John R. Vaughn, Chairperson
August 2006

The Bulletin, which is free of charge and at NCD’s award-winning Web site (www.ncd.gov), brings you the latest issues and news affecting people with disabilities. To subscribe to the new 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. Please send your editorial comments to Bulletin editor Mark S. Quigley (mquigley@ncd.gov).

NCD Board Transition
On August 3, four new board members, who were appointed by President George W. Bush, were confirmed by the U.S. Senate. They are John R. Vaughn, who upon confirmation became NCD chairperson, Victoria Ray Carlson, Chad Colley, and Lisa Mattheiss.

Mr. Vaughn, a resident of Fort Myers, Florida, replaced outgoing NCD chairperson Lex Frieden.

Mr. Vaughn is a retired executive in the financial services industry. He is also a former commissioner of the Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services and commissioner of the Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired. Mr. Vaughn was appointed to the Florida Rehabilitation Advisory Council for Blind Services by Governor Jeb Bush. He was also appointed to U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Elaine Chao’s Working Committee on Work Place Issues in connection with President Bush’s Twenty-first Century Work Force Initiative.

Victoria Ray Carlson, a resident of Naperville, Illinois, replaced outgoing NCD member Joel Kahn, Ph.D.

Ms. Carlson is a homemaker with three young girls. She was the executive director of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Iowa Chapter. She has worked at the U.S. Departments of Energy and Housing and Urban Development and for Senator Robert Dole in the Republican Leader’s Office. In addition, Ms. Carlson was the Iowa Organization Coordinator for Branstad for Governor and worked in the Iowa House of Representatives. Ms. Carlson was also a member of the Iowa Persons with Disabilities Commission.

Chad Colley, a resident of New Smyrna Beach, Florida, replaced outgoing NCD member David Wenzel.

Mr. Colley is a decorated Vietnam veteran who has been active in veteran and disability issues for over three decades. In 1984, he was selected the Handicapped American of the Year on behalf of President Ronald Reagan and is a past national commander of Disabled American Veterans. Mr. Colley’s service includes positions as vice chair of the President’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities and chairman of the Veterans Administration Advisory Committee on Rehabilitation, among others.

Lisa Mattheiss, a resident of East Ridge, Tennessee, replaced outgoing NCD board member Carol Novak.

Mrs. Mattheiss is the parent of a child with special needs. She is a Parents Advisory Council member/volunteer at TC Thompson Children’s Hospital in Chattanooga. She is the founder and executive director of LifeLine Ministry of Hamilton Baptist Church. Mrs. Mattheiss is involved with the board of Tennessee's Parent Training and Information organization, STEP, Inc. (Support and Training for Exceptional Parents, Inc.), and she is part of the Tennessee Respite Coalition.

NCD Issues New Emergency Preparedness Paper
On August 3, NCD released The Impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on People with Disabilities: A Look Back and Remaining Challenges
(http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2006/hurricanes_impact.htm).

This paper focuses on the effects of the hurricanes on people with all types of disabilities. NCD recently released another report that addressed in detail the specific challenges for people with psychiatric disabilities. Please refer to The Needs of People with Psychiatric Disabilities During and After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: Position Paper and Recommendations (http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2006/peopleneeds.htm) for a more detailed report about the population of mental health consumers affected by the hurricanes. Additionally, although the focus is on the emergency preparedness and response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, many of the problems addressed in this paper are systemic in nature and were not caused solely by the hurricanes. The challenges faced by people with disabilities during and after the hurricanes, while unique in scope and proportion, were similar to the challenges people with disabilities face on a day-to-day basis. Therefore, many of the findings and recommendations related to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita echo NCD’s previous research on improving the daily quality of life of people with disabilities. When America embraces the twin principles of inclusion and accessibility for everyday programs, policies, and infrastructure, Americans with disabilities surely will be counted among the survivors of the next disasters. NCD made detailed recommendations for disaster preparedness in its 2005 report, Saving Lives: Including People with Disabilities in Emergency Planning (http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2005/saving_lives.htm). Since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, many interested policymakers and emergency planners have used NCD’s research to make their emergency plans more inclusive of people with disabilities. Some of the key recommendations from that report, along with recommendations based on lessons learned from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, are included in this report under the Recommendations for Emergency Preparedness section.

UN Convention Update
A draft United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities was adopted by the 8th Ad Hoc Committee on Friday, August 26, 2006, in New York City. It will now go the United Nations General Assembly for adoption by Member States sometime this fall. At the outset of negotiations, NCD published Understanding the Role of an International Convention on the Human Rights of People with Disabilities  (http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2002/unwhitepaper_05-23-02.htm) and A Reference Tool: Understanding the Potential Content and Structure of an International Convention on the Human Rights of People with Disabilities http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2002/understanding_7-30-02.htm). NCD also published an outreach tool explaining the process, An International Disability and Human Rights Convention, What you Need to Know about International Human Rights Law and Efforts to Gain Equality and Justice for People with Disabilities in the US and Abroad (http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2002/outreach_tool.htm). Midway through NCD published UN Disability Convention - Topics at a Glance: History of the Process (http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2003/history_process.htm) to continue to inform the disability community about the work being done, as well as updates following each Ad Hoc Committee meeting on the current status of the treaty. At the 6th Ad Hoc Committee Meeting, we held a side-event to release several topical papers on the U.S. experience to provide technical assistance in drafting specific articles. The topical papers addressed health; transportation; independent living and living in the community; employment; education; political and public life; and information technology (http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2005/alltheseries.htm). And finally, at the 8th Ad Hoc Committee meeting, NCD held another side event to begin discussions on the practical aspects of implementation of the Convention. NCD plans to release a summary of these discussions within the next couple weeks.

NCD Youth Advisory Committee Seeks Four Members
On August 12, NCD’s Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) announced the opening of a nationwide search for four new members. One of the positions is reserved specifically for high school students. NCD is an independent federal agency, headed by 15 Council members appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The collective responsibility of NCD is to make recommendations to the President and Congress on issues affecting all Americans with disabilities. NCD’s overall purpose is to promote policies, programs, practices, and procedures that guarantee equal opportunity for all individuals with disabilities, regardless of the nature or severity of the disability; and to support the empowerment of individuals with disabilities to achieve economic self-sufficiency, independent living, and inclusion and integration into all aspects of society.

YAC, a 12-member advisory committee with applicant ages from 16-25, encourages youth across disability sectors, diverse racial and ethnic groups, and under-represented areas of the country to apply. Application documents must be received through e-mail by September 14, 2006, at 5:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time.

The application consists of (1) your resume, (2) your cover letter pointing out what makes you the best candidate for a position of national level leadership as a representative of youth with disabilities, and (3) one letter of recommendation from an adult who is familiar with your leadership and disability experiences and potential. The recommendation should be from someone who is not your parent/guardian. A brief daytime telephone interview with you may also be needed for a selected list of finalists among the top applicants.

Please send only electronic documents (use e-mail only) to be considered as a YAC applicant during this recruitment period. E-mail your resume, your cover letter, and one letter of recommendation to:

Dr. Gerrie Hawkins, Designated Federal Official
Youth Advisory Committee
National Council on Disability
youth@ncd.gov

YAC ensures that NCD’s policy recommendations and activities give consideration to the perspectives of young people with disabilities. Meetings are planned and conducted through teleconference arrangements under NCD’s budget. If a face-to-face meeting occurs, NCD will pay for travel and lodging for active members of the committee, in accordance with federal guidelines.

If you have questions, please contact youth leaders Gina Semenza (YAC outgoing Chair) or Stephanie Orlando (YAC incoming chair) at youth@ncd.gov.