| NCD Bulletin
A Monthly Publication of the National Council
on Disability (NCD)
Marca Bristo, Chairperson
April 1999
The Bulletin, which is free of charge, and at NCD’s award-winning Web site (http://www.ncd.gov), brings you the latest issues and news affecting people with disabilities. To subscribe or unsubscribe to the NCD listserv, send a blank e-mail to add-bulletin@list.ncd.gov or remove-bulletin@list.ncd.gov. No need to write anything in the subject line or body. Please send your editorial comments to Bulletin editor Mark S. Quigley (mquigley@ncd.gov).
New Survey Shows Strong Approval Rating for ADA
A new Harris poll showing strong and sustained public support and
approval of the Americans with Disabilities Act was released on
April 15, 1999. According to the survey results, nearly nine out
of ten, or 87 percent, of those adults who are aware of ADA support
and approve of it; a full two-thirds, or 67 percent, of all adult
Americans have read or heard about ADA; and three-quarters, or 75
percent, of all adults think that the benefits to people with disabilities
and society are worth the additional costs to governments and businesses.
For more information, contact the National Organization on Disability
at 202-293-5960 or 202-293-5968 (TTY) or http://www.nod.org (URL).
Disability Civil Rights Update
In April, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in four cases
that are extremely important to people with disabilities--Olmstead
v. L. C. (No. 98-536), Murphy v. United
Parcel Service, (No. 97-1992), Sutton
v. United Airlines (No. 97-1943), and Albertsons
Inc. v. Kirkingburg (No. 98-591). These cases address the
right to receive services in the most appropriate setting and the
scope and definition of "disability." Rulings in these
cases are due early this summer.
In connection with the Olmstead case,
ADAPT will conduct a rally supporting disability rights and opposing
the Olmstead v. L. C. threat to community
living at noon on Wednesday, May 12, 1999, on the steps of the U.S.
Supreme Court. For more rally information, call 512-442-0252 or
303-733-9324.
Consistent with a recommendation in NCD's latest report, Enforcing
the Civil Rights of Air Travelers with Disabilities, the Department
of Transportation (DOT) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking on
February 17 entitled "Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability
in Air Travel; Compensation for Damage to Wheelchairs and Other
Assistive Devices." DOT is now proposing to amend its rules
implementing the Air Carrier Access Act to lift an existing cap
on the amount of compensation airlines would have to pay to passengers
for loss or damage to wheelchair and other assistive devices. The
proposal is intended to provide additional relief to passengers
whose expensive assistive devices are destroyed or seriously damaged
in the course of airline travel. Comments are requested by May 18,
1999. For more information, contact Robert Ashby, deputy assistant
general counsel for regulation and enforcement, DOT, 400 7th Street,
SW, Room 10424, Washington, DC 20590; or bob.ashby@ost.dot.gov (e-mail).
Work Incentives Update
On April 20, the Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 (H.R.
1180) was marked up by the House Commerce Subcommittee on Health
and Environment. The bill, which would allow people with disabilities
to return to work without losing their Medicare or Medicaid health
insurance benefits, is now cleared for action by the full Committee.
The companion Senate bill (S. 331) has been approved by the Committee
on Finance and awaits approval for floor time from Senate Majority
Leader Trent Lott.
NCD Seeks Mentors for 1999 Youth Leadership Conference NCD is looking
for unpaid volunteers and mentors for its June 22-26 National Leadership
Conference for Youth with Disabilities, which will be held in Alexandria,
Virginia, at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center. Several different
opportunities are available with varying levels of involvement.
If you are interested in being a volunteer or mentor and would like
to receive an application, please contact Sarah Triano at striano@sfsu.edu
or at 415-242-3309.
White House Conference on Mental Health
Tipper Gore, wife of Vice President Al Gore and mental health advisor
to the President, will chair a televised White House Conference
on Mental Health on June 7, 1999, at Howard University in Washington,
DC. Participants, who will include mental health professionals,
service providers, educators, advocacy groups, consumers, family
members, and government, business, and community leaders, will have
the opportunity to develop strategies for improving conditions for
people and their families struggling with mental illnesses. For
more information, visit the conference Web site (http://www.mentalhealth.gov).
International Update
On December 23, 1998, the U.S. Agency for International Development
(USAID) issued its First Annual Report on Implementation of the
USAID Disability Policy. The policy encourages the use of existing
agency resources for the inclusion of people with disabilities.
The report details the activities of USAID management and the Team
for Disability Policy since promulgation of the policy in November
1996. Recommendations from NCD's 1996 publications Foreign Policy
and Disability and Achieving Independence: The Challenge for the
21st Century contributed to the development of USAID's disability
policy. Copies of the report are available at USAID, Information
Center, Ronald Reagan Building, Washington, DC 20523-0016; 202-712-4810
or 202-216-3524 (fax).
Princeton Rally Update
NCD chairperson Marca Bristo participated in a rally at Princeton
University against the appointment of Dr. Peter Singer to a distinguished
ethics chair because of his basic disregard for the human and civil
rights of people with disabilities. The rally, which was sponsored
by Princeton Students Against Infanticide, took place on Saturday,
April 17, 1999. A copy of Ms.
Bristo's statement can be found at NCD's award-winning Internet
site.
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