National Council on Disability Newsletter for September, 2010

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the National Council on Disability's newsletter for September 2010:

NCD Celebrates ADA 20th Anniversary with Disability Policy Summit

NCD celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with its partners by convening the first-ever National Disability Policy Summit July 25–28 in Washington, DC.

A high-energy, diverse group of more than 500 people from U.S. Territories, tribal entities, 48 states, and one foreign country gathered at the multi-day Summit to launch a national dialogue on disability policies and programs for the 21st century. Attendees were asked to identify emerging opportunities to enhance Living, Learning and Earning — the Summit's theme — for people with disabilities.

The programming for the Summit was guided by a conviction that the greatest challenge in making a real difference in the lives of people with disabilities relates to effective cross-silo coordination and collaboration. The goal was to focus on recommendations that feature "how to" steps for change, rather than to reaffirm longstanding well-established problems.

The Summit began Sunday evening, July 25, with a well-attended reception.

Monday, July 26 — the 20th anniversary of the ADA — started off with a welcome from NCD Chairman Jonathan Young, who discussed the Summit's cross-cutting theme of Living, Learning & Earning, and then introduced a series of town hall sessions. Enthusiastic participants dialogued about a global disability policy perspective with Judith Heumann, Special Advisor for International Disability Rights, U.S. Department of State; health care reform with Henry Claypool, Director, Office on Disability, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; technology and telecommunications with Karen Peltz Strauss, Deputy Chief, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, U.S. Federal Communications Commission; effective emergency management with Marcie Roth, Director, Office of Disability Integration and Coordination, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); financial security with Kathy Martinez, Assistant Secretary, Office of Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor; and disability rights with Mazen Basrawi, Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

The kickoff message for Tuesday, July 27 was presented by Tom Perez, Assistant Attorney General, DOJ, who talked about the past, present, and future of disability civil rights in this country.

General Norton A. Schwartz, Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force, also addressed Summit participants during the morning's plenary session, speaking about the issues faced by veterans with disabilities, especially those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Secretary Ray LaHood, U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), who was introduced by Thomas Panek, Vice President, Relationship Management, National Industries for the Blind, delivered remarks on access to transportation.

A panel discussion entitled Snapshots from the Field followed. Marca Bristo, President & CEO, Access Living, moderated a lively discussion with panelists Richard Devylder, Senior Advisor for Accessible Transportation, DOT; Tia Holmes, middle school student, Cary, NC; Susan Sygall, CEO and Co-Founder, Mobility International USA; Sergeant First Class Karl Pasco, Activities Coordinator, Warrior Transition Brigade, U.S. Army; Andraea LaVant, Youth Development Specialist, National Consortium on Leadership and Disability for Youth, Institute for Educational Leadership; and Christina Curry, Executive Director, Harlem Independent Living Center.

Later that morning, Michael Astrue, Commissioner, Social Security Administration, presented featured remarks, which were followed by a film excerpt from Dan Habib's award-winning documentary "Including Samuel." The film chronicles the Habib family's efforts to include Samuel in every facet of their lives.

Nell Ethredge, Legislative Policy Analyst, Council of State Governments, and Sara Gelser, State Legislator, State of Oregon and NCD Board Member, then presented a primer on state policy changes.

The afternoon began with facilitated topical breakout sessions and conversations for change. The breakout topics included community living, led by Bob Liston, Rural Institute, University of Montana; education and lifelong learning, led by Sara Gelser; employment and financial security, led by Lynnae Rutledge; healthy living, led by Henry Claypool; disability rights, led by Lex Frieden; veterans with disabilities, led by Lonnie Moore, Program Analyst, Army Warrior Transition Office, and NCD Board Member; and universal design, led by David Capozzi, U.S. Access Board.

Participants in the facilitated conversations for change sessions were asked three questions: What are the most pressing issues facing people with disabilities in the coming decade? What possibilities do you see for moving forward and who else needs to be involved? and, What do you see as your responsibility when you return home? The sessions were designed to facilitate the relationship-building that can help bolster efforts toward meaningful implementation.

Later that afternoon, participants reconvened in a plenary session for featured remarks from Martha Kanter, Under Secretary, U.S. Department of Education, who was introduced by Tia Holmes. A panel discussion on new directions for Living, Learning, and Earning followed. Moderator Christine Griffin led the discussion with panelists Kathleen Martinez; Chai Feldblum, Commissioner, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; Roberto Rodriguez, Special Assistant to the President for Education, White House Domestic Policy Council; Mary Lee Fay, Administrator, Office of Developmental Disabilities Seniors and People with Disabilities, State of Oregon; John Kemp, Executive Director and General Counsel, U.S. Business Leadership Network; Craig Fugate, FEMA Administrator; and Dan Habib, Filmmaker in Residence, Institute on Disability, University of New Hampshire.

The final speaker of the day was Kareem Dale, Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy, who reflected on disability rights and civil rights and collaboration for the future.

The final day, July 28, was devoted to the Summit wrap-up and next steps, which was led by the NCD Board. NCD Chairman Jonathan Young reminded participants that the Summit was an opportunity to evaluate our progress and begin to chart a new course for the future of disability policy.

A summary of proceedings will be available in the Fall. Photos from the Summit are now available on NCD's Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Washington-DC/National-Council-on-Disability/131414496898167?v=photos&ref=ts.

In addition to New Editions, who provided planning support, NCD was supported at the Summit by 41 people who served as volunteers, 38 group facilitators, seven subject matter experts, and five cross pollinators. To these individuals who ordinarily work in an array of professions across public, private, and non-profit entities, NCD extends a sincere "Thank You."

Join NCD on Facebook

Share your perspectives on the future of disability policy at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Washington-DC/National-Council-on-Disability/131414496898167?v=wall&ref=ts.

In the News

Congressional Testimony

On July 22nd, Chairman Young testified before the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, House Judiciary Committee on "Americans with Disabilities Act at 20 — Celebrating Our Progress, Affirming Our Commitment." His testimony can be found at: http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/testimony/2010/JonathanYoung_HouseJudiciary_7-22-2010.pdf.

About the National Council on Disability Newsletter

The Newsletter, which is also available on the Council's Web site at www.ncd.gov, brings you the latest issues and news for people with disabilities. To subscribe to the NCD listserv, go to http://listserv.access.gpo.gov, click on online mailing list archives, select NCD-NEWS-L, then join or leave the list, and finally, complete the short subscription form.

Editorial comments can be sent to Newsletter editor Mark Quigley at [email protected].

SOURCE National Council on Disability