To contact us Click HERE
IL HB 1231, would require health insurance providers to cover the costs of hearing aids for people of all ages, will be heard in the Insurance Committee at 3 PM on February 20th, 2013
Try contacting the House members first since they have the hearing tomorrow. You can also contact the Senators too...in the Senate the bill is known as SB 38. Remember, the bill covers private insurance for people of all ages, for up to $2500 per ear every three years
The bill's sponsor in the House is Representative Dan Brady of the Bloomington area. If your representative is not a member of the committee, please call Representative Brady and state your support of this bill.
Senate Insurance Committee
Chair: William R. Haine D
Vice Chair: Jacqueline Y. Collins D
James F. Clayborne, Jr. D
Michael E. Hastings D
Mike Jacobs D
John G. Mulroe D
Antonio Muñoz D
Kwame Raoul D
Ira I. Silverstein D
Minority Spokesperson: William E. Brady R
Tim Bivins R
Darin M. LaHood R
Chapin Rose R
Dave Syverson R
House Insurance Committee
Chair: Monique D. Davis D
Vice-Chair: Greg Harris D
Republican Spokesperson: David Reis R
Maria Antonia Berrios D
Dan Brady R
Anthony DeLuca D
Scott Drury D
Kenneth Dunkin D
Laura Fine D
Robyn Gabel D
Norine Hammond R
Thaddeus Jones D
Dwight Kay R
Lou Lang D
Robert F Martwick D
Frank J. Mautino D
Thomas Morrison R
JoAnn D. Osmond R
Robert Rita R
Pam Roth R
Darlene J. Senger R
Elgie R. Sims, Jr. D
Keith P. Sommer R
Silvana Tabares D
Michael Unes R
Ann Williams D
you can fill out a "witness slip" online to show your support for HB 1231. The link is http://my.ilga.gov/WitnessSlip/Create/71738?committeeHearingId=10459&LegislationId=71738.
Check the box that says you are a "proponent" (a supporter), and check the box that says "record of appearance only" if you are not going to be in the room. Your name will be read out in committee as a supporter! So it is very important that the legislators hear a long list of supporters.
21 Şubat 2013 Perşembe
Georgia execution halted at the last minute of mentally disabled man
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JACKSON, Ga. (AP) — The execution of a Georgia man who killed a fellow prisoner in 1990 was halted Tuesday at the last minute so courts could consider claims that he's mentally disabled and other issues.
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted its stay of execution as 52-year-old Warren Lee Hill was being prepared for lethal injection. In a 2-1 decision, a panel of the appeals court said further review is needed of recent affidavits by doctors who changed their minds about Hill's mental capacity.
"In other words, all of the experts — both the State's and the petitioner's — now appear to be in agreement that Hill is in fact mentally retarded," judges in the majority wrote in their order.
The state court of appeals also issued a stay to allow more time to consider a challenge related to the state's lethal injection procedure.
Earlier in the day, the state parole board, the Supreme Court of Georgia and the U.S. Supreme Court had all declined to stop the execution.
"We are greatly relieved that the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals has stayed the execution of Warren Hill, a person with mental retardation. All the doctors who have examined Mr. Hill are unanimous in their diagnosis of mental retardation," defense attorney Brian Kammer said in an email.
A spokeswoman for the state attorney general declined comment.
Hill was sentenced to die for the 1990 beating death of fellow inmate Joseph Handspike. Authorities say he used a board studded with nails to bludgeon Handspike while he slept and other prisoners pleaded with Hill to stop. At the time Hill was already serving a life sentence for murder in the 1986 slaying of his girlfriend, Myra Wright, who had been shot 11 times.
Hill has received support from various activists and from former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn.
"Georgia should not violate its own prohibition against executing individuals with serious diminished capacity," President Carter said in a statement.
Hill was originally set to be executed in July, but the state delayed his execution when it changed its execution procedure from a three-drug combination to a one-drug method. The state Supreme Court then further delayed the execution after Hill's lawyers filed a challenge saying corrections officials violated administrative procedure when they made the change. The state's high court earlier this month denied that challenge, and Hill's execution was reset for Tuesday.
Hill's lawyers argue that he is mentally disabled and therefore shouldn't be executed. The state maintains that the defense failed to meet its burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that Hill is mentally disabled.
Death penalty defendants in Georgia have to prove they are mentally disabled beyond a reasonable doubt to avoid execution, the strictest standard in the country. Hill's lawyers have said the high standard for proving mental disability is problematic because psychiatric diagnoses are subject to a degree of uncertainty that is virtually impossible to overcome. But Georgia's strict standard has repeatedly been upheld by state and federal courts.
Georgia passed a law in 1988 prohibiting the execution of mentally disabled death row inmates, and the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2002 that the execution of mentally disabled offenders is unconstitutional.
Hill's lawyers last week released new sworn statements from the three doctors who examined Hill in 2000 and testified before the court that he was not mentally disabled. The doctors wrote in their new statements that they were rushed in their evaluation at the time, they have acquired additional experience and that there have been scientific developments in the intervening 12 years. All three reviewed facts and documents in the case and wrote that they now believe that Hill is mentally disabled.
The state questioned the credibility of the doctors' statements. These doctors met with Hill and reviewed extensive documentation in the case in 2000, but they haven't seen him since and didn't have significant new information in front of them during their recent review, the state argued. Therefore, it is not credible that they are able to refute the testimony they were so adamant about in 2000, the state argued.
The state has cited expert testimony and IQ tests that concluded Hill was not mentally disabled. Before trial, Hill's family members described him as "the leader of the family" and "a father figure," the state notes. He was not in special education classes and served in the Navy, where he received promotions, the state said.
The defense has referenced a state court judge's assessment that Hill was mentally disabled and a test that showed his IQ to be about 70. The defense also cited expert testimony that it is not unusual for someone who is mildly mentally disabled to be able to function at a satisfactory level in an environment as structured as the military. With the new statements from the three doctors last week, all doctors who examined him now agree that Hill is mentally disabled, Hill's defense argued.
Article By KATE BRUMBACK | Associated Press
___
Associated Press writer Christina Almeida Cassidy in Atlanta contributed to this report.
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted its stay of execution as 52-year-old Warren Lee Hill was being prepared for lethal injection. In a 2-1 decision, a panel of the appeals court said further review is needed of recent affidavits by doctors who changed their minds about Hill's mental capacity.
"In other words, all of the experts — both the State's and the petitioner's — now appear to be in agreement that Hill is in fact mentally retarded," judges in the majority wrote in their order.
The state court of appeals also issued a stay to allow more time to consider a challenge related to the state's lethal injection procedure.
Earlier in the day, the state parole board, the Supreme Court of Georgia and the U.S. Supreme Court had all declined to stop the execution.
"We are greatly relieved that the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals has stayed the execution of Warren Hill, a person with mental retardation. All the doctors who have examined Mr. Hill are unanimous in their diagnosis of mental retardation," defense attorney Brian Kammer said in an email.
A spokeswoman for the state attorney general declined comment.
Hill was sentenced to die for the 1990 beating death of fellow inmate Joseph Handspike. Authorities say he used a board studded with nails to bludgeon Handspike while he slept and other prisoners pleaded with Hill to stop. At the time Hill was already serving a life sentence for murder in the 1986 slaying of his girlfriend, Myra Wright, who had been shot 11 times.
Hill has received support from various activists and from former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn.
"Georgia should not violate its own prohibition against executing individuals with serious diminished capacity," President Carter said in a statement.
Hill was originally set to be executed in July, but the state delayed his execution when it changed its execution procedure from a three-drug combination to a one-drug method. The state Supreme Court then further delayed the execution after Hill's lawyers filed a challenge saying corrections officials violated administrative procedure when they made the change. The state's high court earlier this month denied that challenge, and Hill's execution was reset for Tuesday.
Hill's lawyers argue that he is mentally disabled and therefore shouldn't be executed. The state maintains that the defense failed to meet its burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that Hill is mentally disabled.
Death penalty defendants in Georgia have to prove they are mentally disabled beyond a reasonable doubt to avoid execution, the strictest standard in the country. Hill's lawyers have said the high standard for proving mental disability is problematic because psychiatric diagnoses are subject to a degree of uncertainty that is virtually impossible to overcome. But Georgia's strict standard has repeatedly been upheld by state and federal courts.
Georgia passed a law in 1988 prohibiting the execution of mentally disabled death row inmates, and the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2002 that the execution of mentally disabled offenders is unconstitutional.
Hill's lawyers last week released new sworn statements from the three doctors who examined Hill in 2000 and testified before the court that he was not mentally disabled. The doctors wrote in their new statements that they were rushed in their evaluation at the time, they have acquired additional experience and that there have been scientific developments in the intervening 12 years. All three reviewed facts and documents in the case and wrote that they now believe that Hill is mentally disabled.
The state questioned the credibility of the doctors' statements. These doctors met with Hill and reviewed extensive documentation in the case in 2000, but they haven't seen him since and didn't have significant new information in front of them during their recent review, the state argued. Therefore, it is not credible that they are able to refute the testimony they were so adamant about in 2000, the state argued.
The state has cited expert testimony and IQ tests that concluded Hill was not mentally disabled. Before trial, Hill's family members described him as "the leader of the family" and "a father figure," the state notes. He was not in special education classes and served in the Navy, where he received promotions, the state said.
The defense has referenced a state court judge's assessment that Hill was mentally disabled and a test that showed his IQ to be about 70. The defense also cited expert testimony that it is not unusual for someone who is mildly mentally disabled to be able to function at a satisfactory level in an environment as structured as the military. With the new statements from the three doctors last week, all doctors who examined him now agree that Hill is mentally disabled, Hill's defense argued.
Article By KATE BRUMBACK | Associated Press
___
Associated Press writer Christina Almeida Cassidy in Atlanta contributed to this report.
New Federal Rule Requires Insurers to Offer Mental Health Coverage | Feb 2013
To contact us Click HERE
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration issued a final rule on Wednesday defining “essential health benefits” that must be offered by most health insurance plans next year, and it said that 32 million people would gain access to coverage of mental health care as a result.
The federal rule requires insurers to cover treatment of mental illnesses, behavioral disorders, drug addiction and alcohol abuse, and other conditions.
Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of health and human services, said that in addition to the millions who would gain access to mental health care, 30 million people who already have some mental health coverage will see improvements in benefits.
White House officials described the rule as a major expansion of coverage. In the past, they said, nearly 20 percent of people buying insurance on their own did not have coverage for mental health services, and nearly one-third had no coverage for treatment of substance abuse.
The rule requires insurers to cover benefits in 10 broad categories, including hospital services, prescription drugs and maternity and newborn care.
Ms. Sebelius said the partial standardization of benefits would make it easier for consumers to compare health plans.
In the market today, she said, “it is difficult for consumers to make well-informed choices” because benefits, deductibles, co-payments and other features vary widely among competing health plans.
The rule says the new health insurance policies can be offered at four levels of coverage. Under the least generous policies, known as bronze plans, consumers will pay 40 percent of the costs of covered benefits, on average, and insurers will pay the rest. Under the most generous policies, known as platinum plans, consumers will pay 10 percent. The administration, however, declined to set a uniform national standard and allowed states to set many of the specific requirements.
Minimum benefits will vary from state to state, as each state will have a benchmark plan, reflecting coverage typically offered by employers. In more than 30 states, the benchmark, or standard, is an insurance plan offered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
Insurers in each state will generally be required to provide all benefits required by state laws adopted before Dec. 31, 2011. States can require additional benefits, but will have to pay the extra costs themselves.
Carl E. Schmid, deputy executive director of the AIDS Institute, an advocacy group, said he had hoped the federal government would set explicit, uniform national standards.
“We are disappointed,” Mr. Schmid said. “We thought the federal government would spell out essential health benefits in more detail. Patients respond differently to different drugs and often need multiple drugs at the same time. Under this rule, patients might have access to a total of 500 drugs in one state and more than 1,000 in another state.”
Access to autism treatment may also differ. Stuart Spielman, senior policy adviser at Autism Speaks, an advocacy group, said that 32 states had laws requiring coverage of autism treatments and that other states were considering legislation to impose such requirements.
The rule limits the costs to consumers in several ways. For health plans offered in the small-group market, the deductible amount, paid by consumers before insurance kicks in, generally cannot exceed $2,000 for individual coverage and $4,000 for family coverage. Total out-of-pocket costs will also be subject to limits. If a health plan has a network of doctors and hospitals, consumers may be required to pay more if they go outside the network.
The new rule generally applies to all health insurers offering coverage in the individual and small group markets. States will have primary responsibility for enforcing the standards. The federal government said it would step in if it found that a state was not doing an adequate job of protecting consumers.
Federal officials acknowledged that many policies sold in the individual insurance market did not cover all the services required in the new rule. The administration said that many small business health plans “meet or are close to meeting the coverage requirements.”
Under the rule, health plans must provide benefits that have not always been provided by commercial insurers. For example, insurers must cover dental care and vision services for children, as well as “habilitative services” to help people with disabilities keep or improve their skills.
A version of this article appeared in print on February 21, 2013, on page A16 of the New York edition with the headline: New Federal Rule Requires Insurers to Offer Mental Health Coverage .
Article By ROBERT PEAR | THE New York TIMES | Published: February 20, 2013
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/21/health/new-federal-rule-requires-insurers-to-offer-mental-health-coverage.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0
The federal rule requires insurers to cover treatment of mental illnesses, behavioral disorders, drug addiction and alcohol abuse, and other conditions.
Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of health and human services, said that in addition to the millions who would gain access to mental health care, 30 million people who already have some mental health coverage will see improvements in benefits.
White House officials described the rule as a major expansion of coverage. In the past, they said, nearly 20 percent of people buying insurance on their own did not have coverage for mental health services, and nearly one-third had no coverage for treatment of substance abuse.
The rule requires insurers to cover benefits in 10 broad categories, including hospital services, prescription drugs and maternity and newborn care.
Ms. Sebelius said the partial standardization of benefits would make it easier for consumers to compare health plans.
In the market today, she said, “it is difficult for consumers to make well-informed choices” because benefits, deductibles, co-payments and other features vary widely among competing health plans.
The rule says the new health insurance policies can be offered at four levels of coverage. Under the least generous policies, known as bronze plans, consumers will pay 40 percent of the costs of covered benefits, on average, and insurers will pay the rest. Under the most generous policies, known as platinum plans, consumers will pay 10 percent. The administration, however, declined to set a uniform national standard and allowed states to set many of the specific requirements.
Minimum benefits will vary from state to state, as each state will have a benchmark plan, reflecting coverage typically offered by employers. In more than 30 states, the benchmark, or standard, is an insurance plan offered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
Insurers in each state will generally be required to provide all benefits required by state laws adopted before Dec. 31, 2011. States can require additional benefits, but will have to pay the extra costs themselves.
Carl E. Schmid, deputy executive director of the AIDS Institute, an advocacy group, said he had hoped the federal government would set explicit, uniform national standards.
“We are disappointed,” Mr. Schmid said. “We thought the federal government would spell out essential health benefits in more detail. Patients respond differently to different drugs and often need multiple drugs at the same time. Under this rule, patients might have access to a total of 500 drugs in one state and more than 1,000 in another state.”
Access to autism treatment may also differ. Stuart Spielman, senior policy adviser at Autism Speaks, an advocacy group, said that 32 states had laws requiring coverage of autism treatments and that other states were considering legislation to impose such requirements.
The rule limits the costs to consumers in several ways. For health plans offered in the small-group market, the deductible amount, paid by consumers before insurance kicks in, generally cannot exceed $2,000 for individual coverage and $4,000 for family coverage. Total out-of-pocket costs will also be subject to limits. If a health plan has a network of doctors and hospitals, consumers may be required to pay more if they go outside the network.
The new rule generally applies to all health insurers offering coverage in the individual and small group markets. States will have primary responsibility for enforcing the standards. The federal government said it would step in if it found that a state was not doing an adequate job of protecting consumers.
Federal officials acknowledged that many policies sold in the individual insurance market did not cover all the services required in the new rule. The administration said that many small business health plans “meet or are close to meeting the coverage requirements.”
Under the rule, health plans must provide benefits that have not always been provided by commercial insurers. For example, insurers must cover dental care and vision services for children, as well as “habilitative services” to help people with disabilities keep or improve their skills.
A version of this article appeared in print on February 21, 2013, on page A16 of the New York edition with the headline: New Federal Rule Requires Insurers to Offer Mental Health Coverage .
Article By ROBERT PEAR | THE New York TIMES | Published: February 20, 2013
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/21/health/new-federal-rule-requires-insurers-to-offer-mental-health-coverage.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0
EMPLOYMENT - CTA Seeks Candidates for Rail Station Customer-Service Positions | Feb 2013
To contact us Click HERE
In a plan designed to better serve Chicago Transit Authority rail customers and promote job opportunities for Chicagoans, the CTA is creating up to 700 positions to provide customer assistance at ‘L’ stations throughout the city.
The new Customer Service Assistant (CSA) positions will aid rail station customers in a variety of ways, from answering questions and helping customers with disabilities to handling or reporting problems with station equipment and facilities.
“These 700 new positions are excellent job opportunities that will allow many Chicagoans to return to work, in our city’s neighborhoods, in important roles that help their fellow residents,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “I am pleased that CTA’s labor agreement allowed for the hiring of these positions and look forward to seeing the customer service assistants on the ‘L’ platforms in the coming weeks and months.”
The new CSAs will complement CTA’s existing staff of approximately 200 full-time Customer Assistants, who are assigned to the busiest rail stations and at peak ridership hours, including those along the CTA’s two 24-hour rail lines, the Red and Blue lines. The new, part-time CSA positions will ensure staffing at all of the CTA’s 145 rail stations. Most CSAs will work during lower-traffic hours where privately contracted workers are currently used, with expanded job duties and additional training to better serve customers. Both Customer Assistants—who will receive a new job title of Customer Service Representative—and CSAs will have direct contact with CTA’s Control Center, to assist in providing information about service issues and other customer information.
The CTA will host two job fairs to seek candidates for the new positions: February 22 at the JLM Life Center and March 23 at Clemente High School. Both fairs run from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
The new jobs stem from the historic labor agreement reached in November 2012 between CTA and the Amalgamated Transit Union, which represents bus and rail workers.
“Our goal is to increase the level of service to our customers and to promote job opportunities that benefit our region’s economy,” CTA President Forrest Claypool said. “As CTA employees, these new CSAs will receive extensive training in all facets of customer service, so they’re able to address a wide range of requests from our riders. As part of the CTA family, they will be well-equipped to promote a positive customer experience.”
The move is anticipated to result in cost savings to the CTA as well, with projected savings of around $2 million annually over the current cost for contracted workers. CSAs will be paid between $12 and $14 hourly, and receive health care benefits. The workers will be members of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local #308, which represents rail workers.
The new positions mark the second time in less than a year the CTA has hosted job fairs seeking candidates for customer-facing positions. Last summer CTA hosted three job fairs seeking more than 400 bus drivers in conjunction with the Red Line South reconstruction project beginning May 2013. Those 400+ have been hired, and the CTA continues to hire candidates from those fairs to fill other driver vacancies.
CTA has used rail Customer Assistants since 1997, when ticket agents were phased out as CTA moved toward electronic farecards.
More information about the job fairs is posted on our Careers page. http://www.transitchicago.com/careers/
AS POSTED by Chicago Transit Authority; 2/21/2013
http://www.transitchicago.com/news/default.aspx?Month=&Year=&Category=2&ArticleId=3147
# # #
Up to 700 new posts to benefit rail customers
In a plan designed to better serve Chicago Transit Authority rail customers and promote job opportunities for Chicagoans, the CTA is creating up to 700 positions to provide customer assistance at ‘L’ stations throughout the city.
The new Customer Service Assistant (CSA) positions will aid rail station customers in a variety of ways, from answering questions and helping customers with disabilities to handling or reporting problems with station equipment and facilities.
“These 700 new positions are excellent job opportunities that will allow many Chicagoans to return to work, in our city’s neighborhoods, in important roles that help their fellow residents,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “I am pleased that CTA’s labor agreement allowed for the hiring of these positions and look forward to seeing the customer service assistants on the ‘L’ platforms in the coming weeks and months.”
The new CSAs will complement CTA’s existing staff of approximately 200 full-time Customer Assistants, who are assigned to the busiest rail stations and at peak ridership hours, including those along the CTA’s two 24-hour rail lines, the Red and Blue lines. The new, part-time CSA positions will ensure staffing at all of the CTA’s 145 rail stations. Most CSAs will work during lower-traffic hours where privately contracted workers are currently used, with expanded job duties and additional training to better serve customers. Both Customer Assistants—who will receive a new job title of Customer Service Representative—and CSAs will have direct contact with CTA’s Control Center, to assist in providing information about service issues and other customer information.
The CTA will host two job fairs to seek candidates for the new positions: February 22 at the JLM Life Center and March 23 at Clemente High School. Both fairs run from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
The new jobs stem from the historic labor agreement reached in November 2012 between CTA and the Amalgamated Transit Union, which represents bus and rail workers.
“Our goal is to increase the level of service to our customers and to promote job opportunities that benefit our region’s economy,” CTA President Forrest Claypool said. “As CTA employees, these new CSAs will receive extensive training in all facets of customer service, so they’re able to address a wide range of requests from our riders. As part of the CTA family, they will be well-equipped to promote a positive customer experience.”
The move is anticipated to result in cost savings to the CTA as well, with projected savings of around $2 million annually over the current cost for contracted workers. CSAs will be paid between $12 and $14 hourly, and receive health care benefits. The workers will be members of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local #308, which represents rail workers.
The new positions mark the second time in less than a year the CTA has hosted job fairs seeking candidates for customer-facing positions. Last summer CTA hosted three job fairs seeking more than 400 bus drivers in conjunction with the Red Line South reconstruction project beginning May 2013. Those 400+ have been hired, and the CTA continues to hire candidates from those fairs to fill other driver vacancies.
CTA has used rail Customer Assistants since 1997, when ticket agents were phased out as CTA moved toward electronic farecards.
More information about the job fairs is posted on our Careers page. http://www.transitchicago.com/careers/
AS POSTED by Chicago Transit Authority; 2/21/2013
http://www.transitchicago.com/news/default.aspx?Month=&Year=&Category=2&ArticleId=3147
# # #
Young Girl in Wheelchair, 3, Detained by TSA: Caught on Tape - TSA Apologizes for Traumatizing Disabled Toddler
To contact us Click HERE
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration has apologized to a Missouri couple after its agents traumatized the family's 3-year-old, wheelchair-bound daughter during a screening and told the mother she could not film the process.
The Feb. 8 run-in Annie Schulte and her disabled daughter had with TSA screeners at Missouri's Lambert-St. Louis International Airport as they were heading to Orlando was caught on tape and posted to YouTube. In the video, 3-year-old Lucy can be seen crying as TSA agents tell Schulte she cannot film the screening.
"To me it was pretty offensive because I was really tuned in when she said that, immediately I'm like, 'OK, hold on, something doesn't seem right.' So I did tell her I was going to wait because I was going to grab my phone," Schulte told ABC News.
Schulte says it all started when TSA agents asked to pat down Lucy and screen her wheelchair. Schulte asked to tape it, she said, but an agent didn't like that.
In the clip, an agent tells Schulte, "it's illegal to do that." She then tells the agent that they cannot touch her daughter unless she can record it.
"The problem is I don't allow anyone to touch my little daughter without being able to record it," she said.
Her husband, Nathan Forck, said Lucy was treated unfairly.
"It bothers me that my daughter was singled out, specifically because she is in a wheelchair," Forck said.
The family says the final straw came when agents refused to return Lucy's stuffed animal Lamby, even though it had already been scanned.
The TSA issued the apology overnight.
"TSA regrets inaccurate guidance was provided to this family during screening and offers its apology," the agency said. "We are committed to maintaining the security of the traveling public and strive to treat all passengers with dignity and respect. While no pat-down was performed, we will address specific concerns with our workforce."
The family says it accepts the TSA's apology, but wants screeners to receive more training to prevent such an incident from reoccurring.
They eventually made it to their final destination, Disney World, where Lucy got to meet Mickey Mouse.
By Gio Benitez | ABC News Blogs | Feb 21, 2012
http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/tsa-apologizes-traumatizing-disabled-toddler-135529408--abc-news-travel.html
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration has apologized to a Missouri couple after its agents traumatized the family's 3-year-old, wheelchair-bound daughter during a screening and told the mother she could not film the process.
The Feb. 8 run-in Annie Schulte and her disabled daughter had with TSA screeners at Missouri's Lambert-St. Louis International Airport as they were heading to Orlando was caught on tape and posted to YouTube. In the video, 3-year-old Lucy can be seen crying as TSA agents tell Schulte she cannot film the screening.
"To me it was pretty offensive because I was really tuned in when she said that, immediately I'm like, 'OK, hold on, something doesn't seem right.' So I did tell her I was going to wait because I was going to grab my phone," Schulte told ABC News.
Schulte says it all started when TSA agents asked to pat down Lucy and screen her wheelchair. Schulte asked to tape it, she said, but an agent didn't like that.
In the clip, an agent tells Schulte, "it's illegal to do that." She then tells the agent that they cannot touch her daughter unless she can record it.
"The problem is I don't allow anyone to touch my little daughter without being able to record it," she said.
Her husband, Nathan Forck, said Lucy was treated unfairly.
"It bothers me that my daughter was singled out, specifically because she is in a wheelchair," Forck said.
The family says the final straw came when agents refused to return Lucy's stuffed animal Lamby, even though it had already been scanned.
The TSA issued the apology overnight.
"TSA regrets inaccurate guidance was provided to this family during screening and offers its apology," the agency said. "We are committed to maintaining the security of the traveling public and strive to treat all passengers with dignity and respect. While no pat-down was performed, we will address specific concerns with our workforce."
The family says it accepts the TSA's apology, but wants screeners to receive more training to prevent such an incident from reoccurring.
They eventually made it to their final destination, Disney World, where Lucy got to meet Mickey Mouse.
By Gio Benitez | ABC News Blogs | Feb 21, 2012
http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/tsa-apologizes-traumatizing-disabled-toddler-135529408--abc-news-travel.html
20 Şubat 2013 Çarşamba
Forging ahead – Recovery after Traumatic and Acquired Injuries | Guest Blogger article
To contact us Click HERE
By Guest Blogger Adam Anicich, PolyTrauma/Blast-Related Injury Executive Committee Member for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (as posted at Disability.gov blog)
In my line of work, I’ve heard too many Soldiers, Sailors, Airman and Marines share their frustrations about their recovery and their concerns about the difficulties of reentering “normal life” after an injury. “I can’t…,” “It’s too hard…” and “I’ll do it later…” are phrases spoken all too often. These Warriors begin to doubt themselves and become overly critical of their limitations – and forget to focus on their abilities. These feelings are understandable – after all they have been through, who can fault them? I know, because I was one of those Soldiers.
Many people with brain/blast injuries, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other acquired injuries can feel isolated – either from cognitive difficulties, troubles keeping pace with daily life, lack of focus or just not being able to engage in the same lifestyle they used to. Such isolation not only inhibits a person’s recovery, but also takes a toll on their emotional state. It discourages friends and relationships, marginalizes enjoyment and inhibits professional aspirations.
As a result, many people with injuries or disabilities refrain from enjoying life or impacting society with the zeal and passion that they once had. PTSD can crush a person’s spirits, scars can make people feel trapped within themselves and the loss of a limb can make a person feel incomplete. My challenge to all of you out there struggling with a traumatic or acquired injury or disability is to push yourself to do things you used to enjoy before your injury – find ways to overcome physical limitations, engage your mind in intellectual discourse and discover renewed enthusiasm for life. This is your life – take it back!
As a community, we do however, also have a responsibility – as individuals who have sustained injuries; as family members, friends and caretakers; or as the support network of those individuals with disabilities, to encourage positive attitudes and promote best practices for rehabilitative outcomes. There still exists a stigma about mental health problems and readjustment after combat – but these conditions are treatable! The work of therapists, psychologists and psychiatrists is amazing and making a real impact on people’s lives. Let’s help build an environment that is supportive and prepares our injured colleagues for success.
# READ MORE ABOUT FORGING AHEAD – RECOVERY AFTER TRAUMATIC AND ACQUIRED INJURIES
http://usodep.blogs.govdelivery.com/2013/02/19/forging-ahead-recovery-after-traumatic-and-acquired-injuries/#more-5505
By Guest Blogger Adam Anicich, PolyTrauma/Blast-Related Injury Executive Committee Member for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (as posted at Disability.gov blog)
In my line of work, I’ve heard too many Soldiers, Sailors, Airman and Marines share their frustrations about their recovery and their concerns about the difficulties of reentering “normal life” after an injury. “I can’t…,” “It’s too hard…” and “I’ll do it later…” are phrases spoken all too often. These Warriors begin to doubt themselves and become overly critical of their limitations – and forget to focus on their abilities. These feelings are understandable – after all they have been through, who can fault them? I know, because I was one of those Soldiers.
Many people with brain/blast injuries, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other acquired injuries can feel isolated – either from cognitive difficulties, troubles keeping pace with daily life, lack of focus or just not being able to engage in the same lifestyle they used to. Such isolation not only inhibits a person’s recovery, but also takes a toll on their emotional state. It discourages friends and relationships, marginalizes enjoyment and inhibits professional aspirations.
As a result, many people with injuries or disabilities refrain from enjoying life or impacting society with the zeal and passion that they once had. PTSD can crush a person’s spirits, scars can make people feel trapped within themselves and the loss of a limb can make a person feel incomplete. My challenge to all of you out there struggling with a traumatic or acquired injury or disability is to push yourself to do things you used to enjoy before your injury – find ways to overcome physical limitations, engage your mind in intellectual discourse and discover renewed enthusiasm for life. This is your life – take it back!
As a community, we do however, also have a responsibility – as individuals who have sustained injuries; as family members, friends and caretakers; or as the support network of those individuals with disabilities, to encourage positive attitudes and promote best practices for rehabilitative outcomes. There still exists a stigma about mental health problems and readjustment after combat – but these conditions are treatable! The work of therapists, psychologists and psychiatrists is amazing and making a real impact on people’s lives. Let’s help build an environment that is supportive and prepares our injured colleagues for success.
# READ MORE ABOUT FORGING AHEAD – RECOVERY AFTER TRAUMATIC AND ACQUIRED INJURIES
http://usodep.blogs.govdelivery.com/2013/02/19/forging-ahead-recovery-after-traumatic-and-acquired-injuries/#more-5505
U.S. Access Board Upcoming Webinars | Feb 2013
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The next webinar in the Board's free monthly series will take place March 7 from 2:30 – 4:00 (ET) and will feature an open question and answer session with Board accessibility specialists on the ADA and the ABA Accessibility Standards. Participants are encouraged to submit questions in advance of the session through the webinar site. Questions also can be posed during the webinar.
Subsequent Board webinars will cover:
Archived copies of previous webinars can be accessed on this site.
For the U.S. Access Board : http://www.access-board.gov/
Subsequent Board webinars will cover:
Restaurants and Cafeterias (April 4)or more information, including registration instructions, visit www.accessibilityonline.org.
Elevators and Platform Lifts (May 2)
Fire Alarm Systems (June 6)
Archived copies of previous webinars can be accessed on this site.
For the U.S. Access Board : http://www.access-board.gov/
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