Randy Pausch Last Lecture

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Autism in Switzerland

This morning I heard an autism version of "A Tale of Two Cities" on NPR. Eventhough I was half asleep, this story grabbed my attention, bringing me fully awake. Two mothers, in two different countries, talk about their children with autism, their sturggles with services through goernments and plans for the future.

Check it out.

The Artichokes are Coming! The Artichokes are Coming!

Today was the webcast of the Presidential Disability Forum, which featured Tom Harkin the author of the ADA, and Barak Obama stand-in and Republican Presidential Candidate John McCain. A lot of excitement greeted this event-- and rumors of a 'big Announcement" from McClain.

The 'big announcement' was a great disappointment. The disability community was hoping for his vote and support of the Community Choice Act-- which didn't happen.

However, one woman told a story about Ed Roberts an icon of the Independent Living movement. When told he would end up a vegetable, he told the person that if he was going to be a vegetable, he would like to be an artichoke-- hard and prickly on the outside, with a big heart on the inside. She then encouraged others to be activists, and to be artichokes-- to be persistent, difficult and sometimes prickly-- to get things done.

So, to end a disappointing day on a good note, hats off to the 'artichokes' who are working tirelessly on getting support-- vote-by-vote-- for the Community Choice Act.
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The latest co-sponsors include:

Rep Musgrave, Marilyn N. [CO-4] - 6/23/2008 Rep King, Peter T. [NY-3] - 6/23/2008 Rep Biggert, Judy [IL-13] - 7/10/2008 Rep Lipinski, Daniel [IL-3] - 7/14/2008 Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8] - 7/22/2008 Rep Israel, Steve [NY-2] - 7/22/2008 Rep Kirk, Mark Steven [IL-10] - 7/23/2008

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And ALL Listed by State:

S.799 / H.R.1621 Community Choice Act
Co-sponsors by state as of 6-20-08


Alabama

Rep Bonner, Jo [AL-1] - 6/14/2007



Alaska

Rep Young, Don [AK] - 7/23/2007


American Samoa

Rep Faleomavaega, Eni F.H. [AS] - 12/12/2007



Arizona

Rep Pastor, Ed [AZ-4] - 12/4/2007
Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] - 12/12/2007


California

Sen Boxer, Barbara [CA] - 7/30/2007

Rep Sanchez, Loretta [CA-47] - 9/5/2007
Rep Farr, Sam [CA-17] - 1/15/2008
Rep Solis, Hilda L. [CA-32] - 1/16/2008
Rep Waxman, Henry A. [CA-30] - 1/16/2008 Rep Davis, Susan A. [CA-53] - 1/28/2008 Rep Waters, Maxine [CA-35] - 2/12/2008 Rep Capps, Lois [CA-23] - 4/10/2008 Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] - 4/23/2008 Rep Lee, Barbara [CA-9] - 5/13/2008


Colorado

Sen Salazar, Ken [CO] - 3/7/2007

Rep DeGette, Diana [CO-1] 3/29/07
Rep Udall, Mark [CO-2] - 6/14/2007
Rep Perlmutter, Ed [CO-7] - 2/12/2008
Rep Salazar, John T. [CO-3] - 5/21/2008
Rep Musgrave, Marilyn N. [CO-4] - 6/23/2008

Connecticut

Sen Lieberman, Joseph I. [CT] - 3/7/2007 Sen Dodd, Christopher J. [CT] - 3/7/2007

Rep DeLauro, Rosa L. [CT-3] - 6/14/2007
Rep Courtney, Joe [CT-2] - 5/14/2007
Rep Murphy, Christopher S. [CT-5] - 5/14/2007 Rep Larson, John B. [CT-1] - 5/14/07


Delaware

Sen Biden, Joseph R., Jr. [DE] - 3/7/2007


District of Columbia

Rep Norton, Eleanor Holmes [DC] - 12/17/2007


Florida

Rep Hastings, Alcee L. [FL-23] - 10/9/2007


Georgia

Rep Deal, Nathan [GA-9] - 10/9/2007
Rep Marshall, Jim [GA-8] - 8/2/2007
Rep Lewis, John [GA-5] - 1/15/2008

Rep Johnson, Henry C. "Hank," Jr. [GA-4] - 6/3/2008


Hawaii

Sen Inouye, Daniel K. [HI] - 3/7/2007

Rep Abercrombie, Neil [HI-1] - 6/5/2008



Illinois

Sen Durbin, Richard [IL] - 4/12/2007
Sen Obama, Barack [IL] - 7/23/2007

Rep Davis, Danny K. [IL-7]
Rep Weller, Jerry [IL-11] - 5/14/2007
Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. [IL-9] - 5/14/2007 Rep Shimkus, John [IL-19] 3/21/07 Rep Gutierrez, Luis V. [IL-4] - 6/14/07 Rep Emanuel, Rahm [IL-5] - 1/22/2008 Rep Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. [IL-2] - 1/29/2008 Rep Biggert, Judy [IL-13] - 7/10/2008 Rep Lipinski, Daniel [IL-3] - 7/14/2008 Rep Kirk, Mark Steven [IL-10] - 7/23/2008

Indiana

Rep Visclosky, Peter J. [IN-1] - 3/29/2007 Rep Carson, Andre [IN-7] - 5/1/2008 Rep Ellsworth, Brad [IN-8] - 6/19/2008


Iowa

Sen Harkin, Tom [IA]

Rep Loebsack, David [IA-2] - 11/5/2007


Kansas
Sen Roberts, Pat [KS] - 5/13/2008

Rep Boyda, Nancy E. [KS-2] 7/10/07
Rep Moran, Jerry [KS-1] - 9/5/2007
Rep Moore, Dennis [KS-3] - 3/5/2008
Rep Tiahrt, Todd [KS-4] - 5/1/2008


Louisanna

Rep Jefferson, William J. [LA-2] - 3/14/2008

Maine

Rep Allen, Thomas H. [ME-1] - 4/30/2008

Maryland

Rep Wynn, Albert Russell [MD-4] - 7/23/2007 Rep Van Hollen, Chris [MD-8] - 9/5/2007 Rep Cummings, Elijah E. [MD-7] - 1/15/2008


Massachusetts

Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] - 10/2/2007
Sen Kennedy, Edward M. [MA] - 3/7/2007

Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3] - 12/4/2007 Rep Markey, Edward J. [MA-7] - 2/25/2008 Rep Olver, John W. [MA-1] - 5/1/2008

Michigan

Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G. [MI-11] - 5/6/2008

Minnesota

Rep Peterson, Collin C. [MN-7] - 1/22/2008 Rep McCollum, Betty [MN-4] - 4/30/2008

Montana

Sen Tester, Jon [MT] - 10/2/2007

Nevada

Rep Porter, Jon C. [NV-3] - 5/1/2008

New Jersey

Sen Lautenberg, Frank R. [NJ] - 5/17/2007

Rep Payne, Donald M. [NJ-10] 5/14/07
Rep Smith, Christopher H. [NJ-4] - 5/14/2007 Rep Ferguson, Mike [NJ-7] - 1/17/2008


New York

Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham [NY] - 3/7/2007 Sen Schumer, Charles E. [NY] - 3/7/2007

Rep Walsh, James T. [NY-25] 5/14/07
Rep McCarthy, Carolyn [NY-4] - 10/9/2007 Rep Nadler, Jerrold [NY-8] - 10/15/2007 Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22] - 9/6/2007 Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] - 10/25/2007 Rep Lowey, Nita M. [NY-18] - 11/15/2007 Rep Towns, Edolphus [NY-10] - 1/15/2008 Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14] - 2/25/2008 Rep Kuhl, John R. "Randy", Jr. [NY-29] - 3/3/2008 Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] - 3/14/2008 Rep Slaughter, Louise McIntosh [NY-28] - 4/1/2008 Rep Meeks, Gregory W. [NY-6] - 4/30/2008 Rep Clarke, Yvette D. [NY-11] - 5/1/2008 Rep Velazquez, Nydia M. [NY-12] - 5/1/2008 Rep Fossella, Vito [NY-13] - 5/6/2008 Rep Engel, Eliot L. [NY-17] - 5/6/2008 Rep Serrano, Jose E. [NY-16] - 5/21/2008 Rep McHugh, John M. [NY-23] - 5/21/2008 Rep King, Peter T. [NY-3] - 6/23/2008 Rep Israel, Steve [NY-2] - 7/22/2008

North Carolina

Rep Miller, Brad [NC-13] - 1/23/2008

Ohio

Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH] - 5/17/2007

Rep Kaptur, Marcy [OH-9] - 1/15/2008


Pennsylvania

Sen Specter, Arlen [PA] - 3/7/2007
Sen Casey, Robert P., Jr. [PA] - 4/12/2007

Rep Fattah, Chaka [PA-2] - 8/2/2007
Rep Schwartz, Allyson Y. [PA-13] - 9/5/2007 Rep Brady, Robert A. [PA-1] - 10/23/2007 Rep Murtha, John P. [PA-12] - 12/4/2007 Rep English, Phil [PA-3] - 12/5/2007 Rep Doyle, Michael F. [PA-14] - 1/15/2008 Rep Kanjorski, Paul E. [PA-11] - 2/12/2008 Rep Murphy, Patrick J. [PA-8] - 1/28/2008 Rep Platts, Todd Russell [PA-19] - 2/25/2008 Rep Murphy, Tim [PA-18] - 3/4/2008 Rep Dent, Charles W. [PA-15] - 3/10/2008 Rep Gerlach, Jim [PA-6] - 3/31/2008 Rep Altmire, Jason [PA-4] - 4/22/2008 Rep Carney, Christopher P. [PA-10] - 5/1/2008 Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7] - 5/1/2008

Rhode Island

Rep Langevin, James R. [RI-2] - 10/29/2007 Rep Kennedy, Patrick J. [RI-1] - 1/15/2008


South Dakota

Sen Johnson, Tim [SD] - 2/28/2008

Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] - 9/5/2007


Tennessee

Rep Cohen, Steve [TN-9] - 5/14/07
Rep Gordon, Bart [TN-6] - 1/23/2008

Texas

Rep Doggett, Lloyd [TX-25] 6/14/07
Rep Sessions, Pete [TX-32] - 7/23/2007
Rep Green, Gene [TX-29] - 8/2/2007
Rep Hinojosa, Ruben [TX-15] - 9/19/2007
Rep Johnson, Eddie Bernice [TX-30] - 11/15/2007 Rep Lampson, Nick [TX-22] - 1/15/2008 Rep Gonzalez, Charles A. [TX-20] - 4/24/2008 Rep Reyes, Silvestre [TX-16] - 6/17/2008


Utah

Rep Bishop, Rob [UT-1] - 6/14/07


Vermont

Sen Sanders, Bernard [VT] - 6/13/2007


Virginia

Rep Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [VA-3] - 1/28/2008

Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8] - 7/22/2008


Washington

Sen Murray, Patty [WA] - 9/20/2007


West Virginia

Rep Rahall, Nick J., II [WV-3] - 4/17/2008


Wisconsin

Rep Moore, Gwen [WI-4] - 7/12/2007
Baldwin, Rep Tammy [WI-2] - 10/30/2007

PEF Action Alert

PEF Asks for Action for Blind & Deaf Children:

Help Ensure that Parents of Blind and Deaf Children Are Aware of Valuable State Services. PEF members employed by the State School for the Blind in Batavia and the State School for the Deaf in Rome provide unique services to one of the state?s most vulnerable populations. The schools provide residential and day programs to blind and deaf children with multiple disabilities.

Unfortunately, some parents of eligible children may not even be aware that these exceptional schools exist. A9511, which has passed the Assembly and the Senate, would require reasonable measures be taken so that parents of blind and deaf children are informed about the Schools for the Blind and the Deaf. This will help ensure that parents of disabled children have knowledge of all options available to them when the decision of how best to provide services to their children is made.

Tell Governor Paterson to sign A9511A.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ACCESSIBLE TAXI CAB

Accessible Taxicabs Will Roll


Federal Funds Back Purchase of 21 Vans for D.C. Fleets

By Michael Birnbaum
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, June 19, 2008; B04

Wheelchair users in the District will have a new way to get around starting in January, thanks to a decision yesterday to fund 21 wheelchair-accessible cabs. Until now, wheelchair users have had to call one of two suburban cab companies, and the taxis are not always available.

"In the District, for emergency evacuations, quick trips, somebody's wheelchair breaks down, what are you going to do?" asked Bobby Coward, 44, a quadriplegic who uses an electric wheelchair. "You don't have an option. So a cab is that solution."

Coward has agitated for accessible cabs and has worked on an accessibility task force under D.C. Council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1), whose Committee on Public Works and the Environment oversees the D.C. Taxicab Commission.

The decision, made by the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board, will use $1 million in federal funds to purchase 21 accessible vans and create a centralized dispatch center. Three cab companies will get seven vans each and will pay about 30 percent of the cost of the cabs.

The decision puts the District in line with comparable-size and larger cities, said Wendy Klancher, senior transportation planner with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.

"The hope is that once these companies get up and running, the business will be self-sustaining and they won't need any more funding," Klancher said. Roy Spooner, general manager for Yellow Cab Co. of D.C., said he doesn't expect the accessible taxis to be profitable. "We feel it's something that we need to do as part of our social service offering," he said.

Liberty Cab and the Mohebbi Group also will have the accessible vans.

Not everybody on the transportation board was convinced of the need for the
vans. "If these [taxi] companies were being hit by requests, they'd have come up
with something already," said Charles A. Jenkins, a commissioner in Frederick County , who was one of two members of the 42-member board to oppose the proposal.

Leon J. Swain, chairman of the Taxicab Commission, called the decision "a real victory for D.C." The commission will contribute about $200,000 to the effort.

Though all buses and Metro stations in the District are wheelchair accessible, station elevators are often broken, and bus drivers won't always stop for people in wheelchairs when the bus is crowded, Coward said. There are also MetroAccess paratransit vans, but they must be booked at least 24 hours in advance, and not all wheelchair users are eligible to use them.

Rep. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.), who is quadriplegic and uses an electric wheelchair, usually makes his way around the District in a van and welcomed yesterday's decision.

"There was a day, for example, when my van for whatever reason didn't work, and I had to use the Metro," he said. "It would have been really nice to have that option to call a cab -- using one of the regular cabs around here would never have been an option for me."

Coward, the disability activist, found himself stranded one day last summer when his electric wheelchair broke down near Alabama Avenue and Seventh Street SE.

"I had to call my uncle," Coward said. "He brought his car -- it took him an hour and 20 minutes."

Coward's wheelchair couldn't fit in the car, and it was too heavy to push by hand. So Coward had his uncle push him down the street with the car.

"We would get so many stares," Coward said. And then they passed the 7th Police District station.

"They went ballistic," Coward said. "Like, you can't be pushing a wheelchair with a car. . . . As fate would have it, a MetroAccess vehicle happened to drive by" and offered him a ride.

He would rather have called a taxi.

"Imagine if I was in inclement weather," Coward said. "Good thing it was a great day."
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For more information, check out the following website links:

Disability Blog Carnival #40

Thi sis the link to the new Disability Blog Carnival.
Enjoy!