with Disabilities Restoration Act
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Michael Ortiz, 202 228 5566
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama today released the
following statement after the House of Representatives passed the
Americans with Disabilities Restoration Act, H.R. 3195.
"We have a collective responsibility to ensure that every American has
access to the opportunity to fulfill their dreams and live independent
lives. With nearly fifty-four million Americans living with disabilities
today, it must be a priority for our government to do everything it can
to protect and respect the needs of these Americans.
"The House of Representatives took an important step today by passing
this legislation, and I applaud Leader Hoyer and Congressmen Conyers,
George Miller, and Sensenbrenner for their efforts. I look forward to
working with a true leader on this issue, Senator Harkin, to reaffirm
our nation's commitment to giving every American an equal chance."
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( 3 / 45 )Demand Reform in the Social Security Process & Take Action! Call / fax
Congress!
Dear Advocates,
People with disabilities who apply for Social Security benefits face
enormous obstacles. The average wait to receive benefits is 517 days, and
that's if your claim is approved! Nationally as of March 2008, over 64% of
disability cases were denied at the initial stage of the disability claims
process and it took from 104.5 - 114 days for claimants to receive the
initial decision on their claim. While waiting for Social Security benefits,
people often lose everything they have--their home, their savings, and
sometimes, their lives--during 2006 and 2007, at least 16,000 people
fighting for Social Security Disability benefits died while awaiting a
decision!
Please call and fax the following letter to members of Congress and the
Senate and ask that they reform the Social Security process by:
Approve that the FY 2009 appropriated funding for SSA's administrative
resources, be no less and even more than $240 million above the President's
FY 2009 Budget Request.
Pass Legislation: Fullerton - Edwards Social Security Disability Reform Act.
Call for Open Hearings and Special Social Security Disability Task Force.
Provide more Independent Oversight on The SSA.
Congressman Charles Rangel 202-225-4365 / 212- 663-3900
Congressman Michael McNulty 202-225-5076 / 518-465-0700
Congressman David R Obey 202-225-3365
Congressman Henry Waxman 202-225-3976
Senator Max Baucus 202-224-2651
Senator Charles Schumer 202-224-6542 / 212-486-4430
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( 3.1 / 48 )On Friday, June 13th and Saturday, June 14th, thanks to a generous grant from the Aetna Foundation, Wheelchair Medic (a division of United Spinal Association) will conduct a FREE wheelchair repair clinic in Bay Terrace shopping center. The clinic hours are 10am to 5pm both days.
Wheelchair Medic’s expert and experienced mechanics will be available to complete free tune-ups for all attendees. Information on how to maintain your wheelchair or scooter will also be provided. Clinic attendees will receive a coupon for a 10% discount on parts or new sales. For major repairs contact our shop in Fort Totten (718-352-1623) for a cost estimate.
Bay Terrace shopping center is located at Bell Boulevard and 26th Ave, just southeast of the Throgs Neck Bridge. It can be reached by the Q13 and the Q28 bus lines. For more information, please visit www.UnitedSpinal.org or call 718-803-3782 x 233.
United Spinal Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that has been improving the quality of life for all Americans with spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, ALS and post-polio. For over 60 years we have fought to make the world a more accessible place for wheelchair users. Please visit www.UnitedSpinal.org for more information on our organization.
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( 3.1 / 34 )Community Choice Act S 799 & HR 1621
Formerly known as MiCASSA, CCA will allow people who are eligible for nursing homes or other Medicaid-funded institutions to have the choice of living in the community through various services and supports.
Joseph Crowley 718779-1400
Gary Ackerman 718 423-2154 F 718 423-5053
Anthony Weiner 718.520.9001
Steve Israel 631 951-2210 516 505-1448 F631- 951-3308
Peter King 516-541-4225 631-541-4225
John Hall 845 291-4100 F 845 291-4164
Michael Arcuri 315 793-8146 f 315-798-4099
Brian Higgins 716-852-3501 F 716-852-3929
Thomas Reynolds 585.663.5570 f: 585.663.5711
Kirsten Gillibrand 518-581-8247 F 518 581-8430
Michael McNulty 518 465-0700 F:518 427-5107
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( 3.6 / 40 )Subject: NYS Visitability bill
BILL NUMBER:A6837A
TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the real property law, in relation to the visitability of new homes by persons with disabilities
PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to establish minimum regulations for the design and construction of new single family homes, townhouses or the ground unit of a building with three or fewer dwellings units by builders who receive state or federal funds and subsidies to provide for the occupancy and `visitability` for and by person with disabilities.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: The real property law is amended by adding a
new Article 15: "Visitablility" of New Construction.
The article establishes minimum standards for the accessibility by the mobility impaired 1) from the public street or driveway to the exterior door of a dwelling, 2) interior doors, 3) environmental controls, 4) habitable space and 5) interior bathroom requirements.
The article also has an enforcement/ penalty clause of not less than fifty and not more than five hundred dollars for each offense and for each day the violation continues to occur.
*Amendment: to include height and dimensions omitted from original
draft and enforcement provisions.
JUSTIFICATION: The availability of accessible, affordable and integrated housing opportunities for people with disabilities is critical to sustaining fully independent lives in their communities.
"Visitability" is a movement to change home construction practices so that new homes offer a few specific features that would make it easier for people with a mobility impairment to occupy and visit. The spirit of "Visitability" is the belief that it is unacceptable that new homes continue to be built with gross barriers, given the ease of building basic access into the majority of new homes and the harsh effects major barriers have on people`s lives, including physically unsafe conditions, social isolation and unwanted institutionalizatio n.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: New bill
FISCAL IMPACT: None to the state.
EFFECTIVE DATE: One hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a
law and shall apply to dwelling units for which construction shall
begin on or after such date.
____________ _________ _
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( 2.7 / 50 )
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