NCD Bulletin
A Monthly Publication of the National Council on Disability (NCD)

John R. Vaughn, Chairperson
July 2008

NCD—30 Years of Disability Policy Leadership—1978–2008

The Bulletin, which is free of charge and available at NCD’s 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. Editorial comments can be sent to Bulletin editor Mark S. Quigley (mquigley@ncd.gov).

NCD Conducts Quarterly Meeting

NCD conducted its summer quarterly meeting July 14–16 at the Renaissance Seattle Hotel in Seattle, Washington.

Over 120 people attended the meeting, hearing presentations on emergency preparedness and other issues of interest to people with disabilities, and 55 of them attended the NCD-sponsored reception. NCD also received 50 public comments on a variety of issues affecting people with disabilities.

On July 14, Seattle Mayor Gregory Nickels presented welcoming remarks to NCD. Later, Toby Olson of the Washington State Governor's Committee on Disability Issues and Employment commented on new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) proposed regulations from the U.S. Department of Justice affecting state and local governments and public accommodations. Jack Michaels, former national president of the Paralyzed Veterans of America, discussed the Air Carriers Access Act. Anthony Dennis, counsel, Aetna, Inc., made a presentation on health care financing and Sally York, RN, director, Northwest Orthopaedic Institute, presented on national, state, and local initiatives on preventing falls.

On July 15, Barbara Graff, director, Seattle Office of Emergency Management discussed the steps Seattle was taking to address emergency preparedness for people with disabilities and lessons learned to date. Other emergency preparedness presenters that day included Tracy Connelly, emergency preparedness training specialist, City of Seattle; Charlie Axton, division director for disaster assistance, Region X, Federal Emergency Management Agency; and Captain Dave Beste, Bellevue Fire Department.

Later that day, NCD heard presentations from Kelly Buckland, executive director of the Idaho State Independent Living Council and Megan Kirshbaum, executive director of Through the Looking Glass, discussing the rights of parents with disabilities. Marc Brenman, executive director, and Shawn Murinko, commissioner of the Washington State Human Rights Commission presented on current challenges to disability rights.
A regional issues panel included Kelly Buckland, Lynnae Ruttledge, director of the Washington State Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, and Bill Lynch, executive director of the Oregon State Council on Developmental Disabilities. Michael Jacobs, attorney advisor to the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission, provided information on the conversion from analog to digital television which will take place in February 2009.

A different perspective on disability issues and health care was presented by Mayor Sam Sullivan, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, who discussed Canada’s healthcare system and related disability services.

On July 16, Laura Ruby, senior strategist, Global Policy and Standards, Microsoft Accessible Technology Group, discussed technology, software and computers as they relate to employment. Katharine Hunter-Zaworski, Ph.D. P.E., director, National Center for Accessible Transportation, Oregon State University and Vicki Curtis, senior engineer, Concept Center, Boeing Aircraft Company presented information on recent advancements in transportation accessibility and technology.

NCD Votes Top 2010 Priority: National Summit on Disability Policy

During NCD’s Seattle quarterly meeting, NCD voted on a number of important priorities for 2010. Its first priority includes holding a “2010 National Summit on Disability Policy” in Washington, DC, in July 2010. The purpose of this two-day conference is to recognize policy accomplishments to date, identify and prioritize critical needs for the next 10 years, and develop solutions and recommendations for addressing those needs. About 400 people are expected to attend and participate in this event.

NCD also developed several other key priorities for 2010, to be supported by a proposed FY 2010 budget of $3,395,721. Other 2010 priorities include studies on mental health, health care financing and durable medical equipment; employment and technology; accessibility of U.S.-based overseas international development programs; digital media; and federal employment of people with disabilities. Because the Council places a top priority on this issue, NCD voted to fund the white paper on federal government hiring of people with disabilities for Fiscal Year 2008 instead of waiting until 2010.

NCD also voted to write to the U.S. Department of Justice requesting a 60-day extension to the period allowed for public comments on the notice of proposed rulemaking for ADA Architectural Guidelines (ADAAG) regulation changes.

NCD voted to recharter its International Watch (IW) advisory committee for up to a two-year period and will notify the IW that the structure of all NCD advisory committees is under review.

NCD Vacancy Announcement

For those of you who have been waiting for NCD to fill its vacancy for a Legislative Affairs Specialist, a job announcement was posted on the USAjobs.gov Web site, and the closing date was August 14, 2008. Several excellent applications were received, and NCD is beginning the review process as this is being written.

Impact of Recent NCD Policy Research

On April 21, 2008, NCD published the report entitled Keeping Track: National Disability Status and Program Performance Indicators located at http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2008/Indicators_Report.html. On June 4, 2008, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Information Policy, the Census and National Archives held a hearing spotlighting NCD’s report. The testimony from that hearing can be located at http://informationpolicy.oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=1984. As a result of the June 4 hearing, on June 12, 2008, Chairman William Lacy Clay of the Subcommittee wrote a letter to Jim Nussle, Director, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requesting that federal agencies include six questions from the American Community Survey in all federal surveys that request data about race, sex, age, and ethnicity.

On July 24, 2008, OMB Director Nussle responded to Chairman Clay affirming the Administration’s interest in improving disability information policy. Director Nussle indicated that there is a series of disability questions now on the American Community Survey (ACS) that are based on the same theoretical reasoning described in NCD’s Keeping Track report. Director Nussle also indicated that the ACS questions are included as well in the Current Population Survey (CPS) and the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). Furthermore, Director Nussle indicated that: (a) OMB will suggest that the Department of Housing and Urban Development consider including the ACS disability questions in the American Housing Survey, and (b) the ACS questions will be included on the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Finally, Director Nussle stated to Chairman Clay that OMB can consider the appropriateness of adding such [ACS] questions on a case-by-case basis to additional surveys [beyond the ACS and CPS], in the context of practical utility and respondent burden principles set forth in the Paperwork Reduction Act.

NCD Extends Emerging Trends Public Consultation

The response to NCD’s emerging trends public consultation has been extremely positive. We are grateful that so many people with disabilities have taken this opportunity to provide concrete feedback. Several people requested an extension on the closing date for comments. NCD extended the deadline to August 7, 2008.

NCD was soliciting public input for a study of emerging issues and trends affecting the lives of people with disabilities. Information gathered will be used in the development of NCD's next annual progress report, National Disability Policy: A Progress Report, which is required annually by Section 401 (b) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.

The purpose of this public consultation was to gather input to help NCD assess the status of the nation in achieving policies that guarantee equal opportunity for all individuals with disabilities, and that empower individuals with disabilities to achieve economic self-sufficiency, independent living, and inclusion and integration into all aspects of society. The public consultation process yielded over 400 comments about issues of importance to people with disabilities in this country, including about 85 messages from organizations serving the disability community. While the official comment period has expired, individuals with concerns or issues to share are welcome to send their comments to ncd@ncd.gov at any time. The entire document and information on how to respond are available at http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2008/public_consultation.html.
Your comments will help NCD provide a guide for America’s programs and services to be modernized to reflect the changed and changing needs of people with disabilities in our communities.

ADA Anniversary

President Bush signed a proclamation highlighting July 26, 2008 as the 18th anniversary of the ADA.

The following is excerpted from the proclamation:

“The ADA has helped tear down barriers for millions of people living with disabilities. On the anniversary of this important legislation, our Nation underscores our commitment to ensuring that all individuals have an equal opportunity to realize their full potential.

On July 26, 1990, President George H. W. Bush signed this groundbreaking Act into law, better enabling citizens with disabilities to participate fully in all aspects of life. Over the course of nearly two decades, this Act has made our schools and workplaces more welcoming, helped change attitudes that once seemed unchangeable, and expanded opportunity for many exceptional Americans. The ADA is one of the most successful civil rights laws in our history and has been an essential part of countless American lives.”

The full text of the proclamation can be found at http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/07/20080725.html.

Future Quarterly Meetings

NCD’s Fall quarterly meeting will be held October 6–8, 2008, at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center, 2345 McGee Street, Kansas City, Missouri.

NCD’s Winter meeting will be January 12–14, 2009, at the Chaparral Suites Hotel, 5001 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, Arizona.

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