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.

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 [...]

“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 [...]

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 [...]

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If you have news about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or disability rights generally,  
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Harkin & Davis to Introduce Community Choice

With thousands of people across the country listening in by phone, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL) will introduce the Community Choice Act (CCA) in both houses of Congress on March 24.
The CCA will allow people with disabilities and older people to choose to stay in their own homes and communities with [...]

President Barack Obama on Disability Rights

“If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.”
“It’s the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and [...]

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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 [...]

OPINIONS

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’