OCTOBER 1, 1999........................................................................... NO. 158

TOPICS IN THIS ISSUE INCLUDE:

• PARENT LEADERS VISIT UZBEKISTAN
• NPND INCLUDED IN INTERNATIONAL EFFORT
• LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
• House and Senate Education Funding Plan for 2000
• District of Columbia Appropriations
• Work Incentives Improvement Act
• FOR YOUR INFORMATION
• IDEAS '99 Scheduled for October 13-14, 1999
• In Honor of Respected Disability Rights Advocate
• Deaf Expo '99

Parent Leaders Visit Uzbekistan

A year after their first trip, Patty Smith, NPND Executive Director, and Linda Shepard, NPND President, returned to Tashkent, Uzbekistan to work with the Kridi Club-a network of parents of disabled children-through a partnership grant provided by Counterpart International with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). A four-day seminar, intended to move the disability movement forward, included five important key points: education, civil rights, health, advocacy support, and parent-to-parent. To achieve each point, a three part plan was devised including: individual plans (IEP), small groups, and societal change. The parent leaders from Kridi were empowered to take this opportunity and apply the principles to fit the needs of their community. While there, Patty and Linda met with leaders from Save the Children, UNESCO, Counterpart, USAID, as well as the education community and non-government organizations. It was a fantastic experience! Coming home is always a time for gratitude...for all of the blessings that we have in the U.S.

NPND Included in International Effort

NPND is included with 40 other NGO's (non-government organizations) to be featured in NetAid. Created by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and Cisco Systems, NetAid is the biggest project in Internet history. It combines the power of the Internet with world-class artists in three overlapping concerts in Geneva, London, and New York in an effort to raise global awareness of poverty. This is the first time that television, radio, and the Internet will be integrated on a global scale for social change - gathered together on the most powerful website ever created.

The UNDP-Cisco initiative website, www.netaid.org, was launched on September 8th. On October 9th, musical stars including Counting Crows, Celine Dion, the Eurythmics, Bono, and George Michael will join in the effort to raise awareness of abject poverty. This momentous musical event will be simultaneously broadcast and netcast from three different sites: Giants Stadium, New York; Wembley Stadium in London; and the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The website will create opportunities for people to learn, contribute time and money, exchange ideas and join with those leading the fight against extreme poverty. Check it out!!!

Legislative Update

• House and Senate Education Funding Plan for 2000 The House and Senate both offered Education Funding Plans for Fiscal Year 2000, which begins Friday, October 1st. Under the Special Education line, the House added $500 million new dollars to the State Grant program. Other areas were level funded. The Senate line for Special Education added $911.5 million new dollars. It is not clear if all of this increase was in the State Grant Program or across the other programs. To have a copy of the House plan faxed to you, contact the NPND office at 202-463-2299.
• District of Columbia Appropriations On Wednesday, the President vetoed the District's Appropriations Bill. It was stated that he objected to some of the riders added to the bill. One of the riders was a cap on Special Education legal fees. Contact the President and ask him to keep the Special Education rider out of the District's Appropriations Bill. White House: 202-456-1414 or president@whitehouse.gov.
• Work Incentives Improvement Act With over 240 cosponsors in the House, WIIA has not been brought to the Floor for a vote. Contact Speaker of the House Hastert and ask him to bring H.R. 1180 to the House Floor for a vote. Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121 or www.house.gov

For Your Information

• * IDEAS '99 Scheduled for October 13-14, 1999 The second annual Interagency Disability Educational Awareness Showcase (IDEAS) will be hosted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) on October 13th and 14th from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. This National Disability Employment Awareness Month event will take place at the DHHS Hubert Humphrey Building's Great Hall, 200 Independence Avenue, SW (3rd Street and Independence Avenue, SW), Washington, DC (Federal Center SW Stop on the Blue and Orange Metro Lines).

For more information, contact Marcie Goldstein: 703-448-6155 or marcieg@cessi.net.

• In Honor of Respected Disability Rights Advocate Disability Rights Advocate Eric C. Savader died of cancer in 1997, but his spirit and legacy soars with the recent establishment of The Eric Fund, a Washington, DC-based non-profit organization dedicated to assisting local children and adults with disabilities to live more independent, productive lives by purchasing expensive assistive technology not covered by insurance or other funding. The Fund's first recipient is 12-year-old Ryan Crum of Laurel, Maryland. He was awarded a $6,500 voice-output device that will act as a computer-activated speaking voice to help the youngster in the critical transition to his neighborhood middle school this year.

For information, as well as how to apply for a 2000 Eric Fund Grant, contact The Eric Fund at www.ericfund.org; ericfund@aol.com; or call 202-328-7659.

• Deaf Expo '99 The world's largest consumer trade show targeted at the Deaf and hard of hearing market, will take place in San Diego, CA on November 19-21, 1999. KALEIDOSCOPE, the first and only national digital TV channel that is fully accessible to viewers who are Deaf and hard of hearing, will host "Deaf Nostalgia" on November 20th.

Access www.DEAFEXPO.org for full show information, exhibitor and ticket ordering options, or call the Deaf Expo '99 Info Request TTY line at 1-877-332-3397 (Voice Relay 1-888-877-5379) or DEAFEXPO@aol.com.