The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has announced that K1 Speed, Inc., a Carlsbad, CA, company, will provide $50,000 and other relief to settle a federal lawsuit charging that the company refused to accommodate an employee with cystic fibrosis and fired him from its facility in Redmond, WA. <p>The Department of Justice has announced the resolution of a disability discrimination lawsuit in which the operator and manager of the Rathbone Retirement Community in Evansville, IN violated the <a href="http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/housing/title8.php">Fair Housing Act</a> by prohibiting the use of motorized wheelchairs and scooters in residents' apartments and in the home's common dining room during meals. </p> <p>Offers a peer-to-peer support for the spouses and partners of people who are chronically ill or who have a disability. Find a support group in <a href="http://www.wellspouse.org/wsa-support-groups-and-state-contacts/sgl-contacts/">your state</a>. </p> Provides services for people with disabilities including early intervention programs for children, life skills and vocational training, independent and community living services and respite programs for families of people with disabilities. Information and referral service for people who are blind or visually impaired, their family members, friends and professional service providers. Offers access to a database of more than 750 records of specialized resources located throughout New York State <p>The official <a href="http://tinyurl.com/lj9fyz">Tech Act</a> program for the state of Ohio, which provides AT services and programs to Ohioans with disabilities. Visit the program's <a href="http://www.atohio.org/devices.html">lending library</a> for a wide variety of assistive technology devices that are available to borrow. </p> Works to enhance the quality of life for all individuals with learning disabilities and their families through advocacy, education, training, service and support of research. Provides an audio reading and news and information service from more than 130 print and online publications for those who have a vision impairment or physical disability. Virginia Voice also broadcasts daily a program of readings of current printed material, including newspapers, magazines, books and publications. <p>Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki has announced the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is taking steps to assist Veterans seeking compensation for <a href="http://www.nationalresourcedirectory.gov/nrd/public/DisplayPage.do?parentFolderId=37697">Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder</a> (PTSD). Under the new rule VA would not require corroboration of a stressor related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity if a VA psychiatrist or psychologist confirms that the stressful experience recalled by a Veteran adequately supports a diagnosis of PTSD and the Veteran's symptoms are related to the claimed stressor. Comments on this <a href="http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-20339.pdf">proposed rule</a> must be received by <strong>October 23, 2009</strong>. </p> <p>IDEAS is a General Services Administration (GSA) event that focuses on partnering industry and education with government to meet the requirements under Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. This year's conference will take place from <strong>October 5-6, 2009</strong> in Washington, DC. <a href="http://ideas2009.com/contact.aspx">Registration</a> for the conference is free. </p> <p>The 2009 National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) poster is now available to <a href="http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/rc/odep.htm">order online</a> at no cost. The theme for this October's NDEAM is <em>Expectation + Opportunity = Full Participation</em>. The poster can also be downloaded in PDF format in <a href="http://www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/ndeam09.pdf">English</a> and <a href="http://www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/ndeam09spn.pdf">Spanish</a>. For more information about employing people with disabilities read the publication <a href="http://tinyurl.com/nxktya">Diversifying Your Workforce--A Four-Step Reference Guide to Recruiting, Hiring, & Retaining Employees with Disabilities</a>. </p> This project trains faculty who teach developmental courses how to integrate Universal Course Design (UCD) strategies into their courses. At the end of this project, 80 community college faculty will have universally designed over 240 developmental courses. As a result, approximately 3,200 students will be enrolled in universally designed courses, including approximately 1,660 students with disabilities. Provides rehabilitation and independent living training, job placement assistance, support groups and other services for people who are blind or visually impaired. <p>If you are a high school senior planning to enroll in a 4-or 5-year college program, or a college sophomore enrolled in a 4-or 5-year college program, looking for career experience in a dynamic environment, apply to the CIA's Undergraduate Scholar Program. Applications will be accepted from <strong>August 1 - October 15, 2009.</strong> </p> <p>Answers to frequently asked questions about workplace privacy and accommodations issues relating to pandemic flu, as well as <a href="http://www.flu.gov/plan/workplaceplanning/guidance.pdf">guidance</a> for employers of all sizes to use as they develop or review plans to respond to 2009 H1N1 influenza now and during the upcoming influenza season. </p> <p>Information on a variety of programs and services provided by the South Carolina <a href="http://dss.sc.gov">Department of Social Services</a> that provide food assistance to families, children and individuals in South Carolina. Includes information on the Summer Food Service Program and the After School Snack Program. </p> <p>New <a href="http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/coveredentities/breachnotificationifr.html">regulations</a> have been issued by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) requiring health care providers, health plans and other entities covered by the <a href="http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/summary/index.html">Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act</a> (HIPAA) to notify individuals when their health information is breached. The regulations require health care providers and other HIPAA covered entities to promptly notify affected individuals of a breach in the privacy of their records, as well as the HHS Secretary and the media in cases where a breach affects more than 500 individuals. </p> <p>This conference, which will take place from <strong>September 21-23, 2009</strong> in Atlanta, GA, will examine the potential of wireless communications technology for improving support and assistance for persons with disabilities before, during and after a natural or manmade disaster. </p> <p>Provides information, support and resources for long-distance caregivers. Find help using the organization's <a href="http://www.cfad.org/directories/index.cfm">service directories</a>. </p> <p>Health & Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has announced more than $25.7 million in grants to increase and improve health and support services at the nation's health centers. Patients receive care at <a href="http://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/">health centers</a> regardless of their ability to pay. The centers offer many forms of medical care including checkups, immunizations for children, dental care and prescription drugs, and mental health and substance abuse services. </p> The Department of Justice has announced a settlement that, pending court approval, will resolve allegations that builders and designers of the Summerland Heights Apartments, in Woodbridge, VA violated the federal Fair Housing Act by failing to make the ground floor units, public use and common use areas accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities. <p>The U.S. Department of Education announced more than $4.5 million in grants to operate 16 special education parent information and training centers in 14 states, including centers for American Indians and military families. Every state has at least one <a href="http://www.taalliance.org/ptidirectory/index.asp">parent center</a> that helps to improve results for children with disabilities. </p> <p>Notice of a proposal in the <a href="http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/other/2009-3/081709d.html">Federal Register</a> to allow states to reserve more administrative funds under Title I, Part A and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to defray data collection costs in the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA), including those related to administering, monitoring and reporting on use of ARRA funds. Title I and IDEA are programs that provide additional educational assistance to academically at-risk students and children with disabilities, respectively. Public comments on the notice are due by <strong>September 16, 2009.</strong> </p> Guide for prospective college students, their parents, high school guidance counselors and others involved with assisting students in finding the right college. The guide has information based on a survey of postsecondary programs serving deaf and hard of hearing students in the United States. <p>The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has announced that CDI Media, a company in Salt Lake City, UT, will pay $65,000 to a former employee whom the business failed to provide reasonable accommodations as his Parkinson's disease worsened. Discrimination based on disabilities, such as Parkinson's disease, is a violation of the <a href="http://www.ada.gov/q%26aeng02.htm">Americans with Disabilities Act</a> (ADA), as is retaliation against an employee for requesting a reasonable accommodation. </p> <p>Provides educational services and resources for the families of children with special needs, including information on a variety of disability-related topics, support networks and a training and events calendar. <a href="http://www.ade.az.gov/ess/eapn/LinkLookup.asp?LinkTypeID=3">Spanish</a> resources are also available. </p> Provides digitally recorded audio textbooks for students with disabilities such as visual impairment or dyslexia. <p>EMForum.org will host a one hour presentation and interactive discussion on <strong>August 26, 2009</strong> starting at Noon ET on a new report issued by the <a href="http://www.ncd.gov">National Council on Disabilities (NCD)</a>, which offers information and advice to assist all levels of government in their work to establish evidence-based policies, programs and practices for people with disabilities. </p>