Weekly News (August 30 - September 3)
Disabled Face Sharply Higher Jobless Rate (The Wall Street Journal, August 26, 2010)
A new report by the Labor Department shows the unemployment rate for people with disabilities was 14.5% last year, compared to 9% for those without disabilities. And the numbers aren’t improving this year.
New statistics on disabled workers (The Washington Post, August 27, 2010)
Just as President Obama pledged the federal government will hire more people with disabilities, The Bureau of Labor Statistics released new employment numbers for people with disabilities within the public sector.
Groups Press Congress To End Patients’ Wait For Medicare (Kaiser Health News, August 27, 2010)
Under federal rules, most people with disabilities who are younger than 65 aren’t eligible for Medicare until more than two years after they quality for Social Security disability income. Groups are pushing Congress to eliminate the waiting period.
Disasters especially tough on people with disabilities, mental disorders (EurekAlert!, August 23, 2010)
Natural disasters are especially difficult for people with disabilities. A study of Hurricane Katrina two years after the storm found survivors with disabilities were less likely to own homes than survivors without disabilities. Click here for just one example.
Red Cross project helps elderly and disabled prepare for emergencies (Gulf Live.com, August 28, 2010)
Local chapters of the Red Cross along the Gulf Coast are encouraging seniors and people with disabilities to be prepared for emergency situations. Local non-profits are distributing emergency supplies and planning instructions.
Aging At Home: Helping Seniors Stay Put (NPR, August 24, 2010)
As baby boomers are about to turn 65, homebuilders have come up with a new building concept – it’s called universal design. That means houses are designed so owners can continue living in them as they grow old, even if they develop physical limitations. The homes contain wide doorways, ramps instead of steps, and kitchen shelves that pull out like drawers.
Grants for Disabled People in Illinois (eHow, August 25, 2010)
Illinois has developed grants to help people with disabilities maintain their independence. The grants are for housing, services and education.
Medical decision-making for people with disabilities (WHYY, August 26, 2010)
The Pennsylvania state supreme court recently ruled that doctors are required to provide life sustaining care for patients who have intellectual disabilities.
Verizon Awards $55,000 to Nonprofits That Use Technology to Help Individuals With Disabilities (PR Newswire, August 24, 2010)
Verizon awarded $55,000 to five Massachusetts non-profits that use technology to help people with disabilities. The company said it’s committed to improving access to information and services for people with disabilities.