News

Our newsletter is available in HTML format for reading online. It is also available for download in 2 formats: PDF and Text Only. The PDF format is best for printing or e-mailing. The text only format is available for users that may have difficulty reading PDf files. Adobe also offers a conversion service designed to make PDF files accessible to people with disabilities. (http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/access_onlinetools.html)

Manatee Connects ® Launches

Thanks to a Community Information Challenge Grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Manatee Community Foundation in partnership with the Bradenton Herald, Hands On Manatee and METV has launched a new website for the community featuring non profit news and information. The website is hosted on bradenton.com and features the opportunity for every non profit to have a profile page with links to its own website, post volunteer needs and submit article updates on events and programs with rotating flash pictures on the main hub page.

The National Council on Disability (NCD) is seeking people with disabilities

The National Council on Disability (NCD) is seeking people with disabilities, individuals representing grassroots organizations and others to help shape disability policies and programs for the next decade. Deadline for submitting application to attend the summit is October 15, 2009.

This information has recently been updated, and can be read by visiting this link:

http://www.disability.gov/employment/news_%26_events

SCIL Receives Grant from SCAN

SCIL has just received notice that our grant application to the Sarasota County Aging Network (SCAN) for $2,000 has been approved! The purpose of the grant is to provide home modifications for elders, in support of our wheelchair ramp project. Commendation goes to Alexis Martin, Finance Manager, who wrote and submitted the grant application.

FREE Emergency Preparedness Conference For People with Disabilities

SCIL will sponsor a FREE Emergency Preparedness Conference For People with Disabilities, June 3, 2009 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Sudakoff Center at New College, 5700 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota.

Experts from local, private and government agencies will discuss what to expect – and not expect – during the time surrounding a disaster or emergency situation. Participants will learn how to be proactive, not reactive, to emergencies: preparation can make the difference before, during and after a disaster. This free conference will feature speakers and panelists experienced in emergency management, exhibitors, lunch and personal disaster survival plans!

For more information, visit the Emergency Prep Conference Home Page

State Vocational Rehabilitation Program Included in the Economic Stimulus Package

CSAVR is proud and delighted to announce that the state vocational rehabilitation program has been included in the economic stimulus package that is being worked on by the new Congress. There are still hurdles to clear and some programs may still be eliminated, however, we have made it this far and we intend to continue to make our case of why persons with disabilities who want to work should be included in this economic stimulus package. I would have preferred not making an announcement until we were closer to having it passed by Congress, however, since details of the package are being made public and with subsequent inquiries to CSAVR, it is clear that we now need to share with our network what has been happening. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) plans to have House committee chairmen take up the tax and spending packages late next week, with the goal of sending the new President a final bill for his signature by mid-February. The Senate is expected to act within the same time frame.

You should know that CSAVR staff have really left “no stone unturned” in our efforts to have VR and persons with disabilities included in this new stimulus package. There are a lot of folks that we have been working with in order to make this a reality. In the weeks ahead and as hopefully we remain in the economic stimulus package, we will share some of the back stories associated with CSAVR’s efforts. In the attached analysis which was developed for the press, you may note that the reference to the public vocational rehabilitation program on page fourteen in the attached PDF File (we have also converted it to a WORD document) also references “construction and facilities”. We have been told that that reference is in error and will be fixed – the intent from the beginning was for the $500 million to be for services in the Title I program. We also requested that the $500 million could be spent over a 2 year period, would require NO MATCH and would carry a 2 year MOE waiver. In next week’s CSAVR NEWS UPDATE, we will begin telling the story of how we approached this effort and what it could mean to the public VR program. We are also aware that the Independent Living program is to receive $200 million. Below is the actual language in the draft legislation pertaining to the economic stimulus package relative to VR and IL.

For an additional amount for ‘‘Rehabilitation Services and Disability Research’’ for providing grants to States to carry out the Vocational Rehabilitation Services program under part B of title I and parts B and C of chapter 1 and chapter 2 of title VII of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, $700,000,000: Provided, That $500,000,000 shall be available for part B of title I of the Rehabilitation Act, of which $250,000,000 shall become available on October 1, 2009: Provided further, That funds provided herein shall not be considered in determining the amount required to be appropriated under section 100(b)(1) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 in any fiscal year: Provided further, That, notwithstanding section 7(14)(A), the Federal share of the costs of vocational rehabilitation services provided with the funds provided herein shall be 100 percent: Provided further, That the provisions of section 1106 of this Act shall not apply to these funds: Provided further, That $200,000,000 shall be available for parts B and C of chapter 1 and chapter 2 of title VII of the Rehabilitation Act, of which $100,000,000 shall become available on October 1, 2009: Provided further, That $34,775,000 shall be for State Grants, $114,581,000 shall be for independent living centers, and $50,644,000 shall be for services for older blind individuals.

Carl Suter
Chief Executive Officer, CSAVR

Economic Stimulus Summary (MS Word .doc format)

President Bush Signs ADA Amendments Act into Law

For nearly two years, disability rights advocates have traveled the Nation in a modified bus educating citizens and policymakers alike of the pressing need to restore vital civil rights protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Today, President Bush signed the ADA Amendments Act into law and ADA Watch and the National Coalition for Disability Rights, the nonprofit organizations behind the Road To Freedom bus tour, praised all of those involved in this successful campaign to advance disability rights.

In recent years, the ADA - the world's first human rights law for people with disabilities - has been dramatically narrowed in the courts leaving citizens with epilepsy, diabetes, mental illness, HIV-AIDS and other disabilities unprotected from discrimination. The ADA Amendments Act clarifies the intent of Congress and reverses the "judicial activism" that has resulted in more than 95% of employment-related ADA cases being dismissed on summary judgment.

Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), lead sponsor of the ADA Amendments Act, acknowledged ADA Watch/NCDR's role in passage of this legislation on the floor of the Senate, thanking the Road To Freedom's crew for "dedicating almost 2 years of their lives traveling on a bus around the country to every State, showing people about the importance of restoring the protections of ADA."

ADA Watch/NCDR founder and president, Jim Ward stated today, "This is a monumental victory for people with disabilities. As America seeks to respond to the economic challenges we face, this law - if enforced - will assure that people with disabilities are fairly included in the workforce and that we can do our jobs free from discrimination."

"ADA Watch and the National Coalition for Disability Rights praises the thousands of Americans who produced and participated in Road To Freedom bus stops as, together, we called for restoration of the ADA. Likewise, we praise the tireless efforts of advocates such as Andy Imparato, Sandy Finucane, Curt Decker, Chai Feldblum, Jennifer Mathis, Arlene Mayerson, Shereen Arent, Donna Meltzer, Nancy Zirkin, Michael Collins, Yoshiko Dart, Tom Olin, Debbie Fletter Ward and so many others."

ADA Watch and the National Coalition for Disability Rights (NCDR) is a coalition of national, state and local disability, civil rights and social justice organizations united to protect and promote the human rights of children and adults with physical and mental disabilities. For more information, go to www.adawatch.org and www.roadtofreedom.org.

(Courtesy of http://ADAWatch.org)

SCIL Prepares for Election Day

SCIL is busy preparing for Election Day in November. We cannot tell you who to vote for. But we would like to remind you to CAST YOUR VOTE. People with disabilities are typically under-represented in the election process. It is important for every person with a disability to vote and make our voices heard in Washington, DC. SCIL has helped Sarasota County to develop a training video for poll workers so that they may be more sensitive to the needs of PWDs during the voting process. We are also participating in the election process by lending our building as a polling place. If you are a Suncoast voter, we can help you with the registration process. Or we can help you file for an absentee ballot if you have difficulty making it to your local polling place.

July ADA Celebration

SCIL held a very successful event celebrating the 18th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. (Coincidentially, it was also SCIL's own 18th anniversary.) The Sarasota Herald Tribune wrote a very nice article about the event. In addition, Sarasota News Channel 8 attended.