Abled Body Where can-do is done different

President Obama’s remarks at the White House on Monday celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act were eloquent, passionate and memorable. Speaking after performances by Patti Labelle and Marlee Matlin, Obama thanked the champions of the original ADA — signed by President George H. W. Bush in 1990 — for passing what he calls one of the most comprehensive civil rights bills in the history of this country. After giving a nod to those who have died while working to advance the disability cause, namely Senator Ted Kennedy and Justin Dart, known as the the father of the ADA, Obama commemorated what the ADA has accomplished so far. “It was about the young girl in Washington State who just wanted to see a movie at her hometown theater, but was turned away because she had cerebral palsy; or the young man in Indiana who showed up at a ... keep reading »

Working with the Department of Justice, President Obama announced two final rules that will amend Americans with Disabilities Act regulations that relate to Title II and Title III of the law. The changes will improve access to programs and services for people with disabilities, such as at baseball games and public swimming pools. Under the rule, recreational facilities, including swimming pools, playgrounds, golf courses, amusement rides, recreational boating facilities, exercise machines and equipment, miniature golf courses and fishing piers will have to adopt accessible design standards. Buildings that already comply with the 1991 ADA standards for accessible design would not be required to be brought into compliance with the new rules until the facility undergoes a planned alteration. Additionally, wheelchairs and scooters must be permitted in all areas open to pedestrian use. The department also has added provisions that provide guidance on the sale of tickets for accessible seating at stadiums and theaters. ... keep reading »

I’m in Washington this week as a delegate to the National Council on Disability’s National Summit on Disability Policy 2010. NCD and its delegates will join with group of federal partners, Congress, and disability community stakeholders to launch a national dialogue on disability policies and programs in the 21st century. This year’s theme is Living, Learning, and Earning, and Monday’s session will focus on technology, healthcare reform, emergency management and disability rights. Many of the participants will head over to the White House on Monday for a celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act on the South Lawn. The event, which starts at 5:30 p.m., will include remarks by President Obama and performances by by Nathaniel Anthony Ayers, Patti LaBelle and Marlee Matlin. Also, on Monday check out the Today Show at 8:45 am ET; the always smiling Bonnie St. John will appear to discuss the results ... keep reading »

The Department of Justice celebrated the American with Disabilities Act’s 20th Anniversary, with Attorney General Eric Holder speaking about the ADA. Holder says that over the past two decades, the law has “helped create revolutionary improvements in the lives of Americans with disabilities … [and] helped improve our society’s understanding of what Americans with disabilities could accomplish when given the chance to participate on equal terms.” Holder says the Department of Justice has placed a renewed focus on enforcing the ADA, including settling discrimination lawsuits against people with disabilities and advocating for more in-home health care. More importantly, the Justice Department says it will soon publish four notices regarding accessibility requirements for websites, movie theaters, equipment and furniture, and 911 call-taking technologies. That means that movies may be required to display, at least at certain times, closed-captions for the deaf and audio descriptions for the blind. Currently, movie theaters in the U.S. ... keep reading »

For the rest of the month I’ll be devoting some of my blog to announcing nationwide events that are taking place to celebrate the American with Disabilities Act’s 20th anniversary. The Federal Communications Commission is inviting the public to mark the American with Disabilities Act’s 20th anniversary in Washington. On July 19, the FCC will hold a Technology Showcase from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Commerce Department Main Foyer. More than 50 exhibitors have been invited to demonstrate their accessible technologies. Also, an ADA Celebration Program in the Commerce Department Auditorium from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m will include welcoming remarks from FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, presentation of an original video chronicling personal stories about the impact of technology on people with disabilities, performances by Gallaudet University performers, and a reception. The FCC will introduce a new forum to discuss accessibility issues for people with disabilities. The Accessibility and Innovation ... keep reading »

Apple’s Facetime feature for the iPhone 4 is already making waves in the deaf community because for the first time, two deaf people can use sign language to communicate with each other. FaceTime also lets hearing-impaired people supplement voice calls with video; features like lip-reading and facial expressions go a long way in aiding such calls. Now the FaceTime app just got a whole lot more exciting for the Deaf community. Apple has teamed up with ZVRS, a company that provides video relay services. Essentially, ZVRS uses human operators who are hearing and also fluent in American Sign Language. Thus, a Deaf person calls the ZVRS operator — known as a Communications Assistant — and he or she translates a conversation between a deaf and hearing caller using both voice and sign. Why is this so great? In the past deaf people have had to either buy a video cam or ... keep reading »

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced a critical step forward in providing an easier process for Veterans seeking health care and disability compensation for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), with the publication of a final regulation in the Federal Register. “This nation has a solemn obligation to the men and women who have honorably served this country and suffer from the often devastating emotional wounds of war,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “This final regulation goes a long way to ensure that Veterans receive the benefits and services they need.” By publishing a final regulation in the Federal Register to simplify the process for a Veteran to claim service connection for PTSD, VA reduces the evidence needed if the trauma claimed by a Veteran is related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity and is consistent with the places, types, and circumstances of the Veteran’s service. This ... keep reading »