Deal reached to help New York's people with disAbilities in disasters

By LARRY NEUMEISTER
Associated Press | Oct 01, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) - Advocates and city officials on Wednesday said they've struck a deal to protect nearly 900,000 residents with disabilities during disasters.

The deal resulted from a federal class action lawsuit brought in 2011, a year before Superstorm Sandy left many disabled residents stranded in high-rise buildings and other areas, unsure where to turn for help. It calls for disaster centers to be upgraded to accommodate 120,000 disabled people by September 2017, with improvements to accommodate from 10,000 to 17,000 people by the middle of this month, advocates said.

"We think this is really significant," said Christine Chuang, senior staff attorney at Disability Rights Advocates, a nonprofit law firm that pursues litigation to help the disabled in a city with the most high-rise buildings in America.

She said the dramatic increase in available shelter space and improved communications would make the city better equipped to care for those with special needs during emergencies than any other U.S. city.

Among improvements, the plan calls for the city by August 2017 to have in place a canvassing operation in which people will go door to door after a disaster to assess the needs of the disabled, including their access to food, water, electricity, medical care and medical equipment.

The city's top attorney, Zachary Carter, said in a statement he was "extremely pleased." He said the deal will put "our city at the forefront of emergency preparedness nationwide in assuring that individuals with disabilities will have meaningful access to essential services during emergencies."

Victor Calise, commissioner of Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio's Office for People with Disabilities, said the city hoped to be "the leader in providing equal access to emergency services for every individual regardless of their ability."

The lawsuit that spurred the deal was filed by two nonprofit groups - the Center for the Independence of the Disabled and the Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled - and two disabled people.

Last year, U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman, who must approve the agreement, ruled the city of about 8.5 million residents had violated the Americans with Disabilities Act and the New York City Human Rights Law by failing to ensure people with disabilities can evacuate before or during an emergency.

"Hurricane Sandy dramatically demonstrated the consequences of this failure," the judge said. "Plaintiffs provided substantial evidence that people with disabilities ... remained trapped in high-rise buildings for days after the storm."

The judge said there was no evidence the city intentionally discriminated against people with disabilities. But he said laws "seek to prevent not only intentional discrimination against people with disabilities, but also - indeed, primarily - discrimination that results from 'benign neglect.'"

He questioned the city's planning priorities, noting that the special needs coordinator within the city's Office of Emergency Management has no staff.

The deal calls for the city to hire a disability and access and functional needs coordinator to ensure emergency plans adequately accommodate people with disabilities. A special task force will create and implement a high-rise evacuation plan by September 2018.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Presidential Proclamation National Disability Employment Awareness Month as October

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

Press Release | Sept 30th, 2014

NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH, 2014
 
- - - - - - -
 
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
 
A PROCLAMATION

This year's theme, "Expect. Employ. Empower.," reminds us that every American has a right to dignity, respect, and a fair shot at success in the workplace.  For too long, workers with disabilities were measured by what people thought they could not do, depriving our Nation and economy of the full talents and contributions of millions of Americans.  Nearly 25 years ago, the Americans with Disabilities Act codified the promise of an equal opportunity for everyone who worked hard, and in the years since, Americans with disabilities have reached extraordinary heights.  But when employees with disabilities are passed over in the workplace or denied fair accommodations, it limits their potential and threatens our democracy; when disproportionate numbers of Americans with disabilities remain unemployed, more work must be done to achieve the spirit of what is one of the most comprehensive civil rights bills in the history of our country.

My Administration remains committed to tearing down the barriers that prevent Americans with disabilities from living fully independent, integrated lives.  We have supported programs that more effectively prepare workers, including those with disabilities, for high-growth, high-demand careers, and we have found new ways to encourage businesses to foster flexible workplaces that are open to diverse skills.  We are also working to ensure those living with disabilities have access to the resources that support employment, including accessible housing, transportation, and technology.

Meaningful careers not only provide ladders of opportunity into the middle class, but they also give us a sense of purpose and self-worth.  When Americans with disabilities live without the fear of discrimination, they are free to make of their
lives what they will.  This month, we renew our commitment to cultivate a more inclusive workforce, and we continue our efforts to build a society where everyone who works hard has a chance to get ahead.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2014 as National Disability Employment Awareness Month.  I urge all Americans to embrace the talents and skills that individuals with disabilities bring to our workplaces and communities and to promote the right to equal employment opportunity for all people.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand fourteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-ninth.

BARACK OBAMA

ADA Settlement Agreements to Ensure Access to Small Businesses - five settlement agreements

The Justice Department announced (posted 9/30/14) five settlement agreements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to make small businesses in Upstate New York and Corpus Christi, Texas accessible to people with disabilities. The settlements by the Justice Department are with Hamilton Initiative, LLC; Glenwood Plaza, LLC; Subway of Cazenovia, LLC; Alliance NY, LLC; and Water Street Seafood Company. These businesses, including a strip mall and restaurants, were investigated as part of an effort to ensure that small businesses in the community are accessible to people with disabilities and was conducted in conjunction with Project Civic Access, the Department’s wide-ranging initiative to ensure that cities, towns and counties throughout the country comply with the Americans with the ADA. In each case, certain elements of the business were inaccessible to people with disabilities. All five businesses worked cooperatively with the Department after architectural barriers to access were identified at each. The businesses and Department agreed on barriers and timelines to remedy the barriers in compliance with the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design (2010 Standards). To find out more about these settlements or the ADA, call the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA information Line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TDD), or access its ADA website at www.ada.gov. ### The Americans with Disabilities Act, which is meant to prevent discrimination against people with disabilities. Some small-business owners say they’re getting hit with an unfair share of ADA-related customer lawsuits. YouTube published by Sequence Media Group

2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health overview

as posted by U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services ·

There are 24.6 million people aged 12 or older who used illicit drugs in the past month. That's enough people to fill every major league baseball stadium in the US 19 times. Learn more about the overview of findings from the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Healthby SAMHSA.

Emergency Management and Preparedness - Including People With Disabilities | Webinar Oct 9th

as shared by the Pacific ADA Center

Announcing A New Webinar Series: Emergency Management and Preparedness - Including People With Disabilities Produced by the Pacific ADA Center of the ADA National Network in conjunction with FEMA - ODIC The Office of Disability Integration & Coordination (ODIC) at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) National Network, led by the Pacific ADA Center, have joined forces to offer monthly webinars. When: Beginning October 9, 2014, the webinars will share issues and promising practices in emergency management and preparedness inclusive of people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs. Who should attend: The webinars will provide an exciting opportunity for emergency managers, people with disabilities, first responders, planners, community organizations, and other community partners to exchange knowledge and information on promising practices in inclusive emergency preparedness for the whole community. What will be covered: Topics will relate to emergency preparedness and disaster response, recovery and mitigation as well as accessibility and reasonable accommodation issues under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and other relevant laws. Six of the webinars will be “FEMA Promising Practices” and the other six will be “ADA National Network Learning Sessions.” The FIRST webinar of the series is: ADA National Network Learning Session: Effective Communications for Deaf and Hard of Hearing October 9, 2014 Time: 2:30pm ET/1:30pm CT/12:30 pm MT/11:30am PT/8:30am Hawaii In an emergency, communication is crucial to the safety of all citizens. What happens to persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf blind during an emergency? This session will explore how the effective communication provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act apply in emergency situations. What happens when interpreters aren't available? What technologies are important to incorporate during the notification, sheltering, evacuation and recovery stages? Implementation and culturally affirmative communication strategies will also be discussed. Presenter: Candice Alder Outreach Consultant for the Colorado Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (CCDHH) will offer best practice solutions and compliance strategies that provide greater access for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing. In addition to providing training seminars on the ADA, Candice has worked in conjunction with several state, county and city government agencies on providing greater communication access through outreach, consultation and technical assistance efforts. She also provided trainings to deaf and hard of hearing communities on their rights - while educating businesses and government agencies on their responsibilities under the ADA since 2002 as an ADA expert and trainer. She interned at the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind (CSDB). Registration: Free on-line at http://www.adapresentations.org/registration.php These 90 minute webinars are delivered using the Blackboard Collaborate webinar platform and all sessions will be fully accessible and real time captioned for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. To view all of the sessions for the coming year, or to see previous sessions, go to http://www.adapresentations.org/schedule.php

Copyright © 2014 Pacific ADA Center, All rights reserved. 1-800-949-4232 http://www.adapacific.org ### RELATED POST:  Deaf and Hearing-Impaired Patients Require Special Consideration During a Disaster

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month

as shared by Disability.gov

Held each October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) is a campaign to raise awareness about disability employment issues. NDEAM celebrates the many and varied contributions of workers with disabilities across America. This year’s theme is "Expect. Employ. Empower." Read the Presidential Proclamation--National Disability Employment Awareness Month, 2014, and be sure to check out today’s blog post, “Building Inclusion,” by Kathy Martinez, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy.

Do you have questions about how to get help with your job search, accommodations on the job, employment programs for Veterans with disabilities, or where to find vocational rehabilitation services near you? Read Disability.gov’s Guide to Employment for answers to these and many other important employment-related questions.

Expect. Employ. Empower. What can YOU do?

World Cerebral Palsy Day! October 1st

wanted to share and help in celebrating and awareness for...

World Cerebral Palsy Day! 

Change My World in 1 minute - World Cerebral Palsy Day!

There's no one better than you to change the world, for people with cerebral palsy (CP). You know what you need to make your world better. So tell us - tell the whole world!

Visit the WorldCPday.com website from Tuesday 22 July to Friday October 31 2014 and post your idea to change the world for people with cerebral palsy. The idea can be in text or video and take just 1 minute to read or view.

Share your idea with friends and encourage them to vote throughout the month of October. The idea with the most votes will win a $US 500 People's Choice Award.

At the end of the campaign, we'll shortlist 3 ideas and ask social activists, researchers, inventors and innovators to create prototypes to make the ideas come to life!

So make the world a better place, if not for yourself, for others. It only takes 1 minute.

Disability History & Awareness Month is October for Illinois 'State Board of Education'

below is the Illinois State Legislation explaining the purpose of  Disability History & Awareness Month

Public Act 096-0191

HB1035 Enrolled LRB096 09146 NHT 19295 b

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,

represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Sections

2-3.148 and 27-23.8 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/2-3.148 new)

Sec. 2-3.148. Disability history and awareness campaign.

The State Board of Education shall promote an annual campaign

about disability history and awareness in this State. The

campaign shall be designed to increase public awareness and

respect for people with disabilities who comprise a substantial

percentage of this State's population, teach future

generations that people with disabilities have a rich history

and have made valuable contributions throughout this State and

the United States, and teach future generations that disability

is a natural part of life and that people with disabilities

have a right to be treated with civil, legal, and human rights

and as full human beings above all else.

(105 ILCS 5/27-23.8 new)

Sec. 27-23.8. Disability history and awareness.

(a) A school district shall provide instruction on

disability history, people with disabilities, and the

disability rights movement. Instruction may be included in

those courses that the school district chooses. This

instruction must be founded on the principle that all students,

including students with disabilities, have the right to

exercise self-determination. When possible, individuals with

disabilities should be incorporated into the development and

delivery of this instruction. This instruction may be

supplemented by knowledgeable guest speakers from the

disability community. A school board may collaborate with

community-based organizations, such as centers for independent

living, parent training and information centers, and other

consumer-driven groups, and disability membership

organizations in creating this instruction.

(b) The State Board of Education may prepare and make

available to all school boards resource materials that may be

used as guidelines for the development of instruction for

disability history and awareness under this Section.

(c) Each school board shall determine the minimum amount of

instructional time required under this Section.

(d) The regional superintendent of schools shall monitor a

school district's compliance with this Section's curricular

requirement during his or her annual compliance visit.

Section 10. The University of Illinois Act is amended by

adding Section 45 as follows:

(110 ILCS 305/45 new)

Sec. 45. Disability history and awareness. The University

may conduct and promote activities that provide education on,

awareness of, and an understanding of disability history,

people with disabilities, and the disability rights movement.

Section 15. The Southern Illinois University Management

Act is amended by adding Section 30 as follows:

(110 ILCS 520/30 new)

Sec. 30. Disability history and awareness. The University

may conduct and promote activities that provide education on,

awareness of, and an understanding of disability history,

people with disabilities, and the disability rights movement.

Section 20. The Chicago State University Law is amended by

adding Section 5-140 as follows:

(110 ILCS 660/5-140 new)

Sec. 5-140. Disability history and awareness. The

University may conduct and promote activities that provide

education on, awareness of, and an understanding of disability

history, people with disabilities, and the disability rights

movement.

Section 25. The Eastern Illinois University Law is amended

by adding Section 10-140 as follows:

(110 ILCS 665/10-140 new)

Sec. 10-140. Disability history and awareness. The

University may conduct and promote activities that provide

education on, awareness of, and an understanding of disability

history, people with disabilities, and the disability rights

movement.

Section 30. The Governors State University Law is amended

by adding Section 15-140 as follows:

(110 ILCS 670/15-140 new)

Sec. 15-140. Disability history and awareness. The

University may conduct and promote activities that provide

education on, awareness of, and an understanding of disability

history, people with disabilities, and the disability rights

movement.

Section 35. The Illinois State University Law is amended by

adding Section 20-145 as follows:

(110 ILCS 675/20-145 new)

Sec. 20-145. Disability history and awareness. The

University may conduct and promote activities that provide

education on, awareness of, and an understanding of disability

history, people with disabilities, and the disability rights

movement.

Section 40. The Northeastern Illinois University Law is

amended by adding Section 25-140 as follows:

(110 ILCS 680/25-140 new)

Sec. 25-140. Disability history and awareness. The

University may conduct and promote activities that provide

education on, awareness of, and an understanding of disability

history, people with disabilities, and the disability rights

movement.

Section 45. The Northern Illinois University Law is amended

by adding Section 30-150 as follows:

(110 ILCS 685/30-150 new)

Sec. 30-150. Disability history and awareness. The

University may conduct and promote activities that provide

education on, awareness of, and an understanding of disability

history, people with disabilities, and the disability rights

movement.

Section 50. The Western Illinois University Law is amended

by adding Section 35-145 as follows:

(110 ILCS 690/35-145 new)

Sec. 35-145. Disability history and awareness. The

University may conduct and promote activities that provide

education on, awareness of, and an understanding of disability

history, people with disabilities, and the disability rights

movement.

Effective Date: 1/1/2010 http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=096-0191

Chicago Live Theater - totally Accessible performance of the play 'Fail/Safe' Oct 4th

STRAWDOG THEATRE COMPANY AND VICTORY GARDENS’

ACCESS PROJECT ANNOUNCE A FULLY ACCESSIBLE PERFORMANCE OF FAIL/SAFE BASED ON THE NOVEL BY EUGENE BURDICK AND HARVEY WHEELER,OCTOBER 4 AT

VICTORY GARDENS BIOGRAPH THEATER

This Special One Night Only Presentation Includes Wheelchair Accessibility, Audio Description, Open Captioning and a Touch Tour of the Productions’ Elements

CHICAGO - Strawdog Theatre Company, Hugen Hall and Victory Gardens’ Access Project, announce a fully accessible performance of the world premiere of Strawdog Theatre’s Hugen Hall production of Eugene Burdick and Harvey Wheeler’s Fail/Safe, adapted for the stage by ensemble members Nikki Klix and Anderson Lawfer, Saturday, Oct. 4 at 8 p.m., direction by Anderson Lawfer, Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, in the Prince Charitable Trust Rehearsal Room, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. This performance will be fully wheelchair accessible. Audio description, open captioning and a touch tour of elements from the production will also be provided. Immediately following that night’s performance there will be a post show talk back with the playwright and director. This performance is $10 with reservations requested. Reservations may be made at boxoffice@strawdog.orgor 773.528.9696. The performance schedule for the production running through October 14 at Strawdog Theatre, 3829 N. Broadway St., is Sundays at 12 p.m. and Sundays-Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Single tickets are $15 and are currently on sale. Subscriptions, group, senior and student discounts are also available. Tickets may be ordered online atstrawdog.org or by calling OvationTix toll-free: 866.811.4111.

Critics and audiences alike have lauded this world premiere production. Fail/Safe is a political thriller where a system failure threatens to trigger World War III, adapted from the acclaimed 1964 film. As time runs out, the president of the United States and his advisors scramble to find a strategy that will save the planet from total annihilation.

“We’re excited to welcome Strawdog Theatre into our access programming here at Victory Gardens Theater. Through this collaboration with the Access Project, the disability community is not only able to experience the richness of another theater company committed to new plays, but are able to do so in our wheelchair accessible performance and rehearsal spaces,” said Victory Gardens Artistic Director Chay Yew.

The cast includes Strawdog ensemble members Carmine Grisoliaand Tom Hickey with guest artists Mark Pracht, Conor Burke, Stuart Ritter, Brian Amidei, Lee Russell, Joe Mack, Jim Heatherly, and Dave Skvarla.

The production team also includes Strawdog Company members Mike Mroch, set design; Jordan Kardasz, light designer; Heath Hays, sound designer; Kyle Hamman, projection design; with guest artists Elizabeth Lovelady, assistant director/dramaturg; Anthony DeMarco, stage manager; Rebecca Grossman, production manager and Delia Ridenour, costume design.

ABOUT FAIL/SAFE

Fail/Safe is the best selling novel from the team of Burdick and Wheeler originally published in 1962. The story was initially serialized in three installments in the SaturdayEvening Post on October 13, 20, and 27, during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The popular and critically acclaimed novel was adapted in a 1964 movie, directed by Sidney Lumet and starring Henry Fonda, Dan O’ Herlihy and Walter Matthau. In 2000, the novel was adapted for television and aired in black and white with an introduction by Walter Cronkite and starring George Clooney, Harvey Keitel, Richard Dreyfuss and Noah Wyle.

The book so closely resembled the 1958 novel Red Alert by Peter George, which was adapted by George and Stanley Kubrick into Dr. Strangelove, that George filed a lawsuit for copyright infringement. The case was settled out of court.

ABOUT Anderson Lawfer,Director/Co-adaptor

Anderson Lawfer is a Strawdog Company Member since 2003,recently directing

and adapting the world premiere of Pontypool, the world premiere of Kill Shakespeare,

and the adaptation of Ben Hecht’s 1,001 Afternoons In Chicago with Access

Contemporary Music. He is the host of Theatre Wars! and The Direct Off! at Strawdog

and the late night hit The Game Show Show...and Stuff! Lawfer is also the curator

of the Chicago theatre insider blog “Eric and Andy's Reviews You Can Iews" and host

of Chicago theatre podcast "Poison Boot."

ABOUT Nikki Klix, Co-adaptor

Nikki Klix is an actor and musician who attended College of DuPage as a Belushi Scholar. She has worked with Steppenwolf, Northlight, The Hypocrites, Oracle, and Strawdog where she is a new ensemble member and was last seen in the Hugen Hall production Pontypool. Klix is a singer, songwriter and violinist. This is her first work she has adapted for the stage.

ABOUT STRAWDOG THEATRE COMPANY

Since its founding in 1988, Strawdog Theatre Company has offered Chicagoland the premiere storefront theatre experience and garnered numerous Non-Equity Jeff Awards with its commitment to ensemble acting and an immersive design approach. The celebrated Company develops new work, re-imagines the classics, melds music with theatre, asks provocative questions and delivers their audience the unexpected.

ABOUT HUGEN HALL

Under Hugen Hall’s Artistic Director Anderson Lawfer, Hugen Hall has grown from a cabaret space and Chicago’s “Best Theater Bar” (Chicago Reader) to a fully functional performance and gallery space. Over the past two seasons of presenting productions, Lawfer has overseen, and often directed, various premieres and new productions varying from superheroes in conflict to zombie world domination to family fare with many of Chicago’s leading talents. In addition, Hugen Hall has also displayed artwork from David Csicsko and other Chicago artists that reflect the action onstage.

ABOUT ACCESS PROJECT

Now in its 24th year, the Access Project is a nationally recognized model outreach effort designed to involve people with disabilities in all aspects of theater, both on and off the stage. Through the Access Project, disabled artists are supported with Artists Development Workshops, Play Development Opportunities and Productions for and by the disabled. For patrons, the Victory Gardens Access Project provides accessible seating, assisted listening devices, audio description, touch tours, large print and braille programs, sign language interpreted performances and closed captioning. In 2008, Victory Gardens received the MetLife Foundation Award for Excellence and Innovation in Arts Access, and in 2009 the members of Deaf Illinois named Access Project the Most Accessible Theater. Throughout its history, the Access Project has supported the work of disabled artists such as Mike Ervin, Susan Nussbaum, Michael Patrick Thornton, Natural Gas Improv, and Small Fish Radio.

Strawdog Theatre Company, Hugen Hall and Victory Gardens’ Access Project, announce a fully accessible performance of the world premiere of Strawdog Theatre’s Hugen Hall production of Eugene Burdick and Harvey Wheeler’s Fail/Safe, adapted for the stage by ensemble members Nikki Klix and Anderson Lawfer, Wednesday, Oct. 4 at 8 p.m., direction by Anderson Lawfer, Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, in the Prince Charitable Trust

Rehearsal Room, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave.

This performance will be fully wheelchair accessible. Audio description, open captioning and a touch tour of elements from the production will also be provided.

Immediately following that night’s performance there will be a post show talk back with the playwright and director. This performance is $15 with reservations requested. Reservations may be made at boxoffice@strawdog.org or 773.528.9696. The performance schedule for the production running through October 14 at Strawdog Theatre, 3829 N. Broadway St., is Sundays at 12 p.m. and Sundays-Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Single tickets are $15 and are currently on sale. Subscriptions, group, senior and student discounts are also available. Tickets may be ordered online at strawdog.org or by calling OvationTix toll-free: 866.811.4111.

# # #

Strawdog Theatre Company is supported in part by The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the Alphawood Foundation, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, the Illinois Arts Council (a state agency) and the annual support of businesses and individuals.

Video shows Illinois GOP candidate for Governor Bruce Rauner opposing Medicaid expansion last year

The Chicago Sun-Times on Sept 30th released video footage of GOP Candidate for Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner, behind closed doors, telling a group of Tea Party supporters that. he would veto the Medicaid expansion in Illinois.

That means more than 468,000 people in Illinois could lose their health insurance if Rauner is elected Governor!

In an article the Sun-Times the article reported:
Rauner’s words mark the first time he has publicly staked out that position after sidestepping the question of a possible rollback of the state’s Medicaid expansion 

For the entire Chicago Sun-Times article: http://politics.suntimes.com/article/springfield/video-shows-rauner-opposing-medicaid-expansion-last-year/tue-09302014-839pm