NCD Bulletin (Electronic Edition)
A Monthly Publication of the National Council
on Disability (NCD) Lex Frieden, Chairperson
January 2005
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. Please send your editorial
comments to Bulletin editor
Mark S. Quigley (mquigley@ncd.gov)
NCD Celebrating 20 Years as an Independent Federal
Agency, 1984-2004
NCD Holds Social Security Consensus Meeting
On January 26, Virginia Commonwealth University
organized an NCD Consensus Building Conference on Social Security
at the National Press Club. The meeting brought together approximately
100 stakeholders to review seven topic papers examining the evidence-based
practices that support the return (and transition) to work for
social security beneficiaries. Specifically, the papers cover
1) public and private health coverage for social security disability
beneficiaries who work; 2) post-eligibility policies and procedures:
eliminating disincentives to employment in the Social Security
Administration (SSA) benefits programs; 3) SSA’s efforts
to implement the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement
Act; 4) lessons from the foreign experience: how some other countries
deal with barriers to employment of people with disabilities;
5) beneficiary experiences, entitlement, and return to work for
Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security
Income beneficiaries; 6) early intervention and diversion strategies
for stemming the growth in social security disability programs;
and 7) evidence-based practices that promote employment of people
with disabilities.
The conference was aimed at achieving consensus on a prioritized
list of recommendations for social security policy change.
Employment Study RFP
On January 10, NCD published a presolicitation notice on the Federal
Business Opportunities Web site (http://www.fedbizopps.gov/) for
an employment study.
NCD has begun an assertive and systematic review
of both public and private policies and initiatives aimed at
improving the employment of people with disabilities. A primary
building block in the sequential but complementary studies on
employment is NCD’s Social Security/Transitioning
to Work Study, which is examining the evidence-based practices
that promote the return to work (and transition to work) of Social
Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income
program beneficiaries.
The next building block will be this employment study, which will
include the following major components: a) a thorough, systematic
examination or environmental scan of the nexus between employment
and the following areas: transportation; housing; reasonable accommodations;
education; health care; assistive technology; telecommunications;
long-term services and supports; and telecommuting, among other
topics; b) a business advisory committee and public forums to solicit
information and input on employment issues and practices; c) informational
issue briefs that examine the status and impact of existing employment
strategies at the federal, state, and local levels, such as customized
employment, entrepreneurship, telework, supported employment, microbusiness,
e-commerce, and competitive employment; and d) a cohesive final
report with information drawn from the first three components along
with recommendations aimed at improving the employment status of
people with disabilities. Concurrent with the employment study,
NCD will undertake a complementary research initiative on financial
incentives available to enhance the ability of people with disabilities
to live and work independently and in the community of their choice.
The estimated contract period is 12 months. NCD will distribute
its Employment Study Request for Proposals (RFP) on February 4,
2005. Interested parties must submit their responses by March 22,
2005. Copies of the RFP may be requested by mail or picked up on
or after the issue date. All requests must reference the RFP number
and title. For more information, contact Joan Durocher, 1331 F
Street, NW, Suite 850, Washington, DC 20004, jdurocher@ncd.gov.
NCD Provides Disaster Guidance to State Department
On January 11, NCD provided guidance to the Secretary of State
on U.S. assistance with the relief and reconstruction efforts in
the wake of the tsunami devastation in Asia. The United States
has an opportunity to improve the lives of the many citizens with
disabilities in the affected countries, and those who acquire a
disability as a result of the disaster.
It is hard to imagine how anything positive can come
out of a tragedy of this magnitude, but in rebuilding homes, businesses,
and public facilities, there will be an unprecedented opportunity
to make them accessible to people with disabilities, thus empowering
many people to improve their lives by gaining access to schools,
hospitals, and government buildings.
This is not just a laudable goal. The United
States has a responsibility to ensure that the rights of people
with disabilities are addressed in its foreign assistance efforts.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005, Part D (Foreign Operations),
Sec. 579 (d) specifies that, “The Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury,
and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator
shall seek to ensure that the needs of people with disabilities
are addressed, where appropriate, in democracy, human rights, and
rule of law programs, projects and activities supported by the
Department of State, Department of the Treasury, and USAID.” Furthermore,
Section 579 (e), specifies that USAID “shall implement procedures
to require that prospective grantees seeking funding from USAID
specify, when relevant, how the proposed program, project or activity
for which funding is being requested will include protecting the
rights and addressing the needs of persons with disabilities.”
With its inclusive foreign assistance laws, the United States
is well positioned to lead the world in rebuilding the tsunami-affected
countries and demonstrate how to build on the tremendous human
potential of the more than 600 million people worldwide who have
disabilities.
International Watch
On January 6, NCD’s International Watch Federal Advisory
Committee met by conference call to discuss the recent foreign
policy legislation adopted by Congress; an update on the Center
for International Rehabilitation’s Disability Rights Monitoring
Project; and an update from InterAction on the Millennium Challenge
Corporation’s compact submissions and civil society participation.
Minutes are linked at http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/advisory/international/2005/interwatch_01-06-05.htm.
On January 31, NCD staff met with a delegation
from Australia to discuss NCD’s foreign policy work. The
United Nations Ad Hoc Committee meeting is taking place January
24 through February 4, and NCD contractors developed three draft
topic papers for use by delegates. The papers address transportation,
independent living, and political participation.
Legislative Update
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
On January 4, the Personal Responsibility, Work and Family Promotion
Act of 2005 (H.R. 240) was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.
It would reauthorize the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
(TANF) block grant. The bill was referred to the Committee on Ways
and Means, and also referred to the Committees on Energy and Commerce,
Education and the Workforce, Agriculture, and Financial Services.
On January 14, NCD published an update on the reauthorization
of TANF (http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/reauthorizations/tanf/factsummary.htm).
In 1996, the TANF block grant was created to replace Aid to Families
with Dependent Children. Although TANF is not specifically for
persons with disabilities, research indicates that over 40 percent
of TANF recipients have a physical or mental disability or have
a child with a disability.
In its reauthorization of TANF, Congress should
recognize that people with disabilities want to work and should
provide specific supports and services for physical, mental or
health conditions that could enable people to participate more
fully in employment opportunities. People with disabilities who
are on TANF face multiple barriers to employment, including inadequate
transportation and few opportunities to improve educational and
employment skills. In addition to these barriers, families who
have a child with a disability face multiple challenges in leaving
TANF, such as sanctions that do not take into account the disability
and the lack of flexibility in their jobs to meet their children’s needs. NCD’s
2003 TANF report, TANF and Disability-Importance of Supports for
Families with Disabilities in Welfare Reform is available at http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2003/familysupports.htm.
The Family Opportunities Act of 2005
On January 26, the Family Opportunities Act of 2005 (S. 183) was
introduced in the U.S. Senate This bill amends title XIX of the
Social Security Act to allow states to create options for families
who have children with disabilities to buy into Medicaid and pay
on a sliding scale while continuing to work. The bill was referred
to the Senate Committee on Finance.
The Lifetime of Education Opportunities Act of 2005
On January 24, the Lifetime of Education Opportunities
Act of 2005 (S. 9) was introduced in the U.S. Senate. The bill
would improve American competitiveness in the global economy
by improving and strengthening federal education and training
programs. Among other things, this bill reauthorizes the Workforce
Investment Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which contains
NCD’s authorizing
statute. It was referred to the Senate Committee on Finance.
Job Training Improvement Act of 2005
On January 4, the Job Training Improvement
Act of 2005 (H.R. 27) was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The bill would enhance the workforce investment system of the
nation by strengthening one-stop career centers; providing for
more effective governance arrangements; promoting access to a
more comprehensive array of employment, training, and related
services; establishing a targeted approach to serving youth;
and improving performance accountability. Among other things,
this bill also reauthorizes the Workforce Investment Act and
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which contains NCD’s
authorizing statute. The bill was referred to the House Committee
on Education and the Workforce.
NCD Quarterly Meeting
NCD’s next quarterly meeting will take place from 9:00 a.m.– 5:00
p.m., March 9–11, 2005, at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in
Honolulu, Hawaii. This meeting will be open to the public.
The agenda includes Reports from the Chairperson
and the Executive Director; Team Reports; Panel Discussion on Natural
Disasters and Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities;
Panel Discussion on Outdoor Activities for People with Disabilities;
and a Joint Session with the Hawaii Disability and Communications
Board with a Briefing on Consumer-Directed Health Care and Olmstead
Implementation. For more information, contact Mark S. Quigley at
mquigley@ncd.gov.
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