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“Adam:” All the Quirks of Love and Asperger’s

July 30, 2009 | by

Last night I saw the opening of Adam at the Angelika Film Center in New York. This movie gives a raw and amusing look into the peculiar life of a 29-year old man with Asperger’s syndrome who falls in love. Adam (Hugh Dancy) has never been outside of New York City. Both his parents are dead. He eats cereal for breakfast, goes to work, then comes home and eats dinner, to give you a sense of how he craves routine. When he meets his next-door neighbor Beth (Rose Bryne), sparks fly, but not in the way you’d expect. Because of his Asperger’s, Adam lacks the requisite social skills to recognize charm and other innuendo that usually accompanies flirting; a light touch on the arm, an extra-long glance, an opening to ask her out — all fall flat. Instead, Adam shows Beth his home-spun planetarium, set against the backdrop of his shower curtain. As ... keep reading »
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EEOC Says Asking for Health Stats Violates ADA

July 29, 2009 | by

Asking an employee to disclose health information before joining a health-insurance plan could be against the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to The Wall Street Journal. More employers are requiring employees to fill out health-risk assessments, or HRAs, if they want to be eligible for the company’s health plan. These surveys include questions about workers’ habits, personal health and family medical histories. Employers, who typically subsidize 70 percent to 80 percent of healthcare premiums, want to ensure that workers are taking all the necessary steps to manage their health and use the HRA results to plan employer-sponsored wellness programs, such as smoking cessation and weight-loss courses. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the agency that protects ADA policy in the workplace — and can initiate lawsuits on the behalf of employees — says that although the EEOC hasn’t taken a formal position, they believe “that [such a] proposed policy would violate provisions of the ... keep reading »
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Labor Dept. Launches Disability.gov

July 29, 2009 | by

The U.S. Department of Labor has relaunched its website with a new name, Disability.gov. The new site provides information about programs and services for the more than 50 million Americans with disabilities and their family and friends. Disability.gov now mashes-up content from 22 federal agencies and will be managed by the Labor Department’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). The site now has a more user-friendly navigation; for example, from the home page visitors can reach what they need, including: finding a job, applying for disability benefits; learning about disability laws; learning about assistive technology; finding health care and seeking federal government grants, among other needs. Additionally, the former DisabilityInfo.gov site was also revamped with social media tools, including a Twitter feed, RSS, a blog, and social bookmarking. Visitors can sign up for personalized news and updates, participate in online discussions and suggest resources for the site. keep reading »
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ATIA Announces Web Series on Assistive Technology

July 28, 2009 | by

The Assistive Technology Industry Association has launched a series of web seminars aimed at increasing awareness of new and innovative assistive technologies and services for use by people with disabilities. The new web series complements ATIA’s conferences — held twice a year — and leadership forums that bring together high-profile assistive technology professionals to share ideas and best practices. The next conference will be held in Chicago in October. The goal of the ATIA Webinar Series is to increase awareness of assistive technology and train everyone — from teachers to employers — to understand and assess the thousands of assistive technology products on the market for people with disabilities. These products span the assistive technology spectrum, from augmentative and alternative communication; blind/low vision; computer access; Web accessibility; K-12 and higher education technology; and deaf and hard-of-hearing. “With the addition of webinars we can reach a much wider audience and can do ... keep reading »
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Schools Get a Funding Boost for Technology

July 28, 2009 | by

As back-to-school approaches, the amount of federal dollars to incorporate technology in the classroom — and prepare teachers to use it — is expected to rise this year. That’s good news for students with disabilities who can benefit from off-the-shelf technologies in addition to any hardware and software provided for them under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). According to The Wall Street Journal, the economic stimulus package provided $98.2 billion for everything from classroom technology, to school renovations to IDEA. Additionally, it restored $650 million in funding to The Enhancing Education Through Technology program that was authorized in 2002 as part of the Bush-era No Child Left Behind law. However, local officials say it’s still not nearly enough to make up for several years of cutbacks, which has affected peripheral studies, such as music and art. But for the required classes, such as reading and history, the boost in technology ... keep reading »
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Obama Marks Disabilities Act

July 25, 2009 | by

President Obama marked the 19th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which he said resulted from a movement carried out by people who “refused to accept a second-class status in America.” In remarks at the White House, where he signed the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Obama said the ADA “began when they not only refused to accept the way the world saw them, but also the way they had seen themselves,” according to UPI. Obama praised several officials who helped get the ADA enacted, including Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, former Sen. Bob Dole, R-Kan., former Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C., and former U.S. Attorney General Richard Thornburgh. Former President George H.W. Bush, who signed the Americans with Disabilities Act on July 26, 1990, gave some praise to Obama on the eve of the act’s anniversary: “I congratulate President Obama for taking some time today to remember the 19th ... keep reading »
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Wheelchair Hero Movie Previewed at Comic-Con

July 25, 2009 | by

James Cameron, who directed the Oscar-winning movie Titanic, arrived at San Diego’s Comic-Con — to the world’s largest comic book convention — to show the first public footing from his new disability-themed movie, according to Rolling Stone. Cameron showed nearly half an hour’s worth of scenes for his sci-fi epic, Avatar, which features a wheelchair-bound soldier who explores a new planet in a tall, blue, reptile-like avatar body. His rival and lover teaches him how to survive on the planet, called Pandora. Sigourney Weaver, who starred in Cameron’s Aliens, has a role as a botanist in the movie. The movie, which opens December 18, is being praised for it’s computer graphics as well as the design that went into creating the alien worlds and life-forms. keep reading »
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For Hearing Aid Users, Fit and Function Come First

July 25, 2009 | by

The New York Times chronicled the exasperations of buying a hearing aids, reminding users that aids are expensive — with prices averaging $2,000 each — and generally not covered by insurance. Hearing aid shopping is a pressing issue for those with hearing loss, especially those with age-related loss who aren’t used to such large out-of-pocket expenses. The best advice, however, is to choose an experienced audiologist or specialist, instead of relying on walk-in stores or Internet purchases. It’s the only way to ensure fit and a program that’s right for you. “No matter how state of the art your hearing aid may be …if it is not properly programmed and adjusted it will not do you any good,” says Lise Hamlin, director of public policy for the Hearing Loss Association. While most people pay for hearing aids with their own wallet, a few exceptions include Veterans Affairs programs and some federal employee ... keep reading »
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Celebrating the Americans with Disabilities Act in Tougher Times

July 25, 2009 | by

  Break out the balloons! Sunday marks the 19th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the law that guarantees equal opportunity for the nearly 54 million Americans with disabilities. Signed by President George H.W. Bush in 1990, the ADA touches many areas of life, including employment. Hold on, did that balloon just deflate? I’ve just read the most recent employment numbers for the 13 million working-age Americans with disabilities. In June, only 23 percent of disabled people had jobs, vs. 72 percent of those without disabilities. This makes me wonder, is the nearly 20-year-old ADA really helping? The disabled unemployment rate – currently at 14.3 percent — has steadily declined since the passage of the ADA. Disability-friendly companies like IBM, Wal-Mart and Ernst & Young openly hire qualified people with disabilities, and from high-profile disability organizations like the U.S. Business Leadership Network. More employers are aware of disability, reasonable accommodation and ... keep reading »
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VA Pays for Vets’ Disability Equipment in the Home

July 22, 2009 | by

The New York Times reported that veterans who use Veterans Affairs’ health care system and have a disability that requires equipment being added to their homes — such as wheelchair ramps — can get their bills paid in full by the VA. “Your V.A. doctor can refer you to a specialist who will come to your home and determine what changes need to be made. The V.A. will then find someone to make the modifications, at no charge to you. If your home requires permanent changes, like a ramp instead of front steps, you will have to apply for a Home Improvements and Structural Alterations grant, said Neal Eckrich, the National Prosthetic Program Manager for the V.A. The grants range from $1,200 to $4,100. If your income in the past has been slightly too high to qualify for V.A. health benefits, you should check the new limits. The income thresholds were raised ... keep reading »
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