Latest Disability Newswire Headlines

Doctors Fight Labeling Obesity a Disability

Fat can be disabling. A person 180 pounds over a healthy weight is susceptible to arthritis, has increased blood pressure, a weakened heart and could soon need a walker just to get around.
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, such a person could legally be labeled as disabled. But should obesity be considered a disability? The American Medical Association voted a resounding no at its annual meeting.

Confirm Supreme Court Nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor

With the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee having set July 13th as the date for the start of confirmation hearings, ADA Watch’s president and founder, Jim Ward has indicated that Judge Sotomayor will receive the full support of ADA Watch, National Coalition for Disability Rights (NCDR) and many of their coalition partners. For nearly a decade, the ADA Watch coalition of national, state and local disability, mental health, education, civil rights and social justice organizations has educated the disability community and the general public regarding the impact of the judicial nominations process on the civil rights of people with physical, mental, developmental, sensory and cognitive disabilities.

Obama Judicial Nominee Draws Opposition From Disability Community

Judge Andre Davis’ Record Reveals Bias Against Workers with Disabilities

A national nonpartisan coalition of disability, civil rights and social justice organizations today announced their opposition to the confirmation of Judge Andre Davis, President Obama’s pick for a lifetime seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

[Legal research and analysis follows [...]

Reid: Chief Justice Roberts Misled Senate During Confirmation

Politico reports: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said that John Roberts misled the Senate during his confirmation hearings by pretending to be a moderate — and that the United States is now “stuck” with him as chief justice.
“Roberts didn’t tell us the truth. At least Alito told us who he was,” Reid said, referring to Samuel [...]

Disability 101: I Have A Voice

By Sandy Lahmann
Daily Summit County, Colorado
I’ve been racking my braintrying to figure out how to explain this to you. I guess it’s about a dumbing down, a denial of respect, a denial of dignity, a loss of voice.
I have a voice. I have a well thought out opinion. I have valuable knowledge. I am capable [...]

Nondisabled Job Seekers Taking Jobs of Disabled

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) – Samuel Welsh’s chances of landing a job before this economic downturn were already slim.

Samuel Welsh, laid off since 2006, has found solace in his faith. “You got to keep God in your heart,” he said.

Now, as a disabled worker, the 29-year-old is competing with thousands of nondisabled job seekers going for jobs [...]

Insurance Change for Veterans Is Scrapped

Under withering criticism from veterans and Congress, President Obama on Wednesday abandoned a proposal that would have required veterans to use their private health insurance to pay for the treatment of combat-related injuries.
David K. Rehbein, national commander of the American Legion, said the president had indicated at a meeting on Monday that he “intended to move forward” with the [...]

United Airlines to Pay $850,000 for Disability Discrimination

United Airlines has agreed to settle a federal lawsuit alleging that the Chicago-based company’s overtime policy violated the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced today. According to the EEOC’s suit and settlement (CV 09 0784 EMC) filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Northern California, United [...]

President Obama Addresses Disability Rights at LA Town Meeting

The Los Angeles Times posted the full transcript of President Obama’s town hall meeting at the Miguel Contreras Learning Center in Los Angeles, California. Below is an excerpt of the meeting in which disability rights advocate Gary Karp questions the President about the disconnect between the ability of people with disabilities and the charity model. [...]

President Obama “Jokes” About Special Olympics on Tonight Show

ABC’s Jake Tapper blogged about the potential impact of President Obama’s statement on the Tonight Show comparing his bowling to the Special Olympics. Prior to the airing of the show, White House spokesman Bill Burton made a brief statement to the reporters on Air Force One: “The president made an off-hand remark making fun of his [...]

LATEST NEWS HEADLINES

ACTION ALERTS

Support Community Choice Act

The ADAPT Community wants you to Kick-Off the Introduction of the Community Choice Act on on March 24th! We want YOU to celebrate the introduction of the most important health care reform for people with disabilities in this country — Community Choice Act!

We intend to give all of you the opportunity to be connected directly to the chamber [...]

OPINIONS

Disability 101: I Have A Voice

STATE NEWSWIRE

Top of the Page

Latest Disability Newswire Headlines

National Coalition for Disability Rights (NCDR) © 2008-2009