National Council on Disability Monthly Bulletin for December, 2008

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the National Council on Disability's monthly bulletin for December 2008:

A Monthly Newsletter from the National Council on Disability (NCD)

John R. Vaughn, Chairperson

December 2008

NCD -- 30 Years of Disability Policy Leadership -- 1978-2008

NCD Receives Congressional Award

On December 10,the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging released its Recognition of Excellence in Aging Research report (http://www.aging.senate.gov/award/report.pdf), naming NCD as one of its 2008 Special Committee on Aging Award Winners (http://www.aging.senate.gov/award/award_main.cfm).

NCD is honored to have been selected to receive this prestigious Congressional award for excellence in aging research. It is our hope that this research advances the well-being of older Americans, especially those with disabilities.

In May 2008, the Committee asked all federal departments and agencies to identify federally-funded research projects that address the well-being of older adults and contribute significantly to policymakers' knowledge and understanding of social, economic, and medical issues related to aging. Twenty-seven agencies, ranging from NCD to the Department of Veterans Affairs, submitted over 200 research projects to be included in the Committee report.

NCD submitted its research on "livable communities," which enable older citizens to continue living in their homes, regardless of age or disability. This research has now been added to NCD's Lessons Learned Web page at http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/lessons/lessons.htm.

Emergency Preparedness

On December 8, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released report GAO-09-59R entitled Actions Taken to Implement the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006. The document (http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d0959r.pdf) describes the actions the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have reportedly taken in response to the act's provisions, areas in which FEMA and DHS must still take action, and any challenges to implementation that FEMA and DHS officials identified during GAO discussions with them. In general, GAO found that FEMA and DHS have made some progress in efforts to implement the act since it was enacted in October 2006. FEMA and DHS had at least preliminary efforts underway to address most of the provisions examined by GAO. However, GAO has identified a number of areas that still require action, and it is clear that FEMA and DHS have work remaining to implement the provisions of the act.

For more information on homeland security and emergency preparedness, please visit NCD's new Lessons Learned Web page at http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/lessons/lessons.htm.

International

On December 3, the International Day of Disabled Persons, NCD Chairperson John R. Vaughn participated in a United Nations panel discussion at a workshop entitled "Implementing the Digital Accessibility Agenda of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Challenges and Opportunities for Signatory States." Mr. Vaughn was asked to share some thoughts on NCD's perspectives and experience in promoting digital accessibility inthe United States and how that is relevant to countries that have ratified and will be implementing the convention as they develop legislation, regulation and programs.

Mr. Vaughn noted NCD involvement in the G3ict over the past two years and thanked G3ict Executive Director Axel Leblois for his leadership in his efforts to make access and information technology a reality. He also thanked Dr. Martin Gould, NCD Director of Research, for his work on the design and development of the G3ict Digital Accessibility and Inclusion Index as it relates to the ICT provisions of the UN Convention.

Mr. Vaughn noted that, in NCD's experience and judgment, it is important to benchmark and monitor progress to help assure that resources and funding efforts achieve their desired goals.

The highlights of Mr. Vaughn's presentation, focusing on the U.S. experience with implementing laws and regulations requiring digital accessibility, were that:

• we are all fellow travelers in trying to achieve the inclusive information and communication and technology goals of the UN Convention, and NCD continues to encourage dialogue between and among all stakeholders in the disability community so we can share best practices;

• the resources on the Web site (http://www.ncd.gov) were suggested as a place where NCD research can be found to help others learn of the U.S. experience with implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the identification of best practices;

• Mr. Vaughn encouraged foreign delegations traveling toWashington to visit the NCD office as many organizations do each year, to discuss common issues and experiences in promoting full inclusion of people with disabilities into all aspects of society;

• U.S. implementation of the ADA and other federal regulations and laws is still evolving as evidenced by the fact that we just had to pass the ADA Amendments Act and other issues are having to be resolved by the U.S. court system such as the recent law suit against the U.S. Social Security Administration to make their materials fully accessible to people with disabilities;

• after 18 years since the enactment of the ADA, the unemployment rate for people with severe disabilities remains at about the same level despite abundant new technology to enable people who are disabled to be on a more level playing field;

• in reviewing findings of recent NCD research on the ADA and most other issues, the common thread is that the biggest barrier facing people with disabilities continues to be societal attitudes towards people with disabilities;

• the positive aspect of this finding is that it is solvable: we need to do a better job of educating the public;

• we need a concerted multi-faceted public awareness and educational campaign that: starts from the top; frames the person with a disability as a person who wants to be included; raises societal expectations for people with disabilities; raises public awareness of assistive technology as being beneficial for all, and raises awareness of applicable laws concerning small business and all levels of government; and

• as the UN Convention is implemented in each country, disability advocacy groups need to be proactive by being involved in each phase of the implementation process as outlined in the Convention.

The workshop was organized by UNITAR (United Nations Institute for Training and Research) and G3ict, the Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs-Global Alliance for ICT and Development, in cooperation with the Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The meeting agenda for the December 3, 2008 event can be found at http://g3ict.com/events/schedule/event_agenda/p/eventId_84/id_agenda.

2010 National Summit on Disability Policy Update--SAVE THE DATES

NCD's 2010 National Summit on Disability Policy will be July 26 and 27, 2010, at a venue inWashington, DC. Please save the dates.

This Summit will commemorate the 20th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. More than 300 people with disabilities and prominent stakeholders, including federal, community, and private sector disability experts, will confer and exchange ideas on significant themes for all people with disabilities.

Issue papers are in development that will identify the key factors surrounding important issues, in order to allow Summit delegates to discuss these issues and craft policy recommendations for the decade to follow. These topics will include employment, transportation, housing, education, health care, technology and telecommunications, homeland security and emergency preparedness, international issues, and others. Veterans' issues, underserved populations, and cross-cutting issues will be discussed as well.

In the coming months, a Web page will be dedicated to the Summit. Please visit http://www.ncd.gov in the New Year to find the link.

Quarterly Meetings Update

NCD's Winter meeting will be held January 12-14, 2009, at the Chaparral Suites Resort inScottsdale, Arizona.

In carrying out our mission, we believe it is vital to hear from communities around the country on what works and what does not for people with disabilities. Our agenda will include sessions on healthcare reform, emergency preparedness, employment, and several other subjects of interest to the disability community. We are delighted to have the opportunity to visitArizona and learn firsthand about the experiences of people with disabilities from the Southwest. This is an opportunity to meet NCD members and staff and offer your comments during the public comment sessions, and we hope you will attend and participate.

Specific times are designated to receive public comment, supported by a toll-free call-in line, and input is encouraged and greatly appreciated. People or organizations can also provide written comments by e-mail, fax, or mail. General public comment sessions will be held Monday, January 12 from 11:30 a.m. until noon (MST) and on Wednesday, January 14 from 11:30 a.m. until noon. A special public comment session dedicated to disability healthcare reform will be held on Tuesday, January 13 from 4:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. The toll-free call-in number for each session is (888) 790-6568, and the pass code is "NCD Meeting."

NCD will also conduct a reception at the hotel for meeting participants, audience members, and local disability stakeholders on Tuesday, January 13 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., immediately following the day's session. Additional details about the meeting will be posted on the NCD Web site at http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/quarterly/quarterly.htm as soon as they become available. The meeting agenda is also posted there.

The Spring quarterly meeting will be held March 30-April 1, 2009, inWashington, DC, and the Summer quarterly meeting will be held July 20-22, 2009, inMinneapolis, MN.

About the NCD Bulletin

The Bulletin, which is also available at NCD's Web site (http://www.ncd.gov), brings you the latest issues and news affecting people with disabilities. To subscribe to the NCD listserv, go to http://listserv.access.gpo.gov/, click on Online mailing list archives, select NCD-NEWS-L, click on Join or leave the list, then complete the short subscription form.

Editorial comments can be sent to Bulletin editor Mark S. Quigley at mquigley@ncd.gov.

SOURCE National Council on Disability

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