Celebrate Olmstead, Demand Action

[Guest guest]

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American Association of People with Disabilities Newsletter

JFA is a free service of the American Association of People with

Disabilities

In This Issue

*** Action Alert: Organize for Olmstead

*** Action Alert: Call your Representative for Long Term Services and

Supports

on Thursday, June 4

*** Action Alert: Tomorrow - PA Sotomayor Organizing and Informational Call

*** Kennedy Set to Include Disability Plan in Health Care Bill

*** Air r Access Act Regulations Updated

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Action Alert: Organize for Olmstead

Dear friends and allies,

June 22, 2009 is the 10th anniversary of the Olmstead

decision, declaring that people with disabilities have a right to live in

the

community and not in nursing homes and other institutions. It is a great

opportunity for people with disabilities to come together to make sure that

the

dream of Olmstead becomes a reality! Given the talk of health care reform in

Washington DC, and concern about whether or not President Obama and the

federal

government will make sure that community-based choices are included,

publicizing the Olmstead anniversary is more important than ever.

We'd like to coordinate events nationwide for the Olmstead anniversary.

There are a bunch of

events you could do, and we want to help you make it happen!

*** Take Action ***

1) Whether you are a group or an individual, pick one of the JFAAction

Network events at

http://jfactivist.typepad.com/jfactivist/2009/06/action-alert-organize-for-o

lmstead.html

that you think you can do.

2) Email disabilitymovement@... to tell us what you'd like to do and

what kind of materials or other help you

need.

3) Pick 1-2 new forms of outreach on the JFActivist blog at

http://jfactivist.typepad.com/jfactivist/2009/06/action-alert-organize-for-o

lmstead.html

so that you can bring in new people.

4) Hold your event and have fun with it!

>>> For Event and Outreach Ideas go to

http://jfactivist.typepad.com/jfactivist/2009/06/action-alert-organize-for-o

lmstead.html

Also on the JFActivist Blog at

http://jfactivist.typepad.com/jfactivist/2009/06/adapt-seeks-presidential-re

cognition-of-historic-olmstead-decision.html

ADAPT Seeks Presidential Recognition of Historic Olmstead Decision:

ADAPT's Olmstead letter to President Obama

>>> For the Full Letter go to

http://jfactivist.typepad.com/jfactivist/2009/06/adapt-seeks-presidential-re

cognition-of-historic-olmstead-decision.html

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Action Alert: Call your Representative for Long Term Services and Supports

on Thursday,

June 4

From CCD (6/1/09):

National Call-In Day June 4

Call Your Representatives to Include

Long-Term Services and Supports in Health Care Reform

This time the target is the House! Members of the House Energy and Commerce

Committee listed at

http://www.ancor.org/issues/house-111th_energy-commerce-committee_03-02-09.p

df

and the House Ways and Means Committee listed at

http://waysandmeans.house.gov/members.asp?cong=19

are especially important to reach. Please join thousands of

others across the country in calling the House and urging them to include

long-term services and supports. Your calls can make a difference!

Call-In Information:

When: Thursday, June 4 (Between 9AM and 6PM EDT)

Call-In Number: 1-800-828-0498 (Toll Free)

You will be connected with the Capitol switchboard. You must provide the

switchboard with the name of your Representative to be connected. If you

do not know their name you can find out by going to

http://capwiz.com/aucd/dbq/officials/?lvl=C

and entering your zip code. Below is a sample script to leave a message.

Hello (state your name and where you are calling from). I'm calling to ask

Representative ------- to help make sure long-term services and supports are

part of health care reform. Long-term services and supports are essential

to the health, well-being, and community participation of individuals with

disabilities and seniors. Please ensure long-term services and supports

are included in legislation to reform health care. Thank you.

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Action Alert: Tomorrow - PA Sotomayor Organizing and Informational Call

Coalition for Constitutional Values and National Council of Jewish Women

Pittsburgh Section,

invite you to join a Pennsylvania state-wide grassroots conference call

Tomorrow,

Tuesday, June 2, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. (ET) about Supreme Court Justice

Nominee, Judge Sotomayor

On the call, we will discuss:

* Judge Sotomayor's incredible American story and three decade distinguished

career

in nearly every aspect of the law.

* The confirmation process in the Senate.

* Crafting a state-wide strategy for the Pennsylvania Coalition for

Constitutional

Values to ensure both Senator Casey and Senator Specter support an

expedient and fair confirmation process.

* Share information about what you and your organization can do!

To RSVP, please send your full name, title, organization and phone number to

Elissa

Froman at elissa@.... Once you have RSVP'd, you will receive the

toll-free number and passcode for the call.

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Kennedy Set to Include Disability Plan in Health Care Bill

From the Wall Street Journal:

Kennedy Set to Include Disability Plan in Bill

By LAURA MECKLER

Sen. Kennedy plans a new disability-insurance program that would

automatically

enroll all American workers as part of the sweeping health-care bill he is

preparing

to introduce, aides said Friday...

Participants would be entitled to a cash benefit of at least $50 a day if

they become so disabled they cannot participate in at least two or three

activities

of daily living, such as eating, bathing or using the toilet. The money

could be

used for expenses to support staying in one's home...

....Members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee,

which

Sen. Kennedy chairs, plan to meet behind closed doors starting Tuesday to

discuss

exactly what will be in the measure, according to a Senate aide. The

committee is

expected to hold public hearings on the legislation as early as the

following week.

The Massachusetts Democrat, who has been battling a brain tumor, is a key

player

in the effort to pass a comprehensive health care bill, and his, commitment

to

the disability provision increases the chances it will wind up in the final

package.

But the legislation has a long trip to go through Congress and there are no

guarantees

that this provision--or the overall bill--will make it out of Congress...

>>> For More go to

http://jfactivist.typepad.com/jfactivist/2009/06/kennedy-set-to-include-disa

bility-plan-in-health-care-bill.html

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Air r Access Act Regulations Updated

Item provided by AAPD Government Affairs. For inquiries

please contact JSimpson@...

In May, the U.S. Department of

Transportation (USDOT) issued updated regulations for The Air r Access

Act (ACAA).

This Act now applies to both U.S. and foreign carriers. There are new

requirements for airport and aircraft

accessibility and changes in airport services including reservations,

facilities, in-flight and aircraft acquisitions. There is a requirement for

48-hour notification for passengers who use respiratory assistive devices.

They

clarify how airlines must provide effective communication for passengers who

are deaf or hard-of hearing and now require 48-hour notification that a

customer is bringing an emotional support animal or psychiatric service

animal

on board the aircraft. Also, if kiosks are not accessible, equivalent

service

must be provided, and more.

To learn more about the old rules and the

changes, visit ADA publication at

http://www.southwestada.org/html/publications/ebulletins/legal/2009/may2009.

html

To file complaints under this Air r Access Act, go to the US DOT's

Aviation Consumer Protection Division at

http://www.airconsumer.ost.dot.gov and select " Air Travel Problems and

Complaints, " or write a detailed letter to

USDOT, Aviation Consumer Protection Division (C-75),

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE

Washington, DC 20590

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