Disability News and Events: National and Around the World - 2016 Archives
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For the Most Recent News Disability News and Events National and Around the World
December 3rd 2016 - United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD)
Did you know that the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) has been celebrated annually on the 3rd of December around the world since 1992. This year�s objective is �Achieving 17 Goals for the Future We Want�. This theme notes the recent adoption of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the role of these goals in building a more inclusive and equitable world for persons with disabilities.
December 13, 2016 --- 10th Anniversary of the United Nations adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. (U.S. Congress, yet to ratify)
This is the 10th Anniversary of the U.N. adoption of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Over 100 countries have signed this Disabilities treaty. (Unfortunately the U.S. Congress has yet to ratify this Disabilities treaty, although it had non-partisan support in 2013 and 2015.) Continue to press your U.S. Congressman to take up and ratify this treaty and the right to serve, study, work and travel abroad.
There are 51 million Americans that would benefit from the U.S. taking leadership on this issue. Although ratifying would not change one thing in American law or add a penny to our budget, the treaty was not ratified by the U.S. Congress sending a disassociation message to Americans with disabilities. We salute John Kerry and the many members of Congress who agreed with him. For more of his inspiring message, visit People Making a Difference Secretary of State, John Kerry - Testimony Before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the Disabilities Treaty
- Ratification of the Disabilities Treaty would:
� Open the world for the millions of disabled Americans wanting to serve, study, work, and travel abroad
� Promote American businesses, and
� Reinforce American leadership on disabilities rights
For more information visit The Disability Treaty Opening the World for People with Disabilities.
November 2016 - National Family Caregiver Month!
We wish to recognize the extraordinary contributions of the countless family members who are caregivers for people with disabilities throughout the world. You are the unsung hero of your family and we thank you for your commitment and sacrifice! November 2016 - Presidential Proclamation: National Family Caregivers Month
If you have a story of caregiving, we would love to find out how you cope! Please send us YOUR story, whether you caregive a little or a lot; share your caregiving tip, complain to us or share a caregiver resource.
Be sure to check out our Guide for Caregivers of People with Disabilities which includes tips on How to Be a Caregiver, Training for Caregivers, How to Take Care of You the Caregiver, Help in Caregiving and much more!
#TalkBrainHealth Conversation Kit
Join the Alzheimer�s Foundation of America and the National Alliance for Caregiving for a month-long social media discussion for family caregivers on brain health and memory. If you�ve been noticing changes in an adult in your life, it may be time to talk about brain health. Perhaps the person you care for is having a hard time remembering things. They may act differently or struggle with everyday activities. Talking about brain health does not have to be scary. Use their guide, the #Talk Brain Health Tool Kit, or participate in their webinar, Webinar: Friday, December 9th at 3pm ET Register at: Talk Brin Health Webinar to learn about how to start a conversation with your loved one about these changes.
November 2016 - "Until every American with a disability... - President Obama
�Until every American with a disability can learn in their local public school in the manner best for them, until they can apply for a job without fear of discrimination, and live and work independently in their communities if that's what they choose, we've got more work to do. As long as we as a people still too easily succumb to casual discrimination or fear of the unfamiliar, we've still got more work to do.�" - President Barack Obama, July 26, 2010What are some of the most important protections and opportunities President Obama has accomplished for us as citizens with disability in this great country.
Visit this press release and youtube video at WhiteHouse: Issues: Disabilities - Link no longer available 01/03/2018
"The President is committed to nurturing a society that values the contributions of all of our citizens and residents, including the approximately 50 million people in this country living with disabilities .....Today, 19 percent of Americans (56.7 million people) live with disabilities. President Obama and his Administration are dedicated to ensuring that people with disabilities have the same access to the American Dream as every other citizen.
That's why his Administration has worked to toughen the protections against disability-based discrimination, increase accessibility in our communities, expand employment opportunities and increase financial independence for people with disabilities."
Have you had a chance to thank President Obama? - Do you have a story to tell President Obama, for protecting those with disability against discrimination and expanding opportunity for those with disabilities.
Write the President at Contact the WhiteHouse (No longer available at the WhiteHouse.
Advocacy Alert! November 2016: Get Out and Vote!
LIving in a democracy is a great privilege.
True independence can only be achieved in a democracy where you have choice.
Making a choice requires access to information.
Access to information is not possible without freedom of information.
Ultimately, our right to independence is only achievable
if we all make our voices heard
by exercising our right to VOTE!
Get Out and VOTE!
October 2016 - New Horizons Un-Limited Press Release - Supporting Personal Journeys Toward a Brighter Future
New Horizons Un-Limited is proud to work towards a future in which all the doors are open to equal opportunity, full participation, independence, inclusion and economic self-sufficiency for persons with disabilities, guaranteeing the same opportunities as everyone to participate in the mainstream of American life. NHU holds a spotlight on our efforts to open gateways to full participation and opportunity with two personal journeys from our programs. Learn what your contributions to NHU have meant to affect change toward a brighter future for each of these individuals, Emily and Charlotte. For more information on What YOU Can Do? as an Employer or as a potential Employee with a disability, visit our NHU Press Release: Commitment to Provide Opportunities for People with Disabilities to Participate in EmploymentClick here to view The Campaign for Disability Employment Web Site October 2016 - National Disability Employment Awareness Month
U.S. Department of Labor's, reflects on the important role disability plays in workforce diversity,
this year�s National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) theme is "#InclusionWorks."
Observed each October, NDEAM celebrates the contributions of workers with disabilities and educates about the value of a diverse workforce inclusive of their skills and talents.
To view more, visit the national campaign: What Can You Do? Campaign
2016 - Get the Facts about Zika, CDC has concluded Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause fetal brain defects
Zika and Pregnancy (Infographic) this infographic will launch in your pdf application. Protect yourself, your pregnancy, and your baby. CDC scientists announced that enough evidence has accumulated to conclude that Zika virus infection during pregnancy is a cause of microcephaly (a condition where a baby�s head is much smaller than expected) and other severe fetal brain defects. Find out more about the Zika virus from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Find out how the Zika virus spreads to humans, what the symptoms are for Zika Virus infections, what you want to do before pregnancy, what to do if you are pregnant, and mosquito bite prevention.2016 - September is National Preparedness Month
Are you prepared for emergencies? Have you done a safety assessment of your home? Do you have a plan for emergencies or an evacuation plan if necessary? People with disabilities are very vulnerable in an emergency. Check out our resources and guides on our NHU section on SafetySeptember - Did you miss the Paralympics? Catch all the great athletes on Yahoo!
If you missed the Paralympics 2016 in Rio this month, 176 countries' athletes participated in 23 sports, 528 events. Visit the following for the Schedule and Results Click on the event in the schedule and the link will take you to the results of each event that day, click on the event and it will take you to more information like the athletes with images about the final. Did you miss the games? Catch the athletes at the games or watch your favorite event again, visit this awesome video gallery of many of the events on Yahoo Paralympic Games 2016
No one has ever won both an Olympic and a Paralympic Medal according to the Guardian article, "Can disabled athletes outcompete ablebodied athletes?.
Algeria�s Abdellatif Baka won the men�s 1,500m T13 final at the Rio Paralympics and set a world record for the Paralympics, beating the time of the Olympic gold medalist Matthew Centrowitz�s run in August by 1.71 seconds. 3 others also beat Centrowitz's time in Parlympic final. All four men have a visual impairment and did not use any prosthetic or other device. Do not be surprised if we see more athletes with visual impairments competing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics!
August 31, 2016 - New Horizons Un-Limited Publishes New "Guide for Hiring Personal Care Assistants (PCA)"
New Horizons Un-Limited staff member has written a guide to provide information on How to Hire a Personal Care Assistant. This guide is intended for those who want to find and hire their own personal care assistants. There is a great benefit in being in control of who assists you with your personal care, and selecting someone that compliments your lifestyle. Also, see the blog article, How I Became a Boss (Like a Boss): Hiring My Own Personal Care Assistantswhich will encourage you to try the challenge of hiring your own PCA with tips on how to write an advertisement for PCA's.August 25-28 National Park Service 100th Anniversary - Free Days in the National Parks
The National Park Service turns 100 years old in 2016 and we want everyone to join the party! All National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone. Mark your calendar for these remaining entrance fee�free dates in 2016: August 25 through 28: National Park Service Birthday, September 24: National Public Lands Day, November 11: Veterans DayJuly through October 15th, 2016 - NHU's Annual Flower Bulb Sale is Underway!
Our organization needs your help. For every purchase made on our Flower Power fundraising site Flower Power Fundraising will give 50% back to New Horizons Un-Limited. Plant fall Flower Bulbs for spring and summer flowers to beautify your yard! Visit our 2016 NHU Flower Bulb Campaign at this link or type this address in your Internet browser's address box: No longer availablehttp://goo.gl/nwVKoXMay 25, 2016 - Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are!
Visit this Ted Talk by Amy Cuddy! Did you know that how you stand and sit and interact with others can impact how you feel about yourself? It's true! It's Science! This TED Talk discusses how your body language not only impacts others' perceptions of you, but also your own perception of you.Amy Cuddy survived a terrible car accident which eliminated 2/3 of her cognitive ability. She had to work very hard and it took her 8 years to finish a college degree, something the doctors would never have believed could happen. She learned a great deal on how to gain self esteem and confidence. Her study is in body language and how you can increase your confidence, assertiveness by expanding your body, arms and legs rather than folding in on oneself. In studies this exercise actually raised testosterone and lowered cortisol. Want to feel more confident? Practice Power Posing and then "Not only fake it 'til you make it, fake it 'til you become it." This talk is worth your 20 minutes!
2016 Student Scholarships available - NBCUniversal Tony Coelho Media Scholarship
hanks to a generous contribution from NBCUniversal, the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is proud offer eight (8) NBCUniversal Tony Coelho Media Scholarships in 2016. The NBCUniversal Tony Coelho Media Scholarship is available to 2nd year associate students; undergraduate sophomores, juniors, and seniors; and graduate students with disabilities with an interest in the entertainment, media, or communications industries. Each recipient will receive $5,625 to help cover the cost of education at their college or university. This scholarship has been named in honor of Tony Coelho, a former United States Representative from California and the primary author and sponsor of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). For more information please visit the AAPD website. Deadline July 1, 2016 - 5pm ETMay 3, 2016 - First 3D Printed Designed Wheelchair
See this article at De Zeen Magazine "Benjamin Hubert's Layer designs "world's first" 3-D printed consumer wheelchair" The chair is designed from the consumer's "made to measure seat and foot bay." Check it out!March 2016 - Federal panel decides not to endorse universal screening for Autism in young children who show no prior symptoms
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force decided it doesn't have enough research to endorse universal screening for Autism in young children who show no prior symptoms so it will be up to the physician to decide to include the screening in a child's wellness exam. American Academy of Pediatrics, recommends that kids undergo developmental screening at each well-child visit and all children be screened for autism at 18 and 24 months and that children benefit from early detection. Could this lead to parents and doctors missing signs, insurance companies dropping coverage of the screening, and children facing more difficult symptoms later in development?March 2016 - Robert DeNiro Pulls Film from Tribeca Film Festival
DeNiro had included the film as he has a child, who has Autism and he was hoping the film would generate conversation about the topic, but had to pull the film as there were certain things in the film that he didn't feel they could include in the festival. Controversy continues to plague the group trying to get heard that would like to see the pharmaceutical companies and doctors who administer vaccines to look at the possibility that some children are adversley affected. Whether it is the vaccine or the schedule of vaccinations, the inherent sensitivity of the child receiving the vaccine or other reasons, they feel the conversation at the least should be aired and considered to find a solution. The controversy comes from those who think the argument is about whether to be vaccinated and this is not what they are saying. They claim they are proponents of vaccinations.March 2016 - Thanks to everyone who participated in our 14th Annual NHU Benefit Raffle & Silent Auction
Our 2016 event was held at the US Bank Center, downtown Milwaukee, March 23 and 24th. Thanks to our Raffle and Silent Auction Donors and to you, our supporters, our NHU Benefit Spring fundraiser was a great success!
March 23-24, 2016 - 14th Annual NHU Benefit Raffle & Silent Auction
Learn More About Our 14th Annual Benefit Raffle and Silent AuctionTo purchase raffle tickets and contribute donations,
14th Annual Benefit Raffle and Silent Auction Ticket Order Form (Link no longer available 03/08/2018)
Grand Prize :
March 24, 2016
US Bank Center Galleria, Downtown Milwaukee
Need Not Be Present To Win
Raffle Tickets:
$2 each, 3 for $5, 7 for $10 or 20 for $20
Other prizes include restaurant certificates, hotel stays, festival and museum tickets, sporting event tickets and more. Our 2016 Raffle List is in development. Check back often as we update our complete list of prizes before the drawing.
March 2016 - Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program Mobile App Provides Assistive Technology Resources
The Department of Defense's Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP) has released a free app now available in the iTunes App Store and Google Play. The app provides information about the services and resources that CAP offers to federal employees and service members who need assistive technology and other accommodations to perform their jobs successfully. Features include news and tips on the latest assistive technology, the ability to download CAP event presentations and materials, videos to learn about assistive technology, easy ways to contact CAP, and more. For those who are not federal employees or service members, the CAP app is a valuable starting place to learn more about assistive technology for use on the job. � Learn about the CAP app
February 2016- The World Health Organization (WHO) 2015 Report on Disability and Health
Over a billion people, about 15% of the world's population, have some form of disability.Between 110 million and 190 million adults have significant difficulties in functioning.
Rates of disability are increasing due to population ageing and increases in chronic health conditions, among other causes.
People with disabilities have less access to health care services and therefore experience unmet health care needs.
Visit this report on WHO: Disability and Health which identifies the barriers to health care experienced by people with disabilities world wide and offers suggestions to address the barriers through policy and legislation, financing, services delivery, human resources, data and research.
January 2016 - The National Disability Institute offers free information about Tax Preparation Resources
Visit this website for Tax Preparation Resources including Frequently Asked Questions about Taxes and SSA Disability Benefit Programs and Seven Tax Tips for Disabled Taxpayers.January 15, 2016 - Applications for the 2016 AAPD Summer Internship Program are due this Friday, January 15th!
AAPD's Summer Internship Program places college students, graduate students, law students, and recent graduates with all types of disabilities in paid 10-week summer internships in Congressional offices, federal agencies, non-profits, and for-profit organizations in the Washington, DC area. Each intern is matched with a mentor who will assist them their career goals. AAPD provides the interns with a stipend, transportation to and from Washington, DC, and fully-accessible housing. for an 2016 Summer Internship Program Application, visit AAPD's Internship Program website.Please submit all documents to internship@aapd.com by Friday, January 15th at 5:00pm, Eastern Standard Time
January 11, 2016 - �Autism in Love� gives hopeful ideas for adults with ASD to follow their hearts
Directed by Matt Fuller. Autism in Love follows the story of four adults with autism spectrum disorders as they search for and manage romantic relationships. Film will air on PBS on Jan. 11 at 10 p.m. ET. The filmmakers have written the following about their movie "Unfortunately, when it comes to romantic relationships, people with autism have a distinct disadvantage. Being plagued by this developmental disorder jeopardizes the core characteristics of a relationship - communication and social interaction. Ostensibly it seems that some may never truly experience romantic love, or at least love by a typical definition. However, we know this to be false. We have innumerable instances of people with autism falling in love and having meaningful romantic relationships. AUTISM IN LOVE has captured those yet unexplored experiences. We've harnessed the power of cinema to reveal the truths of this otherwise marginalized community, and we're presenting a personal and critical perspective on the most important aspect of the human condition... love. Autism in Love People with Autism say if you have Autism and are looking for love you must make yourself socialize, and that interaction gets easier with practice. We hope this encourages you to follow your heart!January 10, 2016 - Wisconsin State Parks accept Accessible Cabin reservations
Wisconsin State Parks will begin accepting Accessible Cabin reservations on January 10, 2016 for the 2016 camping season. There are eight accessible cabins currently available in the Wisconsin State Park System. The cabins are available for use exclusively by people whose physical disability makes use of traditional camping facilities very difficult or unlikely.
Accessible modern cabins are available at Wisconsin's Harrington Beach, Kohler-Andrae, Mirror Lake, Buckhorn, High Cliff, and Potowatami state parks, Richard Bong State Recreation Area and Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit. Rustic accessible cabins are available at Copper Falls and Blue Mound state park. For more information visit: January 2016 - Wisconsin State Parks accept Accessible Cabin reservations
December 2015 - Let us introduce you to the San Bernardino Inland Regional Center and the people who did the good work of the center
We wish to honor the people who lost their lives or were injured at the San Bernardino Inland Regional Center. Let us introduce you to the largest Regional Center in California. In 1969, a group of parents concerned with overcrowded institutions and limited service options available for individuals with developmental disabilities sought to pass legislation to improve services. As a result, this California Regional Center was established in 1972 after the passage of the California Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act was drafted and passed, which provides the entitlement program in California for people with an intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, and other conditions that are similar to that of an intellectual disability. This act put in place a state-wide system of regional centers. The Inland Regional Center was the 13th of 21 regional centers to open its doors in contract with the California Department of Developmental Services and began accepting cases to provide the highest quality of comprehensive case management services to individuals with developmental disabilities. With 116 consumers, nine employees, and a budget of $199,000 in 1972, Inland Regional Center has grown to have nearly 600 employees serving more than 30,000 consumers today. Their mission is to provide "generic services to normalize the lives of people with developmental disabilities and their families by working to include them in the everyday routines and life rhythms of the community and by facilitating needed supports for them." Read the article about the caring individuals whose lives and work were cut short from this tragedy San Bernardino shooting: Who were the Victims? Link no longer available 03/08/2018. from WJAC TV.December 2015 - Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the shooting tragedy in San Bernardino this week
On Wednesday December 2nd, two people opened fire in San Bernardino, California on the Inland Regional Center, a social services center, killing 14 people and injurying more. We send our condolences to the many families affected by this loss and our best wishes for fast healing for the injured. As an organization for people with disabilities, our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by this shooting tragedy.
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