Notes From Topical Group Reports - March 29, 2005

Key points were gleaned from each of three breakout groups conducted during a one-day forum in Washington, D.C. “Civil Rights Restoration,” the “Diversity –Friendly Workplace,” and “Educational Excellence and Equity” were topics that participants from 47 national and state level civil and disability rights entities discussed. Two of the groups reached consensus on topical issues reported under subheadings that focused on general issues, priority issues, and implementation activities or strategies. A third group organized its reporting around suggestions for several short-term, intermediate and long-term goals. Notes pertaining to the three topical group summaries are as follows.

TOPIC: CIVIL RIGHTS RESTORATION

Goal: To develop a consensus on issues shared by civil and disability rights organizations that address the erosion of disability/civil rights legislation in federal courts and the erosion of passion, energy, understanding and support of civil rights in our society.

Consensus on General Issues:
1) Address erosion of disability and civil rights legislation in federal courts.
2) Acknowledge, expose and address concerted, well-funded efforts to roll back civil rights.
3) Build an understanding and support of civil rights.
4) Build and mobilize passion for civil rights within ourselves, our communities, and the general public.

Issue Priorities:
1) Create a unique opportunity to work together on public education regarding the loss of civil rights ( e.g., Coalesce around judicial nominations)
2) Promote employment fairness
3) Enhance diversity in higher education and engage youth in civil and disability rights struggles.

Proposed Activities/Strategies:
1) Explore cross civil rights speakers bureau; partners could include LCCR, CCD, NCIL, and the National Campaign to Restore Civil Rights.
2) Raise money collectively to increase media and messaging capacity
3) Blend some existing money to support common agenda and cultivation
4) Identify “name brand” spokesperson(s)
5) Pick a few concrete issues to work on collectively and follow model of the LCCR Task Force on Judicial Nominations.
6) Continue to broaden base and engage other civil and disability rights organizations not at the table.
7) Utilize existing communications avenues/vehicle [e.g., LCCR website (www.civilrights.org); Justice for All (JFA) listserv (www.jfanow.org); NCD website (www.ncd.gov) and listserv ]
8) Build the Republican outreach strategy [to increase bi-partisan participation]
9) Re-frame civil rights issues around justice/morality/values

TOPIC: DIVERSITY-FRIENDLY WORKPLACE

Consensus on Issues:

1) Equity Payscale
2) Diverse representation of persons with disabilities, of color, diverse cultural backgrounds in the workplace across the spectrum.
a. hard to measure with federal protections in place regarding self-disclosure
b. putting proper protections in place
3) Flexible Workplace Schedules
a. life after work
b. attend to healthcare needs/routine needs; meeting parenting needs/demands
4) Self-Identification (race/ethnicity) and Self-Disclosure (people with disabilities)
5) Universal healthcare; lack of healthcare should not be a barrier to employment.
6) Enforcement of current disability/civil rights employment laws.
7) More focus on the “spirit of the law” (intent) versus interpretation/letter of the law.
8) Institutional barriers – people of color and people with disabilities ( e.g. special education; juvenile justice system
9) Labor Market Shortage re: aging population of people with disabilities; and balance of worker-friendly legislation (e.g. enable women to return to the workforce and balance the needs of work and family)
10) Limited education/training – more access, opportunities; adequate workforce preparation for people with disabilities and people of color

Issue Priorities:
1) Healthcare Reform
2) Education/Training Reform
3) Workplace Reform
4) Attitudinal Reform

Proposed Activities/Strategies (In terms of policy, advocacy, and litigation):

I. Healthcare Reform Campaign

A. Policy:

Support the Healthy Families Act
Suggest minimum 7 sick days for self/family members
Promote healthcare as a right
Eliminate [system imposed] disincentives to work
Address better tax breaks for employers
Improve worker compensation laws

B. Advocacy:

Conduct town hall meetings
Improve community education opportunities

C. Litigation:

Sue states for denial of services
Use tort laws to sue companies that do not provide paid sick leave
Sue healthcare entities/providers that do not provide access and accommodations to people with disabilities

II. Education/Training Reform Campaign

A. Policy:

Create training curriculum for training staff; improve training in areas of business planning and employment contracts
Assess the impact of No Child Left Behind
Examine criteria for federal education grants; address extenuating
circumstances

B. Advocacy:

Address overrepresented people of color in special education and juvenile justice system
Promote career path
Include in the Higher Education Act set aside funds to increase number of
teachers from diverse cultural/linguistic backgrounds

C. Litigation:

Enforce laws that promote fair and equal taxes for people of color and people with disabilities
Improve Section 504 enforcement at institutions of higher learning
Sue One-Stop Centers

D. Miscellaneous:

Encourage public interest curriculums in schools to create sensitivity and
awareness.

III. Workplace Reform Campaign

A. Policy:

Generate support for Fairness Act, Healthy Families Act, Family Medical Leave Act
Award additional points to government contract applicants with progressive workplace strategies
Develop Section 508 requirements and guidelines for private-sector entities

B. Advocacy:

Promote career paths in Education
Build coalitions and utilize EEOC as enforcement agency
Campaign to demonstrate there is no labor pool shortage (among people of color)
Encourage the American Institute of Architects (AIA) to issue awards for universal design concepts
Highlight/celebrate best practices

C. Litigation:

Promote information sharing among civil rights and disability coalitions and firms that have a demonstrated commitment to pro bono work
Partner with the EEOC on common goals

A. Policy:

Enhance ADA, Ticket to Work and other employment-related federal provisions and programs to assure inclusion of people from diverse backgrounds

B. Advocacy:

Develop a Media Campaign – engage politicians, celebrities, college students
Reward private firms that demonstrate best practices for diverse and often underserved groups such as older workers and workers with disabilities

C. Litigation:

Develop project for testing the prevalence of disability employment discrimination

TOPIC: EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE & EQUITY

Short-term Objectives:
Seek proper enforcement of the No Child Left Behind Act, recognize there is an
urgent need to respond to opponents of the Act. (e.g., 3% exemption rule).

Action: Develop and support a sign-on letter from disability and civil rights organizations. (e.g., one such letter already drafted by several organizations represented at forum would be circulated to forum participants via email for consideration.)

Intermediate Objective:
Compile Case Studies on the impact of NCLB
Joint collaboration between civil rights and disability rights organizations to gather data/case studies from families on the impact and successes of No Child Left Behind that can be used for advocacy efforts.

Action: Identify Possible Partners allies interested in evidence-based data on NCLB (e.g. National Council on Disability; Leadership Conference on Civil Rights
Education Task Force; other Non-traditional allies)

Longer-term Objectives:

I. Increase alliance-building between traditional civil rights community and disability community:

A. Initiate cross-education of disability and civil rights advocates on issues to underscore the protection of civil and disability rights issues to be addressed by all.

B. Explore cross-pollination opportunities: civil rights organizations encourage hiring of staff and board members who can represent disability rights and vice-versa with disability organization staff and board members.

II. Role of Parents and Families

A. Engage Local Communities – call on local communities to participate in activities, including case study development, coalition building, and collaboration.

B. Promote meaningful youth involvement – Encourage youth in leadership training opportunities and engage youth in dialogue. The youth with disabilities possess great potential, are potent and can introduce exciting forms of action in addition to being good spokespersons for the disability/civil rights partnership movement.

III. Policy Collaboration

A. Make disability data relevant and user-friendly for broader civil rights advocates to incorporate into their agenda.

B. Address reauthorization of the Higher Education Act

C. Consider No Child Left Behind implementation with a special education lens – Develop a study to look at how NCLB Act has been implemented, including impact on students with disabilities.

D. Address the need for highly-qualified teachers; include needs such as more money for recruitment and training of teachers and working with school districts to build supports for teachers

E. Address the issue of exemption (from qualification requirements) waivers given by a number of states for special education teachers.