabilities are frequently required to think creatively in order to solve problems and accomplish tasks. In the workplace, this resourcefulness translates into innovative thinking, fresh ideas d unique approaches to confronting business challenges and achieving success. Nearly 2.5 million businesses surveyed for a November 2008 report by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy, only 19.1 percent reported hiring people with disabilities....

National Day of Service and Remembrance
President Obama declares a federally recognized National Day of Service and Remembrance... "Throughout the summer, people of all ages and backgrounds came together to lend a helping hand in their communities through United We Serve. As this summer of service draws to an end, we renew the call to engage in meaningful service activities and stay engaged with those projects throughout the year. Working together, we can usher in a new era in which volunteering and more service is a way of life for all Americans. Deriving strength from tragedy, we can write the next great chapter in our Nation's history and ensure that future generations continue to enjoy the promise of America. By a joint resolution approved December 18, 2001 (Public Law 107-89), the Congress has designated September 11 of each year as Patriot Day, and by Public Law 111-13, approved April 21, 2009, has requested the observance of September 11 as an annually recognized National Day of Service and Remembrance.....

Senator Edward M. Kennedy
Senator Edward M. Kennedy's extraordinary life touched us all in so many important ways. As a Senator, his commitment to service and justice led to some of the most sweeping legislation of our time. During his nearly 50 years in the Senate, Kennedy was a tireless champion of health, and was responsible for countless items of legislation that expanded healthcare to children, the elderly and the underprivileged. The State Children's Health Insurance Program in 1997, which paid for expanded healthcare for children through a tax increase on tobacco, and as lead sponsor of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, a bill signed into law just this year that gives the Food and Drug Administration the power to regulate tobacco products, including how they are marketed to children. Sen. Kennedy was among the first to tackle the devastating effect tobacco use has on our nation and spearheaded many bills that have since saved millions of lives that would have been lost to tobacco related illness. He was fearless in his pursuit of anti-tobacco legislation and persevered through years of setbacks and heavy pressure from the tobacco industry and the traditionally tobacco-friendly congress.....

South African Disability Rights Leader Named UN Special Rapporteur on Disability
Shuaib Chalklen of South Africa has been appointed the Special Rapporteur on Disability of the Commission for Social Development for the period 2009-2011. The newly appointed Special Rapporteur is a prominent leader who has made extensive contributions to the advancement of persons with disabilities within both regional and global frameworks. Mr. Chalklen earned a bachelor’s degree in social science from the University of Cape Town in 1991. He also studied at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology and at the Senior Executive Programme at Harvard University. His appointment brings considerable national and regional experience to the advancement of the rights of persons with disabilities in the global arena. He has assumed numerous positions in the fields of disability, governance and administration at the national, regional and global levels, including: Senior Policy Analyst in the Presidency of South Africa (2006-2007); Chief Executive Officer of the Secretariat for the African Decade of Disabled Persons (2003-2006); and....

Iowa 9-1-1 Call Center First to Successfully Trial 9-1-1 Text Messaging
Black Hawk Consolidated Public Safety Communications Center has become the first 9-1-1 Call Center in the nation to successfully receive text messages sent directly to 9-1-1. A broad team of communications companies worked collaboratively to support the public safety needs of the 31 million citizens with speech and hearing issues who rely upon text messaging as a primary means of communications. Currently they must communicate with 9-1-1 operators using a relay center or a specialized communications device. This groundbreaking effort allows people with speech difficulties, deaf or hard-of-hearing to use text messaging to communicate directly with a 9-1-1 operator in an emergency. The team of companies included...

Housing Bill, Inclusive Home Design Act, Requires Visitability Standards
"Universal standards for homes built with federal money are long past due," said Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-IL. "Implementing accessible features when homes are built is a simple matter of fairness, cost effectiveness, and common sense." People with mobility impairments have limited access to most homes constructed with federal assistance because there are currently no federal standards for accessibility features that these homes must include. However, new legislation introduced by Rep. Schakowsky, the Inclusive Home Design Act (HR 1408) would greatly increase the number of homes that are accessible for people with disabilities. Currently, 95 percent of new single-family homes and townhouses built with federal assistance fail to....