Illinois Centers for Independent Living are being hit hard by the Illinois Budget Crisis

We received the following information from Access Living, Center for Independent Living (Chicago). CIL's are a forefront for services, referrals, support for people with disabilities, many of us have relied of services for ourselves, family members, friends.neighbors over the years. Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living (INCIL) have assisted us when we needed help, and support. Maybe take a few moments to return a little help and support.

Tell your Legislator to continue to support Independent Living!

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Dear Access Living friends and allies,

 

Like many other human services providers, the Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living (INCIL) is being hit hard by the Illinois budget crisis. As most of you know, Access Living is one of the 22 Centers for Independent Living (CILs) in Illinois. The CILs serve 95 of the 102 counties in Illinois. INCIL’s Executive Director, Ann Ford, shared the following, based on reports from 19 of the 22 CILs, which employ between 450-500 people:

• 39 CIL staff have been laid off state wide since July 1, 2015
• 93 CIL staff are working reduced hours because of furlough days, experiencing pay cuts ranging from 20% to 40%
• 21 vacant CIL positions remain unfilled throughout the state (delaying hires is one way to save money)
• Two CILs are in the process of closing satellite offices
• All CILs are restricting travel, including in some areas travel to consumers’ homes
• At least four CILs are developing contingency plans to close in the event funding doesn’t come within the next six months
• It is difficult to determine how many consumers have gone without services. A reasonable estimate would be 800 to 1,000 people statewide
• The impact includes the enormous emotional toll this issue is taking on staff at all CILs, as they take on increased workloads while losing a portion of their income. 

The CILs are doing the very best they can to continue to provide services to empower people with disabilities to live as independently as possible in the community. Quite often they are a real lifeline for many people with disabilities. During this difficult state budget crisis, know that your local CILs have been doing everything they can to show why their programs matter to the local community. The CILs are still waiting for just over $4 million in FY 16 budget money for CILs from the state of Illinois, as well as other funds specific to certain disability programs they run.

 

While Access Living has been holding on, we are very concerned about our fellow CILs at risk of closing. Please contact Ann Ford at annford@incil.org if you have questions about the network; you can also check www.incil.org to see what CILs serve your area. We also urge you to contact your Governor, state senators and representatives to urge them to work on a budget solution ASAP so that disability services are not further impacted.

The Winner of NPR "The 2016 Tiny Desk Contest" is Gaelynn Lea a classically trained fiddler, born with brittle bone disease

There were 6,100 entries in this year's Tiny Desk Contest, representing every state in the nation. We asked you to send us a video of an original song, behind a desk of your choosing. We didn't care much about the quality of the video or even the sound. We wanted something singular, a song and a sound that felt original and a performance that felt inspired. We at NPR Music watched all of those 6,100 entries and in the end our six judges — Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys and The Arcs, Holly Laessig and Jess Wolfe of Lucius, Son Little, Robin Hilton and I — found one artist so compelling we're thrilled about this announcement. Our winner is a haunting fiddler from Duluth, Minn. Her name is Gaelynn Lea.

wonderful article by Bob Boilen for NPR | March 4, 2016

Holly Laessig said it best: "Hers was the one melody that stayed with me throughout the process. It's captivating and powerful." Robin Hilton, my cohost on All Songs Considered, said, "Gaelynn Lea had the most arresting voice and overall sound I heard in this competition. While judging each entry, I'd listen to the song first, then watch the video if I was moved by the music to spend more time with it. I was profoundly moved by Lea's song, particularly its serpentine, earworm melody and the tremendous heartache in her poetry."

Gaelynn is a 32-year-old classically trained fiddler whose music is steeped in Celtic tradition and American fiddle tunes. Her fiddle style is shaped by those traditions but also the challenge she has, playing an instrument that is almost as large as she is. Gaelynn was born with brittle bone disease, a congenital disability that makes playing the violin tucked tightly under the chin not a comfortable option. Instead she plays it upright, as a cellist might.

In the original tune she submitted, "Someday We'll Linger in the Sun," Gaelynn creates a beautiful droning loop with her JamMan Express loop pedal and after a moody minute begins to sing a yearning tale of life's preciousness and time's constant ticking and why we should always care. "Don't tell me we've got time / the subtle thief of life / it slips away when we pay no mind," she sings in a somewhat childlike and haunting voice. She ends with the phrase, "Someday we'll linger in the sun / And I love you."

That's such a universal message — simple, thoughtful and relatable. Truth be told I saw musicians with better craft than Gaelynn, heard singers more capable. That was true of last year's winner as well. Skill and craft is a part of how we select a winner. What Gaelynn Lea did for all of our judges, myself included, was to make something memorable. As Jess Wolfe put it, Gaelynn Lea created something "so unusual/beautiful and like nothing we've ever heard before."

After I voted, I spent some time trying to find out more about Gaelynn Lea. I learned about her congenital disease; I learned that she was a fiddle teacher and that she plays many of the same fiddle tunes my son and I have played together in Irish music camps and for contra dances. I also learned something I hadn't expected: One day while playing at a farmers market in Duluth, Alan Sparhawk, the guitarist and singer of the band Low (also from Duluth) heard Gaelynn Lea playing. Shortly after he texted her, asking if she'd like to play together. It was the beginning of a musical friendship. That friendship is a casual one they call The Murder of Crows. I discovered that they'd made a record together back in 2012 called Imperfecta. Working with Alan helped Gaelynn envision and shape her sound. Fans of Low might be able to hear that band in the way her music unfolds, slow and mysterious, every moment existing for each moment to come.

I love this. I love the way musicians change and shape each other and open ideas that might not arrive naturally but become part of a vocabulary of expression. My hope with the Tiny Desk Contest and concert series has always been about discovery, about finding music outside our comfort zone. One day there might be Adele, the next day a Colombian jazz harpist or a punk band from Detroit. We want you to hear something new and inspiring, something which moves you in some way, makes you think of something — in this case, the preciousness of time — in a way that may cause you to be more appreciative, more thoughtful, more expressive, be it musically or personally. Gaelynn Lea's music felt like a perfect gift.

TO LISTEN TO THE STORY, at NPR click here
http://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2016/03/03/468923804/and-the-winner-of-the-2016-tiny-desk-contest-is?utm_campaign=storyshare&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social

Michael Patrick Thornton A Chicago Actor with A Disability Trades Wheelchair for Robotic Exoskeleton in Shakespeare's play "Richard III,"

Chicago — For the first time ever, an actor using a robotic exoskeleton — an apparatus that helps wheelchair users walk — will perform on a Chicago stage, bringing much-needed awareness to the relatively new technology that has potential to help disabled people across the world, advocates say.

This is an older version of the ReWalk. Michael Thornton currently uses their newest upgrade, and has stated that it "a fantastic device".

nice article By Mina Bloom for DNAinfo Chicago | March 9, 2016

Michael Patrick Thornton, who has appeared on ABC's "Private Practice," uses the exoskeleton in his role as Richard in the Shakespearean play "Richard III," a Gift Theatre Company Production that debuts Thursday at Steppenwolf's Garage Theatre, 1624 N. Halsted St.

The play tells the story of Richard, the King of England's brother, and his murderous quest to be king. Thornton plays Richard, who has a number of physical deformities, including a hunchback, weak arm and a limp.

Thornton, now 37, suffered from two spinal cord strokes at 24 that almost took his life, rendering him unable to walk and speak. Luckily, with the help of the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Thornton regained his ability to speak and act.

"If I didn't have [the Rehabilitation Institute] there would absolutely be no way I'd be able to do any of this," he said. "I was extremely fortunate I was a Chicagoan. Without the care, there's no way I would be able to return to doing what I love."

In the face of adversity, the Jefferson Park native has seen success in the acting world.

He co-founded The Gift Theatre, where he is also the artistic director, and landed a recurring role on ABC's "Private Practice." In 2011, he played a small part in "The Dilemma," a film starring Vince Vaughn directed by Ron Howard.

But Thornton said he has felt limited as an actor at times. In many cases, production companies will only hire disabled actors for disabled parts, he said.

"I feel limited by society's unwillingness to see that we move differently in parts where disability is not contextualized," he said. "It seems to always be part of a plot or subplot."

In "Richard III," Thornton will use a robotic exoskeleton on stage, an apparatus created by ReWalk Robotics, the company that designs and manufactures them.

"I feel stronger. It's fantastic. It's great to tower above actors who I'm used to looking up to," he said.

The exoskeleton allows individuals with spinal cord injuries to stand upright and walk using a powered brace, a computer-based control system and motion sensors to mimic the natural gait pattern of legs. It's the only apparatus of its kind approved by the FDA for both personal use and rehabilitation use in the country.

"I think technology like this challenges you and pushes you and allows you to move in a better way," Thornton said. "It wakes up muscles that have not been challenged for some time. It's important for non-disabled people to see that. I think the future is rapidly approaching and it will blend into the fabric of society."

The goal is to expose more people to the technology, according to Arun Jayaraman, who works for the Center of Bionic Medicine at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.

"We want our patrons to be able to access new technology really fast," he said. "People are able to walk and participate in everyday activities" with the exoskeleton.

Right now, Thornton is only using the exoskeleton in the play, and not in real life. But he said he would love to use one at home.

Tickets for "Richard III," which runs through May 1, can be bought online.

https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20160309/lincoln-park/disabled-chicago-actor-will-be-first-use-robotic-exoskeleton-on-stage

U.S. Access Board Elects Michael K. Yudin Chair | March 2016

The U.S Access Board unanimously elected Michael K. Yudin of the U.S. Department of Education as Chair. As Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Yudin serves as the Secretary of Education's principal adviser on special education, vocational rehabilitation, and disability and rehabilitation research. He previously served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education and as Acting Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education. Yudin, who served a term as Board Chair in 2014, succeeds Sachin Dev Pavithran of Logan, Utah as Board Chair.

The Board elected Regina Blye as its Vice Chair. Blye, a Board member from Austin, Texas, is the Executive Director of the Texas State Independent Living Council where she works collaboratively with a Governor-appointed statewide board of directors and staff to build a more visible and informed community. She is a member of several national and statewide boards such as the SILC Congress, NCIL, APRIL, Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Council, Access Empowerment, and the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities.

The Board is structured to function as a coordinating body among Federal agencies and to directly represent the public, particularly people with disabilities. Half of its members are representatives from most of the Federal departments. The other half is comprised of members of the public appointed by the President. The terms of Board chair and vice chair are limited to one year.

Republicans Attacks Democrat Tammy Duckworth Who Lost Both Legs In Iraq -- For “Not Standing Up For Our Veterans”

MARCH 8, 2016, from the CNN WIRE -- The National Republican Senatorial Committee on Tuesday deleted a tweet they sent accusing Illinois Democratic Rep. Tammy Duckworth, who lost both legs while on duty in Iraq, of “not standing up for our veterans.”

Duckworth’s campaign called the the tweet “vile” and her deputy campaign manager Matt McGrath said in a statement that the attack was “tasteless and dishonest, just like everything else to do with Mark Kirk’s flailing campaign.”

Duckworth, now in her second term in Congress, is the favorite to emerge from a Democratic primary contest and take on incumbent GOP Sen. Mark Kirk in November. Duckworth is an Iraq War veteran, who as an Army helicopter pilot suffered severe combat wounds, including losing both of her legs.

When asked about the tweet, NRSC spokeswoman Andrea Bozek chided the press for its coverage.

“It would be great if reporters would pay as much attention to a deleted tweet as they should to Tammy Duckworth being sued by VA whistleblowers for ignoring claims of mistreatment and corruption,” she wrote in an email.

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Here's how Chicago's Daily Herald described the incident in a 2014 story about Duckworth's combat experience:

Duckworth's right leg was gone in an instant, shredded in a flash of heat and a spray of shrapnel from a grenade. Her left leg was terribly injured, and her right arm was nearly severed.
The blast blew out the clear bubble at the bottom of the cockpit, destroyed the window above her head and severely damaged the helicopter's flight system stored behind her seat.

Nyle DiMarco Will Be First Deaf Male Contestant on 'Dancing With the Stars'

Nyle DiMarco, with DWTS partner Peta Murgatroyd

Nyle DiMarco, winner of the final season of “America's Next Top Model,” is the first deaf male contestant to compete on “Dancing With the Stars.”

The actor and model said it was hard to know whether model Tyra Banks or the "Dancing" judges would be tougher.

“I think it’s a difficult question because the panel on ‘Dancing With the Stars,’ I don’t know them yet, and I haven’t danced at all growing up, so we’ll see what happens,” DiMarco, 26, signed on “Good Morning America” today.

His professional partner, Peta Murgatroyd, explained how she’ll choreograph for DiMarco this season despite his not being able to hear the music.

“Honestly, it’s all visual,” she said. “And it’s more a challenge for me this season, and it’s a great one. I love working with him. He’s such a great student and we’re hitting it off, we’re doing our moves great and it’s going to be an amazing season.”

Marlee Matlin was the first deaf female contestant on “DWTS.” She competed in the sixth season.

The new season of “Dancing With the Stars” premieres at 8 p.m. ET March 21.

This article was published at ABC NEWS on Mar 8, 2016

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/nyle-dimarco-deaf-contestant-compete-dancing-stars/story?id=37487291

Chicago's Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities on March 23rd presents "A Discussion about Nutrition with a Healthy Cooking Demonstration"

The City of Chicago's Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities is partnering with Community Engagement Neighborhood Health Partnerships and Cooking Matters (EverThrive IL) to present: A Discussion about Nutrition with a Healthy Cooking Demonstration. For an engaging presentation by Community Engagement and Neighborhood Health in which they will show how your body benefits by adding more nutritious foods into your daily intake. Immediately following, Cooking Matters (EverThrive IL) will enlighten you with a cooking demonstration.Their program empowers families at risk of hunger with the skills, knowledge and confidence to make healthy and affordable meals. So no matter how tight your budget, this program can show you how linking access to food, with the skills needed to make healthy meals, can improve your overall eating habits. WHEN: Wednesday, March 23, 2016 from 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM (CDT) WHERE: Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities - Room 1 2102 W. Ogden Avenue , Chicago, IL   If you would like to register for this event, please click  HERE . Feel free to invite a family member or friend to attend with you! Please contact MOPDinfo@cityofchicago.org for more information. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact Frances A. Learnahan, Disabilities Specialist III at (312) 746-5773 (voice), (312) 744-7833 (TTY) or at MOPDinfo@cityofchicago.org. Please allow at least 3-5 business days advance notice. Last minute requests will be accepted, but may be impossible to fulfill. Information in this post is shared from the  City of Chicago's Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities.

Why Police And Reporters Need To Think About Disability, interview with David Perry

WBEZ 91.5 Radio in Chicago recently had a conversation on the subject of the issue of "Many recent victims of police violence, it turns out, have had disabilities.".

WBEZ talks with David Perry, a history professor and advocate for people with disabilities about his new report:

The Ruderman White Paper on Media Coverage of Law Enforcement Use of Force and Disability.

To listen to the 15 minute interview, click HERE

Related post:
New Report On Disability and Police Violence in 2016 from Ruderman Family Foundation

Dyslexia: Web App Shows How Learning Disability Causes Letters To 'Jump Around' While Reading

As someone who has dyslexia, this has been the way I have read since a child. I have learned to make adjustments, but it always can happen if I do not check on the way I am reading. This is a very nice article describing how dyslexia can affect us.###
article by Lizette Borreli for Medical Daily | March 7, 2016
Most of us are familiar with dyslexia, the learning disability that makes reading, writing, spelling, and speaking a bit harder for some people. However, without a diagnosis, it’s hard to visualize what it's like to live with the condition — until now. Developer Victor Widell has created a web simulator that allows viewers to see firsthand what words on a page can look like to someone who's dyslexic.
Widell’s web simulator:

The jumbled spellings on Widell’s page are an example of "typoglycemia," a phenomenon that describes the ability to read words that have been misspelled as long as the first and last letters are correct. Since there are many forms of dyslexia, his simulation is not perfect; however, seeing letters like "d," "b," "p," and "q" rotate gives those without dyslexia a better idea of what can occur.

On Widell’s website, commenters expressed this was how they experienced reading most of the time, while others said it was difficult or slightly different.

One dyslexic commenter wrote: "I pushed myself and now can read most small words long words and silent letters will always be an obstacle." Another wrote: "Leaving the first and last letter of a word stable makes it too easy. Being dyslexic is hard. Really hard."

The Austin Learning Solutions reported over 40 million American adults are dyslexic — and only two million know it. Symptom onset occurs when a child starts to focus more on learning how to read and write in school. People with dyslexia may read and write very slowly, confuse the order of letters in words, put letters the wrong way round, such as writing "b" instead of "d" among many others.

Currently, the National Health Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and other institutes of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are focusing on developing techniques to diagnose and treat dyslexia and other learning disabilities.

Click here to see firsthand what it's like to have dyslexia.

http://www.medicaldaily.com/web-app-jump-around-learning-disability-dyslexia-test-376973

USICD President Offers Webinar on Engaging Politicians on March 22, 2016 ; High Impact Strategies for Individuals with Disabilities & Their Advocates"

Join United States International Council on Disabilities (USICD) President, author and former Commissioner of the Administration on Developmental Disabilities, Dr. Patricia Morrissey, for her Webinar, "Engaging Politicians: High Impact Strategies for Individuals with Disabilities & Their Advocates"  

In this one-hour web-based lecture, she offers strategies for exercising your civic-minded muscles -- what to do, how to do it, and how to judge your success. The webinar will take you through key points. It focuses on goal setting, messaging, organizing, and becoming a force for disability rights, not only here but around the world. The webinar will be held at 3:00 pm East Coast time on Tuesday, March 22, 2016.

 

Pat Morrissey's career includes stints in both the public and private sector. She worked for the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions for five years prior to joining Booz Allen and also worked for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor. During this time, she played a central role in the drafting of major disability legislation ranging from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997, to the Assistive Technology Act of 1998, to the Ticket to Work and Work Incentive Improvement Act of 1999, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and more. 

 

She has served as a consultant to Fortune 200 companies on ADA compliance. Morrissey also was a member of the U.S. Delegation to a United Nations Committee while it drafted the Convention on Civil Rights for Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

 

Register for Pat Morrissey's Webinar on Engaging Politicians

U.S. Access Board Webinar: Open Q&A Session (March 24)

The next webinar in the Board's free monthly series will take place March 24 from 2:30 – 4:00 (ET) and will feature an open question and answer session with Board accessibility specialists. Questions are welcome on the Board's accessibility requirements and rulemaking activities, including the ADA and ABA Accessibility Standards, new standards being developed for medical diagnostic equipment, and other topics related to the Board's work. Questions can be submitted in advance of the session (total limited to 25) or can be posed during the webinar.

Visit www.accessibilityonline.org for more information or to register. Webinar attendees can earn continuing education credits (CEUs). Archived copies of previous Board webinars are available on the site. The webinar series is made available in cooperation with the ADA National Network.

Presence Health, Chicago-based Catholic Health Care System Agrees to Settlement of Employee's' Disability Complaints Filed with EEOC

Presence Health, a Chicago-based Catholic health care system, has agreed to pay $500,000 to conciliate employee's' disability complaints filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency said.

article by Judy Greenwald for Business Insurance | March 4, 2016The conciliation, which is a voluntary resolution of the complaint, results from a multiyear EEOC investigation that found that three Presence Health hospitals discriminated against disabled employees, the EEOC said Thursday in a statement.

The agency said the discrimination occurred when Presence Health failed to return employees on medical leave to their positions and/or failed to reassign them to other positions for which they were qualified, and instead terminated them or placed them on disability leave.

In addition to providing monetary relief to those who have been discriminated against, Presence Health will conduct annual Americans with Disabilities Act training for the next three years at three of its Chicago-area hospitals, among other terms of the agreement, the EEOC said.

“This resolution is an excellent result for all of Presence Health, including former employees, who will receive compensation, and current employees, who we expect will see improved leave and accommodation processes,” Julianne Bowman, director of the EEOC's Chicago district office, said in the statement. “We are pleased that Presence Health was willing to work with EEOC to improve its ADA compliance practices.”

Presence Health said in a statement that it “is pleased to have reached conciliation with the EEOC regarding these complaints. Our values as a Catholic health care organization call on us to treat employees fairly and with compassion in their personal time of need for accommodations and medical leave of absence.

“We have taken steps to ensure that staff throughout our organization is educated on the ADA and reasonable accommodation policies and procedures,” said the statement.

http://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20160304/NEWS06/160309884/catholic-health-care-system-presence-health-agrees-to-pay-500000-and?tags=%7C70%7C80%7C83%7C302%7C309

Chicago 2016 Polar Plunge for Special Olympics a Big Splash with Lady Gaga, Taylor Kinney, Al Roker and 6000 others!

March 6th, 2016 -- The 2016 Chicago Polar Plunge for Special Olympics again was a 'splash' for all. Nearly 6,000 plungers waded into the icy waters at North Avenue Beach at 10 a.m. to raise money for Special Olympics, including musician Lady Gaga, "Chicago Fire" star Taylor Kinney and NBC Today's Al Roker, Tamron Hall and Dylan Dreyer. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel greeted all.

So far, Chicago's 2016 Polar Plungers has raised $1.37 million, just shy of their $1.5 million goal — you can donate until the end of March - click here.

For Special Olympics -click here

For a second year in a row, Lady Gaga and her fiancé Taylor Kinney took an icy dip in Lake Michigan as part of the annual Chicago Polar

YouTube published by Little Monsters Official on Mar 6, 2016
# # #

in cooperation with Main Events Special for sharing Ability Chicago Info blog post.
We would like to share a comprehensive article on Lady Gaga Joanne World Tour 2017 (with updated tour schedule, facts & list of her albums and tours).

https://maineventspecials.com/lady-gaga-tour-dates/

Disability.gov Seeks Participants for Its Fourth “No Boundaries” Photo Project by March 25, 2016

By the Disability.gov Team
Since 2011, Disability.gov has proudly featured individuals with disabilities who have achieved employment success in our “No Boundaries” Photo Project. As we launch our fourth installment of the series, we celebrate the diverse skills, talents and life stories of each participant we have profiled so far. From Anupa, a lawyer who was featured in our first year of the project, to Brian, a young entrepreneur and photographer who was featured just last year, every “No Boundaries” participant has truly exemplified what people with disabilities can accomplish when given the opportunity.

Now, we are searching for four more accomplished individuals with disabilities to showcase. Volunteers for this project will be chosen to represent diversity in age, ethnicity and nature of disability. Photographs and profiles of participants will depict inclusion in workplace settings – for example, someone with a mobility disability who uses assistive technology on the job or a young adult with autism transitioning to the workforce.

The photo shoot will occur during the week of May 2, 2016 in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Please note that Disability.gov cannot provide monetary compensation or reimbursement for any travel expenses. Once participants have been selected, the Disability.gov team will confirm a date and time for the session.

If you are interested, please email your full name, phone number, location and a few sentences about why you would like to participate in the “No Boundaries” Photo Project to disability@dol.gov by March 25, 2016. Please include “No Boundaries” in the subject line of your email.

https://usodep.blogs.govdelivery.com/2016/03/04/disability-gov-seeks-participants-for-its-fourth-no-boundaries-photo-project/

National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month is March: Do you understand developmental disabilities?

There is something very promising about March. We start to feel the early anticipation of spring while still constantly being reminded that it is winter. My friend and I started walking in the mornings again, for example, but we both know that any day a snowstorm could brew that would have us running back home for the safety of our treadmills. The uncertainty and hope that are both present in March are both good reasons that it was named National Developmental Disabilities Awareness month by President Ronald Reagan in 1987.

article by Monica Villar, Their Voice | Mar 3, 2016The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines developmental disorders as "a group of conditions due to impairment in physical, learning, language or behavior." Although in many cases specific causes are still unknown, a number of developmental disorders are thought to be due to factors that include genetics, parental health and behaviors (smoking and drinking) during pregnancy, complications during birth, infections during pregnancy, early infections in the baby and exposure to high levels of environmental toxins such as lead to mother and/or child.

One criteria used when determining an individual's developmental disability comes from a section of the federal definition “… the disability results in substantial functional limitations in three or more of the following areas of major life activity: self-care, receptive and expressive language, learning, mobility, self-direction, capacity for independent living and economic self-sufficiency.”

Intellectual disabilities
With these factors in mind, let’s review the most common conditions that fall under the heading of “developmental disability” starting with “intellectual disability.” Though this condition was previously referred to as “mental retardation,” the more acceptable term is intellectual disability. This refers to limits in a person’s ability to learn at expected levels and function in daily life. Intellectual disabilities are typically diagnosed in categories including mild, moderate or severe. Those with intellectual disabilities learn more slowly, don’t always remember things they have learned, struggle applying what they have learned to new situations and usually think about life in a more concrete way. However, they will continue to learn and develop through their lives.

Autism
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of developmental disabilities that can create social, communication and behavioral challenges. Although there is a lot of variance in individuals with autism, some commonalities are avoidance or indifference to others, difficulty relating to others, monotonous and repetitive behavior such as rocking back and forth. People with autism are usually sensitive to sensory stimulation and, therefore, can be overwhelmed by ordinary sights, smells, sounds and touches.

Cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy refers to a group of disorders that affect the individual’s ability to move and maintain balance and poster and is the most common motor disability that occurs in childhood. Cerebral palsy is caused by abnormal brain development or damage occurring to the developing brain resulting in the inability to control muscle movement. Individuals with severe cerebral palsy may require assistance in walking or may not be able to walk at all. Those with mild cerebral palsy walk awkwardly but may not need any assistance. In addition to the mobility challenges, some individuals with cerebral palsy may also experience intellectual disability, seizures, or problems with speech, hearing or vision.

Down syndrome
Down syndrome, also known as Trisomy 21, results when extra genetic material causes delays in both mental and physical development. More specifically, during conception genetic information is inherited from both parents in the form of 46 chromosomes equally divided between the mother and father. With Down syndrome, the child gets an extra chromosome 21, which results in a total of 47 instead of 46. The physical features and medical conditions that come with Down syndrome vary between individuals and most health problems can be treated. This means that most people with Down syndrome can lead very healthy and productive lives. We have had the privilege of highlighting some of these individuals in previous articles.

Spina bifida
Spina bifida, which literally means “cleft spine,” is the incomplete development of the brain, spinal cord and/or the protective covering around them. The complications associated with spina bifida vary from minor physical problems with minimal impairment to severe physical and mental disabilities. The impact of the disability will be determined by the size and location of the malformation, if it is covered and what spinal nerves are involved.

ADHD
Although not everyone is in agreement, the CDC also lists ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) as a developmental disability. Individuals with ADHD have trouble paying attention, and being overly or hyperactive. ADHD cannot be cured but can be managed and symptoms may improve as the child ages.

My experience in this field is that we can only truly grow as a strong community when we take the time to get to know each other. I hope that this will be our first step together to fulfill the spirit of this month “… to highlight the many ways in which people with and without developmental disabilities come together to form, strong diverse communities.”

For more information, visit www.arcjc.org.
Monica Villar works for RISE Services in Orem, a nonprofit specializing in supporting those with developmental disabilities.

Getting Social Security Disability Benefits and Want to Work. How Do You Get Started?

Disability.gov posts a great variety of information, including articles from guest bloggers. One of the recent articles we wanted to share, but always explore Disability.gov for great information.
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Career Connection Series: I Am Getting Social Security Disability Benefits and Want to Work. How Do I Get Started

By Disability.gov Guest Blogger Marsha V. Robinson-Vaden, Office of Research, Demonstration, and Employment Support, Social Security Administration

If you are getting disability benefits and want to work, we have good news for you! Social Security’s work incentives and Ticket to Work programs can help you get started.

Special rules make it possible for people receiving Social Security disability benefits (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to work and still receive monthly payments. And, if you cannot continue to work because of your medical condition, your benefits can start again – you may not even have to file a new application.

Work incentives include:

• Continued cash benefits for a period of time while you work;
• Continued Medicare or Medicaid while you work; and
• Help with education, training and rehabilitation to start a new line of work.

The rules for Social Security disability and SSI are different. However, we describe the rules under each program in our Red Book (Publication No. 64-030) – A Guide to Work Incentives. Also, Social Security recognizes the importance of supporting youth in their efforts to navigate the path toward adult life. In this year’s edition of the Red Book, we included resources to assist youth with this transition. We provide general information to assist youth and the parents, providers, or representatives of a youth receiving SSI or Social Security disability to locate national and community supports and resources.

Whether you are receiving Social Security disability or SSI benefits, it is important to let the Social Security Administration know promptly when you start or stop working, or if any other change occurs that could affect your benefits.

The Ticket to Work program may also be able to help you. You can receive vocational rehabilitation, training, job referrals and other employment support services free of charge. You will not undergo medical reviews while you are using the Ticket and making timely progress pursuing your return to work plan. Find help in your are by visiting the Ticket to Work website at http://www.chooseworkttw.net/resource/jsp/searchByState.jsp.

When you are ready to explore your work options, we have a national call center where you can talk directly with us about work, benefits or our work incentive programs. Just call 1-866-968-7842, Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. EST. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call our TTY number, 1-866-833-2967. Or you can call our toll-free number and ask for a free copy of the publication, Your Ticket to Work (Publication No. 05-10061).

For more information about the ways we can help you return to work and our work incentives programs, please read the Red Book

https://usodep.blogs.govdelivery.com/2016/02/22/career-connection-series-i-am-getting-social-security-disability-benefits-and-want-to-work-how-do-i-get-started-2/

Voices for Illinois Children releases report on the impact of the Illinois Budget Crisis on the human services sector

Voices for Illinois Children provided a March 2016 update report on the impact of the state budget crisis on the human services sector. Below we have posted the Brief of trh March report, a link is below for the full report.

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Budget Impasse Continues to Devastate Illinois Families and Communities  

Illinois is now in its ninth month without a budget for the current fiscal year, even as Illinois lawmakers consider next fiscal year’s budget. While court orders, federal pass through funding, and piecemeal legislation have restored some services, the impact of the failure to enact a budget has caused critical programs serving people in every corner the of state, including low-income children, seniors, and those with disabilities, to shut down. 

The failure of our elected officials to put people first by carrying out their most fundamental duty – enact a state budget – is dismantling the foundations of Illinois’ health and human service system, resulting in longterm damage to our state that will take years to repair. And, all this damage was entirely preventable. By failing to prevent the 25% income tax cuts from taking effect at the beginning of last year, lawmakers drained the state of about $5 billion in annual revenue. Since then, both the governor and the General Assembly have failed to restore the revenue required to enact a fully funded, year-long budget.

The harm is widespread — ranging from afterschool programs and autism services to lifesaving cancer and HIV screening and support services for seniors. While many providers of these critical services have been given contracts to continue to provide services at the level of the last fiscal year (which ended June 30), others have been issued new contracts with lower service levels. In either case, outside of consent decrees and federal passthrough funds, many critical state priorities still lack funding. As a result, even providers that are pillars of the public service delivery system such as Lutheran Social Services have been forced to lay off staff, turn away those in need, and shut program doors. 

Whether Illinois completely dismantles key service delivery systems is completely in the hands of Governor Rauner and the General Assembly. To prevent further damage to children, families, and communities, lawmakers and the governor need to take responsibility for funding our state’s priorities by restoring the revenue we need so that we can begin to repair the damage and put the people of Illinois first.

FOR THE FULL REPORT (pdf), VISIT: http://www.voices4kids.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Budget-Impasse-Continues-to-Devastate-Illinois-Families-and-Communities-FINAL.pdf

AT&T to Pay $250,000 and Reinstate Employee to Settle EEOC Disability Discrimination Lawsuit, Ignored Accommodation Request

from a Press Release | March 2, 2106
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Telecom Giant Removed Visually Impaired Technician From His Job, Ignoring His Accommodation Request, Federal Agency Charged

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - AT&T, a multi-national telecommunications company, will pay $250,000, reinstate an employee, and furnish other relief to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today. EEOC had charged the company with failing to provide a reasonable accommodation to a visually impaired employee who had worked for the company since 2001.

According to EEOC's lawsuit, Miguel Meléndez began working as a switch technician in 2001 for a predecessor company, Centennial. In 2008, Meléndez became visually impaired due to diabetes. In 2009, Meléndez's doctor cleared him to return to work, at which time Meléndez requested a reasonable accommodation for his visual impairment. Specifically, he requested the use of adaptive technology software, which would allow him to use computers and programs to perform the essential functions of his job as switch technician. 

Neither AT&T's predecessor, Centennial, nor AT&T ever provided a response to Meléndez's request for reasonable accommodation. In the meantime, he was removed from his position and not permitted to return to work, while the company continued to ignore his accommodation request. After waiting over a year and a half for a response to his request, Meléndez was removed from his position, EEOC said. Meléndez filed a discrimination charge with EEOC in October 2010.

Such alleged conduct violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). EEOC filed this suit (EEOC v. AT&T, Case 3:11-cv-01964-CCC) in U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico after first investigating and attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process. Meléndez intervened in EEOC's lawsuit and raised additional discrimination claims under federal and local law. The plaintiff-intervenor is represented by private attorneys Loira M. Acosta-Baez, Esq., and Ivan E. Aponte-Gonzalez, Esq., of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Under the consent decree resolving EEOC's claims, aside from significant monetary relief, AT&T has agreed to reinstate Meléndez into a new position in its San Juan location and to offer him reasonable accommodations in compliance with the ADA. AT&T will also conduct annual training for its managers in Puerto Rico, post a notice about the lawsuit in its Puerto Rico locations where customer service representatives and its Network Field Operations employees are located, and report ADA complaints from Puerto Rico to EEOC. AT&T has also agreed to engage in affirmative recruiting of visually impaired individuals by cooperating with local organizations that serve that workforce. 

"It is important for employers to take accommodation requests from qualified employees with disabilities seriously and to respond to them in a timely manner," said EEOC San Juan Director William Sanchez. "The requirement by federal law to engage in the interactive process with an employee cannot be ignored."

EEOC Miami Regional Attorney Robert Weisberg added, "Under the terms of this consent decree, Meléndez may return to work at AT&T with a reasonable accommodation. This result fulfills the objectives of the ADA, one of which is to ensure workers like Meléndez continue to participate in the workforce. We hope employers take note of this case as an example of how all workers may participate productively in the workforce, and how stereotypes about an employee's disability cannot and should not determine an employee's fate in any company."

EEOC is responsible for enforcing federal laws against employment discrimination. The Miami District Office's jurisdiction includes Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Further information is available at www.eeoc.gov.

http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/newsroom/release/3-2-16.cfm

Justice Dept Sues Richmond City,VA. Sheriff’s Office in Richmond, Virginia, for Disability Discrimination

from a Press Release | March 2, 2016

Department of Justice

Office of Public Affairs

The Justice Department filed a lawsuit today alleging that the Richmond City Sheriff’s Office in Richmond, Virginia, fired a former deputy sheriff after failing to reassign her to a vacant position for which she was qualified, in violation of Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The employee, who had worked as a deputy for approximately 10 years, asked to be reassigned to an available civilian position after a heart condition rendered her unable to continue as a deputy.

Title I of the ADA prohibits employers from discriminating against individuals on the basis of disability in various aspects of employment. These prohibitions include failing to provide reasonable accommodations, including reassignment, where such an accommodation does not pose an undue hardship to the employer.

“The ADA guarantees people with disabilities the right to earn a living and advance their careers free from workplace discrimination,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will continue to vigorously enforce the ADA and ensure that when employees develop disabilities that interfere with their job, employers reassign them to a different vacant position that matches their qualifications.”

“Employment is a vital part of life for all individuals and the ADA ensures that qualified individuals who develop disabilities are able to stay employed,” said U.S. Attorney Dana J Boente of the Eastern District of Virginia.

Those interested in finding out more about the ADA may call the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA information line at 800-514-0301 (TDD 800-514-0383) or visit www.ada.gov.
The complaint can be found at the following link: Richmond City Sheriff’s Office.

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-sues-richmond-city-sheriff-s-office-richmond-virginia-disability

Chicago Disability Studies Conference Intersectionality & Disability, April 15, 2016

The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) will be hosting the 2016 Chicago Disability Studies Conference Intersectionality & Disability, April 15, 2016. The following information is posted at :

https://drc.uic.edu/2016-chicago-disability-studies-conference-intersectionality-disability-april-15-2016/

Presented by the Disability Studies Student Council

A one-day, interdisciplinary conference focusing on intersectionality and disability. This event is free, accessible, and open to the public. Papers from outside disability studies, undergraduates, non-UIC students, and activists are welcome. Intersectionality, which originated in the writing and scholarship of Black feminists and queer women of color is one of the most prominent frameworks for understanding multiple and intersecting identities and forms of oppression (Anzaldúa, 1987; Combahee River Collective, 1977; Crenshaw, 1991; Lorde, 1984). Intersectionality challenges the idea that an individual’s lived experience is grounded in a single social identity and that aspects of oppression can be examined and understood singularly (Bowleg, 2008).
Intersectionality is not about categories of identification, but about how categories (ie., race, gender, class, sexuality, religion, immigrant status, nationality, disability, weight, and age) meet and interlock.

The need for intersectional analyses that include disability is becoming increasingly important, by addressing questions such as:➔ How does police brutality, criminalization and incarceration affect people with disabilities who also hold other marginalized identities, such as women, people of color, queer and trans* people, and old people?
➔ How do compulsory systems work together to produce and maintain oppression throughout history and the present?
➔ What do intersectional analyses of films, television shows, and other media reveal about cultural discourses around disability and other forms of identity?
➔ What do intersectional analyses of disability art reveal about disability culture and its potential to promote radical alternative representation?
➔ How does intersectionality contribute to experiences of inequitable access to health services that contribute to disparities in health outcomes?

We invite the community to consider these questions and others as they submit papers that address the theme of intersectionality and disability by February 15th 2016 at 11:59 PM. Abstracts should be no more than 250 words. Questions and to request accommodations,

contact DSSC President Lex Owen at: abolya2@uic.edu
Submit Abstracts at http://goo.gl/forms/MoxJgNChT5

New Way To Invest For People With Disabilities, with ABLE Accounts

On December 19th, 2014, President Barack Obama signed a legislation called the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act. It is a tax-advantaged account for individuals with disabilities. The accounts are not available yet, because each state needs to put their own regulations in place, but it is estimated that most states should be ready within the next year or two.

nice article by Roxana Maddahi for HuffPost | March 1, 2016

ABLE accounts are an extension of the 529 Tax code. This is the same code that allows us to put away and invest money for secondary education. In a 529 plan, any increase in value in an invested account is tax free. The contributions are either pretax, or after tax; it depends on the state.

Contributions to an ABLE account are for people with disabilities that were diagnosed with the disability before age 26. There are two ways to qualify for eligibility. The first is that if the individual is already entitled to Social Security benefits based on blindness or a disability that occurred before the age of 26. In this case, they would automatically be eligible. The second way to prove eligibility is through a disability certification. This is a signed statement by a physician acknowledging that the individual has a mental or physical impairment that causes severe functional limitations that can be expected to last, or has lasted, for more than 12 months.

An account holder can put away the maximum amount that the gift tax laws will allow. Today, that amount would be $14,000. The account maximum is $100,000. Each beneficiary can only have one account and one account owner.

The biggest benefit of an ABLE account is that it does not count toward personal assets for individuals who wish to qualify for public benefits. Generally, personal assets are capped at $2,000 if a person wants to qualify for Medicaid of Supplemental Security Income benefits. Until now, it has been difficult for families to provide even basic support to children with disabilities without forcing them to be exempt from Social Security Income and Medicaid benefits. If the $100,000 limit is exceeded, Social Security Income benefits are suspended until the account balance falls below $100,000; they are not terminated.

Lisa Golshani, an estate planning attorney in Los Angeles that focuses on special needs trusts describes ABLE accounts as
"A great new tool that can help enable individuals with disabilities have greater independence and financial security. Rather than relying exclusively on public benefits, the ABLE account beneficiary can have an additional source of funds to tap into, when his/her needs are not being met."

The second benefit is a tax advantage. The money that goes into the account is either pretax or after tax, depending on the state, but any growth in the account will be tax-free. While it may not seem substantial, this can save anywhere between 15%-40% in taxes on account growth.

All uses of ABLE accounts must be for qualified expenses, but thankfully, qualified expenses has a broad definition in this case. Unlike a 529 savings plan, where expenses are limited to secondary education, room & board for secondary education, or school supplies, an ABLE account has a broad range of qualified expenses. Qualified expenses for an ABLE account including most day-to-day expenses that help the beneficiary (hence the name) achieve a better life. This includes, but is not limited to, education,

An ABLE account can work in addition to a special needs trust, or instead of one, depending one each individual circumstance. The cost of establishing an ABLE account will be considerably less than a trust, because there will be no lawyer fees, however, the maximum contribution on an ABLE account is less.

"ABLE accounts will not replace the need for a Special Needs Trust in many cases. Rather, the ABLE account can be used as a supplement to a Special Needs Trust to enable the beneficiary to have a measure of financial independence, when appropriate" says Golshani.

I am committed to updating my readers on any new changes in the ABLE act, and informing them of when they can start to set them up in different states. Please feel free to contact us with any questions and new findings at roxana.maddahi@gmail.com .

Disclaimer:
This article is provided for informational and educational purposes only. The information contained herein should not be construed as personalized investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Before making decisions with legal, tax, or accounting ramifications, you should consult appropriate professionals for advice that is specific to your situation. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. There is no guarantee that the views and opinions expressed in this article will come to pass. Investing in the stock market involves gains and losses and may not be suitable for all investors. Information contained herein is subject to change without notice and should not be considered as a solicitation to buy or sell any security. Additionally, this article contains certain forward-looking statements which point to future possibilities. Due to known and unknown risks, other uncertainties and other factors, actual results may differ materially from the results portrayed in such forward-looking statements.

Articles that were prepared by independent third parties contain general information that is not suitable for everyone. We make no representations as to the accuracy, timeliness, suitability, completeness, or relevance of any information prepared by any unaffiliated third party, whether linked to this article or incorporated herein, and take no responsibility therefore. All such information is provided solely for convenience purposes only and all users thereof should be guided accordingly.

Follow Roxana Maddahi on Twitter: www.twitter.com/theincrowdco

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/roxana-maddahi/able-accounts-a-new-way-t_b_9350086.html

Illinois in-home care aides overtime delayed again

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois officials on Monday delayed for a second time a cost-saving policy that would cap overtime pay for home health care aides.

article by Ashley Lisenby - Associated Press | March 1, 2016

The Department of Human Services told The Associated Press that another grace period will allow officials to negotiate and clarify policy conditions with the union that represents 25,000 home care workers.

State officials said they don’t know how long the policy will be delayed.

Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration announced in November it would limit overtime hours starting March 1 to save $7 million a year. But the Service Employees International Union said the policy will mean service disruption and unpredictability for clients.

Thousands of employees who help about 30,000 people with physical and developmental disabilities are eligible for time-and-a-half pay after working 40 hours a week under a federal law that took effect Jan. 1.

Human Services spokeswoman Marianne Manko said the agency agreed to the delay because the union and its employees said they needed more time to understand the policy and its implications.

Terri Harkin, vice president of the home care division at SEIU Healthcare Illinois, called the policy “ill-conceived” in a statement Monday.

“Together with disability advocates, home care workers have been demanding that the state engage in thoughtful discussion and negotiation over the new overtime policy,” Harkin said.

The Rauner administration has said the state can’t afford the extra pay during a fiscal crisis that has stymied for nine months an annual budget agreement between the Republican governor and Democrats who control the Legislature.

Manko said the state wants to control costs without interrupting the care clients need.

Under the overtime policy, workers would be limited to a 40-hour work week, including up to five hours of travel time, according to a memo obtained by the AP in January.

Exceptions for exceeding the time cap include caring for clients who can’t be left alone or have a medical emergency. After violating the policy three times, a home care provider could lose his or her license.

Manko said the “three strikes” rule and other conditions could change during negotiations, but that the overtime limit is responsible.

“We need a policy so people don’t abuse overtime,” Manko said.

Rahnee Patrick from National ADAPT Addresses Bernie Sanders Rally in Chicago video (cc)

YouTube Published by The Video Catalyst Project on Feb 27, 2016
ADAPT is a national grass-roots community that organizes disability rights activists to engage in nonviolent direct action, including civil disobedience, to assure the civil and human rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom.
http://www.adapt.org/

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Ability Chicago Info is not endorsing any canidate for President, information published as a disability related issue.

Iowa State Student with Disabilities Bullied, but Uses Opportunity for Awareness

                     'Please Just Be Nice to People'

An Iowa State student with disabilities was mortified last month to find social media posts mocking her for using a three-wheeled scooter to get around campus. She went public.

thoughtful Article by Jake New for Inside Higher Ed | Feb 29, 2016

It had been a challenging first semester at Iowa State University for Brittni Wendling. Wendling has Larsen syndrome, a condition that means most of her joints are dislocated; she describes it as like "not having knees.” Along with the typical adjustments one makes when starting college, the freshman said she spent her first few months learning how to navigate the university’s large campus without being able to bend her legs.

She began using a three-wheeled scooter called a Triad to get around, and as the new term began in January, Wendling said she “felt like things were starting to fall into place.” Then, near the end of the month, a video of her riding her Triad was posted publicly to the photo-sharing app Snapchat.

The video contained little commentary, but its mocking tone was clear.

“The moment I saw this video, my heart dropped, and I felt absolutely horrible,” Wendling wrote in an open letter posted to Facebook this month. 

“Embarrassment, shame and utter sadness swept through me, and I watched the video over and over, constantly worrying how many thousands of people saw it. I just couldn't understand why someone would take the time to make me feel bad about a machine that I need to help me get around instead of even asking me about the situation if they were curious.”

Students with disabilities face a number of challenges when going to college, including accessibility and transportation issues. But even when a college offers accommodations and lessens the impact of any physical hurdles on campus, emotional and social obstacles can remain. Sometimes, the accommodations themselves become the focus of ridicule from other students.

Amanda Kraus, deputy director of disability resources at the University of Arizona and an expert on disability issues, said this kind of behavior doesn’t often manifest as “active or direct bullying,” but it is still damaging.

“I wouldn’t say that it is typical for disabled students to be blatantly bullied on college campuses, but it certainly happens,” Kraus said. “I think so often folks feel pity for disabled people, so they do not approach them with anger or criticism, but I would also say that disabled people are often doubted, misunderstood and considered to be liars who take advantage of accommodations. Think about exam accommodations and parking spots. Rather than seeing these as options that create access, they are often perceived as extra or unnecessary.”

Wendling said she tried to put the video out of her mind, though she now felt embarrassed riding her Triad to class. She kept her head down, she said, hoping to avoid seeing any stares. Days later, her Triad again drew undeserved ire from students.

As Wendling recalled, two students confronted her as they passed on the sidewalk. They told her she shouldn’t “have that thing on the sidewalk,” and accused her of riding the Triad just to “stand out.”

“With tears forming in my eyes, I just kept scooting across campus to get back to my dorm,” she wrote in her open letter. “I've definitely never been in such a cruel situation like that before, and that comment combined with being on the ISU Snap story truly broke me and majorly affected the way I felt about being at the school. Sadly, being physically handicapped and riding a machine that is not well-known isn't exactly a great way to make friends easily, but these two situations made me feel even more isolated and different.”

For the next few days, she said, she wasn’t sure she wanted to stay in college. But earlier this month, she decided she couldn’t “wallow in self-pity,” and she posted her lengthy open letter. The letter has since been shared more than 700 times on Facebook. The company that manufactures her scooter responded to the note, calling her “a brave and beautiful soul.”

Campus police saw the post, as well, and forwarded it to the university’s Dean of Students Office.

“It’s unfortunate that a small group of people would make critical comments and assumptions about Brittni,” John McCarroll, Iowa State’s executive director of university relations, said. “That’s not representative of our welcoming environment at Iowa State. It’s important to note that Iowa State’s Student Disability Resources office, and faculty and staff across campus, do everything possible to support and accommodate persons with disabilities. We want to ensure every student has access to educational resources and the ability to succeed.”

Wendling said she hopes the popularity of her letter can help other students in similar situations, as well as help educate those who might otherwise make ignorant comments about people with disabilities.

“The moral of the story is: please, please, please just be nice to people,” she wrote. “I am taking this experience and turning it into an opportunity to increase awareness for everyone at Iowa State, colleges everywhere, and just to people from around the world.”

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2016/02/29/iowa-state-student-disability-battles-bullying-open-letter