Disability Resource Digest

Volume 8 Issue 3 March 2008

ACCESSIBILITY

European Network for Accessible Tourism begins new phase - (RollingRains). "The European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT) has registered this week as a non-profit organisation in Belgium. This marks an exciting new phase in its European and international operations. The ENAT network started two years ago as a pilot project, co-funded by the European Commission and nine sponsoring organisations from six EU countries. Over 400 members from 50 countries have joined up. The network's principal aim is to help tourism businesses meet the access needs of the growing market of seniors and disabled visitors, as well as families with small children. Good access is seen as a key part of quality that benefits everyone, rather than as an 'extra'."

http://www.rollingrains.com/archives/002123.html#more

Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation Announces $1.1 Million in Grants - "The Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation in Arlington, Virginia, has announced more than $1.1 million in grants to promote the inclusion of children and youth with disabilities in mainstream programs and activities. Awarded as part of MEAF's Inclusion Initiative, the grants aim to make the programs of grantee organizations more accommodating of and attractive to youth with disabilities. Six new national projects will receive a total of $879,000, while three ongoing multiyear projects will receive a total of $90,000. An additional $148,000 will be given in matching funds to organizations selected by Mitsubishi Electric US employees in communities where they live and work."

http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/news/story.jhtml?id=204300035

Planes, Trains & Automobiles & Ferries, Cruise Ships, Hotels, Resorts, etc.: Your Rights as a Business and Leisure Traveler with a Disability - (ILRU) "What are your rights as a traveler with a disability in the US? What about when traveling outside the US? Are your rights different when traveling by air, train, or by bus? What if you travel with a service animal? What are your rights in motels, hotels, and resorts? This web cast will focus on the rights of people with disabilities when traveling, and will offer some key tips on how to avoid unpleasant travel experiences. In addition, enforcement options will be explored."

http://www.ilru.org/html/training/webcasts/handouts/2008/02-20-AM/abstract.html

ADVOCACY

Don't Let Bush Drag State Back - by James Flanigan (timesunion.com). "In the past 30 years, New York has seen a "quiet revolution" in the way we treat our citizens with disabilities. Unfortunately, much of that good work is being threatened by a lame-duck administration in Washington. As recently as the early 1970s, New York operated the nation's largest institutional system for people with disabilities. Thousands of people were housed in institutions like Willowbrook, Rome and Letchworth that were isolated, poorly administered and lacking in individual attention. Finally, television exposes and a major class-action lawsuit brought the conditions to the public's attention. Gradually, the system changed through the use of Medicaid waivers and added categories of optional Medicaid services. People were moved from institutions into smaller residences in the community. Parents, who in the past might have been told to place their son or daughter in an institution, were provided with supports like respite and service coordination to help them keep their family members at home. Schools, churches, places of employment, recreation facilities and public transportation became part of the natural support system for individuals across the state."

http://www.aapd.com/News/longtermcare/080206tu.htm

'The last great struggle' - A pioneer views disability as the final frontier in civil rights - by Don Aucoin (boston.com). "It is a raw, bone-chilling day on the rugged streets of this rugged city, yet Keith P. Jones is out and about in his motorized wheelchair, steadily making his way to his favorite diner. Fittingly enough, Jones is headed into the wind. It's been that way his whole life, one way or another. When you're born with cerebral palsy, you have to battle constantly against the low expectations of others. When you're black and in a wheelchair, you have to combat the assumption that you are a victim of gang violence. When you're whip-smart in ways that the world may not see, you have to make the world see it."

http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2008/02/26/the_last_great_struggle/

National Spinal Cord Injury Association (NSCIA) Condemns Police Treatment of Quadriplegic in Florida - "The response by the spinal cord injury community to a video released Tuesday in which a man was dumped face forward out of a wheelchair by a law enforcement officer who apparently doubted his inability to walk, is 'outrage' according to Marcie Roth, executive director and CEO of the National Spinal Cord Injury Association (NSCIA). Brian Sterner, who is quadriplegic as a result of an injury nearly 14 years ago, described the incident as incredibly degrading and an example of how poorly trained the Hillsborough Florida Sheriff's Office is. 'If they’re trying to figure out if somebody needs to be in a wheelchair or not, there are many other ways to do it than to dump somebody on their face,' Sterner added in an interview with CBS news."

http://www.spinalcord.org/news.php?dep=1&page=0&list=1593

Proposals to Force More Involuntary Treatment Stir Debate - by Tom Jackman (washingtonpost.com). "In the debate over Virginia's mental health system, they're called 'consumers.' Some of them call themselves survivors. They are mentally ill people who have been through the system and didn't like it. They criticize the humiliation of being handcuffed, the forced administration of antipsychotic drugs or the debilitating side effects of the drugs. And they don't think the government is best suited to choose their treatment. Rather than forcing more people into involuntary treatment by lowering the legal criteria or enforcing outpatient treatment -- approaches that Virginia's General Assembly is considering -- consumers and their supporters say they think the money for those approaches would be better spent on counseling, housing and jobs for the majority of the mentally ill, who aren't dangerous or helpless."

http://www.aapd.com/News/health/080207wp.htm 
 

EDUCATION

Univ. to implement disability counselling - by Raymond Carlson (Yaledailynews). "Students with disabilities may have an added incentive to choose Yale over its rivals — at least by the time 2013 rolls around. When it implements a new 'peer mentors' program as part of its reform of the freshman counselor system in fall 2009, Yale will be the first Ivy League school to provide student-to-student guidance geared specifically toward freshmen with physical, mental and learning disabilities. Although Yale’s Resource Office on Disabilities already matches students who identify themselves as disabled with one another informally, the new program will likely institutionalize a support system, although details of the changes are still not, Office Director Judy York said."

http://www.yaledailynews.com/articles/view/23499

EMPLOYMENT

Candidate Makes Light of Own Disability - by Brad Cain (AP). "So a U.S. Senate candidate with a metal hook for a left hand walks into a bar. The candidate, Steve Novick, has bellied up next to a voter and the two talk about politics. The other guy struggles to twist off a beer cap. Novick coolly reaches over, grabs the bottle and deftly uses his metal hook to pop it open, telling the other man: 'We can't afford just politics as usual.' It's a political ad unlike any other this season, and the video has become a hit on YouTube. Novick, who was born with multiple disabilities, is going right for the funny bone in his bid to challenge a Republican incumbent. His second TV ad, which spoofs the old TV game show 'To Tell the Truth,' plays on his stature — he's only 4-foot-9. 'I'm Steve Novick,' intones an evenly tanned, perfectly coifed gentleman in a natty suit. 'And I'll stand up for everybody, not just the richest 1 percent.' Then the camera pivots down, way down. 'Actually,' Novick says, 'I'm the real Steve Novick. I don't look like the typical politician, but I won't act like one, either. I will fight for the little guy.' Novick, 44, is seeking the Democratic nomination to take on Oregon Sen. Gordon Smith, who, like the other man in the second commercial, is tall and good-looking."

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gtv_CPAEt8uC75rw_FklJX4OzkkgD8V3H8IO0

Disability Discrimination Act means rethinking redeployment and disability - (personneltoday). "Redeployment procedures need to be adjusted to accommodate the requirements of the DDA. The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) is now comfortably into its second decade, but for employers and employees alike, there remain certain grey areas about their obligations and the protections that are available. A prescriptive route map for all situations is unrealistic and employers are, quite rightly, waiting for case law guidance."

http://www.personneltoday.com/articles/2008/02/18/44436/disability-discrimination-act-means-rethinking-redeployment-and-disability.html

Employees at This Walgreens Distribution Center Are More Able Than Disabled - (ABCnews). "At first glance, the Walgreens distribution center in Anderson, S.C., seems ordinary enough. But upon closer inspection, it's anything but. More than 40 percent of the 700 workers here are disabled. Walgreens employee Julia Turner has Down's Syndrome. Derrill Perry, who works right next to her, is mentally retarded. Garrick Tada has autism. Luann Bannister, one of their training supervisors, is in a wheelchair."

http://abcnews.go.com/WN/story?id=4272981&page=1

Groundbreaking study contradicts perceptions about employing people with disabilities - (DisabilityWorks). "In a first-of-its-kind study unveiled to Chicago-region business leaders on January 28, a team of researchers at DePaul University discussed research results that found employees with disabilities from the healthcare, retail and hospitality sectors in the region were just as dependable and productive as employees without disabilities. In addition, researchers also discussed research results that showed accommodation costs associated with workers with disabilities were often minimal and well worth the expense."

http://www.disabilityworks.org/

Rose Lee Archer Show and NASA/Kennedy Space Center team up to promote unique recruiting opportunities - "Rose Lee Archer Show features successful recruiting strategies for students with disabilities at NASA/Kennedy Space Center The Rose Lee Archer Show went behind the scenes to discover a unique recruiting program that takes an equal opportunity approach to diversity management. Tara Gillam, Manger of the Office of Equal Opportunityt NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, led Kennedy Space Center’s Disability Mentoring Day. Tara kicked off the morning ceremony by expressing to students know how proud she is of the center’s annual Disability Mentoring Day and encouraged students to explore the many career fields in Space and Aeronautics."

http://www.expertclick.com/NewsReleaseWire/default.cfm?Action=ReleaseDetail&ID=19927

Webcast - Supported Employment and Mental Illness: Addressing the Secondary Issues - by Deborah Becker - Date: 4/8/2008, 2:00pm ET "Supported employment is designed to assist individuals with disabilities who are interested in working, regardless of substance abuse, treatment non-adherence, symptoms, and homelessness. However, employment specialists often struggle with assisting individuals who have these challenges. This webcast will address these secondary issues of mental illness and give specific strategies for providers to use for assisting individuals in finding and keeping employment."

http://www.crp-rcep.org/training/webcastDetails.cfm/112

ETHICS

Surgeon Accused of Speeding a Death to Get Organs - by Jesse Mckinley (The New York Times). "On a winter night in 2006, a disabled and brain damaged man named Ruben Navarro was wheeled into an operating room at a hospital here. By most accounts, Mr. Navarro, 25, was near death, and doctors hoped that he might sustain other lives by donating his kidneys and liver. But what happened to Mr. Navarro quickly went from the potentially life-saving to what law enforcement officials say was criminal. In what transplant experts believe is the first such case in the country, prosecutors have charged the surgeon, Dr. Hootan C. Roozrokh, with prescribing excessive and improper doses of drugs, apparently in an attempt to hasten Mr. Navarro’s death to retrieve his organs sooner."

http://www.aapd.com/News/bioethics/080227nyt.htm

GENERAL INTEREST

Army Blames 'Miscommunication' in Fort Drum Flap - by Ari Shapiro (NPR). "The Army Surgeon General says he was mistaken when he denied that the Army had told the Veterans Affairs Department not to help injured soldiers challenge their disability ratings. VA spokesmen told NPR last week that an Army team sent to Fort Drum in New York to review disability issues had told the VA office there to stop helping the soldiers, to leave that to others. Soldiers said the VA had helped them get better disability ratings, and they felt that the Army was damaging their cases by cutting off that assistance. Army Surgeon General Eric B. Schoomaker says the whole thing was a misunderstanding, and it is fine for the VA to help the soldiers."

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18788808

Child's disabilities lead mom to new business - by Kathryn Gillick (North County Times). "When one North County woman decided to take control of her disabled son's education by making DVDs showing what he was supposed to learn, she never imagined that the videos featuring him and other children as teaching tools would turn into a business. Lucile Lynch's son Conner who has cerebral palsy, ADHD, apraxia of speech and other disabilities had been in a special program for children with disabilities and was failing first grade. When school officials wanted to run more tests for any additional disabilities, she said, she did not want to subject him to more testing. 'I decided to just bring him home to watch what could hold his attention,' she said. She found that her son, 9, was drawn to anything that was visual . . . So Lynch bought a broadcast-quality video recorder, taught herself how to use it, and began producing videos for her son focusing on social skills, reading and spelling and then handwriting. Then, she said, she began making similar DVDs for parents in the community whose children also needed additional help."

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/02/08/business/news/20_14_162_7_08.txt

disABLEDperson.com - "Hi [e]veryone. If you have a disability, this is the website for you. We are happy that you chose visiting our website rather than playing video poker or XBOX. We know that could be a tough choice. We are an organization whose primary focus is disability employment. Check it out, simply click on the word recruitABILITY or the recruitABILITY icon on the left and you will be taken to disability employment job board. We want to help you, the disabled seek employment. So come, post your resume and look for a job. Remember, spelling is an important part of your resume so check everything with a dictionary before submitting it. Its free! Our goal is to get as many jobs for the disabled or disabled jobs as possible."

http://www.disabledperson.com/articles/aboutus.asp

Officials: Terrorists Used Women With Disabilities To Kill Dozens At Baghdad Pet Markets - by Dave Reynolds (Inclusion Daily Express). "Two women with intellectual disabilities walked into separate Baghdad pet markets Friday morning, when bombs they wore exploded. While early news accounts reported that the two women were 'mentally retarded' or 'mentally disabled,' some later reports specifically described them as having Down syndrome. The blasts killed at least 70 people -- the most in the capital city in nearly a year -- and wounded more than 100 others. Iraqi and American officials said the women appeared to have been sent to the animal markets by the terrorist group al-Qaeda in Iraq. They speculated that the women were probably chosen because they would not question those who sent them to their deaths, and because security personnel would not suspect them of carrying explosives. The officials could not confirm whether the women detonated the explosive themselves, or the bombs were blown up by remote control. These are not the first reports of people with disabilities being used as weapons in Iraq and Afghanistan."

http://www.inclusiondaily.com/news/2008/01/31/020108irwar.htm

Authorities Resort to Saddam-Era Laws to Detain 'Street People' - by Dave Reynolds (Inclusion Daily Express). "On Wednesday, Iraqi and U.S. occupation officials began turning to pre-invasion laws to remove beggars, homeless people, and people with disabilities from the streets of Baghdad. The announcement by the Ministry of the Interior came three weeks after two women walked into crowded animal markets when explosives they were wearing were remotely detonated. Nearly 100 people died in the February 1 blasts. Early news accounts described the women as having 'mental disabilities' while later reports said they had Down syndrome. . . .On Tuesday, authorities announced that beggars, homeless people and people with disabilities would be rounded up, removed from the streets, and arrested -- to protect them from being used by terrorists as weapons to kill others. Those found to have broken the law are to be jailed. Those found to have intellectual or psychiatric disabilities are to be shipped off to mental institutions. Some will be allowed to stay with families if they agreed to remain inside their homes."

http://www.inclusiondaily.com/news/2008/02/20/022008iraqwar.htm

St-Amand gets shutout as Canada wins series with 5-0 win over USA - (Paralympic.ca). "Canada’s National Sledge Team will head into the 2008 IPC Sledge Hockey World Championship next month on a winning note after Benoît St-Amand made 14 saves to lead it to a 5-0 win over the USA on February 23 in the finale of a three-game series in Prince George, BC. After dropping the first game of the series in overtime on February 21, the Canadians took the final two from their North American neighbours, moving to 11-2 in the 2007-08 season, and 6-1 against the USA."

http://www.paralympic.ca/page?a=1976&lang=en-CA 
 

We Can All Celebrate In Wrestler's Journey - by Dave Reynolds (Inclusion Daily Express). "The next time someone asks you whether the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act are working, just remember this name: 'Dustin Carter'. Carter, 18, a senior at Hillsborough High School, is the man that wrestling fans and others across Ohio are watching this season. Carter is the captain of his school's varsity wrestling team. With an amazing record of 35 wins and one loss this season, he is expected to do well at the upcoming district tournament. If he is among the top four wrestlers in his weight class, he automatically goes on to the state tournament. 'My whole goal is to make it to state this year,' Carter said earlier this month. 'Everything I do in life right now is for that.' When Carter was five years old, doctors amputated his legs below the knees and his arms below the elbows in order to save him from a deadly infection. While the media has been paying attention to the fact that he wrestles so well without complete limbs, Carter says for him it's all about the sport and the team."

http://www.inclusiondaily.com/news/2008/02/22/022208ohcarter.htm

HEALTH/WELLNESS

Healing a Troubled Mind Takes More Than a Pill - (washingtonpost.com) by Charles Barber "Feeling depressed? No problem, pop a pill. That's what more and more Americans are doing these days to quell what ails their troubled souls. The use of antidepressants in the United States has exploded in the past couple of decades, and drugs such as Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft, which didn't even exist 20 years ago, are household names, almost household staples. And why not? The television ads make it seem so easy: An agonized man or woman stares listlessly into space or slumps on a bed or couch, holding their head in their hands. Then they take a pill and suddenly morph into a happily engaged and joyous being, back on the job or walking in a park, awash in sunshine, surrounded by grandchildren, a golden retriever nipping at their heels, while lush music plays in the background. But recovering from mental illness is rarely that simple. I know. As an optimistic 18-year-old freshman at Harvard in the 1980s, I found myself afflicted by indescribably disturbing and intrusive thoughts that involved repetitious words and irrational fears that I had harmed others. This assault on my mind -- diagnosed a few years later as obsessive-compulsive disorder -- led me to drop out of two colleges in as many years and made it difficult to hold down a job as a busboy."

http://www.aapd.com/News/health/080212wp.htm

More information on wait times reported by provinces - (CIHI). "Most provinces are now regularly reporting patient wait times for priority area procedures on publicly accessible websites. However, comparable provincial data are still not available, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), in its annual update on wait times reporting. CIHI’s analysis found that the provinces have made improvements to the timeliness, breadth and level of detail of wait times reporting. Five provinces (one more than last year) now report on all five wait time priority areas (heart, cancer, sight restoration, diagnostic imaging and joint replacements). As well, trend data on wait times are beginning to emerge for individual provinces, allowing them to measure progress over time. Variation in measurement approaches still prevents interprovincial comparisons."

http://secure.cihi.ca/cihiweb/dispPage.jsp?cw_page=media_29feb2008_e

Without Health Promotion, the Health Care System Will Remain Broken for People with Disabilities - "As the Presidential debates enter their peak season, a key issue that affects all of us is rising health care costs. Almost every mailbox in America this year will contain one or more medical bills. For the less fortunate, bills from hospitals, insurance companies, or collection agencies will appear weekly. It is unimaginable how we can have such a disappointing health care system in a society that prides itself on being the most affluent country in the world. Issues such as who will pay and how much they will pay, as well as what type of payment the government should subsidize are hotly contested issues in this campaign. Except for the wealthiest people in the U.S., this is one of the most stressful issues for millions of Americans, and in particular, for people with disabilities, older adults, and others with chronic conditions such as diabetes, arthritis and heart disease. Many Americans who fall into one of these three groups live under an umbrella of rising medical costs that threaten their quality of life and force them into taking large loans to pay for their health care or that of their children, or to default on loans and end up with poor credit for many years."

http://www.ncpad.org/director/fact_sheet.php?sheet=595&PHPSESSID=2dfaef9e823acbb74d7549a7cafc38a4

LEGAL

Appeals Panel Sympathizes With Latimer's "Unique" Situation; Grants Day Parole - by Dave Reynolds (Inclusion Daily Express). "The Appeals Division of Canada's National Parole Board on Wednesday granted day parole to Robert Latimer, as long as he does not 'have any responsibility for, or make decisions for, any individuals who are severely disabled.' Disability rights groups responded with resolve to continue to advocate for -- and educate the public about -- the value and rights of people that have the most severe disabilities. The appeals division overturned a December 5, 2007 decision by a regional parole board, which had denied Latimer's request for day parole because he has shown no remorse and continues to say that he was right to murder his 12-year-old daughter, Tracy."

http://www.inclusiondaily.com/news/2008/02/27/022708sklatimer.htm

B.C. tribunal rules firm discriminated against employee for marijuana use - (The Canadian Press). "The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal has ruled a window contractor discriminated against an employee because his physical disability allowed him to smoke medical marijuana. The company has been told to pay $500 for injury to the man's dignity, feelings and self respect. Greg Wilson's claim against Transparent Glazing Systems alleged he was fired after a superintendent's letter sent to company management said Wilson's medication seemed to impair his ability to do the job. Wilson, who smokes pot for migraine headaches and bulging back discs, denied the allegation at a hearing last May. Company officials told the rights tribunal that Wilson was fired because he was disrespectful, verbally abusive and difficult to work with. In her ruling, tribunal member Diane MacLean wrote that while there was little disagreement between the events, the conclusions drawn were very different."

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5j5bYrnWTsgD934yz2ECI11DaMtSA

The Disability Law Lowdown Podcast - "Brought to you by nationally recognized leaders in the field of disability law, the Disability Law Lowdown Podcast delivers the latest in disability rights information every other week. You can subscribe for free and have shows automatically delivered, or you can listen to the show and read the transcripts from this site."

http://dll.ada-podcast.org/

MEDIA

Disability glare on Bollywood - World Bank study finds sensitivity, not strength, in films - by M.R. Ventakesh (TelegraphIndia). "For women with disabilities in Indian cinema, it’s a double handicap. Even the gods think physically challenged women are 'simply irrelevant'. A World Bank study commissioned by the Indian government says characterisations of disabled women in 'modern myth machine' Bollywood are not strong enough, though Indian films as a whole have tried to 'enhance' society’s 'sensitivity'. 'Overall, women with disabilities in Indian cinema are doubly weak — women and women with disabilities. This contrasts to more frequent portrayals in Hollywood cinema of women with disabilities who have strength and discover independence,' said the report titled People with Disabilities in India: From Commitments to Outcomes."

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080207/jsp/nation/story_8872435.jsp

Disability issues hit the big screen - by Mark Drinkwater (guardian.co.uk) "The eighth annual London International Disability Film Festival launches tomorrow at BFI Southbank, featuring four days of films, documentaries, workshops and seminars from disabled actors and directors from around the world. The festival opens with Special People, a comedy about a group of disabled film-makers directed by Justin Edgar, which originally aired as a film short at the 2007 festival and has since been made into a fully-fledged feature. International titles at the festival include the Italian feature Red Like the Sky, about a 10-year-old boy sent to boarding school after being blinded in an accident; A Complete Woman, a documentary following a woman who has had her legs amputated below the knee; and the thought provoking documentary I Want to Tell You Something, which examines an Austrian family who communicate with each other through sign language even though only one of their twin sons is deaf."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/feb/13/disability.filmfestival

The Diving Bell and The Butterfly - (DisabilityNow). "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, directed by the artist Julian Schnabel, is the story of Jean Bauby, the editor of Elle magazine who had a massive stroke that left him with locked-in syndrome. He is fully aware of what is happening but is unable to communicate the experience. He feels stuck in a diving bell yet within lies a butterfly waiting to emerge, hence the title. Matthieu Amalric plays Bauby with great sensitivity. Assisted by his speech therapist, Henriette, (Josee Croze), he learns to communicate using blinks of an eye and a word board. The film is beautifully shot and beautifully acted and every actor is beautiful. That is its problem. Every image is just too perfect; it all seems too stylised."

http://www.disabilitynow.org.uk/entertainment/film/the-diving-bell-and-the-butterfly

Extraordinary Portraits: Famous Photographer with Disability Challenges Stereotypes Internationally - by Pam Vetter (American Chronicle). "Christopher Voelker is likely the most recognized photographer with a disability. He has a great career highlighted by an incredible body of work. Voelker has a way with the camera that transforms a still photo into a portrait with a voice. With an eye for inventive visual aspects, his creative work is reaching a new level of recognition in Hollywood and internationally. His eye magically enhances a single photo to create a story while challenging stereotypes. Voelker's work shows intricate design that reaches far beyond a traditional headshot. Rose petals draped across a beautiful naked woman, as her wheelchair sits nearby. Mick Fleetwood tips his hat in a playful way. Robert David Hall's shadow is bigger than life. A painted woman seems to be dancing in her wheelchair. The list goes on, as each shot in the collection is new and inventive. In his 20 years of experience, he has photographed celebrities including Mick Fleetwood, Billy Zane, Beyonce, Robert David Hall, Brandy, Dennis Haysbert, Christina Applegate, Bow Wow, Rhianna, Holly Robinson Peete, Mo'Nique and many more."

http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/52774

For teen star of 'Breaking Bad,' real-life disability is no obstacle - by Gary Strauss (USA Today). "RJ Mitte provides a unique authenticity to the disabled character he plays on AMC's edgy new series Breaking Bad. (Sunday, 10 ET/PT). Bad's Walter White Jr. has cerebral palsy. So does Mitte, 16. But the lanky, dark-haired teen had to adjust to the role. He has a mild case of the neurologic disorder, and extensive therapy helped overcome some of its more pronounced symptoms. His character uses crutches and has a different speech pattern. 'Getting used to (Walter's) crutches was really hard because I'd never used them,' Mitte says. 'I had to learn where to put my feet and how to use my weight, and speak with more of a slur.'"

http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2008-02-20-breaking-bad-mitte_N.htm

Intimate Encounters: Disability and Sexuality - (Scoop). "An internationally acclaimed photographic exhibition ‘Intimate Encounters: Disability and Sexuality’ by photographer Belinda Mason-Lovering will tour New Zealand. These forty photographic works are the culmination of two years work by Belinda Mason-Lovering where she travelled around Australia to meet disabled people who were willing to share their thoughts and feelings and have them translated into these wonderful images. The exhibition is 'Eye opening, inspirational and beautiful in its honest representation of the diversity of human sexuality.' (Jeni Claris, DPA Northland President) Since starting to promote this event there has already been some controversy over the exhibition. We have had very strong opinions both positive and negative. Whilst most people can see the value of initiating discussion around sexuality and disability there have been some people that find even the promotional material offensive even though they are unable to say why."

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0802/S00321.htm

SuperBowl Ad Invites Viewers Into "Deaf World" - by Dave Reynolds (Inclusion Daily Express). "So, two football fans are running late when they go for the first time to their deaf friend Bob's house to watch the SuperBowl. They know which block he lives on, but neither knows Bob's actual address. How do they find Bob's house before the big game starts? That's the set-up for a Pepsi commercial scheduled to air Sunday on the Fox Network's pre-game show. It's also part of a long-running joke within deaf culture. PepsiCo employees with connections to the deaf community created the 60-second spot, working with the University of California, Los Angeles, Anderson School of Management's Leadership Institute for Managers with Disabilities, in consultation with the National Association of the Deaf. The creators of the advertisement, entitled 'Bob's House', deliberately made it silent. The characters in the ad use American Sign Language. There are open captions for hearing viewers."

http://www.inclusiondaily.com/news/2008/01/30/013008casuprbowl.htm

MEDICAL

Generic Drugs: Frugal Pharmaceuticals or Penny-Pinching Problems? - by Richard L. Bruno (New Mobility). "Given the high cost of medications, especially if you're taking lots of pills and trying to live on SSDI, many people look to save money by switching from brand-name drugs to cheaper generic meds. Often, there's no problem in being frugal and taking a generic drug. However, pinching pennies can cause problems if you're not aware of the sometimes significant differences that allow generics to be cheaper than brand-name drugs and the interactions between the drugs you're taking and with the foods you eat."

http://www.newmobility.com/articleView.cfm?id=11088

Manitoba gives $3M boost to spinal injury treatment - (CBC.ca). "The Manitoba government will spend $3 million over the next five years making sure people with spinal cord injuries receive the most up-to-date services. Premier Gary Doer and other government officials announced the funding in the provincial legislature Friday. The money will help ensure medical treatment and social services incorporate the most recent research and provide more counselling to people who have experienced spinal cord injuries, they said. Brad Boiselle, who had a tumour removed from his spine seven years ago, said counselling helped him make the transition from mechanic to teacher."

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2008/02/29/spinal-injury.html

Science and Legal News on Postexertional Malaise - "From 2006 to 2007, the CFIDS Association of America, through your donations, funded a study by investigators at the University of the Pacific that investigated the physiologic basis of postexertional malaise in CFS. Two papers describing interesting results from this study were published back-to-back in the December issue of the Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Both papers address testing the functional capacity of CFS patients at more than one time point interval—what the investigators call a "test-retest" approach. One paper, 'Diminished Cardiopulmonary Capacity During Postexertional Malaise,' identifies a reproducible physical marker when CFS patients are subjected to an exercise test-retest protocol. The other paper, 'Legal and Scientific Considerations of the Exercise Stress Test,' explores the use of a test-retest protocol for assessing CFS-related disability."

http://www.cfids.org/cfidslink/2008/020602.asp 
 

POLICY/RESEARCH

A Child’s View of Attention Deficit - (The New York Times). "What does it feel like to have attention deficit disorder? The answer to that question can be found in a fascinating new report from the Journal of Pediatric Nursing called 'I Have Always Felt Different.'’ The article gives a glimpse into the experience of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or A.D.H.D., from a child’s perspective. Assistant professors Robin Bartlett and Mona M. Shattell, from the School of Nursing at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, interviewed 16 college students who had been diagnosed with A.D.H.D. as children. The investigators talked to them about how the disorder affected life at home, school and friendships. Like most kids, the students described a life of both conflict with and support from their parents. But in their case, fighting with parents was often triggered by attention-related problems like failing to complete laundry chores or cleaning their rooms."

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/01/a-childs-view-of-attention-deficit/

http://www.monashattell.com/uploads/FINAL_I_have_always_felt_different_--_exp_of_ADHD_in_childhood.pdf (Full Report)

National Council on Disability Says Older Youth With Disabilities Falling Through Cracks in Foster Care System - (foxbussiness). "The National Council on Disability (NCD) today released 'Youth with Disabilities in the Foster Care System: Barriers to Success and Proposed Policy Solutions' (http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2008/FosterCareSystem_Report.html). The report focuses on the unique challenges older youth with disabilities face as they negotiate the foster care system. According to NCD Chairperson John R. Vaughn, 'The goal for our country's youth is to live healthy, happy lives and to become self-sufficient, contributing members of society as adults. However, there are subsets of youth who cannot reach these goals with ease. These youth need additional supports to assist them in their journey toward a healthy adulthood, as they are more vulnerable than the 'average' youth and thus are more apt to fall through the cracks during their journey. Youth development researchers have determined that some specific youth populations are more vulnerable than others. This report examines one exceptionally challenged group in particular: older youth (specifically, preteens through young adults) with disabilities who are involved in the foster care system.'"

http://www.foxbusiness.com/article/national-council-disability-says-older-youth-disabilities-falling-cracks_495554_1.html

From Research To Changes In Policies, Programs & Practices - (Disability Studies). "Established in 1995, the Canadian Centre on Disability Studies (CCDS) has been a catalyst for change in disability research and disability studies both in Canada and abroad. The organization is unique in its structure and governance, in that it is a consumer-directed, university-affiliated centre with representation from all regions of Canada. Dedicated to participatory action research, CCDS has pioneered a model of research that ensures the active participation of disabled people in every aspect of the research process. Its partnership building and collaborative approach has resulted in the establishment of a knowledge base and a distribution network for the dissemination of information on disability issues."

http://www.disabilitystudies.ca/Documents/Stragic%20plan/Strategic%20Plan%20MAY%2007%20final.htm 
 

Your views on Social Networking websites - "AbilityNet are currently researching the accessibility of networking websites such as MySpace, FaceBook, Bebo and LinkedIn. We are also interested in photos and video sharing web sites such as YouTube, Flickr and PhotoBucket. If you are a person with a disability we would like to hear your opinions of these type of websites, both good and bad. We’d also like to hear your suggestions on how they could be improved so they are easier to use. In order to assess the accessibility of the websites we need to know a little about your impairment and if you adapt your computer (for example if you use a screen reader or voice recognition software). All information you provide to us will help us advise website owners on how they can improve the accessibility of their websites."

http://www.jfactivist.org/

REHABILITATION

The complexity of participation in daily life: A qualitative study of the experiences of persons with acquired brain injury - by Anna Häggström, Maria Larsson Lund (Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine). "Objective: To describe and enhance the understanding of how adults with acquired brain injury experience participation in daily life. Results: The informants’ experiences formed 5 categories: 'Performing tasks'; 'Making decisions and exerting influence'; 'Being engaged in meaningful activities'; 'Doing things for others'; and 'Belonging'. The categories that needed to be present for the informants to experience a feeling of participation varied according to their individual daily life situations. In addition, their experiences showed that a variety of conditions, related to each of the 5 categories, influenced their participation. Individuals adopted a variety of strategies to enhance their experience of participation."

http://jrm.medicaljournals.se/article/pdf/10.2340/16501977-0138

Devising a System - by Rich Smith (Rehab Management). " New and improved tools, such as pressure-mapping devices, are helping therapists evaluate and provide seating solutions. The landscape occupied by seating-and-positioning systems turned a shade more innovative in the last year or so—good news on the one hand for therapists in search of better options for their clients, but bad news on the other for therapists struggling to stay abreast of it all."

http://www.rehabpub.com/issues/articles/2008-03_01.asp

http://www.rehabpub.com/issues/2008-03.asp (Index to March Rehab Management)

You and Your Doctor: A Short Guide To Your Rights And Responsibilities - (Independent Living Research Utilization). "What Are Your Rights? Because you may see many different doctors and therapists after your spinal cord injury (SCI), it’s important that you feel comfortable with your healthcare team and know your rights as a patient."

http://www.ilru.org/html/publications/SCI/library/You_and_Your_Doctor.pdf 
 

TECHNOLOGY

AssistiveGaming.com Launches - "AssistiveWare recently announced the launch of AssistiveGaming.com, a new website devoted to bringing game related information to Mac users who have physical disabilities. IMG contributor Michael Phillips serves as editor for the site which offers news, game reviews, and other articles related to game accessibility."

http://www.insidemacgames.com/news/story.php?ID=16173

KNFB Reading Technology, Inc. Premieres Reader Mobile Product Line at Learning Disabilities Assoc. of America Annual Conference 2008 - "KNFB Reading Technology, Inc. will premiere its Reader Mobile product line--featuring the first cell phone that reads to the learning disabled, vision impaired, and blind--at the Learning Disabilities Association of America Annual Conference 2008. The pocket-sized device is the first of its kind, and enables users to take pictures of and then read most printed materials at the push of a button, using the high-resolution camera in the state-of-the-art Nokia N82 cell phone. Users can hear documents, signs, menus, receipts, even currency - most any printed text - read aloud in clear synthetic speech, at an adjustable speed."

http://www.pr-inside.com/knfb-reading-technology-inc-premieres-reader-r458981.htm

CONFERENCES

( New Conferences)

CANADIAN

Eighth International Conference on the Diversity in Organisations, Communities and Nations - June 17-20, 2008 | Montreal, Quebec. "Welcome to website of the Eighth International Conference on the Diversity in Organisations, Communities and Nations. This Conference is to be held in Montréal, Canada 17-20 June 2008. This conference will address a range of critically important themes in the study of diversity today. Main speakers will include some of the world's leading thinkers in the field, as well as numerous paper, workshop and colloquium presentations by researchers and practitioners."

http://d08.cgpublisher.com/

CHHA - IFHOH, Congress 2008 - July 2-6, 2008 | Vancouver, British Columbia. "The Canadian Hard of Hearing Association and the International Federation of Hard of Hearing People invite you to attend the International Congress for persons with hearing loss to be held in Canada at the fabulous Sheraton Vancouver Wall Center in downtown Vancouver. Programs will be of interest to all persons with hearing loss, and to those who live, work and are part of the lives of persons with hearing loss. This Congress is a 'must' if hearing loss has touched your life."

http://www.chha-ifhohcongress2008.com/

Vision 2008, the 9th International Conference on Low Vision - July 7-11, 2008 | Montreal, Quebec. "In 2008, the 9th International Conference on Low Vision will be held from July 7 to 11 in Montréal, one of Canada's major cities. The Institut Nazareth & Louis-Braille (A Rehabilitation Centre specialized in visual impairment) and the University of Montréal's School of Optometry will oversee the organization of this Conference in partnership with the CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind) under the auspices of the International Society for Low Vision Research and Rehabilitation (ISLRR)."

www.vision2008.ca

Biennial Conference - International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication -August 2 - 7, 2008 | Montreal, PQ - "In August 2008 the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC) will hold its 13th international conference in Montreal. ISAAC brings together people with communication disabilities, professionals, researchers, and academics from all over the world to present and discuss the latest advances for people who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)."

http://www.isaac2008.org/ex_intro.html

21st RI World Congress - Disability Rights and Social Participation: Ensuring a Society for All - August 25-28, 2008 | Quebec City, Quebec. "The international community is facing a unique opportunity to drastically improve the living conditions of hundreds of millions of people with disabilities by implementing the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This treaty provides the framework for the development of good policies, actions and projects which can have a positive impact on the lives of people with disabilities all over the world. People with disability, their family and friends, human rights advocates, experts, government representatives, service providers and civil society leaders from all over the world will gather in Quebec City, Canada from August 25-28, 2008, for the 21st RI World Congress to discuss key disability issues and build partnerships."

http://www.riquebec2008.org/

Third ICOH Conference on Psychosocial Factors at Work - September 1-4, 2008. | Québec City, Quebec. "The Third ICOH-WOPS international conference "Psychosocial Factors at Work: From Knowledge to Action" will take place in Québec City, September 1-4, 2008. The two first International ICOH Conferences on Psychosocial Factors at Work were held in Copenhagen in 1998 and in Japan in 2005. Both conferences were highly successful attracting more than 300 international researchers in the field. The 2008 conference will address four major themes: Preventive interventions; Disability management and Return to work; Psychological harassment at work; and Public policies on mental health at work. Papers will include mental health, musculosqueletal and cardiovascular diseases; quantitative and qualitative methodology. We hope that you will attend the Conference and it will be a pleasure to welcome you."

http://www.icoh-wops2008.com/Afficher.aspx?langue=en

Tenth International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility - October 13 - 15, 2008 | Halifax, Canada - "The ASSETS series of conferences is aimed at providing a technical forum for presenting and disseminating innovative research results that address the use of computing and information technologies to help persons with disabilities."

http://www.sigaccess.org/assets08/

The 3rd National Spinal Cord Injury Conference and the 16th Interurban Spinal Cord Injury Conference - November 6 - 8, 2008 | Toronto, ON - "Toronto Rehabilitation Institute is pleased to announce that the 3rd National Spinal Cord Injury Conference and the 16th Interurban Spinal Cord Injury Conference will be held as one national event on Spinal Cord Rehabilitation: Innovation, Impact and Future Directions at the Hilton Toronto Hotel on November 6, 7, 8, 2008. The conference will include a pre-course, plenary sessions, poster displays and concurrent workshops that are intended to promote collaboration and exchange among attendees in a variety of formats."

http://www.torontorehab.com/education/scic08index.htm

U.S.

5th Annual International Conference for Positive Behavior Support - March 27-29, 2008 | Chicago, Illinois. "The 5th International Conference on Positive Behavior Support is an international conference dedicated to promoting research-based strategies that combine applied behavior analysis and biomedical science with person-centered values and systems change to increase quality of life and decrease problem behaviors. The Association of Positive Behavior Support (APBS) is made up of professionals, family members, trainers, consumers, researchers, and administrators who are involved and interested in positive behavior support."

http://www.apbs.org/conference/chicago/default.html

2008 AFB National Conference (JLTLI) - April 3-6, 2008 | Burlingame, California, USA - "Whether you like it or not, technology is rapidly changing the world around us, especially for people who are blind or visually impaired. AFB's 2008 National Conference is bringing together experts and beginners across the vision loss and technology fields for a rousing discussion about the present and future role of technology."

http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=28&TopicID=92

From Innovations to Practice - April 14-15, 2008 | Cambridge, Massachusetts. "This state of the science conference brings together participants from the USA, Canada and an estimated 25 nations into an exciting learning community, integrating research, practice and innovations. Goal of Conference: To highlight efforts and practices directed at making recovery a real possibility for the broadest group of individuals with psychiatric disabilities and to promote the mainstreaming of those practices into 'everyday operations'."

http://www.bu.edu/cpr/conference/index.html

The IASTED International Conference on Assistive Technologies - AT 2008 - Quality of Life Technology - April 16 – 18, 2008 | Baltimore, Maryland, USA - "The preliminary conference program will be available approximately two weeks after the registration deadline."

http://www.iasted.org/conferences/conferenceprogram-619.html

2008 Mobility Planning Services Institute - April 21-24, 2008 | Washington, D.C. " The MPS institute offers intensive training and planning activities that result in plans each team can take home to improve services in their communities. The training component of MPS is provided by industry experts serving as faculty for breakout sessions. Interspersed with the learning sessions are hands-on team working sessions. In a relaxed setting, Institute faculty facilitate an interactive learning environment where team members can openly discuss challenging issues and plan solutions.."

http://projectaction.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=ESPA_mobility_planning

Multiple Perspectives on Access, Inclusion, & Disability: Looking Back & Thinking Ahead - April 22-23, 2008 | Columbus, Ohio. "The Eighth Annual Multiple Perspectives conference continues the university's efforts to bring together a diverse audience to explore disability as both an individual experience and social reality that cuts across typical divisions of education & employment; scholarship & service; business & government; race, gender & ethnicity. This year's theme 'looking back and thinking ahead' is meant to encourage presenters and participants to consider topics, methods and programs from fresh perspectives."

http://ada.osu.edu/conferences/2008Conf/callforpapers2008.html#utmost

NFB National Convention 2008 - June 29 - July 5, 2008 | Dallas, Tx - "This year we are returning to Dallas and the beautiful Hilton Anatole Hotel, site of the 2006 convention. . . . The schedule this year is a departure from what many of us think of as the usual one. Preconvention seminars for parents of blind children and other groups and set-up of the exhibit hall will take place on Sunday, June 29, and adjournment will be Saturday, July 5, at 5:00 p.m. Convention registration and registration packet pick-up for those who registered online will begin on Monday, June 30, and both Monday and Tuesday will be filled with meetings of divisions and committees, including the Tuesday morning annual meeting, open to all, of the board of directors of the National Federation of the Blind."

http://www.nfb.org/nfb/National_Convention_2008.asp?SnID=1602533494

Toward Culturally Responsive Disability Services: An International Conference - October 6 and 7, 2008 | Niagara Falls, New York. Conference themes are:

• Cultural competency education and training (pre service and in service)

• Best practices in providing culturally responsive services in the disability and health services

• Acquiring and strengthening cultural competence through international experience

• Research on cultural competency

http://cirrie.buffalo.edu/conference2008/index.html

IDA 59th Annual Conference - October 29-November 1, 2008 | Seattle, Washington. "The International Dyslexia Association (IDA) is a scientific and educational nonprofit organization concerned with dyslexia and related language and learning difficulties. The IDA Annual Conference focuses on the latest advances in these and related fields. IDA is interested in a broad spectrum of research and practical presentations along these lines. The objective of the conference is to bring up-to-date information to a diverse audience that includes educators, researchers, physicians, psychologists, social workers, speech-language pathologists, administrators, parents, persons with dyslexia, and others."

http://www.interdys.org/AnnualConference.htm

ATIA 2009 - January 28 - 31, 2009 | Orlando, Florida - "The ATIA Conference serves as a leading conference for the Assistive Technology community offering attendees the opportunity to participate in discussions with industry experts, learn about new technologies, best practices, and a host of specialized services. Assistive Technology products and technologies will be represented in various presentations, demonstrations and/or exhibits. In addition, hands-on labs will provide an opportunity to experiment with and evaluate the latest assistive technology devices and software."

http://www.atia.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3280

OVERSEAS

4th Cambridge Workshop on Universal Access and Assistive Technology – April 14-16, 2008 | Cambridge, United Kingdom. "'Creating a better balance of work, living and leisure, for disability and ageing' The workshop theme 'Designing Inclusive Futures' reflects the need to explore the issues and practicalities of design that is intended to extend our active future lives in a coherent way. This encompasses design for inclusion: in the workplace; for businesses; for the individual and of products in these contexts."

http://rehab-www.eng.cam.ac.uk/cwuaat/

11th International Conference on Computers Helping People with Special Needs - July 9-11, 2008 | University of Linz, Austria. - "Over the last decades the advancement in Assistive Technologies (AT) and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have significantly influenced the life of people with disabilities. According changes in awareness and understanding of disability as well as social and legal frameworks, driven by Disability Rights and Independent Living Movements led to what is known as eAccessibility, Universal Design or eInclusion."

http://www.icchp.org/overview

Disability Studies Conference - September 2-4, 2008 | Lancaster University, United Kingdom. "The fourth international disability studies conference will take place at Lancaster University, UK. The purpose of the conference is to bring together researchers, practitioners, policy makers and activits to share and debate research, ideas and developments in disability studies. A call for papers and posters will be issued in January 2008. The closing date for abstracts will be 30th April. Submissions are particularly welcomed from students, activists and first time presenters, activists and first time presenters. We seek to provide a supportive environment for people making their first conference presentations and to be as accessible as possible to all delegates."

http://www.disabilitystudies.net/?content=3

19th IAGG World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics - July 5-9, 2009 | Paris, France. "Every four years, the World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics represents a unique and irreplaceable event attended by experts from around the world to discuss the latest findings in the field of ageing. The 19th congress, which is taking place in Paris in 2009, is particularly important, as it coincides with an ideological u-turn. Lifespan extension and the

growing number of elderly people, once considered as catastrophic, are now viewed as an indisputable progress."

http://www.gerontologyparis2009.com/site/view8.php