What's New

• U.S. Department of Education Releases Resource Document on Restraint and Seclusion
  

  Today, May 15, 2012, the U.S. Department of Education released Restraint and Seclusion: Resource Document, outlining principles for developing or refining policies and procedures to encourage positive behavioral interventions and avoid the use of restraint and seclusion. AIDD is pleased to have supported the Department of Education in developing the publication, which also includes a list of resources addressing national concerns about using restraint and seclusion in schools and website links to state restraint and seclusion policies and procedures.
  
  We encourage you to review the document and share your comments at restraint.seclusion@ed.gov.

• "Bridging Aging and Developmental Disabilities Service Networks Report" released
• May 3rd, 2012- Meeting Postponement Announcement
  The meeting of the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID) scheduled to convene on Thursday, May 17, 2012, and Friday, May 18, 2012 is postponed and will be rescheduled at a future date.
• NCD Report Released: Exploring New Paradigms for the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act
• Families Wingspread report, “Building a National Agenda for Supporting Families with a Member with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities”
• ADD joins Administration for Community Living
  On April 16, Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced a new organization within the Department of Health and Human Services — the “Administration for Community Living” (ACL). The ACL will include the efforts and achievements of the Administration on Aging, the Office on Disability and the Administration on Developmental Disabilities in a single agency with the goal of increasing access to community supports and full participation, while focusing attention and resources on the unique needs of older Americans and people with disabilities. For more information, please see www.hhs.gov/acl.
• From Awareness to Respect—ADD Commissioner Sharon Lewis's Guest Blog at Disability.Org
  In recognition of Developmental Disability Awareness Month, ADD Commissioner Lewis appeared as a guest blogger at Disability.gov. Her post, From Awareness to Respect, illustrates ADD's vision for improving the lives of people with developmental disabilities and moving beyond awareness to respect. Feel free to share this with your networks.
• Medicaid Eligibility & Enrollment Final Rule Webinars
• Call For Proposals For 2012 National Transition Conference
• Apply to be a Fall 2012 White House Intern
• Call for Proposals for the 2012 State of the Art Conference on Postsecondary Education and Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities
  This year's conference will be held in Fairfax November 29–30, 2012. Please visit www.sscsid.org for more details, and to view the proposal submission process. All interested presenters should submit proposals by May 1, 2012, and will be reviewed by June 15th, 2012
• National Plan Released on Dementia and Adults with Intellectual Disabilities
• Funding Opportunity Announcement – 03/09/2012
  University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UCEDD)
• Funding Opportunity Announcement – 03/09/2012
  University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UCEDD)
• New National Core Indicators (NCI) Website Launched
• President Obama Speaks at Briefing with The Arc
  On February 10, the President stopped by a White House Community Leaders Briefing to speak to 150 of The Arc's leaders, members, advocates, and staff from across the country. The Arc is one of the largest national community-based organizations advocating for and serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Watch the video.
• Introducing the 2012 ADD-UCEDD Fellow: Mette Pedersen, PhD
• New York Public Forum Announcement
• July 2011 ADD Update [PDF - 2.33MB]
• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION -Final Priority; Rehabilitation Research and Training Center - Interventions To Promote Community Living Among Individuals with Disabilities
  
  [Federal Register Volume 76, Number 123 (Monday, June 27, 2011)]
  [Pages 37341-37343]
  From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov ]
  [FR Doc No: 2011-16035]
  DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION [CFDA Number: 84.133B-1]
  
  Final Priority; Rehabilitation Research and Training Center--Interventions To Promote Community Living Among Individuals with Disabilities
  AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Department of Education.
  ACTION: Notice of final priority.
  Full Text of Announcement: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-06-27/html/2011-16035.htm
  SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services announces a priority for a Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Interventions to Promote Community Living Among Individuals with Disabilities. The Assistant Secretary may use this priority for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2011 and later years. We take this action to focus research attention on areas of national need. We intend this priority to contribute to improved participation and community living outcomes for individuals with disabilities and their families.



• JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ISSUES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE DOCUMENT ON ENFORCEMENT OF THE SUPREME COURT DECISION IN OLMSTEAD V. L.C.
  
  
  1. WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice released a new technical assistance document describing public entities’ obligations and individuals’ rights under the integration mandate of title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the 1999 landmark Supreme Court decision, Olmstead v. L.C.  The Olmstead decision held that the ADA requires public entities to provide community-based services to persons with disabilities when such services are appropriate; the affected persons do not oppose community-based treatment; and community-based services can be reasonably accommodated.  The document also provides questions and answers on a variety of ADA enforcement issues related to Olmstead. 
  
  
  For more information about the ADA, including how to file complaints related to Olmstead enforcement, call the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at (800) 514-0301 or (800) 514-0383 (TTY), or access the department’s ADA website at www.ada.gov/olmstead .  For the full technical assistance document, please visit www.ada.gov/olmstead/q&a_olmstead.htm .
• HUD Awarding $110 Million for Programs to Help Low-Income Families & Seniors - Deadlines June 8, June 29 & July 13
  The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will award funds to the housing choice family voucher (HCV), public and Indian housing family self-sufficiency (PH) and residential opportunity and self-sufficiency (ROSS) grant programs. These programs will help public housing residents with job training and community services, as well as benefit senior citizens and people with disabilities. Apply on Grants.gov. Application deadlines are June 8 for HCV, June 29 for PH and July 13 for ROSS.
• New Rule Ensures Students Get Health Insurance Protections of the Affordable Care Act
  
  A new proposed regulation announced today by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) would ensure students enrolled in health insurance coverage through their college or university benefit from critical consumer protections created by the Affordable Care Act. Details at http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/02/20110209a.html
• January 2011 ADD Update [PDF - 1.02MB]



• Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Announces Membership in Two Disability-Focused Advisory Committees
  FCC has announced the creation of two advisory committees as required by the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act. The Emergency Access Advisory Committee will will focus on the most effective technologies to give access to next generation 911 access for persons with disabilities. The Video Programming and Emergency Access Advisory Committee will focus on the accessibility of video programming. This link opens a PDF document. This information is also available in Word format.
• Database to Help Employers Recruit, Hire Workers with Disabilities
  The 2011 Workforce Recruitment Program for College Students with Disabilities database is now available to help federal and private-sector employers recruit workers with disabilities. Federal officials can register and search for candidates who meet their hiring needs. Private-sector employers can search the program's database through the Employer Assistance and Resource Network or by calling 866-327-6669.
• President Obama Signs Rosa's Law
  President Barack Obama has signed into law Rosa’s Law, which will change references in federal law from mental retardation to intellectual disability, and references to a mentally retarded individual to an individual with an intellectual disability. Read about the Special Olympics' campaign to Spread the Word to End the Word. For more information visit the website of the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities.
• Consumer Discounts on Telephone Service Under Federal Universal Service Programs:
  "Lifeline Across America" is a federal/state working group that includes the Federal Communications Commission, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, and the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates. The Working Group's mission is to provide information and resources regarding the Lifeline and Link-Up programs, which provide discounts to low-income consumers for telephone installation and monthly bills. Details here.