Disabilities

DAV Leader Thanks Senator for Support of Veterans Issues

May 26, 2009 -- Fargo – In recognition of Memorial Day services for America's veterans, Senator Kent Conrad today met with Fargo-area veterans and veteran care leaders to discuss the recently-adopted Congressional budget resolution, which boosts federal support for veterans’ health care.

“We have a solemn obligation to honor our veterans by delivering the best health care our federal government can provide,” Senator Conrad said. “This new budget makes great progress, yet still more needs to be done. We need to continue to work to ensure our veterans of today and tomorrow receive the care and respect they deserve.”    » read more »

May 22, 2009 -- Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) this week sent a bipartisan letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee requesting $5 million in Impact Aid funding from the FY2010 National Defense Authorization Act to assist local school districts educating large numbers of military children with severe disabilities.    » read more »

Updating the U.S. Census to meet the needs of our nation’s elderly & disabled

May 21, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL) today introduced an effort aimed at updating the U.S. Census' current function questions to better improve our nation's long-term care services and support systems. By replacing a small portion of the survey with standardized function questions used by medical providers, the Disability Data Modernization Act will provide more accurately collected data used for planning the future health care needs of elderly and disabled Americans.    » read more »

Finding May Lead to Better Understanding of How Body Responds to Mechanical Stimuli

LA JOLLA, CA, May 13, 2009 -- Scientists from The Scripps Research Institute have elucidated the action of a protein, harmonin, which is involved in the mechanics of hearing. This finding sheds new light on the workings of mechanotransduction, the process by which cells convert mechanical stimuli into electrical activity.

Defects in mechanotransduction genes can cause devastating diseases, such as Usher's syndrome, which is characterized by deafness, gradual vision loss, and kidney disease, which can lead to kidney failure.

The research, led by Scripps Research Professor Ulrich Mueller, was published in the May 14, 2009 issue of the journal Neuron.    » read more »

Grants will help the elderly and disabled, boost energy efficiency and create jobs

May 11, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Donovan today announced that HUD is offering nearly $1 billion to make substantial improvements to thousands of public housing units nationwide.

The Public Housing Capital Funds being offered today are provided through The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) and are designed to help selected public housing authorities improve the quality of their housing stock, promote energy efficiency and create jobs.    » read more »

May 11, 2009 -- HARRISBURG – Older adults and people with disabilities across Pennsylvania will have increased transportation options when 67 transportation providers receive a $13.2 million investment of federal and state funds, Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell announced today.

“Access to public transportation is essential to older citizens and people with disabilities, whose quality of life is affected by their ability to travel where and when they need to,” Governor Rendell said. “These funds will supply the transportation providers with the equipment and vehicles needed to help individuals maintain independence by improving transportation to work, and to medical appointments.”    » read more »

March 23, 2009 -- BAYVILLE – New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine sat down today with a group of senior citizens at the Berkeley Municipal Building to give a helping hand in filling out paperwork for Senior Freeze Rebate applications. Representatives from the Division of Taxation’s Taxpayer Services Outreach Bureau were also available to provide assistance.

“So many of our seniors and disabled citizens are struggling to make ends meet during this national recession,” Governor Corzine said. “The expansion of the Senior Freeze program is aimed at providing property tax relief to thousands on fixed incomes who may not have qualified previously. I really encourage our seniors to take advantage of this program and file their rebate applications as soon as possible.”    » read more »

Disappointed Gov. Sarah Palin not accepting millions for education

March 20, 2009 -- U.S. Sen. Mark Begich is urging the Alaska State Legislature to act swiftly in accepting the remaining stimulus dollars Governor Sarah Palin is leaving on the table. At a news conference today, the governor said she is accepting roughly $515 million of the estimated $930 million coming to Alaska in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act approved by Congress and signed by the President.    » read more »

March 19, 2009 -- Superintendent Carol Comeau issued the following statement about Alaska Governor Sarah Palin’s intention to reject $160 million in stimulus funds for education. Included in the governor’s proposal is the refusal of $12.9 million for Title I programs and $12.9 million for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and special education programs for the Anchorage School District.

“We’re shocked and very disappointed that the governor said she would reject the education stimulus money for Title I and IDEA programs. We believe that we can make very good use of the funds, not only in job preservation but also in adding new positions to ultimately use these funds to increase student achievement for our neediest children.    » read more »

Iowa Finance Authority Granted Prestigious Funds to Preserve Affordable Housing for Families, Seniors, and Persons with Disabilities in Rural Iowa Communities

February 26, 2009 -- DES MOINES – Iowa Governor Chet Culver today announced that the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) will receive a $2.4 million investment from The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. The funds will help ensure the preservation of rural affordable housing for an estimated 1,200 Iowa families, seniors and persons with disabilities that are at-risk of losing their homes. State and local governments in 40 states competed for MacArthur’s support, and Iowa was one of 12 recipients to receive funds and launch innovative projects to preserve affordable rental homes.    » read more »

August 1, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama joined Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) to cosponsor the Americans with Disabilities Restoration Act:

"With nearly 54 million Americans living with disabilities today, we have a responsibility to ensure they have better access, more opportunities, and increased independence.

Barack Obama speaking in Titusville, Florida: Photo by Eric Lin (CC)    » read more »

Chicago, IL, July 21, 2008 – Kareem Dale, founder and chief executive officer of The Dale Law Group (DLG) in Chicago, has been appointed as the Obama campaign's Disability Vote Director, effective July 14, 2008. Dale, partially blind, will help broaden the campaign's reach and involve even more voices in this coalition for change.

In his role as Disability Vote Director, Dale will be responsible for all disability outreach efforts for the campaign, including attending national conferences, coordinating grassroots efforts, speaking at events as a surrogate for the campaign, and ensuring that campaign locations are accessible for all Americans with disabilities.    » read more »

May 1, 2008 -- This week, even as McCain was traveling the country outlining a flawed health care agenda that does little to increase access to quality, affordable health care for Americas working families, John McCain showed how out of touch he is with Americans with disabilities.

Instead of meeting with disability rights activists to explain why he refuses to co-sponsor the Community Choice Act of 2007, Senator McCain's staff allowed more than 20 activists to be arrested in front of his Senate office. [Associated Press, 4/29/08]    » read more »

SNOWMASS VILLAGE, Colo., March 31, 2008 – As disabled veterans test their mettle this week during the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, they’re finding motivation not just on the slopes, but also in each other.

Four hundred disabled veterans, 67 of them wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, said coming together for the six-day clinic is helping them push themselves even harder to achieve things they never thought possible.    » read more »

03/31/2008 - SNOWMASS, Colo. - Sixty-seven veterans wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan are among 400 disabled veterans who converged here yesterday to kick off the world’s largest disabled ski clinic.

Deputy Veterans Affairs Secretary Gordon H. Mansfield and Robert T. Reynolds, national commander of Disabled American Veterans, opened the 22nd National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic last night.

The annual six-day program, jointly sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Disabled American Veterans, helps disabled veterans discover abilities many never knew they had or thought they’d lost.    » read more »