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July
DisabilityInfo Connection
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In This Issue
July 2007
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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 Americans 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 contributions and initiatives of the 22 federal agencies that are partners to this Web site. — Karen M. Czarnecki, Acting Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy |
News & Events |
17th Anniversary of the ADA: A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America"NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim July 26, 2007, as a day in celebration of the 17th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act." For more information about the ADA visit ADA.gov or the Civil Rights section of DisabilityInfo.gov. DisabilityInfo.gov Unveils New State and Local Resource MapDisabilityInfo.gov has a new feature on the site, a State and Local Resources map, to make it easier for visitors to find information in the states and communities where they live. For more information read the press release by clicking here. To go to the State and Local Resources map, choose one of the nine subject tabs — benefits, civil rights, community life, education, employment, health, housing, technology or transportation — at the top of any DisabilityInfo.gov page. Click on the State and Local Resources map on the right-hand side bar, and then select one or more states. You'll be directed to a wealth of information on local programs and services. To subscribe to receive e-mail alerts on new information in your state go to this link to update your subscriber preferences. DisabilityInfo.gov Welcomes 22nd Federal Agency PartnerDisabilityInfo.gov is honored to officially welcome the Corporation for National and Community Service (Corporation) as its 22nd federal agency partner. The Corporation joins the other federal partners in providing guidance to ensure that DisabilityInfo.gov continues as the key online resource for people with disabilities. "We are very happy to welcome the Corporation to the DisabilityInfo.gov team," said Karen M. Czarencki, the U.S. Department of Labor's Acting Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy. "Now a collaborative effort among 22 federal agencies, this Web site is even better equipped to offer people with disabilities the information and resources they need to pursue their personal and professional ambitions." Established in 1993, the Corporation works to engage Americans of all ages and backgrounds in voluntary service opportunities to their communities and country. The Corporation oversees the AmeriCorps, Senior Corp and Learn and Serve America volunteer programs, and developed the National Service Inclusion Project (NSIP) to increase the participation of individuals with disabilities in national service programs. White House Appoints New Associate Director for Domestic PolicyDisabilityInfo.gov welcomes Major Daniel M. Gade as the new Associate Director for Domestic Policy for the White House's Domestic Policy Council. Major Gade is responsible for disability and healthcare issues, as well as matters relating to active military personnel and veterans. Major Gade is a graduate of the United States Military Academy and joins the White House from the Department of Defense. An Army officer, he is the first person in this position to be on active military duty since the post was created in 2001. During his service under Operation Iraqi Freedom, he was decorated for valor and received two Purple Hearts. Major Gade is the first Associate Director for Domestic Policy to have acquired a disability as the result of wartime injuries. |
Federal Agency in Focus |
EEOCThe U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has championed equal opportunity in employment since its inception, shortly after the signing of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The EEOC enforces section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in the federal sector; and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, which protects qualified individuals with disabilities from employment discrimination in the private sector and in state and local governments. Under Executive Order No. 12067 the EEOC is responsible for providing leadership and coordination among all the federal agencies involved in equal employment opportunity issues. The Commission has also created the LEAD (Leadership for the Employment of Americans with Disabilities) Initiative to address the declining number of employees with severe disabilities in the federal workforce. For more information on the EEOC and the laws it enforces to protect the rights of people with disabilities, visit the Civil Rights section of DisabilityInfo.gov. |
Hot Topics in Civil Rights |
ADA Best Practices Tool Kit for State and Local GovernmentsThe Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice has issued new installments of The ADA Best Practices Tool Kit for State and Local Governments. This Tool Kit helps state and local officials improve compliance with Title II of the ADA in their programs, services, activities and facilities. The Tool Kit teaches state and local government officials how to identify and fix problems that prevent people with disabilities from gaining equal access to state and local government programs and services. It also educates state and local officials on how to conduct accessibility surveys of their buildings to identify and remove architectural barriers to access. For more information about the ADA, visit the Civil Rights section of DisabilityInfo.gov. Questions and Answers About Cancer in the Workplace and the Americans with Disabilities ActThe U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) offers a helpful fact sheet that answers questions about cancer in the workplace and how it applies to the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). According to the EEOC, approximately 40 percent of the more than one million Americans diagnosed with some form of cancer each year are working-age adults and nearly 10 million Americans have a history of cancer. Questions and Answers about Cancer in the Workplace and the Americans with Disabilities Act is the fourth in a series of question-and-answer documents addressing specific disabilities in the workplace. It describes how the ADA may apply to job applicants and employees who are living with cancer. This guide explains when cancer is considered a disability under the ADA, when an employer may ask an applicant or employee questions about his or her condition, how to treat voluntary disclosures and the types of reasonable accommodations employees with cancer may require. For more information about the ADA and other employment laws, visit the Civil Rights section of DisabilityInfo.gov. Demystifying the Rehabilitation ActThe U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) recently developed a fact sheet to help faith-based and community-based organizations understand their rights and responsibilities as grantees under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504). This new fact sheet, entitled Demystifying the Rehabilitation Act: What Faith-Based and Community Organizations Need to Know About Using Federal Financial Assistance to Serve People with Disabilities, answers basic questions about Section 504 and includes resources to help organizations work with young people and adults with disabilities. Section 504 prohibits recipients of federal financial assistance from discriminating against an individual because of a disability, and requires them to take certain positive actions to "level the playing field" for people with disabilities. Under the law, "financial assistance" includes more than just monetary aid. It also includes donations of items, services, or free or discounted use of government space or property. For more information on Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and other laws that protect people with disabilities, visit the Civil Rights section of DisabilityInfo.gov. |
Featured Tools & Resources |
Fact Sheets for Mental Health Care Providers on Treating PTSDThe National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (NCPTSD) within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) works to improve the clinical care and well-being of America's veterans through research, education and training in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Its Web site features a series of fact sheets that provide information for mental health care providers on PTSD. In addition, the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy is working closely with several other federal agencies to address the personal and employment needs of service members with physical and mental disabilities. For more information on the causes and treatment of PTSD, visit the Mental Health section of DisabilityInfo.gov. New DOI Bureau of Land Management Accessibility Program Web SiteThe U.S. Department of Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) now features a Web page dedicated to its Accessibility Program. This effort demonstrates BLM's commitment to providing the highest level of access to its facilities, programs, services and activities for persons with disabilities. The program's activities center on using Universal Design principles in the planning, construction and renovation of BLM's buildings and facilities. It also evaluates the accessibility of existing outdoor recreation sites to identify areas for corrective action. Visit Community Life/Outdoor Recreation for more recreational resources. National Support for the Reuse of Assistive TechnologyThe U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) offers an informational brochure, available in both text and .pdf formats, about assistive technology (AT) reuse programs. Reuse of AT is emerging as an important way to make AT more available. Reuse involves device exchange programs in which a "seller" and a "buyer" are connected directly with each other; device recycling programs in which an organization accepts donated AT items and stores them until new owners are found; or device refurbishment programs, which provide the additional service of fixing or customizing used AT devices before the new owner receives them. Because used AT is generally more affordable than new technology, if not free, reuse programs help the many people with disabilities who may not be able to secure the AT they need. Additional resources on AT can be found in the Technology section of DisabilityInfo.gov. |
In Your Community |
State Protection and Advocacy Agencies & Client Assistance ProgramsState protection and advocacy agencies (P&As) work to protect the rights of people with disabilities. They provide individuals with disabilities free assistance to ensure that their rights to education, employment opportunities, public services and public accommodations are not violated. Each state has an organization that acts as the P&A and provides services including legal representation and advocacy. P&As also provide education and training for advisory councils, volunteers, service providers and the general public. Client Assistance Programs (CAP) provide information and assistance to individuals seeking or receiving vocational rehabilitation (VR) services under the Rehabilitation Act, including assistance in pursuing administrative, legal and other solutions to problems they may experience. For more information on P&As and CAP programs and other legal resources in your state, visit the State and Local Civil Rights Resources section of DisabilityInfo.gov. Regional DBTACsThere are ten regional Disability & Business Technical Assistance Centers (DBTACs) around the country that provide information, training and technical assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to employers, people with disabilities and others. The centers offer local businesses and disability, governmental, rehabilitation and other professionals resources on ADA issues and accessible information technology. The programs in each region vary, but all centers offer technical assistance, education and training and information and referral services. For more information on DBTACs and other ADA technical assistance resources, visit the State and Local Civil Rights Resources section of DisabilityInfo.gov. HUD in Your StateThe U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has state resources Web pages for all 50 states as well as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These state specific pages provide information on housing topics such as fair housing rights and regulations, home ownership, affordable rentals and contact information for local HUD offices. For more information on housing resources in your community, visit the State and Local Housing Resources section of DisabilityInfo.gov. |
Grants & Funding |
Model Demonstration Projects to Improve the Postsecondary and Employment Outcomes of Youth with DisabilitiesAn estimated $2.2 million is being made available to state vocational rehabilitation agencies for demonstration projects. The purpose of the Special Demonstration Programs is to provide financial assistance to expand and improve the delivery of rehabilitation and other services for individuals with disabilities. The application deadline is August 6, 2007. Additional education-related grants and funding opportunities are available through the Department of Education's Web site and the Grants & Funding section of DisabilityInfo.gov. Department of Defense Traumatic Brain Injury Concept AwardThe purpose of this cooperative agreement grant is to spark new ideas, innovative technologies and ground-breaking concepts that will drive the field of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) research forward. Ideas that incorporate several disciplines are encouraged, as are research proposals involving collaborations among Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions, industry, the military services, the Department of Veterans Affairs and other federal government agencies. The application deadline is August 16, 2007. Information on additional health-related grants is available in the Health section of DisabilityInfo.gov. Funding to Increase Employment and Economic Independence for Adults with DisabilitiesDOL's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has announced the availability of up to $2.35 million to fund a single cooperative agreement to establish a National Technical Assistance and Research Center to Promote Leadership for Increasing Employment and Economic Independence for Adults with Disabilities. The application deadline is August 20, 2007, and the full announcement may be downloaded here. Information on more employment-related grants is available in the Employment section of DisabilityInfo.gov. |
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