NEWS

Paralympic Winter Games — DAILY UPDATES reported for ABILITY Magazine by Elizabeth and Paul Murray Curling Does Not Get the Respect it Deserves in America. While Canadians scrutinize the precision of the gliding stone, Americans are confused as the forty-two pound “rock” is driven towards the goal, “the tee”. Wheelchair-curling teams include both men and women. More challenging than other curling, there are no sweepers who... Whistler Olympic Park BC After a momentous day for the U.S. Team in Saturday’s biathlon competition, five American athletes took to the tracks Sunday in the men’s sitting 15 km and women’s sitting 10 km events.In the men’s race, USA took eighth, ninth and tenth, while Russia claimed the top... Team USA Claimed its First Medal of the Paralympics Andy Soule, an Afghanistan war veteran from Pearland, Texas won the bronze medal in the biathlon. It is the first time a Paralympian has medaled in the biathlon. Soule legs were amputated above the knee as a result of an improvised explosive device detonating his Humvee....

ABILITY Magazine interview: Andrea Friedman, actress with Down syndrome, is asked about the R word (edited from interview in April/May issue) Cooper: The other thing that’s happening right now is the controversy over what they call the R word. What is your-- Andrea: Oh, yes. I know. Cooper: What is your thought about that? Andrea: About “retarded,” the R word? I don’t really like it at all. It really affected me in many ways, because I’ve been teased a lot. I’ve been teased with that from elementary school, high school, and I didn’t like it. I was going to stand up for myself, but I didn’t have the courage. And I said something like, “Leave me alone or my sister will come after you.” (laughs).....

End the R-Word Awareness Day
“Mockery in any form, purpose or directed at anyone, especially those least able to defend themselves, is neither funny nor acceptable. We must work together to bring it to a stop ”Timothy P. Shriver, Special Olympics. End the R-word Awareness Day encourages people to pledge their support at www.r-word.org with the goal of ending society's use of the word "retard(ed)" in a derogatory manner. The R-word was first recorded in 1426 as a verb meaning a “fact or action of making slower in movement or time.” It was not until 1895 that people began using the term as a noun...

US Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy to continue ‘listening tour"
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), along with federal partners, continues its six-city “listening tour” in Chicago, Atlanta and Boston. The purpose of the tour is to gather information on system barriers and best practices regarding the employment of people with disabilities. The initial stops were in Dallas and Philadelphia. “The employment figures for people with disabilities are way too low,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy Kathleen Martinez, whose goal is to move stakeholders from assurances to action. “I am pleased to announce that ODEP is working in tandem with other federal agencies to change this picture as we strive for good jobs for everyone, including those of us with disabilities.” ...

Social Security Adds 38 New Compassionate Allowance Conditions Will Speed Benefits
Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, announced that the agency is adding 38 more conditions to its list of Compassionate Allowances. This is the first expansion since the original list of 50 conditions - 25 rare diseases and 25 cancers - was announced in October 2008. The new conditions range from adult brain disorders to rare diseases that primarily affect children. The complete list of the new Compassionate Allowance conditions is attached. “The addition of these new conditions expands the scope of Compassionate Allowances to a broader subgroup of conditions like early-onset Alzheimer’s disease,” Commissioner Astrue said. “The expansion we are announcing today means tens of thousands of Americans with devastating disabilities will now get approved for benefits in a matter of days rather than months and years.” ...

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....

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. 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...