As May draws to a close and we wrap up Older Americans Month, we are pleased to feature the following blog by Kathy Greenlee, a global authority in the field of aging and the former U.S. Assistant Secretary for Aging. Her post underscores the importance of persistent advocacy and enhanced funding for crucial programs supporting […]

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The National Advisory Board on Improving Healthcare Services for Older Adults and People with Disabilities (NAB) is honored to collaborate with partners like the EveryLife Foundation. This month, we have the privilege of hearing from Annie Kennedy who serves as their Chief of Policy, Advocacy, and Patient Engagement to hear more about what they’re up […]

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In her compelling blog, “Braille: A Source of Empowerment and Pride,” Stacy Cervenka, Senior Director of Policy at RespectAbility, delves into the rich history and enduring significance of Braille. From Louis Braille’s ingenious invention to the challenges faced by blind and low-vision individuals in the education system, Cervenka passionately dispels myths surrounding Braille. Addressing issues […]

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In the uncharted territory of dementia caregiving, filmmaker, and creator Kitty Norton, has embarked on a personal quest through her blog, Stumped Town Dementia. Little did she anticipate that her introspective musings on the challenges and joys of caring for her mother, Gloria, would evolve into a powerful beacon for a community of caregivers supporting […]

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National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) has been an important time of year and a milestone for people with disabilities for decades. Sharing employment stories of success is one of the many ways we celebrate NDEAM. This year, we’d like to introduce you to Angad Sahgal, a young visionary poised to revolutionize the landscape of […]

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Throughout the year we pause to recognize many different moments, including those of celebration and those where we honor people we have lost.   September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month when we remember those we have lost to suicide and recognize the work that needs to be done to support people with mental health disabilities. According to […]

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In a world that often overlooks the significance of life’s small victories, there are those like Liz Persaud, former Program and Outreach Manager for Tools for Life (Georgia’s Assistive Technology Act Program) and the Pass It On Center (The National Assistive Technology Device Reutilization Coordination and Technical Assistance Center) at the Center for Inclusive Design […]

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Anniversaries offer a time for celebration. July 26 is a day of celebration for people with disabilities all over the world, as it is the day on which President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act. Anniversaries also offer a time for reflection.  I am blessed to have many rich memories of July […]

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The lobby of Eden House, a special apartment building in Washington, DC, is filled with brightly colored paintings of flowers, abstract swirls, and colors that conjure joy. The artist is someone I know well– an elegant and brave soul who channeled the traumas and challenges of her life into these beautiful works of art which […]

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Autism Acceptance Month is recognized every year throughout April and promotes inclusion and acceptance. Autism Acceptance Month aims to break the stigma of people on the autism spectrum and shift the narrative from “awareness to acceptance.”  We’ve invited Riley Cahill Camps (they/them), a member of the board of directors of accessABILITY Center for Independent Living, […]

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The National Advisory Board (NAB) on Improving Health Care Services for Older Adults and People with Disabilities is committed to hearing diverse perspectives and opinions from individuals worldwide and acknowledging that the experiences of others help everyone learn and grow. Although we believe that disability is a natural part of life, we also recognize that […]

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Disability Accessibility Should Not Be An Afterthought In 2023 If you went online after the 2023 Super Bowl, chances are that you encountered the viral praise of the deaf American Sign Language (ASL) performer Justina Miles, who made it possible for the deaf community to enjoy the halftime performance. (If not, check out the wonderful […]

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February 28th marks Rare Disease Day, a celebration of the more than 30 million Americans who live with a rare disease and the millions more who work as caregivers and advocates. A rare disease is defined as any condition affecting less than 200,000 people in the United States. Current estimates place the number of rare […]

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Activist Alice Wong reflects on ‘The Year of the Tiger’ and her hopes for 2023 For many Asian and Asian American communities, the Lunar New Year, celebrated in late January this year, represents a chance to start anew. It also comes with it a new zodiac animal: 2022 was the Year of the Tiger. In […]

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Long left out of job market, people with disabilities benefit from COVID teleworking boom Widespread acceptance of remote working and an overall labor shortage have opened up historic opportunities for some of the nation’s most skilled and underutilized workers. Adults With Intellectual Disabilities Often Excluded From Clinical Trials, Research Finds Scientific breakthroughs aren’t possible without […]

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Health inequities lead to early death in many persons with disabilities The Global report on health equity for persons with disabilities published today shows that because of the systemic and persistent health inequities, many persons with disabilities face the risk of dying much earlier—even up to 20 years earlier—than persons without disabilities. Impending Intergenerational Crisis: Americans With […]

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Harvard Hosts First ‘Disability as Diversity’ Celebration Harvard Disability Resources hosted its first “Disability as Diversity” celebration on Wednesday in honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Organized by Kate Higgins, associate director of University Disability Resources, the event aimed to recognize Harvard affiliates with disabilities. The celebration, which took place in the Science Center […]

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Standing Up For My Sister Integrating family caregivers into the health care team is particularly important for patients with intellectual disabilities. Kessler Foundation announces findings of 2022 National Employment & Disability Survey on effects of COVID-19 pandemic on employer practices related to people with disabilities Survey compares the workplaces of 2017 and 2022 from the […]

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I Escaped Poverty, but Hunger Still Haunts Me Escaping poverty is a question of how long you can go without pleasure. If you were raised with money, going without pleasure might mean something like canceling your Netflix subscription or purchasing a slightly older car. What I mean by pleasure is food, clothing and shelter. I […]

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Medicaid program expands funding for seniors and people with disabilities, but its future remains uncertain Medicaid’s Money Follows the Person has allowed over 90,000 people with disabilities and seniors to move out of nursing homes and back into their communities. But Congress still won’t make the funding permanent. I am California’s acting surgeon general. And […]

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Show 1311: Why We Should Fight Back Against Ageism Ageism is widespread and damaging in American life. Adopting more positive attitudes toward aging can benefit everyone growing older. How to Push Back Against Ageism Pushing back against societal behavior is nearly impossible for most people. Pushing back against an individual who engages in ageist language […]

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‘People will die waiting’: America’s system for the disabled is nearing collapse Private agencies that provide services for the intellectually and developmentally disabled have long warned that, without fresh state and federal funding, they would be unable to provide housing and staff support to the growing number of Americans who need care. 6,000 Waiting: A […]

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Remarks by Vice President Harris at the 32nd Anniversary of the  Americans With Disabilities Act Reception “I think that Senator Harkin said it so well: This is a movement.  We — we rest on broad shoulders of folks who through their activism, their courage, their commitment, have allowed us to celebrate this 32nd anniversary.  But still, […]

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How Discrimination in Health Care Affects Older Americans, and What Health Systems and Providers Can Do Racial and ethnic discrimination has a significant impact on the health of people of color, affecting mental health and contributing to high blood pressure, negative health behaviors, and early aging. For Black older adults, the cumulative effects of race-related […]

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Government-Mandated Poverty: How US policies are structured to keep people with disabilities in perpetual poverty

This week the call for greater disability employment continues, children with disabilities and the fight on school mask mandates AND everything you need to know about the Paralympic Games PLUS Lil Wayne has the best interview about mental health in What We’re Reading!

This week, COVID vaccine boosters are recommended for people who are immunocompromised, Disability loses traction in boardrooms AND Marlee Matlin’s new show CODA is not the ned for Deaf people on TV PLUS we are somehow still fighting shock treatments being used against PWFs in What We’re Reading

This week: COVID19 booster shots AND voter registration AND Target makes backpacks for Wheelchair users, PLUS we continue to recognize the ADA Anniversary and think about accessible housing and healthcare in What We’re Reading!

This week: FDA expands vaccine trials to younger kids, Disability activism and history, plus how we feel may affect how we age, AND our thoughts on the ADA Anniversary PLUS Have you heard of the fastest Deaf Woman in Hollywood? Read about it in What We’re Reading! https://declarationforindependence.org/what-were-reading-august-2-2021/

Last week on July 26th we recognized the 31st Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). While 31 is not one of the “big” anniversaries ending in five or zero, this year’s turn around the sun seems especially important as a significant number of our communities are hoping to re-open as we transition to another phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This week we recognize the 31st Anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act and continue to join the national conversation about access, inclusion and disability pride for all Americans!

This week: Caregivers and the needs for people with disabilities and older Americans, Georgetown University creates new endowment that centers disability, and the importance of Disability Pride Month. PLUS Accessible fashion in What We’re Reading!

This week: Accessible elections, Is telework making government employment a better option for #pwds, AND Emily Ladau discusses Disability Pride month, PLUS how far the airline industry REALLY has to go to support people with disabilities in what We’re Reading!

As we recover from a restful weekend of barbecues, fireworks, and family, here are a few articles to get your week going!

This week Californians with Disabilities feeling left behind, Advocates remind us that Brittney Spears conservatorship is a disability issue and the reform of a Federal Council on Autism PLUS why accessible sports teams should not use Native Mascots in What We’re Reading!

This week we continue a festive June by recognizing Juneteenth and Father’s Day as well as Pride, NCIL announces its new chief, kids with I/DD hang ten in SC AND Health outcomes for aging and Latino populations PLUS across the pond COVID long haulers may be considered as people with disabilities in What We’re Reading!

Today as we celebrate Juneteenth we join all who are working to make sure the good news of freedom and inclusion is accessible to all.

This week, Steve Way asks why accessibility in Hollywood isn’t a bigger thing, Ted Kennedy calls on boards to be inclusive of disability AND Women in the Science of Aging, disparities in Access to meds AND Pandemic Drinking on the Rise PLUS a Disabled Students guide to Teacher of the Year in What We’re Reading!

This week: Peace Corps Volunteers help with the COVID Vaccine Effort, How nurse shortages affect people with disabilities and increasing government accessibility, PLUS the FDA approves a new device that detects autism AND we continue to celebrate PRIDE in What We’re Reading!

This is me: How hidden disability affects body confidence | Good Husekeeping Not every disability is visible - one woman explains how having Parkinson's affects her body confidence. 22-year-old on becoming America’s first vaccine millionaire: ‘I thought it was a prank call’ | Washington Post At first, Abbigail Bugenske thought it was a joke — [...]

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This week: We get ready for the beginning of summer and what to do when we visit aging parents, AND how racism sabotages health for Black men, AND reframing the disability label for everyone PLUS we all sing along with the Linda Lindas in What We’re Reading

This week: We continue to recognize Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Older Americans Month, Paramount commits to auditioning more actors with disabilities AND COVID-19 continues to impact Older Americans PLUS a look at the 40 year impact of Living with HIV in What We’re Reading!

This week how COVID continues to affect eh #DisCo in the US and broad, Disability rights orgs support voting rights AND a look at old tech – the Braille Writer PLUS we celebrate Mother’s day with words from Black Mothers with disabilities in What We’re Reading

This week we recognize Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week #CMHAW, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Older Americans Month, take a look at accessible gaming and tech design, and consider the best summer ever as POTUS encourages all Americans to get the vaccine, PLUS we say goodbye to Olympia Dukakis

View this resource as a PDF Federal law requires that all public spaces, such as public health buildings, convention centers, fairgrounds, doctor’s offices, pharmacies, and other businesses comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to protect people from discrimination based on their disabilities. Vaccination clinics must comply with the ADA. Any entity operating a [...]

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This week: How do we integrate disabitly into the global health agenda, AND sitting at the intersection of Asian and disability identity PLUS the DisCo goes to the Oscars AND we recognize Earth Day and another holiday from last week in in What We’re Reading!

This week, COVID Vaccine opens up for the majority of American, a discussion of how Long Haulers will join the #DisCo, Ali Stroker’s new kids book on disability, mentorship for girls AND the Biden admin announces a nomination for the Office of Disability Employment Policy in What We’re Reading!

This week: How disability works or doesn’t) in the NFL two disability cases that may be headed to SCOTUS, AND chefs and cooks in the disability community share recipes for accessibility AND Lydia X.Z. Brown talks disability justice PLUS The world continues to mourn the passing of DMX, Alcee Hastings and Prince Phillip all in What We’re Reading!

This week: how Indigenous communities are addressing disability and COVID-19 AND debt cancellation for some borrowers with disabilities, AND a NEW Biden plan to boost home care PLUS we recognize World Autism Day and Autism Acceptance Month in What We’re Reading!

The entire month of April is also designated as Autism Acceptance Month. This annual recognition is not only to make all communities aware of the contribution and value of individuals with autism but also a time in which individuals are encouraged to spread awareness, and promote acceptance understanding that all people live on the bread spectrum of neurodiversity. We are excited to share some wonderful voices of autistic identity and neurodiversity as we spread awareness, promote acceptance, and ignite change.

This week we hear from AARP about how COVID-19 is affecting the Black Community, Michigan advocates press for at home vaccinations and disability in the theater space PLUS pandemic pets in What We’re Reading!

This week we celebrate the first week of spring, hear about a new Bill affecting HCBS and learn about the new Blind Advocate running for Boston City Council PLUS a story about disability from Germany in What We’re Reading!

This week we keep an eye out for the Ides of March, the nation reflects on a year of the pandemic and disability fashion PLUS we remember Deaf President Now! and the Capitol Crawl in What We’re Reading!

This week we Celebrate International Women’s Day, consider how to fix America’s nursing homes and how aging Americans are getting the COVID-19 Vaccine PLUS a blog with CILWW on the importance of accessible transportation in What We’re Reading!

In this week’s blog Kyle Kleist, Executive Director of the Center for Independent Living of Western Wisconsin (CILWW) and NAB Member Billy Altom, Executive Director of the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL), walk us through some of the issues and barriers to accessible transportation as well as some of the methods to make transport accessible to all.

This week: How to COVID-19 pandemic spotlights inequalities for older Americans, disability inclusion on the NASDAQ and STEM, AND the digital divide, PLUS the Disability Community recognizes the Disability Day of Mourning in What We’re Reading!

This week: The #DisCo prepares for the Disability Day of Mourning, POTUS makes his pick for Medicaid chief, we continue to celebrate #BlackHistoryMonth AND the effect of Rush Limbaugh on political discourse in hat We’re Reading!

Lots of celebrations this week – President’s Day, Lunar New Year and Valentine’s Day with Mardi Gras on the way AND AAPD announces the winners of the Hearne Awards AND reflections on the national anthem PLUS the world says goodbye to Larry Flynt and Chick Corea in What We’re Reading.

This Week: Aging in Place, how seniors are dealing with the COVI-crisis and accessing the vaccine, Nike develops a hands free sneaker PLUS Jessica Long reps the DisCo and Paralympics in the latest Toyota Super Bowl Ad all in what we’re reading!

This week: calls for greater accessibility in Hollywood as Sundance and the Easter Seals Disabitly Film Challenge get underway AND Older Americans stay resilient at work AND who is having difficulty getting the COVID-19 vaccines PLUS we kickoff Black History Month in What We’re Reading!

This week, care for caregivers in the time of COVID, how people with I/DD are faring in the UK PLUS the fashion poetry and speeches of the Presidential Inauguration in What We’re Reading!

This week: We recognize Martin Luther King Day 2021, America prepares for the Biden Inauguration and continue plans for COVID and how to get the Vaccine PLUS accessible D&D in What we’re Reading!

Today we join believers in social justice and freedom around the world and Americans across the country in the recognition and celebration of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. At home in the States it is nearly impossible to step back far enough to fully appreciate the immensity of his footprint in our understanding of […]

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This week: The nation is still reeling from Pro-Trump rioters breaching the U.S Capitol on Wednesday AND states consider how they will be dispensing the COVID-19 Vaccine PLUS National ADAPT says goodbye to Spitfire Sable in What We’re Reading.

Happy New Year! This week we welcome in 2021, we review some of the best blogs and top 10 disabitly events of 2020 and aging in the media PLUS Disability in Australia and we recognize the passing of Dick Thornburgh in What We’re Reading

It is with profound sorrow that the National Advisory Board (NAB) on Improving Health Care Services for Older Adults and People with Disabilities recognizes the passing of Richard “Dick” Thornburgh.

Got some extra time as we countdown to the New Year? Take a tour of our blogs of 2020 and see what our talented contributors had us thinking about during a year that we will not soon forget!

This week: We count down to New Year 2021, Hear what is it like to get the COVID-19 Vaccine and how you’ll know when it’s your turn AND Disability in Film PLUS Reflections on another time when vaccines were important in What We’re Reading!

This week: Everything you didn’t know about Helen Keller, Can the COVID-19 vaccine can counter health disparties in communities of color, and how do we continue to support kids with disabilities all in What We’re Reading!

The winter holidays are here and while we are all looking to some much needed rest, how will we celebrate and stay safe during the pandemic? This week we offer you some ideas to keep festive and stay healthy and safe!

This week, the COVID-19 vaccine gets the green light and makes its way out for use, Senator Tom Harkin speaks On The Future Of Disability Inclusion AND aging parents and the holidays all in What we’re Reading

This week: Who will get the COVID-19 Vaccine first, new laws crack down on fake service animals on planes AND the Viscardi center recognizes global leaders with disabilities. PLUS Ali Stroker bring disability to Lifetime Holiday movies AND we recognize International Day of Persons with disabilities in What We’re Reading!

This week: the importance of tech for older adults, how The Crown talks learning disabilities AND who wants the COVID19 vaccine once it is ready PLUS inclusion at the Queer rodeo AND the world says goodbye to David Prowse – the body of Darth Vader in What We’re Reading

This week: the US prepares for a much needed Thanksgiving Holiday with household only gatherings suggested by the CDC, scientists may have a breakthrough on aging, the COVID-19 vaccine, telehealth AND the future of Down Syndrome in What We’re Reading

This week: Why successful aging may be about OT acting your age, why seniors are not getting treatment for depression , AND COVID-19 and Mental Illness, PLUS The Smithsonian Will Open A National Native American Veterans Memorial In D.C.

This week: The Biden-Harris team starts planning for the transition, the ACA returns to the Supreme Court AND we recognize the start of Native American Haritage Month PLUS How your dog may hold the secret to aging AND we say goodbye to American icon Alex Trebek in What We’re Reading!

It’s election day! In case you are standing in line or just want to stay abreast of what voting means for Older Americans and people with disabilities, here is a round up of some of the latest articles we have read on elections and voting!

This week: Oir nationla gears up for election day, aging parents might be overspedning NAD holiday plans shifted by COVID, AND Hewlett Packard Chief talks the importance of NDEAM and the ocnfrmation of Justice Amy Coney Barrett all in What we’re reading.

This week: Older African Americans suffer more from COVID-19, Why voting matters for the disability community AND fewer Korean-Americans use Mental health services PLUS why some of the aging community is using pot for common health problems all in What We’re Reading!

This week – How signature matching for ballots ahas some Voters with disabilites worried AND the power of patience and how it may be a superpower for people with disabilities at work AND how COVID-19 might be exposing a disabiltiy reporting gap all in What We’re Reading!

This week: We join in recogntions for Indigenous Peoples’ Day AND learn how voting is made accessible for people with learning disabilities AND how a Black woman with a disability is making change for both of her communites PLUS we recognize World Mental Health Day all in What We’re Reading!

In the United States on the second Monday in October we recognize Indigenous People’s Day – a day that celebrates and honors Native American peoples and commemorates their histories and cultures. With the purpose of reclaiming Columbus Day, the recognition also provides a much needed recognition and acknowledgement of the people, culture and history indigenous people in the United States.

World Mental Health Day is an opportunity to engage our friends and families to talk about the importance of fostering positive mental health practices. Doing this helps create communities in which mental health care and anti-stigma can help make mental health care a reality for people worldwide. Check out some of the tools an important conversations taking place today about mental health.

This week – We all consider inclusive employment as we recognize National Disabitlyi Employment Awareness Month. Some Do’s and Don’t of Disbatiyl Language, AND Creating good Mental Health habits for Mental Illness Awreness Week all in What we’re Reading!

This week we look at the perils of voting when you are a person with a disability, consider the needs of caregivers and accessibility for people who are Deaf/HOH in What We’re Reading!

September is National Preparedness Month! Paul Timmons shares his thoughts on the future of inclusive emergency preparedness and the steps we need to take to make sure that people with disabilities are not left behind during emergencies.

This week, the nation mourns the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, an urge to end Sub-minimum wage for people with disabilities AND Anthem and the New Apple Watch may help you with your asthma PLUS do your remember the 21st of September all in this week’s What We’re Reading!

It is with a profound sense of sadness that the National Advisory Board (NAB) on Improving Health Care Services for Older Adults and People with Disabilities recognizes the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. It was reported that the long-time member of the Supreme Court and the second woman to be raised to the highest [...]

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The COVID-19 pandemic has created new barriers to voting and resulted in chaos at the polls and widespread voter disenfranchisement. In this blog our colleagues from AAPD outline some of the barriers people may face when trying to vote as well as solutions that can help everyone as we move to the polls in November!

This week: Older Americans with underlying conditions bear the brunt of COVID-19, Google recognizes Terry Fox in the Doodle AND we recognize National Preparedness Month and the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in What We’re Reading.

National Preparedness Month (NPM) is recognized each September to promote family and community disaster planning now and throughout the year. As our nation continues to respond to COVID-19, there is no better time to be involved this September.

This week: We say good-bye to the summer, attitudes about disability cures AND speaking out against the latest TikTok Challenge, PLUS why Black aging matters all in this week’s What We’re Reading

This week: We walk towards Labor Day weekend, advocates and parents want more from their schools and websites become a bigger focus during COVID-19 PLUS We say goodbye to Chadwick Boseman.

This week: Allies for Independence wants to make sure we don’t lose disability data tied to COVID-19, AND Haben Girma on how disability drives innovation AMD what seniors can expect in a post vaccine world PLUS Why every person with a disability may not want to talk to you about their disability

This week: Retires debate Alzheimer’s vs COVID-19, 10,000 Americans die waiting for SSDI hearings AND how the Biden Disability Plan could close the Equal Pay loophole PLUS Michelle Obama opens up about depression and menopause all in What We’re Reading!

This week: Older adults having connection issues with telehealth, Chicago police ire a disability expert and the Navajo nation flattens the curve PLUS ADA Celebrations continue with the NDLA Blog Parade

This week: We continue to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the ADA wit Lex Frieden and Merrill Friedman, Loneliness and its impact on aging seniors, AND how the Internets is reacting to SSDI PLUS the last words of Rep. John Lewis

The unexpected events of 2020 altered how we care celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the ADA. NAB convener Lex Frieden, and Merrill Friedman give their unique perspective on the ADA Anniversary and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today is National Intern Day! Courtney Felle jis Anthem’s 2020 Lex Frieden intern. and ee are so incredibly fortunate to have her support the Disability Policy Engagement team in Federal Affairs, which includes supporting the work of the NAB. In addition to her work with us, Courtney is a member of the 2020 Disability Advocacy Certificate Program organized by AAPD. She wrote this blog post in recognition of the 30th anniversary of the ADA, and it can also be found on AAPD’s social media channels.

This week: We recognize the passing of Congressman John Lewis, AND COVID-19 and its effects on diverse communities AND we Celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act!

It is with profound sadness that the NAB recognizes the passing of Congressman John Lewis on July 17, 2020.  Throughout his life, from his humble beginnings as a sharecropper’s son, to his time organizing the Freedom Riders and speaking at the 1963 March on Washington, to his tenure in the House of Representatives, John Lewis [...]

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Sunday July 26th marks the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities  Act. There are events and celebrations taking place across the country — many of them virtually. Here is a short list of some of the events you can participate in this weekend and recognize the landmark civil rights legislation supporting inclusion for all Americans.

This Week – NAB Convener Lex Frieden reminds us that older adults and #pwds deserve COVID treatment, AND the DEI tells us the Best Places to work for #pwds, AND LTSS, PLUS Classic Reggae anthem is remastered for the pandemic all in What We’re Reading

This week: What the 30th Anniversary of the ADA means for business, Minnesota reopens day centers for people with disabilities AND Critical resources for trans seniors. PLUS How the Baby Sitters Club changes minds about disability.

This week: a look at mental health and the need for more mental health professionals form communities of color, Masks at Work – Can Accommodations be mandatory? PLUS the Disability Rights Movement 30 year later all in What We’re Reading

This Week: How tech and digital solutions are affecting our access to care AND COVID-19 and Alzheimer’s PLUS the Legacy of Stonewall pro-aging and anti-racism at Pride all in What We’re Reading!

This week: We celebrate Juneteenth. Reflections on the Olmstead Anniversary by NAB Member Billy Altom, commentary on centering of Aging and disability communities from CAP, we recognize the passing of Cheryl Sensenbrenner and the Top 50 Anthems for Pride in What We’re Reading!

by Billy Altom, NAB Member and Executive Director of the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL) A few years after the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), I was attending a music festival in the river market district of Little Rock, Arkansas.  Being the kind of person who talks to every [...]

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This week: The New Normal we need to work for in a post COVID world that includes people with disabilities, Real connections and avoiding disability clichés, why Medicaid Doctors need more money, and a Plain language resource on police violence, PLUS the New York Times remembers Stacey Park Milbern in What We’re Reading

This week: The nation responds to the brutal killing of George Floyd by the Minneapolis police with national outcry and protest AND Anthem and Beacon launch series of programs for Mental Health Awareness Month PLUS new tools from Google to support people with disabilities in What We’re Reading!

We join in solidarity with those who are experiencing outrage, sadness and horror at the death of George Floyd and desire for significant change in our country. We reject the idea that peace and civility comes at the expense of Black lives, and we equally refute the idea that any American should be able to take the life of another without reproach or consequence.

Modern Medicaid Alliance Survey Says Americans Support Increased Funding for Medicaid Amid COVID-19

If you are still coming back from a restful Memorial day we have you covered – This week: We reflect on Mental Health Awareness month and Older Americans Month with help from iNAPS and n4a, aging in place and the use of technology to keep connected AND a take on disability insurance all in this week’;s What We’re Reading

May is Older Americans Month. We turn to our NAB Member, Sandy Markwood of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) to offer us suggestions on how we can support older Americans, and create communities that are supportive, inclusive, and accessible for everyone.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month ! In this blog, Martha Barbone, Interim Director of Operations at the National Association of Peer Supporters (iNAPS) offers some insights on how you can address your own mental health, as well as the important role that peer supports play in supporting each other for better health and wellbeing.

Chuck Graham (February 24, 1965 – May 19, 2020) It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our dear friend and NAB member Chuck Graham. Chuck was a tireless advocate who believed in the call to service and the responsibility of us all to make the world a more inclusive place for [...]

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Each year, 1 in 5 Americans experience a mental health condition. Positive mental health practices are important for everyone. During Mental health Awareness Month we will share some info and resources to help promote positive mental health practices for you and your family.

This week we look at the current state of food insecurity in America, celebrate National Nurses Week AND we revisit the 1995 White House AGING Conference PLUS another COVID-18 inspired Anthem all in What We’re Reading!

To help navigate the myriad resources on COVID-19 pandemic, national consulting firm A&M has created a comprehensive guide to the Health and Human Service response. The resource includes summaries of legislation as well as policy actions affecting civil rights, individuals with developmental disabilities, food supports and loans.

America heads into another week of social distancing, how COVID19 affects medical care and what some “aging hippies” did about it AND the biggest story that didn’t happen in disability ed, PLUS a greeting from a galaxy far far away in this week’s What We’re Reading!

This week: EEOC gives the green light for COVID-19 Testing at work, a renewed call for Caregivers and PAs, and how to address mental health and loneliness concerns for older Americans, PLUS Alicia Keys and the Rolling Stones add to your Pandemic Playlist.

This Week: NAB Asks Congress to Protect the Rights of People with Disabilities and Older Adults during the Pandemic, lessons from Native American communities on fighting the food crisis AND the latest artist to pen a COVID-19 Anthem all in What We’re Reading!

The NAB requests leadership and assistance to ensure that Congress protects the rights of people with disabilities and older adults, including access to acute and long-term care, during this pandemic.

This week: Why is Coronavirus different for Black people? One of the most important films about disability is on Netflix and you can watch it right now, Ed Roberts and how he changed the world as we know it, what we’re learning about aging from animals AND why is Coronavirus different for Black people? PLUS three artists release social distance anthems AND all in this week’s What We’re Reading!

April is Autism Acceptance Month. During this time we recognize the importance of creating an inclusive society that values neurodiversity, and the benefit that all of us have when we can bring our whole selves to school, work and our community. In this month’s blog, Jonathan Kratchman talks about how being autistic has been a challenge and a benefit in his personal and professional life.

Major disability org launches a new program honoring Fannie Lou Hamer, DOL offers new regulations to help with masks to support health professionals AND multiple communities weigh in on their thoughts about Coronavirus – you won’t believe which group is least worried – al in this week’s What We’re Reading.

As many Americans dig in for a second week of social distancing, catch up on all the news related to disability, and older Americans as well as a roundup of Coronavirus articles in What We’re Reading

Self isolation from COVID-19 has many Americans staying indoors and getting acquainted with homeschool and telework for the first time. If you are dealing with the isolation blues or just need a little support, here are some Isolation Essentials to help get you through.

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. We sat down with two of our NAB members, to learn about the hurdles individuals with developmental disabilities (IDD) and their parents are still facing and how they navigate education, supports and services.

Are you (and much of the world) self isolating? Catch up on the latest on HIV, how Hollywood is working on disability inclusion and DD Awareness month PLUS a roundup of Corona Virus articles from the week in What we’re reading!

This week we celebrate International Women’s Day and recognize the lifelong advocacy and fortitude of Judith Heumann. PLUS Corona Virus and its affect on nursing homes and older Americans AND the FDA Finally bans shock treatment for people with disabilities in this week’s What We’re Reading!

Today, we join everyone in the nation thinking about Corona Virus, learn how accessible last week’s Mardi Gras parades were, and College students say that even after 30 years the ADA is no enough PLUS March is Women’s History Month! All this and more in this week’s What We’re Reading!

We recognize the passing of B. Smith, learn how individuals with disabilities are learning about work opportunities in Texas, and learn about how our own Lex Frieden got his start in Disability advocacy, PLUS Let the good times roll as we celebrate Mardi Gras 2020!

This week gave us reflections on the NBA All-star game, the President’s Day Holiday and a longer than usual Valentine’s Day weekend. Catch up on everything else in what we’re reading!

This past week gave us the end of a Presidential Impeachment, anther Presidential Debate, as well as some surprises at the Oscars. Catch up on the rest of the news on aging and Divisibility in What We’re Reading!

Kansas City clinches the Super Bowl Win, Punxatawney Phill predicts an early spring as well as the new look for Barbie and advances in adaptive gaming as we also say goodbye to Jim Lehrer in this week’s What We’re Reading!

Crip Camp kills at Sundance, The Hill Highlights states that are doing disability employment right, and the NYPD hires an officer whose first language is ASL, and the Grammys — as the Nation mourns Kobe Bryant – in this week’s What We’re Reading. .

Adaptive skiers change the course in Oregon , a neuroscientist lays out the keys to aging well and Disability rights take center stage in Minnesota all in this week’s What We’re Reading!

Welcome to a new decade! A Deaf/Blind advocate talks about her experiences at Harvard, connections between depression, mental health and poverty and a Presidential candidate releases a disability plan all in the first What We’re Reading of 2020!

For auld lang syne, ableist narratives, the decade that never ended and the countdown to 2020 all in this week’s What We’re Reading!

This week saw disability being discussed at a Presidential Debate, celebrations of Hanukah, Festivus and Christmas as well as the DisCo’s loss of Mama Cax. 2020 is right around the corner – see through the Holiday Haze with this week’s edition of What We’re Reading.

Inclusion is front and center in a classic holiday story, new technologies to manage medical data and fight Alzheimer’s disease and Democratic Presidential Candidate Andrew Yang releases his disability plan in this week’s edition of What We’re Reading!

As we countdown to the holidays and the New Year it can be hard to keep up with what’s going on. Find out about aging, disability and caregivers as well as the best Star Wars Commercial you never saw all in this week’s What We’re Reading!

This week we are spooning out all of your post Thanksgiving Leftovers including Worries about air pollution and older adults, food as medicine, and a LTSS Plan from Presidential hopeful Peter Buttigeg all in What We’re Reading!

Gig Economy Compounds Problems for Disabled Workers, Azza Altiraifi Says | Bloomberg   In this edition of "Bloomberg Equality," Azza Altiraifi, Disability Justice Initiative research associate, discusses the challenges and biases that permeate the gig economy with Bloomberg's Scarlet Fu on "Bloomberg Markets: The Close." (Source: Bloomberg) International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day | American [...]

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Julian Castro drops his disability platform,, Older Mexican American adults may be more at risk for frailty, and General Hospital hailed for disability inclusion in What We’re Reading

How to gently help your parents with finances, Florida places children in nursing hoes with little reason and America pauses or recognize the service of our veterans, all in today’s What We’re Reading!

Power Shut offs in California, a presidential candidate drops his disability platform, and DC nurses a sugar hangover from Halloween and their world series win — all in today’s What We’re reading!

Disability advocates sue around dockless scooters, we continue to celebrate NDEAM and why it may be time to have “The Ta;l” with Nana. Come see all of the articles on aging, disability and LTSS, that motivated us this week in What We’re Reading.

September is National Recovery Month – an opportunity to increase awareness and understanding of mental health conditions and substance use disorders and celebrate the people in recovery. This year the “Join the Voices for Recovery: Together We Are Stronger.” We sat down with Andrea Cook, Program Manager/Advocacy Director at Northern California Mental Health America to learn how we can support our families, friends and communities who are dealing with mental health conditions and living in recovery; as well as become more aware of  our own mental health and wellness.

This week we recognized National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness day, Hispanic Heritage month and Falls Prevention Awareness Day all in What We’re Reading!

Court challenges to the ADA, what the DisCo thought of the 3rd Presidential debate and remembering 9/11 are all in What We’re Reading!

18 years after the events of 9/11 a new generation enters adulthood where those events were history rather than experience. What do we pass on to them as we consider the events of that day in September?

How climate change affects disability, Home care industry woes and the end of an era in disability leadership. Catch up on the latest on aging, LTSS and disability in What we’re Reading!

With the growing recognition of World Duchenne Awareness Day on September 7, Congress returning to work after summer recess, our kids heading back to school and the need to reach out to teachers and administrators about Duchenne, September is the perfect month to take action to raise awareness and crucial funds to support our fight to End Duchenne.

What we’re reading is our weekly round up of news articles and events that were important to us. Catch up on the latest on aging, LTSS and disability!

What we’re reading is our weekly round up of news articles and events that were important to us. Catch up on the latest on aging, LTSS and disability!

What we’re reading is our weekly round up of news articles and events that were important to us. Catch up on the latest on aging, LTSS and disability!

What we’re reading is our weekly round up of news articles and events that were important to us. Catch up on the latest on aging, LTSS and disability!

The information and links provided here are a courtesy. The National Advisory Board does not necessarily endorse or share the views contained in any article, report or web site. No link provided here should be considered an endorsement of any opinion, product or service that may be offered in the article or at the linked-to site.

The ADA is forward thinking but when it was signed we may not have anticipated how many aging Americans would need its protections. As Disability and aging become mainstream, our views on these issues have evolved and as a result we are more concerned about issues of caregiving.

We are still in celebration mode for the 29th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act! Catch up on the latest in What We’re Reading!

The use of smartphones, wearables, and advancements in digital entertainment and gaming are making current generations wonder why digital access was not made more explicit in the original ADA text. The ADA is certainly a bastion for protections tied to access, but as technology develops and becomes a larger part of our day to day lives, have the protections in the ADA also expanded?

In 2019, The Americans with Disabilities Act Turns 29. As it teeters on the precipice of a new decade, it made us think about how the ADA will continue to develop civil rights policy of tomorrow. As we move toward the ADA Anniversary join us as we review some ideas about the ADA’s past and hopes for the future.

What we’re reading is our weekly round up of news articles and events that were important to us. Catch up on the latest on aging, LTSS and disability!

In 2019, The Americans with Disabilities Act Turns 29. As it teeters on the precipice of a new decade, it made us think about how the ADA will continue to develop civil rights policy of tomorrow. As we move toward the ADA Anniversary join us as we review some ideas about the ADA’s past and hopes for the future. 

What we’re reading is our weekly round up of news articles and events that were important to us. Catch up on the latest on aging, LTSS and disability!

What we’re reading is our weekly round up of news articles and events that were important to us. Catch up on the latest on aging, LTSS and disability!

What we’re reading is our weekly round up of news articles and events that were important to us. Catch up on the latest on aging, LTSS and disability!

Summer is officially here! Keep up with the latest on aging, LTSS and disability from the beach, spa or camp our weekly round up of news articles and events!

Can it really have been 20 years ago that the Supreme Court made clear, in Olmstead v. L.C., that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits states and localities from unnecessarily segregating people with disabilities in order to provide them disability-related services? Eve Hill offers her commentary and expertise on this still important issue!

What we’re reading is our weekly round up of news articles and events that were important to us. Catch up on the latest on aging, LTSS and disability!

What does it mean when you break barriers to win an award, but there is no means for you to get onstage. disability advocates have bittersweet feelings about Ali Stroker’s Tony win.

Standing in solidarity and support for all those who believe in tolerance and inclusion during the month of PRIDE!

Each year in May we pause to acknowledge Older Americans‘influence on our society as well as consider how to maintain a society in which the presence and engagement of older Americans is respected and valued. This year the theme for Older Americans Month is Connect, Create and Contribute. We are encouraged to:

What we’re reading is our weekly round up of news articles and events that were important to us. Catch up on the latest on aging, LTSS and disability!

While one person with a disability was raised to power, another was erased from history. Learn more about what you may have missed in What we’re reading — our weekly round up of news articles and events that were important to us.

What we’re reading is our weekly round up of news articles and events that were important to us. Catch up on the latest on aging, LTSS and disability!

What we’re reading is our weekly round up of news articles and events that were important to us. Catch up on the latest on aging, LTSS and disability!

What we’re reading is our weekly round up of news articles and events that were important to us. Catch up on the latest on aging, LTSS and disability!

During Autism Acceptance Month, we remember that Autism is a natural part of the life experience, and we can do our part to design and promote spaces, both physical and otherwise, that don’t exclude individuals with different sensory experiences or who process things differently, but instead find ways to better engage and support people in
multiple ways

Happy Earth Day! As we consider ways to make a better environment for us and for future generations, also catch up on the latest news articles and events on aging, LTSS and disability!

Trying to think about work, but all you can see is Bran Stark’s contempt? We’ve got last weeks articles on aging and disability so you don’t need to consult the 3 eyed raven.

It’s Rex Manning Day! Since we mustn’t dwell on today (of all days) get caught up on the news and articles on disability and aging that interested us last week.

Don’t be an April Fool! Catch up on the news and articles on aging and disability so that you are in the know before you get pranked!

We, as a society, must seriously re-evaluate how we treat marginalized women’s healthcare needs, especially disabled women and women of color. Reproductive healthcare, and healthcare in general, should provide adequate treatment to all women in an accessible manner without inherent bias.

A Note From Your Hearing-Impaired Colleagues: Just Use a Microphone Already | Chronicle of Philanthropy Dear colleague: Today at the faculty meeting, I really wanted to tell you something: "It’s not about you." When you were offered the microphone to make your comments, you said, "No thanks, I’m good." But it’s not about how you [...]

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Google Doodle pays tribute to Japanese inventor Seiichi Miyake | CNET When Seiichi Miyake found out a close friend was losing the ability to see clearly, he wanted to help. That desire led to an entirely new way for the visually impaired to navigate big cities, railways and parks. In 1965, Miyake invented the tactile [...]

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Bankrupt vets can lose their disability benefits. This new effort would protect them. | Military Times Two senators just introduced a bill designed to shield veterans’ disability benefits from debt collectors. When a disabled vet declares bankruptcy currently, the law allows debtors to count a veteran’s disability benefits as disposable income, allowing them to seize [...]

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March 1, 2019 Disability Day of Mourning On March 1st, the disability community gathers across the nation to remember disabled victims of filicide–disabled people murdered by their family members or caregivers. This year disability activists, advocates and allies joined again to recognize those lost, as well as reaffirm the fight to value and respect the [...]

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The Alarming Future For An Aging Workforce | Forbes When the late Dr. Robert N. Butler coined the term ageism in 1968, he intended to raise awareness of the blatant denigration of the aging population. Butler, the first to publicize age-related stereotyping, focused his life on changing negative perceptions society levied against an aging cohort. [...]

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Aging Americans are a big market for tech investors, who also want to monitor their parents | CNBC Greg Yap is a venture capitalist looking for the next big thing in digital health. At age 45, he's also the father of young kids and the son of an aging mother, who lives nearby in an [...]

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Sleep patterns can change with aging. Does that mean health troubles ahead? | The Washington Post When Carol Gee turned 55, she made a new friend: 4 a.m. In the past, she usually slept through it. But once she entered menopause, it became her new wake-up time. “I would go to sleep and wake up [...]

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by Dr. William H. Graves, Ed.D February is National Senior Independence Month. As we think about how to live an independent lifestyle as we age, we must remember that independence is also about making honest and deliberate choices about where we wish to be and how we will stay engaged in our communities. In this [...]

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Because of how 2019 plays out this year the past weekend as well as today have offered some great events work recognizing: February 2 was Groundhog Day - Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his burrow around 7:30 a.m. ET and did not see his shadow, predicting an early spring for us all. "Faithful followers, there is no [...]

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Executives Discuss Disability Inclusion: Davos Panel | Bloomberg A panel discussion at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on disability inclusion in the workplace. The speakers are Bloomberg L.P. Chairman Peter Grauer, Unilever Chief Executive Officer Paul Polman, Tech Mahindra Chander Chief Executive Officer Prakash Gurnani, Procter & Gamble Group President Carolyn [...]

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Kathy Brill, an individual and family services industry expert The Importance of Family Caregivers: A Discussion with Kathy Brill, Yanira Cruz and Sandy Markwood As a new generation of Americans move into the 60 and over Age group, we as a society are beginning to re-think how we perceive aging. The idea of maintaining personal [...]

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Image of Martin Luther King, Jr. Today on January 21 we observe the legacy ad memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Many of us will take this time to reflect on the mission of inclusion for which Dr. King gave the ultimate sacrifice for many Americans to even have a concept of this level [...]

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‘Drive to Home,’ Medicare Changes Are Creating More Integrated Senior Care | Home Health Care In years to come, cross-continuum collaboration and the formation of integrated care delivery models that keep people away from hospitals will be the main catalysts for lowering U.S. health care spending. For senior housing, assisted living and independent living providers, [...]

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Hive's new Link at CES 2019 could help you care for aging loved ones | CNet Monitor a family member's routine remotely with Hive Link. Hive, creators of the View Outdoor Camera, have something new at CES 2019 -- the Hive Link. Hive Link is a service created jointly with the Carers UK charity to [...]

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Lost Voice Guy: Why 2018 was 'a big year for disability' | BBC News Billy Monger winning a prize at Sports Personality of the Year, paratriathlete Lauren Steadman in the semi-final of Strictly and Anne Hegerty in I'm a Celebrity. They all happened in 2018 and are all reasons why Lee Ridley - better known [...]

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US government shutdown will last until deal on border wall: Trump – video | The Guardian On Christmas morning, the US president drew a line in the sand: money for his border wall or the shutdown will continue. The partial US government shutdown took effect after the Senate failed to pass a budget that included [...]

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Here's what's at risk in the Texas Obamacare ruling | CNN Politics Whether you know it or not, Obamacare has affected nearly every American. The Affordable Care Act does far more than allow millions of people to get health insurance through exchanges or Medicaid expansion. It saves senior citizens money on their Medicare coverage and [...]

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Can Running Ward Off the Ills of Aging? | U.S. News & World Report Science reveals potential running benefits may be linked to better health in our older years. WHEN JUSTUS ORTEGA walked into a gathering of older adult runners in Boulder, Colorado, in 2014, he was reminded of the 1985 movie "Cocoon" about seniors [...]

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International Day of Persons with Disabilities On December Third the international Community turns its attention to the needs and experiences of individuals with disabilities around the world. While the experience of the disabiltiy community in the U.S. helps set the tone for disabiltiy policy around the world, internationals large growing populations in India, China and [...]

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New Opportunities at n4a The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging is looking for a motivated individual to help manage the n4a Disability Business Institute. The Deputy Director will help manage the day-to-day operations of the Business Institute, including developing, implementing, and managing programs, partners and services that align with the project’s goals and [...]

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County preparing for aging populace | Journal Gazette Boosted by today's lower birth rates, longer lifespans and aging baby boomers, the group that makes up the nation's oldest citizens is growing rapidly. By the 2030s, people 65 and older are expected to outnumber those under age 18 for the first time in U.S. history, the [...]

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The Camp, Woolsey and Hill wildfires have quickly devastated large parts of Butte, Ventura and Los Angeles Counties, leaving countless people without their homes and belongings in Southern California, in addition to creating poor air quality for our families and friends in the Northern part of the State. If you are in California, our friends [...]

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New Physical Activity Guidelines Urge Americans: Move More, Sit Less |NPR You've likely heard the idea that sitting is the new smoking. Compared with 1960, workers in the U.S. burn about 140 fewer calories, on average, per day due to our sedentary office jobs. And, while it's true that sitting for prolonged periods is bad [...]

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5 questions answered about Ohio’s aging jail population | Daytona Daily News Can you be too old for jail? The aging prison population presents health care issues and other costly problems. News Center 7 investigates the concern for taxpayers and the proposal causing some controversy Thursday, Nov. 1, beginning at 5 p.m. There are more [...]

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Aging can be hard for those in the trans community | Washington Post Jess T. Dugan, a photographer, and Vanessa Fabbre, a social worker and assistant professor at Washington University in St. Louis, discovered their work had more in common than they realized. Dugan’s work focused on identity, gender and sexuality, specifically within the transgender [...]

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Transgender could be Defined out of Existence under Trump Administration | New York Times The Trump administration is considering a legal definition of gender as immutable and fixed at birth, the most drastic in a series of moves. The move would be the most significant of a series of maneuvers to exclude the population from [...]

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How California's aging population is its greatest natural resource | LA Times The Oct. 7 article on California’s aging population focuses welcome attention on the needs of this fast-growing demographic. However, there is temptation to concentrate only on the negatives when there is another side to the story. Older Californians are valuable — our only [...]

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Disability in Africa: 'I'm no longer ashamed of my disabled daughter' | BBC News When Agnes Mutemi discovered that her first-born daughter Nambia was mentally ill at the age of two, her first reaction was to be ashamed. She remained in denial for several years until she found a school which specialised in caring for [...]

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The Most Damaging Way Movies Portray People With Disabilities | The Huffington Post When Alice Wong was growing up in 1980s Indiana, she “always felt like the odd person out.” She was one of just a few Asian-Americans in her school and the only student with physical disabilities. “In many ways, not seeing myself represented [...]

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Drug cocktail could extend your life, killing cells related to aging | CNBC Dr. James Kirkland, Mayo Clinic's Center on Aging director, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss his new drug, research involving senolytic cells and how they combat age-related diseases. 4 Ways to Grow Your Business By Learning More About Disabilities | Forbes What do [...]

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Americans Want to Believe Jobs Are the Solution to Poverty. They’re Not. | The New York Times Vanessa Solivan and her three children fled their last place in June 2015, after a young man was shot and killed around the corner. They found a floor to sleep on in Vanessa’s parents’ home on North Clinton [...]

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How To Have A Meaningful Conversation About Disability At Work | Forbes If you have a disability, you very quickly come to understand that it is an issue most people don’t open up about at work. Sure, talking about your experience with chronic fatigue syndrome, depression or a learning disability such as dyslexia might happen [...]

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John McCain, senator and former presidential candidate, dies at 81 | CNN Whenever America was in a fight during his long lifetime, John McCain was in the thick of it. McCain, who has died at the age of 81, was a naval bomber pilot, prisoner of war, conservative maverick, giant of the Senate, twice-defeated presidential [...]

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The Misperception Of Disability | WNPR In the summer of 2018, the Colin McEnroe Show and the entire talk show team at WNPR had the honor in selecting Jason Perez for an internship at Connecticut Public Radio. Perez worked with Colin McEnroe Show senior producer Betsy Kaplan to produce an episode, aired August 8, that [...]

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Counter-Protesters Flock to Downtown D.C. to Oppose White Supremacists | Washington City Paper In a powerful rebuke to the Nazis and white supremacists rallying in D.C. near the White House on August 12 for the one year anniversary of the violent "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, thousands of counter-protesters took to the streets [...]

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Germany's aging population desperate for more nurses | Deutch Weisse Germany faces a massive lack of medical care personnel, which means many hospitals are overburdened. Nurses complain that they are too short-staffed to properly tend to their patients. Currently, roughly 1 million people work in the country's nursing industry. It is projected that 3 million [...]

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Celebrating the 28th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act | NAB July 26, 2018 ADA Anniversary 2018 - The NAB and #ADA28 | Wakelet AAPD Disabiltiy Download | AAPD July 2018   Owning Otherness – Claudia Gordon | Ted Talk On the Anniversary of the ADA, Demand That Lawmakers Defend Our Care | Smart [...]

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by Merrill Friedman, Sr. Disability Policy Engagement Director, Anthem, Inc Hailed as the Bill of Rights for people with disabilities, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 has fulfilled much of its promise since its enactment 25 years ago. To realize the landmark federal law’s promise – ensuring citizens can be full participants in society [...]

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Straw Bans Raise Concerns for People With Disabilities Since companies like Marriott and Starbucks have announced plans to ban plastic straws, many people with disabilities have spoken out against the movement. News4's Aimee Cho spoke... Report: Brands Need To Rethink Attitudes About Consumers And Aging | Media Post Following Procter & Gamble's Marc Pritchard's recent [...]

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When you’re aging alone, who will take care of you if you get sick? | The Washington Post Not long before I turned 60, my husband and I split up, and a health concern that I’d never really worried about jumped out at me: What would I do, now alone, if I became seriously ill? [...]

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Inclusion Clearinghouse Helps Tech Companies Tackle Diversity and Inclusion | Black Enterprise Inclusion Clearinghouse is a platform that helps you spend less time searching for diversity and inclusion information and more time using it. Whether you’re a corporate leader, practicing or aspiring tech professional, founder, journalist, or philanthropist, Inclusion Clearinghouse has the data and insight [...]

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How A 25-Year-Old Drug For Nerve Pain Called Gabapentin Showed Up In Opioid Overdoses |Tech Times The Problem With The Drug Gabapentin is a generic drug that is typically used to treat nerve pain and seizures. The 25-year-old drug was one of the most prescribed medications in 2017. "Gabapentin was prescribed off-label for pain because [...]

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On June 22 we recognize the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Olmstead v LC. & E.W. which established that individuals with disabilities that are in institutions have the right to received community based care instead of being institutionalized. Still not yet 20 years old, the Olmstead decision is considered by some to [...]

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On June 15, the United National recognizes World Elder Abuse Day. In a time where even older celebrities such as Stan Lee can be a victim of elder abuse, this day is a reminder of the importance of paying attention to the problem of physical, emotional, and financial abuse of older adults. In the beginning of [...]

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Older Americans Among "The Unseen" In The Opioid Epidemic | The Fix Opioid misuse nearly doubled for Americans older than 50 over a 12-year span. The focus of the opioid crisis tends to be on younger generations. But this could be problematic, as, according to the Washington Post, older generations are increasingly at risk to [...]

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Disability Leads Dallas Sidley Austin Partner to Create Support Group } Texas Lawyer When Sidley Austin partner Mike Hatcher was 23 years old, he was a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot with dreams of becoming the first astronaut to land on Mars until a disability changed both his life and his career. If it weren’t [...]

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The disability system is blocking people like Jaki from their benefits – literally | The Guardian (UK) If you want a symbol of Britain’s benefit system, Jaki would be it. The 36-year-old spent her 20s in Essex grafting – taking on any job to provide for her four children, even shelf-stacking for 60 hours a [...]

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‘A Dangerous Son’ Trailer: Liz Garbus Chronicles Children Struggling With Mental Illness in a Chaotic World | Indie Wire Prolific documentary filmmaker Liz Garbus is currently preparing to debut her new series “The Fourth Estate” at this month’s Tribeca Film Festival, but she’s already got another brand-new feature ready to go. Her latest film, “A [...]

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How one reporter tied immigration rhetoric to losses in health coverage | Center for Health Journalism One woman who emigrated decades ago from the former Soviet republic of Georgia skipped chemotherapy for her multiple myeloma in 2017 out of fear that she might be deported. Two other cancer patients who had overstayed visas were scared [...]

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New campaign hopes to help young people struggling with mental health | NBC News With the hashtag #MyYoungerSelf, a group of celebrities discuss their own struggles to help erase the stigma and encourage kids to get help. Many older Americans have active sex lives, survey shows | CBS News If you think seniors abandon their [...]

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Using Your Home Equity For Aging In Place | Forbes A new Bankrate survey says 62% of homeowners never plan to move. If you’re one of those who'll be aging in place, you may be considering using your home equity to help do it, by taking out a reverse mortgage, a home equity line of [...]

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Aging death row: Is executing old or infirm inmates cruel? | AP Vernon Madison has spent decades on Alabama’s death row. Now 67, Madison has suffered from strokes and dementia and his lawyers say he no longer recalls the crime that put him there: the 1985 killing of a police officer. His speech is slurred, [...]

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"Intersectionality, as coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw and rooted in a longer history of black feminism, helps us understand that discrimination against autistic people who experience more than one kind of marginalization will look different than it does for autistic people who don't. This Autism Acceptance Month, we join our community members in recognizing the voices [...]

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New York switching to CCO model for disability services | State of Reform Starting July 1st, New York is changing how people with disabilities receive their services as the Medicaid Service Coordination program is replaced with Health Home Care Management, a new and improved service coordination program. Adults and children with intellectual and development disabilities [...]

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Governor Ivey Announces Funding for New Behavioral Health Services | Center for Public Representation Governor Kay Ivey announced on Friday that Alabama has set aside $11 million in its recently passed budgets for the Alabama Department of Mental Health to expand behavioral health services for Medicaid-eligible children and youth. When combined with federal matching funds, [...]

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"Tough Talk" With Your Aging Parents Is Now More About Prescription Drug Abuse Than Finances | Forbes It used to be that having the “tough talk” with your aging parents meant trying to get them to open up about their finances and plans for their future, including their desires about what they want us to [...]

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As Trump targets immigrants, elderly and others brace to lose caregivers | Chicago Tribune The two women have been together since 2011, a 96-year-old originally from Italy and a Haitian immigrant who has helped her remain in her home - giving her showers, changing her clothes, taking her to her favorite parks and discount grocery [...]

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'Access+Ability' exhibit showcases designs for, and by, those with disabilities | CNN Eye-catching objects designed for, and by, people with physical and other disabilities are the focus of the current "Access+Ability" exhibition in New York. More than 70 exhibits, including colorful prosthetic leg covers and jeweled earrings that are also hearing aids, are featured as [...]

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How architecture can create dignity for all | Ted.com Link directly to the article and transcript above or watch the video below If architect and writer John Cary has his way, women will never need to stand in pointlessly long bathroom lines again. Lines like these are representative of a more serious issue, Cary says: [...]

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#DistheOscars | Twitter Did you enjoy watching the Oscars last night? If you want more, catch up on some of the disability response to Hollywood's Annual Awards event by checking out the #DistheOscars thread When it comes to depicting disability, Hollywood keeps 'cripping up' | CNN The 90th annual Academy Awards are nearly here, and [...]

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Disability rights group threatens to sue Texas over voter registration | Houston Crhonicle Lawyers for a disability rights group are threatening to sue the state for failing to provide voter registration services to Texans with disabilities who obtain job training from state agencies, a violation of federal law, according to a letter sent Monday afternoon. [...]

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Tiburon woman’s apps teach sign language, build disability awareness |Marinij.com When Valerie Carter’s daughter Grace came home from school — like any parent — Carter wanted to know how her day went.  But, because Grace has Down syndrome and apraxia, it was difficult for her to answer and for the two to communicate.In their frustration, [...]

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Teaching People With Intellectual Disabilities How To Protect Themselves From Assault | Spokane Public Radio Earlier this month, NPR aired a series of stories detailing sexual harassment of people with intellectual disabilities. The network told stories about caregivers and others in positions of authority who raped women. The Arc of Spokane operates a program that [...]

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I’m proud to identify as disabled. I worry about the use of disability as a political strategy | STAT I was born with a hearing loss. I’ve struggled with mental illness my entire life. And since a spinal-cord injury four years ago, I’ve walked with a cane and brace. I’m proud to identify as disabled. [...]

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Here's what happens to Social Security and disability benefits during a government shutdown | AOL The federal government entered into a partial shutdown at midnight Saturday. In the event of a shutdown, Social Security and disability checks will still go out. While core functions would not be affected, some Social Security Administration employees would be [...]

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MLK 2018 Round-Up January 15 is our annual celebration of the life of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and recognition of the contribution that he made to enhancing freedom for all Americans. For many this day serves as more than a holiday or a time to catch up on sleep or family activities. [...]

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PCA's Joe Snyder, an expert on aging, retires - and finds applying for Medicare 'maddening' | Philadelphia Inquirer After his childhood best friend Cecil Green Jr. died in May, Joe Snyder realized he was done working. Green’s passing at age 62 occurred “even though he ate right and worked out all the time,” said Snyder, [...]

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Happy New Year! We hope that you enjoyed a Festive Holiday Season and look forward to 2018! We will continue to offer information on Disability LTSS and Aging, and look forward to you sharing your ideas with us as well! Area Agency on Aging of Central Texas offering new classes |KDH News Beginning the new [...]

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"Tell me, what else should I have done? Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon? Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" – Mary Oliver from William Graves The holiday season is upon us and many of us will find ourselves on the road to [...]

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Life expectancy is down for a second year. Drug overdoses are a big reason why. | USA Today Health researchers have some grim news for Americans: We are dying younger, and life expectancy is now down for the second straight year — something not seen in more than half a century. One undeniable culprit is [...]

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Cantwell, Portman Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help People Receive Care in their Homes, Reduce Health Costs | Maria Cantwell – US Senator for Washington U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Rob Portman (R-OH) have introduced the Ensuring Medicaid Provides Opportunities for Widespread Equity, Resources, and Care Act – or EMPOWER Care Act – to help [...]

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Paul Timmons and Marcie Roth of Portlight Inclusive Disaster Strategies bring us up to speed on how people with disabilities are being left out of supports during emergencies. 2017 will certainly be distinguished by our response to national disasters and emergencies. From floods, to an  unrelenting hurricane season, as well as yet another round of [...]

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As Hearing Fades With Age, Dementia Risk May Rise | U.S. News and World Report Age can often bring a loss of hearing, and for some, mental decline in the form of dementia. But are the two linked? New research does suggest that hearing loss raises the odds for dementia, but the jury is still [...]

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AARP opposes Senate tax bill, calls Medicare cuts and Obamacare mandate repeal 'troubling' | CNBC Health Care AARP, the lobbying group for almost 38 million older Americans, on Thursday blasted the Senate's proposed tax bill for threatening cuts to Medicare, repealing a key Obamacare rule and hiking taxes on many seniors. "We urge the Senate [...]

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The Best and Worst States for Mental Health | Mental Health America Over half of American adults with mental illness do not receive any type of care. Even among the top-ranking states in the report, less than half of American adults with mental health conditions received any type of treatment. That means that mental health [...]

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Under New Guidelines, Millions More Americans Will Need to Lower Blood Pressure | The New York Times The nation’s leading heart experts on Monday issued new guidelines for high blood pressure that mean tens of millions more Americans will meet the criteria for the condition, and will need to change their lifestyles or take medicines [...]

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How Fast Are You Aging? Checking Your Biological Clock | The Huffington Post Although the idea of aging evokes thoughts of the elderly, aging occurs in every stage of life, mysteriously transforming newborns into nanas. Surprisingly, for a universal biological process, the study of aging remains a field in its youth. Why does a queen [...]

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By Merrill Friedman, Sr. Director, Disability Policy Engagement, Anthem, Inc. October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). Every year NDEAM is observed in federal and private sector offices to recognize the contribution that individuals with disabilities make in the workplace as well as to yearly renew the promise to keep the American work experience [...]

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For many older Americans, the rat race is over. But the inequality isn’t.| Washington Post While the rat race ends with retirement, one of its principal features extends well past a person's last day of work. Income inequality in the United States spills over from the job into the last decades of life, according to [...]

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Women and Agng | Wisconsin Public Radio Our guest says there's a persistent cultural stigma around the aging process for women. She shares ideas about how women can feel better about getting older. Older Americans Encouraged to Get Updated Shingles Vaccination | NBC News 10 Philadephipa A federal panel recommended Wednesday that older people already [...]

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Older Adults More Likely to Disclose Suicidal Thoughts As They Age | UT News Suicide among older adults is a growing public health issue. Conditions associated with aging such as chronic pain, diagnosed or perceived terminal illness, social isolation and the death of friends and family can push older Americans toward ending their lives. A [...]

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Oct 3, 2017  |  Richie Bernardo, Senior Writer https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-cities-for-people-with-disabilities/7164/ When searching for a new place to call home, people with disabilities often have a longer and more complicated list of considerations compared with healthier individuals. In addition to common wish-list items, such as reliable public transportation and diverse entertainment options, people with major health conditions also must [...]

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Study Shows that Puzzle Pieces Evoke Negativity from the Public | Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism They’re everywhere. On the lapels of NCAA basketball coaches during the Final Four. On a FOX reporter’s bowtie during the World Series. On bumper stickers, backpacks, bracelets, beer koozies, tote bags, and the background of a prime-time soap opera. [...]

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Statements on Graham-Cassidy Proposed Legislation Joint statement from American Medical Association, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Hospital Association, Federation of American Hospitals, America’s Health Insurance Plans, and the BlueCross BlueShield Association regarding the Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson legislation. America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) National Association of Medicaid Directors AARP Want More Americans to Work? Give Them Medicaid.| [...]

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National Suicide Prevention Week https://afsp.org/campaigns/national-suicide-prevention-week-2017/     https://youtu.be/hg_vurAHaUc Disability backlog tops 1 million; thousands die on waitlist | ABC News More than 1 million Americans await a hearing to see whether they qualify for disability benefits from Social Security, with the average wait nearly two years — longer than some of them will live. All [...]

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Remembering 9/11 What Older Americans Stand to Lose if ‘Dreamers’ Are Deported | The New York Times When the Trump administration announced on Tuesday that it would end an Obama-era program that shielded young undocumented immigrants from deportation, Sherwin Sheik quickly sized up the potential toll on his business. Mr. Sheik is the chief executive [...]

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Hurricane Harvey Relief and Support Efforts!  Why students in this program are learning to care for aging NYers | Spectrum News NY There's a shortage of health care workers serving the country's aging population, with the number of specialists shrinking. Health Reporter Erin Billups takes a look at the problem and one possible solution. Mayra [...]

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To all of those affected by Hurricane Harvey, Amerigroup offers a 24/7 Disaster Relief Help Line 1-866-417-7107. It is FREE and open to all Texans!   ATTN Disability Community: In addition to the #Harvey Wheelchair & Supply Donation Drive in Houston, Camp Craig Allen in North Texas is collecting specific items for donation at a drop off location that you can also [...]

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Aging 2.0: Live Healthier, Longer And Smarter | Forbes The world’s population is aging, and the United Nations’ World Population Aging report paints a striking picture of the future. It states, “Population aging is unprecedented, without parallel in human history—and the twenty-first century will witness even more rapid aging than did the century just past,”[1](see [...]

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'Granny pods' become a solution for retirees with limited budgets | CNBC Like many boomers, Jane Baldwin faced a difficult question: "Where do I go next?" The 67-year-old retiree was living alone in Wyoming, and had grown tired of cold winters. She wanted to be closer to her family in Oakland, California. Not ready to [...]

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August 21 is National Senior Citizens Day – a day to recognize the wisdom, accomplishments and sheer perseverance of older Americans. We have all been influenced by older Americans – be they parents, relatives or friends -- but the way in which we think about older Americans can often contradict the realities of their day [...]

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Disability Organizations Issue Statements in Solidarity with Charlottesville | Anita Cameron ADAPT - http://adapt.org/adapts-statement-condemning-racist-violence-in-charlottesville-va/ Disabled Queers In Action - https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10156302440823265&id=656378264 DREDF Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund - https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10155611962904099&id=55171084098 Not Dead Yet - http://notdeadyet.org/2017/08/not-dead-yet-statement-condemning-racist-violence-in-charlottesville-va.html Access Living - https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10155423475632597&id=91612517596 Center for Disability Rights CDR - https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10155274726592550&id=13882767549 Colorado Cross Disabilities Coalition CCDC - https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1071529202982443&id=100003761201357 Partnership for Inclusive [...]

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Bernie Sanders pushes universal health plan in wake of Republican repeal failure | the Guardian US Bernie Sanders has spent the first months of the new Congress defending Barack Obama’s health reforms as Republicans vowed to repeal them. But after the GOP’s seven-year drive to eliminate the Affordable Care Act collapsed on the Senate floor [...]

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ADA: Pathway to the Future | Lex Frieden Each year, around the anniversary of the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), I am asked by the press and others: “Exactly what has the ADA Hundreds gather on the South Lawn of the White House on July 25, 1990, to hear President George H.W. [...]

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by Lex Frieden Each year, around the anniversary of the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), I am asked by the press and others: “Exactly what has the ADA accomplished?” and “Looking forward, what must be done to realize the vision of full participation that underlies the ADA?” These are thoughtful questions and [...]

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Local Group Promotes Positive Disability Awareness | WDBJ7 A local support group teamed up with the Roanoke Stars for the first annual No Dunking Allowed basketball event. The goal is to raise awareness about wheel chair basketball and positive disability awareness. People from all over southwest Virginia came out watch and cheer on their favorite [...]

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Sweepstakes Entries And Your Aging Parent: Know The Danger| Forbes Here's a true story about a 91 year old we'll call "Jenny" who loved the sweepstakes and entered dozens of them. She was very optimistic that many entries would better her chances. Jenny had been showing signs of diminished capacity for about two years, with [...]

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‘Forgotten Ones’: Report Examines Challenges For Aging Latinos With HIV | NBC News A report said to be the first of its kind examines the challenges facing older Latinos living with HIV. The Latino Commission on AIDS and the Hispanic Health Network released a report on Wednesday entitled "Olvidados,” which means “Forgotten Ones” in English. [...]

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International Reflections on Disability Inclusion – Where are the Neurodiverse? So on Tuesday 20th June I had the pleasure of being invited by Ruh Global to the Global Business Disability Network meeting, with the International Labor Organisation and the United States Council for International Business.  The meeting was attended by a series of inspirational speakers, [...]

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June 26, 2017 The Honorable Mitch McConnell, Majority Leader United States Senate S-230 U.S. Capitol Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator McConnell: The National Advisory Board (NAB) on Improving Health Care Services for Older Adults and People with Disabilities wishes to once again express our grave concern and opposition to the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA), [...]

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Dozens Arrested After Disability Advocates Protest at McConnell’s Office | CNN GOP Threat To Medicaid Threatens Liberty Of Millions Of Americans | Rachel Maddow | MSNBC Aging Gracefully - Two UC Davis research projects tackle getting older | UC Davis Information abounds on the kinds of exercise that can keep your body strong, but what [...]

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Gut bacteria might one day help slow down aging process | Phys.org Slowing down the aging process might be possible one day with supplements derived from gut bacteria. Scientists at Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston have identified bacterial genes and compounds that extend the life of [...]

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Moment of silence marks six months since Pulse massacre | CBS News ORLANDO, Fla. -- The fence around Pulse opened early Monday for an intimate ceremony marking six months since the mass shooting that left 49 dead and 53 injured at the Orlando nightclub, reports CBS Orlando affiliate WKMG-TV. Survivors, staff and family members of [...]

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Study finds Airbnb hosts more prone to reject people with disabilities |CNet A new study by Rutgers University has found that travelers with disabilities using the travel hosting service Airbnb are more likely to be rejected and less likely to be preapproved. The study, published in May, was conducted by a team of researchers and [...]

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Should Gender Dysphoria be a Federally Protected Disability? | Vice A lawsuit that aims to have gender dysphoria covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act could lend protection—and stigma—to the trans community. I know firsthand what it's like to struggle with gender dysphoria at work, and how aggravating it can be. When I was a [...]

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by Constance Garner Summer is beginning, and the time has opened up for barbecues and family game nights. Just in time for the season, our friendly neighborhood expert on health care and education, Connie Garner offers some of her thoughts on mental health, schools, and a popular board game that we may be playing with [...]

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Older Americans Month LGBTQ Elders “Loud and Proud but Deeply Angry at Trump Treatment |LGBTQ Task Force As this country pays tribute to its older people during Older Americans Month, I must loudly protest the Trump Administration decision to erase approximately 3 million older Americans in important federal surveys,” said Barbara Satin, an 82-year-old transgender [...]

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Service dog federal disability trial continues in Butte court |Montana Standard A federal disability rights trial against a Bozeman landlord expected to finish on Friday was extended to next week after the plaintiff’s case rested Friday afternoon. Bozeman landlord Jaclyn Katz is being sued by former tenant Kristen Newman for housing discrimination after she said [...]

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This is how Americans would like to die | Market Watch When it comes to getting older, many Americans are on their own. A majority of people in Japan (55%), Italy (78%) and Brazil (82%) all believe their government is responsible for financing the aging population, according to the study by The Economist and the [...]

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Can Aging be Reversed | The Huffington Post What would that be like in our world if a new paradigm existed for aging?  A paradigm that actually gives practical tools towards reversing the common road our bodies walk as we get older. We see all around us that to age is to decline. The baby [...]

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Pat Nobbie writes Mia's Space, a column for Making a Difference, the quarterly magazine of the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities We are proud to repost a column written by our friend and colleague Pat Nobbie. This post was originally published in the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities award winning quarterly magazine, "Making a Difference" in [...]

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By Reid Knight, Leadership Programs Coordinator, Autistic Self-Advocacy Network April is Autism Acceptance Month!  During the month of April we recognize our friends, family members and colleagues on the autism spectrum and further highlight the importance of a society that is more inclusive and accepting of neurodiversity.   During April you have probably seen many recognitions [...]

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“All of this grief” – Prince Harry Opens up about Mental health, mother’s death |The Miami Herald In a recent interview and Podcast, Prince Harry opens up about how he is still dealing with the grief from the death of his mother Princess Diana, and how he has only recently begun therapy to address his [...]

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10 Smart Ways to Make a Home Safer for Your Aging Parents | Reader’s Digest Just under six percent of American households are multi-generational, with three or more generations living together under one roof. And as the U.S. population ages (there are almost 50 million people aged 65 and over in this country), that number [...]

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Aging isn’t killing us, lack of sleep is |The New York Post In news that will come as no surprise to anyone over the age of 30, new research has found it gets harder to sleep as we get older. But it’s not young children, partners or weather sabotaging our precious rest, but biology, according [...]

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In 2017 Individuals with ID/DD (Still) Want Their Natural Freedom Thirty years after President Reagan first declared March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, how far have we come in ensuring the human and civil rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD), and how far do we still have to go? In recognition of [...]

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by Sharon Lewis, Principal, Health Management Associates Thirty years after President Reagan first declared March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, how far have we come in ensuring the human and civil rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD), and how far do we still have to go? In recognition of March 2017 as [...]

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NAB Response to H.R. 1628—American Health Care Act of 2017 Huntington Woods author to discuss her book about disability and inclusion Huntington Woods resident Janice Fialka is a speaker and activist who fights for inclusion for those who live with disabilities. Fialka is the mother of two adult children, daughter Emma and a son, Micah, [...]

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March 22, 2017 The Honorable Lamar Alexander, Chairman Senate Health, Education, Labor Chairman and Pensions Committee 428 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Orrin Hatch Chairman Senate Finance Committee 219 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Greg Walden Chairman House Energy and Commerce Committee 2125 Rayburn House Office Building [...]

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Why is job opportunity still lagging for people with disabilities? ICYMI there was a nice segment on PBS NewsHour on employment and disability. The study they cited suggested that employment discrimination remains, and there is much work to be done. We hope segments like this will help change attitudes, and we think they can. New [...]

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On March 15, we held our first Twitter Chat! The topic for discussion was Women's History Month and participants offered great insights about the identity and roles of women as well as how to best promote allyship and positive engagement that supports everyone. You may see the high points of the conversation here and if [...]

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by Charles H. Christiansen, EdD This month on March 17 we mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of occupational therapy and the inception of the American Occupational Therapy Association. From its roots in mental health to its current broad scope of practice serving a wide spectrum of children and adults who need support for [...]

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#CriptheVote Twitter Chat: Protecting the ADA and Disability Rights #CriptheVote hosted their 17th Twitter Chat on the Americans with disabilities Act and specifically HR 620; the ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017. Here is a sample of the conversation   Nominations for the US Business Leadership Network Leadership Awards are now open! The awards [...]

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Most 'anti-aging' remedies are bogus, but here's what you should know about aging from 20s to your 60s | Business Insider It's generally accepted that with each decade of our lives comes a new visible marker of age. To combat these tell-tale signs, dozens of "anti-aging" products and routines are marketed at people (mostly women) [...]

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Celebrate Women's History Month! March is National Women’s History Month and as a means of recognizing Women’s History and continuing to have disability be a part of the conversation, we will be hosting a Twitter Chat on March 15, 2017 at 7:30 p.m. EST.. Our chat will be a conversation about the experiences of women, and some [...]

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How Yayoi Kusama, the ‘Infinity Mirrors’ visionary, channels mental illness into art |The Washington Post Don’t ask Yayoi Kusama what’s been the highlight of her career. She might be 87 years old, internationally renowned and about to have major, simultaneous exhibitions in the United States and Japan, but she’s not done yet. Kusama, who has [...]

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As we enter 2017, the National Advisory Board on Improving Health Care Services for Older Adults and People with Disabilities (NAB)   has revamped our website with a new look and more content. We hope you like it and invite you to take a look around as you will find the great resources are still available [...]

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by Dr. Cynthia Overton, Ph.D. “Organizations that support an African American stakeholder base are positioned to highlight that disability is a part of life--some experience it earlier and others experience it with age—and that it’s not something to be ashamed of, feared, or ignored.”  February is Black History Month and though there has always been [...]

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Valentine’s Day: I [HEART] the ACA and Medicaid On Valentine’s Day, many disability groups are sending love letters to the ACA and Medicaid as a means of showing support for the legislation. An aging global population and its economic implications Nations will have to make many changes or face slower economic growth and increased social [...]

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Wrinkles in Time: Why Diana Ross Is My Aging Icon | NY Magazine                A series investigating the effects of gravity on the female form. When I think about those “ageless” beauty campaigns, women like Helen Mirren, Tilda Swinton, Charlotte Rampling, and Diane Keaton come to mind. I love [...]

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Why You Need To Start Including Disabled People In Your Health Care Activism |The Establishment The most affected group is also frequently the most ignored. With all the recent public discussion about the Affordable Care Act and women’s access to health care, I’ve seen a lot of posts urging people to “seek healthcare now, while [...]

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The Columbus Dispatch: Suicides in nursing homes hard to track, prevent Suicides among older adults remain disturbingly high despite improved screening and treatment for depression. And although there is growing awareness about suicide, the one area in which it is less documented, not very well understood and much more hidden is in nursing homes, advocates [...]

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The Atlantic: A First-Aid Class for Mental Health Most people know how to help someone with a cut or a scrape. But what about a panic attack? — Meagan Morris (Feb. 12) Maclean's: How universities are helping students with ‘invisible’ disabilities Schools are racing to figure out how to use accommodations to handle the wave [...]

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The Baltimore Sun: Police training expands for encounters with people who have developmental disabilities The 11 recruits will be the first police class in Howard County to take the four-hour training on intellectual and developmental disabilities after it became a requirement for recruits across Maryland. — Tim Prudente (Jan. 17) The Guardian: Poor housing is [...]

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Governing Magazine: Can Technology Help Prevent Drug Overdoses? The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has begun using analytics – basically software algorithms – to sift through sets of data to spot patterns and to devise an early warning system about hotspots in the state where possible overdoses and deaths might occur. Using data in [...]

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The Atlantic: By 2050, There Could Be as Many as 25 Million Poor, Elderly Americans A back-of-the-envelope estimate suggests that the number of elderly Americans in poverty will increase substantially in the coming decades. In 2010, 46.6 million Americans were over 65.  Using the OECD’s measure of impoverishment, which takes into account food insecurity and [...]

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NPR: Anatomy of Addiction—How Heroin and Opioids Hijack the Brain They trigger the release of dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter that causes intense pleasure in parts of the brain that include the limbic system, according to Savage. It links brain areas that control and regulate emotions such as the pleasures of eating, drinking and sex. [...]

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The Huffington Post: If Uber Kills Cabs, Cities Must Ensure Accessible Vehicles Live Now there's a figure to back them up: According to a recent report, the number of wheelchair-accessible vehicles for hire in San Francisco fell significantly in the past few years -- all while services like Uber and Lyft were rapidly expanding in [...]

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Posted Jan. 4, 2016 | The year 2015 was full of celebration, dedication and recommitment to the movement for independence. Following the momentous anniversaries of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Older Americans Act, the Social Security Act, Medicare and Medicaid, and IDEA, each of us at the National Advisory Board has been reenergized to make [...]

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Posted Dec. 22, 2015 | From our families to yours, the National Advisory Board wishes you the happiest of holidays and a bountiful New Year. We look forward to reconnecting, on the Declarations blog and through our weekly feature, “What We’re Reading,” in 2016.

Posted Aug. 4, 2015 | On July 30, the president signed the Steve Gleason Act (S. 984) into law, a bill to amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide Medicare beneficiaries access to eye tracking accessories for speech generating devices and to remove the rental cap for durable medical equipment under the Medicare Program [...]

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Posted Jan. 29, 2015 | Declarations, the new myDFI blog, is kicking off 2015 in celebratory style. On the Blog this month is NAB member and the Shepherd Center’s Director of Advocacy Mark Johnson  with a look-back on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which turns 25 later this year. So what are Mark’s Declarations for 2015? To [...]

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Hailed as the Bill of Rights for people with disabilities, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 has fulfilled much of its promise since it was signed into law 25 years ago, according to a survey of disabilities leaders released July 23, 2015 in collaboration with the National Council on Disability. But the findings [...]

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The National Advisory Board (NAB) on Improving Health Care Services for Older Adults and People with Disabilities has submitted responses (pdf) to several questions posed by the 2015 White House Conference on Aging (WHCOA) about long-term services and supports (LTSS), as well as the critical role of informal and formal caregiving, to support older Americans [...]

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Posted Aug. 6, 2015 | U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Tom Perez is partnering with governors across the political spectrum to urge their peers and state governments to adopt Employment First policy. Secretary Perez, Governor Jack Markell (D-DE) and Governor Dennis Daugaard (R-SD) penned a letter encouraging all states to focus on the alignment of policies, [...]

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Posted Jan. 13, 2015 | Last week, the House of Representatives adopted a sweeping rules package for the 114th Congress including a provision that would stop House lawmakers  from transferring money from Social Security’s Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund to the program’s Disability Insurance (DI) Trust Fund unless lawmakers took steps to “improve the actuarial [...]

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Posted Dec. 30, 2014 | Declarations, our new Blog, is live at http://www.declarationforindependence.org/blog. We’ve retooled the blog from the ground up to feature fresh, monthly content directly from the NAB and other leaders in the Independent Living movement. On the blog this month is NAB member and AAPD President and CEO Mark Perriello sharing the five reasons [...]

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Posted Dec. 16, 2014 | Congress gave final approval to the most sweeping legislation in support of Americans with disabilities in a quarter century, allowing these individuals and their families to open tax-free bank accounts to pay for long-term needs, such as education, housing, transportation and health care. The move paves the way for creation [...]

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Posted Dec. 4, 2014 | The House passed the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act, by a vote of 404 to 17, yesterday evening that would establish tax-exempt savings accounts for individuals born with disabilities. The broadly supported bipartisan bill, which is expected to pass in the Senate, exempts savings, up to certain levels, [...]

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Medicaid Expansion after the Midterms: State Stances Unlikely to Change, or New Room for Compromise between the Administration, GOP Governors? Posted Dec. 2, 2014 | Following a strong Republican showing at the midterm elections and in many gubernatorial races, commentators and experts alike have suggested the states’ stances on Medicaid expansion are firm and unlikely [...]

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Posted Nov. 20, 2014 | The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on supportive housing and services for older adults and individuals with disabilities. This draft regulation proposes to implement certain reforms to HUD’s Section 202 and Section 811 programs made by statutory changes to the programs in [...]

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Posted Nov. 18, 2014 | On Nov. 1, 2014, President Barack Obama issued a presidential proclamation in recognition of National Family Caregiver Month. The president said, “In the United States, more than 60 million caregivers provide invaluable strength and assistance to their family members… Caregivers support the independence of their family members and enable them to more [...]

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Posted Nov. 5, 2014 | Since its inception, the National Council on Disability (NCD) has reported on the status of people with disabilities in the United States of America. The 2014 review of National Disability Policy: A Progress Report continues that tradition, providing policymakers, advocates and other stakeholders with an overview of the progress the United States [...]

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Posted Nov. 3, 2014 | Election day is tomorrow, November 4. This Election Guide – courtesy of the Association of University Centers on Disability (AUCD) – provides information about the candidates in your state/district as well as information about where to vote.  Several disability and civil rights groups have resources about voting and voting rights. The Disability Rights [...]

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Posted Oct. 30, 2014 | Leaders of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) recently met with officials from the U.S. Department of Labor to discuss the Fair Labor Standards Act regulation as it applies to home care workers, including their recent enforcement delay (see October 13 In Brief) and state action to comply with the rule in their [...]

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Posted Oct. 23, 2014 | The Department of Justice (DOJ) has published two new Technical Assistance (TA) documents regarding the rights of voters with disabilities: The Americans with Disabilities Act and Other Federal Laws Protecting the Rights of Voters with Disabilities and Solutions for Five Common Access Problems at Polling Places. Laws covered in the DOJ TA documents [...]

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Posted Oct. 21, 2014 | On October 7, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced that it would be delaying federal enforcement of the changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) pertaining to wages for certain home care workers. The announcement states that DOL will not bring any enforcement action against employers, including states, [...]

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Posted Oct. 14, 2014 | The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced the opening of nominations for public members of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee. The committee was established by the Combating Autism Act of 2006 and reauthorized by the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education and Support Act of 2014. Those eligible for nomination include [...]

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Posted Oct. 9, 2014 | The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Solutions Initiative – an effort of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget – has issued a call for papers to identify ideas to improve the SSDI program. Earlier this month, former Reps. Jim McCrery (R-LA) and Earl Pomeroy (D-ND) announced the formation of the SSDI Solutions Initiative to identify concrete, practical strategies [...]

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Posted Oct. 7, 2014 | This afternoon, the Department of Labor (DOL) Wage and Hour Division gave notice of a 12-month, time-limited non-enforcement policy with regard to the Oct. 1, 2013 Final Rule that extended Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) protections (e.g., minimum wage and overtime) to most home care workers, which becomes effective Jan. [...]

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