Monthly Archives: October 2012

Gang of Eight concludes retreat to develop bipartisan deficit reduction plan

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Last week, the bipartisan group of Senators known as the “Gang of Eight” concluded their three day retreat. The group first came together in the summer of 2011 to try to develop a plan to solve the debt ceiling crisis but failed to reach an agreement in the end (see the Draft Plan from July 2011). Since then, they have added two new members – Senators Mike Johanns (R-NE) and Michael Bennett (D-CO). The future of any final plan they develop hinges largely on the results of the election. If either party takes control over the Presidency and the House and attains 60 votes in the Senate, it could greatly bolster its position on revenue, which has by far been the biggest obstacle to reaching a deal. If, however, we continue to have a divided government, it will be difficult to find consensus on a deficit reduction agreement. The members of the Gang of Eight are:

Resources to Learn More about the Presidential Candidates

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The transcription and webcast are available from the National Forum on Disability Issues which was held September 28th.   The forum was an opportunity for the disability community to learn more about the positions on disability issue held by the two Presidential candidates. Visit the website to view these informative videos. For more resources on the election visit our blog. Many issues facing people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) are being debated at the local, state and federal level. It is critical that members of the disability community educate themselves about the issues and vote on November 6th.

New Ticket to Work Web Portal

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The Social Security Administration (SSA) has launched a new web portal at www.socialsecurity.gov/work to provide program information, resources, and news about SSA’s employment support programs. Social Security disability beneficiaries and others can obtain information on the new portal or by calling the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 (V) /866-833-2967(TTY/TDD).

The Department of Education awards $24 million in Grants to Improve Training Systems to Help Children with Disabilities

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The US Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), awarded a total of $24 million in State Personnel Development Grants to 22 states to improve teacher training for students with disabilities.  States must partner with at least one higher education institution and a Parent Training and Information Center or a Community Parent Resource Center.  States that received grants include Alabama, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

The Department of Education Office for Civil Rights Releases Report on Disability Rights Enforcement

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he Department of Education Office for Civil Rights released a report covering the period of 2009 to 2011 that details the types of disability rights complaints it received.  Fifty-five percent of the complaints concerned disability discrimination. Of the 11,700 disability complaints OCR received, 4,600 alleged violations in the provision of a free appropriate public education (FAPE).  The report indicated that students served under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) were twice as likely to be suspended from school as their peers without disabilities.  Of all the students who were expelled in school year 2009-2010, 16% were served under IDEA.  Of all reported physical restraints in schools, 70% involved children with disabilities.

National Council on Disability releases report about parents with disabilities and their children

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The National Council on Disability (NCD) released a report entitled, Rocking the Cradle: Ensuring the Rights of Parents with Disabilities and their Children.  The report made 20 Findings and numerous recommendations.  Among the findings: removal rates of children where parents have an intellectual disability ranges from 40% – 80%; two-thirds of the states have dependency laws that allow the court to determine that a parent is unfit on the basis of the parent’s disability; every state allows the parent’s disability to be considered in determining the best interest of a child in custody considerations.  NCD reported that “people with disabilities are the only distinct group that struggles to maintain custody of its children.”  NCD recommended that states amend their laws to remove discriminatory language and that all professionals involved in Family Court matters receive training about parents with disabilities.  Finally, the report highlights programs that provide parenting support to people with disabilities to prevent unnecessary removal of children from their families.

Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October

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National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) starts October 1. NDEAM is a national campaign to raise awareness about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities. This year’s theme is “A Strong Workforce is an Inclusive Workforce: What Can YOU Do?”  The Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Programs has created a toolkit to help organizations celebrate NDEAM.

Disability Community Provides Technical Assistance on an Important Provision in the Affordable Care Act

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The Arc has joined over 50 national organizations to develop a technical assistance paper to help state advocates and state policy makers decide on the rehabilitative and habilitative benefits required by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). One important feature of the ACA is the requirement that all qualified health benefit plans include 10 categories of essential health benefits.  While all are important to people with disabilities, the inclusion of the category of rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices is of particular importance to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  Each state has a great deal of flexibility to create its essential benefit package. The states will choose a state benchmark plan and if that plan does not include services in each of the 10 category areas it must be changed and the necessary services added.  The Arc hopes that advocates will find this document, which represents a consensus among national disability groups, useful on the state level.