Advocacy 101 - "Web cast sponsored by Boston College, Cash and Counseling National Program Office." This site includes an archive of the web cast, an advocacy manual and several versions of the Power Point slides.

Disability rights activists storm Chicago - by Bill Massey and Beth Massey (Party for Socialism and Liberation). "ADAPT takes direct action to get its point across. From Sept. 8 to 13, ADAPT - the nation's largest direct-action disability rights organization - took action in Chicago. More than 500 ADAPT activists came from around the country for a series of actions that shed light on Illinois' poor disability rights record. They demanded that the state government and the American Medical Association back several key pieces of legislation that would increase access rights for people with disabilities."

October is "Screen for Normality" Month - "Some say October is 'Mental Health Month.' MindFreedom invites you to celebrate your Mad Pride! MindFreedom has renamed this October 'Screen the World for Normality Month'! Here's how you can participate! Get your rubber chicken ready!"

UN Treaty Event Spurs Heads of State to Sign UN Disability Rights Convention - "The President of the Republic of Estonia, H. E. Mr. Toomas Hendrik Ilves, was among five distinguished leaders who signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on September 25, 2007, as part of the UN Treaty Event, held at UN headquarters in New York."

Disability and Aging - by D'Vera Cohn, Mark Mather, and Marlene Lee (Population Reference Bureau). "The rates of old-age disability have declined in recent decades, and it is expected that Americans will live longer before disability sets in than is true today. The reasons for the

Trends in Disability at Older Ages - (Population Reference Bureau). "The number of people with disabilities and in need of longterm care is expected to grow dramatically as baby boomers reach retirement age and beyond. Currently, the risk of having a disability accelerates after age 80. But in the future, older Americans may spend more years healthy and disability-free than the current population ages 65 and older (Manton, Gu, and Lamb 2006a; Manton, Gu, and Lamb 2006b). The National Institute on Aging (NIA) has sponsored research to project the impact of conflicting trends -declining old-age disability and increasing obesity -on disability rates and health care costs. NIA also supports research on the social and technological changes that could mitigate the effects of chronic health problems on old-age disability rates."

Today's Research on Aging - (Population Reference Bureau). " 'Today's Research on Aging' is an e-newsletter series intended to increase awareness of research results and their application to major public and private decision making. Although policy debates may be closely followed by many members of society, not all people are aware of the research underlying policy prescriptions as well as the choices of public and private decisionmakers. By discussing recent research and the links to major government, business, social, and private issues, we hope to increase appreciation of the scientific findings relevant to aging and their effects on individuals and society."

Verizon Awards $1.5 Million Grant to Expand American Foundation for the Blind's Web Site for Seniors With Age-Related Vision Loss - "The Verizon Foundation today announced a $1.5 million grant to the American Foundation for the Blind to fund and expand an AFB Web site designed to help aging adults with low vision continue to lead more independent and comfortable lives."

Individual Supports To Increase Access To An Inclusive College Experience For Students With Intellectual Disabilities - "The purpose of this online training module is to provide guidance on developing an Individual Support Model (ISM) to increase access to inclusive college experiences and to improve chances for the success of students with intellectual disabilities." http://www.education.umd.edu/oco/training/oco_training_modules/IndividualSupports/start.html. (Note: registration required)

National Disability Employment Awareness Month, 2007: A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America - "National Disability Employment Awareness Month is an opportunity to recognize the contributions and accomplishments of Americans with disabilities and to underscore our Nation's commitment to advancing employment opportunities for all our citizens."

"Workers with Disabilities: Talent for a Winning Team" - "Throughout October, which is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the Office of Disability Employment Policy will profile on its Web site individuals who have personally benefited from agency-sponsored programs aimed at eliminating the chronic underemployment of people with disabilities, as well as employers and organizations that have successfully implemented strategies to hire, support, empower and otherwise value employees with disabilities."

Turner barred 2 years from wheelchair basketball - "Donald Turner is the second Canadian wheelchair basketball athlete in a week to be suspended, barred two years on Tuesday after testing positive for cocaine. Turner failed a doping test May 20 at the national championships in Winnipeg, according to the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport. Winnipeg's Shawn Watson, another wheelchair basketball player, was also suspended two years for a positive cocaine test while participating in the same event."

'With independence comes responsibility' Having left home, a survivor adjusts to his new life - by Crocker Stephenson (JS Online). "He was the boy who was not supposed to live. But the boy, whose birth spurred debate over the rights of parents and of society to care for a child born with severe abnormalities, not only lived, but grew up and became a man. He graduated from high school, found an apartment, moved away from his mother's home."

Words Unspoken Are Rendered on War's Faces - by Holland Cotter (NewYorkTimes). "One of the more shocking photographs to emerge from the current Iraq war was taken last year in a rural farm town in the American Midwest. It's a studio portrait by the New York photographer Nina Berman of a young Illinois couple on their wedding day. The bride, Renee Kline, 21, is dressed in a traditional white gown and holds a bouquet of scarlet flowers. The groom, Ty Ziegel, 24, a former Marine sergeant, wears his dress uniform, decorated with combat medals, including a Purple Heart. Her expression is unsmiling, maybe grave. His, as he looks toward her, is hard to read: his dead-white face is all but featureless, with no nose and no chin, as blank as a pullover mask."

Wounded Vets Also Economic Casualties - by Jeff Donn And Kimberly Hefling (Associated Press). "He was one of America's first defenders on Sept. 11, 2001, a Marine who pulled burned bodies from the ruins of the Pentagon. He saw more horrors in Kuwait and Iraq. Today, he can't keep a job, pay his bills, or chase thoughts of suicide from his tortured brain. In a few weeks, he may lose his house, too. Gamal Awad, the American son of a Sudanese immigrant, exemplifies an emerging group of war veterans: the economic casualties."

Contracting social services a risky bet - by Jody Paterson (Times Colonist). "For better or worse, the bulk of B.C.'s back-to-work programs for people with disabilities are now under the control of a large, aggressive American corporation. The ink is barely dry on the Aug. 3 agreement that saw the sale of the local company that has run the programs up until now -- WCG International -- to Arizona's Providence Service Corp. So it's much too soon to speculate whether clients will notice any difference, or to assume that it's automatically a bad thing when one more big U.S. company takes over yet another aspect of B.C.'s human services."

Council of Canadians with Disabilities Annual Report - "This past year has been one of new beginnings. Following the election of a Conservative minority government in January 2006 much of CCD's work has been to develop new working relationships with new Ministers and their political staff. In some instances this work has been relatively easy and we have found some new champions of our issues and in other instances we appear to be making no progress. The main achievements of the past year include more recognition and focus on disability issues within Federal Budget 2007 than we have probably seen in a decade."

The politics of sexual citizenship: commercial sex and disability - by Teela Sanders (Journal of Disability & Society). "This paper breaks a long silence by bringing together two areas of literature that have generally been considered separately: that of sexuality and disability with findings from studies on sex work. Presenting empirical findings from two studies, one with sex workers who work from indoor sex markets and the other with men who buy sex, this paper exposes the existing relationships and practices between men with physical and sensory impairments who seek out commercial sexual services from female sex workers. In the discussion the politics surrounding sexual rights and commercial sex will be addressed. In the context of commercial sex, quality of life issues, complex power dynamics and the common ground between disabled people and sex workers rights are discussed. This paper considers the negative aspects of promoting commercial sex for people with impairments, as well as the positive aspects regarding the wider campaign for sexual citizenship. Finally, I set out recommendations and a new research and policy agenda that investigates the complexities of commercial and facilitated sex."

Priority Issues for British Columbians Living with Spinal Cord Injury - by Catherine Backman, Susan Forwell and Lyn Jongbloed (IJDCR). "The British Columbia Paraplegic Association wished to ascertain the needs and expectations of its constituents in order to guide the organization's future advocacy and rehabilitation activities. This study identifies the priority needs of individuals with spinal cord injury living in communities in British Columbia. A questionnaire was designed in consultation with an advisory committee and people with SCI, based on results from an earlier focus group study. All 12 community service needs surveyed were endorsed by varying proportions of the 357 respondents. The three most frequently cited priorities were to lobby for better home support services (endorsed by 43%), lobby for equitable income policies (38%), and educate employers (34%). Priorities differed based on gender, years living with SCI, functional classification, household income, employment status and vehicle ownership. The priorities identified by study respondents may be shared by others with disabilities and need to be addressed by advocacy organizations and service providers."

Spina Bifida Advocacy - A Case Study In Public Policy Success - by Cindy Brownstein, Ilisa Halpern Paul, and Anne House Quinn (The Scientific World Journal). "Advocacy. Public policy. Politics. Congress and the Administration. Given recent events, these words often cause people to groan, roll their eyes, tune-out, or launch into a litany of complaints about

Occupational Therapists Trained in Baby Care Assessment - "In January 2007, ten occupational therapists (OTs) from various sites associated with the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago attended a two day training seminar in Chicago by TLG's Christi Tuleja, MS OTR, concerning administering TLG's Baby Care Assessment tool. This tool was developed under a grant from NIDRR, U.S. Department of Education, and was based on TLG's 14 years of clinical experiences as well as a series of previously funded NIDRR grants regarding adaptive baby care equipment. The Chicago group of OTs was the first to be trained since the tool was completed in January 2006."

Scope of Practice for Rehabilitation Counseling - by Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (Gladnet). "The Scope of Practice Statement identifies knowledge and skills required for the provision of effective rehabilitation counseling services to persons with physical, mental, developmental, cognitive, and emotional disabilities as embodied in the standards of the profession's credentialing organizations."

What Do You Need? - by Tor Valenza (Rehab Pub). "Go to any rehabilitation trade show, and there will be a candy store of continuous passive motion (CPM) units, trampolines, and elliptical machines from which to choose. Brian Ito, PT and system director of rehabilitation services at the Centinela Campus of Freeman Regional Medical Center, Los Angeles, shares his perspective for choosing the right exercise equipment for his facility and his patients. The joy of shopping can lend itself to therapists searching for replacements of old exercise equipment or planning for the opening of a new facility. Walking through a trade show, or flipping through catalogs, or even Rehab Management's product directory, can present an overwhelming smorgasbord of strength and conditioning machines, treadmills, CPMs, and Pilates tables, not to mention low-tech balls, bands, and free weights. But just as one cannot buy the whole candy store, therapists are limited by budgets and space to choose a narrow selection. To pare down the exercise equipment wish list down, therapists can asks one simple question: What do you need?"

NFB Starts New Forum for Blind Wheelchair Users - "The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) has launched Blind Rollers, an online forum for discussing issues relating to blind people who have mobility disabilities. The forum addresses the needs of blind people who require a wheelchair all or part of the time or have trouble walking."

Spinal Cord Injury Information Pages - "This site is a free and informative resource for those living with a spinal cord injury or other disabling injuries or diseases of the spine. It is meant to be a 'best of the web' site for SCI health and caregiver information. Visit regularly for updated resources, new features, links and more. If you know of something that should be added such as links, news, clinical trials, pictures, etc., please contact me."

World Spine Society: Spine Resources - "Spinal paralysis is a significant health problem worldwide and requires multi-disciplinary management. As a service to the multi-national medical community providing care to people with spinal paralysis, the World Spine Society is creating a comprehensive resource center to improve access to information for professionals as well as consumers. This information will range from acute medical and surgical management of spinal trauma to the long-term management of chronic paralysis and associated medical conditions. In addition, guidelines for human spinal injury research will be provided." The information provided on this site is extensive and is organized in three categories: Medical Professionals , Consumers, and Research.

TECHNOLOGY

Opening Doors: Technology and Communication Options for Children with Hearing Loss - "Parents of children with hearing loss can find helpful information and resources in a publication produced for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) by the Academy for Educational Development (AED). Opening Doors: Technology and Communication Options for Children with Hearing Loss provides background on early intervention, the use of technology and other support available to children and their families."

Technique links words to signing - "Technology that translates spoken or written words into British Sign Language (BSL) has been developed by researchers at IBM. The system, called SiSi (Say It Sign It) was created by a group of students in the UK. SiSi will enable deaf people to have simultaneous sign language interpretations of meetings and presentations. It uses speech recognition to animate a digital character or avatar. IBM says its technology will

Try the first symbol-supported web browser - "Communicate: Webwide from Widgit software, bills itself as 'first symbol-supported web browser' and is intended to turn websites into different levels of picture supported text with full speech support if needed. Communicate: Webwide is a subscription-based service which gives users a flexible means of accessing information online. It will help any reader who has difficulty accessing the text in standard English language web pages."

8th annual Technology Innovators Conference: Bright Ideas. Real Solutions - November 15-16, 2007 | Washington, D.C. "This forum brings together thought leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs engaged in enhancing educational technology. Be a part of the search for real solutions for students with leaders from technology companies, industry, academia, public policymakers, government officials, and the media."

World of Possibilities Expo Virginia 2007 - December 7-8, 2007 | Richmond, Virginia. "World Of Possibilities Expos focus on Abilities, Healthy Aging and Independent Living and are dedicated to improving the lives of children and adults with disabilities, seniors, their families and caregivers, as well as health care and education professionals."

23rd Annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference - March 10-15, 2008 | Los Angeles, California. "The 23rd Annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference invites submissions of papers for this conference to be held March 10-15, 2008 at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott and Renaissance Montura hotels. The 'CSUN' conference is the world's longest-running and largest conference of its kind on the topic of assistive technology and the positive impact on persons with disabilities. The conference draws more than 4,500 persons annually who attend sessions, visit the exhibit halls, and participate in affiliate meetings and informal gatherings."

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."

2008 Mobility Planning Services Institute - April 21-24, 2008 | Washington, D.C. "The 2008 Mobility Planning Services (MPS) Institute will take place from April 21-24, 2008 in

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."

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