AAPD CEO, Imparato, Tapped for Key Senate Role
October 30, 2010
October 28, 2010
October 27, 2010
Flying with Wheelchairs: Knowing Your Rights & Responsibilities at 32,000 Feet
Tuesday, December 7th
1:00–2:30 pm (CST)
The Association for Airline Passenger Rights (AAPR) will host an informative webinar on the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), specifically as it relates to flying with service animals. The webinar is being held in collaboration with the ADA National Network (formerly DBTACs).
Learn from industry experts with personal experiences about flying on domestic and international flights for passengers using wheelchairs, including:
- General Tips on air travel with wheelchairs/scooters;
- Specific issues important to passengers using wheelchairs/scooters, as it relates to the provision of services;
- Specific issues important to passengers wheelchairs/scooters, as it relates to their wheelchair/scooter; and
- Primer about ACAA provisions that govern air travel for passengers with disabilities using wheelchairs.
Presentations by:
- CARMEN JONES, Solutions Marketing Group
- DON BRANDON, Northwest ADA Center
- MARIAN VESSELS, Mid-Atlantic ADA Center
AAPR members can participate for free and registration for non-members is only $35.00 (although non-members can join AAPR for only $10 and thereby participate for free, too).
Special benefits:
TravelPro is providing a 20% off discount coupon to all registered participants! For more information and to register go to http://www.flyfriendlyskies.com/events.html
October 21, 2010
Preview of Jackson as a Livable, Accessible, Sustainable Community Done in LEGO – by Scott Crawford
Be there for the unveiling December 9th 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
MS Arts Center
201 East Pascagoula Street
Jackson MS, 39215
To all my friends — Some of you know by now, but I’ve been working for months on a display of Jackson done all in LEGO bricks. The theme is a cleaner, greener, safer, and more accessible Jackson that can and will be someday, if we only have the courage to imagine it and the will to work for it. It has lots of trees, houses, accessible streets, authentic looking JATRAN bus and bus stops, bike paths, solar energy “farm”, wind turbine, and even an airport. There are people with various disabilities represented, some in wheelchairs, others who are blind walking with red-tipped canes. There are billboards promoting “going green” and picking up trash, and the general idea is to promote civic pride and inspire kids (of all ages) to care more about their capital city.
The whole thing will measure about 6 feet wide and about 9 feet long. It’s outgrown my kitchen table and It’ll take a couple of days to pack it up and move it downtown to the Arts Center at 201 East Pascagoula Street (right under the Planetarium). There will be an “unveiling reception” Thursday, December 9th, from 5 to 7pm. I’ll be there of course, and hope to see you there! It’ll be fun I’m sure. I’ve got LED lights to put in the houses, so it’ll be “decked out” for the Christmas Season. Finally, there’s even a “Christmas Village” section of the display.
I hope you all can make it.
There’ll be a more formal invitation coming soon from the Greater Jackson Arts Council, but I thought you’d want to know ASAP.
MS Arts Center
201 East Pascagoula Street
Jackson MS, 39215
Thursday, Dec 9th, 5-7pm
The exhibit will be up through the Holidays, then may go to the Airport.
Take care everyone and God Bless you all,
Scott
21st Century Accessibility Act Passed
On October 8, 2010, President Obama signed The 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (S.3304) into law. The following statement can be attributed to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski:
“The 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act is the most significant disability law in two decades. The law’s provisions were endorsed in the FCC’s National Broadband Plan. They will bring communication laws into the 21st Century, providing people with disabilities access to new broadband technologies and promoting new opportunities for innovation.”
“Most importantly, the new law will ensure that people with disabilities are not left behind and can share fully in the economic and social benefits of broadband. The law will enable people with disabilities to participate in our 21st century economy.”
“It is thanks to the bipartisan efforts of the legislation’s sponsors Representative Markey and Senator Pryor and the bipartisan commitment of Chairmen Representative Waxman and Senator Rockefeller and ranking members Representative Barton and Senator Hutchison that this update to our nation’s disability laws has become a reality. Subcommittee Chairmen Representative Boucher and Senator Kerry and ranking members Representative Stearns and Senator Ensign are also to be commended for their tireless work.”
“The FCC, with the tremendous leadership of longtime advocate Karen Peltz Strauss, looks forward to working with consumer, industry, and government stakeholders as we assume the responsibility of ensuring the effective implementation of this landmark legislation.”
October 20, 2010
DOJ Olmstead Settlement Improves Georgia Mental Health System, May Help Mississippi’s by Precedent
The Justice Department announced that it has entered into a comprehensive settlement agreement that will transform the state of Georgia’s mental health and developmental disability system and resolve a lawsuit the United States brought against the state. The lawsuit alleged unlawful segregation of individuals with mental illness and developmental disabilities in the state’s psychiatric hospitals in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Olmstead v. L.C. Assistant Attorney General Tom Perez called the agreement “the most comprehensive settlement that the Department has ever reached in an Olmstead case.”
To read the press release, click here. The AAG’s remarks about the settlement, as well as a fact sheet about the agreement, are below:
October 18, 2010
Man with Cerebral Palsy Booted Off Plane
Man with Cerebral Palsy Booted Off Plane, Told He Is “Too Disabled” to Fly
