Video: A memorial for veterans who lived (CNN, Oct. 5)
The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial, located just blocks from the U.S. Capitol, was dedicated Sunday in a ceremony that focused on life after war and the many sacrifices disabled veterans still make.
White House to convene disability summit (Disability Scoop, Oct. 3)
The two-day White House Summit and Research Forum on Improved Health and Fitness for Americans with Disabilities kicks off Monday, October 6… to discuss programs that have been effective at promoting regular exercise and healthy eating. On Tuesday, the event will shift to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services where stakeholders will focus on how research can help enhance health outcomes for this population.
Opinion: Let’s make ‘Mental Health First Aid’ a mental illness game change (Fox News, Oct. 2)
Mental Health First Aid is an eight-hour course that uses an approach similar to first aid, teaching participants to identify, understand and respond to early signs of mental illness.
TV networks featuring more characters with disabilities (Disability Scoop, Oct. 2)
According to a report released Wednesday, 11 characters with disabilities are expected to be featured regularly on scripted prime-time programs on ABC, CBS, the CW, Fox and NBC this season, up from eight last year.
Lawmakers push to suspend home health care rule (POLITICO, Oct. 1)
A group of Republican lawmakers are pressing the Obama administration to delay the implementation of a rule that they claim would increase the costs of and disrupt the non-medical, home health care delivered to seniors and disabled people through state health programs.
Bills would protect developmentally disabled from abuse and neglect (NJSpotlight, Sep. 29)
Family members of New Jerseyans with developmental disabilities, alleging widespread instances of abuse – and subsequent cover-ups—are pushing for a law that would bolster state oversight of caregivers.
Bills in Congress could mean equal digital access for disabled students (USA Today, Sep. 28)
The Technology, Education and Accessibility in College and Higher Education Act (TEACH Act), introduced late last year, and an August proposal to rewrite the Higher Education Act would, if passed, require the U.S. Access Board to create guidelines for the educational technology used at colleges, giving students with print disabilities the same access as everyone else.
Due process hearings on decline (Disability Scoop, Sep. 25)
Fewer special education disputes between parents and school districts are escalating to due process hearings, a new government report finds. The number of due process hearings nationwide declined from over 7,000 during the 2004-2005 school year to 2,262 by the 2011-2012 academic year.
New, standardized VA forms aim to speed up disability claims process (Federal News Radio, Sep. 24)
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is set to introduce new forms that aim to clearly identify the disability claims and appeals of veterans and their survivors… The goal of the new form is to standardize the process.
Most contractors have yet to reach OFCCP goal for employing disabled workers (Bloomberg, Sep. 23)
Most federal contractors have a long way to go to attain a workforce that includes at least 7 percent disabled employees, a goal set by the Labor Department’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, if a survey conducted by the Conference Board is any indication.