Regulations!

Lots of Rulemaking going on around the ADA anniversary. Better regulations mean increased accessible design, and stronger enforcement.

The final revised ADA Title II and III Regulations (2010 Standards for Accessible Design) have been posted and will take effect 6 months after being published in the Federal Register. The new regulations revise the previous standards and add standards for recreation areas, swimming pools and other public facilities. The regulations and fact sheet are posted here.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) published a notice last week seeking input on the accessibility of mobile phones for people who are blind, deaf-blind or have low vision. Comments are due September 13. If you have input on this issue please contact me as soon as possible.

The US Department of Labor Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs published an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) requesting information on how Federal contractors and subcontractors can conduct more substantive analyses and fully monitor their recruitment and placement efforts on behalf of individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. Comments are due September 21.

The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Board published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Proposed Accessibility Guidelines for accessible buses, over-the-road buses and vans. Comments are due November 23.

The Department of Justice published 4 ANPRMs on July 26 (the ADA anniversary). The comments for each are due January 24, 2011:

• Equipment and Furniture (seeks input on accessibility of equipment such as medical diagnostic equipment, beds in accessible hotel rooms, ATMs, Point of Sale devices and kiosks)
• Accessibility of Next Generation 911 (seeks input on text messaging for 911, video communications and emergency alerts)
• Accessibility of Web Info & Services (making clear Title II and III cover websites!)
• Movie Captioning and Video Description(seeking input on scoping in particular)

2010 Legislative Summary

The summary of legislation and budget provisions of interest to people with disabilities and advocates for people with disabilities has been posted on our website! Just click here to link to the PDF. Please let me know if you would like an alternative format.

Legislative Resolution Honoring North Carolinians with Disabilities, Disability Advocates and the 20th Anniversary of the ADA

A legislative resolution honoring people with disabilities, deceased advocates for disabilities, and the 20th anniversary of the ADA will be heard this Thursday in the NC House (at 12 or 1 – stay tuned for exact time). Those being honored include:
Lockhart Follin‑Mace, Ron Mace, Deborah Greenblatt, Kenneth D. Franklin, Manuel Houston Crockett, Grady Galloway, Thomas McCue "Mac" Brownlee, Ph.D., Dr. Gary Shaffer and Victor Hall.

Please come to the legislature for this momentous occasion. This is also a great opportunity to contact your legislators and let them know what the ADA has meant to you – successes and challenges that remain! If the Senate is still in session, we should be able to have it heard in the Senate on the same day.
See the text here:
http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2009/Bills/House/HTML/H2076V0.html

Find your legislators here:
http://ncleg.net/GIS/RandR07/Representation.html

Directions here:
http://ncleg.net/NCGAInfo/visitinglegcomplex.html

Please be aware that the list of deceased being honored was narrowed down from a much larger list. NC has a rich history of disability advocacy and all of the amazing advocates simple couldn’t be listed. If you are disappointed with the list, please direct your disappointment at me and certainly not at the bill sponsors!

Hope to see you on Thursday!

Summary of Implementation Update #73 Posted

The Summary of Implementation Update #73 was posted today. It is a 4-page summary of a 9-page document.

Special Implentation Update #73 was posted June 3. It contains information about the following:

CABHA Enrollment, Authorization & Claims
New Authorization Process for Outpatient
CS Case Management Component
Revised Staff Training Requirements
CABHA Update
Provider Performance Report
PRTF Nursing Coverage
TCM Services for Individuals with DD
Accreditation for DD TCM Providers
CAP-MR/DD: Processing PCP Plans by VO

The following attachments are also available here:
Attachment A: Child and Adolescent Day Treatment Training Requirements
Attachment B: Intensive In-Home Training Requirements
Attachment C: Community Support Team Training Requirements
Draft Provider Performance Report

Corporal Punishment Bill Protecting Kids with Disabilities Passes the NC House

HB 1682, Corporal Punishment for Children with Disabilities, which will allow parents of children with disabilities to opt out of corporal punishment and mandate tracking of data, was approved unanimously by the House yesterday! The bill will now go to the Senate.

June 9, 2010 Legislative Update

Just a quick update on the happenings around the legislature this week:

• Budget Conferees have been appointed (Senate, House) and reportedly are getting right down to it.
• HB 1682, Corporal Punishment for Children with Disabilities, which will allow parents of children with disabilities to opt out of corporal punishment and mandate tracking of data, was approved unanimously by the House Judiciary II Committee. It will be heard on the House floor tomorrow.
• HB 1683, Sunset/Children with Disabilities, which extends the sunset date on a provision giving disciplinary protections to students who should have been identified for special education services, was approved unanimously by the Senate Education Committee today. It will be heard on the Senate floor tomorrow.
• SB 1265, Treatment of Autism Disorders, which would mandate health care insurance plan coverage of Autism disorders, was heard today in the Senate Health Care committee.

Healthy Children Lobby Day

SAVE THE DATE - June 9, 2010
Healthy Children Lobby Day

During this time of economic hardship, we must pull together and advocate for the fundamental programs that keep our children healthy.

Please join us on June 9th for a day of action to promote children’s health in the General Assembly. We’ll call on our state leaders to maintain funding for critical children’s health services, including NC Health Choice and Infant Mortality Prevention.

When: Wednesday, June 9, 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM
Where: Legislative Portico (outside, on the back of the legislative building next to the bridge)

*Materials and refreshments will be provided

Please RSVP to Margaret@nccovenant.org.

This event is sponsored by the Covenant with North Carolina’s Children, of which Disability Rights NC is a member, and Action for Children NC.