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ActionAlert/News
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Ed Roberts, a Berkeley quadriplegic
who began the disability rights movement 40 years ago, now has his
own California day.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a
bill Monday creating Ed Roberts Day, encouraging schools and other
institutions to educate the public about the disability-rights
pioneer every year on his birthday, Jan. 23. The commemoration does
not include time off for state employees.
"Ed Roberts was a great example that
whatever life hands you, you can be a success," said State Sen. Loni
Hancock, D-Berkeley, a former next-door neighbor of Roberts' on Ward
Street in Berkeley. "California should be very proud."
Roberts, who had polio as a teenager
and relied on an iron lung, was among the first seriously disabled
students to attend UC Berkeley, and went on to found the Center for
Independent Living. He died in 1995.
*************************************************************
Share Your Personal Stories and Reflections to Help
Social Security Celebrate 75 Years of Public Service
Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social
Security, today announced that Social Security is asking members of
the public, as well as current and former employees, to help the
agency celebrate its 75 years of public service by sharing their
personal stories and reflections about how Social Security has
touched their lives. To share your story, go to
www.socialsecurity.gov and click on the box that says “Social
Security Celebrates 75 Years of Public Service.” Selected stories
will be edited for content and brevity and posted for everyone to
read.
“On August 14, the
most important and successful domestic program in our nation’s
history turns 75,” Commissioner Astrue said. “For three quarters of
a century, Social Security has provided a financial lifeline to
millions of Americans. As we approach our anniversary, Social
Security remains a solid foundation for retirees, the disabled, and
survivors. I encourage everyone to visit our website, share their
stories, and join me in wishing Social Security a happy 75th
anniversary.”
Social Security is asking people to tell how
the program made a difference in their lives and the lives of their
family and friends. For example:
- How did it
feel to receive your first retirement check?
- Tell us if
you received survivors benefits when a loved one died.
- How has the
Social Security disability program helped you?
- How did a
Social Security Administration employee go above and beyond to
provide you with great service?
- Current and
former Social Security Administration employees: Share your
memorable stories of service.
Social Security also will soon launch a video
contest “How Social Security Has Made a Difference in My Life.”
Submitted videos will be posted on the agency’s YouTube channel and
the winning video will be posted on
www.socialsecurity.gov. Details of the contest will be posted
on the website later this week.
Social Security invites the public to view a
special photo gallery that takes them on a brief journey through the
agency’s 75-year history. The photo gallery is available at
www.socialsecurity.gov/75thanniversary. A more extensive
collection of history-related materials that presents both the
institutional history of the Social Security Administration and the
history of the Social Security program is available at
www.socialsecurity.gov/history.
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For many families and
small businesses, finding the right insurance plan has meant
spending hours on the phone deciphering confusing insurance company
lingo and reading way too much fine print. Today finding health
insurance just got easier with the launch of
HealthCare.gov.
The
innovative new website
developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services helps
you understand all the health insurance options available in your
local area for you and your family. After answering just a few basic
questions, the website's insurance finder will identify public and
private coverage options that might be right for you.
From
HealthCare.gov
you can receive updates on the implementation of the new law and, as
the website grows, you will be able to research health plan quality
ratings, learn about disease prevention, and compare health plan
prices all in one place.
This website
is just the beginning of the transparency and peace of mind promised
by the new law to check the insurance companies' bad practices and
greedy behavior.
HealthCare.gov
represents an
important step in implementation and allows us all to take health
care into our own hands.
HealthCare.gov
represents an important step as we move forward to end the insurance
company's stranglehold over the American health care system. We
hope that this resource will move us closer the peace of mind
promised by the new law.
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JUDGE ORDERS STATE OF FLORIDA TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY
SERVICES TO JACKSONVILLE WOMAN AT RISK OF
INSTITUTIONALIZATION
WASHINGTON – The
state of Florida must provide Michele Haddad with services that will
enable her to remain in her home, a U.S. District Court in
Jacksonville, Fla., ruled Wednesday. Haddad, who has quadriplegia
as a result of a motorcycle accident with a drunk driver in 2007,
has successfully resided in the community
since the accident, but is at risk of entry into a nursing home due
to changes in her caregiver situation. Haddad, who has been on the
waiting list for Medicaid community-based waiver services for two
years, notified the state of her increased need for services, but
was told that community services would only be available if she was
willing to enter a nursing home for 60 days.
The court ordered the state to
provide community-based services as required by the Americans
with Disabilities Act’s (ADA) integration mandate as set forth in
Olmstead v. L.C. The
United States argued in a brief filed on May 25, 2010, that
Haddad would suffer irreparable harm if forced to enter a nursing
home to receive necessary services.
The
court issued this order in the week that marks the 11th anniversary
of the landmark Olmstead
decision.
“In the
Olmstead case, the court
recognized that the unnecessary segregation of individuals with
disabilities stigmatizes those individuals as unworthy of
participation in community life,” said Thomas E. Perez,
Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “By
supporting Ms. Haddad in this case, we seek to ensure that
individuals with disabilities can receive services in the most
integrated setting appropriate, where they can participate in their
communities, interact with individuals who do not have disabilities,
and make their own day to day choices.”
The U.S.
government’s participation in this case is part of the
administration’s efforts across the nation to affirm the fundamental
right for Americans with disabilities to live independently, in what
the president has deemed “The Year of Community Living.”
The full and fair
enforcement of the ADA and its mandate to integrate individuals with
disabilities is a major priority of the Civil Rights Division. The
ADA protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination by
public entities. People interested in finding out more about the
ADA can call the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA Information Line
at 1-800-514-0301 or 1-800-514-0383 (TTY), or access its ADA website
at
www.ada.gov/.
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Federal Government Launches New and Improved National Resource
Directory
for Military and Veteran Communities
Comprehensive Web site provides quick and easy access to thousands
of resources nationwide
Washington, DC – The U.S. Departments of
Defense, Labor and Veterans Affairs, as part of their continued
commitment to our Nation’s Service Members, Veterans, and their
families, launched a new and improved National Resource Directory (
www.nationalresourcedirectory.gov).
This free online tool provides access to thousands of services,
programs and resources at the national, state and community level.
The Web site has a fresh look with many key features that include an
improved search engine, Really Simple Syndication (RSS) news feeds,
subscriptions to e-mail updates, and new subject areas such as
“Homeless Assistance.”
The National Resource Directory is designed to serve a broad base of
users including transitioning Service Members, Veterans, Wounded
Warriors, and their families and caregivers. In addition, it is a
useful tool for service providers who support Veterans and Service
Members, such as Department of Defense Recovery Care Coordinators
and AW2 Advocates, Veterans Affairs Federal Recovery Coordinators,
health care providers and case managers at Veterans Service
Organizations.
“(The National Resource Directory) is wonderful,” says Cara Hammer,
an Army Veteran who served in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“I’ve been using it pretty regularly. It is very comprehensive and
fool proof – I love it.”
The new features allow the Military and Veteran community to
identify and stay informed about the thousands of resources that are
available to them as well as browse for information they may not
have known about it the past. Additionally, a faster, more accurate
search engine provides the tools to sort results by subject area,
audience and government or non-government resources to ensure users
locate exactly what they want, without having to sort through
thousands of links themselves.
For more than a year, the National Resource Directory has provided
Wounded Warriors, transitioning Service Members and Veterans, and
those who support them with quick and easy access to resources they
need. Resources on the National Resource Directory are vetted and
must meet the participation policy standards before being added.
This ensures that all the posted resources are relevant and from
reputable sources.
The new National Resource Directory is simple, easy-to-navigate and
even more relevant to the needs of the Wounded Warrior, Veteran and
caregiver communities. It also contains “In the News” and
“Spotlight” features to highlight important news and updates. To
tell friends and family about the new National Resource Directory,
use the “Bookmark and Share” function to post updates on more than
200 social media networks such as Facebook or Twitter.
To learn more about the National Resource Directory’s new features,
and to explore the thousands of resources provided, visit the Web
site at
www.nationalresourcedirectory.gov.
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On Anniversary of Olmstead, President Obama
Highlights Administration’s Actions to Assist Americans with
Disabilities
Last year, on the anniversary of the landmark
Supreme Court decision in the case of Olmstead v. L.C., President
Obama launched "The Year of Community Living," a new effort to
assist Americans with disabilities. One year later, the
Administration has taken many steps towards achieving that goal.
"Olmstead was a critical civil rights decision
that affirmed a fundamental right for Americans with disabilities –
the right to live independently,” said President Obama. “Since I
launched the ‘Year of Community Living,’ my Administration has taken
a number of important steps to address the needs and concerns of
those living with disabilities. And as we mark the 20th anniversary
of the Americans with Disabilities Act, we must renew our commitment
to uphold the civil rights of those living with disabilities and to
fully include all our people in the life of our nation.
In the Olmstead decision, the Court held that the
unjustified institutional isolation of people with disabilities is a
form of unlawful discrimination under the Americans with
Disabilities Act.
Last year, the President directed Health and
Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Housing and Urban
Development Secretary Shaun Donovan to work together to identify
ways to improve access to affordable housing, community supports,
and independent living arrangements. These agencies launched several
new initiatives including increasing Section 8 vouchers and enhanced
interagency coordination. HHS also conducted listening sessions
across the country to hear the voices and stories of Americans.
As part of the "Year of Community Living",
Secretary Sebelius created the "Community Living Initiative" to
coordinate the efforts of Federal agencies and underscored the
importance of the ADA and Olmstead and affirmed the Administration's
commitment to addressing isolation and discrimination against people
with disabilities across the age span. Today, HHS awarded a $3.2
million contract to establish a Housing Capacity Building Initiative
for Community Living. This initiative, administered over a three
year period, will support a collaborative working relationship
between housing and human service agencies at the Federal, State,
and local levels. This is one of the key initiatives in the HUD-HHS
partnership that is also seeking funding in the 2011 budget for
4,000 Housing Choice Vouchers for homeless persons with
disabilities.
The Administration has also been implementing the
Money Follows the Person (MFP) Rebalancing Demonstration Program,
which awards funding to States to achieve increased use of home and
community based services for eligible individuals who choose to
transition from an institutional setting. Such settings often cost
less than an institutional setting. MFP seeks to eliminate barriers
to the use of Medicaid funds for appropriate and necessary long-term
services in the settings of their choice, to achieve continuity of
service in transitioning from an institutional to community setting,
and to ensure that procedures are in place for ongoing quality
improvement in the implementation of Medicaid home and community
based services. In support of the MFP effort, HUD made available
5,300 vouchers for non-elderly persons with disabilities. 1,000 of
these vouchers were explicitly targeted to link with the MFP
program. HUD has also encouraged housing authorities across the
country to support the MFP initiative through the establishment of
preferences for institutionalized individuals who are in need of
affordable, community-based housing.
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division
has also taken steps to ensure that the promise of Olmstead is kept
– it has filed lawsuits in Arkansas and Georgia, intervened in a
case in New York, and filed amicus briefs in cases in Connecticut,
Virginia, North Carolina, Illinois, Florida, New Jersey and
California. In these cases, the Division has sought to ensure that
people with physical, psychiatric, and developmental disabilities
can leave inappropriate institutional living arrangements and
receive services in supported housing and other community settings.
It has also sought to ensure that people with disabilities who are
living in the community can stay there. The Division continues to
investigate and prepare cases alleging violations of Olmstead.
Earlier this month, Valerie Jarrett, Senior
Advisor to President Obama, kicked off the President’s and White
House’s observance of the 20th Anniversary of the ADA by delivering
remarks at the VSA International Festival at the Kennedy Center. In
the coming weeks, the Administration will continue to commemorate
the anniversary with various events.
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|
Housing Advocates, Interest Groups and the Public
|
|
On April 30, 2010, Governor McDonnell issued Executive Order
10, which established Virginia's first executive housing
policy framework. The Governor's framework will guide the
development of a statewide housing policy that will be
announced in the fall.
The Governor's housing policy will address homelessness and
affordable housing, as well as workforce housing, economic
development, healthy neighborhoods, effective coordination
with transportation, environmental issues and other housing
relatedopportunities. The housing policy is being developed
under my leadership as chair of the Housing Policy Work
Group and Housing Policy Advisory Committee.
The Housing Policy Work Group held its first meeting on June
17. We are now seeking input in the form of suggestions
for addressing the identified critical housing issues.
Broad policy areas, initially identified by the Virginia
Housing Commission in 2006, provided the initial structure
for soliciting comments. The Housing PolicyWork Group
identified several questions under each policy area that
they would like you to address. |
|
If you are a leader of a group or association, please
respond in an organizational context best representing the
views of your organization. We ask that you use the
following link for organizational comments to help us better
understand the collective viewpoints:
Organization Comments:
http://www.pmg.vcu.edu/Housing/housing%20policy.html
Additionally, we ask that you forward this email to
individual members of your organization or association so
that they may respond as well, understanding that the nature
of the responses, not the number of them, is most pertinent
to our work.
A
link to the survey site for general public comments is:
Public Comments:
http://www.pmg.vcu.edu/Housing/housing%20policypublic.html
Both links ask for identical information. Using the two
links will help the Advisory Committee better understand
viewpoints from around the state.
Your comments should be entered no later than July 9, 2010
to ensure inclusion in the summary report prepared for
Policy Committee and Work Group members. Comments received
after July 9, 2010 may not be included. We anticipate
meeting with the Housing PolicyWork Group and Advisory
Committee soon after the end of the survey period to review
the input and determine next steps. |
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Commission Seeks Public Comments
Governor McDonnell's Commission on
Government Reform and Restructuring would like to
receive suggestions from the public to make government simpler,
more efficient and more effective. We especially welcome
recommendations from state employees, local government officials and
those who interface with state government on a regular basis. The
Commission is developing recommendations to deliver state services
at the lowest cost and best value to Virginia taxpayers, streamline
state services, and make state government more transparent and
accountable to its citizens. Please submit your suggestions
here.
The Commission will evaluate the recommendations received at its
meetings this summer. A list of approved recommendations will be
presented in September for public comment. All Commission and
committee meetings are open to the public. Schedules and videos of
the meetings are available at
www.reform.virginia.gov.
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Information
Alert: KT4TT Seeks Survey Referrals; Offers Compensation
I am writing on behalf of the Center on
Knowledge Translation for Technology Transfer (KT4TT), of which
Western New York Independent Living is a full partner. This center
is funded by the National Institute on Disability Rehabilitation
Research and operating since October 2008 led by Joe Lane, of the
University at Buffalo. We previously held the NIDRR grant for
Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Technology Transfer,
which was able to get over 50 products for people with disabilities
into the market place, before getting this current award.
I am writing this with a special request
regarding augmentative communication. Our Center’s research is
focused on knowledge translation strategies and currently we are
working with AAC technologies. Our research interest is about best
ways of communicating research knowledge to AAC stakeholders – and
this includes consumers, clinicians, brokers, policy makers,
manufacturers and researchers.
If you can help us identify consumers over the
age of 18 who use AAC equipment, and who will participate in our
study both you and the consumer will benefit.
For any consumer who participates in the
study he / she will receive $100 for each one of the 3
questionnaires we will ask them to complete.
For each participant an organization is able
to offer us, a chance will be put into a drawing for $1000.
(This means if you are able to help us find 1 consumer you will get
1 chance at the drawing, if you assist us in finding 10 consumers
you will get 10 chances in the drawing.) We are only seeking 60
participants so you can see your chances of winning the drawing is
greatly enhanced with more referrals.
If you are able to assist us, or wish to know
more about the study please feel free to email me or call: (716)
204-8606 ext. 205. I look forward to your assistance in helping us
identifying the best way for new knowledge to reach the person’s who
can best benefit by it.
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Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Justice Department Signs Agreement with Smyth
County, Virginia, to Ensure Civic Access for People with
Disabilities
WASHINGTON- The Justice Department today
announced an agreement with Smyth County, Va., to improve access to
all aspects of civic life for persons with disabilities. The
agreement was reached under Project Civic Access (PCA), the
department’s wide-ranging initiative to ensure that cities, towns
and counties throughout the country comply with the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA).
PCA was initiated to ensure that persons with
disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate in civic life,
a fundamental part of American society. As part of the PCA
initiative, Justice Department investigators, attorneys and
architects survey state and local government facilities, services
and programs in communities across the country to identify the
modifications needed for compliance with ADA requirements. The
agreements are tailored to address the steps each community must
take to improve access. This agreement is the 179th under the PCA
initiative.
“Access to civic life is a fundamental part of
American society and is necessary for individuals with disabilities
to be full members of their communities,” said Thomas E. Perez,
Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights Division.
“Communities and workplaces across the nation have become more
accessible for America’s nearly 50 million people with disabilities
due to cooperative actions taken by entities like Smyth County. We
hope that all local governments are committed to achieving full
compliance with the ADA, particularly as we approach the 20th
anniversary of this landmark civil rights law in July."
Under the agreement announced today, Smyth
County will take several important steps to improve access for
individuals with disabilities, such as:
-
Making physical modifications to
facilities surveyed by the department so that parking, routes
into the buildings, entrances, service areas and counters,
restrooms, public telephones and drinking fountains are
accessible to people with disabilities.
-
Surveying other facilities and
programs and making modifications wherever necessary to achieve
full compliance with ADA requirements.
-
Ensuring that buildings and
outdoor facilities that will be built or altered by or on behalf
of the county comply with the ADA’s architectural requirements.
-
Posting, publishing and
distributing a notice to inform members of the public of the
provisions of Title II and their applicability to the county’s
programs, services and activities.
-
Officially recognizing the
Virginia’s telephone relay service as a key means of
communicating with individuals who are deaf, are
hard-of-hearing, or have speech impairments and training staff
in using the relay service for telephone communications.
-
Undertaking the required planning
and modifications to ensure equal, integrated access to
emergency management for individuals with disabilities,
including emergency preparedness, notification, evacuation,
sheltering, response, clean up and recovery.
-
Developing a method for providing
information for interested persons with disabilities concerning
the existence and location of the county’s accessible services,
activities and programs.
-
Installing signs at any
inaccessible entrance to a facility directing individuals with
disabilities to an accessible entrance or to information about
accessing programs and services at other accessible facilities.
-
Adopting a grievance procedure to
deal with complaints of disability discrimination relating to
county programs and services.
Smyth County, named to honor General Alexander
Smyth, was created in 1832. Two-thirds of the 435 square miles of
the county came from neighboring Washington County, and one-third
from Wythe County. According to 2000 census data, 24.9 percent of
people living in Smyth County – nearly one in every four residents –
is an individual with a disability.
Today’s agreement was reached under Title II of
the ADA, which prohibits discrimination against individuals with
disabilities by state and local governments. The department will
actively monitor the county’s compliance with the agreement. The
agreement will remain in effect for three years or until the
department has confirmed that all required actions have been
completed, whichever is later.
People interested in finding out more about the
ADA, today’s agreement with Smyth County, the Project Civic Access
initiative, or the ADA Best Practices Tool Kit for State and Local
Governments can access the ADA Web page at
www.ada.gov or call the toll-free
ADA Information Line at (800) 514-0301 or (800) 514-0383 (TTY).
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National Youth Leadership Network
Reap What You Sow: Harvesting Support Systems Institute
When: July 29-31, 2010
Where: Raleigh, North Carolina
What: Introduction of a new,
interactive curriculum
·
The curriculum teaches youth with disabilities how to work
with their families to maximize support from people in their lives
and become more self-determined
·
Youth, family members, and adult allies learn together.
·
Created by youth with disabilities with input from family
members.
·
Includes 100% fun and hands-on activities
Who: YOU!
·
Young people/young adults (ages 14-28) with disabilities
·
Family members of young people with disabilities
·
Youth groups and youth group facilitators
·
Community development administrators
·
Inclusive educators
·
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors
·
Independent Living Specialists
·
And more...
Learn more at
www.nyln.org (link at bottom of
page) or call 1-866-480-6565
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Greetings from the Center for Assistive
Technology and Environmental Access (CATEA) at Georgia Tech!
We are writing to announce a new survey
about workplace accommodations – technology, physical changes to the
workplace, or policy changes that employees have used to help them
be more effective in their jobs. We are most interested in the
features that help an employee because of a limitation in his or her
ability due to a loss of function or disability.
We would like for you to answer some
questions about the job accommodations you use. On average, this
should take about 30 minutes to complete, though it might take
longer depending on the number of accommodations you use. You will
have the option of saving your responses and continuing at a later
time.
If you have difficulty using the computer
you may schedule an appointment with us to complete the survey over
the phone. Please contact Maureen Linden at 404-894-0561 if you
would like to answer these questions by telephone.
If you are interested in finding out more,
please visit the link below, where you will find more information
and can continue on to take the survey if you desire.
http://www.surveygizmo.com/s/200473/workplace-features-that-aid-function
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Social Security to Provide Helpful Health Care Information
to Over 3 Million Disability Applicants Each Year
Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security,
today announced the agency is providing helpful health care
information and website links to the more than three million
individuals who apply each year for Social Security and
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits. The
website links take disability applicants to two U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services (HHS) websites –
www.healthfinder.gov where they
will find information and tools to help them better understand
and cope with their conditions; and
www.healthfinder.gov/rxdrug
where they may be able to get help paying for prescription
drugs.
“This year over three million Americans
will apply for disability benefits. Whether they meet the
statutory test and qualify for benefits or not, almost all of
them are facing difficult economic and medical challenges. One
of the advantages of our fully electronic system is that our
notices can provide applicants with valuable information
provided by HHS that might help them make good choices faster,”
Commissioner Astrue said. “Twenty five years ago, I had the
experience of filing for disability benefits on behalf of my
seriously ill father. It would have been a blessing to have had
easy access to this kind of important information.”
The website at
www.healthfinder.gov provides
detailed information about specific diseases. For example, an
applicant with breast cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer’s
disease, diabetes, or other diseases can go to the site to
gather information about diagnosis, symptoms, treatment, ongoing
research, and local resources available to people with those
diseases. The website at
www.healthfinder.gov/rxdrug
links people to the Partnership for Prescription Assistance,
which directs people to information on reduced cost or free
prescription drugs offered by drug companies, state and local
governments, and local organizations.
The helpful health care links also are
available on Social Security’s website at
www.socialsecurity.gov/applyfordisability.
*******************************************************
Virginia
Delegate Bob Marshall of Manassas Degraded People with Disabilities
People with
disabilities throughout Virginia have been angered by the remarks of
Delegate Bob Marshall of Manassas. Delegate Marshall stated that
"the number of children who are born subsequent to a first abortion
with handicaps has increased dramatically" implying that disability
is a "special punishment."
The Virginia
Association of Centers for Independent Living does not believe that
disability is a punishment. VACIL is proud of the thousands of
people who were born with disabilities and their accomplishments.
Virginians with disabilities continue to be discriminated against
and denied services needed to live in the community.
Most Virginians
respect the lives of people with disabilities and support efforts
needed to improve community integration. These biased and hurtful
remarks have no place in contemporary dialogue.
"The Virginia
Association of Centers for Independent Living is extremely
disappointed by Delegate Marshall’s remarks. These comments are a
poignant reminder that Virginians with disabilities have a long way
to go in fighting for their civil rights,” said Karen
Michalski-Karney, President of VACIL.
Lisbet Dula from
Virginia Beach said, "I have a full and rewarding life and my
disability is part of what makes me who I am and has been part of
the path to what I have achieved. To say that my disability is a
punishment or that my life and personhood are less than someone
else’s takes away my social equality as a Virginian.”
“To discount people with disabilities and to call them a
"punishment" is wrong. I may be a person with a disability but
that's the point...first and foremost I am a PERSON. I am not my
disability and my disability does not define me,” said Jason Neal
from Abingdon who was born with spina bifida.
Stephanie George who lives in Manassas independently and who has
cerebral palsy said, “The moral dilemma is that people with
disabilities must beg and fight for services. Apparently for some
legislators, life is valuable before birth, and then some sort of
transformation occurs to lessen the value of that life after birth.”
April 24, 2010
**********************************************************
Social Security Administration
Celebrates the 10th Anniversary of the Ticket to Work Program
with the Launch of “Choose Work” Web Site
The Social Security Administration (SSA)
and CESSI, the Program Manager for Recruitment and Outreach for
the Ticket to Work (Ticket) program, are pleased to announce the
launch of the new Choose Work web site (www.choosework.net)
for people with disabilities receiving Social Security
disability benefits in celebration of the 10th Anniversary of
the enactment of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives
Improvement Act (Ticket Act).
In 1999, Congress passed the landmark
Ticket Act to expand choice and provide improved services and
supports to beneficiaries with disabilities who decided to
Choose Work. SSA has worked continuously to improve the Ticket
program over the past decade and the program has come a long way
since the first Ticket was issued in 2002.
Based on input SSA received from
beneficiaries, Employment Networks and the disability
community, regulatory improvements were made to the Ticket
program in July 2008 and those changes have resulted in
significant program growth and the emergence of some very
encouraging trends:
o
Increased Ticket Assignments:
Over 270,000 beneficiaries are using their Ticket to get help
finding a job. That is up 72% from the beginning of 2007.
o
More Beneficiaries Are Working:
In 2008, 96,993 beneficiaries had their Ticket in use
and were working. That is up from 59,443 in 2007, a 63%
increase. Many of these beneficiaries are achieving significant
levels of self sufficiency and some have successfully
transitioned off SSA benefits.
And these are just a few of the positive
trends that have emerged since the new regulations were
implemented. Stay tuned in the new year for a full report on the
impact of the regulatory changes.
SSA is launching this web site to renew
Congress’ challenge to willing SSI and SSDI beneficiaries to
“Choose Work” by participating in the Ticket to Work program and
using the other SSA Work Incentives. For the first time, those
unfamiliar with the program can view short, informative videos;
hear powerful stories told by people just like themselves whose
circumstances have led them to explore the Ticket and other Work
Incentives; experience a Work Incentive Seminar Event; find
local resources and other helpful information in one interactive
location online.
******************************************************************
Did
Social Security Stop Your Benefits
Because You Had an Arrest Warrant?
You may be able to
start your benefits again. You may also be able to get thousands
of dollars in back benefits. A class action lawsuit settlement
says:
?
Social Security cannot deny or stop benefits because of most
outstanding arrest warrants.
?
Social Security must stop collecting overpayments based on
most outstanding warrants.
?
For 80,000 people, Social Security must pay back all benefits
that it didn’t pay or that it collected as overpayments. These
benefits may total over $500 million dollars.
Many people can
get their benefits back.
Over 200,000 people
could be helped by this lawsuit, which is called Martinez v.
Astrue.
These are the
benefits you can get back:
?
Social Security
?
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
?
Special Veterans Benefits (SVB)
IMPORTANT: This
case will not help you if:
?
You were convicted and sentenced for a crime and violated
your probation or parole.
?
You have an outstanding warrant for flight and/or escape
(very rare).
Make sure Social
Security pays you the back benefits it owes you.
?
Social Security will send notices to class members. Make
sure Social Security has your current address. People who received
Social Security (not SSI or SVB) can update their address online at
www.socialsecurity.gov/changeofaddress.
?
If you received SSI benefits, you should visit your local
Social Security office and ask them to put your name, address,
Social Security number and phone number on the “Martinez list.”
To learn more visit
www.nsclc.org/areas/social-security-ssi/Martinez-Settlement.
Or visit the Social Security website at
www.ssa.gov/martinezsettlement.
**************************************************
Virginia
Youth Leadership Forum Planning Year
Catching Up & Moving
Forward
The
Virginia Board for People with Disabilities and its
YLF staff are proud of the many accomplishments and successes
achieved during the first ten years of the Virginia Youth
Leadership Forum. They are also keenly aware that times are
changing and changing rapidly. Advancements in technology and
media, social networking, and leadership curricula have
exploded. The Board recognizes the importance of keeping YLF
current with all these changes to ensure that past and future
student Delegates have access to the latest and greatest
information and networking strategies.
In order to evaluate, update, modernize,
and improve all YLF activities (while needing to stay within the
limits of its state and federal resources) the Board has
approved a planning year for the Forum. There will be no YLF in
Summer 2010; however, the Board looks forward to a new and
greatly improved Youth Leadership Forum in 2011. In the
interim, a committee of YLF alumni, staff, past speakers,
presenters, and supporters will convene to look at what has been
accomplished to-date and what can be done to ensure that future
Forums incorporate new and innovative opportunities and
resources.
Along the way, the Board will use its
Voices & Visions
newsletter, YLF webpage at
www.VABoard.org/YLF.htm, and other communications to
keep YLF alumni and other constituents informed. The Board also
extends its thanks to everyone who has supported and promoted
the program, recruited student Delegates, and helped to educate
and mentored them over the past ten years.
Watch
for updates and look forward to the Youth Leadership Forum of
tomorrow!
*******************************************************
NCIL Analysis: Senate Bill HR 3590, the Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act
The
healthcare bill introduced by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
in November contains numerous provisions that affect people with
disabilities. Please note that this bill will be debated over
the next few weeks and some of these provisions could be
modified and even removed. This is an analysis of the bill as it
stands December 1, 2009 and not a final bill.
If you have
questions about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
or about the legislative process, contact NCIL Policy Analyst
Jason Beloungy at 202-207-0334 (toll-free: 1-877-525-3400), ext.
1008 or at
jason@ncil.org.
Market
Reforms and Benefits
·
Reforms in the Individual and
Small Group Insurance Market:
a.
No lifetime limits of benefits
b.
Prohibition on rescission of
plans
c.
Coverage of preventive health
services
Immediate Access to Health
Insurance for people with pre-existing conditions:
a.
The Secretary of Health and
Human Services will enact a temporary high-risk insurance pool
for such individuals until 2014, when new market rules would
take effect.
·
Additional Health Insurance
Market Reforms:
a.
Prohibition of pre-existing
condition exclusions from coverage
b.
Prohibition of discriminatory
premium rates in coverage: only tied to family size, age,
tobacco use and geography – not health status
c.
Guaranteed issuance of
coverage, all who apply must be accepted
d.
Guaranteed renewability of
coverage
e.
Prohibiting discrimination of
coverage – no eligibility requirements can be made by health
insurers based on disability, health history or status, genetic
information or claims experience
·
Qualified Health Plans that
will be offered through each state’s health insurance exchange
must include at least the following benefits:
a.
Ambulatory Patient Services
b.
Emergency Services
c.
Hospitalization
d.
Maternity and Newborn Care
e.
Mental Health and Substance
Abuse Disorder Services
f.
Prescription Drugs
g.
Rehabilitative and Habilitative
Services
h.
Preventive and Wellness
Services
i.
Pediatric Services
·
There is also the establishment
of plan levels (gold, silver, etc…) and limits on cost sharing
for plans in health insurance exchanges
Health Insurance Exchanges and Public Option
·
Federal funds to assist states
in creating state-based health insurance exchanges for people in
the individual health insurance market, as well as for
employers. These exchanges will be called American Health
Benefit Exchanges
This bill provides for the
creation of a Community Health Insurance Option (most commonly
known as the “Public Option”, which has no mandates for
providers to join, no mandates for individuals to join, and an
“opt-out” provision for states who wish to not offer the option.
·
This bill provides the states
flexibility to create health insurance programs for low-income
individuals not eligible for Medicaid, in lieu of offering such
individuals coverage in a state exchange. This would allow a
state to create a program where individuals would have a choice
among various health insurance plans. Eligibility would be for
individuals and families whose incomes fall between 133% and
200% of the Federal Poverty Level, and cannot access affordable
insurance from their employer.
·
The bill allows states to
collect fees from health insurers to create a reinsurance entity
that will make payments to health insurers who cover high-risk
individuals.
Premium
Tax Credits and Cost Sharing Reductions
·
This bill provides for a health
insurance premium tax credit for individuals who meet the
following eligibility requirements:
a.
Individuals (and their
families) who get their health insurance from the health
insurance exchange in their state
b.
Individuals and families whose
income falls in the range of 100% and 400% of the Federal
Poverty Level
·
The bill provides for
cost-sharing reductions by making payments to insurance
providers who will in turn reduce the out-of-pocket costs for
the individuals who meet the following eligibility requirements:
a.
Individuals enrolled in an
individual health plan offered through their state’s health
insurance exchange
b.
Individuals whose household
income falls in the range of 100% and 400% of the Federal
Poverty Level
Public Health Insurance Programs
·
This bill expands eligibility
for the Medicaid programs to non-pregnant, non-elderly,
childless adults whose incomes do not exceed 133% of the Federal
Poverty Level
·
The federal government will
increase the federal matching rate for newly eligible
individuals to 100% from 2014 until the end of 2016. In the
following two years, the federal match will based on whether the
state is considered an expansion state for expanding the roles
of their Medicaid-eligible population upon the date of the bill
being enacted. After that two year period, and from that point
forward, the federal match will be increased by 32.5 percent.
·
The states will also have the
option to begin enrolling newly eligible individuals, as
described above, before 2014, when the provision would begin.
·
The legislation requires states
to maintain the current eligibility requirements for the
Medicaid programs in their states until their state health
insurance exchanges are fully operational.
·
In regard to income
eligibility, states may not use methods, standards or procedures
that are more restrictive than at the time of enactment of the
legislation
·
While the bill makes changes to
income eligibility determination for public programs, as well as
premium and cost-sharing assistance, by utilizing the
methodology of Modified Gross Income, the bill makes exceptions
to individuals who qualify for Medicaid because they are
eligible for other aid, are elderly, are medically needy, or
eligible for Medicare cost-sharing. This was a concern for
people who wanted to protect eligibility for such programs as
the Medicaid Buy-In. The bill specifically mentions people who
qualify for Medicaid because of disability.
·
The bill allows qualified
hospitals to make “presumptive eligibility” determinations to
provide individuals with Medicaid during a presumptive
eligibility period.
New Options for Long-Term Supports and Services
·
The first and most significant
provision is the inclusion of the Community First Choice Option
for states to have the opportunity to include home and community
based attendant services and supports as a part of their state
Medicaid plan.
a.
In addition, the federal
government will increase the federal match by 6 percent for
those served in states that choose this option.
b.
This option would be available
to states beginning on October 1st, 2010.
c.
Individuals are eligible if
eligible for the Medicaid program, whose income does not exceed
150% of the Federal Poverty Level, and have been determined to
require an institutional level of care to be eligible for
nursing facility services and would only be able to get those
services in an institution or nursing home if home and community
based services were not available.
d.
States that choose this option
are required to provide such services to eligible individuals.
e.
Room and board, technology,
special education and vocational rehabilitation services,
medical supplies and equipment and home modifications are not
allowable services and supports.
f.
States would be required to
monitor compliance and satisfaction of individuals receiving
services, as well as collecting data on the provision of home
and community based attendant services and supports.
·
The second significant
provision to be included in the bill was the Community Living
Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act. This legislation
creates a voluntary national long-term care insurance program
for purchasing community living services and supports, known as
the CLASS program. Here are some of the aspects of the CLASS
program:
a.
Individuals with functional
limitations, as determined by a licensed health practitioner,
and who cannot perform a minimum number of activities of daily
living, will be able to receive a cash benefit to maintain
personal and financial independence. This cash benefit can be
paid out on a daily or weekly basis.
b.
CLASS will be available for
eligible individuals who are actively working and have paid
premiums through payroll deductions for a minimum of 3 calendar
years in a 60 month period
c.
CLASS will have 3 different
benefit plans
d.
CLASS will have a nominal
premium fee of $5 per month for low-income individuals whose
income does not exceed the Federal Poverty Line and full-time
students
e.
CLASS does not have a lifetime
limit, and the benefit will increase over time
f.
CLASS will allow employers and
individuals to opt out of the program. Individuals who are
self-employed, or whose employer has opted not to provide the
option, will have the opportunity to enroll individually
g.
CLASS will provide that if a
beneficiary is receiving long-term care services in an
institution, or home and community based services, the
beneficiary will be allowed to maintain a percentage of the
benefit for themselves if the remainder is applied to the costs
of care
h.
The Secretary of Health and
Human Services will be required to establish a Personal Care
Attendants Workforce Advisory panel
·
This legislation requires the
Secretary of Health and Human Services to create regulations
that ensure
a.
That states are developing
long-term care systems that utilize resources in a manner more
consistent with the needs of individuals who wish to and receive
their services in the community
b.
That states provide support and
coordination for self direction of services, improve
coordination and regulation of providers, and ensure
coordination and effectiveness of eligibility determinations,
services monitoring and a sufficient number of direct care
workers.
·
Money Follows the Person
Grants: This legislation extends the grants through 2016, as
well as reducing the time that an individual must reside in an
institutional setting, from six months to 90 days. This time
also includes time admitted to an institutional setting for
short-term rehabilitative services. This provision would go into
effect 30 days after enactment of this bill.
·
Spousal Impoverishment
protections extended to recipients of home and community based
services and supports. This provision is for only five years and
begins in 2014.
·
Funding to expand Aging and
Disability Resource Centers (ADRC) was included in this bill. To
be clear, this language is not from the Project 2020 bill that
NCIL has raised some concerns with, but rather, this provision
merely gives the Assistant Secretary on Aging $10, 000,000 for
each fiscal year of 2010 through 2014 to carry out the ADRC
program in the Older Americans Act.
·
The bill included a Sense of
the Senate that despite the findings of the “Pepper Commission”
and the Olmstead Decision, long-term care provided in America
has not improved, and for some, has gotten worse. Therefore, it
is the sense of the Senate that in this session of Congress,
long-term services and supports should be addressed in a
comprehensive way that guarantees older adults and people with
disabilities the care they need and that care should be made
available in the community.
Improved
Coordination for Dual-Eligible Beneficiaries
·
This bill provides for federal
coverage and payment coordination, by establishing a federal
Coordinated Health Care Office. The purpose would be to bring
together officers for Medicare and Medicaid at CMS to more
effectively integrate benefits and improve coordination between
states and the federal government. The bill also provides for a
5-year demonstration project
Medicare
Part D Improvements
·
This bill creates a Medicare
Part D “Coverage Gap Discount Program”. For individuals enrolled
in the Medicare Part D program, and who reach the coverage gap,
which is commonly referred to as the doughnut hole, prescription
drug insurance plans will be required to provide eligible
beneficiaries with discounted prices on their prescription drugs
(not counting generic drugs or drugs not in the plan’s
formulary). This change would not affect the ability for the
beneficiary to get out of the coverage gap, as the regular cost
of the drug would be applied to the deductible. This provision
would begin after July 1st, 2010.
·
The bill also eliminates the
cost-sharing for Medicare Part D for Dual Eligible individuals
who are receiving home and community based services, and if not
for those services would be living in an institutional setting.
·
The bill includes language to
decrease the size of the coverage gap, immediately after
enactment, by increasing the coverage limit by $500.
Nursing
Home Transparency Provisions
·
This legislation contains
accountability requirements for nursing facilities, such as:
a.
Effective Compliance and Ethics
programs
b.
Quality Assurance and
Improvement programs
c.
Standardized Complaint Forms
and resolution processes
d.
Improvements for staff
training, including abuse prevention training
e.
Nationwide System for
background checks of long-term care facility providers
Other provisions
·
This bill provides funding for
a pilot program for integrated care surrounding an event that
leads to the hospitalization of an individual, with the hope of
improving the continuity of care and coordination of services
after the acute care episode.
·
Cultural Competency and
reducing health disparities was the goal of a provision in the
bill. In this bill:
a.
The Secretary of Health and
Human Services is required to work with partners to establish
and then implement cultural competency, prevention and public
health, and working with people with disabilities training
curricula in health profession schools and continuing education
programs.
b.
The Bill also includes
“Disability” as a group to be included in data collection of any
federally funded or operated healthcare program. The Secretary
will use the data to detect and monitor trends in health
disparities.
c.
This provision also seeks to
determine the number of medical providers with accessible
facilities and equipment, as well as the number of employees of
a provider who have been trained in disability awareness and
patient care of people with disabilities.
·
The bill contains a provision
to continue and expand the Competitive Bidding Program in
Medicare for Durable Medical Equipment by utilizing the
competitive bidding process or competitive bidding prices in new
markets.
******************************************************
VOPA Needs Your
Input!
Request for
Public Comment on VOPA’s Focus Areas and Objectives
The Virginia Office for Protection
and Advocacy (VOPA) is dedicated to the mission of zealous and
effective advocacy and legal representation for persons with
disabilities. VOPA is developing its FY2010 action plan and we
need your help. VOPA has adopted the broad GOALS listed below.
With your input, we must select specific issues to work on
within these broad Goals. What are the issues that impact the
lives of persons with disabilities in your community? What can
VOPA do to address abuse, neglect or discrimination based upon
disability?
VOPA has adopted the following
GOALS for FY2010 -
2012.
1.
People with Disabilities are Free from Abuse and Neglect
2. Children with
Disabilities Receive an Appropriate Education.
3. People with
Disabilities have equal access to Government Services.
4.
People with Disabilities Live in the Most Appropriate Integrated
Environment.
5.
People with Disabilities Are Employed to their Maximum
Potential.
6. People with
Disabilities Have Equal Access to Appropriate and Necessary
Health Care.
VOPA needs your comments and input
regarding the specific Focus Areas and Objectives to be
developed under these broad Goals. The following questions can
help you decide where VOPA should focus its resources and help
you in suggesting those issues that are the most critical:
·
How severe
is the harm to individuals with disabilities?
·
How immediate
is the risk of harm to persons with disabilities?
·
Does the issue facilitate
systems change or
benefit many individuals?
·
Are there other
advocacy resources or organizations that can address
the problem?
·
Are there other
investigative or regulatory agencies that can solve
the problem?
·
What legal rights and legal remedies are available to
address the issue?
Please
submit your comments regarding VOPA’s Goals, Focus Areas and
Objectives by visiting our website at
www.vopa.virginia.gov,
or you may contact VOPA at 1-800-552-3962.
**************************************************************
President Obama Commemorates
Anniversary of Olmstead and Announces New Initiatives to Assist
Americans with Disabilities
On the 10th anniversary of the landmark
Supreme Court decision in the case of Olmstead v. L.C.,
President Barack Obama today celebrated that anniversary and
launched "The Year of Community Living," a new effort to assist
Americans with disabilities.
Specifically, the President has directed
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and
Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan to work
together to identify ways to improve access to housing,
community supports, and independent living arrangements. As part
of this effort, later today, Secretaries Sebelius and Donovan
will announce several new initiatives including details about
increased numbers of Section 8 vouchers and enhanced interagency
coordination to address this critical civil rights issue. The
initiative also will include listening sessions conducted by HHS
across the country to hear the voices and stories of Americans
and to keep the President's pledge to be as open and transparent
as possible.
“The Olmstead ruling was a critical step
forward for our nation, articulating one of the most fundamental
rights of Americans with disabilities: Having the choice to live
independently,” said President Obama. “I am proud to launch
this initiative to reaffirm my Administration's commitment to
vigorous enforcement of civil rights for Americans with
disabilities and to ensuring the fullest inclusion of all people
in the life of our nation.”
In the Olmstead case, the Court held
that the unjustified institutional isolation of people with
disabilities is a form of unlawful discrimination under the
Americans with Disabilities Act. Since that time, progress has
been made. Many individuals have successfully transitioned to
community settings, but waiting lists for community services
have grown considerably and many individuals who would like to
receive community services are not able to obtain them.
To help remedy that problem, the Obama
Administration provided over $140 million in the Recovery Act
funding for independent living centers across the country. The
Administration acknowledges that strides have been made, and
knows and accepts that there is much work to do in order to
maximize the choices and opportunities for individuals to
receive long-term services and supports in institutional and
community settings.
The President noted that his
Administration looks forward to continued engagement with the
disability community to achieve these goals.
=================================================
**********************************************************
Participants with low vision
sought for research on assistive technology design
Do you have difficulty in reading
standard newsprint, or expressions on a person's face? Then you
are invited to participate in this study! Let’s talk about the
visual impairments and user needs of assistive technology. An interview
will last approximately 1-1.5 hours.
You
will be compensated at the rate of $10/hour. You do not need to
worry about your transportation. We can come to you at your
convenience.
Knowledge and
experience are not required. Requirements:
1. Low vision:
20/70 or worse (with eye glasses, contact lenses, etc.) If you
are unaware of your visual acuity, it is OK. We will check it
for you.
2. Age: younger
than 30
3. Mobility in the
fingers of your dominant hand.
Here’s what will happen if you
decide to take part in the interview:
- I will interview you for about 1-1.5 hr in person. You will be
asked several questions about your tactile perception, visual
impairments, assistive technology, and everyday life
experiences. Knowledge and experience are not required.
If you’re interested in participating:
- Email or call me, and I will provide you with more
information. Hyung Kim
at
hykim7@vt.edu
or 540-922-3055
- If you decide to participate, I'll work with you to arrange
the interview at a time and place convenient to you.
-
If you have a question or need
further information, feel free to contact the principal
investigator, Hyung Kim at
hykim7@vt.edu
or 540-922-3055 (If no answer, leave your name, phone number,
and the time you would like to be called.)
**********************************************************
New Website for College-bound Students with Disabilities
http://www.going-to-college.org
This new website has been developed to help high school students
learn about living college life with a disability. The site provides
video clips, activities, and resources that can help students get a
head start in planning for college. Video interviews with college
students with disabilities offer a way to hear firsthand from
students with disabilities who have been successful. Modules include
activities that will help students explore more about themselves,
learn what to expect from college, and equip them with important
considerations and tasks to complete when planning for college.
****************************************************************
Help with a Research Study on Job Accommodation Requests
Have you ever asked an employer for a listening system, sign language
interpreters, CART, TTY, VP, captioned telephone, amplified telephone,
etc.?
The DBTAC: Mid-Atlantic ADA Center and the University of Maryland
are conducting a research study on the reasonable accommodation
process. The purpose of this study is to compare perceptions of the
significance of factors affecting job accommodation requests and
provision among persons with disabilities, employers who are employing
persons with disabilities, and service providers.
The survey
takes approximately 15 minutes and those who complete the survey will
have a 1 in 10 chance to receive a $20 Amazon gift card. (50 random
winners in total)
If you’d like to know more about the study or
need alternative formats
of the survey (e.g. Braille and large print-outs), contact the
University of Maryland at (301)405-9126 or by email at
dbtac07@umd.edu.
To take the survey:
http://www.adainfo.org/research/#survey
*******************************************************************
1. Tips for Seniors and People with Disabilities
Winter Preparedness (although some information is specific to CA,
the tips are helpful).
http://www.sfcard.org/WinterTipsForSeniors.pdf
2. Ohio Legal Rights Service provides a Readiness Checklist with
Daily Functioning Needs
http://www.weathersafety.ohio.gov/EmergencyPreparednessSpecialNeeds2007.aspx
3. WheelchairJunkie.com offers some great tips and recommendations
about wheelchair perfomance in the winter.
http://www.wheelchairjunkie.com/snowandpowerchairs.html
4. Disability Preparedness offers a list of helpful articles for
several different types of situations, including winter problems.
http://www.disabilitypreparedness.gov/ppp/disaster.htm
******************************************************************
Opportunities for Volunteers with
Disabilities
and Disability-Service Organizations
AmeriCorps/VISTA Orientations
The Virginia
Office on Volunteerism and Community Service and the
Corporation for National and Community
Service Virginia State Office actively seeks individuals
with disabilities and organizations who serve or support individuals
with disabilities to participate in AmeriCorps. VOVCS & CNCS are
sponsoring a series of orientation sessions for organizations
interested in acquiring AmeriCorps members and administering an
AmeriCorps State or VISTA program. In-depth informational sessions
will be held at several locations throughout the Commonwealth of
Virginia.
For additional
information, a complete list orientation sessions, and
registration information,
www.vaservice.org/go/national/americorps_rfp/. For
specific information on opportunities for individuals with
disabilities, go to http://www.vaservice.org/go/national/disability/.
You can also contact:
Susan Patton
Virginia Office on Volunteerism and Community Service
7 North 8th Street, 5th Floor
Richmond, Virginia 23219
e-mail: info@vaservice.org
*********************************************************
Speak with Confidence through Virginia Relay
Speech-To-Speech, or STS, was developed
for people with mild to moderate speech disabilities who can hear
clearly. This Virginia Relay calling feature allows people whose
speech may be difficult to understand to communicate with others by
standard telephone. STS users include people with cerebral palsy,
multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and Parkinson’s disease, along
with stroke victims and people who stutter.
To make an STS call, the person with the speech
disability dials 7-1-1 to reach a specially trained Virginia Relay
Communications Assistant (CA). Since the CA is skilled at listening to
a variety of speech disorders, the STS user can choose to communicate
with their own voice, a voice synthesizer or enhancer or another
assistive voice device. The CA then revoices the words, verbatim, to
the other person and takes an active or passive role, based on the
level of participation the STS user requests. STS users listen to the
other side of the conversation for themselves. No special equipment is
needed to make or receive an STS call.
STS users can call anyone who uses a standard
telephone and vice versa. Most importantly, they can contact friends,
family and business associates with confidence, knowing their words
won’t be missed—or misunderstood.
To learn more about STS, visit www.varelay.org
or call 1-800-552-7917 (voice/TTY).
********************************************************************
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