California Disability Activists Hail State Supreme Court Ruling

By SONJA BJELLAND
The Press-Enterprise 
PDF: Read the California Supreme Court ruling
A state Supreme Court decision is being heralded as a victory by disability activists but termed problematic for small-business owners.
The unanimous ruling changes past precedent and makes it possible for businesses to be sued for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act without proving the business did so [...]

Illinois Disability Groups Speak Out Against Budget Cuts

(Springfield) — Social service groups that depend on money from the state of Illinois are striking out against the budget plan they say will lead to unjustifiable cuts. Disability groups in central Illinois say tens of thousands of families and people will lose vital services. 
Groups learned the extent of the proposed cuts last week in [...]

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.

Community Choice Act National Kickoff Draws Thousands

ADAPT’s National Kickoff for the Community Choice Act concluded in Washington, DC with a rally call to “Pass CCA Now!
With thousands of advocates in DC and at more than 120 conference call-in sites across the country, Community Choice Act (CCA) cosponsors Senator Tom Harkin, Senator Arlen Specter and Congressman Danny Davis made crystal clear their [...]

“Special” Edition: President Obama and Special Olympics

ADA Watch was among the first disability publications to report on President Obama’s Tonight Show comparison of his bowling skills and Special Olympics last Thursday. Since then there have been countless news reports, editorials, columns, letters to the editor and more in the mainstream media and within the disability community.
In this post we have compiled a number of articles [...]

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 [...]

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LATEST NEWS HEADLINES

• California Disability Activists Hail State Supreme Court Ruling
• Illinois Disability Groups Speak Out Against Budget Cuts
• Doctors Fight Labeling Obesity a Disability
• Community Choice Act National Kickoff Draws Thousands
• “Special” Edition: President Obama and Special Olympics

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 [...]

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Disability 101: I Have A Voice

STATE NEWSWIRE

• Nondisabled Job Seekers Taking Jobs of Disabled
• Insurance Change for Veterans Is Scrapped
• United Airlines to Pay $850,000 for Disability Discrimination
• President Obama Addresses Disability Rights at LA Town Meeting
• President Obama “Jokes” About Special Olympics on Tonight Show
• Ginsburg Hints at Supreme Court Vacancy ‘Soon’