John R. Vaughn, Chairperson
January 2007

The Bulletin, which is free of charge and at NCD’s award-winning Web site (www.ncd.gov), brings you the latest issues and news affecting people with disabilities. To subscribe to the new NCD listserv, go to http://listserv.access.gpo.gov, click on Online mailing list archives, select NCD-NEWS-L, click on Join or leave the list, then complete the short subscription form. Please send your editorial comments to Bulletin editor Mark S. Quigley (mquigley@ncd.gov).

NCD Conducts San Diego Meeting

On January 31, NCD completed its quarterly meeting at the Town and Country Resort and Convention Center in San Diego, California. The San Diego disability community turned out in record numbers to take part in the meeting, which included special presentations and panel discussions.

Special guest speakers were Ollegario D. Cantos, III, Associate Director for Domestic Policy, The White House; Dinah Cohen, Director, U.S. Department of Defense, Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program; and Tammy Duckworth, Director, Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs.

Veterans Panel

NCD hosted a veterans program at its quarterly meeting. The purpose of the program was to enable NCD members to learn from veterans with disabilities, particularly service members returning from the current conflict, about the programs available to assist them as they transition to life with a disability, and whether those programs are meeting their needs. Veterans with disabilities returning from the current conflict differ from those in prior wars in that many are electing to remain in the service after rehabilitation. This is feasible due in part to advances in assistive technology that make it possible for people with disabilities to perform a wide range of jobs, and in part to progress in attitudes toward disability. Assistive technology is readily available to disabled service members while they are enlisted, but can be difficult or impossible to obtain once they leave the service. The same is true of quality health care. For disabled service members who do not elect to, or are not able to, remain in the service after rehabilitation, transition services are often inadequate, unavailable, or difficult to learn about and access.

Panelists were Sherman Gillums, Jr., National Service Officer, Cal-Diego Paralyzed Veterans of America; Colonel John Folsom, Founder and Director, Wounded Warriors; and Michael McPherson, Protection and Advocacy Inc., Peer/Self Advocacy Unit, Southern California Coordinator.

Livable Communities Panel

NCD continued its livable communities theme with a panel presentation in San Diego, related to its Creating Livable Communities report (http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2006/livable_communities.htm).

Panelists were Cyndi Jones, Director and Principal Investigator, The Center for an Accessible Society, and What’s Next? Mentoring Program for Young People with Physical Disabilities, funded by the U.S. Department of Education; Betty Bacon, former Disability Programs Coordinator, Office of Diversity, and former Director, Disabled Student Services; and Louis Frick, Executive Director, Access to Independence.

Foster Care Youth Panel

NCD is exploring the policy issues surrounding foster care youth with disabilities. NCD has contracted with the American Youth Policy Forum (AYPF) to conduct this research. As part of this study, NCD held a panel discussion at its San Diego board meeting to explore several issues surrounding this vulnerable population in terms of demographics, services available, and laws in place to improve services for foster youth with disabilities in the United States. Discussion included promising practices in child welfare and placement, as well as education, workforce, and transition issues.

Panelists for this informative panel were Betsy Brand, Director, AYPF; Caroline Christodoulidis, Program Associate, AYPF; Barry Fox, Chief, Residential Services, San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency; Judy Steet Borchert, Associate Chief of Case Management Services, San Diego Regional Center; Debbie Davies, Team Leader, Forensic & Medical Services, and Lead Forensic Interviewer, Chadwick Center for Children and Families; Patty Boles, Foster/Adoptive Parent and Executive Director, Straight From the Heart, Inc.; Richard A. Devylder, Deputy Director, Independent Living and External Affairs, California Department of Rehabilitation; Michelle Lustig, Coordinator, San Diego County Office of Education, Foster Youth Services; Terri Linehan, Program Diagnostic Resource Teacher, Secondary ILS, PACE, San Diego Unified School District; Jerry Hobbs, Teacher, Special Education, Special Day Class, Licensed Children's Institutions, San Diego Unified Schools; and Marilyn Stewart, Director, YES Transition Network, ACCESS, Inc.

NCD to Study Vocational Rehabilitation

NCD is slated to begin an assessment of the implementation of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, authorizes the Department of Education’s Vocational Rehabilitation program, which provides federal funds to help persons with disabilities become employed, more independent, and integrated into the community. Most of the federal funds are passed to state vocational rehabilitation agencies that directly provide services such as guidance, counseling, and job placement, as well as purchase services such as therapy and training from other providers. Now, perhaps more than ever, effective vocational rehabilitation (VR) programs are necessary. Those responsible for decisions about the state-federal VR programs need information about how people with disabilities are being served and what works. Individuals with disabilities are more likely to be unemployed or living in poverty than are those without disabilities. But many individuals, especially those with severe disabilities, are also in need of education, skill training, and other assistive services to prepare them to take advantage of work opportunities.

NCD to Study Health Care

The U.S. health care delivery system is touted by many as having outstanding providers, facilities, and technology. Many Americans enjoy easy access to care. However, not all Americans have full access to high-quality health care. And too many Americans, including Americans with disabilities, have inadequate or no access to health care. In 1999, Congress directed the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to produce an annual report, starting in 2003, to track “prevailing disparities in health care delivery as it relates to racial factors and socioeconomic factors in priority populations.” Although the emphasis is on disparities related to race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status, this directive includes a charge to examine disparities in “priority populations”—groups with unique health care needs or issues that require special focus.

In 2003, the first National Healthcare Disparities Report (NHDR), a comprehensive national overview of disparities in health care among racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups in the general U.S. population and among priority populations, was released. In 2004, the second NHDR, building upon the 2003 report, was released. In the 2004 report, a second critical goal of the report was developed: tracking the nation’s progress toward eliminating health care disparities. The 2004 report highlights three key themes for policymakers, clinicians, health system administrators, and community leaders who seek to use this information to improve health care services for all Americans: (a) disparities are pervasive; (b) improvement is possible; and (c) gaps in information exist, especially for specific conditions and populations. Other than its focus on children with special health care needs, however, the report provides little information about health care disparities and Americans with disabilities.

To ensure that millions of Americans with disabilities are not left out of this critical research effort and related federal policy-making efforts, NCD is interested in conducting research to analyze the history of federal efforts in health care as it relates to Americans with disabilities and to review efforts to enhance access to coverage and care through the private sector.

Future Quarterly Meetings

NCD’s spring quarterly meeting will be held April 16–17 at the Crowne Plaza Atlanta—Buckhead, Atlanta, Georgia.

NCD’s summer quarterly meeting will be held July 24–26 at the Crowne Plaza Chicago Metro, Chicago, Illinois.

Both hotels are accessible and reachable by public transportation. These meetings are open to the public. People with disabilities are encouraged to attend and participate in the Public Comment segments of the meetings.

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Mark S. Quigley
Director of Communications
National Council on Disability
1331 F Street, NW Suite 850
Washington, DC 2000