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Federal Budget
WASHINGTON - The President and the Congress have finally reached an agreement on the 2002 Federal budget. Congress finally passed all 13 appropriations bills. The 13 spending bills proposed on September 20 by Congressional Leadership will fund government operation for the fiscal year that begins on October 1, 2001.
Leave No Child Behind Act
WASHINGTON - On December 18, 2001, both Houses of Congress passed the conference report for H.R.1, the Leave No Child Behind Act, which is the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. do
Olmstead Report
WASHINGTON - The Bush administration released the much anticipated Olmstead report on December 21, 2001.go
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| Current Disability News |
Supreme Court Narrows ADA Definition
WASHINGTON - On January 8, the U.S. Supreme Court narrowedthe reach of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), ruling that to be covered by the act, disabilities must prevent a person from performing "activities that are of central importance to most people's daily lives." In a unanimous decision in the case of Williams v. Toyota, the Court ruled that the definition does not extend to the ability to perform some manual tasks on the job. The case involved a worker, Ella Williams, who suffered from carpal tunnel syndrome, a repetitive strain injury that causes pain in the wrists and hands.
Mental Health Parity
WASHINGTON - Excluded from the Labor-Health and Human Services-Education appropriation passed by Congress is the Mental Health Parity provision that would have required that employers offering mental health coverage to provide the same level of coverage as they do for physical health. The proposal would have expanded a 1996 law which expires this year. The measure originated in the Senate and passed overwhelmingly. Mental Health advocates strongly supported the measure. The insurance industry strongly opposed it, and attempts to include it in the appropriation were defeated. Lawmakers later agreed to an amendment that extends the current law for one year, and to hold hearings on the matter next year.
National Housing Trust Fund
Federal legislation has been introduced to create a National Housing Trust Fund (S.1248/2349). If established, the trust fund would provide federal funds to build and preserve rental housing for families and individuals with very low incomes, including people with disabilities - with a goal of producing or rehabilitating 1.5 million homes over the next ten years. Currently, more than 1,400 organizations with an interest in affordable housing support this legislation. More information on this topic can be obtained at the The National Housing Trust Fund Campaign.
Employment Outlook
The National Organization of Disability (NOD) 2000 Harris poll revealed that of individuals with disabilities who report they are able to work, the percentage actually employed increased from 46% in 1986 to 56% in 2000. NOD believes this progress will continue. First, there are still so many people with disabilities who want to work. Second, the recent progress was the result of more than the strength of the economy. Employers are learning anew how valuable employees with disabilities are. The CEO of Marriott, International, Inc., said recently that some 5,000 Marriott employees with disabilities might be the last to be laid off in an economic downturn because they have been such excellent employees. Washington Mutual, a financial services company, has recently reported the same results. For additional information, go to nod.org.
NCD calls attention to upcoming IDEA reauthorization
The National Council on Disability (NCD) has called on funders, legislators, and policy makers for accountability, achievement, and fidelity of implementation for students with disabilities as the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) begins in Congress.
According to NCD, Congress crafted a statue in 1975 that, if faithfully
implemented, will consistently produce quality outcomes for students with
disabilities. IDEA is now the most significant aspect of the federal involvement
in public education for children and youth with disabilities, according
to NCD chairperson Marca Bristo. IDEA's basic premise is that all children
with disabilities have a federally-protected civil right to have available
to them a free appropriate public education that meets their schooling
and related service needs in the least restrictive environment, in regular
classes, in the school the student would attend if not disabled.
Social Security Reform
The President’s Commission to Strengthen Social Security released
its final draft report on December 21, 2001. The 141 page report has been
posted at the President's Commission
to Strengthen Social Security website.
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