New National Project With Disabilities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


NEW NATIONAL PROJECT: FAMILIES WITH DISABILITIES ACROSS THE LIFESPAN

Research, training and resources concerning the 21 million U.S. families with disabilities

BERKELEY, CA -- December 6, 2011.  Through the Looking Glass and its National Center for Parents with Disabilities was awarded a five-year 2.5 million dollar federal grant to conduct research, training and provide consultations and materials regarding families in which an infant, child, parent or grandparent has a disability.   In the United States, it is estimated that 28.9% of families (20.9 million families) have at least one member with a disability:  3.9 % of families have at least one child with a disability and 6.1% of families with children have one or both parents with a disability.

This new national project titled "Families with Disabilities through the Life Cycle: Disability Culture Perspectives" is funded by the National Institute on Disability Rehabilitation and Research, U.S. Department of Education.  Over the next five years, project activities will focus on critical issues that impact families with disabilities across the lifespan: from those disabled and nondisabled parents who are at the initial stages of having an infant with a disability through children with disabilities growing up to parents and grandparents with disabilities.  In keeping with Through the Looking Glass' 30 years of groundbreaking research, training and clinical intervention work, project activities will address family members with diverse disabilities and draw from the experiences and perspectives of the Disability and Deaf communities.  Among the innovative activities planned are:

 *   Free consultations to parents, family members and professionals regarding families with disabilities across the lifespan.
 *   Research regarding national statistics, discriminatory practices and appropriate resources for families with disabilities.
 *   Training and resource materials for more than 2,000 Early Head Start programs and Independent Living Centers throughout the U.S. regarding parents with disabilities or deafness and their children.
 *   Legal research and consultations for parents with disabilities involved in custody situations.
 *   Scholarships for high school seniors and college students who have a parent with a disability
 *   Training and tools for occupational therapists to support parents with disabilities
 *   Expertise to inform federal and international policies regarding the rights of parents with disabilities.
 *   Research regarding innovative techniques to help parents with intellectual disabilities be more responsive to their babies.
 *   Online reviews of equipment and adaptations designed to help grandparents with disabilities care for their grandchildren.
 *   Trainings to professionals from Japan regarding services to infants and families with disabilities.

The project will be staffed by TLG's nationally recognized experts regarding families with disabilities, most of whom have personal or family experience with disability or deafness.

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION.  Through the Looking Glass (TLG) grew out of the independent living or civil rights movement for people with disabilities, and is the most experienced disability culture-based organization providing early intervention to enhance the potential of infants, children and families with disabilities. TLG has pioneered clinical and supportive services, training, consultation, resources, and research serving families with disability issues.  Since its founding as a non-profit organization in 1982, TLG has served culturally diverse families in which an infant, child, parent or parenting grandparent has a disability, developmental or medical issue.   Since 1993 TLG has been federally funded as the only national center for parents with disabilities and their children, providing technical assistance, publications and training to parents and professionals from all U.S. states and 50 countries.  In 2010 TLG was funded as a model Early Head Start program specializing in center and home-based services to families with disabilities.  TLG and its Early Head Start are part of the Ed Roberts Campus at the Ashby BART station in Berkeley, California, a "one-stop shop" multi-agency environment for individuals and families with disabilities-dedicated to disability rights and universal access.  More information about Through the Looking Glass is available at the organization's website, through a toll-free number, 800-644-2666, or by email at tlg@lookingglass.orgtlg@lookingglass.org>



People with Disabilities May be Left Out of History Books

An update from the Bay Area Reporter:

Disabled new targets of anti-gay initiatives

by Seth Hemmelgarn s.hemmelgarn@ebar.com

Anti-gay activists have added people with disabilities to their targets in the latest attempts to undo Senate Bill 48, also known as the Fair, Accurate, Inclusive, and Respectful Education Act.

SB 48 requires that students learn about the historical contributions of LGBT Americans and people with disabilities, among others.

In the coming months, Californians could face multiple bids to gut the state law, which was authored by gay state Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) and is set to go into effect January 1.

A proposed initiative reportedly filed with the state attorney general's office Tuesday, December 6, brings to five the total number of efforts to diminish SB 48's impact.

One of the most recent proposals, "Repeal SB48," filed by Richard Rios, chair of the Christian Coalition of California, strikes people with disabilities from the groups whose historical contributions have to be taught to students. In another part of his proposal, Pacific Islanders are removed from the law, among other changes. He previously submitted documents to exclude LGBTs.

Many feel excluding LGBTs and others from the law means children won't get an accurate picture of history.

Rick Jacobs, chair of the Courage Campaign, a nonprofit that's been part of a coalition supporting SB 48, said Rios "would like to have a law that tells the history of a country that never existed and certainly doesn't now."

It's not clear why Rios, who submitted his latest proposal to the attorney general's office November 21, wants to exclude people with disabilities. He didn't respond to interview requests for this story. When it came to excluding LGBTs, he previously expressed concern over parents' religious beliefs being contradicted.

Whatever his motivation this time, Lauren Steinberg, who has a physical disability and identifies as gay, said Rios's proposal angered her. Steinberg is the systems change advocate for the Berkeley-based Center for Independent Living, which provides support and other services for people with disabilities.

She said Rios's proposal "does students a huge disservice." A child may be the only person in their family, or in their school, who has a disability, she said. If such a student sees positive role models who have similar issues, it opens them up to what's possible in their own lives.

Steinberg pointed to the late Ed Roberts, who co-founded her agency, as an exemplary figure. She said he was denied admission to UC Berkeley because he was "too disabled," but fought back and eventually became director of the state's rehabilitation department. A state of the art campus for people with disabilities located across the street from the Ashby BART station is named after Roberts.

Rios had already submitted another proposal to strike LGBTs from SB 48. He's also filed an initiative proposal that would allow parents to opt their children out of school instruction in social science and family life that conflicts with their moral convictions. Parents can already opt their children out of health lessons.

Other submissions

On Tuesday, December 6, Karen England, executive director of the Capitol Resource Institute and its affiliated Capitol Resource Family Impact, said she and other anti-gay activists were submitting their own proposal for the November 2012 ballot.

In an email blast, England said her submission, filed by attorney Kevin Snider, assures that LGBTs aren't excluded from California curriculum. However, she noted that SB 48 prohibits lessons that reflect adversely on LGBTs. England wasn't available for a phone interview, but apparently, she and others don't want positive depictions of LGBTs.

Jack Hibbs, a sponsor of the proposal, said in England's email, "It is unacceptable to require that our schools shine a spotlight on this lifestyle on the one hand and then demand that history books and teachers censor shortcomings on the other."

England recently failed to put a referendum on the ballot next year that would have repealed SB 48. She claims that she came within a few thousand votes of getting the petition signatures she would have needed.

Like Rios, Lou Sheldon also wants to exclude people with disabilities from parts of the law. Sheldon is the chair of the Traditional Values Coalition. On November 22, he submitted "The Bipartisan Initiative to Restore Local School Board Control Act."

In the documents he submitted to the attorney general's office, Sheldon complains that SB 48 takes "from local school boards many important rights and powers essential to local governance and subjecting all California school children to massive new instructional standards."

A message left for Sheldon at Traditional Values Coalition's California headquarters wasn't returned.

Once the proposals by Rios and others enter circulation, they'll have about five months to gather 504,760 valid signatures to get their initiatives on next November's ballot.

Rios has refused to talk about specific fundraising plans, and it's not clear exactly how other anti-gay activists would get the money they need to undo SB 48. It would likely cost millions to hire signature gatherers for all of the proposals.

All of the proposals may be approved for title and summary, and it will be up to backers to decide which initiatives they want to circulate.

Quiet coalition

In contrast to the noises being made by anti-gay groups, the coalition working against SB 48 repeal has been fairly quiet lately.

Jacobs said the Courage Campaign is holding off on re-launching its hotline for reporting signature gatherers and taking other steps.

"We want to see where this goes," said Jacobs. "We want to watch and see what happens with any funding."

Equality California, the state's LGBT lobbying group and a coalition leader, co-sponsored the bill, but it's been mired in leadership and financial troubles. The last executive director quit after three months and it has lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in recent years.

In an email blast Tuesday, EQCA board Chair Clarissa Filgioun said that if "anti-equality advocates have their way, California schools will instead become a breeding ground for extremism. ... The effect on schools will be chilling and the impact on students – especially LGBT youth – could be devastating."

Carolyn Laub is the executive director of Gay Straight Alliance Network, the San Francisco-based nonprofit that, along with EQCA, co-sponsored SB 48.

Laub, who just returned to work from maternity leave, said her organization's still involved with the coalition.

However, she said, "We're a small organization and we don't have the capacity to run a political campaign." GSA Network has been working to ensure that schools implement the law, though.

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US Labor Department Improve Job Opportunities for Americans with Disabilities

An update from the United States Department of Labor:

OFCCP News Release: [12/08/2011]
Contact Name: Laura McGinnis or Mike Trupo
Phone Number: (202) 693-4653 or x6588
Release Number: 11-1614-NAT

US Labor Department seeks to improve job opportunities for Americans with disabilities by setting historic hiring goal for federal contractors and subcontractors

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor is proposing a new rule that would require federal contractors and subcontractors to set a hiring goal of having 7 percent of their workforces be people with disabilities, among other requirements. The department's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs invites public comment on this proposal, which will be published in the Dec. 9 edition of the Federal Register.

OFCCP's proposed rule would strengthen the affirmative action requirements established in Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 obligating federal contractors and subcontractors to ensure equal employment opportunities for qualified workers with disabilities. The proposed regulatory changes detail specific actions contractors must take in the areas of recruitment, training, record keeping and policy dissemination — similar to those that have long been required to promote workplace equality for women and minorities. In addition, the rule would clarify OFCCP's expectations for contractors by providing specific guidance on how to comply with the law.

"This proposed rule represents one of the most significant advances in protecting the civil rights of workers with disabilities since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "President Obama has demonstrated a commitment to people with disabilities. This proposed rule would help federal contractors better fulfill their legal responsibility to hire qualified workers with disabilities."

Although Section 503 regulations have been in place for decades, the current unemployment rate for people with disabilities is 13 percent, 1 1/2 times the rate of those without disabilities. Even more discouraging, data published last week by the department's Bureau of Labor Statistics show stark disparities facing working-age individuals with disabilities, with 79.2 percent outside the labor force altogether, compared to 30.5 percent of those without disabilities.

"For nearly 40 years, the rules have said that contractors simply need to make a 'good faith' effort to recruit and hire people with disabilities. Clearly, that's not working," said OFCCP Director Patricia A. Shiu. "Our proposal would define specific goals, require real accountability and provide the clearest possible guidance for employers seeking to comply with the law. What gets measured gets done. And we're in the business of getting things done."

Establishing a 7 percent hiring goal for the employment of individuals with disabilities would be a tool for contractors to measure the effectiveness of their affirmative action efforts and thereby inform their decision-making. The proposed rule also would enhance data collection and record-keeping requirements — including for documentation and processing of requests for reasonable accommodation — in order to improve accountability. Additionally, it would ensure annual self-reviews of employers' recruitment and outreach efforts, and add a new requirement for contractors to list job openings to increase their pools of qualified applicants.

To read the notice of proposed rulemaking or submit a comment, visit the federal e-rulemaking portal at http://www.regulations.gov. Comments also can be submitted by mail to Debra Carr, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, U.S. Department of Labor, Room C-3325, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20210. All comments must be received by Feb. 7, 2012, and should include identification number (RIN) 1250-AA02.

In addition to Section 503, OFCCP enforces Executive Order 11246 and the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974. As amended, these three laws require those who do business with the federal government, both contractors and subcontractors, to follow the fair and reasonable standard that they take affirmative action and not discriminate in employment on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, disability or status as a protected veteran. For general information, call OFCCP's toll-free helpline at 800-397-6251 or visit its website at http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/.

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Judge AuthorizesTemporary Stop to IHSS Cuts

An update from Disability Rights California:

Temporary Restraining Order granted to give judge time to consider issues regarding IHSS cuts

Disability Rights California has just been advised that a Temporary Restraining Order will be in place until a hearing in December can take place where the Federal Court can determine how to proceed. This TRO does not stop the cuts; it just stops the administration from issuing the Notices of Action right now announcing the IHSS cuts taking place on January 1.

Click here to read the Temporary Restraining Order halting the sending of notices suggesting reduction of authorized IHSS hours based on Senate Bill 73.

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Obama Administration Announces Additional $749 Million to Fund Housing

An update from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD):

FOR RELEASE
Wednesday
November 16, 2011

OBAMA ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES $749 MILLION TO FUND HOUSING FOR VERY LOW INCOME SENIORS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

WASHINGTON – Thousands more very low-income senior citizens and persons with disabilities will have access to affordable supportive housing thanks to $749 million in housing assistance announced today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These grants will help non-profit organizations produce accessible housing, offer rental assistance, and facilitate supportive services for the elderly and persons with disabilities.   

The grant funding awarded under HUD’s Sections 202 and 811 Supportive Housing programs will kick start construction or major rehabilitation on more than 189 housing developments in 42 different states and Puerto Rico.  When complete, more than 4,800 elderly households and persons with disabilities will be affordably housed with access to needed services. Read a detailed summary of each grant.

“The Obama Administration is committed to helping our senior citizens and persons with disabilities find an affordable place to live that is close to needed health care services and transportation,” said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan.  “Recent bipartisan changes to these two supportive housing programs will allow us to better serve some of our more vulnerable populations who would otherwise be struggling to find a safe and decent home of their own.”

Enacted early this year with strong bipartisan support, the Frank Melville Supportive Housing Investment Act and the Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Act provided needed enhancements and reforms to both programs.  Nonprofit grant recipients will now receive federal assistance that is better connected to state and local health care investments, allowing greater numbers of vulnerable elderly and disabled individuals to access the housing they need even more quickly.  

Section 202 Capital Advanceswill provide $545 million nationwide to 97 projects in 31 States and Puerto Rico.  In addition to funding the construction, acquisition, and rehabilitation of multifamily developments, HUD’s Section 202 program will also provide $54 million in rental assistance so that residents only pay 30 percent of their adjusted incomes.  Section 202 provides very low-income elderly persons 62 years of age or older with the opportunity to live independently in an environment that provides support services to meet their unique needs (see attached funding chart).

Section 811 Capital Advanceswill provide $137 million nationwide to assist very low-income persons with disabilities through 92 projects in 34 states.  An additional $12.6 million will be available for project rental assistance contracts (see attached funding chart).  Most of the housing supported through the Section 811 Program will be newly constructed, typically small apartment buildings, group homes for three to four persons, or condominium units that are integrated into the larger community.  Residents will pay 30 percent of their adjusted income for rent and the federal government will pay the rest.

HUD’s Section 811 program provides housing for households with one or more very low-income individuals with a disability.  Under this program at least one person must be 18 years or older and have a physical or developmental disability or chronic mental illness.  The program provides persons with disabilities the opportunity to live independently in their communities by increasing the supply of rental housing with the availability of supportive services.

HUD provides these funds to non-profit organizations in two forms:

• Capital Advances.  This is funding that covers the cost of developing, acquiring, or rehabilitating the development.  Repayment is not required as long as the housing remains available for occupancy by very low-income elderly persons for at least 40 years for (under Section 202) or very low-income persons with disabilities (under Section 811). 
• Project Rental Assistance Contracts.  This is funding that goes to each development to cover the difference between the residents’ contributions toward rent and the cost of operating the project. 

Residents must be “very low income” with household incomes less than 50 percent of their median for that area.  However, most households that receive Section 811 or Section 202 assistance earn less than 30 percent of the median for their area.  Generally, this means that a one-person household will have an annual income of about $13,500...more

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