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The Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) recruits college students and recent graduates with disabilities to work in the federal government. Up until 2013, more than 450 participants in the program were placed in federal jobs each year. However, in January of 2013, the Office of the Secretary of Defense decided to freeze program funding due to sequestration. It is not known if the WRP will be funded for the 2014 hiring season.
The U.S. Department of Justice has signed an agreement with thecity of Fort Morgan, CO,to improve access to public buildings, programs and sevices for individuals with disabilities. The agreement is part of Project Civic Access,the department's effort to make sure that counties, cities and towns comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.The city will make the animal shelter, cemetery, city hall, library and museum, police department and airport accessible.
The National Disability Institute is accepting entries for its 3rd annual “My American Dream - Voices of Americans with Disabilities” video contest. Contestants with disabilities create a three-minute video telling their story and steps to achieving their American dream. Upload your video onto YouTube and email the URL, your name and phone number. One winner will receive $1,000, a digital tablet and sessions with a mentor. Submit entries by September 10, 2013.
The Health Insurance Marketplace will give you all the options available for health insurance in your area. You can compare plans based on price, benefits, quality and other features. It will also tell you if you qualify for Medicaidor theChildren's Health Insurance Program. While all insurance plans are offered by private companies, the Marketplace is run by either your state or the federal government. Open enrollment starts October 1, 2013.Coverage starts January 1, 2014.
A new report, "A Better Bottom Line: Employing People with Disabilities",outlines the National Governors Association's initiatives to increase employment among individuals with intellectual and other significant disabilities. It describes the role that state government and business can play in assisting and advancing opportunities for these individuals to be gainfully employed. The initiative will provide governors and state policymakers with strategies designed to support this population.
The U.S. Department of Justice has reached a settlement agreement with the city of Henderson, NV under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals who are deaf complained that the city's police did not provide sign language interpreters and other aids and services for effective communication. One of the individuals had been arrested and the other was an alleged crime victim. The city has agreed to train its staff on the ADA.
Rep. Mike Doyle leads team to second highest fundraising total
WASHINGTON, DC (August 6, 2013) -- U.S. Representative Mike Doyle, a Democrat representing Pittsburgh, led his Bike to the Beach team on a 104-mile bike ride from Washington to Dewey Beach, DE, beating its fundraising goal of $25,000for Autism Speaks.
Doyle [center in Pirates' hat], who cofounded the Congressional Autism Caucus 12 years ago with Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), raised $27,708, the second highest totalduring the annual charity event. Doyle's team included his brother Pat, his son Kevin and nephew Cameron.
Bike to the Beach was created in 2007 as a non-profit to raise awareness of biking as a viable transportation alternative. The group chose autism as its fundraising cause andadditionalBike to the Beach events were created in New York and Boston.
Doyle and Smith have helped grow the Congressional Autism Caucus to180 Members of Congress from both parties. "Our caucus is dedicated to raising awareness about autism, providing a forum for policy discussions, promoting research funding, and developing legislative solutions to ease the burden of families affected by autism," Doyle said.
Initiative of Delaware Gov. Markell designed to raise awareness
MILWAUKEE (August 5, 2013) -- The National Governors Association (NGA) issued A Better Bottom Line: Employing People with Disabilities, an initiative by Delaware Gov. Jack Markell to raise awareness of the challenges faced by Americans with disabilities, including autism, in finding meaningful employment.
Markell chose the issue as hisinitiative during his one-yearterm asNGA chair. The report was issued shortly after the U.S. Department of Labor issued July employment data showing that, while unemployment overall dipped to 7.4 percent, the rate for those with disabilities rose from 14.2 percent to 14.7 percent.
“My initiative was designed to raise awareness about how the untapped talents of people with disabilities can contribute to a business's bottom line,”Markell said. “A Better Bottom Line: Employing People with Disabilities looks at ways both state government and businesses can partner to bring opportunities to individuals with disabilities in the competitive labor market.We're making strides on this front, but the work is far from over."
The report's"Blueprint for Governors" was issued at the NGA's summer meeting held here. It wascreated from a series ofevents and meetings held over the past 12 months and recommends practical stepsgovernors can take to advance employment opportunities for people with disabilities in their states.
The final report issued five action items specific to governors:
- Incorporatingdisability employment into astate's workforce development strategy
- Identifying and supportingbusinesses that employ people with disabilities
- Make state governmenta model employer by increasing the number of employees with disabilities
- Prepare youth with disabilities for working careers, providing employers with a pipeline of skilled workers
- Managelimited public resources to best advance employment opportunities for people with disabilities
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has chargedWeirton Medical Center with disability discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act(ADA). The Weirton, WV-based hospital refused to select a long-time employee for a vacant position because of his age and apparent isability. The employee had a back impairment at the time that he applied for the job. This type of conduct violates theAge Discrimination in Employment Act and the ADA.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has chargedKyklos Bearing International, LLC (KBI) with disability discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Cleveland, OH-based manufacturer allegedly fired an employee based on her status as a cancer survivor. KBI said it fired the employee because she had medical restrictions that limited her ability to lift, but her doctor had cleared her to work without any restrictions.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has released a final rule to replace the term "mental retardation" with "intellectual disability" in its Listings of Impairments. SSA uses the listings toevaluate claims involving mental disorders in adults and children under the Social Security Act. This final rule will become effective September 3, 2013.
The U.S. Department of Justice has settled its lawsuit against the city of St. Peters, MO for allegedly violating the Fair Housing Act(FHA) and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act(ADA) when it denied a zoning request to operate a group home for four women with intellectual disabilities. Residents have the right to live in housing of their choice. The settlement requires the city to provide training on the FHA and ADA to city employees.