Cost-saving plans threaten vital clinical programs --The New York State Department of Health and the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities is currently holding "People First" forums throughout the state to find out how Medicaid might be improved for consumers with developmental disabilities and their families. Click here for article.

Legislation helping disabled heads to governor -- The Illinois Senate today joined the state House in passing sweeping reforms to safeguard thousands of children and adults with severe developmental disabilities. The proposed new laws, sparked by a Tribune investigation, include stiffer fines for poor care, a ban on new admissions at troubled homes, stricter rules on the use of psychotropic medications and fewer roadblocks to closing facilities.Click here for article.

Disability rights group seeks to halt new cabs --Disability Rights Advocates, in a suit filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, argues that choosing the Nissan NV200 – which cannot accommodate wheelchairs - as the standard taxi cab of NYC violates city law as well as the Americans with Disabilities Act. Click here for article.

FEMA Helps People With Disabilities Access Disaster Assistance Click here for release.

In UK: Care is failing 1.5 million people with learning disabilities--Spending cuts are bringing system to the brink of collapse, says a report commissioned by the Department of Health Click here for article.

Head to Head / Ahiya Kamara, are Israelis willing to accept people with disabilities? Click here for more.

Honor, help veterans--Memorial Day is a day we should all remember while we honor our veterans for the time they served protecting the freedoms we exercise today.Click here for article.

NY finds disabled veterans being denied housing Click here for article.

Help for Broadway's blind and deaf--FOUR Broadway productions will be fitted with technology that allows the blind and deaf to better enjoy them. Click here for article.

Blind Woman Rides Horse in Competition--One woman may be blind but it's not stopping her from following her dreams of riding on the back of a horse. Click here for article.

Famous rest stop reopens--The old rest stop was not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act so Caltrans added a third rest room specifically designed for people with disabilities or elderly people who are traveling with caregivers of the opposite gender. Click here for article.

Mexico bans discrimination against the disabled --Mexican President Felipe Calderon signed into law Friday a measure to extend anti-discrimination protections to people with disabilities Click here for article.

NDP says cuts to health coverage hurting low-income disabled people in B.C. Click here for article.

EEOC ADAAA Regulations Significantly Expand ADA Coverage, Impacting All Employers Click here for release.

Number of Cases of Leading Cause of Blindness and Vision Loss Continues to Grow --Today, cataract affects more than 22 million Americans age 40 and older. By age 75, approximately 70 percent of people have cataracts. Click here for article

Telefónica - working towards better inclusion for people with disabilities Click here for article.

Struggles with maths are 'number blindness' -- STRUGGLING with simple arithmetic is frequently a symptom of "number blindness", the mathematical equivalent of dyslexia, a leading British psychologist said today. Click here for article.

GOP’s Medicare plan falls in Senate--Senate Democrats voted down a Republican budget yesterday along with its controversial plan to partially privatize Medicare, a vote that forced many GOP senators to endorse cuts to a popular program deeply valued by older voters. Click here for article.

United Spinal Hosts Disability Leadership and Policy Summit Protecting the Rights of People with Disabilities: Employment, Transportation, and Healthcare Top Issues Click here for release

People with disabilities rally at the Rotunda--Dozens of people with disabilities rallied in the Capitol Rotunda hoping the governor would hear their stories before making significant cuts to programs that help them live.Click here for article and video.

Improving the Medicare we already have--We got some good news Tuesday about how the Affordable Care Act is helping people with Medicare get the health care they need.Click here for opinion

Democrat Wins G.O.P. Seat; Rebuke Seen to Medicare Plan--Democrats scored an upset in one of New York’s most conservative Congressional districts on Tuesday, dealing a blow to the national Republican Party in a race that largely turned on the party’s plan to overhaul Medicare. Click here for article.

Do NYC Taxis Discriminate Against the Disabled?--The US Attorney's office has jumped into the fight over the Taxi of Tomorrow by opening an investigation into whether the lack of wheelchair-accessible taxicabs in New York City amounts to a violation of parts of the Americans With Disabilities Act. Click here for article.

Wheelchair Access in Taxis Is Focus of U.S. Investigation Click here for article.

Turkish Rotaractors help people with disabilities find jobs Click here for article.

Too many disabled people work in shelters instead of the community, advocates say--If he had been born 50 years ago, Ian Baustian might have been institutionalized. Locked away. No one would have discovered whether he was capable of more. Click here for article.

Ted Kennedy Jr.; Art walk in the Falls; Kite Festival Click here for article.

PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN THE UK FEAR ASSISTED SUICIDE Click here for article.

Activists seek more from Americans with Disabilities Act Click here for article.

.Rockford Housing Authority asked not to add low-income housing. Click here for article.

QuickFacts for story on care of those with intellectual disabilities--UN convention: Article 19 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities says people with disabilities should have the right to choose their place of residence, that they should not be isolated from the community and that they should receive services that meet their needs.Click here for article.

Justice continues to elude the disabled Click here for article.

Disability Benefits and the "Adult Baby"--Stanley has found a community of fellow infantalists online. When he first started having the urge to act like a baby at age 14, he says that he was really scared and thought his feelings were strange Click here for article.

Archive Gallery: Tech For People With Disabilities Click here for more.

Paralyzed Man Can Stand, Take Steps Thanks to New Therapy--A man rendered paralyzed from the chest down after a car accident in 2006 is now able to stand and take steps with assistance thanks to an experimental therapy to treat spinal cord injuries, researchers announced Thursday (May 19). Click here for article.

Skin Stem Cells from Mice May Treat Human Blindness--Stem cells from the tail skin of mice could be used to regenerate retinal tissue. Click here for article.

Celebrating 60 Years of Helping Those with Disabilities--Hundreds of people celebrated the 60th anniversary of Abilis, an organization that serves people with developmental disabilities. Click here for article.

High Speed Video to Feature ClearVision at Hire Disability Solutions' Global--Hire Disability Solutions, LLC - a certified disabled owned company promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities and our Veterans into mainstream employment - is hosting a Global Veterans' Career Expo in partnership with The New York Times. Click here for release.

Professor Ouellette's New Book Seeks to Unite Disability Rights Advocates with Bioethicists to Improve Quality of Life for People with Disabilities Click here for release.

Dear Governor Brown: Is There a Future for the Disabled -- Including Adults With Autism -- In the Golden State? Click here for blog.

Assembly Approves Legislation to Protect New Yorkers With Disabilities from Discrimination as Part of Its Annual Observance of Disabilities Awareness Day Click here for release.

What Medicaid Cuts Will Mean For Seniors And Others With Disabilities Read opinion click here.

Safeway Raises $10.4 Million For People With Disabilities-- Click here for article.

RI homes designed for people with disabilities--After years of planning and nearly a year of construction, a new affordable housing complex is nearing completion on Rock Island’s west side. Click here for article.

Ability Beyond Disability 'Reaches For The Stars'--More than 600 people attended Ability Beyond Disability’s sold out “Reach For The Stars Gala” held in late April in Danbury. After weeks of tallying the numbers, it was found that the local community raised over $720,000 in support of people with disabilities – a record breaking number. Click here for article.

Deal on state health spending aids docs but leaves Medicaid hanging Click here for article.

Megabus agrees to improve handicap accessibility--As part of an ongoing investigation of private transportation companies, The United States Justice Department and the Inter-city Bus Company, Megabus, announced a settlement in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which will make all Megabus vehicles more handicap accessible, and make it easier for disabled people to book a handicapped spot on the bus online. Click here for article.

Half unable to name disabled celeb--More than half the British population are unable to name a high-profile person with a disability, a survey has revealed. Politician David Blunkett and scientist Stephen Hawking are the most well-known Click here for article.

Engineers to help paraplegic student walk at graduation Click here for article.

AS SEEN ON ABC; Paralyzed Student Walks at UC Berkeley Graduation Click here for video

Protest against cuts to people with disabilities halts Minnesota Senate--St. Paul, MN - On May 11, members of ADAPT Minnesota and up to 20 of their supporters challenged politicians to not accept any of the Republicans’ health and human services cuts to people with disabilities. While the supporters stood outside the Senate chamber doors with signs, four members from ADAPT MN . Click here for article.

China vows to offer tax benefits for hiring employees with disabilities- Click here for article.

NYS: Officials Want Answers About Pricey Wheelchairs Click here for video

In search of justice, and not just charity?--Israel is the new land of opportunity, but for many people with disabilities, it’s anything but. Click here for article.

Delaware Becomes the 16th State to Legalize Medical Marijuana – Governor Jack Markell signed SB 17 earlier today allowing adults in Delaware with certain debilitating conditions to possess up to six ounces of marijuana with a doctor’s recommendation.
Approved: By House 27-14,
by Senate 17-4
Effective: July 1, 2011
Details at ProCon.org

UN chief welcomes 100th ratification of UN disability convention as ‘milestone’ Click here for article.

Scientists for the First Time Regenerate Sections of Retinas and Increase Visual Function With Stem Cells Derived From Skin Click here for release.

Including disabled critical to health studies, researchers say--The first formal guidelines for a new model called “universal design of research,” to address the underrepresentation of people with disabilities in mainstream health research was proposed Wednesday .Click here for article.

Clinton Twp. realtor Max Spann defends Arc, people with disabilities--When 150 Bridgewater residents protested the Arc home at a township meeting, Spann told them he was the “proud parent” of a child with a disability. Disabled people “are the most loving people that you’re ever going to meet,” he said. Click here for article.

Anti-HIV drugs prove highly effective in preventing transmission of virus--Findings hailed as a breakthrough show a 96% reduction in transmission to partners of HIV patients who take antiretroviral drugs. 'This is amazing news,' a U.N. official says. Click here for article

In UK: Hardest Hit march brings disabled people out on to the streets--Concerns about cuts to benefits and services led thousands of protesters to London. For some it involved an enormous effort. Click here for article.

Disabled marchers turn out in thousands for benefits protest--Many of the demonstrators fear that, despite changes that have already affected them disproportionately, the worst is yet to come .Click here for article.

DE House Passes Bill to Respect People with DisabilitiesClick here for article.

Budget reduction options cut the safety net--The Connecticut Community Providers Association (CCPA) thanked the Governor for his commitment to protecting the safety net and called on him recently to continue his efforts to maintain services for people with disabilities. Click here for article.

People with Disabilities Protest No Representation by Pew Research Center--According to the Mellman Group, the disability vote is nearly as much as the African-American vote, 50 percent larger than the Latino vote, and many times more than the Jewish vote. According to the Census, 14.7 million people with disabilities voted. Click here for release.

Suit accuses Fla. disabled program of mistreatment--TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- A lawsuit alleges that a state facility in Chattahoochee has mistreated mental patients accused of crimes by putting them in solitary confinement and strapping them into chairs. Click here for article.

New Jersey to create housing for 600 people with disabilities Click here for article.

WASHINGTON – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities:Click here for list.

Study in Korea Puts Autism’s Prevalence at 2.6%, Surprising Experts Click here for article.

Winter Conception Tied to Raised Risk for Autism--MONDAY, May 9 (HealthDay News) -- Children conceived in winter seem to have a greater risk of being diagnosed with autism, a new study suggests Click here for article.

Gov't finds nursing homes misuse antipsychotics--(CBS News) NEW YORK - Anyone who's ever been through it will tell you that putting a loved one in a nursing home is one of the toughest decisions you'll ever have to make. You hope and pray your relative will be well-cared for. Click here for article.

People with disabilities teach a lesson on reality TV shows--But at its best, the genre is providing a more valuable lesson by spotlighting and celebrating people with physical disabilities. Click here for article.

The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation Announces Partnership with State of Maryland to Increase Rental Housing Options for Persons with Disabilities Click here for article.

Disabilities Rights Advocate John Lancaster Receives Clarkson University Honorary Degree--John Lancaster, a civil rights attorney and disabilities rights advocate and retired executive director of the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), received an honorary doctor of science degree at Clarkson University's 118th Commencement today. Click here for article.

Fighting suicide: Film 'Just One More Day' shows importance of loved ones Click here for article.

OU-C program aims to help students-- He also showed a clip of father-son duo Rick and Dick Hoyt, who successfully have completed marathon and Ironman competitions around the world.Click here for article.

UM Class of 2011: Justyn Field gave college and life a second try, with a little help Click here for article.

Demand for special needs equipment on cruises is growing Click here for article.

Man kicked off nude cruise gets a refund-- Royal Caribbean International has agreed to meet with a disabled wheelchair passenger who was left on Guadeloupe, and discuss accessibility of its ships and treatment of seniors and the disabled.Click here for article.

Riverside to improve access for people with disabilities--Milwaukee's Riverside Theater, 116 W. Wisconsin Ave., will be closed June 20 through July 15 to improve access for people with disabilities required under an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice. Click here for article.

Don’t Forget SSDI During Disability Insurance Awareness Month Click here for release.

Roche eye drug debate moves into patient rooms--Doctors say new data give them more confidence that the cheaper drug Avastin works as well as Lucentis in treating blindness from macular degeneration, but they will need to spend more time explaining potential risks. Click here for article.

Tech-Now program helps disabled focus on strengths--Awards presented to top students of Tech-Now program that helps disabled prepare for jobs. Click here for article.

People With Disabilities Cut First: Who Will Be Next? Click here for article.

US AND SYRIAN YOUTHS CREATED DISABLED SUPERHERO, "THE SILVER SCORPION" Click here for article.

Disabled protesters arrested outside Ryan's office--Washington - A group of Wisconsinites with disabilities vowed Wednesday to keep protesting the Ryan budget after many of them were arrested this week demonstrating in congressional office buildings. "Representative Ryan is going to be seeing us again sooner or later. . . . We aren't going away," said Jerome Holzbauer, a retired Milwaukee schoolteacher who has cerebral palsy. Click here for article.

GOP won't push Medicare cuts at budget talk--WASHINGTON — Senior Republicans say they will look for common ground Thursday at debt-reduction talks and not push their contentious plan to overhaul Medicare, the Washington Post reported. Click here for article.

Obama helps kick off Wounded Warriors' bike ride --WASHINGTON (AP) — With a 1-2-3 and the sound of a horn, President Barack Obama has kicked off a regional bicycle tour to help raise money for wounded service members. Click here for article.

Delaware bill requires 'respectful' government language when referring to disabled people--DOVER, Del. — State lawmakers are considering a bill requiring that government officials avoid using certain language when referring to people with disabilities. Click here for article.

17 Provocative Quotes Against Assisted Suicide From People With Disabilities--hey say that such a life lacks dignity and autonomy. They say handicapped people are a drain on the health care system. Click here for article.

Disability doesn't give person's full definition Click here for article.

Speech: Disability Forum - Hon Tariana Turia --This is an important day – indeed it marks a significant milestone in our shared commitment to removing barriers for disabled people. Click here for article.

CNN Hero: Sports empower paraplegics--Richard St. Denis is the founder of World Access Project, a nonprofit that provides custom-fit wheelchairs and other mobility aids to people living with disabilities in rural Mexico. Click here for article.

Disability advocates take to Capitol Hill, demand rejection of Ryan budget plan--Mike Ervin, an organizer for the national disability-advocacy group ADAPT and founder of its Chicago branch, is one of about 300 protesters from 25 different states who traveled to Capitol Hill to tell congressional leaders how Ryan’s proposal would impact the disability community Click here for article.

89 ADAPT members arrested in Medicaid plan protest--Capitol Police arrested 89 disability rights protesters late Monday for occupying the rotunda of the Cannon House Office Building in a demonstration against Rep. Paul Ryan’s Medicaid plan, which they said would force people with disabilities to live in nursing homes rather than in their own homes. Click here for article.

Disabled people struggle to find accessible housing--College of Medicine will offer advice for those in search of adaptive housing. Click here for article.

Disability is not a bar to learning--TWENTY YEARS ago, children with physical, learning, or intellectual disabilities were segregated into “special” schools. Progression to university was low, or unheard of. Click here for article.

Healthy Memphis: Disability needn't overshadow person's talents, feelings Click here for article.

Disability Network of Mid-Michigan offers Independent Facilitator training Click here for article.

New rules allow homeless people with disabilities to sit on sidewalks Click here for article.

Building standards hailed as boost for disabled Click here for article.

Community care superior--The solution is to spend Illinois taxpayer dollars in an efficient and effective manner. The governor's proposed budget levies horrific cuts to community-based services that are cost-effective when directly compared to the state-run institution model. Click here for article.

Illinois’ disabled: We want out of nursing homes now--Illinois advocates and people with disabilities made their message loud and clear at Friday’s town hall meeting at the University of Illinois-Chicago. The state is failing to place people with disabilities in independent living arrangements that serve their needs better than nursing homes Click here for article.

People with disabilities face rising jobless rate--April is Autism Awareness Month. Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder grow up and face an unemployment rate of over 80 percent, for those able to work. Recently, McLean County reported the county’s jobless rate fell to 7.1 percent. This is hopeful news, after more than three years of harsh unemployment. Click here for article.

City of Independence, Kansas, to Ensure Civic Access for People with Disabilities--According to census data, the city population is 9,846, and 23 percent of Independence residents have a disability. Click here for article.

Maxwell-Jolly v. Independent Living Center of Southern California--Can Medicaid recipients and providers can sue a state for failing to pay the rates required by the Medicaid Act? Click here for article.

Social Security Benefits Go Electronic May 1 --April 28, 2011 – Anyone applying for federal benefits on or after May 1, 2011, will receive payments electronically, as the U.S. Department of Treasury phases out paper checks. As a result, it’s important for people applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, or other Social Security benefits, to plan accordingly, advises Allsup, which represents tens of thousands of people in the SSDI application process each year. Click here for article.

Invention Helps People with Disabilities Pump Gas--Most of us don’t even think about the effort it takes to get out of your car and pump gas. When your tank gets empty, you pull in to the nearest station and fill up. Until now, people with disabilities had a much different experience. Click here for article.

Free wheelchairs give new life to rural Mexicans--(CNN) -- For decades, Richard St. Denis has advocated for the rights of Americans who, like him, are living with a disability. Click here for article.

Unlock this potential-Up to one in five people have some sort of disability and for every person who has a profound disability, many more are affected. While community access and attitudes have changed in the past decade, for people living with a disability there is still a long way to go, writes Neelima Choahan.-Click here for article.

Our View: People with disabilities deserve better from Illinois--The cost of care to support one person living in the community is just $50,000 — or about one-quarter of the cost of institutional care. Click here for more.

Advocates for those with disabilities rally for funding--TOPEKA — As thousands of Kansans with disabilities wait for services, several hundred people rallied Wednesday against funding cuts to those services.Click here for article.

Genentech Fights the Use of Its Own Cheaper Drug--A federal study set to be released Thursday shows that an inexpensive eye drug may work as well as a pricier Genentech product in treating a common cause of blindness, people familiar with the matter said, amid a Genentech campaign on Capitol Hill to protect its market. Click here for articl

Mentoring: Alex, Sara and Becky--"If Alex could have cartwheeled down the hallway after connecting with you, he would have," Terri Morse of Essex County (NY) Social Worker reported on the telephone. Click here for blog

More states moving to managed-care plans for Medicaid --TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Lobbying battles are being fought in state capitals across the country as more than a dozen governors try to contain the cost of Medicaid, the state-federal program for the poor and those with disabilities, by requiring more people to go into managed-care plans. Click here for article.

Canada bars autistic teen from immigrating- -His father, stepmother also ruled inadmissible. Click here for article.

Autism Awareness Month: A Call to Compassion--April is Autism Awareness month, and a perfect time to teach your children about compassion in the classroom. Click here for article.

Disabled workers workshop today--LONG BEACH - Those receiving disability benefits who would like to return to work can attend a free workshop today from 1:30 to 4 p.m. at the Career Transition Center, 3447 Atlantic Ave. Parents of those with disabilities and professionals who work with people with disabilities are welcome to attend. Click here for article.

Medvedev calls for benefits for disability-friendly employers-- "We should not shy away from giving preferences to employers who are ready to hire people with disabilities," Medvedev told the liberal online TV station, Rain.Click here for article.

In NYS; Which agencies are on the consolidation block?--Department of Health, Office of Mental Health, Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, Office for People with Developmental Disabilities and the Office for the Aging. Oversight agencies include the Office of the Medicaid Inspector General and the Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for People with Disabilities. Click here for blog.

Bus Training, Mentors for People with Disabilities--Special training is available for elderly and disabled Arnold residents who want to ride the Arnold City Bus offered by the Jefferson County Community Partnership. Click here for article.

Opinion: Individuals with disabilities make valued customers!--The West Suburban Chamber of Commerce Foundation has created a video for educating employees and business owners about disabled customers. Click here for opinion.

Autism Now

Autism Now: How Should We Address Deepening 'National Health Emergency'? Click here for the series on PBS.

Breaking the 'community promise'--Amid the recent budget debate in Wisconsin, many people have missed one of the biggest potential impacts on the quality of life in our state: the impending loss of the right to home- and community-based, long-term care services for seniors and people with disabilities. Click here for opinion.

Disabled sue Pa. over alleged delays, denials in getting Medicaid help to stay in homes Click here for article.

A deaf sentence is not so bad at my age – just send me an e-mail --For a couple of days last month I began to have the same suspicion as Woody, because I remembered doing and saying one or two silly things when I was running a temperature. Click here for article.

Krugman on Obama Deficit Plan: 'Not Perfect,' More Plausible Than GOP's Click here for video.

Deaf-world--The rise of a new American culture--But that is not how the hereditary deaf in this country understand not being able to hear: Deafness is, instead, a key to their identity and a point of pride.Click here for article.

United Spinal Reports On Health Care Reform Act For People With Disabilities --United Spinal developed the report to assist readers to better appreciate the structure and benefits of health care reform and what lies ahead. It covers, in detail, questions about the Affordable Care Act's status, provisions, benefits and impacts. Click here for release.

What to Expect at a Social Security Disability Hearing--Many applicants for Social SecurityDisability Insurance (SSDI) benefits wait several years for an in-person hearing before an administrative law judge. Now that the hearing date is finally upon them, what should they expect? Click here for article.

Creative Union Provides People With Disabilities Job Training and Gallery Space--The Union Square art gallery holds job-training workshops for people with developmental disabilities, as well as art classes and gallery space that are open to all. Click here for article.

Drama program helps people with disabilities flourish--For the past eight years, the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights has given teenagers and adults with developmental disabilities an opportunity to showcase their talent.Click here for video and article.

Poll shows Americans oppose entitlement cuts to deal with debt problem--The survey finds that Americans prefer to keep Medicare just the way it is. Most also oppose cuts in Medicaid and the defense budget. More than half say they are against small, across-the-board tax increases combined with modest reductions in Medicare and Social Security benefits. Only President Obama’s call to raise tax rates on the wealthiest Americans enjoys solid support. Click here for article.

New Handicapped Accessible Vehicle Unveiled--The MV-1 is made by the Vehicle Production Group, a Florida-based company that says it's the first and only vehicle made for people with physical disabilities. Click here for article.

NapervilleWorks matches schools, employers and employees with special needs--University of Massachusetts researchers found that of more than 800 people surveyed, nearly nine out of 10 said they would rather spend their money at companies that employ people with disabilities than those that do. Click here for article.

Court won't stop lawsuit against Chipotle --Click here for article.

People with disabilities will suffer under GOP proposal -By MIKE ERVIN--In his speech on Wednesday, Obama denounced the Republican "vision that says up to 50 million Americans have to lose their health insurance in order for us to reduce the deficit." The Americans he was talking about included millions of people with disabilities who rely on Medicaid. Click here for article.

On the passing of a great advocate and friend -In Memoriam, Dee Alpert--As a result of that litigation, a few things happened. First, we got a consent decree that my son’s district would do what they should have done all along. And thus was born the first public school program in the country for gifted students with Tourette’s and its associated disorders Click here for the blog

Oklahoma company runs internship that helps young people with disabilities learn job skills Click here for article.

Quinn's spending plan threatens lifeline for many struggling families--About five years ago, Maria Limon brought her daughter to a clinic at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Eileen Limon has autism and, at the time, was nonverbal. Her mother couldn't afford the kind of therapy Eileen needed, but doctors at the publicly funded West Side clinic said they could help.Click here for article.

Recipient: Stem-cell therapy is God's will-- "It's not life. It's not like they're coming from an aborted fetus or anything like that. They were going to be thrown away," he said. "Once they explained to me where the stem cells were coming from, once I learned that, I was OK with it." Click here for article.

Deaf Versus Hearing Readers--Voice of America has a report about a study that looked at how deaf people read versus how hearing people read. What the study found, is that signing deaf people do not silently "hear" a word when they read, but instead "see" the sign language representation in their heads. Click here for article.

Stem Cell Research Used to Create Human Kidney--Stem cell research was used to create human kidney by scientists at the Edinburgh University. Click here for article.

The ADA Soon Will Cover More Disabled--The new EEOC regulations are an attempt to address what Congress saw as an overly narrow definition of just who was considered disabled. "Among the purposes of the ADAA is the reinstatement of a 'broad scope of protection' by expanding the definition of the term 'disability.' Click here for article.

The Bionic Eye (Video)--CBS News reports on an artificial retina that could restore partial vision to the blind and may soon be approved by the FDA. Click here for article and video.

Will-Grundy Center supporters will be honored at awards program--JOLIET — The annual meeting and awards program of the Will-Grundy Center for Independent Living will be 5:30-8 p.m. May 18 at the agency’s office, 2415 W. Jefferson St. Click here for article.

Algae May Be The Key to Curing Blindness--A team of researchers at the USC Institute for Genetic Research led by Alan Horsager may have uncovered a key for curing blindness. Using gene therapy, they hope to be able to incorporate a gene from algae into the eyes of blind people. The gene produces photoreceptors in algae, which enables algae to find light sources. Click here for article.

Democrats stand up for seniors, people with disabilities and childrenwhile Republicans stand up for privatizing Medicare and tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires Click here for article.

United Spinal Praises President Obama's Fiscal Policy Speech --United Spinal, the single, largest membership organization dedicated to improving the lives of people with spinal cord injuries and disorders nationwide, supports the President's commitment to protecting Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security that impact the lives of tens of millions of Americans. Click here for article.

Students Create Eye-Tracking Tablet For Those With Disabilities--Engineering students at Brigham Young University have developed a computer setup that can be controlled with a person's eye movements.Click here for article.

Disabilities funding gets restored--Gov. Rick Scott said Thursday that a deal with the House and Senate on funding for the Agency for Persons with Disabilities has cleared the way for him to withdraw an executive order slashing provider rates by 15 percent. Click here for article.

State's alcohol tax will help people with disabilities Click here for article.

Harkin: Americans with Disabilities Leaving Labor Force at Alarming Rate--This morning, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) gave the keynote address at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Corporate Disability Employment Summit. Click here for article.

Former Senator Chris Dodd to Speak at Fourth Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium--The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) will present the fourth Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium on April 14–15, 2011, Click here for release

Ill. House OKs tougher oversight of group homes--SPRINGFIELD, Ill.— The beating death of a mentally disabled man living in a group home, and the disclosure that officials knew the home was unsafe, could lead to increased protection of people with disabilities. Click here for article.

United Spinal Hosts Disability Leadership and Policy Summit to Advance Employment of People with Disabilities and Veterans Click here for release.

Gov. Rick Scott Looks for Help on Services for Disabled People--Two weeks ago, Scott ordered the Agency for Persons with Disabilities to reduce its payments for services to Floridians with disabilities. Click here for article.

VOICES OF DISABILITY: Cruise line strands disabled senior on island --We suggest seniors and people with disabilities should think twice before they sign up for a vacation with Royal Caribbean International cruise line. Click here for article.

Rules revised for local trails--New federal rules meant to make public trails more accessible to the disabled have prompted a scramble among Lancaster County officials, who fear they would have to allow all-terrain vehicles and golf carts on narrow pathways. Click here for article.

Indian activist attending UN disabled rights meet --New Delhi, April 11 (IANS) Indian disabled rights activist Javed Abidi has been invited to attend the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) committee meeting in Geneva Click here for article.

Province to provide $1.5 million more to help those with disabilities -Click here for article.

Long-awaited Ed Roberts Campus opens in Berkeley --"We've been waiting so long for this center to be built," said Donna White, who works with Through The Looking Glass, one of the organizations housed at the Roberts building. Click here for article.

Admirers glad to see Nugent, Khan honored --Among those being honored by the Lincoln Academy are Timothy Nugent, who has devoted his life to making college campuses accessible to students with disabilities, and Shahid Khan, entrepreneur and president of Flex-N-Gate in Urbana. Click here for article.

Scorned bureaucrat gets a new, high-paid state job --Almost a month ago, Gov. Rick Scott gave an unadvertised $78,000-a-year job to Carl Littlefield, a career bureaucrat who quit his latest job 17 days after he was appointed rather than face questions about his handling of a controversial group home. Click here for article.

Delaware crime: Grant helps disabled abuse victims-- But for people with special health problems, help can be more than a phone call away. Click here for article.

Senior expo set for this weekend --As more Oakland County residents approach their 60s, questions of available and accessible housing, financial security and home care are on their minds as well as their families and healthcare providers. Click here for article.

3 Months of Unfulfilled Promise -- She recounted an exchange she'd had with a special -education student during a recent school visit. "I'm happy today," a young boy told Ms. Black, she recalled, according to a person who was at the Tweed meeting. Click here for article.

Student Assembly Debates Resolution to Improve Accessibility for People With Disabilities Click here for article.

Feds Sue Company Alleging 20 Years Of ADA Violations--The lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or EEOC, charges that Henry’s Turkey violated the rights of 31 workers by paying them just $65 a month for full-time work at a turkey processing plant in Iowa. Click here for article.

Cover story of Independence Today Click here.

Targeting the disabled — A heartless, impractical move --Late last week, Gov. Rick Scott blindsided tens of thousands of disabled Floridians and their caregivers by signing an executive order to immediately cut their funding. Click here for article.

Vt. bill would have panel study changing official references to 'lunatics' and 'idiots' Click here for article.

Malloy Names New Chief For State Agency Serving People With Intellectual Disabilities --Macy will replace Peter H. O'Meara, one of the longest-serving commissioners in recent state history. Click here for article.

More disabled people receive government assistance in 2010-- A total of 14.51 million needy people with disabilities in China received government assistance in 2010, a year-on-year increase of 7.4 percent from 2009, according to a statement of China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF) issued Thursday. Click here for article.

Guest Column: People with disabilities need fair housing protections Click here for more.

Disabled, but Looking for Work --Christopher Howard suffers from herniated discs in his back, knee problems and hepatitis C. As a result, Social Security sends him $574 every month and will until he reaches retirement age — unless he can find a job. Click here for article.

Worst Case Housing Needs of People with Disabilities-Steve Gold-HUD released its biannual "Worst Case" housing needs report in March. In 2009, for the first time, people with disabilities were asked direct questions regarding their disabilities in the American Housing Survey. The result is that the HUD report is much more accurate regarding disability than previous "Worst Case" reports Click here for more.

Havas launches "#a11y" digital practice for disabilities market --Havas Drive has launched a practice focused on developing digital products for persons with disabilities and those undergoing rehabilitative therapies. Click here for article.

GOP budget plan would revamp Medicare, Medicaid --House Republicans set up a politically defining clash over the size and priorities of government Tuesday, unveiling a budget plan that calls for both unprecedented spending cuts and a fundamental restructuring of taxpayer-financed health care for the elderly and the poor. Click here for article.

Prevent Blindness enlists kids in battle for eye health Click here for article.

Safeway’s 'people with disabilities' campaign means business.--New Castle, Del. — This month Safeway and Easter Seals launched the grocery retailer’s 25th annual fundraising campaign for people with disabilities. Click here for article.

Music Up, Lights Down at the Blind Cafe --It's not every restaurant that requires patrons to work together and rely on waiters to get through a meal. Click here for more.

What Works to Treat Autism? --Studies Detail Evidence Behind Medication, Behavioral Therapies for Autism Spectrum Disorders . Click here for article.

New drug may make life easier for multiple sclerosis patients --Having moved out of his flat and back into his parent’s house “because of the stairs”, Mr Farrugia could no longer catch the bus because he simply could not make it to the bus stop. Click here for article.

Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University Leaders Meet with Top White House Staff on Entrepreneurship for People with Disabilities Click here for release.

Brain-Computer Interfaces Could Mean More Freedom for the Disabled Click here for article.

These are not your grandpa's hearing aids --The clunky, whistling hearing aids of previous generations have been retired. New models are sophisticated devices that eliminate feedback, sharpen hearing in the presence of background noise and are invisible, or nearly so. Click here for article.

Diabetes: Making people bleed for profit -- But what if most of that bleeding and checking is a waste of time, does almost nothing to control your disease, makes you anxious or depressed and threatens the sustainability of the public health-care system? Click here for article.

Cut Medicaid? You May Have to Kick Grandma Out of the Nursing Home--We have been hearing a lot from the Republicans about cutting Medicaid and Medicare. How much do you know about these programs? Take this little quiz: Click here for blog.

San Francisco Health Plan Organized for Expansion to Serve More Seniors and People With Disabilities Click here for release

Atlantic City casinos face compliance checks for accessibility by disabled --ATLANTIC CITY — The U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey will inspect the Atlantic City casino hotels to make sure they are accessible to people who have disabilities. Click here for article.

Cuomo to Tighten Requirements for Workers in Homes for Disabled --ALBANY — Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s administration is planning to announce initial steps aimed at addressing problems of abuse in homes for the developmentally disabled that are overseen by the state. Click here for article.

Global Medical Relief Fund: One child at a time -How one Staten Island woman has changed over 100 young lives -CBS News) Of all the tragedies of war, none are greater than those that involve children. Caught in the crossfire or hit by a roadside bomb, children are often wounded but rarely receive the heroic, high tech medical care that our troops depend on. Click here for story and vdeo

The Shame of New York’s Group Homes --Nearly four decades ago, amid repeated scandals, New York State closed the huge state hospitals that essentially warehoused the developmentally disabled. Now, an investigation by The Times has shown that New York’s group homes for the disabled — thousands of widely dispersed, state-licensed residences that were intended to replace and mitigate the cruelty of the warehouses — have themselves gone to rot. Click here for editorial.

The Future Of The CLASS Act And Long-Term Care --CLASS is a national, voluntary long-term care insurance program that was buried deep within the 2010 Affordable Care Act. The big idea behind CLASS was to take a small step towards turning long-term care services and supports from a program funded largely by Medicaid into a self-funded insurance system. Click here for article.

ADA Amendments Act includes people with HIV Click here for release.

To PDF or Not to PDF? Online Accessibility for People with Disablities--The way information is presented online by governments and others can make it difficult for those with disabilities, according to a new study by the Australian Government. In particular, the Federal Government study looked into the accessibility of the Portable Document Format, or PDF, for people with a disability. Click here for article.

US tells states to protect rights of people with AIDS -- WASHINGTON — The US government on Monday ordered US states and territories to ensure occupational trade schools and licensing agencies don't discriminate against applicants who have HIV or AIDS. Click here for article.

When it Comes to Sex, Are Your Sins Invalid?-- In a culture that's at once saturated in sex and remarkably superficial when it comes to sexual representation.Click here for article.

One-legged wrestler wins NCAA championship -- Anthony Robles finished his NCAA wrestling career in history-making fashion. Robles, who was born without a right leg, took a 7-1 decision from Iowa sophomore Matt McDonough to win the 125-pound title at the NCAA wrestling championships Saturday. The Arizona State senior got the only takedown in the first period of the match and worked a pair of tilts to secure five back points. Click here for article.

Disability Advocates Praise Governor Cuomo and Commissioner Shah for Implementing the Community First Choice Option in New York. Click here for press release.

In Turkey: New protocol to aid Turkish citizens with disabilities--A new “Disabled Accessibility Protocol” was signed Wednesday, paving the way for people with disabilities to sue authorities if they are prevented from using public services due to their mobility problems. Click here for article.

At State-Run Homes, Abuse and Impunity --A New York Times investigation over the past year has found widespread problems in the more than 2,000 state-run homes. Click here for article.

CSEA statement on NY Times OPWDD abuse allegations--Charges made by an article in yesterday's Sunday New York Times alleging systemic abuse in the state developmental disabilities system are serious and disturbing. Abuse of clients under any circumstance is not acceptable and should not be tolerated. Click here for release.

Healthcare repeal will hurt people with disabilities-BY MIKE ERVIN --The cynical attempts by Republicans to repeal or block implementation of the Affordable Care Act in its entirety would hurt Americans with disabilities. - Click here for article.

AM General to make wheelchair-accessible taxis -- The Department of Energy finalized a nearly $50 million loan to The Vehicle Production Group. That money will go to support production of the MV-1. It is a wheelchair-accessible, six-passenger vehicle that will run on compressed natural gas – and no gasoline. Essentially, it’s a taxi designed to serve the disabled community. Click here for article.

'Socially Responsible' Taxis May Be Coming to NYC--One of the three finalists in the city’s competition to design the next generation of New York City yellow taxis recently revealed a full-scale model of its new design. The taxi, designed by KarsanUSA, features an automated wheelchair ramp, a tinted glass ceiling and a fuel-efficient engine. Click here for article.

DOL Releases People with Disabilities Employment Web-based Toolkit --The Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy has posted an online toolkit comprised of resources to assist federal agencies in recruiting, employing and retaining individuals with disabilities. Click here for article.