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April
DisabilityInfo Connection
In This Issue
April 2008 |
Welcome to DisabilityInfo Connection, the newsletter of DisabilityInfo.gov. Managed by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy, DisabilityInfo.gov provides people with disabilities a direct connection to the information and resources they need to fully participate in the workforce and in their communities. This newsletter will keep you informed about new developments relating to disability programs, policies and services across the federal government. It also offers timely information about the important initiatives of the 22 federal agencies that are partners to this Web site. — Neil Romano, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy |
News & Events |
2008 New Freedom Initiative Award NominationsU.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao has called upon nonprofit organizations, small businesses, corporations and individuals to submit entries for the 2008 Secretary of Labor's New Freedom Initiative Award. This awards program was developed to recognize innovative efforts in advancing the employment and workplace environment of people with disabilities. The deadline for nominations is May 30, 2008. See the Federal Register notice for complete details. GovBenefits.gov 6th Anniversary WebcastGovBenefits.gov will host a webcast on April 24, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. EST to commemorate its 6th anniversary. This webcast will highlight the site's new features and demonstrate how GovBenefits.gov helps citizens easily access government benefits, including food and nutrition programs, housing and education assistance, and disability and veteran's benefits. Pre-register to watch this webcast at GovBenefits.gov. TEITAC Presents Report on the 508 StandardsOn April 3, 2008 the Telecommunications and Electronic and Information Technology Advisory Committee (TEITAC) delivered its report to the Access Board. The report includes recommendations on updating the Board's Section 508 standards for electronic and information technology and its guidelines for telecommunications products covered by Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act. The complete report is available on the Access Board's Web site. National ADA Symposium & EXPO/Assistive Technology FairThe National ADA Symposium is an annual conference on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and related disability laws that has earned the reputation as the most comprehensive event addressing the ADA. The three-day symposium will take place May 12-14, 2008 in St. Louis, MO, and the U.S. Access Board will hold its annual town meeting during the Symposium. Part of this meeting, which is open to the general public, will focus on airport accessibility, which is the subject of a new Board outreach initiative. The National ADA Symposium is hosted by the National Network of DBTAC-ADA Centers. National Autism Awareness MonthApril is National Autism Awareness Month, and the Learn the Signs, Act Early campaign is issuing a challenge to help "Paint the Country Purple" with activities that help spread the campaign's messages to people in communities across the country. Purple is the first visible color of the color spectrum and the campaign's official color. It represents the importance of monitoring development early in a child's life—the first step toward detecting a developmental delay and helping a child reach his or her full potential. Learn more through this Interactive Tool for Parents and factsheet on autism. |
Federal Agency in Focus |
U.S. Department of Health & Human ServicesThe U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' (HHS) "family of agencies" includes several that play a direct role in promoting the health and independence of people with disabilities. Among these agencies are the Administration for Children and Families (ACF); the Administration on Aging (AoA); the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS); the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA); and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Through these and other HHS agencies, a broad range of programs and services help people with developmental disabilities, older citizens with disabilities, people living with HIV/AIDS and individuals seeking mental health services, and provide answers to questions about Medicare, Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program. Within HHS, the Office on Disability oversees the implementation and coordination of disability programs, policies and special initiatives relating to people with disabilities. |
Hot Topics in Education |
High School/High Tech Guide Reflects Nationwide ProgramsThe High School/High Tech Program (HS/HT) provides opportunities for students with all types of disabilities to explore exciting careers in science, mathematics and technology. Check out the HS/HT Program Guide for tips on developing partnerships, service strategies, curricula and success stories. This information can be used by existing HS/HT programs to improve and expand their programs and by new and developing programs to guide their implementation efforts. The guide is available in both PDF or Word formats. Youth with Disabilities in the Foster Care SystemA report by the National Council on Disability (NCD) examines the unique issues faced by young people with disabilities in the foster care system. Youth with Disabilities in the Foster Care System: Barriers to Success and Proposed Policy Solutions looks at the many educational challenges faced by foster youth, noting that "... 30 to 40 percent of foster youth are in the special education system. Similar to youth with disabilities, students in foster care have lower rates of high school graduation, at 50 percent versus approximately 70 percent for the general population." Another report, Negotiating the Curves Toward Employment: A Guide About Youth Involved in the Foster Care System, details what all youth with disabilities, including those in foster care, need to successfully transition to adulthood and employment. This report is available in PDF or Word formats. Free Publications from the U.S. Department of EducationThe U.S. Department of Education's ED Pubs Web site allows the general public to order publications at no cost. Many of the publications available may be of interest to parents of children with disabilities as well as special educators. Examples of resources available include Tool Kit On Teaching And Assessing Students With Disabilities: Parents' Materials and Transition Of Students With Disabilities To Postsecondary Education: A Guide For High School Educators. For information on school-based preparatory experiences visit the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) Web site. For additional resources see the Education section of DisabilityInfo.gov. |
Featured Tools & Resources |
BESTBEST, which stands for Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool, is any easy way to find out if you may qualify for Social Security benefits. Based on your answers to questions, this tool will list benefits for which you might be eligible and tell you how to apply. BEST is not an application for benefits and you will not be asked for your name or Social Security number. Visit the Benefits section of DisabilityInfo.gov for more information on the eligibility requirements for Social Security disability benefits. Database of Job Candidates with DisabilitiesA free database of more than 1,700 new job candidates with disabilities seeking work in a wide variety of fields is now available to employers. Hiring officials at federal agencies can access this database and conduct independent searches by obtaining a password. Employers in the private sector, state and local government agencies and nonprofit organizations should contact the Employer Assistance and Recruiting Network (EARN) at Voice/TTY: 1-866-327-6669 to access the database. For more information and resources about hiring people with disabilities go to the Employment section of DisabilityInfo.gov. Videos on Assistive TechnologyFor many people, an explanation of how assistive technology applications can provide access to the electronic and information environments is helpful, but experiencing how the technology actually works enhances the learning experience. For this reason the Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP) has developed closed-captioned video demonstrations of voice recognition software, screen magnification software and refreshable Braille technology. These video demonstrations of assistive technologies can be viewed on the CAP Web site. For more information, contact CAP at 703-681-8813, 703-681-0881 (TTY), CAP@tma.osd.mil, or contact CAPTEC at 703-693-5160, 703-693-6189 (TTY), CAPTEC@tma.osd.mil. TARGET Web ConnectTARGET Web Connect is the U.S. Department of Agricultures (USDA) TARGET Center's convenient new method of delivering accessible, interactive educational events live online. Once registered, a customer can access Web Connect from anywhere in the world with an Internet connection and Adobe Flash Player installed. There is no cost to use the service. The TARGET (Technology Accessible Resources Gives Employment Today) Center supports USDA through assistive technology and ergonomic solutions. It is also a demonstration center for accessible microcomputer technologies and reasonable accommodations that support USDA employees nationwide with sight, hearing, speech and mobility disabilities. |
In Your Community |
Defense and Veterans Brain Injury CenterThe Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) serves active duty military, their dependents and veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI) through state-of-the-art medical care, innovative clinical research initiatives and educational programs. DVBIC has clinical care and research programs at three military sites, four Veterans Administration (VA) facilities and two civilian partner programs around the country. In addition, the VA's Polytrauma System of Care brings together physicians from every relevant field to provide individually tailored rehabilitation plans to help patients recover from TBI, amputations, burns and other serious conditions. In January President, Bush signed a law that extends the period of enrollment for health care eligibility for many veterans. See the fact sheet Enhanced Eligibility for Health Care Benefits for more information. More resources on TBI are available through the Brain Injury Association of America as well as the Health section of DisabilityInfo.gov. Summer Camps 2008There are many resources available to help parents find summer camps for their children. Some of these camps are open to all children, while others are especially for those with disabilities. To find out what is available in your community, consult local sources such as your child's teachers, parks and recreation departments, area private schools, religious organizations and fellow parents. For more information on accessible recreational opportunities visit the Community Life section of DisabilityInfo.gov and click on your state. Small Business Development CentersMany job seekers with disabilities are turning to self-employment to meet both their career aspirations and financial goals, and the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) can help them realize those goals. SBDCs offer one-stop assistance to individuals and small businesses in locations around the country. Services include assistance with marketing, production, organization, business planning and feasibility studies. SBDCs also make special efforts to reach minority members of socially and economically disadvantaged groups, veterans, women and people with disabilities. For more information on small business ownership visit the Self-Employment section of DisabilityInfo.gov or START-UP USA and the Job Accommodation Network's Small Business and Self-Employment Service. Support for CaregiversInformation about caregiver support programs in your state, including those funded through the National Family Caregiver Support Program, Aged/Disabled Medicaid waivers and state-funded programs that have a caregiver-specific focus, is available in the Health section of DisabilityInfo.gov. Additional resources are also available from the Administration on Aging's Caregiver Resource Room. For additional community-based resources in your state visit the Community Life section of DisabilityInfo.gov and click on your state. |
Grants & Funding |
Vocational Rehabilitation Services Projects for American Indians with DisabilitiesThis program provides vocational rehabilitation (VR) services to American Indians with disabilities who reside on or near federal or State reservations, consistent with their individual strengths, priorities and concerns. The goal of the projects is to prepare people for gainful employment, including self-employment, telecommuting or business ownership. The complete grant announcement is available in the Federal Register. The application deadline is May 5, 2008. FY '08 Justice and Mental Health Collaboration ProgramThis program works to increase public safety through innovative collaboration for individuals with mental illness who come into contact with the criminal or juvenile justice systems. The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is seeking applications from eligible applicants seeking to plan, implement or expand an adult or juvenile collaboration program. Applicants are limited to states, units of local government, Indian tribes and tribal organizations. The application deadline is May 6, 2008. Read the complete funding announcement on Grants.gov. Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain InjuryThe Defense Center of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is soliciting proposals for studies on complementary and alternative medicine approaches to promote psychological health and healing of TBI among service members. This call for proposals focuses on a holistic approach for trauma spectrum disorders, including patients with TBI and/or post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety and/or substance abuse. The complete announcement is available on Grants.gov, or may be downloaded in PDF format. The deadline for submission of proposals is May 15, 2008. Projects With Industry (PWI) ProgramThe PWI program creates and expands employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities through projects that identify competitive job and career opportunities, create practical settings for job readiness and training programs and provide training, job placement and career advancement services. Eligible applicants include employers, nonprofits, designated state units, labor unions, community rehabilitation program providers, trade associations, Indian tribes and faith-based and community organizations. The deadline for transmittal of applications is May 27, 2008. Read the complete funding announcement in the Federal Register. |
Looking for help or resources in your community? Just visit any of the nine subject areas (Employment, Education, Housing, etc.) across the top of DisabilityInfo.gov’s Home page, and then click on the state map. Help spread the word about DisabilityInfo.gov. Download and share this factsheet, also available in HTML format. If you would like to subscribe to other free government e-mail newsletters visit USA.gov. |
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