FEBRUARY 27, 1998 .............................................................NUMBER 81
TOPICS IN THIS ISSUE INCLUDE:
Springtime is just around the corner
MICASA NEWS
The Subcommittee on Health and Environment of the House Commerce Committee has scheduled the much anticipated hearing on H.R. 2020, MiCASA for Thursday, March 12, 1998.
MiCASA is the vehicle that is moving through the House that supports values and principles of personal attendant services and choice. Feingold, on the other hand, is a similar vehicle on the Senate side. It's not about one vs. the other, it's more about keeping these vehicles up and running through the legislative process, while simultaneously tinkering with each of them to make them a bit better.
It is imperative that supporters of personal attendant services and choice fill the room on March 12 which is expected to be somewhere in the Rayburn Bldg. (Friday Fax will keep you posted.)
SHOW YOUR POWER
Many people with disabilities have both disposable and discretionary incomes available to purchase products and services. To ensure corporate America recognizes the economic power of the disability community, the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), General Mills, Inc., and a major national retailer are sponsoring ADA Celebration Week: Show the Power! We need you to help mobilize the disability community to act and show the power from July 26 through August 1, 1998.
During the ADA Celebration Week, consumers entering this major national retail store will receive substantial discounts on General Mills products, such as Cheerios and various Betty Crocker products. General Mills will donate a percentage of sales received from this event to the AAPD. Please ensure Sunday, July 26, 1998 be the "show the power day" by kicking-off this event with a record number of shoppers in each of these retail stores across the country. If you are interested in participating and showing your power, please call 1 800 840-8844
MOTOR-VOTER VICTORY NDRR
Two weeks ago the House of Representatives voted to protect ballot access for minorities-including people with disabilities. We defeated what many saw as the "Voter Suppression Act" (HR 1428). Please visit the NPND website for more details
HOW-TO MANUAL
The National Lekotek Center, a nationally recognized leader in making play and recreation activities accessible for children with special needs, has developed Re-Creating Recreation for Inclusion, a how-to manual on achieving accessible recreational programming. Contact the National Lekotek Center for more information at: (847) 328-0001, fax (847) 328-5514. You may also visit their website: http://www.lekotek.org
DISABILITY RESOURCE PARENT CHAT
If you have access to the Internet, then on Thursday nights at 9PM EST chat at The Disability Resource on "Parent's Rights and Responsibilities" and "Changes in IDEA and how they affect you". Access: http://www.disabilityresource.com and click on the "Chat" link and sign in!
The host is Pat Linkhom: mother of two girls, Kimberly with autism and Krystal is blind. Pat is helping parents understand the system. She works as a liaison between parents and their school system. Pat's e-mail address is: mailto:parentmentor@jadeinc.com
FOURTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
Disabled, But Enabled and Empowered
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Building Common Ground for the Millennium 2000
Fostering the Inclusion of People with Disabilities
Sponsored by the Empire State College, State University of New York and being held March 19-22, 1998 in Rochester, New York. To obtain more information, access the conference web page:http://www.esc.edu/disabledor call: (716) 244-3884, ext 113; (716) 271-3011, leave a message 24 hours a day; fax: (716) 473-1949; E-Mail: mailto:Disabled@sescva.esc.edu.
SPEAK UP ON ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
Assistive technologies - including computers and the internet - can be incredibly empowering tools for people with disabilities. The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NDRR) will be conducting a series of nationwide public hearings on future initiatives in Assistive Technology.
Representatives from the US Dept of Ed, including the Director of NDRR, will be present to listen to testimony from witnesses on the increasingly important role assistive technology will play in the next century to help individuals with disabilities and the elderly live and work more independently. The purpose of these hearings is to help formulate policy relating to assistive technology for persons with disabilities.
The next public hearing (four are planned) is scheduled for March 4th in Seattle, WA. Please access the NPND website for more details, including a schedule of dates and locations.