Latest Disability-related News
This section lists information and links to disability-related news articles, press releases, and reports that have been published within the past two months. This information is provided as a public service by the Ohio Legal Rights Service (OLRS). OLRS attempts to verify that the information provided is helpful for people with disabilities. However, OLRS does not guarantee that the information provided is accurate or right for the particular needs of the person.
- Mental health parity bill signed into law, posted October 3, 2008
- Artwork entries being accepted for Accessible Expressions Ohio 2009, posted October 2, 2008
- Public comments requested for ODE's procedure manual for educational agencies serving children with disabilities, posted October 2, 2008
- GAO report focuses on transition challenges for young adults with serious mental illness, posted September 25, 2008
- Residents of nursing homes and other care facilities are eligible to receive digital TV converter box coupons, posted September 18, 2008
- "Ask Medicare" launched to help family caregivers, posted September 18, 2008
- Treasury Department ordered to move forward with creating accessible money, posted September 8, 2008
- Research survey on reasonable accommodations in the workplace, posted August 28, 2008
- Take a survey to let NAMI know how well Ohio is providing mental health services, posted August 25, 2008
- Study reports on hardships experienced by families raising children with disabilities, posted August 21, 2008
- Take The Arc of the United States survey, posted August 21, 2008
- Individuals with disabilities urged to file with the IRS for their economic stimulus payment, posted August 20, 2008
- NCD presents report on financial incentives affecting people with disabilities, posted August 18, 2008
- Transcript of the public hearing on proposed changes to ADA now available, posted August 7, 2008
Some links in this section are to documents created in Adobe® Portable Document Format (PDF). To view and print PDF documents, you need to have Adobe® Reader®, a free software program, installed on your computer. Download Adobe® Reader®.
On Friday, October 3, the President signed into law the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. The Act includes the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act.
[posted October 3, 2008]
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Accessible Expressions Ohio is a statewide, juried, visual arts exhibition and tour that is held annually. The next tour will be in June 2009 and artists are invited to submit photographs of their artwork to VSA arts of Ohio for the June tour. The deadline for entries is December 1, 2008. The entry photos are assessed to determine which artwork will be featured in the show. Artists are notified of their acceptance into the show and asked to then submit the actual artwork. The artwork is exhibited at the opening ceremony where the first, second and third place winners are chosen in each category, as well as Best in Show. Following the opening ceremony, the artwork is divided into tours and travels around Ohio. Sales of artwork are encouraged at the opening ceremony as well as each tour site.
For more information, including specific entry guidelines, contact Derek Mortland, Artists Services Coordinator, VSA arts of Ohio, 77 S. High St., 2nd Floor, Columbus, OH 43215; phone 614-241-5325; fax 614-241-5329; email dmortland@vsao.org
[posted October 2, 2008]
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The Ohio Department of Education is seeking public comment on a draft manual, "Procedures and Guidance for Ohio's Educational Agencies Serving Children with Disabilities." Comments can be provided through an online form or by email and will be accepted until November 7, 2008 when a public hearing will be held. The finalized document will be available in January 2009.
For more information: EdResourcesOhio or send an email to shirley.crabtree@ode.state.oh.us
[posted October 2, 2008]
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At least 2.4 million young adults aged 18 through 26 (6.5 percent of the non-institutionalized young adults in that age range) had a serious mental illness in 2006, and they had lower levels of education on average than other young adults, according to a report from the US Government Accountability Office (GAO). The GAO was asked to research and report to congressional requesters information on (1) the number of these young adults and their demographic characteristics, (2) the challenges they face, (3) how selected states assist them, and (4) how the federal government supports states in serving these young adults and coordinates programs that can assist them.
Read the report: Young Adults with Serious Mental Illness - Some States and Federal Agencies Are Taking Steps to Address Their Transition Challenges (PDF file)
[posted September 25, 2008]
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Residents of licensed nursing homes, intermediate care facilities, assisted living facilities and households that use a post office box for mail delivery soon will be eligible to request coupons from the TV Converter Box Coupon Program. The rule change to the program takes effect 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. Applicants from nursing homes and other care facilities will be required to provide their name, address of the facility and whether they receive television exclusively with an antenna, or through cable, satellite or other pay television service. A family member or a representative from the licensed facility may apply for one coupon for a nursing home resident. A special application will be made available once the rule becomes effective. The coupon will be mailed directly to the nursing home resident.
Read more: Gutierrez Announces Nursing Homes Residents and P.O. Box Households Eligible to Receive Converter Box Coupons
[posted September 18, 2008]
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently launched "Ask Medicare," a new initiative to help family caregivers, those who are family members or friends who help people with Medicare, access healthcare information, services and resources.
Read more: Medicare - Caregiver Information
[posted September 18, 2008]
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Several months ago, the Treasury Department was ordered to begin creating paper money that people who are blind could use to distinguish between denominations, such as using different sizes of paper bills or using raised numbers. However, attorneys for the Treasury Department recently urged a federal judge to "let the process play out and not interfere with anti-counterfeiting redesigns in process." The judge did not agree and ordered the attorneys to meet with the American Council of the Blind, the organization that brought the suit, and come up with a schedule that coincides with the next generation of bills.
Read the news article: Judge: Dollar bills no longer can be biased against blind
[posted September 8, 2008]
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The University of Maryland and the Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center's Mid-Atlantic ADA Center is conducting a survey on the provision of reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities at their workplace. The study will compare perceptions of the significance of factors affecting job accommodation requests and provision among persons with disabilities, employers who are employing persons with disabilities, and service providers.
Take the survey: University of Maryland Study on Factors Related to Reasonable Accommodation
[posted August 28, 2008]
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The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is conducting a survey of adults living with serious mental illnesses and their family members. The answers to the survey will assist NAMI in writing its "Grading the States 2009" report. The report "grades" states on how well each is providing publicly funded mental health services. The survey is available through September 30, 2008 and is also available in Spanish. NAMI issued its last report card in 2006 (see Grading the States 2006). Ohio's grade was a "B" while the national average grade was a "D".
Take the survey: NAMI National Survey
[posted August 25, 2008]
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The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill recently announced the results of a study on the hardship rates among families raising children with disabilities. The report is based on 2002 data from the National Survey of American Families and analyzed over 28,000 households. The study found that overall, "families across all income levels who are raising disabled children are significantly more challenged by food, housing and health issues compared to families without disabled children." The study also noted that a significant percentage of those struggling are higher-income households and that families raising children with disabilities are likely to be hardest hit during this economic downturn.
To read the article: UNC study: 'chilling' hardship rates among families raising disabled children
[posted August 21, 2008]
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The Task Force on Affiliation and Growth of The Arc of the United States is assessing the current status of The Arc and embarking on a planning process for the future of the organization. The Arc would like to gather input from a broad range of people who are concerned about issues affecting people with intellectual disabilities and their families. Currently, they are conducting a survey to gather input.
Take the survey: The Arc of the United States survey
[posted August 21, 2008]
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Ohioans, including low-income seniors, veterans, and individuals with disabilities have until October 15, 2008 to file for an economic stimulus payment. According to Gongwer News Service, the Ohio Federal Budget Coalition said that 226,643 eligible Ohioans have yet to file a tax return to get the stimulus payment. If all would file for the payment, it would put over $65 million into the local economy. To receive this payment, you must have at least $3,000 in income and file a 2007 federal tax return. The $3,000 income can be from any combination of earned income, Social Security retirement or disability benefits, or certain veterans' or railroad retirement benefits. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) does not count as qualifying income.
Even though some individuals with disabilities do not normally file a tax return, they must file a return to receive payment. Eligible individuals will receive between $300 and $600; or between $600 and $1,200 for those who file a joint return. Those eligible with children will receive an additional $300 for each qualifying child. The amount of your payment depends on the information reported on your tax return.
For more information, read the IRS booklet, Information About Economic Stimulus Payments for Social Security, Veterans, and Other Beneficiaries. You can also call the IRS hotline at 866-234-2942 or the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program at 800-906-9887 for information and assistance. Free assistance is also available through the Ohio Benefit Bank.
[posted August 20, 2008]
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The National Council on Disability (NCD) recently submitted a report, The State of 21st Century Financial Incentives for Americans with Disabilities. The purpose of the report is to provide a "road map for equality of economic rights for people of all abilities, regardless of race or socioeconomic background." The report describes financial incentives, presents research findings in areas such as education and health care, details several state-level practices that affect asset development and wealth accumulation, and provides recommendations to "increase opportunities for people with disabilities to be fully involved in the economic mainstream of American society."
Read the report: The State of 21st Century Financial Incentives for Americans with Disabilities
[posted August 18, 2008]
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The Department of Justice (DOJ) has posted on its Web site the transcript of comments made at the public hearing held on July 15, 2008 about the proposed amendments to its regulations implementing Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. A rebroadcast of the hearing is also available with real-time captioning. The DOJ will continue to accept comments through August 18, 2008.
Read the transcript: Transcript of the Public Hearing on Notices of Proposed Rulemaking
View the rebroadcast: Public Hearing on Proposals to Amend Regulations under Titles II and III of the ADA Webcast
To read the proposed rules and submit comments: Regulations.gov
[posted August 7, 2008]
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