You are here: Home > Press Room > DisabilityInfo Connection Newsletter > 2007 > February
February
DisabilityInfo Connection
|
In This Issue
February 2007
|
News & EventsDisabilityInfo.gov Introduces Online Press Room President Signs Combating Autism Act of 2006 Access Board to Update 508 Standards and Telecommunications Act Guidelines Federal Agency in Focus |
Hot Topics in HousingDisabilityInfo.gov's New Housing Discrimination Folder HUD Vouchers for People with Disabilities Featured Tools & ResourcesUSDA's Forest Service Guidebooks Tax Incentives for Improving Accessibility for People with Disabilities |
In Your CommunityCouncils on Developmental Disabilities |
|
Welcome to DisabilityInfo Connection, the newsletter of DisabilityInfo.gov. DisabilityInfo.gov, managed by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy, is the federal government's online resource for people with disabilities, employers, job seekers, service providers and many others. This newsletter will keep you informed about new developments relating to DisabilityInfo.gov. It will also offer timely information about the important contributions and initiatives of the 21 federal agencies that support this Web site. - W. Roy Grizzard, Jr., Ed.D., Assistant Secretary for the Office of Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor |
News & Events |
DisabilityInfo.gov Introduces Online Press RoomDisabilityInfo.gov now offers an Online Press Room with the latest information about our site. The online press room contains useful information and statistics, press releases and Frequently Asked Questions. You'll also find ready-to-publish drop-in news briefs and articles that you can print in your own publications or distribute through your listservs, as well as archived editions of DisabilityInfo Connection and print-quality DisabilityInfo.gov logos. Please visit DisabilityInfo.gov's Online Press Room today! President Signs Combating Autism Act of 2006On December 19, 2006, President George W. Bush signed the Combating Autism Act of 2006 into law. This legislation, which serves as an important foundation for our country's efforts to find a cure for autism, includes provisions to help diagnose and treat people with autism spectrum disorders. In creating a national education program about autism for health care providers and the general public, the Act will help people recognize the symptoms of autism, and lead to early identification and intervention. For more information on the Combating Autism Act of 2006 as well as information on other disability laws, visit the Civil Rights section of DisabilityInfo.gov. Visit the Health section of DisabilityInfo.gov for additional resources on autism and other developmental disabilities. Access Board to Update 508 Standards and Telecommunications Act GuidelinesThe Access Board is conducting a review and update of its access standards for electronic and information technology covered by Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, including products and technologies procured by the federal government such as computer hardware and software, Web sites, phone systems, fax machines and copiers. Section 508 was enacted to eliminate barriers in information technology, to make available new opportunities for people with disabilities and to encourage development of technologies that will help achieve these goals. This effort will also address Board guidelines for telecommunications products and equipment covered by Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act. Section 255 requires that telecommunications products and services be accessible to people with disabilities. To lead this effort, the Access Board has organized the Telecommunications and Electronic and Information Technology Advisory Committee to review its standards and guidelines and recommend changes. Information on the committee's meetings and membership is available from the Access Board. For more information on Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act, visit the Technology section of DisabilityInfo.gov. If you would like to subscribe to DisabilityInfo.gov to receive updates on assistive technology topics, please visit this link. |
Federal Agency in Focus |
Department of the InteriorThe Department of the Interior (DOI), the federal agency responsible for America's public lands and resources including national parks and refuges, has taken important steps to address accessibility issues and develop a comprehensive strategy to provide persons with disabilities access to all the programs, activities and services it administers. In January 2007, DOI began offering the Access Pass, part of the new "America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass." The Access Pass provides free lifetime access for citizens with disabilities. This new pass covers recreation opportunities on public lands managed by the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Reclamation, and the Department of Agriculture's Forest Service. DOI's Office of Civil Rights is responsible for developing civil rights rules, regulations and policies to assure compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws. Among its many functions is ensuring nondiscrimination in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance from the department. DOI also offers an Accessible Technology Program that supports employees with disabilities by determining the appropriate assistive technology and ergonomic solutions they need to do their jobs. |
Hot Topics in Housing |
DisabilityInfo.gov's New Housing Discrimination FolderIn a continued effort to provide users with the most up to date and useful information, DisabilityInfo.gov now has a new Housing Discrimination folder on its site. Located in the Housing section, this new folder includes information on how to file a housing discrimination complaint. The folder also offers useful resources including the Fair Housing Booklet, a publication from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that explains the Fair Housing Act and housing rights of people with disabilities and others. For more information about your housing rights, visit Housing Discrimination in the Housing section of DisabilityInfo.gov. If you would like to subscribe to DisabilityInfo.gov to receive updates on housing discrimination, please visit this link. Additional information on laws that protect the housing rights of people with disabilities is also available in the Civil Rights section of DisabilityInfo.gov. HUD's HOPWA ProgramThe Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Office of HIV/AIDS Housing manages the Housing Opportunities for Persons with HIV/AIDS (HOPWA) program. The HOPWA Program was established by HUD to address the specific needs of persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families. Housing assistance and related services funded by HOPWA are a vital part of a comprehensive system of care for people living with HIV/AIDS. HOPWA makes grants to local communities, states and nonprofit organizations for projects that benefit low income persons with HIV/AIDS and their families. For more details on HOPWA and other housing programs, visit the Housing section of DisaiblityInfo.gov. Resources for people living with, or affected by, HIV/AIDS are also available at AIDS.gov, an information gateway to all federal domestic HIV/AIDS information and resources. HUD Vouchers for People with DisabilitiesThe Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers three types of housing vouchers for people with disabilities: mainstream vouchers, designated housing vouchers and certain development vouchers. Families that include a person with a disability and meet the income thresholds may also participate in all aspects of the housing choice voucher program (e.g., tenant-based vouchers, project-based vouchers and homeownership vouchers). For more information on housing assistance visit the Housing section of DisabilityInfo.gov. |
Featured Tools & Resources |
USDA's Forest Service GuidebooksPublic lands offer a wide range of recreation settings and opportunities from highly developed campgrounds to untouched wilderness areas. The Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Forest Service is committed to integrating accessibility into the complete range of recreation opportunities while protecting natural resources and settings so that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors. The Forest Service ensures that all visitors have the right to choose both the type of recreation they want to pursue and the setting in which to pursue it. The Forest Service has developed several guidebooks to support its goal of making recreational facilities and our natural resources accessible to people with disabilities. The Accessibility Guidebook for Outdoor Recreation and Trails offers information on integrating accessibility into planning, design, construction and maintenance of outdoor recreation facilities and trails while maintaining the natural setting. It provides detailed information about accessibility requirements in an easy-to-use format, with photos, illustrations and design tips. For more resources on accessible recreational facilities, sports and fitness visit Recreation in the Community Life section of DisabilityInfo.gov. Tax Incentives for Improving Accessibility for People with DisabilitiesEmployers covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) must meet certain requirements concerning reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities. But many businesses are unaware that several tax incentives are available to help offset the costs of accommodations and improve employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. These benefits include:
For more information about these tax incentives, visit the Employment section of DisabilityInfo.gov. DoD's TRICARE Extended Care Health OptionThe Department of Defense's (DoD) TRICARE, the official health care program for active duty and retirees of the uniformed services, their families, and survivors, now offers the TRICARE Extended Care Health Option (ECHO). TRICARE ECHO replaces the Program for Persons with Disabilities (PFPWD) and offers benefits including rehabilitative services, training to use assistive technology devices and special education services. TRICARE ECHO also provides financial assistance to beneficiaries who qualify based on specific mental or physical disabilities. The TRICARE ECHO Booklet is available to help eligible participants understand their benefits under the program. This brochure highlights eligibility requirements, benefits provided, and associated costs and coverage. Visit the Health section of DisabilityInfo.gov for more information on public and private health care plans. If you would like to subscribe to DisabilityInfo.gov to receive updates on health issues specific to veterans and active military, visit this link. |
In Your Community |
Councils on Developmental DisabilitiesFunded through the Department of Health and Human Service's (HHS) Administration on Developmental Disabilities, the Councils on Developmental Disabilities are located in every state and territory. The Councils work to identify the needs of people with developmental disabilities in their communities, and to develop innovative and cost-effective ways to meet these needs in a manner that respects the rights of people with developmental disabilities and their families. Councils on Developmental Disabilities, which were established through the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, are encouraged to work toward public policies that promote the independence and self-determination of people with developmental disabilities. Their work focuses on education and early intervention, childcare, health, employment, housing, transportation, recreation and other services. Parents of children with developmental or intellectual disabilities should visit the Health section of DisabilityInfo.gov for additional resources. For resources of interest to people with intellectual disabilities and their families, please visit the website of The President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities. You may also subscribe to DisabilityInfo.gov's Health News & Events section by visiting this link, and keep updated on information relating to Children & Youth with disabilities as well. ADA Best Practices Tool Kit for State and Local GovernmentsIn December 2006 the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice issued the first installment of a new technical assistance document designed to assist state and local officials in complying with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This new technical assistance document, which will be released in several installments over the coming months, is called The ADA Best Practices Tool Kit for State and Local Governments. The Tool Kit is designed to educate state and local government officials on how to identify and correct problems that prevent people with disabilities from gaining equal access to state and local government programs and facilities. It will also provide information on how to conduct accessibility surveys of their buildings and facilities to identify and remove architectural barriers. While state and local governments are not required to use the ADA Best Practices Tool Kit, its use is encouraged as one effective means of complying with the requirements of Title II of the ADA. For more information on the ADA, visit the Civil Rights section of DisablityInfo.gov or ADA.gov. Report on Creating Livable CommunitiesThe National Council on Disability (NCD) recently released a report entitled Creating Livable Communities. The report identifies barriers to developing livable communities and explains methods for overcoming these barriers. A livable community is one that provides affordable, appropriate, accessible housing; ensures accessible, affordable, reliable, safe transportation; adjusts the physical environment for inclusiveness and accessibility; provides work, volunteer and education opportunities; ensures access to key health and support services; and encourages participation in civic, cultural, social and recreational activities. The NCD's report highlights several strategies that may be applied to the design and support of livable community principles. These include approaches that have been initiated by federal and state government agencies as well as the private sector. For more information on subjects including independent living, recreation and volunteering, visit the Community Life section of DisablityInfo.gov. |
