Focussed Coverage
Economic Stimulus: Documenting Impact – (Spinalcord.org). "The Obama administration has asked NSCIA and other leading consumer organizations representing people with disabilities to help identify persons with a disability that have gone to work or been rehired as a result of the economic recovery plan. For example, a company hiring as a result of money they receive, or plan to receive. If you, or someone you know of, fits this description, please email elarson@spinalcord.org with a short summary and contact information for the person being hired."
http://www.spinalcord.org/news.php?dep=1&page=0&list=2159
How the Economic Stimulus Plan Affects Individuals with Disabilities – "The $789 billion U.S. economic stimulus package, which was signed into law February 17th by President Barack Obama, contains numerous tax provisions including $282 billion in tax cuts."
http://www.disabilityinfo.gov/digov-public/public/ExitSite.do?parentFolderId=193&linkId=41822&linkExternal=true
President Obama's Budget Outline Would Provide $634B Over 10 Years For Universal Health Coverage – "President Obama has released an outline of a more than $3.1 trillion fiscal year 2010 budget proposal that will include a 10-year, $634 billion reserve fund to help finance universal health coverage, the New York Daily News reports (Bazinet/McAuliff, New York Daily News, 2/26). According to the proposal, Obama would remain 'committed to working with the Congress to find additional resources' to finance the remainder of the cost of health care reform (Wolf, USA Today, 2/26). The proposal does not outline specific plans for expanding health insurance coverage and other aspects of reform (Levey, Los Angeles Times, 2/26). However, the proposal includes general guidelines for health care reform that would place the country on a 'clear path to cover all Americans' and allow US residents to have a choice of health plans (Meckler, Wall Street Journal, 2/26)."
http://www.rehabpub.com/news/2009-02-27_02.asp
Recovery Act (ARRA): Medicaid Grant Award Process – "Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (P.L. 111-5), signed into law by President Obama on Feb. 17, approximately $15 billion in grant money will be available immediately to help States, DC and the Territories meet the health care needs of many of their most vulnerable citizens. The increase in FMAP, the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage or Federal match for Medicaid funding, will be administered by the Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The first two quarters of the new funding for FY 2009 will be available to States beginning Wednesday, Feb. 25 and could total approximately $15.2 billion."
http://www.dhhs.gov/recovery/fmapprocess.html
Some disability issues to be addressed by Obama administration – "Because I've been disabled by chronic illness most of my life, I was heartened to read that Barack Obama is giving important roles in his administration to several prominent activists for various segments of the disability community. However, I couldn't help thinking the same thing that one blogger wrote in the comments section after the following posting on the Justice for All blog of American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD): . . . 'I worry that those segments of that population which are not well organized and represented by lobbyists may not get their issues considered'."
http://www.examiner.com/x-1892-Phoenix-Progressive-Examiner~y2009m1d31-Some-disability-issues-to-be-addressed-by-Obama-administration
Stimulus Bill is Victory for People with Disabilities – (Enable America)."'For the first time persons with disabilities have been especially included in a bill of this magnitude,' said Richard Salem, founder of Enable America. 'It is an extraordinary development, and we applaud the Congress for the recognition given to the importance of persons with disabilities in the workplace as a part of diversity programs and the need for self-sufficiency and independence'."
http://www.pr.com/press-release/133616
Stimulus Bill Includes Many Provisions for PTs – (RehabPub). "President Obama has signed into law The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (HR 1), putting in place many funding provisions that directly or indirectly affect PTs [physical therapists]. The provisions include $2 billion in grants to assist health care providers, including PTs, in upgrading their health information technology (HIT) systems; $12.2 billion in funding for IDEA (the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) Part B, which more than doubles current funding; and $500 million to address health professions workforce shortages, of which $75 million is set aside for the National Health Service Corps. HR 1 also includes $1 billion for a Prevention and Wellness Fund to cover such initiatives as wellness strategies, immunization programs, and health care-associated infection reduction strategies; a moratorium on a Medicaid final regulation for hospital outpatient services through June 30; and a budget increase of 34% for the National Institutes of Health (from $29 billion to $39 billion)."
http://www.rehabpub.com/news/2009-02-23_01.asp
Vice President Joe Biden Announces Kareem Dale As Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy – "Vice President Joe Biden today announced Kareem Dale as Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy. The Vice President, who was leading a Presidential Delegation at the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Boise, Idaho, made the announcement during a stop at the Special Olympics' Healthy Athletes Event, a worldwide program in which athletes receive a variety of health screenings and services."
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Vice-President-Joe-Biden-Announces-Kareem-Dale-As-Special-Assistant-to-the-President-for-Disability-Policy/
Accessibility for Ontarians With Disabilities Act Alliance Update – (Abilities.ca). "The AODA Alliance today announces that at the unanimous invitation of the AODA Alliance's board, David Lepofsky has agreed to take on the role of the chair of the AODA Alliance. The AODA Alliance expresses its deep and abiding gratitude to Catherine Dunphy Tardik for her extraordinary service as the AODA Alliance's first chair, for the past three years since the Alliance was established. From 1994 to 2005, David Lepofsky was the co-chair and later the chair of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act Committee, a volunteer position. The province-wide non-partisan ODA Committee is the predecessor to the AODA Alliance. It spearheaded the decade-long campaign that resulted in the enactment of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act 2001 and later the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act 2005. The ODA Committee wound up in August 2005 after the enactment of these laws. The AODA Alliance was immediately launched to pick up where its predecessor, the ODA Committee, left off, to work for the strong, effective and timely implementation of these laws. To learn more about the AODA Alliance's work on that issue, visit:http://www.aodaalliance.org/strong-effective-aoda/default.asp"
http://www.abilities.ca/organizations/2009/02/24/aoda_alliance_chair_appointment/
Consumer Advisory: AMTRAK Releases Report on Accessibility & Compliance with ADA for Intercity Rail Stations – (AAPD). "On February 1, 2009, AMTRAK released 'A Report on Accessibility and Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA),' a long-awaited and statutorily required report that was sent to Senate and House transportation committee members. The report was sent also to the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Railroad Administration."
http://www.aapd.com/TTPI/amtrak.html
People on the Move: Using All Transportation Options (ADA and beyond…) – "Presented as a distance learning series in 2008-09. Based on Easter Seals Project ACTION's popular introductory in-person training of the same name, this distance learning event is a series of free 'train-the-trainer' audio conferences and Webinars designed to increase accessible transportation in your community. Participants in the People on the Move distance learning series receive free training, support materials and resources on a variety of topics related to increasing accessible transportation options."
http://projectaction.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=ESPA_people_move&s_esLocation=tc_
Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers to Participate in the National Federation of the Blind Motor City March for Independence – (NFB). "The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) announced today that the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, a coalition of eleven major automakers, will participate in the NFB's third annual March for Independence. The Motor City March for Independence will take place on the morning of July 6, 2009, as part of the convention of the National Federation of the Blind that is to be held in Detroit. Over a thousand blind citizens from across the nation will march to raise money to benefit blind people all over the United States and to raise awareness about the capabilities of blind people."
http://www.nfb.org/nfb/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=417&SnID=327081477
Brain Injury Awareness Month 2009 – "Did you know March is Brain Injury Awareness Month? It is and each March the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) and the BIA chartered state affiliates throughout the United States partner together with other organizations, businesses, schools, survivors and their families and others to generate awareness and understanding of brain injury. This year's focus is dedicated to Sports & Concussions, specifically youth sports. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) an estimated 1.6-3.8 million sports and recreation related concussions occur in the U.S. each year. Concussions occur even if an athlete doesn't lose consciousness and in fact, is the most common type of brain injury sustained in sports. A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by a blow or jolt to the head. The severity of an injury can range from mild to severe. Signs and symptoms may be noticeable immediately, or it may take days or weeks before they are present."
http://www.biausa.org/biam.htm
Columbia Citizens For Disability Advocacy – "Welcome to the Columbia Citizens For Disability Advocacy Blog. This Blog was created so all citizens of the Columbia Missouri area could have a place to post their views relating to disability advocacy. We encourage healthy and constructive commentary as it relates to disability advocacy by lawyers,health care workers,community leaders,teachers,law enforcement and all citizens of the City of Columbia area. We encourage all posters to sign your real name to postings for accountability."
http://ccfda.blogspot.com/
Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger to Serve as National Ambassador for Braille Literacy – (NFB). "The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the nation's leading advocate for Braille literacy, announced today that Daniel 'Rudy' Ruettiger, a motivational speaker and former collegiate football player best known as the inspiration for the motion picture Rudy, will serve as a National Ambassador for Braille literacy. As an ambassador, Ruettiger will help advance the NFB's Braille Readers are Leaders campaign, a national initiative to promote the importance of reading and writing Braille for blind children and adults. The Braille Readers are Leaders campaign kicked off in July of 2008 with the unveiling of the design of a commemorative coin to be released on March 26, 2009, in recognition of the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille (1809-1852), the inventor of the reading and writing code for the blind that bears his name."
http://www.nfb.org/nfb/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=413&SnID=327081477
Disability Rights Online News - February 2009 Issue Twenty Nine – "Disability Rights Online News is a bi-monthly update about the Civil Rights Division's activities in the area of disability rights. The Division enforces laws prohibiting discrimination based on disability in employment, housing, access to businesses serving the public, access to government programs and services including voting and public transportation, and unconstitutional conditions in institutions of confinement."
http://www.ada.gov/newsltr0209.htm
Report urges improved services for people with ADHD – by Amy O'Brian (Vancouver Sun). "Children and adults with untreated attention-deficit disorders are costing the province more than $500 million a year in health, education and justice costs, according to a report from the B.C. Medical Association. The report, released Monday, urges the province to take steps to improve health care services for people with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD. The doctors who wrote the report say more than half of the estimated 31,000 youths in this province who have ADHD have either not been diagnosed properly, or do not receive regular medical treatment for the condition. As a result, they are more likely to commit crimes, abuse drugs or alcohol, get pregnant and cause car crashes, the report says."
http://www.vancouversun.com/Health/Report+urges+improved+services+people+with+ADHD/1321490/story.html
Rights at the heart of Davies' agenda – by Sunil Peck (Disability Now). "The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has been lambasted for failing to champion disability rights. But the new chair of its Disability Committee, Alun Davies, insists that disability equality is at the heart of the EHRC's vision and that he feels privileged to be taking up his new role. 'The Disability Committee is key to bringing all the equality strands together to make sure that cross-issue work is a reality.' Educated in special schools, Davies has been a trade union activist, has managed the West of England Coalition of Disabled People and has written a newspaper column about life as a disabled person. Davies says the EHRC's priorities are to continue to press the government to ratify the UN Convention promoting disabled people's human rights as soon as possible, support court cases where disabled people have been discrimated against and seek to protect disability rights in the Single Equality Bill."
http://www.disabilitynow.org.uk/latest-news2/news-focus/rights-at-the-heart-of-davies-agenda
You Can Help Let Garrison Keillor Know About Ray Sandford – by David W. Oaks (MindFreedom). "I think about Ray Sandford up there in cold Minnesota getting regular involuntary electroshock, even though he lives out in the community in a basement room in a small assisted living home just north of Minneapolis. I think about the fact that a social service owned by six Lutheran Church Synods in Minnesota is Ray's general guardian, but they won't speak out and oppose his abuse. In fact, they have at times actively blocked his campaign. And I think of one of my favorite cultural leaders, author and humorist Garrison Keillor. He has deep connections to Minnesota culturally and geographically, he endorses progressive causes, he has irreverence and intelligence, and he pokes and prods the Lutherans up there in Minnesota in a loving but somewhat critical way. Then there's the little-known incident one decade ago where Mr. Keillor tangled with the American Psychiatric Association."
http://www.mindfreedom.org/kb/mental-health-arts/humor/garrison-keillor
Audioconference: Mental Illness: What Does an Employer Need to Know? – April 21, 2009 | Online/Web-based. "The ADA is a legal obligation which HR managers, employers and covered entities must adhere to. Many educational sessions focus on the 'how to accommodate' or 'what an employer can and can't do under the ADA'. Few programs provide employers with the information that they need to understand the types of disabilities that they may encounter with their applicants and employees. Mental illness is one of the most prevalent disabilities in society yet it is also among the most misunderstood. Join this session to learn more about mental illness and the impact that it can have on the lives of your employees. Enhance your understanding of the impact that mental health issues can have on the individual and in turn the workplace and strategies for creating a workplace environment that is supportive of all employees."
http://www.sedbtac.org/eventscalendar.php?eventid=344
Customized Employment – "Customized employment is a process for individualizing the employment relationship between a job seeker and an employer in ways that meet the needs of both. It is based on a match between the unique strengths, needs, and interests of the job candidate with a disability, and the identified business needs of the employer or the self-employment business chosen by the candidate. Customized employment uses a flexible blend of strategies, services, supports, and funds to facilitate employment outcomes for job seekers with complex needs through negotiated employment relationships."
http://www.worksupport.com/training/webcourses/ce_course.cfm
Rules Target Genetic Bias – by Steve Vogel (Washington Post). "The federal government took a big step yesterday toward implementing a ban on genetic discrimination in hiring and promoting workers, a move that will expand the bounds of anti-discrimination law beyond the traditional realms of age, race, religion, sex and disability. The new law, which bars discrimination by insurers and employers based on genetic test results, represents the first legislative expansion of employment discrimination law since the 1990 Americans With Disabilities Act. At a hearing yesterday at its headquarters, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission presented proposed rules for enforcing the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, signed into law last year after a legislative struggle that lasted more than a decade."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/25/AR2009022503796.html
General Interest
Couples Now & Then – by Roxanne Furlong (NewMobility). "Ethan and Julie Ruby were 'just' friends for years when, after dinner with their group of friends, they each felt a spark of chemistry. They began dating and enjoyed six months of incredible sex until a car hit Ethan, causing a T6 spinal cord injury. During rehab, Ethan offered Julie the inevitable out, 'You don't have to stick around; now's the time to walk away.' But she stayed[;] they married in 2006 and are expecting their first child, thanks to artificial insemination. For the Ruby's, life is good: They have an apartment in Manhattan and a home in Cold Spring, N.Y. Julie has her own psychoanalytic practice and Ethan is a successful day trader. Ethan, a partner in the non-profit WearableCollections.org, is 'paying it forward' in Mount Sinai Hospital's Life Challenge Adventure program. He also dabbles in professional poker and founded Poker for Life, a fundraising entity for nonprofits."
http://www.newmobility.com/articleView.cfm?id=11350
Disable-Speak Jargon for the Modern Age – by Allen Rucker(NewMobility). "In HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm, Larry David argues with a wheelchair user over occupying the accessible stall in the men's room:
Larry David: If you were here, I would've given you first dibs, but honestly, I haven't seen a handicapped person in the bathroom, maybe, EVER!
Wheelchair User: ... A 'handicapped person'!? That's nice. Oh, that's nice. It's called 'disabled.'
Larry: Disabled?
Wheelchair User: Disabled!!
Larry: Err ... that doesn't sound so hot.
Dyspeptic nudge that he is, Larry David [co-creator of Seinfeld, among other television credits] is right about this. 'Disabled' doesn't sound all that great. But it's the best we've come up with so far. It's the most proper, least offensive reference to the vast world of the, ah, disabled in 2009 America. Activists, fund-raisers, and fellow travelers have been working at this for at least a hundred years, you know, and there are no doubt advances still to be made. Simply applying no disability-centric attribution at all to someone in a wheelchair or otherwise 'alternately challenged' might be the best solution, but that's probably a ways off."
http://www.newmobility.com/articleView.cfm?id=11349
Family EBays Everything To Pay For Children's Treatments – by Michelle Diament (Disability Scoop). "A Georgia couple listed everything they own on eBay — minus their house — in an effort to pay for treatments for their children, one with autism and another with juvenile arthritis, known as Still's disease. And this week, they got a winning $20,000 bid. But the winning bidder now wants to pay the couple and let them keep their belongings."
http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2009/01/31/ebay-family/1943/
Pardon me if I don't want to star in this movie – by Helen Henderson (Toronto Star). "I am a star. The sexiest man alive should have a gold statue with my name on it tucked away on the shimmering blue set planned for the 81st Academy Awards tomorrow night. My plucky Oscar-winning performance, the one that should get me recognized by Hugh Jackman and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences? Overcoming the tragic circumstances of my life as a cripple – oops, make that 'disabled person.' (We are nothing if not politically correct in expressing our prejudices.) Indeed, casting a starring role for a 'handicapped/disabled/ mentally ill character' is listed by ABCNews.com as the Number 1 way to get a movie nominated for an Oscar. Tragedy sells. And disability seems to be a top contender in the category."
http://www.thestar.com/living/article/588955
Security for Canadians with disability – "The new Registered Disability Savings Plans (RDSPs), introduced Dec. 1, may bring new hope for a secure financial future for more than 500,000 Canadians with disabilities, but financial advisors warn that getting the most out of an RDSP demands foresight, thought and informed planning. 'The RDSP is a complicated savings vehicle,' says David Birkbeck, head of registered products strategy at Royal Bank of Canada. 'Unlike registered retirement and registered educational savings plans there are income limits to gain federal matching grants, a need to supply the Canadian Revenue Agency proof of a disability and limits on what can be withdrawn and when.' These are vehicles you really need a financial advisor's help with: First, to understand its complexities and, second, to work out ways to gain maximum benefit."
http://www.financialpost.com/scripts/story.html?id=1279732
'Your questions come, I sense, from your loneliness' – by Ian Brown (Globe and Mail). "Last year, Ian Brown shared with Globe readers his confusion and wonder as the father of a boy with extraordinary disabilities. He found some answers in the work of Jean Vanier, the founder
of the L'Arche network of communities. This spring, the two met for the first time. Today, they renew their dialogue."
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080929.wfocusvanier0927/BNStory/National/ (Globe and Mail article)
http://www.larche.ca/en/news/jean_vanier/the_globe_and_mails_ian_brown_opens_a_monthly_dial_2008-09-07 (L'Arche website)
Of men and mice – by Ian Brown (Globe and Mail). "Science now promises a cure for learning disabilities - and a world where the disabled are even less normal. For Ian Brown, this brave new world evokes issues addressed in a Depression-era classic by John Steinbeck"
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090307.MICEMEN07/TPStory/?query=Ian+Brown
Government
Canada
Federal Budget Sends New Signal to Disability Community – "Federal Budget 2009 included some measures beneficial to people with disabilities. 'We will be seeking to meet with the Ministers responsible for the Budget's expenditures to ensure all initiatives are inclusive of people with disabilities,' states Marie White, Chairperson of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD). 'We are focusing on the Strategic Training and Transition Fund which will support training for people who are not EI eligible,' continued White. Barriers in the labor market prevent some people with disabilities from attaining EI eligibility. 'I was at a pre-budget consultation with the Minister of Finance and the message from that consultation was invest in people. This Budget shows the Minister was listening,' states White. 'This Budget has taken important steps to invest in the well-being of Canadians, including people with disabilities. There is more to be done but this moves in the right direction'."
http://www.ccdonline.ca/en/socialpolicy/budget/2009/newsignal
Government of Canada issues a Call for Proposals for projects that remove barriers for people with disabilities – "The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, today announced a multi-year Call for Proposals (2009–2012) focusing on projects that will improve services or accessibility for people with disabilities to fully participate in society. 'Our government is committed to providing all Canadians with opportunities to participate in every aspect of life,' said Minister Finley. 'Successful proposals from this call will help organizations to deliver projects that remove barriers and improve the quality of life for people with disabilities.' Proposals submitted under this call must meet the program criteria and fall under one of two streams: Social Development Projects and the Accommodation Fund. Social Development Projects must address one of the following three themes: promotion of accessibility, seniors with disabilities, or youth with disabilities. The Accommodation Fund provides up to $20,000 in funding to enable people with disabilities to fully participate in events and conferences."
http://preview.tinyurl.com/by5bt9
Province Helps Families Save More For Relatives With Disabilities – "The province [Nova Scotia] is making it easier for families of people with disabilities to save for their loved one's future by allowing them to use Registered Disability Savings Plans while continuing to receive income assistance. Similar to a Registered Education Savings Plan, the Registered Disability Savings Plan allows families and their children with disabilities to save money, tax-free, until it's needed."
http://www.gov.ns.ca/news/details.asp?id=20090211002
Tax information for persons with a disability – "Through the tax system, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) administers a range of benefits and credits for persons with a disability or those who are caring for a dependant with a disability. By filing your income tax and benefit return by April 30, 2009, your return will be processed faster and if you are entitled to a refund, you will receive it earlier."
http://preview.tinyurl.com/ack4mu
Health/Wellness
Is Canada getting bang for its 172 billion health care bucks? – by Patrick Sullivan (CMA). "Are Canadians getting value for money when it comes to health care? The Health Council of Canada (HCC) isn't sure, but it hopes to find out. The HCC, an independent body created by the country's first ministers six years ago to provide advice on the state of health care, is embarking on the quest in an attempt to answer two questions: - Is Canada using its health resources well as it produces health services (which cost $172 billion in 2008)? - Is it using these services well to produce better health? In a report released Feb. 23, the council says the country can account for how health care funds are used but it cannot 'in any precise way' determine what this spending achieves."
http://www.cma.ca/index.cfm?ci_id=10043199&la_id=1
Government of Canada Supports Electronic Health Record System that Will Save Time and Lives – "The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, today announced that the Government of Canada, through its Economic Action Plan, is continuing to support the creation of health information systems designed to benefit Canadians by saving time and lives, while also creating economic stimulus. Support from Budget 2009 will assist Canada Health Infoway in implementing electronic health records. It will also speed up the implementation of electronic medical record systems for physicians, as well as connect hospitals, pharmacies and community care facilities. Many other countries are following Canada's adoption of electronic health records, which give health-care providers a complete picture of their patients' health history and help them to provide better care. Electronic health records will also help to reduce wait times by speeding the flow of information through the system, eliminating duplicate or unnecessary tests, and reducing hospital stays due to adverse drug events. Automated alerts and reminders will help to reduce medication errors and remind health-care providers of necessary tests or vaccinations."
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/nr-cp/_2009/2009_14-eng.php
Mount Sinai SCI Health and Wellness Series! – "Welcome to the Mount Sinai SCI Health and Wellness Series! Topics include: Healthy Eating and Weight Management, Exercise and Sports & Recreation, 'The True Nature of Intimacy' by Gary Karp, Intimacy and Sexuality after SCI: Male and Female Panels, 'Freeing Minds, Opening Hearts and Igniting Action' by Scott Chesney, Reinventing Yourself after SCI."
http://event.netbriefings.com/event/mssci/Archives/Reg/
New OnLine System to Provide Canadians with Quicker Access to Safe Natural Health Products – "Colin Carrie, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health, today launched the first phase of Online Solution, a secure online system for processing natural health product submissions, site licences, and clinical trial authorizations for natural health products in Canada .The Natural Health Products Online Solution contains a world-class fully-searchable database of natural health product ingredients that includes 7,000 acceptable medicinal and non-medicinal ingredients. Natural health product manufacturers will also benefit from pre-cleared information, such as pre-approved ingredient information claims and conditions of use, as the basis for new product applications."
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/nr-cp/_2009/2009_31-eng.php
Legal
Enforcing the ADA: A Status Report from the Department of Justice: April - June 2008 – "This Status Report covers the ADA activities of the Department of Justice during the second quarter (April - June) of 2008. This report, previous status reports, and a wide range of other ADA information, including the consent decrees and formal settlement agreements mentioned in this report, are available through the Department's ADA Home Page at www.ada.gov "
http://www.ada.gov/aprjun08.htm
LSAC Discriminates Against Blind Law School Applicants – (NFB). "The National Federation of the Blind, the nation's oldest and largest organization of blind people; its California affiliate; and a blind law school applicant, Deepa Goraya, are filing a lawsuit today against the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC). The complaint asserts that the LSAC, the body that administers the Law School Admissions Test (which most aspiring law students must take) and provides other services to law schools and law school applicants, violates the California Disabled Persons Act and the Unruh Act because its Web site (www.lsac.org) and LSAT preparation materials are inaccessible to blind law school applicants. The plaintiffs have attempted to meet with the LSAC to resolve the matter, but the LSAC cancelled a planned meeting."
http://www.nfb.org/nfb/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=414&SnID=327081477
No help for dyslexics who want to be doctors – by Bob Egelko (San Francisco Chronicle). "Would-be doctors with dyslexia or other disorders that impair their reading skills lost a state Supreme Court appeal Wednesday in their attempt to get extra time or other accommodations on the national medical school entrance exam. An Alameda County judge had ruled in 2006 that California disability law requires the organization administering the Medical College Admission test to accommodate students who show that their disorders make reading more difficult. But a state appeals court in San Francisco ruled last October that California law, like federal law, gives the American Association of Medical Colleges leeway in deciding when a student needs help because of a serious learning disability. The state's high court denied review of that ruling Wednesday, with only Justice Ming Chin voting to hear the case."
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/11/BA7C15SL4H.DTL&tsp=1
Media
Activists protest award for comedian – by Lisa Rose (The Star-Ledger). "From Newark to Hollywood, it's been a remarkable journey for Jerry Lewis, a comic icon presented with his first Oscar last night. The 82-year-old Jersey native received a humanitarian award for a half-century of fundraising work as the Muscular Dystrophy Association's chairman and telethon host. From the Garden State to the Golden State, Simi Linton made her own journey, traveling thousands of miles to picket the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' choice to honor Lewis. Clad in a pink jacket, polka-dot scarf and pointy sunglasses, the disabled writer/filmmaker parked her wheelchair on Hollywood Boulevard the day before the Oscars, hoisting a handwritten sign, 'Respect Not Pity.'"
http://www.nj.com/entertainment/tv/index.ssf/2009/02/activists_protest_award_for_co.html
Commentary: Jerry Lewis didn't deserve a humanitarian award at the Oscars – by Mike Ervin (The Progressive Media Project). "The Oscars insulted people with disabilities. At the Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday, the board of governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences presented its Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award to Jerry Lewis. For decades, disability rights activists have criticized how his annual telethon for the Muscular Dystrophy Association exploits people with disabilities by making us into objects of pity. To this, Lewis responded in 2001, 'You don't want to be pitied because you're a cripple in a wheelchair, stay in your house!' Lewis becomes particularly enraged when those who protest his telethon and him are people with muscular dystrophy – like me."
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/62644.html
EndeavorFreedomTV – "Bringing awareness of the disability community through video, film, photography, poetry, sport, and print to create a space that honors diversity and reflects the myriad experience of the world at large."
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/EndeavorFreedomTV
Medical
Canadians open door to learning-disorder drug – by Carolyn Abraham (Globe and Mail). "An eight-year effort by Canadian scientists has connected a crucial brain protein with the power to learn, raising the possibility that learning disabilities could be corrected with a drug. A Toronto research team discovered that this single protein, which helps brain cells talk to one another, results in learning impairments when it is missing or malfunctions. And in a
remarkable one-two punch, the scientists have also found that a medication, now being tested in Alzheimer's patients, may fix the problem."
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090224.wdrug24/BNStory/National/home/
Concussion's Long Tail – (Brain and Spinal Cord.org). "A recent study is linking mental and physical deterioration in later years to a concussion. Canadian researchers from Montreal University focused on ice hockey players for this test, determining that the repercussions of a concussion are felt as late as 30 years after the initial trauma. A similar study that used soccer players as its subjects determined parallel results, backing up the need for those engaging in sports to wear helmets. Whether you are a proponent of helmets or not, the crucial point these studies are making is that damage is often seen years and years later; making immediate concussion care, if not prevention, all the more vital. While this study was small-scale (involving 40 former athletes in their 50s), it showed delayed response time, poor memory performance, and impaired hand control in the volunteers who had suffered a concussion in their youth - compared to those who hadn't."
http://www.brainandspinalcord.org/blog/2009/02/11/concussions-long-tail/
Consortium Grad Makes New Discovery – (Christopher Reeve.org). "In the 1990s, Dr. Philip Horner was learning his trade at one of the Reeve Foundation's first Consortium labs. 'The thing we were doing at the Consortium, which was unusual then in scientific research, was learning how to work together,' says Horner. 'Can multiple labs do projects together? We put our best ideas together. The goal wasn't that we cure spinal cord injury. The goal at that time was: Can you take a developmental biology lab, a physiology lab, a molecular lab, can you get them to work together on one project and functionally integrate?' This kind of sharing and cooperation is still one of the goals of the Reeve Foundation's Consortium of eight labs around the world."
http://www.christopherreeve.org/site/c.ddJFKRNoFiG/b.4435047/k.4B31/Consortium_Grad_Makes_New_Discovery.htm
F.D.A. Approves a Stem Cell Trial – by Andrew Pollack (New York Times). "In a research milestone, the federal government will allow the world's first test in people of a therapy derived from human embryonic stem cells. Federal drug regulators said that political considerations had no role in the decision. Nevertheless, the move coincided with the inauguration of President Obama, who has pledged to remove some of the financing restrictions placed on the field by President George W. Bush. The clearance of the clinical trial — of a treatment for spinal cord injury — is to be announced Friday by Geron, the biotechnology company that first applied to the Food and Drug Administration to conduct the trial last March. The F.D.A. had first said no, asking for more data."
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/23/business/23stem.html?_r=2&hp
Stem cell injection offers fresh hope for MS sufferers – "Stem cell injections can reverse the crippling effects of multiple sclerosis, a study published today says. Four out of five adults in the early stages of MS who were injected with stem cells taken from their bone marrow saw an improvement in symptoms after three years. The rest of the patients saw their condition stabilise."
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/life/2009-02/02/content_7439309.htm
Spun-sugar fibers spawn sweet technique for nerve repair – "Researchers at Purdue University have developed a technique using spun-sugar filaments to create a scaffold of tiny synthetic tubes that might serve as conduits to regenerate nerves severed in accidents or blood vessels damaged by disease. The sugar filaments are coated with a corn-based degradable polymer, and then the sugar is dissolved in water, leaving behind bundles of hollow polymer tubes that mimic those found in nerves, said Riyi Shi, an associate professor in Purdue's Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Basic Medical Sciences. The scaffold could be used to promote nerve regeneration by acting as a bridge placed between the ends of severed nerves, said biomedical engineering doctoral student Jianming Li, who is a member of Shi's research team that developed the technique."
http://news.uns.purdue.edu/x/2009a/090226ShiNerves.html
Policy/Research
2007-2008 NRS Data Now Available – "The Rehabilitation program area at the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) is pleased to announce that adult inpatient rehabilitation data from the National Rehabilitation Reporting System (NRS) is now available for 2007-2008."
http://secure.cihi.ca/cihiweb/dispPage.jsp?cw_page=bl_nrs_10feb2009_e
Councils fail disabled parents and their children – (Mencap). "The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) has found that disabled parents and their children are not getting the support they need. A new report by CSCI says that councils in England are offering disabled parents and their children fragmented and inadequate support. The study shows that very few councils find the right balance between supporting disabled parents and supporting children who help look after their disabled parents. CSCI says that councils need to recognise the combined support needs of the whole family. It has called for more clarity within local authorities over the roles of adults' and children's services."
http://www.mencap.org.uk/news.asp?id=9497&pageno=&year=&menuId=90
New Bibliography of Personal Accounts of Madness – (MindFreedom). "The most recent edition of a comprehensive bibliography on personal accounts of madness is now available. Professor Gail A. Hornstein at Mount Holyoke College has spent years creating a bibliography concerning personal accounts of madness written by survivors themselves or their family members, as well as anthologies and critical analyses of the madness narrative genre. The fourth edition of this bibliography, now twenty-seven pages long, is available here."
http://www.mindfreedom.org/kb/resources/new-bibliography
The 2006 Participation and Activity Limitation Survey: Disability in Canada – (StatCan). "The Participation and Activity Limitation Survey (PALS) is Canada's national survey that gathers information about adults and children whose daily activities are limited by a physical, mental, or other health-related condition or problem. The reports in this series document disability rates, demographic distribution, type and severity of the activity limitation, specialized equipment or aids, support required to complete everyday tasks, barriers and accommodation to employment, education, housing, transportation, leisure and impact of activity limitations on children and their families."
New reports released in February 2009 include:
· Facts on Learning Limitations
· Facts on Seeing Limitations
· Facts on Hearing Limitations
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/bsolc/olc-cel/olc-cel?catno=89-628-X&chropg=1&lang=eng
Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired: Taking Action on Poverty, Poor Health and Bad Jobs – by Ernie Lightman, Andrew Mitchell & Beth Wilson (Wellesley Institute). "Falling on the heels of the release of Ontario's landmark poverty reduction strategy, Sick and Tired paints a grim picture of the health of the province's poorest residents. This new report from the Community Social Planning Council of Toronto, University of Toronto's Social Assistance in the New Economy Project and the Wellesley Institute documents the compromised health of social assistance recipients and the working poor in Ontario."
http://wellesleyinstitute.com/node/1658
http://wellesleyinstitute.com/files/povertymakingussickfinal.pdf (Report)
"We got evicted...did I leave that out?" Stories of Housing and Mental Health – by Ian Skelton and Richard Mahé (Policy Alternatives). "This study begins to explore ways of supporting processes of community transformation through enhancing the provision of housing and supports for people living with mental illness. In particular, the study is concerned with factors that mediate between individuals living with mental illness and the broader social environment. It observes that these mediating factors can be empowering, but, as parts of the broader social environment, they can also reflect and reproduce aspects of social marginalization such as stigma and discrimination."
http://www.policyalternatives.ca/%7EASSETS/DOCUMENT/Manitoba_Pubs/2009/stories_of_housing_and_mental_health.pdf
U.S. Labor Department to begin new monthly data series on people with disabilities from Current Population Survey on Feb. 6 – "The U.S. Department of Labor will, for the first time, release employment and unemployment data on people with disabilities on Friday, Feb. 6. This information will assist the nation in understanding how changing labor market conditions affect Americans with disabilities. Although it is widely believed that this group typically faces a higher rate of unemployment than individuals without disabilities, official estimates were not available until now."
http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/odep/ODEP20090133.htm
Rehabilitation
Caring for the Caregivers – (Brain and Spinal Cord.org). "Virginia Commonwealth University's Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Center is studying a new therapy that is designed to help patients and their families cope with the acute phase of their recovery from a traumatic brain injury. The First Steps Acute Neurobehavioral and Cognitive Intervention (FANCI) program is funded by a five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health-NICHHD, and is a randomized controlled trial. Janet Niemeier, Ph.D. and William Walker, M.D. are hoping that this study will show FANCI's ability to address post-injury challenges such as dealing with impaired cognitive function, community re-entry, and family acceptance and understanding. The program includes 10 sessions that focus on these and other important issues. We are interested to see how this trial pans out, as issues such as family inclusion, understanding, and support are common and often under-addressed. The emotional and mental changes that result from traumatic brain injuries can confuse and alienate those around the patient, even those who are closest, and the stress of caring for a family member with a brain injury can be substantial and on-going."
http://www.brainandspinalcord.org/blog/2009/02/19/caring-for-the-caregivers/
How do we Address Suicidal Urges in Those with Disabilities? – (Brain and Spinal Cord.org). "'How do we stop physically disabled people from feeling suicidal in the first place?' This poignant quote comes from a New Statesman column regarding Daniel James' decision to end his life rather than live it as a tetraplegic. The writer, Victoria Brignell, also a tetraplegic, has an excellent point - the focus shouldn't be on the ethics behind assisted suicide, but on addressing the mental and emotional factors that create the urge in the first place. If you aren't familiar with James' story, he was a rugby player for an English team who was paralyzed from the chest down two years ago during a practice session. Only 23, he decided to take his life with the help of a Swiss clinic that practices assisted suicide. His parents chose to assist him after enduring his repeated attempts to end his life. Numerous operations resulted in very limited success, and his parents stated that his depression grew until he couldn't bear to live anymore."
http://www.brainandspinalcord.org/blog/2009/02/25/how-do-we-address-suicidal-urges-in-those-with-disabilities/
Muscle control the best option for back pain – "Australian researchers have found that people suffering with lower back pain can significantly reduce their pain and disability by learning to control their trunk muscles. Back pain is a problem which affects millions worldwide and carries an enormous economic and social burden. Researchers have for decades been searching for new ways to manage the all too common problem and to improve the health and quality of life for sufferers struggling to cope with this condition. The Australian researchers conducted a systematic review which included 14 trials - 7 compared motor control exercise with minimal intervention or evaluated it as a supplement to another treatment - 4 compared motor control exercise with manual therapy - 5 compared motor control exercise with another form of exercise and 1 compared motor control exercise with lumbar fusion surgery."
http://www.news-medical.net/?id=45381
National trial to focus on stroke rehabilitation technology – by Steve Ford (Nursing Times). "Salisbury District Hospital have been chosen to lead a national trial on assistive technologies that help improve hand and arm rehabilitation following a stroke. The National Institute for Health Research has awarded a grant of £2m for a five year programme which will be spread around a number of universities and hospitals. Assistive technologies include the use of robots to move the arm and leg, electrical impulses to activate muscles, toxins to reduce tightness in paralysed muscles and a variety of splints and supports that aid function."
http://www.nursingtimes.net/news/breakingnews/2009/02/national_trial_to_focus_on_stroke_rehabilation_technology.html
Reinventing the wheel(chair) – by Jennifer Pritchett (Whig-Standard). "A Kingston doctor is helping develop a low-cost, rugged wheelchair for people with disabilities who live in remote areas of Nepal. Dr. Joy Wee, who works in the physical medicine and rehabilitation department at Providence Care's St. Mary's of the Lake Hospital, will travel to the south Asian country at the end of the month to continue her research. 'Most of the wheelchairs that are provided to patients there are donated and a lot of those are of poor quality,' she said. '[Those chairs] might last half a year.' Wee, a physiatrist - or rehab doctor - will work out of the Green Pastures Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre in Pokhara, a city northwest of Kathmandu. The hospital is a simple, one-storey cement structure that only has electricity for eight hours a day. A member of the Queen's University department of physical medicine and rehabilitation, Wee said the donated wheelchairs are the standard push variety that don't work well in the muddy, hilly terrain of Nepal."
http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1441452
Upper Extremity Care – (Christopher Reeve.org). "Got arm, shoulder or wrist pain? If you're pushing a wheelchair, you are not alone. About half of those with spinal cord injury eventually experience upper extremity pain. It doesn't have to be so… with knowledge, the right equipment, exercise and care you can preserve arms and shoulders for the long-term, and avoid pain."
http://www.christopherreeve.org/site/c.mtKZKgMWKwG/b.5014007/k.69EA/Upper_Extremity_Care.htm
Sports/Recreation
Canadian figure skater tries to double his fun – (Idaho Statesman). "If you're looking for a figure skating show at this week's Special Olympics World Winter Games, check out Canadian Marc Theriault Thursday morning at Qwest Arena. Theriault, one of only two Level VI male skaters in the competition, packs about eight jumps into his free skate, including a difficult double-Lutz and double-double combination. He was the first Special Olympics athlete to land a double jump in international competition, he said. He took the lead over long-time rival Roman Zinurov of Russia in Monday's compulsory round. The free skate is tentatively scheduled for 10:10 a.m. Thursday."
http://www.idahostatesman.com/102/story/663051.html
Success is a Journey . . . Not a Destination – (NCPAD). "Imagine being on stage, all eyes on you and with the ultimate tan. With months of training, dedication and a lot of sweat, you are prepared for this moment; showcasing yourself as the best, among all of the others. A few moments of judging are what it all comes down to. And yes, I am talking about the world of bodybuilding, but more interestingly enough - wheelchair bodybuilding!"
http://www.ncpad.org/yourwrites/fact_sheet.php?sheet=675
Winter is a true wonderland for athletes with disabilities – by Mary Brophy Marcus (USA Today). "Sled hockey is one of many winter sports becoming more popular among athletes with physical challenges, such as spinal cord injuries, limb amputations, cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis. In recent years, snow sport equipment makers have adapted equipment, and ski resorts have expanded opportunities for those with disabilities. Health experts say the trend has multiple benefits, both mental and physical. . . 'The trend is nothing short of revolutionary,' says Kirk Bauer, executive director of Disabled Sports USA, a national non-profit that offers sports rehabilitation programs to anyone with a permanent disability. Since 1967, it has grown from serving a handful of Vietnam veterans missing limbs to offering 20 sports for those with all disabilities. It boasts 100 chapters in 38 states. 'No matter where you live, you're likely only a couple hours away from an adaptive program,' Bauer says."
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-02-22-winter-sports-disabled_N.htm
Technology
Assistive Technology For Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired: A Guide to Assessment – by Ike Presley, M.Ed., Frances Mary D'Andrea, M.Ed.(AFB). "Assistive technology is essential in today's world to enable people who are blind or visually impaired to participate fully in school, work, and life. But how can you keep track of all the devices and software and each one's function? And what assistive technology tools are right for your students? If you've asked yourself these questions or others like them, this comprehensive handbook is the resource you need."
http://www.afb.org/store/product.asp?sku=978-0-89128-890-9&mscssid=6TWX3SESVQ4M8LW0LB28RJX7VFKEBK49
Automated 'Intelligent' Houses Help Elderly Stay In Homes Longer – "People are living longer and longer. Today, over 40 million EU citizens are over 65 years of age, and by 2050, this figure will have doubled. Many older people would ideally like to remain in their own homes – even if they are frail and regularly need assistance. In the future, automated homes, intelligent environments, modern sensor systems, and information technology can help elderly to live autonomously in their own homes. These systems remind residents to regularly take their medicine, for example, or send out an alert if someone falls. The technology remains discreetly in the background – until it is needed."
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090213115332.htm
Diagnosing Learning Disabilities with a P.C. – "The Boston Neurofeedback Center is raising funds to launch the Boston Educational Assessment Team (BEAT), a small portable computing device that measures brain activity though an electroencephalogram(EEG) test. Analysts upload the EEG data onto a personal computer and use the information to detect whether the subject may have an attention deficit issue (ADHD) or learning disability. The BEAT device could make testing students for ADHD and learning disabilities quick, easy and quantifiable. Boston Neurofeedback hopes to get FDA approval by the end of 2009. The BEAT is expected to be on the market in two years."
http://www.additudemag.com/addnews/60/5171.html
Innovative WordLogic Predictive Text Solution is Adopted as a New Assistive Technology for Dyslexia Sufferers – (MSNBC). "WordLogic Corporation, a leading-edge technology company developing advanced methods of text and information entry, announces that its patented predictive text solution is being adopted as an effective tool for the millions of dyslexia sufferers worldwide. The patented WordLogic solution is used as typing software, a
research tool and an aid in language learning, but is now being utilized by dyslexia sufferers who struggle with everyday writing tasks."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29277969/
http://www.wordlogic.com/
Kindle sparks a flame war, but fails to light the fire for accessibility – (AFB). "Everyone's talking about Amazon's sleek new e-book reader—the Kindle 2—that started shipping earlier this week. The Kindle 2 allows users to download everything from books to blogs to newspapers, and includes text-to-speech capability. We were excited to hear that Amazon was taking this accessibility step, and have been eager to get our hands on one ever since. Today, we finally did and we're sad to report that it's not as usable as we had hoped."
http://www.afb.org/Blog/blog_comments.asp?TopicID=4426
New Movie Closed-Captioning Technology – (Assistive Technology News). "The International Center on Deafness and the Arts (ICODA) has released the results of research on a new movie closed-captioning system developed by Personal Captioning Systems, Inc. (PCS). Members of the deaf community overwhelmingly reported that they prefer this new closed captioning system to other systems currently available. The PCS closed captioning system uses a PDA-like display at the patron's seat, supported on a flexible gooseneck adjustable to individual user's preferences and needs, to provide the movie captions. ICODA and other members of the deaf community anxiously await the installation of more of these systems in every movie theater so they can have text captions for every first run movie at every seat at every showing of every film."
http://www.atechnews.com/movietech.html
Oklahoma Capitol event will highlight disabled growers' needs – by Brian Sargent (NewsOK). "Oklahoma's farmers and ranchers know their occupation is a risky business. A 2000 study by Oklahoma ABLE Tech, which serves Oklahomans of all ages and all disabilities with assistive technology, reports 26 percent of farmers and ranchers, or about 17,000, in the state have had some type of disability that affects their livelihood or quality of life."
http://www.newsok.com/oklahoma-capitol-event-will-highlight-disabled-growers-needs/article/3349405
ReadHowYouWant Book Selection – (ICDRI). "ReadHowYouWant Pty. and its R&D parent company, Objective Systems Pty Ltd, are both Sydney, Australia-based privately held companies co-founded in 2004 by electronic publishing pioneers Christopher Stephen and Greg Duncan. When Chris' sister, who suffers from MS, developed difficulty reading, they began experimenting to determine whether people with reading difficulties could benefit from changing the text format."
http://www.icdri.org/readhowyouwant_book_selection.htm
Scientists Read Minds With Infrared Scan – "Researchers at Canada's largest children's rehabilitation hospital have developed a technique that uses infrared light brain imaging to decode preference—with the goal of ultimately opening the world of choice to children who can't speak or move. In a study published this month in the Journal of Neural Engineering,Toronto-based Bloorview Kid's Rehab scientists demonstrate the ability to decode a person's preference for one of two drinks with 80% accuracy by measuring the intensity of near-infrared light absorbed in brain tissue."
http://www.rehabpub.com/news/2009-02-12_01.asp
Smart Chair Turns The Paralyzed Into Robowarriors – "Many people in this world suffer from severely debilitating syndromes leaving them paralyzed and completely dependent on the assistance of others. Some advances, like automated wheelchairs that use special input devices, have helped to increase the quality of life for these folks. To push the assistive technology even further, the University of South Florida researchers are working on refining a wheelchair that has its own mechanical arm. The system uses EEG to read one's brain waves and sends translated signals to the roboarm, directing it to move accordingly."
http://www.medgadget.com/archives/2009/02/smart_chair_turns_the_paralyzed_into_robowarriors.html
Conferences
( New Conferences)
Canadian
Health & Safety Canada 2009 - April 20-22, 2009 | Toronto, Ontario. "Three dimensions that will drive health and safety in the future. Don't miss out on three days of unparalleled learning and the year's best opportunity to network with more than 6,000 health and safety professionals."
http://www.iapa.ca/Main/Micro/conference_2009/index.asp
Louis Braille: From Literacy to Liberty 2009 Canadian Federation Of The Blind Convention Louis Braille Birthday Bash – May1-3, 2009 | Victoria, British Columbia. "Celebrate the 200th birthday of Louis Braille at the fourth annual Canadian Federation of the Blind Convention."
http://www.cfb.ca/
Fifth Annual Health Care Provider Conference – May 8, 2009 | Burnaby, British Columbia. "Join us in Burnaby on May 8 for the Fifth Annual Health Care Provider Conference. The goal of the conference is to provide continuing education opportunities to rehabilitation providers. Author and inspirational speaker Warren Macdonald will talk about finding opportunity in change. Other conference topics include: the health care provider's role in preventing the spread of communicable diseases, motivational interviewing techniques, caring for injured spinal cord patients, cognitive behaviour therapy, assessment, treatment, and predictablity of low back, pelvic, and hip injuries."
http://www.healthcareproviderconference.com/
Critical Disability Studies Conference – May 8- 9, 2009 | Toronto, Ontario. "York University's Critical Disability Studies Student Association will be holding its 5th annual graduate student conference May 8-9 2009. The conference is meant to showcase graduate students across Canada and their work relating to themes and issues within the scope of Critical Disability Studies."
https://pi.library.yorku.ca/ocs/index.php/cdsc/
International Conference on the Use of the Internet in Mental Health – May 14-16, 2009 | Montreal, Quebec. "The Internet has become a must-use tool for everyone, including those working in mental health. People with mental illnesses, and their loved ones, now look to the Internet to find information on their disorders, to share their emotions on Facebook discussion groups, or to simply express themselves through personal blogs. Mental health professionals are also taking ownership of this new tool to improve their practice. Various initiatives in this field have already been developed, such as information dissemination, on-line diagnoses, post-immediate care after a mass casualty event, e-psychotherapy, and Internet-based research and academic training."
http://www.douglas.qc.ca/internet-mental-health/
2009 CHHA Conference & AGM - "Technology: The Gateway to Hearing Life" – May 21-24, 2009 | St. John's, Newfoundland. "The theme for the 2009 Conference is 'Technology: The Gateway to Hearing Life' and reflects the impact technology has on persons with hearing loss and their families. A full line-up of educational workshops has been scheduled for May 22 and May 23, 2009. Some of the topics to be discussed could include cochlear implants, tinnitus, captioning issues & accessibility, hearing aids, speech recognition software, etc. Young adult sessions are also included."
http://chha.ca/index2.php?content=information
2009 CDSA-ACEI Conference – May 25-26, 2009 | Ottawa, Ontario. "The 2009 CDSA-ACEI Conference, held in conjunction with the Congress of the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences, will be at Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario, Monday May 25 and Tuesday May 26, 2009. The theme of Congress 2009 is 'Capital Connections: nation, terroir, territoire.' This theme invites an exploration of identity as physical space; the space of a people, a nation, and their historic 'terroir.' It asks the question: Has globalization produced a sea-change in our understanding of the relationship between place and who we are? Our conference will accordingly reflect that theme with regards to disability studies."
http://www.cdsa-acei.ca/conference.html
U.S.
Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium – April 17, 2009 | Baltimore, Maryland. "Jacobus tenBroek founded the National Federation of the Blind in 1940 and served as its president until his death in 1968. He was a constitutional law scholar, a blind professor at Berkeley, and an author of treatises on the Fourteenth Amendment and social welfare. Dr. tenBroek created the concept that civil rights should apply to disabled Americans, and he published extensively regarding the variables involved in the application of the law to those with disabilities. That blind and other disabled people have been able to gain a substantial measure of participation in American life is largely due to Dr. tenBroek's thought and energy. To carry forward the work of Dr. tenBroek in assuring that all citizens may have the opportunity for full participation in the society in which we live, the National Federation of the Blind is hosting the Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium. The 2009 symposium, 'New Perspectives on Disability Law: Advancing the Right to Live in the World,' will examine the new perspectives on disability law both in the United States, brought about by the election of a new administration and the signing of the ADA Amendments Act, and internationally, as a result of the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities."
http://www.nfb.org/nfb/Law_Symposium.asp
Multiple Perspectives on Access, Inclusion, and Disability Annual Conference – April 28-29, 2009 | Ohio State University Columbus Campus. "The Ninth 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 'Change, Challenge & Collaboration' reflects the critical place in history we occupy. Between last conference and this call for papers the United Nations has adopted the Convention on Disability, Congress passed a new GI bill and the Higher Education Opportunity Act which include a significant focus on disability; the Access Board is proposing changes in Section 508, the Department of Justice is in the final stages of a comprehensive review and update of the regulations for the ADA's Titles II and III; and the ADA Amendments of 2008 are working their way through Congress. The theme and the quotes below are offered as a guide to framing your proposals and considering your topics from a fresh perspective."
http://ada.osu.edu/conferences/2009Conf/callforpapers09.html
Pacific Rim International Forum – May 2-3, 2009, | Honolulu, Hawaii. "With its beginnings dating back to 1985, the Pacific Rim International Conference on Disabilities has evolved into one of the top rated international educational offerings for and from persons with disabilities, family members, researchers, service providers, policymakers, community leaders, advocates, and nationally recognized professionals in the various disciplines in the diverse field of disabilities."
http://www.pacrim.hawaii.edu/
21st Annual Postsecondary Disability Training Institute (PTI) – June 2 - 6, 2009 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. "Come learn skills you'll use every day! The objective of this Training Institute is to assist concerned professionals to meet the unique needs of college students with disabilities. Participants can select from a variety of Strands and Single Sessions taught by experts in the field that provide participants with in-depth information and adequate time for questions and follow-up activities. Participants also have opportunities to share information and network with each other at various activities throughout the week."
http://www.cped.uconn.edu/09pti.htm
The Second National Conference on the Employment of Lawyers with Disabilities – June 15-16, 2009 | Washington D.C. "The Conference will be hosted by the ABA Commission on Mental and Physical Disability Law and 2008-2009 ABA President H. Thomas Wells Jr. It is co-sponsored by the Association of Corporate Counsel and the Minority Corporate Counsel Association. This groundbreaking program aims to: encourage large legal employers, particularly corporations and law firms, to sign pledges to promote diversity and inclusion within the workplace with an emphasis on hiring and retaining lawyers with disabilities; develop best practices for promoting disability diversity and inclusion; and identify legal employers and work settings that are models for the legal profession. The Conference is part of the ABA's commitment to open the legal profession to lawyers with disabilities."
http://www.abanet.org/disability/conferences/09conference.shtml
2009 Amputee Coalition of America Annual Conference – June 18 - 21, 2009 | Atlanta, Georgia. "The Amputee Coalition will bring together people with limb loss/limb difference, their families and healthcare professionals for 4 days of education, support and networking. We hope to see over 900 attendees in 2009! Don't miss this opportunity to join hundreds of people who share life experiences and learn from each other."
http://www.amputee-coalition.org/conference/
2009 Resna Conference – June 23-27, 2009 | New Orleans, Louisana. "Join us in New Orleans on June 23-27, 2009 for the Annual RESNA Conference at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel. For information about the hotel, click here http://www.sheratonneworleans.com/. For information about New Orleans, check out http://www.neworleansonline.com/."
http://www.resna.org/conference/index.php
2009 National Disability Sports Conference – September 10-12 | Kennesaw, Georgia. "The 2009 National Disability Sports Conference will be held September 10-12 on the campus of Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia. Next year's Conference is expected to be the best ever, with more than 30 interactive sessions on topics ranging from coaching to recruitment and program development. These sessions will be lead by the nation's top sports professionals; elite coaches and Paralympic athletes will share their cutting edge training techniques with attendees. Wheelchairs and other sporting equipment will be on hand to ensure a hands-on learning experience. Additionally, Conference attendees will have access to one-on-one consulting on fundraising, risk management, public relations, grant writing, and more. Continuing education credits are available. This is an excellent chance to meet the best minds in disability sport from across the country!"
http://www.blazesports.org/DesktopModules/CalendarEventsExDetails.aspx?Mid=729&ItemID=524
The Second IASTED International Conference on Telehealth and Assistive Technology: TAT 2009 – November 4-6, 2009 | Cambridge, Massachusetts. "The healthcare industry is constantly changing to incorporate new advances in science and to address new needs within society. Recent developments in communication technology have greatly facilitated the exchange of information and expertise. Telehealth is an emerging field in which health services are transmitted over a long distance using technologies such as videoconferencing, the Internet, store-and-forward imaging, streaming media, satellites, and wireless communications. Telehealth promises to impact the ways that clinical healthcare, health-related education, public health, and health administration are approached."
http://www.iasted.org/conferences/cfp-663.html
60th Annual IDA Conference – November 11-14, 2009 | Orlando, Florida. "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/CallForPapersOrlandoTest1.htm
WFN XVIII World Congress on Parkinson's Disease and Related Disorders – December 13-16, 2009 | Miami Beach, Florida. "Celebrate 50 Years of Scientific Advancement in Parkinson's Disease. In 2009 the WFN XVIII World Congress on Parkinson's Disease and Related Disorders celebrates half a century as a leading international summit for clinicians, researchers, and allied healthcare professionals worldwide seeking real solutions to improve the long-term outcomes for Parkinson's patients. Over 3,000 participants are expected to attend this biennial Parkinson's Disease congress ─ the eighteenth organized by the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) 'Research Group on Parkinsonism and Related Disorders.'"
http://www2.kenes.com/parkinson/Pages/Home.aspx
Overseas
4th International State-of-the-art Congress "Rehabilitation: Mobility, Exercise & Sports" –April 7-9, 2009 | Amsterdam. Netherlands. "The theme of the 4th congress underlines the development taking place in our research since 1991: from a strongly manual wheelchair-oriented focus back than, towards the much broader perspective of mobility restoration, active lifestyle, exercise, training and sports in the context of rehabilitation practice today."
http://www.move.vu.nl/links/rehabmove2009/program/
International Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility 2009 – April 20-21, 2009 | Madrid, Spain. "Population demographics indicate that our populations are ageing across the board. As the population ages the financial requirement to work longer is increased, but the ability to work longer is reduced because disability becomes a bar to employment. With the growth of the knowledge economy, and a move from manual work to more thought and communication based activities, there is the very real possibility of older Web users being able to finding productive, fulfilling, and social empowering employment; if only technology, and specifically the Web, where available to them. An ageing but Web literate population indicates a large market for online shopping and services especially when mobility is a problem for the shopper. In this case we wonder how this new population we interact with Web based resources, and what new problems in accessibility will there be to overcome?"
http://www.w4a.info/
Eighteenth International World Wide Web Conference – April 20-24, 2009 | Madrid, Spain. "The International World Wide Web Conferences Steering Committee (IW3C2), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) and Madrid municipality cordially invite you to participate in the 18th International World Wide Web Conference (WWW2009) to be held in Madrid, the charming and cosmopolitan Spain´s capital. The World Wide Web Conference is the global event that brings together key researchers, innovators, decision-makers, technologists, businesses, and standards bodies working to shape the Web. Organized by IW3C2 since 1994, the WWW conference is the annual opportunity for the International community to discuss and debate the evolution of the Web. The conference will feature a range of presentations on world-class research, as well as stimulating talks, workshops, tutorials, panels, and late-breaking posters."
http://www.www2009.org/
The Second International Conference on Information and Communication Technology & Accessibility – May 7-9, 2009 | Hammamet, Tunisia. "After the success of ICTA 07, with more than 300 attendees from about 30 countries, the Second International Conference on ICT and Accessibility will take place in the beautiful town of Hammamet from 07 to 09 May 2009. ICTA 09 will provide a unique forum for all research related to ICT and e-accessibility. This conference addresses new trends and challenges, emerging technologies and progress in standards relevant to today's fast moving areas of Information and Communication Technologies. It will also discuss how e-accessibility can be supported and improved."
http://www.icta.rnu.tn/
DSAI 2009 Software Development for Enhancing Accessibility and Fighting Info-exclusion – June 3-5, 2009 | Lisboa, Portugal. "Welcome to DSAI 2009. After a successful start with DSAI 2006 and 2007 editions, the International Conference on Software Development for Enhancing Accessibility and Fighting Info-exclusion (DSAI 2009) will take place in June 2009, at the MSFT - Software para Microcomputadores, Lda. - TAGUSPARK - Lisboa - PORTUGAL. Nowadays, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) play a major role in our lives. However, ICT development which is indifferent to the concerns of social inclusion may raise barriers and increase the gap between the average user and those with special needs, instead of contributing to eliminating this gap and promoting equal rights and opportunities for all. Senior citizens and others with special needs are often faced with multiple minor disabilities that prevent them from enjoying the benefits of technology and higher quality of life standards. According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, technology design should take into account accessibility and usability features for the protection and promotion of the human rights of persons with disabilities, in all policies and programmes."
http://dsai2009.utad.pt/
2009 IEEE 11th International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics - "Reaching Users & the Community" – June 23-26, 2009 | Kyoto, Japan. "ICORR2009 will take place at the Kyoto International Conference Center, Japan. Kyoto is the historical home to many of Japan's traditional cultures and it is impossible to know the real Japan without knowing Kyoto. ICORR will highlight the most recent advances in rehabilitation robotics and their relevance to end users."
http://www.icorr2009.org/
IASSID 2nd Asia Pacific Regional Congress - Creating Possibilities for an Inclusive Society – June 24-27, 2009 | Singapore. "All abstracts are now being reviewed by the Scientific Programme Committee. Authors will be notified of the outcome to the review process within the next few weeks."
http://www.iassid.org/iassid/index.php
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
AAATE 2009 Conference - Inclusion between past and future – August 3-September 2, 2009 | Florence, Italy. "As technology develops rapidly and an Information Society is approaching, the concept of Assistive Technology seems to be moving away from adopting the most appropriate device/s for each user in order to overcome the limitations to her/his activity to the design and set up of the total environment in which people live, supported by suitable functionalities (services) and, when necessary, by additional support devices integrated within the environment. At present, these two perspectives are deeply intertwined, from both a technological and a social point of view. The relationship, coexistence and transition between them currently represent the first challenges for the world of Assistive Technology. This is coherent with the WHO-ICF model, which describes disability as resulting not only from a person's intrinsic attributes but also from the context. Therefore, according to the emerging technological perspectives, inclusion of all citizens can be pursued by the creation of inclusive living environments in which the abilities to carry out necessary tasks are redefined, particularly with reference to the accessing of information, interpersonal communications, and environmental control. From this perspective, this approach is also coherent with the definition of eInclusion, as approved in the 2006 Riga Ministerial Declaration: 'e-Inclusion means both inclusive ICT and the use of ICT to achieve wider inclusion objectives'."
http://www.aaate2009.eu/