AAPDnews SUMMER 2008
A Message from Andrew J. Imparato The ADA, Act Two Dear Members, As I write this message during the Congressional August recess, I am more optimistic than ever that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Amendments Act will be passed by this Congress and signed by President Bush. Many things can still happen that could derail passage, including simply running out of time in the Congressional calendar. But I have faith in the ability of the bipartisan congressional champions for the bill — people like Orrin Hatch, Tom Harkin, Steny Hoyer, Jim Sensenbrenner, Mike Enzi and Ted Kennedy — to bring home this victory before Congress adjourns. The June 25 vote of 402-17 in the House and the reintroduction of a Senate bill with 67 Senators signing on as co-sponsors just before the August recess certainly give the bill some momentum going into September. We would not be where we are now without the coordinated advocacy of disability, civil rights and employer groups. To see who is helping to lead the effort to pass the ADA Amendments Act, go to www.adabill.com and you will see a truly diverse and powerful coalition. I am hoping that we can reunite this coalition to work on other disability, employment, and civil rights policy issues once we have this victory under our belt. So, for purposes of this message, I am going to focus on what happens after the ADA Amendments Act is signed into law, either by President Bush or his successor (in the event we are not successful in getting it passed in this Congress). I was recently one of three speakers on a national teleconference, organized by the Great Lakes region’s Disability Business Technical Assistance Center, about the ADA Amendments Act. Commissioner Christine Griffin from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) was one of my co-panelists. Commissioner Griffin made the good point that once this bill passes, there will be the need for the EEOC and the U.S. Department of Justice to do another round of training so that people know how the new bill affects their civil rights. I encourage AAPD members to recognize that the passage and implementation of the ADA Amendments Act creates an opportunity for us to go out and reeducate our communities at the local, state and national levels about why there is still a need for a civil rights law like the ADA 18 years after its original enactment. What are the access and attitudinal barriers that still exist in our communities, and what can community leaders do in partnership with disability leaders and organizations to remove those barriers once and for all? Why do we have to protest the offensive portrayal of people with intellectual disabilities in Hollywood blockbusters like Tropic Thunder? Why are
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politicians, including Senators Obama and McCain, failing to mention their disability agendas in their campaign stump speeches? Why has it been so difficult to increase the employment rate for people with significant disabilities, and why is our nation’s largest employer, the Federal Government, moving backwards on this issue? Why do hot new gadgets like the iPhone come out without adequate accessibility? Why has it been so difficult to implement the accessibility requirements in the Help America Vote Act? We should be raising all of these issues and many more as we begin a dialogue with America around the implementation of the restorative amendments to this critical civil rights law. The bottom line is that implementation of the ADA Amendments Act is an opportunity for all of us to refocus America on the benefits of full inclusion, full participation, and full citizenship for our more than 50 million Americans with disabilities. For the implementation to be successful, we will need to engage the very broad coalition that is now working to pass the bill, and then reach out even more broadly to include more groups who can really help change attitudes and improve access. At AAPD, we want disability to be THE social justice issue of our time. We see implementation of the ADA Amendments Act, coupled with the global implementation of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as a great opportunity to put our issues front and center. Let’s work hard in September to get the bill enacted into law. Then, let’s work even harder to implement the bill in a manner that truly elevates the visibility and quality of life of all people with disabilities in the United States and reestablishes our country’s role as a model of inclusion for the rest of the world. Andrew J. Imparato AAPD President and CEO
Disability Community Comes Together at Historic Forum, Shows Power of Disability Vote McCain Gives Public Support for ADA Amendments Act; Community Choice Act Discussed by Both Campaigns The disability community made history in Columbus, Ohio on July 26 with its first-ever presidential forum involving the presumed major party nominees at The National Forum on Disability Issues, a non-partisan presidential forum organized by AAPD and the Ohio Disability Vote Coalition (ODVC). With 600 people in the room and thousands watching online via live webcasts in communities around the country, Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain and surrogates from Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama’s campaign addressed disability issues, including the ADA Amendments Act and the Community Choice Act. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), a longtime disability advocate and one of the architects of the ADA in 1990, participated in the event as Obama’s surrogate and was introduced by another campaign surrogate, Michael Strautmanis, as Obama’s former
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chief counsel in the Senate. The forum, which also celebrated the 18th anniversary of the signing of the ADA, was sponsored by 84 national, regional and local disability-related organizations and was a platform for the announcement of McCain’s support of the ADA Amendments Act in the Senate. The theme of a powerful disability bloc was highlighted by several speakers, who spoke about the more than 37 million people with disabilities who are eligible to vote in the U.S. Ohio Speaker of the House Jon Husted and Ability Center of Greater Toledo Executive Director Tim Harrington welcomed the crowd, after which AAPD President and CEO Andrew J. Imparato took the stage and spoke about the importance of the disability community’s involvement in the political process. Following Imparato, actor and disability activist Robert David Hall, best known for his portrayal of coroner Dr. Al Robbins on the television show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, addressed the attendees and viewers. ―It seems to me like our potential political clout (in numbers) is enormous,‖ Hall said. ―Maybe we should make it our responsibility to educate one other person with a disability so they’re prepared to cast an educated vote based on real knowledge about where the candidates stand on the stuff that affects our daily lives.‖ Mike Thompson, News Director at WOSU Public Media, followed after Hall and introduced the forum’s moderator, renowned news anchor and journalist Judy Woodruff (The News Hour with Jim Lehrer). Woodruff, parent of a disabled son, moderated a panel discussion including Rebecca Hare of the Institute for Educational Leadership, Cynthia Owens of the Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities, Paul Tobin of United Spinal Association and John Hannah of The Arc of Ohio. Obama, McCain Disability Positions Presented After the panel discussion, Woodruff started the candidates’ portion of the forum by introducing Obama campaign surrogate Michael Strautmanis, senior counsel for the campaign and father of a child with disabilities, who spoke of Obama’s commitment to the disability community. ―His vision is one in which every individual is able and empowered to take full advantage of their talents to become independent and fully integrated members of our society,‖ said Strautmanis, who then introduced Harkin. Harkin said that in working with Obama, he has become impressed by ―his passionate commitment to defending the rights of all people with disabilities.‖ Harkin also said the November 4 election is not only important because it will decide the country’s next president, but also because of the Supreme Court nominations that president will make. ―More so than perhaps any other community in our country, the fate of the disability community is determined by the Supreme Court of the United States,‖ Harkin said. Harkin, who took questions from Woodruff, told the crowd that a series of Supreme Court decisions have greatly narrowed the scope of who is protected by the ADA and
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said ―an activist conservative majority on the Supreme Court … has been gutting key elements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.‖ Harkin said Obama is a co-sponsor of the Community Choice Act, but that McCain has said in the past he did not support the legislation. Following Harkin, Sen. McCain, participating live via satellite from Arizona, delivered a speech and then took questions from Woodruff. In response to questions of his support for the Community Choice Act, he said that while he supported the concept of community choice, he is not in favor of the current legislation because of cost concerns. McCain said his biggest issue with the current legislation is that ―we’ve got to pay for these things. We’re laying another trillion dollar unfunded liability on the next generation of Americans.‖ McCain’s biggest announcement during the forum was his support for the ADA Amendments Act. ―We must remove all doubt that the law is intended to protect Americans from any kind of discrimination on the basis of a physical or mental disability, and we must clarify the definition of a disability to assure full protection of those the law is intended to serve,‖ he said. Harkin had said earlier that McCain’s support of the bill isn’t enough, because if elected, he could appoint Supreme Court justices who could interpret the ADA Amendments ―in ways that weaken it, too.‖ McCain countered by saying he did not think the problem with interpreting the ADA was with the Supreme Court, but with ―the way we wrote the legislation.‖ Responding to a question from Woodruff, McCain said although the government needs to get spending under control, more money must be spent on Veterans Affairs. Imparato closed the event reminding attendees and everyone watching via the webcast that the ADA was a strong bipartisan message from the United States Congress and President George H.W. Bush that ―this country is made greater when we open the doors of equal opportunity wider.‖ ―Today’s event did a little bit to get those doors open wider,‖ Imparato continued. ―What we do after today, especially around voter registration, organizing in a nonpartisan way, and turning out voters with strong disability interests, on Election Day this November, will open those doors even wider.‖ To watch the entire archived webcast, visit www.disaboom.com/Community/Organizations/aapd.
Webcast Viewers Say Forum was Helpful The Ohio forum was viewed in real time by thousands via a webcast hosted by Disaboom.com, and afterwards an informal online survey was offered to the internet
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attendees by the web service. The responses to the survey gave a strong indication that the forum was very helpful and informative. More than 63% indicated that the forum influenced their decision about who to vote for. The response to the question ―How important are the presidential candidates' positions on disability issues when you are deciding for whom to vote?‖ was overwhelming: more than 57% replied it was ―very important,‖ 31% indicated it was ―important,‖ and nearly 5% said it was ―somewhat important.‖ Health insurance, Social Security and the War in Iraq led the list of political issues respondents indicated were most important to them, and many took the time to express expanded opinions on these and other concerns. Also of interest was that while the majority indicated they have a disability, nearly 20% identified themselves as ―a family member or friend of a person with a disability,‖ another 12% said they are caregivers, and some others listed themselves as advocates or professionals. This reinforces the idea that when it comes to disability issues and elections, the impact of the candidates' positions reaches well beyond voters with disabilities.
Judy Woodruff moderated a frank and informative panel discussion that set the tone for the day. Here is a sampling of the comments made: The effect of the ADA: ―An unintended consequence of all of this great public policy work is that young people are being raised not knowing that they have disabilities. They’re being mainstreamed ... but at the same time they miss out on opportunities to develop self-advocacy skills, the opportunity to learn about disability history and disability culture and develop relationships within the disability community.‖ Rebecca Hare, Project Coordinator for the National Consortium on Leadership and Disability for Youth Social Security: It’s a system that is … under-used, under-utilized, and if more individuals really wanted employment and could figure out how they can go to work using work incentives and keeping their benefits, they would do it, and I think that's part of the problem … we really haven’t gotten the word out there on how to help individuals do that.‖ Cynthia Owens, Planning Coordinator, Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities
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Legislation Brings Hope for Expanded Accessible Communications Technologies In June, Representatives Edward Markey (D-MA) and Heather Wilson (R-NM) introduced The 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2008. The bill (H.R. 6320) would amend the Communications Act to ensure that new Internetenabled telephone and television services are accessible to and usable by people with disabilities and that they close existing gaps in telecommunications laws. The various provisions of the legislation require innovation by the companies that provide telephone and television products so people with disabilities can take full advantage of Internet advancements enjoyed by everyone else. The comprehensive communications bill includes specific measures in two areas: Communications Access • Requires accessibility of phone-type equipment and services used over the Internet. • Requires telephone products used with the Internet to be hearing aid compatible. • Clarifies the scope of relay services to include calls between and among people with disabilities, and requires Internet-based phone service providers to contribute to the Interstate Relay Fund. • Allocates up to $10 million/year from USF for equipment used by people who are deaf-blind. • Adds improved accountability and enforcement measures for accessibility, including a clearinghouse and reporting obligations by providers and manufacturers. Video Programming Access • Restores video description rules and requires access to televised emergency programming for people who are blind or have low vision. • Requires captioning decoder circuitry in all video programming devices of any size. • Extends the closed captioning obligations to television-type video programming distributed over the Internet that is already covered by the FCC’s captioning rules but is not user-generated content. • Requires easy access to closed captions via remote control and in on-screen menus. • Requires easy access by blind people to television controls and program selection menus. The legislation resulted from more than a year of advocacy efforts spearheaded by AAPD and the Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology (COAT), a coalition of over 200 disability organizations that AAPD helped to found. Advocates are now looking to the U.S. Senate for a companion bill. For more information on H.R. 6320 and the COAT, visit these websites: www.aapd.com or www.COATaccess.org. The AAPD contact is Jenifer Simpson at aapdjenifer@aol.com.
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AAPD Celebrates ADA 18th Anniversary with Justice for All Awards on Capitol Hill On July 23, AAPD commemorated the 18th anniversary of the passage of the ADA by honoring champions of the historic legislation and new leaders of the disability rights movement at an event on Capitol Hill. Youth leadership, accessible technology and disability employment were high on the minds of attendees and recipients. Notably, House Majority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), both authors of the ADA in 1990 and key leaders of the current ADA Amendments Act, attended and shared personal remarks at the program. ―I can tell you 18 years after the ADA, the thing that bedevils me is the lack of employment for people with disabilities,‖ Harkin said. ―It’s unconscionable that over 60% of people with disabilities are not employed. These are people who want to be employed, who can be employed with the right supporting services, and that’s the next thing.‖ AAPD President and CEO Andrew Imparato told the gathering that AAPD was honored to present Justice for All awards to four ADA champions: Reps. Jim Sensenbrenner (RWI) and Ed Markey (D-MA); Carol Westlake, Executive Director of the Tennessee Disability Coalition; and Mark Boxer, recently retired executive from Wellpoint, Inc. and a leader in the area of employment of people with disabilities. Markey, a co-sponsor of The 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2008, commented that ―over the years, not only has technology evolved, but also the sense of what the rights of everyone in our society should be to have access to new information technologies.‖ AAPD also presented the first-ever Judy Woodruff and Al Hunt Award for Media Excellence to National Public Radio’s Joe Shapiro. The inaugural award was presented on AAPD’s behalf by Al Hunt. Standing at the podium with U.S. Department of Labor Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy Neil Romano, award recipient Boxer noted, ―We have a lot more work to do to achieve the aspiration of true self sufficiency and political empowerment this award represents. While we see progress, it’s not enough.‖ Boxer concluded that ―it’s only through the continued partnership with the public and private sector, the business community, social institutions, and academic institutions and through leadership of organizations like AAPD that results can be achieved. The result? Competitive employment. Freedom, income, self sufficiency, and respect begins with a job.‖ Westlake summed up the significance of this year’s event. ―Today, on this anniversary, we are on the precipice of passing the ADA Amendments Act,‖ she said. ―That is very, very important to all of us, because it really does protect our rights and make sure that we’re all part of mainstream America.‖
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AAPD also presented certificates to its 2008 MEAF-AAPD Congressional Interns and Microsoft-AAPD Federal IT Interns.
SAVE THE DATE! AAPD’s Disability Mentoring Day – Wednesday, October 15, 2008 The nation’s premier disability mentoring program connects tens of thousands of students and job-seekers with disabilities in communities in every state to public and private employers in their area looking to provide mentoring opportunities. For information about Disability Mentoring Day events and opportunities in your area, or to find your Local Coordinator, visit www.aapd.com. To contact the AAPD staff, email dmdaapd@aol.com or call (202) 457-0046 ext. 22 (V/TTY).
MEMBER PROFILE Former Access Board Appointee Believes AAPD Membership is a Two-Way Street While some people have organizational memberships in order to receive benefits, Jim Elekes instead considers what he can do to reciprocate for an organization he chooses to support. Elekes’ career path has transitioned from several years as a certified public manager for New Jersey’s Department of Personnel into a second successful career as a college professor. Along the way he has applied his own personal experiences as a blind, insulin-dependent diabetic to become an expert on various disability issues. In 2003 he was named a Presidential appointee to serve on the U.S. Access Board, the independent federal agency chartered by Congress to develop, administer, and enforce federal regulations for access to the built environment, transportation, telecommunications, information, and electronic technologies. His five year term included chairing the board’s Transportation as well as Telecommunications and Electronic and Information Technology Advisory (TEITAC) committees, and being liaison to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. ―I was honored to be appointed and enjoyed my work, but it was not my life goal,‖ he says. Ironically, the public appointment delayed his AAPD membership. ―The White House Office on Boards and Commissions advised me that when you become a Presidential appointee, people take a wary eye if memberships start popping up on your bio. So, after fulfilling my term it was something I knew I had to do.‖ Elekes says he is an AAPD member not just for what he receives in benefits and information, but also because of the way AAPD presents itself as a nonpartisan voice. ―I’ve met several AAPD representatives while serving on the Access Board, and I was impressed that they always came prepared and had something meaningful and relevant to say.
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―This organization gets the big picture of legislation on the federal level and some of the best reporting on this is done by AAPD, and in my opinion they do it with insight and preciseness,‖ he continues. ―The news I get from the Justice For All blog really cuts through the minutia. I appreciate that because it takes me time to read using speech synthesis.‖ Now a resident of Surfside Beach, SC, Elekes is keeping up with national issues but is also focusing to work locally, providing professional accessibility consulting services. ―This is a great community, but it can be much better,‖ he says. ―In many cases, people are simply not aware of the solutions that are out there.‖ Since moving there two years ago, he says local and state officials, as well as businesses and individuals, have steadily gravitated to him with questions regarding accessibility in employment, technology, transportation, housing, and outdoor area development. Elekes doesn’t charge individuals for his time to help. ―If someone needs to reach me about an issue, I’m happy to give them my two cents.‖ Similarly, he wants to be a resource to AAPD and other AAPD members. ―I believe some of the legislative and regulatory processes can and should be streamlined in Washington,‖ he observes. ―I’m preparing a short policy paper to share with AAPD and maybe some other organizations suggesting how we might get that done.‖ Ultimately, Elekes believes member feedback and support are what make an organization stronger. ―I have this base of knowledge and experience and I keep it updated. If I can benefit the organization or individuals as a resource, I’m happy to do it,‖ he concludes. ―What good is knowledge if you don’t share it? That’s my perception of giving back to my community.‖ Elekes can be reached at jelekes@sc.rr.com.
AAPD Welcomes New Board Members Four new directors were recently elected to serve on AAPD’s Board of Directors, with their terms commencing July 1, 2008. Each brings to AAPD a deep commitment to the disability rights movement and a desire to help the organization grow and continue to fulfill its mission. Following are their brief biographies: Day Al-Mohamed serves as a senior legislative and federal affairs officer with the American Psychological Association (APA). She manages APA’s legislative and regulatory activities related to public interest policy issues in the arenas of disability and ethnic minorities, which involves influencing policy-making activity on Capitol Hill and regulatory activities in federal agencies. She is a board member of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) and serves as a co-chair on the CCD Civil Rights Task Force. Al-Mohamed has an avid interest in new media and hosts a regular podcast on disability policy issues: www.dayinwashington.com.
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Rahnee K. Patrick is Youth and Education Team Leader at Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago, where she addresses equal educational access for students with disabilities in Chicago Public Schools. She previously directed the fair housing testing arm of their Fair Housing Enforcement Project. She is also co-leader of Chicago ADAPT, an activist grassroots disability rights organization, and is an active member of Not Dead Yet and Feminist Response In Disability Activism (FRIDA). Patrick was recipient of a 2008 Paul G. Hearne/AAPD Leadership Award as an emerging leader in the disability rights movement. Meredith Ryan-Reid is vice president of business development for AIG’s Domestic Life Companies, responsible for identifying, managing and implementing key business development and marketing strategies with a focus on optimizing relationships across the company. Previously, she ran a business unit within the Property and Casualty Group and served as a regional vice president for AIG Benefits. Laura Sanford is president of the AT&T Foundation, the philanthropic arm of AT&T Inc. and its family of companies, and oversees AT&T’s grant and employee giving programs. Sanford is also responsible for oversight of the AT&T Pioneers, the nation’s largest company-sponsored volunteer organization that includes almost 350,000 employees and retirees. She serves on the board of regents of Texas Lutheran University, the board of the Tiger Woods Learning Center, and the board of advisors of the National Council of La Raza (NCLR).
2008 AAPD Board Roster Day Al-Mohamed – American Psychological Association Joyce Bender, Treasurer – Bender Consulting Services, Inc. The Honorable Ralph Boyd, Jr. – Freddie Mac Kelby Brick – Hands On Video Relay Services Linda Chavez-Thompson – AFL-CIO The Honorable Tony Coelho, Vice-Chair – Disability Rights Advocate Robert ―Bobby‖ Coward – Capital Area ADAPT John Dziennik – Blanche Fischer Foundation Wendy Elliott-Vandivier – Elliott-Vandivier, Hibbs & Associates, LLC B. Keith Fulton – Verizon Alison A. Hillman – Mental Disability Rights International Andrew J. Imparato – President and CEO, AAPD Edward Kennedy Jr., Secretary – Marwood Group Richard Knowles – SAP Americas Rahnee K. Patrick – Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago Will Ris – American Airlines Helen Roth, Immediate Past Chair – Disability Policy Consultant Meredith Ryan-Reid – AIG Domestic Life Companies Laura Sanford – AT&T Foundation Leslie Schmid – Retired Marketing Executive, Disability Rights Advocate Cheryl Sensenbrenner, Chair – Disability Rights Advocate
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James Weisman – United Spinal Association Betsy Buttrill White – Economics Consultant Betty Williams – Arc of Indiana Tony Young – NISH
On The Docket A Timeline of Important Events for the 2008 Election AAPDnews continues to update you on important milestones in the presidential 2008 election process. AAPD is nonpartisan resource for intelligence on each presidential candidate’s support of issues impacting the disability community. To find out more about where candidates stand on disability issues, please visit the 2008 Presidential Election Action Center at www.aapd.com. Debates September 26, 2008 First of three presidential debates sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates, at the University of Mississippi. Focuses on domestic policy. October 2, 2008 Vice presidential debate sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates, at Washington University, St. Louis. October 7, 2008 Second of three presidential debates sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates, at Belmont University, Nashville. Town Hall format. October 15, 2008 Third of three presidential debates sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates, at Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY. Focuses on foreign policy.
ELECTION DAY November 4, 2008 For the most up-to-date information or for details on events, visit the following websites: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_2008_timeline • www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/calendar 2008 national Election voter registration Deadlines by state State In person registration deadline Alabama October 25 Alaska October 3 Arizona October 4 Arkansas October 3 California October 20 Colorado October 4 Connecticut November 3 Delaware October 15 District of Columbia October 3 Florida October 4
Mail registration deadline October 25 October 3 October 4 October 3 October 20 October 4 November 3 October 15 October 3 October 4
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Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
October 6 October 3 October 10 October 7 October 4 October 25 - 5 p.m. October 20 October 4 October 3 No deadline October 14 - 9 p.m. October 15 October 3 at polling place on election day October 3 October 8 - 6 p.m. October 3 October 24 - 6 p.m. October 4 - 9 p.m. at polling place on election day October 14 October 7 October 10 October 10 No Registration October 3 October 10 October 14 October 3 October 3 October 3 October 20 October 3 October 3 October 20 October 29 - 5 p.m. October 4 October 20 October 15 at polling place on election day at polling place on election day
October 6 October 3 October 10 October 7 October 4 October 25 October 20 October 4 October 3 No deadline October 14 October 15 October 3 October 15 October 3 October 8 October 3 October 17 (postmark) October 4 October 25 (for absentee voter mail-in registration) October 14 October 7 October 10 October 10 No Registration October 3 October 10 October 14 October 3 October 3 October 3 October 20 October 3 October 3 October 3 October 29 October 4 October 3 October 15 October 15 absentee balloting only by mail
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Make a Difference in This Election! Here’s a handy checklist of things you can do to have the greatest impact on the upcoming election. You can find more information by visiting the Disability Vote Project section of the AAPD website at www.aapd.com. Register to vote The time to register is now! Also, encourage everyone you know to register if they have not already done so. To register, contact your local or state board of elections; state deadlines are listed above. In addition, the League of Women Voters website has an online registration tool and other helpful information. Go to www.lwv.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Register_To_Vote. Voting absentee? Make sure you are on the list! Studies show that 40 percent of people with disabilities vote by absentee ballot. If you choose this option, be certain you know the process of how to vote absentee in your state and that you are on the list. Contact your local election officials for information and deadlines for absentee voting in your area. Volunteer for the local candidate(s) of your choice State and local politicians help make many decisions that affect your everyday life. Most essential services are administered at the state and local government levels. Candidates listen to what voters say, and also pay attention to the opinions of supporters and helpers around them. Finding local candidates who best represent your interests and helping them get elected is a powerful way to help protect your rights. Participate in a ―get out the vote‖ phone bank You are strongly encouraged to go to an agency or organization with which you have a relationship and ask it to sponsor a nonpartisan ―get out the vote‖ effort and offer to be a volunteer. You can find an online manual with information and tips about this at www.aapd.com/dvpmain/getoutvote/phonecamp2.html. Volunteer to be a poll worker There is always a need for dedicated poll workers during elections. Contact your local board of elections for information. If you are receiving Social Security disability benefits, you may also qualify to be paid a stipend for the hours you work – you are not required to report the stipend to Social Security. VOTE! Whether absentee or in person, the most powerful thing you can do is to make your presence and your opinion known by casting your vote in national, state and local elections!
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Ask the Experts: The Place for Answers Disability Disclosure and the Job Interview Joyce A. Bender is CEO and Founder of Bender Consulting Services, Inc., a firm that provides consulting services to its customers and competitive employment opportunities for people with disabilities who are trained in information technology, engineering, finance/accounting, human resources, and general business. Bender also serves on the AAPD board of directors as its treasurer. The opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the official positions of AAPD. Q: When I go in for an interview, should I disclose my disability right away? A: Absolutely not. Why would you? You’re going on the job interview to be hired for your skills. After you have an offer letter or have been employed, it’s your choice to talk about it or not. Now, many that have a visible disability feel the need to talk about it and get it over with so the person will focus on them. I am not opposed to that, but again, I still feel that when a person goes on an interview it should be primarily about the job they are interviewing for and their ability to do it. Should you feel the need to talk about your cultural background? Of course not. Another reason to stay focused is because you usually do not get a lot of time for an interview. If you spend 15 minutes of a 30 minute interview talking about why you have a specific disability, how does that give you an advantage over a person that spends the entire interview talking about their academic background, their skills, and how well they are going to do this job? Q: I am just finishing school and need to share my volunteer experience, special training and other resume items for my background that would clearly identify I have a disability. If I follow your advice on disclosure in interviews, how should I handle this? A: The resume should be just like anyone else’s resume. You shouldn’t be ashamed or try to hide anything. I’m just saying that in an interview you should focus on the job and not on your disability. If you do volunteer or advocacy work in the community, have earned awards or other recognition, or anything else that helps build a positive profile, I would absolutely put that in the resume. Q: What is the most important thing I should know about interviewing for a job? A: When you go on an interview, the number one key is preparation. What does this company do? One of the most commonly posed questions job interviewers ask today is ―What do you know about this company?‖ The reason is they want to see if you are the type of person who takes initiative and prepares. You can usually find company
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information by going to their website or by doing a Google search. Another aspect of preparation is to make sure you know the name of the person you are interviewing with and have a cell phone number in case there would be a problem. You should also make sure you not only have the address, but also know parking information and which building or floor you are going to, and if it is accessible. People have been late for interviews because they did not ask for these basic details. Being prepared also means having your resume and your references with you, even though they were submitted earlier electronically. Also know how long it will take to get there and plan to be there at least ten minutes ahead of time. If you have other questions, email them to me at info@benderconsult.com.
Potential Number of Eligible Voters with Disabilities William Erickson Cornell University Employment and Disability Institute What potential impact might 36.2 million people with disabilities have in the upcoming elections? By analyzing the Census Bureau’s 2006 American Community Survey (ACS) it is possible for us to approximate the number of eligible voters with disabilities in the U.S. First we must understand voter eligibility requirements. According to the Federal Election Commission, eligible voters are required to satisfy several criteria, including that they must be citizens of the U.S. at least 18 years old at the time of the next election, and also be residents of the state in which they are planning to register. Many states also require that eligible voters cannot be imprisoned or on parole for the conviction or a felony or be currently judged mentally incompetent by a court of law. Individual states may have legislation further restricting the set of potential voters. We find that 18 percent of non-institutionalized U.S. citizens ages 18 years or older have a disability. This population accounts for 36.2 million of the 202.5 million people who may meet eligibility requirements to vote in the upcoming U.S. election. The percent with a disability varies by state, ranging from 14 percent in Minnesota to 26 percent in West Virginia. The estimate is based on the population of non-institutionalized U.S. citizens, ages 18 years old or older. In order to best reflect the above eligibility requirements we excluded the institutionalized population. While this excludes prisoners from our estimates, it also removes persons residing in other institutions who may be eligible to vote. We also assume that a person is a resident of the state in which they completed the ACS survey. For further information on the ACS survey, see www.census.gov/acs.
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The Cornell University Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Demographics and Statistics is funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). It is a collaborative effort between Cornell University, AAPD, and other leading research organizations performing research regarding people with disabilities. Find out more at www.DisabilityStatistics.org.
AAPD Contributes Technology Expertise at African U.N. Convention Event Addis Ababa, Ethiopia was the site of a critical step forward for people with disabilities in Africa as more than 500 individual participants from more than 50 countries converged in May for a conference organized by the U.N. Economic Commission for Africa and Leonard Cheshire Disability, a U.K. disability services provider. The ―U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: a Call for Action on Poverty, Lack of Access and Discrimination‖ conference supported various African governments’ efforts to ratify the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and sought to encourage meaningful implementation. AAPD Sr. Director for Telecommunications and Technology Policy Jenifer Simpson spoke on ―Reducing the Digital Divide and the Role of Inclusive Communications‖ at the conference. Topics in her presentation included video description used by blind persons, and video relay service used by Deaf and other persons with disabilities, which were unfamiliar means of accessibility to many African disability delegates. The event provided a platform for debate on policies, barriers to inclusion, best practices and the formulation of concrete strategies for the implementation of the UNCRPD. For more information, contact Jenifer Simpson at aapdjenifer@aol.com.
AAPD Adds Communications Manager to Staff Rebecca Panoff joined the staff of AAPD as Communications Manager in June 2008.In her new position, Panoff is working to increase AAPD’s media presence and continue to build and expand AAPD’s reputation as the ―go-to‖ organization for information about the disability community. She also plans to make AAPD’s website more engaging and interactive by utilizing video, and frequently updating content. Panoff, a graduate of the University of Central Florida in Orlando, brings a unique ―inside‖ perspective to AAPD, having worked most recently as a reporter at Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers where she was a member of the newspaper’s breaking news team. Working in a fast-paced environment, she posted real-time breaking news to the newspaper’s website while utilizing video and audio, and also covered county government and education prior to becoming a member of the breaking news team. Panoff can be reached at (202) 508-3783 or by email at aapdrebecca@earthlink.net.
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GettingHired.com is a robust new web community designed to connect people with disabilities with each other and employers committed to hiring them. Fully 508 accessible, GettingHired.com identifies the skills, talents and backgrounds of job seekers and links them with companies that are actively seeking employees from America’s most under-utilized labor pool. It also provides an interactive social networking platform that offers community, support, tools and mentoring for job seekers with disabilities.
Educate Yourself and Vote on November 4! Where do the presidential candidates stand on the issues that most impact people with disabilities? Visit the AAPD Presidential Election Action Center to find helpful links and information. www.aapd.com Justice for All Email Listserv It’s easy to subscribe. Visit www.aapd.com/JFA/index.php and enter your email address in the ―Sign up for JFA Email‖ box.
AAPD Member Services 18 Harvard Drive Milford, MA 01757-1208 To request an alternate format, call Member Services:(866) 241-3200 (toll-free V/TTY) If you are not receiving all of your issues of AAPDnews, please contact your post office or make sure AAPD has your most current mailing address.
AAPDnews Editor: Del Moon aapdeditor@gmail.com AAPD Website: www.aapd.com
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