John R. Vaughn, Chairperson
March 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 Research Opportunity

On March 22, NCD posted a prerelease notice for a study on The Current State of Health Care for Americans with Disabilities (http://www.ncd.gov/research_opportunity/032207prerelease.html). Application materials will be made available on April 23, 2007.

In the course of monitoring the impact of the ADA, NCD has learned that Americans with disabilities do not have equal access to quality health care and health promotion services, due in part to a lack of ADA implementation and enforcement in health care facilities, as well as to inadequate access to health insurance, deficiencies in health care coverage, and inadequate training of health care professionals.

The U.S. health care delivery system is touted by many to have 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 with disabilities have inadequate or no access to health care.

The lack of access to high quality health care can be particularly problematic for service members and veterans with disabilities, women with disabilities, and individuals with communication disabilities, such as people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, people who are blind, people who have speech impairments, or people with intellectual disabilities. The consequences of these problems often are far-reaching, leading to unemployment, poverty, homelessness, the development of secondary health conditions, and a shortened life span.

NCD seeks to enter into a Cooperative Agreement with entities that have the knowledge and experience to conduct a study of the current state of health care for Americans with disabilities, with a particular focus on service members and veterans with disabilities, women with disabilities, and individuals with communication disabilities. Partnerships and collaborative efforts are encouraged to ensure that appropriate expertise is brought to bear on this complex project involving diverse stakeholders. Input must be gathered from individuals with disabilities, health care providers, and health insurers. An NCD report blending a similar mix of perspectives can be viewed in The Current State of Transportation for People with Disabilities in the United States (June 2005) at http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2005/current_state.htm.

UN Convention Update

On March 30, 2007, more than 81 Member States and the European Community signed the United Nations treaty on the rights of people with disabilities. The treaty signing ceremony was a record for the first day of signature of any Convention. It requires countries to guarantee for people with disabilities freedom from exploitation and abuse, while protecting rights they already have such as ensuring voting rights for people who are blind and providing wheelchair-accessible buildings. Jamaica was the first country to go beyond endorsement and actually ratify the Convention. To enter into force, the treaty needs 19 more countries to ratify. Forty-four countries also signed the Optional Protocol to the Convention, which will give individuals recourse to an expert committee on the rights of people with disabilities when all national options have been exhausted. Addressing the gathering, General Assembly President Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa described the adoption of the Convention as “a historic event not only for persons with disabilities, but also for the promotion of the human rights agenda at the United Nations.”  Earlier this month, NCD encouraged the United States to sign the treaty. To access the letter to the White House, please see: http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/correspondence/2007/president_03-05-07.htm.

Youth with Disabilities in Foster Care

NCD is conducting a study on youth with disabilities in foster care. On March 14, NCD and the American Youth Policy Forum held a policy discussion at the Institute for Educational Leadership. Participants included stakeholders at the national and local level. The discussion included the systems interacting with youth with disabilities in foster care including the educational system; mental health system; workforce, child welfare, and juvenile justice systems; the issues affecting this population; and potential solutions, including strategic collaborations. NCD expects to release a report this summer.

Social Security Update

NCD presented written testimony for the record to the Subcommittee on Social Security of the House Committee on Ways and Means regarding Social Security disability backlogs.

The testimony contained recommendations on the Social Security Administration’s disability backlogs from NCD’s report, The Social Security Administration’s Efforts to Promote Employment for People with Disabilities: New Solutions for Old Problems (http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2005/ssa-promoteemployment.htm).

The entire testimony can be found at http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/testimony/2007/testimony_02-14-07.htm.

Global Technology Forum

NCD’s chairperson, John R. Vaughn and NCD’s director of research and technology, Martin Gould, participated in the first Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs (G3ict) Global Forum on March 26, 2007, at UN Headquarters in New York. A flagship partnership initiative of the United Nations Global Initiative for ICT and Development, G3ict is headed by W2i, the Wireless Internet Institute in cooperation with the Secretariat for the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). John R. Vaughn chaired the panel on “Identifying core areas of opportunity to foster greater accessibility of ICTs for persons with disabilities.” This panel examined the potential for ICT industries of developing inclusive products and services from a market perspective. Strategies that can best support the development of accessible and assistive features for ICT products were also examined, including through Universal Design approaches. Core areas of opportunities were identified as well as specific funding and R&D resources that industry could benefit from. Martin Gould served on the panel on “Raising the challenge for a more accessible information society: case studies and perspectives from persons with disabilities.” This panel examined the pervasive impact of ICTs on all aspects of contemporary life from the perspective of persons living with disabilities. Systematic research of accessibility gaps among common ICT products was presented, as well as hands-on examples of good practices and challenges covering the workplace, home, media, e-government, and public services applications.

Future Quarterly Meetings

NCD’s spring quarterly board meeting will be held April 16–17 at the Crowne Plaza Atlanta—Buckhead, Atlanta, Georgia. The agenda will include among other things, panel discussions on livable communities/best practices and emergency preparedness.

According to NCD chairperson John R. Vaughn, “We believe it is vital that NCD hear from disability communities around the country on what works and what does not for people with disabilities. We are delighted to have the opportunity to visit Atlanta and learn first hand about the experiences of people with disabilities from Georgia. Please save the date and do not miss this opportunity to meet NCD board members and staff and offer your comments during the public comment sessions.”

“We also are having a special reception for the disability community at the hotel on Monday evening from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. This reception will provide another great opportunity for us to meet you and hear your thoughts on the future,” Vaughn concluded.

Chairperson John R. Vaughn’s invitation to the Atlanta disability community is available at http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/quarterly/march28-2007.htm.

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

NCD’s fall quarterly board meeting will be held September 17–19 at the Hyatt Regency Boston, Boston, Massachusetts.

These meetings are open to the public. People with disabilities are encouraged to attend and participate in the public comment segments of the meetings that now occur at all NCD quarterly board meetings.

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