News & Events
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National Forum on Disability Issues Takes Place Today, September 28
Posted: 09/28/12 to Community Life
The National Council on Aging is co-sponsoring a free, public forum on September 28, 2012 from 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. in Columbus OH. It will feature the 2012 presidential candidates and candidates for the U.S. Senate seat from Ohio to give their positions on a variety of disability issues, including those affecting older adults. Questions are expected to focus on issues such as employment, health care, long-term services and supports, education, transportation, housing and research. You can register to watch the forum online.
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EEOC Sues Construction Products Company for Firing Employee with Bipolar Disorder
Posted: 09/27/12 to Civil Rights
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has charged Dayton Superior Corporation with disability discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The employee who worked in the company's Braselton, GA facility had a bad reaction to medication prescribed for her bipolar disorder. Dayton required the employee to take a drug test and suspended her from work pending the results of the test. When the results showed only the medication to treat her disability, she was fired.
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EEOC Sues Health Care Company for Taking Back Job Offers to Applicants with Disabilities
Posted: 09/27/12 to Civil Rights
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has charged Aurora Health Care, operating in Wisconsin and Illinois, with disability discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The company took back employment offers to two job applicants after it learned that they had disabilities, which they disclosed during a medical exam. The EEOC is requesting the company to change its practice of disability discrimination.
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National Council on Disability (NCD) Releases Report on Rights of Parents with Disabilities & Their Children
Posted: 09/27/12 to Civil Rights
The NCD has released, "Rocking the Cradle: Ensuring the Rights of Parents with Disabilities and Their Children,” a report that provides a comprehensive view of the issues and reasons that support and prevent people with disabilities from having families. The report describes the discrimination faced by parents with disabilities and their children in the court and service systems. It also offers state and federal legal recommendations to correct the discrimination faced by American parents.
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EEOC Sues Nursing Home for Refusing to Provide Accommodation to Employee with Back Injury
Posted: 09/27/12 to Civil Rights
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has charged Silvercrest Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in New York with disability discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The company fired an employee after she failed to submit a request for medical leave on Silvercrest's preferred form. The employee's request was not acknowledged and she was fired. The EEOC is requesting a ruling that Silvercrest violated the ADA.
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EEOC Sues Medical Center for Refusing Accommodation to Employee with Neuralgia
Posted: 09/27/12 to Civil Rights
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has charged Audrain Medical Center in Mexico, MO with disability discrimination for refusing to provide a reasonable accommodation and then firing a long-term employee with neuralgia. Refusing to grant a reasonable accommodation to an individual with a disability violates the Americans with Disabilities Act, unless granting that accommodation would create an undue hardship for the employer.
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Hiring People with Disabilities: The Employer's Point of View - October 10
Posted: 09/26/12 to Employment
This Work Incentive Seminar Event webinar will be held on October 10, 2012 from 3 - 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The webinar is for people who receive Social Security disability benefits and who want to learn how the Ticket to Work program can help them earn money and become financially independent. You'll also learn about writing a resume, job interview tips, whether or not to discuss your disability with a potential employer and tips for on the job success. Register online or call 1-866-968-7842 (V) or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY/TDD).
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University of Kansas Awarded Grant for National Center to Help Students with Disabilities Learn in Inclusive Settings
Posted: 09/26/12 to Education
The U.S. Department of Education has awarded a $4.9 million grant to the University of Kansas to create a national center to help students with disabilities learn in an inclusive center with their peers who do not have disabilities. The Technical Assistance Center for Inclusive School-Wide Reform will share information with educators and other persons on research and practices in educating students with disabilities in regular school classes.
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Vanderbilt University Awarded Grant for New Center on Developing Coursework for Students with Disabilities
Posted: 09/26/12 to Education
The U.S. Department of Education has awarded a $1.5 million grant to Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN to create a national center to develop coursework and teacher training materials to help students with disabilities. The National Center for Development of Coursework and Training Modules to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities will provide national resources for educators.
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October Is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)
Posted: 09/26/12 to Employment
Held each October, NDEAM is a national campaign that raises awareness about disability employment issues and celebrates the many contributions of America's workers with disabilities. This year's theme is "A Strong Workforce is an Inclusive Workforce: What Can YOU Do?" Get NDEAM resources, download or order the NDEAM poster, and learn how you can help raise awareness about the importance of a more inclusive America, one where every person is recognized for his or her abilities.
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AAPD Hearne Leadership Awards Program - Deadline November 5
Posted: 09/25/12 to Community Life
The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) will be awarding two individuals $10,000 each to help them continue their commitment to the disability community and connect their work with AAPD’s national outreach. The winners will meet national disability leaders at the AAPD Leadership Gala in Washington, DC in March 2013. Application deadline is November 5, 2012.
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Job Opening for Trainer/Outreach Specialist at New England ADA Center - Apply by October 28
Posted: 09/25/12 to Employment
There is a job opening for an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Trainer/Information and Outreach Specialist for the New England ADA Center. This person will hold trainings on all of the Titles of the ADA, provide ADA technical assistance, capacity building and outreach, and staff trade shows and conferences. Application deadline is October 28, 2012. Read the full job description in Word or PDF format.
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EARN Holding Free Webinars on Employing People with Disabilities
Posted: 09/25/12 to Employment
The Employer Assistance and Resource Network (EARN) will be hosting four weekly webinars during National Disability Employment Awareness Month on Thursdays in October from 2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Find descriptions of the webinars, choose those you want to participate in and register online.
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Request for Proposals for a National Center for Mobility Management - Application Deadline September 28
Posted: 09/24/12 to Transportation
The Federal Transit Administration is accepting proposals to fund a National Center for Mobility Management (NCMM). The NCMM will work to improve the management coordination of federal resources for transportation, especially for people with disabilities, older adults and people with lower incomes. Application deadline is September 28, 2012. This information is also in PDF format.
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EEOC Wins Summary Judgment Verdict against Company that Provides Services to People with Disabilities
Posted: 09/22/12 to Civil Rights
A federal judge has ruled in favor of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's (EEOC) claim against Creative Networks of Phoenix of disability discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The company, which provides services to people with disabilities, failed to provide reasonable accommodations for an applicant who has a hearing impairment. The case will go to trial on the issues of damages and legal changes that the company will have to make.
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Education Department Awards Grants to Prepare Graduate Students for Leadership in Special Education
Posted: 09/22/12 to Education
The U.S. Department of Education has awarded $3.1 million in grants to institutions to prepare graduate students for leadership positions in special education and related services. The grants are to prepare doctoral and post-doctoral students to fill faculty positions in special education and early intervention. They will also train scholars to become supervisors of personnel providing direct services to infants and children with disabilities.
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United Spinal Joins Disability Gas Coalition to Improve Gas Station Accessibility
Posted: 09/22/12 to Community Life
United Spinal Association has joined the Paralyzed Veterans of America to form the Disability Gas Coalition, which is working to get assistance at the gas pumps for people with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires assistance with pumping gas when there is more than one employee on duty. However, people who use wheelchairs, Veterans with disabilities and other people with disabilities can't always get this help at gas stations.
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Seven States Receive Funding to Improve Education, Training & Employment for People with Disabilities
Posted: 09/22/12 to Employment
The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded $20.7 million to seven states under the Disability Employment Initiative. The initiative helps to improve education, training and employment opportunities for youth and adults with disabilities who are unemployed, underemployed and/or receiving Social Security disability benefits. The grants support several workforce and disability service systems in each state to help people with disabilities find jobs in the public workforce system.
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New Study Urges Improved Developmental Screening for Hispanic Kids
Posted: 09/21/12 to Health
A new study in the journal "Autism" suggests that Hispanic children with developmental delays (DD) often are undiagnosed. The study raises concern that Hispanic parents may not have access to accurate information on developmental milestones and the importance of early screening and treatment. Investigators found that of the Hispanic kids in the study, 6.3 percent had signs of DD compared with 2.4 percent of non-Hispanics.
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GAO Reports on Challenges & Progress on How SSA Determines Disability
Posted: 09/21/12 to Benefits
This is a report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) testimony on the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) efforts to modernize its disability determination criteria. One GAO finding is that SSA needs to consider not only the person’s medical condition, but also whether technology and accommodations on the job may increase a person's ability to work.
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New Classroom Guides, Video, Teach Young Workers about Workplace Discrimination
Posted: 09/20/12 to Civil Rights
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has released a video and classroom guides to educate working-age students about different types of workplace discrimination, including sexual harassment and disability discrimination. These tools are part of EEOC's Youth@Work initiative to educate youth about their employment rights and responsibilities. This initiative also helps employers create a positive work environment for young workers. Educators may request the video and guides by email.
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Poultry Processing Plant Settles Lawsuit for Pay Discrimination against Employees with Intellectual Disabilities
Posted: 09/20/12 to Civil Rights
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has charged Hill Country Farms Inc., doing business as Henry's Turkey Service with disability discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The company paid extremely low wages to workers with intellectual disabilities at an Iowa plant. The company has agreed to pay its former employees wages totaling $1.3 million. The EEOC also alleges that Henry's mistreated the workers. The mistreatment trial is scheduled for March 2013.
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Deadline Approaching to Apply to Serve on National Youth Leadership (NYLN) Governing Board
Posted: 09/19/12 to Community Life
NYLN is now accepting applications for its Governing Board. Board members must be U.S. citizens between the ages of 14 and 28, have a disability and believe in full-inclusion. Find out more about what Board members do by joining an informational call on September 24. Applications should be postmarked no later than September 29.
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Scholarship Search Tool
Posted: 09/19/12 to Education
Search more than 7,000 scholarships, fellowships, loans and other types of student financial aid. You can also filter your search results to find scholarships specifically for students with disabilities. For more information about this tool read the frequently asked questions.
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Justice Department Releases Report on Federal Agencies' Use of Accessible Electronic & Information Technology
Posted: 09/18/12 to Technology
The U.S. Department of Justice announced the release of its report Section 508 Report to the President and Congress: Accessibility of Federal Electronic and Information Technology. The report is based on a survey of federal agencies on the accessibility of their electronic and information technology and the procedures used to implement the requirements of Section 508. Section 508 requires federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology (telephones, websites, computers, software) accessible to people with disabilities, unless certain exceptions apply.