Disability Rights News - National

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has charged Applied Vacuum Technology (AVT), a Waconia, MN-based company with disability discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The company allegedly fired an employee after he tried to return to work following a hospitalization because he didn't call into work daily and because the company considered him to have a disability. AVT has agreed to improve its workplace policies and provide training to its staff on the ADA.

Take this brief survey to help Health & Disability Advocates gather data to learn what workers with disabilities look for in an employer, particularly their interest in telecommuting options. The information will be used at the next Think Beyond the Label Online Career Fair on May 21, 2013. The career fair helps connect qualified workers with disabilities with employers. Register online for the career fair.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced a Conciliation Agreement with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage and the seller of a home in Worcester, MA, settling allegations they violated the Fair Housing Act (FHA). Coldwell and the seller violated the FHA by preventing the sale of a house to be used as a group home for people with disabilities. 

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has charged Engineering Documentation Systems, Inc. (EDSI) in Las Vegas with disability discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The company allegedly harassed a pregnant employee and refused to accommodate her request to be moved closer to a bathroom because of severe nausea and diarrhea. While on pregnancy leave, EDSI changed the employee's job description and later fired her. The company also fired her husband, who also worked at the company, when he complained about how his wife was treated. EDSI has agreed to provide equal employment opportunity training.

The U.S. Department of Labor's fiscal year 2014 budget request supports President Barack Obama's plan to create jobs through continued investments in job training and resources. The budget's $12.1 billion request in funding puts significant resources toward helping Veterans find jobs, particularly those with disabilities or other barriers to employment. It also supports improved re-employment services to help those newly separated from the military to transition into civilian careers.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has charged Wal-Mart Stores East, L.P. with sexual harassment and retaliation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Cleveland, OH store allegedly allowed a male employee to sexually harass a female co-worker with a developmental disability and took no actions to stop it. When the co-worker reported the harassment, she was fired. Wal-Mart is also charged with disability discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act for not providing reasonable accommodations to the co-worker by informing her of the company's anti-harassment policies.

The 2013 ASHA Convention will be held November 14 - 16, 2013 in Chicago, IL. The convention is an annual event for speech-language pathologists, audiologists and speech, language and hearing scientists. Bringing together more than 12,000 attendees, the convention provides an opportunity to learn about the latest evidence-based research, polish clinical skills, improve techniques and gain new tools and resources to advance professional development. Register online.

The National Council on Disability (NCD), American Psychological Association, National Association of Social Workers and the Child Welfare League of America will hold a Congressional briefing on April 17, 2013 from 10 - 11:30 a.m. in Washington, DC. The briefing will cover the rights of parents with disabilities and the NCD publication, "Rocking the Cradle: Ensuring the Rights of Parents with Disabilities and Their Children". To attend, send an email to Stephen Miller.

Benefits.gov has launched a YouTube channel. The channel currently showcases a self-help video about the site's confidential prescreening tool, the Benefit Finder. A YouTube account is not required to view the videos, but if you have an account, you can subscribe to the Benefits.gov channel and receive emails when new videos are posted.

The TDI-ALDA joint conference will be held October 16 - 20, 2013 in Albuquerque, NM. "Working Together for Access" will bring together consumers, government policymakers and industry representatives to discuss providing access to current and emerging technologies for people with hearing loss. Register online.

“Trends in Disability Employment – National Update” reports that the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics’ latest numbers show that there has been an increase in employment for working age people with disabilities. The employment-to-population ratio increased from 25.9 percent in March 2012 to 27.3 percent in March 2013. During the same time period, for people without disabilities, the employment-to-population ratio remained about the same. 

The U.S. Department of Justice has announced that, as part of its Barrier-Free Health Care Initiative, it has reached settlements with eight health care providers from across the country over the past year. Health care providers, including hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes and doctor’s offices are required, under the Americans with Disabilities Act, to provide effective communication to those who are deaf or have hearing disabilities when seeking medical services.    

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is requesting applications from young leaders to serve on its Youth Preparedness Council (YPC). Youth between the ages of 12 and 17 who are involved in and interested in the field of community preparedness are encouraged to apply. YPC members will complete a youth preparedness project, share their opinions and ideas about youth disaster preparedness with FEMA leadership and participate in the YPC summit. Deadline for nominations and applications is April 19, 2013.

This year’s conference is open for presentation proposals until May 28. The conference will be held October 8 – 11, 2013 in Albuquerque, NM. This year's themes are: The Rehabilitation Act's 40 year anniversay, access to health for women with disabilities, collaboration between community, business and government, business brain injury and families and assistive technology. Register online and check back for the conference program and schedule.

An opportunity for businesses and individuals across the United States to connect with people with disabilities, parents of youth with disabilities, caregivers and more. This first-of-its-kind event, which will be held August 23 - 26, 2013, will showcase opportunities and resources available to meet people’s goals and dreams. Register for the expo online.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has taken significant steps towards eliminating radon exposure in HUD housing programs. HUD has two new policies that will include radon testing and the efforts to reduce the risks of having radon in any of the homes. Radon is a cancer-causing gas that is colorless and odorless. It can exist in any building and must be tested for to determine if it is in the home. Radon is responsible for 21,000 lung cancer death every year in the U.S.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has charged Dependable Health Services, Inc. (DHS) with disability discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The San Antonio-based company fired an employee after she returned to work after being hospitalized for stroke-like symptoms. The employee had been medically cleared to return to work, but was still having temporary facial paralysis when she was fired. DHS has agreed to train its staff on the ADA.

The National Institutes of Health funded a study examining the costs of caring for people with dementia in the United States. The 2010 study reviewed medical costs and costs of informal and unpaid care for people with dementia. The care costs totaled between $159 - $215 billion dollars, rivaling the costs for cancer and heart disease. These findings are especially important as people age 65 and older are expected to double in the next 20 years.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the National Fair Housing Alliance have launched a national media campaign, which coincides with the beginning of Fair Housing Month. “Fair Housing Is Your Right. Use It” includes public service announcements to educate the public and housing providers about their rights and responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act (FHA). The campaign features people with disabilities who often face housing discrimination.

A new study in "The Journal of Pediatrics" finds that a child's risk for developing an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is not increased by giving the child "too many vaccines too soon." More than 1 in 10 parents refuse or delay vaccinations for their young children, despite scientific proof that vaccines do not cause autism. These parents fear that the total number of vaccines given in early childhood may increase the risk of autism.