NCD Bulletin
A Monthly Publication of the National Council on Disability (NCD)

Marca Bristo, Chairperson
October 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).

Legislative Update

The Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 (H.R. 1180) was passed by the House of Representatives on October 19 by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 412 to 9. The bill in its current form would, among other things, allow states to opt to permit people with disabilities to return to work without losing their Medicare or Medicaid health insurance benefits. The Senate version (S. 331) passed the Senate in June by a vote of 99 to 0. The two bills are now in conference committee, where House and Senate conferees must work out differences. The big question for conferees will be how to finance this important legislation.

The Bipartisan Consensus Managed Care Improvement Act of 1999 (H.R. 2723) was overwhelmingly passed by the House on October 7. This patients' bill of rights will, among other things, establish a new system of federal standards for all managed care plans, giving patients the right to sue health maintenance organizations (HMOs) in state courts; make it easier to go to an emergency room or see a specialist; and give patients the chance to take their complaints to independent panels. The Senate version is known as the Patients' Bill of Rights Plus Act (S. 1344). Both bills now go to conference committee, where House and Senate conferees will try to work out differences.

NCD Co-hosts White House Event

On October 19, the White House Office of Public Liaison, the National Council on Disability, and the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities co-hosted a commemoration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month by recognizing the musical and artistic talents of Americans with disabilities. The Indian Treaty Room event featured performances by comedian David Roche, saxophonist Benita Gold Slater, actor/singer Rob McQuay, singer/songwriter Anita Hollander, and classical vocalist Laurie Rubin. VSA Arts, an affiliate of the Kennedy Center that promotes the arts among people with disabilities, also exhibited the works of four artists with disabilities in the Old Executive Office Building.

NCD Fellowship Program Update

Congratulations to Susan Madison, executive director of the Arizona Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities, who will become NCD's National Disability Policy Fellow for 2000. Madison was among 52 qualified candidates with disabilities who competed in the new policy fellowship program, which is intended to identify and develop leaders with disabilities as well as to enhance NCD's policy capacity. The fellowship will provide experience and training in Washington, DC, and will begin in January. Madison has worked to develop Arizona's policy positions on several national issues, including MiCASA, the Work Incentives Improvement Act, voter accessibility, and the Patients' Bill of Rights.

Social Security Administration Announces New Disability Research Institute

The Office of Research, Evaluation, and Statistics of the Social Security Administration has issued a Request for Applications to establish a national disability research institute. This institute would help fill the need for more extensive research in the disability area for policymakers around the country. It will be supported for five years and will be funded at about $1.25 million for the first year and $1 million in subsequent years. The deadline for proposals is January 12, 2000. For further information or to request an application kit, contact E. Joe Smith, SSA, Office of Acquisition and Grants, Grants Management Team, 1-E-4 Gwynn Oak Building, 1710 Gwynn Oak Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21207-5279; 410-965-9503.

NCD Staff Changes

On October 5, the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) announced the selection of its new president and chief executive officer, Andrew J. Imparato. Imparato has been the NCD general counsel and director of policy since September 1997. He was instrumental in helping NCD focus its attention on monitoring and evaluating the enforcement of federal laws that protect the civil rights of children and adults with disabilities, especially the Air Carrier Access Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. NCD will miss Imparato, who is scheduled to begin work at AAPD in late November. AAPD, a grassroots, cross-disability membership organization, was founded in 1995 by Paul Hearne, a former NCD executive director; its mission is to promote the economic and political empowerment of people with disabilities.

NCD is delighted to welcome Geraldine Hawkins, Ph.D., as NCD's new program specialist. Dr. Hawkins, comes to NCD from the U.S. Department of Education, where she worked in the Office of Special Education Programs. She will assist NCD with its policy development. She will fill the slot formerly held by Jamal Mazrui, who left NCD in June to join the Federal Communications Commission.

NCD announced a job vacancy for a research specialist GS-101-13, which will close on November 11, 1999. A copy of the job announcement can be obtained by contacting NCD's Stacey Brown at 202-272-2004.