Weekly News (September 6 - September 10)
New program eases travel for disabled passengers (ABC7 News, August 29, 2010)
Chicago is striving to be the most accessible city in the world, and it’s now tackling its airports. On the agenda: increasing accessible features, requiring sensitivity training for employees, and providing “stickers” for people with disabilities to wear so airport employees can easily spot people with disabilities and offer assistance.
Surf lessons open new vistas for disabled kids (The Associated Press, August 29. 2010)
How did some kids with disabilities spend their summer? At surf camps! From New York to California to Hawaii, surf camps are empowering kids with disabilities and giving them a surge in confidence.
AirTran fined $500,000 for violating DOT rules for disabled passengers (Star-Telegram, August 30, 2010)
AirTran was recently fined $500,000 for violating government rules related to people with disabilities. The Department of Transportation said the airline was not providing boarding assistance and was not adequately responding to complaints from passengers. Up to $200,000 of the fine will be used to improve AirTran’s service to people with disabilities.
Helping Seniors Grow Old At Home, Safely (NPR, August 31, 2010)
Most older people don’t live in nursing homes, they grow old in their own homes. And there are new services and technologies that make that much easier. Sensor and motion monitors, video cameras, etc., help us keep an eye on the elderly at home.
How the Americans with Disabilities Act impacts business decisions (Smart Business, September 2010)
It can be tough for business owners or managers to know right from wrong when hiring and managing people with disabilities. And on the flip side, employees with disabilities should know their rights, as well.
Information on the Americans with Disabilities Act (Examiner, August 31, 2010)
As the Americans with Disabilities Act marks its 20th anniversary, amendments to the ADA took effect in January 2009. Learn what those amendments mean…
Advocates for disabled rally against proposed state cuts (The Statesman, September 1, 2010)
In Texas, people with disabilities are protesting cuts to state health and human services that they saying would be “devastating.” Some of the proposed cuts: services to people with traumatic brain or spinal cord injuries, and services to people with mental health problems.
Disabled and Unemployed: Did ADA and 99-Week Unemployment Help or Hurt? (World News Heard Now, September 2, 2010)
Statistics on people with disabilities and unemployment continue to emerge: People most likely to be unemployed are men with disabilities ages 21-59 and women with disabilities ages 21-39.
Election hotline available for people with disabilities (Leesville Daily Leader, August 27, 2010)
People with disabilities can face barriers when it comes to voting. Lawsuits were filed in New Orleans because polling places were not accessible. An election hotline has been established to be sure people with disabilities can cast their vote.