Sign Up now to Participate in Ruby’s Bequest: Unprecedented Online Experience Focused on Care Giving
You've been hearing about Ruby's Bequest for a few weeks now; very soon the adventure begins. If you have not yet signed up or told others in your community to do so, we hope you visit Ruby's Bequest today.
A quick reminder about Ruby: Ruby's Bequest is a unique immersive experience in which thousands of people will work together online to imagine—and create—the future of caring and care giving in the United States. We need you to help change the realities of care giving by sharing your story or your perspectives through participation in Ruby's Bequest and by encouraging others you know to get involved as well. Given your mission and commitment to care giving and people with disabilities, we imagine you would be very interested in being a part of this unprecedented experience to develop new ideas and approaches.
We're calling this initiative "collaborative storytelling for the social good." It builds on social networking tools familiar to most of us and adds in the power and fun of a story. The fictional community of Deepwell, its problems and opportunities reflect the coming years for all of us.
Data and information gathered from these story collaborations over the duration of the six week game will culminate in a public research report that will help UCP, affiliated organizations, and others focused on care giving options and choices engage in better decision-making to fill the widening gaps in our care ecosystems.
We're expecting this will be a conversation where caregivers, leaders in the disability, aging and caregiver worlds, parents, consumers, and people completely outside of our world will come together to vent, laugh, brainstorm, and build on each other's ideas. Ultimately, story by story, Ruby's Bequest aims to grow experiences we'll all be able to use and share as we seek to become better caregivers, and be better cared for ourselves.
First Official Data Released on Employment of People with Disabilities
On February 6, 2009, the U.S. Department of Labor released the first official data on the employment status of persons with disabilities. In January 2009, the unemployment rate of persons with a disability was 13.2 percent, compared with 8.3 percent for persons with no disability. The employment-population ratio for persons with a disability was 20 percent, compared with 65 percent for persons with no disability.
The first set of data covers October 2008 through January 2009. In the future, data will be updated monthly.
These data provide, for the first time, an official monthly measure of the labor force situation for people with disabilities. Beginning in June 2008, the Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) sponsored the addition of new disability questions to the Current Population Survey (CPS), which provides comprehensive information on the employment status of the civilian, non-institutional population 16 years of age and older.
This new information will assist the nation in understanding how changing labor market conditions affect Americans with disabilities. The addition of these questions allows analysis of the labor force situation for persons with disabilities to be based on the same concepts that are already used for other groups. And, using the data to formulate policy recommendations, ODEP will target its training, technical assistance, research, and dissemination efforts around this data series.
"Now that so many Americans are suffering job losses, there is a tremendous amount of attention being paid to employment problems and solutions affecting the general population. Americans with disabilities typically experience similar employment difficulties — even when there is a robust economy. The economic downturn may just exacerbate their struggle. These data will go far toward efforts to increase the employment of people with disabilities," said John Davey, deputy assistant secretary for ODEP.
Hate Crimes Act to be Reintroduced this Spring
The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crime Prevention Act (LLEHCPA) is expected to be reintroduced this spring. Congress will once again attempt to add disability, along with gender and sexual orientation, as a protected class under LLEHCPA. This addition to the Act will assist local and state law enforcement agencies to effectively prosecute offenders who commit violent crime motivated by bias. Under the current federal hate crimes law, the only protected classes are persons who are victimized due to their race, color, religion, or national origin.
The bill contains two key provisions:
Federal funding to States, local jurisdictions, and Indian tribes to prosecute hate crimes;
The addition of four categories of people ("protected classes") to be covered by the hate crimes law. The hate crimes law allows for federal criminal charges to be brought against perpetrators who commit crimes of violence against individuals due to the individuals' characteristics listed below.
Groups covered under the existing hate crimes law
Groups that would be added to the hate crimes law under the bill
Persons who are victimized due to their:
race
color
religion
national origin
Persons who are victimized due to their:
gender
gender identity
sexual orientation
disability
What can I do now? The Disability Policy Collaboration (DPC) between United Cerebral Palsy and the Arc of the United States is gathering stories of hate crimes committed against persons with disabilities in the last six months as evidence of its occurrence for testimony before Congress. Unfortunately, crimes against people with disabilities who experience targeted violence are significantly under reported and hate crimes themselves are often unrecognized.
If you or a person you know is a person with a disability and is the victim of a hate crime, please share your story with us by visiting: http://ucpact.convio.net/site/PageNavigator/DPC_LLEHCPA_2009. Your confidentiality and privacy is of the utmost importance to us and you have the option to publicly share your story or not.
Jason and Jessica Barron of Harvest were concerned when their infant twins, Emma and Jacob, weren't meeting certain developmental milestones. Subsequently, Emma was diagnosed with Torticolis. That's when Jason's sister Jennifer Barron, a social worker, and the Barron family's pediatrician recommended that the Barrons see if the twins might qualify for Early Intervention (EI).
"The twins were not anywhere where they should be developmentally," Jessica recalled. "I remember answering questions during the intake process and thinking, 'Oh man, they are really behind!'"
"It was alarming for us as parents," Jason added. "They were months behind in multiple developmental areas."
Emma and Jacob began receiving EI services at UCP on March 13, 2008. Now almost 23-months-old, the twins are active in weekly playgroups and continue to receive EI services, as well as physical therapy and occupational therapy at the UCP Therapy Center. The Barrons said that their children have since made remarkable developmental strides.
Upcoming Conferences
2009 UCP Annual Conference:
April 22-25, 2009 in San Francisco
UCP will be hosting its 2009 Annual Conference April 22nd-25th in spectacular San Francisco.
This year's theme - Growing an Agile Potent Network: Connect. Collaborate. Evolve. – continues our focus on Life Without Limits. Conference participants will convene to discuss the future of the UCP affiliate network, including the services and resources they will need over the next 5 -10 years. The conference will bring together experts on growth, efficiency and collaboration with affiliate leaders to offer concrete ideas on how to survive in these turbulent times. Find out more at www.ucp.org/conference.
Interested in donating an auction item? Contact Emily Dolenz at 202-973-7100.
2009 Disability Policy Seminar to Focus on Funding
During these turbulent economic times, it's only appropriate that the 2009 Disability Policy Seminar, co-sponsored by UCP, April 27-29th, in Washington, DC., will focus on funding.
The U.S. economy is in recession and most states are facing severe shortfalls in their budgets. As budgets shrink, many vital services and supports for people with disabilities are being cut. With budgets and the economy as central themes on Capitol Hill, the 2009 Disability Policy Seminar will explore effective strategies to obtain bipartisan support for high priority disability programs and issues. Entitled "A New Era: Embracing Opportunities in the Face of Grave Challenges," this year's Seminar will highlight:
» Budget and Appropriations;
» Entitlements (Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security);
» Health Care and Long Term Services Reform;
» Developmental Disabilities Act; and
» Employment.
Interest is exceptionally strong this year, with more than 85% of hotel rooms booked two months before the event, and registration completed by attendees from 27 states as well as China and Canada. Register now while there is still room. Hope to see you this April!
For more information, contact Annie Acosta with the Disability Policy Collaboration at (202) 783-2229.
Founded in 1948 to help people with cerebral palsy, today United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) is a pivotal advocate for the rights of all people with disabilities. As one of the largest health charities in America, UCP is dedicated to advancing the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with disabilities.
Music Wins Applause for Addressing Autism Washington Post Washington,DC,USA 3/3/09 Janna, who never developed normal speech, receives formal music therapy at West Virginia's Hedgesville Middle School, where she is enrolled in a classroom for students with autism.
Pimp My Program: Help for the Disabled Ivanhoe Newswire USA March 2009 (Video) You've heard of "Pimp My Ride" where they customize a car to meet the exact needs of the driver. Researchers have taken that same idea and applied it to various computer programs, creating an interface that can speed up computing no matter what your ability.
Special ed integration fails expectations DC Examiner Washington,DC,USA 2/27/09 In the Montgomery County schools, phasing out of segregated classrooms for students with significant learning disabilities has been met with a districtwide report raising serious questions about its success.
Activists protest award for comedian The Star-Ledger Newark,NJ,USA 2/23/09 "People who have disabilities have always been thought of as childlike and unable to take care of themselves. If you feed into that idea, we're never going to get the jobs, we're never going to make our way in this country because people aren't going to see us as productive." said Lawrence Carter-Long, 41, of New York, a former poster child for United Cerebral Palsy.
Packing wine, empowering people Napa Valley Register Napa Valley,CA,USA 2/17/09 South Napa plant provides place for disabled workforce.
United Cerebral Palsy Benefit WKOW-TV ABC 27 Dane County,WI,USA 2/17/09 More than a thousand kids and families receive help from United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Dane County, and more and more families are turning to the organization for support.
Home is planned to provide respite care for youths Democrat and Chronicle Rochester,NY,USA 2/13/09 Under a plan for a new respite center in the Rochester area, adolescents with developmental disabilities and behavior problems would spend one week every other month living in a home with a playground and swimming pool, while their parents take a break from the constant pressures of caring for them.
Top 10 Disability Events of 2008 JF Activist Blog USA 2/13/09 2008 was a pretty busy year for the disability community. There were many policy issues and disability events that took place, that will have an impact for a long time to come.
Sensors Help Keep the Elderly Safe, and at Home New York Times New York,NY,USA 2/12/09 Increasingly, many older people who live alone are not truly alone. They are being watched by a flurry of new technologies designed to enable them to live independently and avoid expensive trips to the emergency room or nursing homes.
Mom Re-Enlists To Get Treatment For Disabled Son NPR NV,USA 2/11/09 (Audio) In states hard-hit by economic recession, families with young disabled children are among the first to feel the effects.
Recession Hurting Kids With Developmental Delays NPR NV,USA 2/10/09 (Audio) The therapists didn't come. Instead, Johnson got a letter from the state. It acknowledged that Nevada has an obligation to provide care within 30 days of seeing a child. But because of the state's budget crisis — the result of Nevada's deep debt from the recession — Ben would have to wait.
A young boy's brush with death Houston Chronicle Austin,TX,USA 2/9/09 But his life-threatening ordeal – like others – will resonate in the Legislature as lawmakers contend with fixing, or even closing state schools, home to thousands of developmentally disabled adults and children. Most critical is putting a stop to the abuse and neglect pervasive in some schools.
Many Florida teachers may be ill-equipped to handle special-needs students Palm Beach Post Palm Beach,FL,USA 2/7/09 Parents, educators and disability advocates say it highlights an often overlooked problem with inclusion, the national trend toward placing special needs students in regular classrooms: Many general education teachers receive little to no training in how to manage students with disabilities before they walk into class.
Disabled Get Last Laugh on MTV's 'News' Washington Post Washington,DC,USA 2/5/09 In that spirit, MTV's new "How's Your News?" show can be seen not as exploitation of people who have mental disabilities but rather as the expression of a subculture that has much to contribute to the mainstream but never had much of an opportunity.
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