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April 2006
Summer Fragrance Workshop L'Occitane and American Foundation for the Blind are sponsoring a contest to offer teens with vision loss the opportunity to travel to France this summer to learn about fragrance at L'Occitane's perfume school for the visually impaired. The program is from June 17 to June 22nd. All expenses will be paid by L'Occitane. Four teenagers (ages 14 to 16) will travel to Provence to learn about the perfume industry. Application deadline is April 14th. For information, call 800/232.5463. Teleconference on Federal Disability Issues In mid- to late April, IL Net is offering a teleconference policy briefing on federal disability issues, e.g., housing, ADA, and appropriations. This briefing is open to all. Join us AT NO COST for the first ever IL NET Regional Policy Briefing Series. IL NET, a collaborative project of ILRU and NCIL, is happy to announce a series of 90-minute Regional Policy Briefings to bring people up to date on national issues that affect people with disabilities. A teleconference has already been scheduled for your region! We will also bring you access to national policy leaders for a question and answer session. Your NCIL regional representative will be hosting the call in your area. Contact them or Daniel Davis from NCIL ahead of time if you need help getting the information you need from the website. AGENDA (90 minutes) Welcome & Introduction Overview of Priority Issues Brief update on other issues Housing Q & A Civil Rights /ADA Q & A MiCASSA /PAS Q & A Appropriations Q & A Regional & State Strategies Q& A Teleconference Call-in Number: 800/261.2045 Webcast Log-on: http://www.ilru.org/html/training/webcasts/calendar.html SCHEDULE Regions I & II -- CT, Maine, Mass., NH, RI, VT, NJ, NY, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands Tuesday, April 25, 3 pm ET / 2pm CT Automated Code: 16430# Regions III & IV -- DE, DC, MD, PA, VA, WV, AR, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN Monday, April 24, 3:00pm ET / 2:00pm CT Automated Code: 16430# Regions V & VII -- IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI, IA, KS, MO, NB Monday, April 17, 3:00pm ET / 2:00pm CT Automated Code: 16430# Regions VI & VIII -- AR, LA, NM, OK, TX, CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY Thursday, April 13, 4:00pm ET / 3:00pm CT / 2:00pm MT Automated Code: 16430# Regions IX & X -- AZ, CA, HA, NV, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, AL, ID, OR, WA Monday, April 24, 3:00pm MT / 2:00pm PT / Apr. 25, 8:00am Guam Automated Code: 16433# HOSTS: Corey Rowley: VP, NCIL's Governing Board, Chair of NCIL's Legislative & Advocacy Committee Bob Michaels: Co-Chair,NCIL's Employment Subcommittee Karen Avery & Brian Peters -Co-Chairs, NCIL's Housing Subcommittee Stan Holbrook & Judy Roy - Co-Chairs, NCIL's Health Care/ Personal Assistant Services (PAS) Subcommittee Kelly Anthony -Chair, NCIL's Civil Rights /ADA Subcomm. Contact: ADA-OHIO, 700 Morse Rd, Suite 101, Columbus, OH 43214 ph 800/ADA-OHIO tty 800/ADA-ADA1 fax 614-844-5537 ADA-OHIO is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Voice: 202/207-0334 Fax: 202/207-0341 TTY: 202/207-0340 Toll Free: 877/525-3400 E-mail: ncil@ncil.org Source: ADA-OHIO (e-mail), 3/31/06 Bridges to Careers Provides Low-Income Residents Job Training in Growth Industries Placement Services Provide Opportunities for Residents in Need CHICAGO (March 17, 2006) - With headlines and want ads proclaiming a shortage of health care staff, truck drivers, bank employees -- and increasing pressure for those who receive public aid or housing to find gainful employment, the Chicago Housing Authority and City Colleges have created a partnership that will address the 'skill gap' between un- or under-employed Chicagoans and the changing demands of the current job market which requires highly trained workers. Through the partnership, all those who reside in or have recently moved from a CHA development are eligible for cost-free learning in the City Colleges' "Bridges to Careers" programs. Through the programs, individuals -- who lack adequate reading, math or other skills to enter college or gain 'career track' employment -- are offered the opportunity to improve basic skills and/or to begin preparation for jobs that require college level reading or math skills, or specialized training. The training is available for jobs in the banking, nursing, transportation, cosmetology and hospitality industries, among others. Terry Peterson, CEO of the Chicago Housing Authority, explains that the partnership was initiated as part of the CHA's Plan for Transformation; it is intended to transform CHA-financed housing from structures that isolate low-income residents to those that provide opportunities for success for individuals and communities. "Our goal is not simply to rebuild brick and mortar structures, but to offer individuals the opportunity to better their lives. Already more than 6,000 CHA leaseholders have found jobs. Through Bridges, CHA leaseholders will have the opportunity to get the skills needed to compete for better jobs in today's job market - whether that be sharpening of their basic skills or mastery of a trade." Individuals interested in participating in Bridges to Careers begin by attending an orientation session, where their interests and skill levels are ascertained. With the help of counselors provided by the Colleges and the City of Chicago's Department of Human Services, CHA leaseholders can then enroll in one of the various courses offered. Because many of those seeking to participate are adults who are anxious to work, "Bridges" courses are taught in an accelerated format that allows students to learn more and to complete courses faster in order o get their careers started as soon as possible. In operation since spring 2005, Bridges to Careers has already trained over 260 students, with more than 100 finding job placement. Orientation sessions are held every month on the second and third Wednesdays at the Dawson Technical Institute at 3901 South State Street in Chicago. The orientations begin at 9 AM and last about 3 hours. "When low-income residents receive the training and job coaching they need to enter the workforce, the transition is smooth. With a career, more than just temporary work, families can work to end the cycle of poverty that is difficult to break. Banking, nursing and other fields offer growth within the field, something that many residents have never experienced," said City Colleges' Chancellor Wayne Watson. In fact, he continued, "Bridges to Careers has a higher retention level than most first year college programs for all colleges." While Bridges to Careers is offered free of charge to CHA-leaseholders, the program is open to all who seek to bridge the gap between their current skill levels and those needed for a desired career. CHA residents seeking to enter a Bridges program orientation can call 312/747-0977. Source: CHA. Employer Resources re ADA Audio session on April 18th. [Please note, there will be an additional free site in Cleveland OH. If you live outside Columbus, OH, anywhere in the US, please see the last paragraph of this message for information on how to gain access to the following ADA audio conference series session within your area of the country.] The session will be held on Tuesday, April 18th, 2-3:30 P.M. EST, and will be presented by the Great Lakes ADA & Accessible IT Center in Chicago, IL, via speaker phone. April 18, 2006, Survey of Employer Resources Regarding the ADA. Are you confused about where to go for information about the ADA and employment? Does a Google search for "ADA" leave your head spinning? How do you decide what is accurate and reliable information? Over the past 15 years a plethora of on-line and print resources have been made available to address the requirements of the ADA but it can be overwhelming to decipher what is good information. Join our speaker as she reviews the various on-line resources available and discusses the pro's and con's of using them. Speaker: Andrea Haelin-Mott, Northeast ADA & IT Center, Cornell University Time: 2-3:30 pm EST The cost for the session is $25 for nonprofits and $40 for other entities for each location, regardless of the number of participants at each location (multiple people can attend at one location for the same flat fee). There is no charge to participants who come to the following locations:
Sessions are 90 minutes in length and delivered via speaker phone. Participants are in a "listen-only" mode until the question and answer period. The sessions are offered with real-time captions on the Internet; a transcript is developed and posted to the Internet following the session. In addition, a digital recording of the session is archived on the Great Lakes ADA & Accessible IT Center web site. If you wish to come for no charge to RSC in Columbus, OH, please let us know by April 11 by sending an email to adaohio@aol.com. Please provide your name, organization, address, email address, and telephone number. If you wish to come for no charge to the Inclusion Network in Cincinnati, OH, please call 513-345-1330 for more information. If you wish to come for no charge to LEAP in Cleveland, OH, please call 216/696-2716, ext. 129, for more information. If you wish to come for no charge to SOCIL in Lancaster, OH, please call 740/689-1494 for more information. If you wish to attend elsewhere, please go to web site ada-audio.org to register. Please do not send a check to ADA-OHIO. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE NOTE CONTACT INFO WITHIN BODY OF MESSAGE. The national network of ADA & IT Technical Assistance Centers, also known as The Great Lakes ADA and Accessible IT Center in collaboration with the network of ADA and IT Centers, also known as DBTACs, are seeking your comments on experiences with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Your feedback on experiences in employment, building access, or access to public services will help the Centers identify training gaps and issues needing increased technical assistance. Tell us what has worked for you, what barriers you still encounter and how the ADA has made a difference in your life. The form is short and simple. Comment only on topics of interest or concern to you. Comment as often as you like on any of the several categories. There is no identification asked other than the state in which you live to help assure we are reaching all parts of the country. Go to www.ADATA.org and select the ONLINE COMMENT FORM. Help us help the nation - tell us what you think! We will make our findings public so watch the www.adata.org web site for more information. If you have questions regarding this form or process please contact us at 800/949-4232(V/TTY) or by email at gldbtac@uic.edu Source: VaughanADA@aol.com, 3/21/06. Access Board releases side-by-side comparison of new ADAAG Board released the Comparison of the new ADAAG to the ADA Standards and the International Building Code on March 9, 2006. The Board has issued a comparison between the new ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG), the original ADA standards (currently enforceable by DOJ/DOT under Title II and III of the ADA), and the International Building Code. This side-by-side comparison is arranged and ordered according to the format and sequence of the new ADAAG, which the Board published in July 2004. Provisions in the ADA Standards are maintained by the Department of Justice. They currently are based on the original ADAAG (1991) and are provided alongside corresponding sections of the new ADAAG. The Department of Justice is in the process of updating its ADA standards, according to the new ADAAG. In updating ADAAG, the Board sought to reconcile differences among model building codes, including the International Building Code (IBC). Used by a growing number of states and local jurisdictions, the IBC contains scoping provisions for accessibility and references the technical criteria of the ANSI A117.1 standard, a voluntary consensus standard issued by American National Standards Institute. The comparison includes accessibility provisions of the IBC, including those referenced in the ANSI standard and was prepared by Brian Black of BDBlack Codes, Perry, NY, under a contract with the Access Board. Source: ADA-OHIO (The Americans with Disabilities Act) VaughanADA@aol.com, 3/10/06 Wall Street Journal Q & A Q. Do you know of any companies that offer teleworking from home for people with disabilities? I have a physically disabled aunt who lives in northern Florida. She's very intelligent but can't leave her house. A. Call-center outsourcing firms will employ agents with disabilities. (Please see CareerJournal.com for past coverage.) At least two other concerns, however, specifically target the disabled. National Telecommuting Institute, a Boston nonprofit, has about 250 agents working from home at any given time, and a total pool of about 1,000 agents, says M J Willard, executive director. Applicants are asked to be certified by their state vocational rehabilitation system. Most states pay for a computer if needed. Skills required: "Basic computer literacy, a pleasant telephone manner -- and the rest we can train," Ms Willard says. Apply through the institute's web site. Another firm founded last year, Overflow Inc., Plainview, NY, retains people with disabilities, veterans and caregivers, among others, for home-based telephone work. Overflow has trained 88 trained agents and expects to add several hundred more this year, says Rich Florman, executive vice president. Applicants need a computer, broadband Internet access, the ability to speak, hear and think clearly, and good interpersonal skills. Source: The Wall Street Journal, 3/20/06 Community Services for People with Developmental Disabilities in IL CHICAGO (March 13, 2006)-- Thousands of Illinois residents with developmental disabilities moved a step closer to having a choice over where they live, thanks to a recent ruling by a federal judge. US District Court Judge James Holderman granted class action status in a lawsuit that charges the State of Illinois is violating the civil rights of people with developmental disabilities by effectively forcing them into large institutions rather than offering them the choice of living in smaller community settings. "This ruling means that thousands of Illinois residents, in addition to the nine original plaintiffs, will benefit from any relief obtained in this lawsuit," said Barry Taylor of Equip for Equality, counsel for plaintiffs. Equip for Equality is the federally mandated protection and advocacy agency for persons with disabilities in Illinois. "The judge's decision is an enormous step forward," said Max Lapertosa, a lawyer for Access Living, co-counsel in the suit. Access Living is Chicago's Center for Independent Living and works toward the full equality, inclusion, and empowerment of people with disabilities. Seven years ago in the Olmstead case, the US Supreme Court ruled that unnecessary institutionalization is discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act. As a result most states have invested in community-based housing and services, but Illinois has dragged its feet. Illinois currently ranks 49th among states in its efforts to place people with developmental disabilities in small integrated settings. "The situation in Illinois is reminiscent of Henry Ford's saying, 'You can have any color Model T you want, as long as it's black,'" said Benjamin Wolf of the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, co-counsel in the case. "In Illinois, the State is essentially telling adults with developmental disabilities they can live anywhere they want as long as it is an institution. The state's funding decisions have robbed people of any real choice about their living situation." Under Judge Holderman's ruling, the plaintiff class is now comprised of people with developmental disabilities who are unnecessarily institutionalized in private state-funded institutions and those at risk of unnecessary institutionalization. The latter group includes those living with elderly parents who one day will no longer be able to care for them at home. Now, Illinois gives them no choice but institutionalized care. Ultimately, plaintiffs in this case are seeking an order that would require the state to provide them a choice to live within a smaller community setting. Community living provides more independence, privacy, and integration in the community. "I want to live with friends in a small house or apartment and have my own room," says plaintiff Stanley Ligas. "I can do a lot of things on my own, and I want to be able to cook for myself." Instead, Ligas has been forced to live in a large institution for the past 12 years in order to receive Medicaid services, despite his repeated requests to move into the community. In his FY07 budget proposal, Governor Blagojevich failed to include any additional funding for community-based services for people with developmental disabilities. Advocates view this lawsuit as the only viable vehicle to achieve the State's compliance with federal law. "Now that we've cleared this important legal hurdle, we're looking forward to litigating this case to make a positive change in the lives of people with disabilities in Illinois," says John Grossbart, the partner at Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP leading that firm's efforts. The decision granting class certification follows previous rulings by Judge Holderman denying three Motions to Intervene filed by the Illinois health Care Association, parents whose adult children live at Misericordia, and parents who are affiliated with Voice of the Retarded. In denying the motions to intervene, Judge Holderman found that the plaintiffs' complaint was simply seeking to provide people with developmental disabilities opportunities to choose where they live. The plaintiffs are represented by four public interest organizations -- Equip for Equality, Access Living, the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, and the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia as well as the law firm Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP, which is working in this case as trial counsel on a pro bono basis. Reference: US District Court, Northern District of Illinois and Chicago. Case No. 1:05-cv-4331, Ligas et al. v. Maram et. al. Free Tax Preparation for Low-Income Families The Tax Assistance Program is offering free tax preparation for low-income families from 8:30 to 11:30 am on April 1st, 8th, and 15th at 23 locations throughout Chicago and suburbs. For information, call 312/409.1555. American Sign Language Classes Starting Monday, March 27th, classes will be held at the Evanston Police Outpost, 633 Howard in Evanston, 3 blocks from the "L", parking on the street, across from Popeye's Chicken. Beginning Level: 6 pm-7:30 Intermediate Level: 8 pm - 9:30 9 weeks - Cost: $200 All are welcome, but SPACE is limited! The beginner class is almost full, so register to reserve your place today. To register, send your name, phone number, which session you are interested in (Beg. or Int.), and a check made out to CIMI for $200 to Chicago Institute for the Moving Image, 1610 Highland Av., #180, Chicago, IL 60660. Source: Deafcinema@aol.com, 3/10/06. Job Opening: Homeownership Coalition Coordinator Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago, a federally funded Center for Independent Living, seeks a part-time Homeownership Coalition Coordinator in order to increase homeownership opportunities for people with disabilities in Chicago. This position will entail organizing all activities of the Chicago Homeownership Coalition for people with disabilities. It will also require oversight and implementation of a US Department of Housing grant, including collecting and submitting quarterly reports to the city from each housing counseling agency in the Coalition. Key Job Responsibilities:
People with disabilities, members of other minority communities, and those with personal experience with disability are highly encouraged to apply. Interested candidates should mail, fax, or e-mail a resume and cover letter to: Alberto Barrera Access Living of Metro Chicago 614 W. Roosevelt Rd. Chicago, IL 60607 (312) 253-7001 (fax) abarrera@accessliving.org Contact: Neil Anderson, Manager of Administration, Access Living. 312.253.7000 voice / 312.253.7002 tty Source: Access Living, 3/27/06. Special Needs Future Planning Brian Rubin has been lecturing on the topic of Special Needs Future Planning since 1982 - since his own son with special needs was one year old. For more information and/or to arrange for a "HEART-to-HEART Family Educational Group Presentation" for your group or organization on the topic of "Future Planning for Families of Children & Adults with Special Needs", please call us at 847/279.7999 or send an e-mail to brian@snfp.net. Here are workshops for April & May: 5/20/06 Cornbelt Bank, Pittsfield (30 minutes west of Springfield). 8:30 am - 1 pm 5/16/06 Arc of Illinois Expo, at Holiday Inn Convention Center, 18501 S. Harlem Av, Tinley Park. More information to follow. 4/06/06 The Arc of Illinois Annual Convention, at Hilton Hotel, Lisle. 9 am - 10:15 am Source: Brian Rubin & Associates Autism Task Force Breaking news is on the horizon for families of children with disabilities. The important work of the Autism Task Force has produced a ground swell of momentum in the Illinois General Assembly to create a waiver to provide support to families of children with disabilities in Illinois. In the past the only programs providing support for children with disabilities in their family homes have been the Family Assistance Program, a small program commonly referred to as "72D", and grant funded programs through local service providers. The Family Assistance Program has had no new funding to enroll families in over 3 years. "72D" supports about 400 families of children with severe behavioral issues. Locally funded programs, typically providing respite services, are far too often non-existent or stretched too thin. A new children's waiver could include supports such as Applied Behavioral Analysis Therapy, parent education, social skills training, therapies not covered by insurance, environmental modifications to the home, transition services, crisis services, and assistive technology. We are advocating for the enrollment of 3350 children over a 3-year period (800 the first year, + 950 more the second year, +1600 more the third year). Each child would have access to supports and services valued at up to 2.5 times SSI, which equals $18,090 per child per year. All expenditures would be eligible for federal Medicaid matching, which means the Federal government would reimburse Illinois half of all expenditures. The moment is now! The Autism Task Force Report has provided the momentum and information we need. It is up to us to work together to bring their work to fruition. The needs of children with various disabilities are far more alike than different. All families of children with significant disabilities have dramatic stories of need. We must work together to encourage our legislators to create a new children's waiver supporting children with all disabilities. The Children's Waiver Concept proposed by The Autism Society, The Arc of Illinois, and The Family Support Network can be reviewed at online. What is a Waiver? ? Why Is It Important to Us? ? Many services for people with developmental disabilities are now being funded with a mix of funding from the State of Illinois and the Federal Government. The state pays for the services and the Feds reimburse 50 cents for every dollar spent. In other words, they each pay half. This is done through what is really a federal insurance program for low-income people called Medicaid. Most people with severe disabilities are low income, so they qualify. States need to "capture" as much Federal funding as possible to support services. Being able to "capture" these federal dollars is very important and makes states such as Illinois much more willing to create and expand programs and services. When Medicaid was passed into law in the 1960's it only paid for people to be in hospitals and nursing homes. Eventually Congress realized that hospitals and nursing home were very expensive and many people didn't want or need to be in them. But, they were stuck using them as there were no alternatives. Congress passed a law allowing the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to "waive" the rules in certain circumstances. States have to design services, make specific application, and get approval to waive the rules within those programs. States and participants then have to live by the rules and guidelines the Feds approved. "Waivers" allow states to create programs that allow a lot of services in community settings such as group homes, the Home-Based Support Services program, and if we're persistent, a new children's waiver. Contact: FSN, 5739 Martindale Lane, Peoria, 61615, fsn@familysupportnetwork.org, www.familysupportnetwork.org. Source: The Family Support Network, March 2006. Alert! Last July the United States Surgeon General issued the Surgeon General Call to Action to Improve the Health and Wellness of Persons with Disabilities in recognition of the disparities in health care and health promotion experienced by people with disabilities. It emphasized the need to learn more about ways to prevent secondary conditions, to promote healthy behaviors, improve access to health care, and to remove barriers to full participation of people with disabilities in their communities. This issue of the Alert features several research projects at the Institute on Disability and Human Development/Department of Disability and Human Development (IDHD/DHD) that chart new territory in examining the health of people with disabilities. The new project on "Health Empowerment Zones" takes an innovative approach by studying obstacles to community participation in Chicago's Near West Side, including grocery stores, health clubs, and public transportation. In the second phase it will study the impact of improvements in accessibility on the health and community participation of people with disabilities. An ongoing project using the Exercise and Nutrition Health Education for Adults with Developmental Disabilities is looking at new models of increasing long-term fitness changes among adults with developmental disabilities through train-the-trainer programs at community agencies and through the use of web-based training options. The research brief introduced in this issue focuses on obesity rates of adults with intellectual disabilities living in the community. It points to the alarmingly high rates of obesity and its long-term consequences. We are most excited to announce the publication of the five volume Encyclopedia of Disability by Sage. It is the first attempt to bring international authorities together to provide a historically grounded reference resource on the world of disability. Gary Albrecht was the general editor. Sharon Snyder and David Mitchell were associate editors along with Jerome Bickenbach and Walton Schalick III. I served as one of the content editors and the volumes contained 40 entries from DHD faculty, staff, and students. An international editorial board of 74 editors from the Americas, Europe, Australia, India, Japan and China developed these volumes resulting in a multi-disciplinary, cross-cultural resource tool. Feedback We welcome your feedback on our web site, newsletter and activities. Please send your comments, suggestions, and mailing list requests to Vladimir Cuk. Source: Newsletter of The Department of Disability and Human Development Dance in Chicago There are regular dance recitals at the Chicago Cultural Center with no admission charges. During April, May and June, performances will be put forward by Dance>Detour (a mixed abilities dance company), Tommye Giacchino and Gregory Day, and Ensemble as well as Goat Island Work in Progress Presentation. Training for Parent Leaders The Family Resource Center offers parent training classes in their Loop offices at 20 East Jackson. The parent to parent workshops are on two Wednesdays (April 12th and 19th) from 9:30 to 3:30. Participants who complete the training will receive without charge IDEA Rules and Illinois Special Education Rules, How To Organize an Effective Parent Group and Move Bureaucracies, How to Get Services by Being Assertive, The Road to Work, and other valuable materials. The FRCD Parent to Parent Training program will provide advanced level training during April in Advocacy and Negotiation (4/12), Outreach and Publicity (4/12), One to One Assistance (4/19), and Training and Communication (4/19). Do you want to inform parents about their rights under Special Education laws? Do you want to help parents participate effectively in their child's IEP meeting and other Special Ed meetings? Do you want to teach parents how to become effective advocates for their children? Do you want to provide Special Ed rights training to your own parent or community group as a volunteer trainer? To participate in this workshop series, you should have a basic knowledge of Special Education and be willing to be a volunteer trainer for at least one Special Education Rights training seminar for other parents in your community or at FRCD. Space is limited. Advance registration is requested. To register, send $10 (to cover lunches) with your name, address, and phone numbers to FRCD, 20 East Jackson #300, Chicago 60604. FRCD also offers FREE special education rights seminars on Saturday mornings (from 10 am to 1 pm) and the first Tuesday morning of each month (from 10 am to 1 pm) as well as in Spanish on the second Wednesday (from 10 am to 1 pm). Pre-registration is required for all seminars. You will get information on special education rights for public and private schools; step by step instruction on preparing for evaluations, IEP meetings, annual reviews of IEPs, access to student records, mediation, due process hearings, and other special education meetings; basic training on negotiating with school districts for appropriate services; and free special education materials. To register, call 312/939-3513 (tty 312/939.3519). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||