John R. Vaughn, Chairperson
October 2007

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 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 Releases Employment Recommendations

At a news conference on October 1, the first day of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, NCD released a report that presents the best practices in the public and private sectors and the promising public policies and initiatives that increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

The employment rate of working-age people with disabilities remains only half that of people without disabilities (38 percent compared with 78 percent in 2005).

The report, Empowerment for Americans with Disabilities: Breaking Barriers to Careers and Full Employment, comprehensively reviews the issues integral to the employment of people with disabilities. It has two broad aims: 1) to summarize the existing knowledge regarding the employment of people with disabilities in a series of short issue briefs; and 2) to present new information on the perspectives of employers, people with disabilities, and disability specialists on the key barriers and facilitators of employment.

News conference speakers included Linda Wetters, NCD Member, Columbus, OH; Ted Childs, Principal, Ted Childs, LLC, South Salem, NY; Bobby Coward, Chairman, Capitol Area ADAPT, DC; Richard Horne, Supervisory Research Analyst, Research and Evaluation Team, Office of Disability and Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor, DC; and Doug Kruse, Ph.D., Principal Investigator, Rutgers University, Program for Disability Research, Piscataway, NJ.

The entire report with findings and recommendations can be found at http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2007/NCDEmployment_20071001.htm or http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2007/pdf/ncd94_Employment_20071001.pdf.

NCD Releases Livable Communities Proceedings

On October 1, NCD posted the proceedings from its news conference of October 31, 2006, where NCD released its report, Creating Livable Communities (http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2006/livable_communities.htm or http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2006/pdf/livable_communities.pdf). The event was co-hosted by NCD and AARP at AARP world headquarters in Washington, DC. The event included two expert panel discussions. Panelists commented on the report findings and shared their views about what adults with disabilities and seniors need in order to live in the community with independence, choice, and control, and what the public and private sectors as well as consumers can do to help communities become more livable.

The event’s cosponsors underscored the point that the disability community and aging network have much in common. By 2030, one in five people in the United States will be over the age of 65. Currently, more than 4.7 million Americans aged 65 years or older have a sensory disability involving sight or hearing, and more than 6.7 million have difficulty going outside the home. As the elderly population grows, it is likely that the number of people aged 65 and older with disabilities also will grow, particularly among those 75 years of age and older. Therefore, it makes sense for the disability community and aging community to work together, align goals, and share resources to address the challenges ahead.

NCD and AARP agree that the livable community concept is central to the goal of fostering independence, choice, and control for people with disabilities and seniors. The livable community concept has been a key focus of NCD’s recent work. Communities in the United States are facing increasingly difficult choices and decisions about how to grow, plan for change, and improve the quality of life for all citizens, including people with disabilities. NCD believes that, for the promise of full integration into the community to become a reality, people with disabilities need safe and affordable housing, access to transportation, access to the political process, and the right to enjoy whatever services, programs, and activities are offered to all members of the community by both public and private entities.

The entire proceedings can be found at http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2007/livable_communities_10-01-07.htm or http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2007/pdf/livable_communities_10-01-07.pdf.

UN G3ict Update

NCD is a contributing chapter author in the recently released book titled The Accessibility Imperative. The NCD chapter is based on its 2004 report Design for Inclusion (http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2004/online_newmarketplace.htm). The Accessibility Imperative is the first publication to offer a comprehensive overview of the many implications of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities for Information and Communication Technologies. A milestone in documenting the ever-increasing global challenges of information communication technologies accessibility for people living with disabilities, The Accessibility Imperative will serve as the foundation of the ongoing international dialogue established by G3ict - the Global Initiative for Inclusive Information and Communication Technologies - among multiple stakeholders. This multi-authored book explores how to best implement the dispositions of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities from the perspective of people living with disabilities, industry, governments, and international institutions. It includes the full text of the Convention and a compendium of case studies.

Legislative Update

On October 4, the U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties held a hearing on the ADA Restoration Act of 2007 (H.R.3195), a bill that would restore the intent and protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.

NCD’s executive director Michael C. Collins was among those providing testimony to the Committee. His testimony can be found at http://judiciary.house.gov/HearingTestimony.aspx?ID=591.

H.R. 3195 is sponsored by Representative Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) with 232 cosponsors and was introduced July 26, 2007. It was referred to the House Education and Labor, Judiciary, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Energy and Commerce committees. 

The Senate companion bill, S. 1881, is sponsored by Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) with two cosponsors; it was also introduced on July 26, 2007. It was referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

NCD Welcomes New Staff Member

On October 29, Lisa Grubb joined the NCD staff as special assistant to the executive director. Prior to joining NCD, Ms. Grubb was a key participant in Virginia's efforts to implement changes in state policies for people with disabilities. Ms. Grubb has represented Virginia nationally in her role as executive director of Virginia's Statewide Independent Living Council. Prior to her career in advancing disability rights, Ms. Grubb was instrumental in creating and implementing Individual Development Accounts in Tennessee.

NCD Advisory Committee Members Honored

Congratulations to two NCD advisory committee members who were recently honored for their contributions and leadership. They are Bobby Coward and Daman Wandke.

Bobby Coward, a member of NCD’s Cultural Diversity Advisory Committee, received an award at the 2007 celebration and awards reception of the Protection and Advocacy Agency in Washington, DC. Besides serving on the CDAC, Bobby is executive director of his own corporation, DIRECT Action, and chair and spokesperson for Capital Area ADAPT. He is also a past recipient of the Justin Dart Award.

Youth Advisory Committee member Daman Wandke is a semifinalist for the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) 2008 Paul G. Hearne Award. The AAPD award recognizes young leaders.

Former NCD Board Member Honored

Former NCD board member John D. Kemp was honored by being one of seven recipients of the 2007 Secretary of Labor’s New Freedom Initiative Award for his exceptional commitment to helping Americans with disabilities succeed in the workplace.  Congratulations, John.

Quarterly Meetings

NCD’s fall quarterly meeting will take place at the Hyatt Regency Boston, One Avenue de LaFayette, Boston, Massachusetts, on Thursday, November 29, 2007, from 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.; Friday, November 30 from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.; and Saturday, December 1 from 8:15 a.m. until 11:15 a.m.

Public comment sessions will be held Thursday, November 29 from 4:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. and on Friday, November 30 from 1:00 p.m. until 1:30 p.m. A toll-free call-in line will also be available to the public during those times. A reception for all meeting participants, audience members, and people with disabilities from the community will be held on Thursday afternoon from 5:00 p.m. until to 6:30 p.m.

As part of the November 29 agenda, NCD will conduct a panel discussion on emergency preparedness from 1:15 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. and a panel on assistive technology and universal design from 3:00 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. For more information, please contact Mark Quigley at mquigley@ncd.gov.

NCD’s winter quarterly meeting will be held January 28  January 30, 2008, at the New Orleans Marriott at the Convention Center, 859 Convention Center Boulevard, New Orleans, LA.

These meetings are free of charge and open to the public. People with disabilities are encouraged to attend and participate in the daily public comment segments of the meeting. The agendas will be posted at www.ncd.gov prior to each meeting.

* * *

Mark S. Quigley
Director of Communications
National Council on Disability
1331 F Street, NW Suite 850
Washington, DC 20004