Lobbyist Expendatures Report 2007

Here is some interesting information about the power of lobbyists. We are seeing a great deal of accusations with the Democratic candidates about who is more beholden to corporate interests. The State Commission on Public Integrity has created a list of lobby groups who spend the most to get the attention of our elected officials by business group...

Health & Mental Hygiene $26,766,948
Real Estate & Construction $21,391,827
Education $13,274,202
Trade Associations $12,394,754
Public, Community Interest $12,266,413
Communications $8,449,809
Marketing & Sales $8,406,970
Insurance $8,234,363
Banking & Financial Services $7,312,382
Environment & Natural Resources $6,935,807
-------
They have also compiled a list by corporations....

Clients and Public Corporations Ranked by Total Lobbying Expenses for 2007*

1. Verizon $3,216,488
2. Trustees of Columbia University in the City of NY(The) $2,260,706
3. United Teachers (NYS) $2,125,226
4. O'Brien & Gere Limited $1,585,113
5. Greater NY Hospital Association $1,562,439
6. Healthcare Association of NYS $1,546,723
7. Medical Society of the State of NY $1,48,128
8. Forest City Ratner Companies $1,160,186
9. Trial Lawyers Association (NYS) $959.733
10. United Federation of Teachers $876,952

*Minimum of figures reported in 2007 Client and Public Corporation Reports as of February 25, 2008

St. Mary's School for The Deaf- Update

The teachers union at St. Mary’s School for the Deaf in Buffalo has voted “no confidence” in the school’s superintendent, high school principal and Board of Trustees’ executive committee.

Teachers also voted to support opening board meetings to the public and having a staff member and a student attend board meetings.

A union official hailed the vote as a sign of unity among the teachers.

“[Superintendent William P.] Johnson has been saying on the news that it’s only a few people that have a problem with what’s happening, that there’s only a few disgruntled employees. This proves that it’s not just a few people,” said Ron Czech, second vice president of the teachers union.

Forty-one of the union’s 49 members voted last week. The results were announced at a union meeting Monday afternoon, and the union sent certified letters on Wednesday to board members and Johnson, indicating the outcome of the balloting.

“This action was taken with a sense of duty and devotion to the students and the school, and was not motivated by malice toward individuals, but concern regarding administrative decisions,” union officials wrote in the letter to school officials.

Eighty-seven percent of the teachers voted no confidence in Johnson and high school principal Patricia Michalek; and 84 percent voted no confidence in the board’s executive committee, Czech said.

In contrast, 92 percent of the teachers voted in support of elementary principal Patricia Velocci. Ninety-five percent of the teachers favored opening board meetings, and 88 percent would like to see a staff member and student attend the meetings.

Neither Johnson nor Michalek responded to requests to comment.

Johnson’s contract runs through September 2009. However, Johnson or the school can terminate the agreement with no penalty, as long as they provide four months’ written notice.

St. Mary’s has been in turmoil for months, with parents complaining about a series of staff changes they say are taking a toll on the quality of education their children receive. Staff complain of an atmosphere of intimidation and, some say, harassment by Johnson and Michalek.

In response to the parent complaints, the board of trustees in March created a parent advisory group that began meeting last week. Parents met with three board members, who are promising to bring parent concerns to the full board.

Also, after the last board meeting, chairman Joseph S. DePaolo resigned, citing health concerns. The board is expected to meet Monday to elect a new chairman.

Negotiations are continuing with Nettie Brewer, the popular math teacher who was fired in early March. The board at its last meeting voted in favor of reinstating Brewer, and the school made an initial offer. Brewer and the union are working on a counter-offer.

Meanwhile, Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, D-Buffalo, a member of St. Mary’s board, said his office is still researching issues related to a bill he is considering introducing that would force St. Mary’s School and similar schools around the state to open their meetings to the public.

April is Autism Awareness Month

Yesterday I watched Autism, the Musical on HBO. I was pleased at the variety of children displayed in the autism diaspora. It has been reviewed by Autism Speaks, the Boston Globe and also has a few videos on YouTube.

It is a strong, powerful story of the Miracle Project-- a theatre experience for children with autism. It was not preachy, focused on causation, therapeutic interventions, nor gave a 'happy ending'. Instead, it focused on being a person with autism and the parent of a person with autism. The HBO website has some good resource links, and background on the film makers, the families, etc.

Spot on HBO!

'Twas cool.

RatifyNow CRPD Blog Swarm 2008!

There is an international movement to gain ratification of the International disability rights convention. Through medium of the Internet and world opinion, called the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

This effort has not met with much success, particularly in the US. The hope is that an international response would increase awareness and develop sensitivity to full inclusion of people with disabilities in society. There is a link for data and statistics on people with disability.

St. Mary's School of The Deaf Protests

Students, faculty, alumni and parents picket Tuesday outside St. Mary’s School for the Deaf, their only recourse because they are barred from meetings of the board that runs the educational facility on Main Street.


Parents and staff will air their concerns at the St. Mary’s School for the Deaf board meeting this afternoon — by picketing with placards outside the front entrance of the Main Street school.

That’s the closest they are likely to get to the board meeting, since they are not allowed in.

Along with 10 other such schools serving the blind and deaf in New York State, St. Mary’s is state-funded but is run as a nonprofit private institution. Decades ago, the State Legislature exempted such schools from the state’s Freedom of Information Law.

That means St. Mary’s enjoys the funding of a public school and the shroud from public scrutiny of a private school.

Like any public school, St. Mary’s gets nearly all its money from taxpayers, in this case about $11.65 million annually.

But unlike public schools, St. Mary’s conducts all its business out of public view. Among actions the board has taken in recent years behind closed doors:

• Extending the superintendent’s contract, with an immediate 10 percent pay hike to $159,000 this year, as well as a car, lifetime health coverage and a six-month consultant stint upon retirement.
• Hiring the current superintendent’s son as a teacher. A previous superintendent’s wife and daughter had been hired to oversee the school’s video repository.
• Enacting a policy putting more authority in the hands of the board’s executive committee, while, at the same time, making it more difficult for employees to bring concerns to individual board members.
• Considering removal of two members — including a nun who had worked at the school for 44 years — from the board for talking to employees. The motion was on the agenda but never brought to a vote.

The school’s board meetings are closed. No parents, staff or students are allowed in. The 15-member board is not required to release minutes from its meetings or even to tell what was voted on.

What’s more, the board basically appoints itself. When a member leaves, the board appoints a replacement. Recently, for example, attorney John P. DePaolo, the son of board Chairman Joseph S. DePaolo, was appointed to a three-year term.

With parents, students and staff concerned about recent decisions by the school’s superintendent, William P. Johnson — including staff reassignments and the dismissal of a popular math teacher — there have been requests for open board meetings.

“It’s a huge disservice to the board as well as the parents and staff that they cannot attend meetings,” parent Jane Wilkes said during a meeting parents had with school officials.

Some employees agree. “CSEA supports having open board of trustee meetings and direct access or communication with members of the board of trustees if we feel Superintendent Dr. Johnson is ignoring or neglecting our concerns,” Local 891, Civil Service Employees Association, wrote to the board.

Board chairman DePaolo said the board has considered opening its meetings but has consistently rejected the idea.

“We have discussed it many times and decided to keep our meetings closed,” he said.

But at least one board member — Assemblyman Sam Hoyt — says he wants the meetings open.

“While it may be statutorily or legally a private school, in essence it is a public school, with large public funding. The parents and taxpayers ought to have access to what is going on at the meetings,” Hoyt said.

As an assemblyman, he could propose legislation requiring St. Mary’s to open its meetings, but he would prefer not to.

“I’d rather we make a decision as a board [to open the meetings],” Hoyt said.

St. Mary’s finances are also exempt from public scrutiny. Not even the state Education Department knows exactly who’s on the payroll or how much each employee earns.

The state spends about $111 million on all the schools for the deaf and blind in New York State but only loosely oversees how the money is spent. Each school is required to submit an annual report to the state detailing spending by category, rather than providing the specifics that public schools are required to provide.

The most recent financial statement St. Mary’s submitted to the state — for 2006-07 — shows 37 teachers making a total of $3.1 million and 20 teacher’s aides making $765,437. State aid to the school, which serves 130 students — including 35 residential students — was $11.65 million that year.

The statement does not list all employees. It does not, for example, show Johnson’s son was hired part time last year and full time this school year.

But it does state that Superintendent Johnson was paid $145,000 in 2006-07.

His salary jumped to $159,000 this school year after the board, at a closed-door meeting, extended his contract until September 2009, when he plans to retire.

That contract says Johnson could receive another merit raise next year. It also allows him, upon retiring, to work as a consultant for six months — at his full rate of pay — training a new superintendent.

Prior to retirement, Johnson gets a car and seven weeks’ vacation. Upon retirement, he gets lifetime health insurance.

His contract is not public information, but The Buffalo News obtained a copy of it.

Beyond the money the school gets from the state, St. Mary’s also has a foundation that raises money for expenses the state doesn’t cover.

The Foundation for Deaf Education is not required to detail its finances. However, as a nonprofit, it must, like the school itself, file federal tax reports.

The foundation raised about $26,000 last year, had net assets of more than $900,000 and gave the school $147,356 last year for the purpose of “education,” according to the report. Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News

mpasciak@buffnews.com and sschulman@buffnews.com
----------
The following is an on the ground report from Dean DeRusso, Deaf Systems Advocate at the Regional Center for Independent Living out of Rochester, NY:
------------------
Anita Cameron, Frank Kimmes and I were there. Yesterday from 3 to 5 pm. They need people wearing white and supporting them with funds to continue their work.

Based on my understanding from speaking with staff, people and students, the students were tired of the system being changed for worst than ever.

For one, they were given an Athetic Director who they do not want and can not communicate with them. They were given new teachers who they claim was not certificated and did not know how to communicate the resources to them. They even claimed that one of the teacher played Chess in the class rather than teach them anything.

This teacher Nettie did not do any of above, she gave them full lecture in ASL helping them. She even brought visual aids of resources to classrooms to help them understand math better than ever in their lifes. She gave them all education they needed. They can not figure why the teacher was fired. And, they still do not understand why they were given an Athetic Director who can not sign or communicate with them.

I spoke with some people about the Dr. Johnson of St. Mary School for the Deaf wants to hire staff and board officers who will not speak up to him. That's the only reason they suspect that he requested that this teacher was released was because she can speak up to him. Nettie had a strong relationship with the students and she would always stand for the students and it appears that he did not appricate that.

The students are going to fight. And from an Advocate point of view it's sad that the newspapers reporters did not contact any deaf people while they were interviewing. They are getting information from the union or hearing people who are in favor of the students.

More information about it can be found below:

St. Mary’s School for the Deaf board keeps its meetings closed
By Mary B. Pasciak and Susan Schulman
Updated: 03/19/08 9:10 AM

Thank you,

Dean DeRusso
Deaf Systems Advocate
Regional Center for Independent Living
Advocacy and Independent Living Services for Individuals
497 State Street
Rochester, NY 14608

Sorenson VP: 585 546-7598
VP: 74.39.189.195
Voice Callers 1: (877) 467-4877 ext 07598
Voice Callers 2: 866-327-8877 ext 585.546.7598
TTY: (585) 697-1604
Fax: 585.546.7577
E-Mail: dderusso@rcil.org



-------------------

Below is an email from Tom Coughlin:
-------------------
Hello Millie and friends: thanks for sending me news about SMSD. It is
shocking to hear about Mr. Johnson not showing respect to our beloved
Sisters. Please see the attached Open Letter I have written to our
Alumni. Please share this letter with all who you know via your email
as I do not have many of their email address. the more this letter is
circulated the better we can defend our Sisters. We must defend Sister
Virginia and Sister Loretta. Sr. Mary Delaney would have done the
same. Fr. Tom C.

---------------
Online articles about this controversy are availabe on the following websites:

http://www.wivb.com/global/story.asp?s=7977682

http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/story/297185.html

http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/buffaloerie/story/298127.html

http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/buffaloerie/story/298794.html

Well, dear readers, New York State is making history. A man who is African American and legally blind will be sworn in Monday March 17th (St. Patrick's Day) as our Governor. It is unfortunate that is is under such inauspicious circumstances-- in sports they call this an 'ugly win'. But it is a momentous occasion.

What will this bode for the future of people with disabilities in New York State? Or African Americans? How will Governor-elect Patterson ride out the local, state and national media storm and gossip-column type frenzy of his predecessor? We can read some of his speeches, to get an indication of his perspective.

Stay tuned.

GOVERNOR SPITZER & LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PATERSON DISABILITY PROCLAMATION

Month-Long Celebration of "Success Stories" of Individuals with Disabilities
to be Held in Albany
_____

Governor Eliot Spitzer and Lieutenant Governor David A. Paterson today
proclaimed March Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, honoring the
tens of thousands of people in New York State who live with developmental
disabilities, their contributions to the state, and the families, friends,
caregivers, and advocates who support them.

The New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental
Disabilities (OMRDD) will host a month-long exhibit in Albany chronicling
the history of disabilities in New York State and celebrating the "success
stories" of individuals with developmental disabilities.

"New York leads the nation in ensuring that persons with d evelopmental
disabilities are provided critical support through carefully designed and
innovative programs," said Governor Spitzer. "We have seen bold advancements
in the rights of people with developmental disabilities and we must continue
working to expand opportunities. As we applaud these achievements we must
also commend the family members and caregivers who play an integral role
every day in helping individuals with developmental disabilities lead
productive lives."

The exhibit will run from March 5 through March 31 in the Empire State
Plaza's South Concourse in Albany. It will feature displays from the Museum
of disABILITY History near Buffalo and profiles of accomplished individuals
with developmental disabilities.

Lieutenant Governor David A. Paterson said: "As a society we now know that a
developmental disability no longer means that an individual cannot achieve
his or her dreams and contribute to society. In fact , we have come to
realize the exceptional contributions people with disabilities can, and do,
make every day. This awareness month established by Governor Spitzer is a
time to reflect on these contributions."

OMRDD Commissioner Diana Jones Ritter said: "We applaud the Governor for his
leadership in continuing New York's State's extraordinary legacy of
supporting people with developmental disabilities and for commissioning this
month-long celebration and observance. Our goal is to help the community
at-large see the merits and abilities of the whole person - not simply a
disability."

Ramon Aldecoa, Co-Vice President of the Board for the Self-Advocacy
Association of New York State, Inc. (an organization run by and for people
with developmental disabilities) and a subject of one of the exhibits at the
Empire Plaza said: "For me, it was very important to learn about my rights
as a person with a developmental disability. No w, it's time for me to use
all I've learned to help teach other people with disabilities to do the same
thing. We all have the same rights. I feel it's my job as an advocate to
make sure all individuals know this, so they can act on those rights."

Nearly 350,000 New Yorkers live with a developmental disability. Initiatives
like NYS-CARES III, which provides out-of-home community residential
alternatives for adults, and other programs such as supported employment,
which helps individuals enter the workforce and become productive members of
society, are vitally important in creating opportunities for New Yorkers
with developmental disabilities.

For more information about the exhibit or about programs and services offered through OMRDD, visit the OMRDD website at http://www.omr.state.ny.us/state.ny.us.

Presidential forum on Disability

FEEL THE POWER OF THE DISABILITY VOTE!

Celebrate the 18th Anniversary of the ADA at a National Presidential Candidate Forum on Disability Issues


Saturday, July 26, 2008

Veteran's Memorial, Columbus OH

Free! Everyone welcome!

Hosted by: Ohio Disability Vote Coalition and major national sponsors


Additional information will be posted on JFActivist Blog.

Ashley Treatment- Update

The Roving Activist has an update on her blog on the Ashley X issue. Some ADAPT activists protested a presentation by the Head of the Seattle Children's Hospital's Institutional Review Board (which makes decisions on medical research and experimentation).

Voluntary Suicide Bomber with Down's Syndrome?

I felt the need to express my anger and revulsion at the Iraqi people this week. There was another suicide bombing last week. This one was of note to me, as more information trickled in The suicide bomber mistimed the US convoy-- no damage occurred to Americans, only to herself. Subsequent information disclosed that it was two women with a disability-- believed to be Down's Syndrome.

Shame on the Iraqi insurgents-- the whole suicide bomber thing is a cultural orientation that we do not share. (I get that.) However, it is based upon personal choice and the ability to knowingly understand and consent. I am not so sure that the persons recruited were able to give consent and fully understand what it was they were suppose to do. (Evidenced by the person watching the convoy, letting it all go by, and then blowing themselves up.)

Or maybe they DID understand what was wanted of them, and did not want to do it. They may have seen they had no other option- failure would not be tolerated. There is a posting about this on JFActivist blog (on the left margin under Disability Diaspora)-- and some additional research which shows this is not an abboration, but an ongoing strategy.

Man who uses Prosthetic Limbs disqualified from Olympics

Oscar Pistorius has been disqualified for Olympic competition due to his prosthetic limbs. These have been identified as giving him an unfair advantage over those without prosthetics.

Bob's House

Pepsi is running a 60 second spot, at the beginning of Super Bowl XLII, featuring deaf actors. The commercial has no sound, and tells a story of two guys trying to find the house of a friend, to watch the Super Bowl. This is unique in that it is centered around a deaf culture joke.. check it out!

Culturally sensitive and cool? Culturally cheesy? You decide!!

Disability Blog Carnival #30

Disability Blog Carnival #30 is up for your viewing, reading and listening pleasure.

uppity disability dot net: 1-14-08 Blogging Against Aversives

Uppity Disability has an excellent posting about public hearings in Mass. against aversives (legalized torture, physical pain and humiliation in the name of behavior control and correction).

uppity disability dot net: 1-14-08 Blogging Against Aversives

Please share your stories and support this initiative to recognize and respect the humanity of people with disabilities.

The Death of Brent Martin

The following story has been brought to my attention from the Disability Studies blog:

A young man was the victim of random ugly violence in the UK. The tragedy of this situation was that he was targeted because he had a mental disability-- who could knock him down first-- on a bet. These three youth beat Brent Martin to death....


Please:

1. Share this information with as many people as you can. Education and awareness is a 24/7 job...evil never sleeps

2. Consider wearing a black armband in his memory-- and share the story when asked.

3. Post a comment to the online condolence book of his local newspaper

4. UK residents-- advocate for the full measure of the law to be applied. Send a message that all life is valuable-- all violence again all life must have grave consequences.

Ransom Notes Ad Pulled!

The Disabilities Studies Blog has a post by Stephen Drake of the Autism Self Advocacy Network updating the situation. I am republishing it here...
------------------
I am pleased to inform you that this afternoon the NYU Child Study Center
announced that they will be ending the "Ransom Notes" ad campaign in response to widespread public pressure from the disability community. You can read that
announcement here. The thousands of people with disabilities, family members,
professionals and others who have written, called, e-mailed and signed our
petition have been heard. Today is a historic day for the disability community.
Furthermore, having spoken directly with Dr. Harold Koplewicz, Director of the
NYU Child Study Center, I have obtained a commitment to pursue real dialogue in
the creation of any further ad campaign depicting individuals with disabilities. We applaud the NYU Child Study Center for hearing the voice of the disability community and withdrawing the "Ransom Notes" ad campaign.
-------------

Again, this goes to reinforce the power and importance of advocacy and how the Internet can get the word out, and mobilize a constituency group.

Hurrah!

Inspirations on the Internet

I have also started an additional blog-- focused on the motivational, and spiritual. Lots of Thomas Kinkade artwork and poems. It also has a great link for online Christmas Carols-- with sheet music and instrumental music.

Check it out!

"Ransom Notes" Ad Campaign Reinforces Stigma

There is an ad campaign by the New York University Childhood Center that is upsetting quite a few folks in the autism community. These ad presents ransom notes, threatening to 'make' someone autistic. There is an online petition, to speak out against it.

The Future Doc Wilson: The Real Meaning of Christmas..

As I was reviewing the traffic on my blog, one posting came up quite a bit. I re-read it, and can not improve on it-- so enjoy!The Future Doc Wilson: The Real Meaning of Christmas..

Fever as a Cure for Autism?

The following NPR story may be of interest:

NPR : Autism Study Lends Credence to Fever Effect


Several parents cite the subsidance of autistic traits when children have a fever. This is being studied further...
--------------------


Morning Edition, December 6, 2007 · For the first three years of his life, Rene Craft's son, Jackson, communicated primarily through screaming tantrums. He never spoke. He didn't point to things. He didn't make eye contact. He had the classic signs of severe autism.

Then a couple of years ago, Jackson got sick. His mother, Rene Craft, says he was running a high fever.

"He was lying in our bed, and he was recovering," Craft says. "And he said out of the blue, 'I like the sheets, Daddy. They're really comfortable.' And then later that day he looked out the window and he said, 'Oh, it's raining, and squirrels eat nuts."

Craft says that she and her husband got a brief glimpse of a son who had been locked in his own world of autism. Then the fever went away, and so did Jackson's improvement.

Craft isn't the first parent to notice the so-called "fever effect." Autism researchers have been hearing reports about it for decades.

Now a team from the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore has done a study that suggests the fever effect is real.

Laura Curran, Ph.D., is the lead author of the study, which appears in the current issue of the journal Pediatrics.

"We did find fewer autistic-like behaviors when kids had fevers," she says. "And as the fever disappeared, their autistic behaviors returned."

That wasn't true for every child. And the study included just 30 children, and relied on parents to fill out detailed checklists about each child's behavior.

Even so, Curran says it looks like parents have been right all along. She says she's not surprised.

"As a mother myself, I know no one knows their children better than the parents," she says. "And we've been hearing about these anecdotes for many, many years."

Now the question for researchers is how fever affects autism.

Dr. Andy Zimmerman of Kennedy Krieger says the answer probably involves the connections between brain cells — which many researcher believe is one place things go wrong in autism.

Zimmerman says that it's not the rise in a child's temperature that makes the difference. But it may be that brain connections work better in the presence of small proteins called cytokines that are produced by the immune system.

"We'd like to know what those cytokines are in children with autism when they get fevers, to see if one or more of these cytokines might be unusually increased," he says.

That might lead to a treatment that could mimic the beneficial effects of fever without actually making a child sick.

Craft believes researchers will find an answer, and it will help her son.

She says she has noticed that every time Jackson gets a high fever, he undergoes a dramatic change. He may ask to play a game, or make eye contact, or stop biting his hands until they bleed.

"Jackson runs into furniture with his head when he's upset or I question him," Craft says. "When he has a fever, those behaviors disappear."

Craft says she plans to enroll her son in a new study at Kennedy Krieger that will try to explain the fever effect.

. "There is something occurring in his brain that he needs, that he gets when he has a fever," Craft says. "I don't know what it is. That's for the doctors to figure out. But he's in there. He's waiting to come out."
-----------------------------------------

Other autism stories on Morning Edition, on NPR--

In Depth
Nov. 5, 2007
Neuroscientists Focus on Autism
Aug. 21, 2007
Schools Strive to Meet Needs of Autistic Students
Aug. 16, 2007
Parents Fight for Autism Insurance Coverage
Aug. 15, 2007
Public Schools Prepare to Educate Kids with Autism
June 28, 2007
Autism Poses Extra Obstacles for Blacks
June 14, 2007
Vaccines on Trial for Alleged Link to Autism
April 11, 2007
Parents of the Autistic Weigh Lifelong Care Options
April 5, 2007
Online Project Promotes Autism Research
March 15, 2007
Cause of Autism Narrowed Down to 100 Genes

ADA Disability Law and Policy- A National Audio-Conference

Tuesday December 18

2 - 3:30 pm EST

Speaker
Peter Blanck, JD, Ph.D, Chair, Burton Blatt Institute, Syracuse
University

Reviewing previous research efforts, this session sets out a
blueprint for the role of research, policy, and law in advancing the
civic, economic and social participation of persons with disabilities
in a global society. It reviews past public policy efforts and
research findings regarding workers with disabilities. It discusses
current and future research initiatives on the cutting edge of
promoting successful employment outcomes for people with
disabilities. The discussion presents promising research
methodologies in multidisciplinary field disability and employment
research. Finally, our presenter will put forth challenges and
opportunities for research, policy, and legal initiatives, framing a
blueprint for the next quarter century.

Cost per site (regardless of the number of participants at each site)
$25 for nonprofits, individuals and government agencies
$40 for businesses

Sessions are 90 minutes and delivered by telephone (call in to a toll
free phone number that you can access after you register).
Participants are in a "listen-only" mode until the question and
answer period. The sessions are offered real-time captioned on the web.

Audio conferences are a great way to get information without
traveling. You sit in your office or home or at any telephone and
call in. If you have a speaker phone invite your colleagues to
participate.

Registration is at www.ada-audio.org

If you have problems/questions with registration: the Great Lakes ADA
Center at 312-413-1407 voice/tty

Pediatricians Recommending Autism Screenings before age two

There is a new movement in the pediatric field for earlier screening for autism.

A new Web site debuted in mid-October, offers dozens of video clips of autistic kids contrasted with unaffected children's behavior. That Web site was profiled on Good Morning America last week, and is sponsored by two nonprofit advocacy groups: Autism Speaks and First Signs. They hope the site will promote early diagnosis and treatment to help children with autism lead more normal lives.http://www.autismspeaks.org/

Partnering with Your Child's School: A Guide for Parents

The HSC Foundation, in partnership with George Washington
University's Graduate School of Education and Human Development,
offers a new resource for parents. The booklet available online
and in hard copy in English and in Spanish, is designed to help
parents of children who have been diagnosed with health or mental
health care needs to learn about available resources and to
develop a partnership with their children's schools. The booklet's
content has been reviewed and validated by groups of parents,
youth, and educators and is produced in partnership with the
Council for Exceptional Children and the National Association of
State Directors of Special Education.

For more information, go to:
http://www.hscfoundation.org/whatwedo/familysupports.php

Hapy Columbus Day!

Today is a Federal holiday-- with selected state, local offices and schools closed. You may want to debate the contributions of Christopher Columbus:

- he was trying to find a route to China, and thought he got to India
- modern history states didn't prove the world was flat-- that was the current thinking of the time
- he spread small pox to Native American tribes
- he owned slaves
- he died broke.

He did:

- expanded trade and the influence of Christianity
- made Europe aware there was another continent
- exported foods of the Americans (hot peppers, tomatoes) around the world.

Enjoy your day!

The 911 Modernization & Public Safety Act of 2007

This is important legislation, so that people who are deaf or hard of hearing can use IM and online technology to get 9-1-1 information. Let your Congressman know about this, and that they need to support it!
--------------------------


Emergency Issues: Disability Coalition supports H.R. 3403, The 911
Modernization and Public Safety Act of 2007

The Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology (COAT),
comprising over 120 national and local disability groups, sent a
letter of support to the Congressional sponsors of H.R. 3403, "The
911 Modernization and Public Safety Act of 2007." This
legislation, if enacted, will help ensure that people with
disabilities have equal access to 9-1-1 emergency public safety
answering points ("911 centers") as these centers start using
Internet technologies. For instance, barriers must be identified
and solutions implemented for devices and services that connect to
911 centers when using Internet Protocol (IP). The bill would
require also that telecommunications relay service providers must
be involved in the development of the new national 9-1-1 plan and
must have the same protections from liability and
nondiscriminatory access to 9-1-1 centers that currently protect
wireline and wireless telephone carriers.

The Disability Coalition letter can be found on the AAPD website
at http://www.aapd.com/News/tech/070921coat.htm

Action Step: To show support for this effort, please send a letter
to your Congressperson urging them to vote for H.R. 3403 because
of these important disability provisions.

More on the COAT coalition at http://www.coataccess.org

SOURCE: AAPD
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Online Survey to Improve Employment Program for Persons with
Significant Disabilities

NISH is asking our community to participate in its online survey
to obtain feedback on the awareness and familiarity of, as well as
preference for the AbilityOne (formerly Javits-Wagner-O'Day)
Program within the disability community. NISH is a national,
nonprofit agency that provides employment opportunities for people
who are blind or have other severe disabilities by procuring
Federal contracts for goods and services.

NISH encourages you to respond to this brief survey that takes
less than 8-10 minutes, at:
www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=xZB5seGvfyekj1FXwNY1LA_3d_3d

The intent of the survey is to help NISH modernize the AbilityOne
program. In addition, NISH will use this feedback to help improve
customer service to the nearly 48,000 individuals with severe
disabilities working in the AbilityOne Program. An alternative
copy of the survey is also available in MS Word format; please
contact Rachel Kelly at (703) 584-3938 or rkelly@... for the
MS Word version of the survey.

NISH contact: Larissa Timmerberg, Director, Workforce Development
at (571) 226-4521 or ltimmerberg@...

Further information at NISH website at http://www.nish.org

SOURCE: AAPD

ADA Restoration Hearing Scheduled in House Judiciary Committee

ADA Restoration Hearing Scheduled in House Judiciary Committee

It's confirmed - the first hearing on ADA Restoration is scheduled
for NEXT THURSDAY, October 4 in the House Judiciary Committee.

If you're available, please plan on packing the room to show your
support! Alternately, the Committee's website indicates that there
will be a live webcast during the hearing into which you can
"tune" from wherever you are, if you're unable to come in person.

Here are the details from the House Judiciary Committee's website:

Thursday 10/04/2007
10:00 AM
2141 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil
Rights, and Civil Liberties
Hearing on H.R. 3195, the "ADA Restoration Act of 2007"

*Information about the webcast is also available on the House
Judiciary Committee website at:
http://judiciary.house.gov/schedule.aspx
(click on October 4).

To read more about ADA Restoration, visit the ADA Restoration blog
at: www.adarestoration.blogspot.com

The Upside of Autism

There is a good interview on NPR Speaking of Faith, that talks about the autism spectrum. The two parents talk about the family autistic traits, and how these traits lend themselves to specific career choices (i.e. science, computers, research, academia). Jennifer Elder and Paul Collins have a nice discussion on their child, and their insights on the autism spectrum.

I'm Back!

For those you read this blog, sorry I have been away! But life has a habit of getting in the way of reflection, gardening and blogging! The past two months I have:

-settled into a job, managing a free clinic;
-teaching as a new adjunct instructor in public policy;
-continuing as a senior adjunct instructor in creative expression, and
-doing some consulting work as a computer instructor.

Whew!! So, this week I am back to one job.

Time for gardening, contemplation and online advocacy. So, in the words of James Brown

I'm Back!