Access Alaska

Support the ADA Amendments Act in the Senate!

2008-08-01T18:42:29Z

ADAWatch.org National Coalition for Disability Rights 601 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 900S Washington, DC 20004

Senate ADA Amendments Act Introduced with 57 Co-Sponsors

Senators Harkin and Hatch have introduced the ADA Amendments Act - S. 3406 - with 57 original cosponsors!

While we will have to work hard to gain even more support in the Senate, ADA Watch and the National Coalition for Disability Rights (NCDR) thanks the state and local organizers and thousands of grassroots supporters who took part in our Road To Freedom bus stop events to support restoration of the ADA; signed our petition; attracted widespread media attention to the need for restoration; and utilized our ADA Restoration Action Center to send thousands of messages calling on Congress to respond to the narrowing of the ADA in the courts.

While there is more that we will have to do next year to restore the ADA, we fully support passage of the ADA Amendments Act.

The ADA Amendments Act of 2008 will restore the civil rights of people with disabilities by:

• Specifically rejecting restrictive interpretations by the Supreme Court that have reduced the protections for people with disabilities under the ADA

• Directing that the definition of "disability" must be construed broadly, to cover anyone who is discriminated against on the basis of disability.

• Clarifying the definition of disability, to more clearly prohibit discrimination against people with physical or mental impairments.

• Prohibiting consideration of an individual's ability to mitigate the effect of a disability (e.g., by taking medications) in determining whether she is eligible for protection from discrimination.

• Covering individuals who experience discrimination based on a perception that they have an impairment regardless of whether they have a disability.

Here is the list of origional co-sponsors of the Senate ADA Amendments Act: Harkin, Hatch, Kennedy, Enzi, Specter, Obama, McCain, Dodd, Dole, Gregg, Clinton, Alexander, Johnson, Roberts, Kerry, Coleman, Feingold, Snowe, Leahy, Burr, Brown, Smith, Durbin, Murkowski, Lautenberg, Warner, Sanders, Brownback, Reed, Martinez, Mikulski, Isakson, Casey, Craig, Murray, Bennett, Landrieu, Collins, Biden, Allard, Nelson, Sununu, Cardin, Thune, Levin, Barrasso, McCaskill, Crapo, Schumer, Stevens, Salazar, Voinovich, Tester, Cochran, Reid, Luger, Chambliss.

If your both your senators are not on this list, contact them and ask them to support the ADA Amendments Act of 2008. If one or both of your senators are co-sponsors, call them and thank them for supporting the civil rights of people with disabilities.

Tags: ADAAmendments Act of 2008

Americans with Disabilities Act: 18th Anniversary celebration

2008-07-30T19:44:45Z

Thursday, August 7, 5-8 p.m.
Snow Goose Theater
717 West Third Avenue
Anchorage

Please join special guest, the Honorable Olegario "Ollie" D. Cantos VII, Esq., Special Counsel to the Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Justice, for an evening of conversation, friends and good food to celebrate the passage of this important civil rights act.

This event is sponsored by Access Alaska, UAA Disability Support Services, UAA Center for Human Development, The Disability Law Center, The Alaska Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired, The State of Alaska Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator's Office, Assistive Technology of Alaska, The Govenor's Council on Disabilities & Special Education, Stone Soup Group, Municipality of Anchorage - ADA Commission and Frontier Community Services.

For more information, contact Doug Toelle at Access Alaska (800) 770-7940.

Disability rights protestors force meeting with Bush Administration

2008-07-29T23:45:35Z

Jim Kreatschman, Access Alaska Interior Director (second from right with the legs) outside the RSA

PRESS RELEASE

For more information:

Kelly Buckland (208) 869-4135
Shannon Jones (913) 486-4565
Brad Williams (518) 424-8121

Disability rights protestors force meeting with Bush Administration

WASHINGTON, DC (July 23, 2008)
Over 200 disability rights advocates from across the country protested outside the U.S. Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) located at Potomac Center Plaza.

The boisterous group chanted until the Assistant Secretary of OSERS, Tracy Justesen, came down and agreed to meet with a delegation from the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL). The NCIL delegation presented the memberships demands to the Assistant Secretary.

Specifically at issue is RSA’s recent interpretation of the Rehabilitation Act and the negative impact it will have on the operation of Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILC’s). Despite years of accepted operation, RSA has limited the scope of councils so that they function according to minimum statutory duties.

“In Kansas, by advocating for public policy issues, we have increased the employment rate for people with disabilities by 20%,” stated Shannon Jones of Topeka, Kansas. “These types of advocacy efforts are being thwarted by RSA’s narrow interpretation of SILC duties. Once again, people with disabilities will be marginalized because of bureaucratic nonsense.”

After meeting for more than an hour, RSA agreed to respond in writing to NCIL’s demands. While NCIL looks forward to their response, they are concerned about how these restrictions will continue to impede policy related to people with disabilities.

International Agreement on the rights of disabled people (Easy Read Version)

2008-07-29T22:10:31Z

The opening keynote at last week's NCIL Conference was Ecuador's U.S. Ambassador, Hon. Luis Gallegos. He headed the U.N. committee that produced this document, and as such, was its primary author. He spoke passionately about the need for international protections for people with disabilities, and what an incredible process it was to produce this convention. His long and distinguished career with the U.N. has focused on disability issues - this is his crowning achievement. He has been recognized by several groups for his work, including the great Chicago CIL, Access Living.

Sadly, our own President Bush has thus far refused to sign the convention. Yet we march on!

Easy read version is available here;.
Full version is available here

Access Alaska at NCIL

2008-07-29T22:01:31Z

DSC00621
Originally uploaded by Civil Rights

Can you spot the soggy Alaskan's in this picture?

Presidential Election Webcast on Disability Issues, July 26th 2008 8:30am Alaska Time - Premier Online Community for People With Disabilities Provides Opportunity for Voters to View Presidential Forum on National Disability Policy

2008-07-24T00:10:06Z

Disaboom, the premier online community and resource for people touched by disabilities, today announced that it will webcast the National Forum on Disability Issues, a historic, nonpartisan forum held in Columbus, Ohio, which allows the presidential candidates to present their visions for the future of disability policy in America. The forum will be webcast live on disaboom.com Saturday, July 26, 2008, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.Alaska Time. To view the live webcast, prior registration is required at http://www.disaboom.com.

A video of the forum will also be available for download at http://www.disaboom.com following the live webcast. The event, organized by the American Association for People with Disabilities (AAPD), offers a unique opportunity for the presidential candidates to reach voters with disabilities. Presumptive presidential nominees, Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain, have both been invited to participate and present their disability policy plans individually. Presentations will be followed by a moderated question and answer session, which will cover such topics as employment, healthcare, long-term community-based support, transportation, education and more.

Tags: AmericanAssociation for People with Disabilities, disability, Obama, McCain

Radio Host Michael Savage Calls Children with Autism: "Just Brats"

2008-07-23T18:30:41Z

From The New York Times (July 22):

Savage Stands by Autism Remarks By JACQUES STEINBERG

Michael Savage, the incendiary radio host who last week characterized nearly every child with autism as “a brat who hasn’t been told to cut the act out,” said in a telephone interview on Monday that he stood by his remarks and had no intention of apologizing to those advocates and parents who have called for his firing over the matter...

...

...On the July 16 installment of his program, which is broadcast every weekday, Mr. Savage suggested that “99 percent of the cases” of autism were a result of lax parenting...

...Read the entire article (free registration may be required).

...Read a related article.

---------------

TAKE ACTION!

Not only did Michael Savage claim that children with autism are a fraud, he used offensive language, referring to them as "idiots," "morons," and "brats."

Let's send a message to Michael Savage, his talkshow, and all his syndicators and commercial supporters. Tell them that people with disabilities, including children with autism, make up 1 in 5 Americans, and that his comments are inaccurate, offensive, and tantamount to hate speech. Encourage sponsors to pull their advertising dollars. Tell broadcasters that this sort of hate-filled rant is unacceptable.

Michael Savage michaelsavage@paulreveresociety.com

Talk Radio Network P.O. Box 3755 Central Point, Oregon 97502 Phone: 541-664-8827 Fax: 541-664-6250

The Savage Nation The Paul Revere Society 150 Shoreline Hwy, Bldg E Mill Valley, CA 94941 Fax: 415-339-9383

Buckley Broadcasting/WOR Radio General Phone Number: 212 642 4500 111 Broadway 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10006

Home Depot public_relations@homedepot.com (770) 384-4646

Sears Sears Public Relations And Communications (847) 286-8371 contact through their website: http://www.searsmedia.com/tools/inquires/feedback.htm

Radioshack Media Relations_ Riverfront Campus _Mail Stop #CF7-130_300 RadioShack Circle _Fort Worth, TX 76102-1964_ Phone: (817) 415-3300_ Fax: (817) 415-2585_ E-mail: media.relations@RadioShack.com

AFLAC 1-800-99-AFLAC (1-800-992-3522) Laura Kane, 2nd Vice President External Relations Aflac Incorporated_1-706-596-3493 Mechell Clark_ Media Relations Manager_ 1-706-243-8004 news@aflac.com

Budweiser Anheuser-Busch, Inc. One Busch Place St. Louis, MO 63118 Email through their site: http://contactus.anheuser-busch.com/contactus/email.asp 1 800 DIAL BUD (1 800 342 5283)0

From Justice for All Blog

Tags: MichaelSavage, Autism, advocacy

Hundreds with Disabilities March for Rights in D.C., Rain or Shine

2008-07-23T02:17:37Z

With estimates of over 700 in participation, the annual march and rally of the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) from the Grand Hyatt Regency to the U.S. Capitol reflecting pool was both loud and proud,... and at times quite wet!

March here for more.

Access Alaska was there, were you?

Tags: NCIL, Advocacy

Obama Campaign Hires New Disability Vote Director

2008-07-21T19:35:29Z

Campaign Continues to Strengthen Constituency Vote Operation

Chicago, IL – Kareem Dale, founder and chief executive officer of The Dale Law Group (DLG) in Chicago, has been appointed as the Obama campaign’s Disability Vote Director, effective July 14, 2008. Dale, partially blind, will help broaden the campaign’s reach and involve even more voices in this coalition for change.

In his role as Disability Vote Director, Dale will be responsible for all disability outreach efforts for the campaign, including attending national conferences, coordinating grassroots efforts, speaking at events as a surrogate for the campaign, and ensuring that campaign locations are accessible for all Americans with disabilities.

“Throughout this campaign, Barack Obama has insisted that we can change our politics and involve new voters in the process if we focus on our common hopes as Americans,” Campaign Manager David Plouffe said. “Kareem Dale shares Barack Obama’s fundamental commitment to building a world free of unnecessary barriers, stereotypes, and discrimination, and we’re excited he’s a part of this campaign.”

Fifty-four million Americans – roughly 1 in 6 – personally experience some form of disability. Senator Obama is committed to empowering people with disabilities so that they can fulfill the American dream and take full advantage of their talents and become independent, integrated members of society. “I look forward to encouraging all Americans with disabilities to support a candidate who is going to bring real change to their lives,” Dale said.

Prior to his appointment as Disability Vote Director, Dale also served as a volunteer on the Disability Policy and the Arts Policy Committees for the Obama For America campaign.

Dale is a native Chicagoan and received his bachelor’s degree in Advertising from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He graduated Cum Laude with a law degree and an MBA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in May, 1999.

###

For Immediate Release July 21, 2008 Obama Press Office; 312-819-2423

Tags: obama, disability vote

Senator Tom Harkin Confirms as Obama Surrogate

2008-07-21T19:33:08Z

The Obama campaign has just recently confirmed Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) will act as the surrogate for Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) at the National Forum on Disability Issues in Columbus, Ohio next Saturday, July 26. Senator Obama will be out of the country on the day of the forum with a congressional delegation.

A long time friend of the disability community, the Obama campaign cites Senator Harkin as Obama's closest disability policy advisor, noting that before Obama released his "Plan to Empower Americans with Disabilities," he and Harkin discussed the policy, and Harkin made specific suggestions for edits. Senator Obama's staff regularly consults with Harkin's lead disability staff on key disability policy pronouncements from the campaign.

From jfactivist.typepad.com

Tags: obama, mccain, senator harkin, National Forum on Disability Issues

D.A.R.T. Meeting - Fairbanks

2008-07-16T20:34:15Z

(Disability Abuse Response Team)

Date: Wednesday, July 23
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Location: Tanana Chiefs Board Room (6th Floor)
122 First Avenue

Teleconference and other information available by calling Loraine at Access Alaska at 907-479-7940

The DART Team was established in Fairbanks to better assist individuals with disabilities or otherwise vulnerable adults with abuse situations. The DART team is comprised of multiple interested agencies in the interior that can help with intervention in a time of need or safety.

ADA Restoration: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

2008-07-16T18:50:53Z

From the AADP, Questions answered about the ADA Amendments Act of 2008. Read them here.

Tags: ADA, The ADA Amendments Act of 2008, ADA Restoration Act

Historic Presidential Forum Unites Thousands in Disability Community

2008-07-11T22:44:39Z

WASHINGTON, July 10, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ ----Forum to be Held on 18th Anniversary of Landmark Americans with Disabilities Act

Thousands of Americans with disabilities from across the country will join together at The National Forum on Disability Issues, a non-partisan presidential forum organized by the Ohio Disability Vote Coalition (ODVC) and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, July 26, in Columbus, Ohio.

AAPD is the largest cross-disability membership organization in the country. ODVC, a political advocacy collaborative, includes nearly 30 organizations from throughout Ohio that represent the interests of people with disabilities.

The forum will feature time slots for presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain to present their visions for the future of disability policy in America to this influential voting bloc -- more than 40 million people with disabilities are eligible to vote in the U.S. Questions will be posed to the candidates by the forum moderator, news anchor and journalist Judy Woodruff ("The News Hour with Jim Lehrer").

The presidential candidates are invited to address their disability policy positions on employment, healthcare, long-term services and supports, housing, transportation, technology and education -- all vital issues to people with disabilities.

"People with disabilities and our family members represent a huge percentage of the voting population and we respond to candidates who address our issues," said Andrew Imparato, President and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities. "This forum is a golden opportunity for Senators McCain and Obama to speak directly to an important segment of the electorate that can make a difference for either candidate in November."

More than 70 national, regional and state disability-related organizations, veterans groups and individuals are co-sponsoring the forum and will be represented at the forum. A full list of sponsors is available on the AAPD website at http://www.aapd.com.

The forum, the premier disability event of this election cycle, will also be simulcast on the web by Disaboom.com to tens of thousands across the country, many of whom plan to hold viewing parties in their communities. People with disabilities in Ohio unable to attend the forum and without Internet access will be able to participate via a live audio broadcast by Ohio radio reading services.

The forum is also a celebration of the 18th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), landmark civil rights legislation that has helped to transform the lives of the more than 50 million Americans who have disabilities. The forum comes on the heels of the historic June 25 House passage of the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (H.R. 3195), which will overturn four Supreme Court decisions that have inappropriately narrowed the protections of the ADA.

There is no charge to attend The National Forum on Disability Issues on July 26 and it is open to the public, but registration is required. To register, visit http://www.govoter.org/presidential_forum/index.aspx. Questions about registration should be directed to aapdanne@earthlink.net.

The forum will be held at the Conference & Technology Center, First Church of God, 3480 Refugee Rd., Columbus, Ohio.

For more information about the forum visit the AAPD website, http://www.aapd.com.

The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the country's largest cross-disability membership organization, organizes the disability community to be a powerful voice for change - economically, politically, and socially. AAPD was founded in 1995 to help unite the diverse community of people with disabilities, including their family, friends and supporters, and to be a national voice for change in implementing the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). To learn more, visit the AAPD website: http://www.aapd.com.

SOURCE American Association of People With Disabilities

Tags: McCain, Obama, disability, debate

McCain doesn't support Community Choice Act

2008-07-08T18:29:53Z

Members of the Atlantis Community CIL and Denver ADAPT met with the Republican presumptive presidential candidate John McCain at a Town Hall Meeting today. Six members of ADAPT, including teenagers from the Summer Youth Program, sat in the front of the auditorium to listen to McCain's policies for his administration. When he took comments from the audience he handed the microphone to Dawn Russell. She explained the legislation called the Community Choice Act and asked him why he was not signed on. Mr. McCain stated he would not support the legislation. He then offered several poor reasons for his decision and ended by saying we would have to let the voters decide that one. Having recaptured the microphone, he did state he supported the ADA, but had no interest in hearing that the ADA was entirely different from the CCA.

ADAPT encourages you to attend McCain's campaign events and continue to challenge him to support the CCA! Show him disability rights supporters across the USA believe in real choice, believe in CCA and believe he needs to do the same. CCA supports family values, it supports putting control in the hands of the individual instead of Government, it supports states' ability to use limited Medicaid funds for community services which people prefer and which are more cost effective. These are all consistent with Republican values, as well as consistent with American values.

Presumptive Presidential Candidate Barak Obama has signed on as a co-sponsor to the bill already.

Distributed to CIL list at the request of Marsha Katz, Montana ADAPT

Tags: ADAPT, John McCain, Barak Obama, ADA, Community Choice Act, Campaign

Anchorage - DART Alaska

2008-07-03T20:02:37Z

DART Alaska (Disability Abuse Response Team) Community partners meeting will be held at Access Alaska 121 West Fireweed Lane Suite 105 Anchorage, AK July 8th 2008 From 10 to 11 am If you’re interested or you would like more information please contact Mattie Shelton Access Alaska 263-1908 or email her at mshelton@accessalaska.org.