Archived News Stories

Tax Credits and Assistance | February 2, 2010
This year several tax credits have been expanded to help put as much as $6,000 in the pockets of low-income working families. In particular, the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC) are powerful resources for working people with low incomes. With new and existing tax opportunities many more people will quality for benefits than in previous years.

HHS Provides More Than $2.6 Billion to States to Help Low-Income Households with Energy Costs | October 22, 2009
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps eligible families pay the costs of heating and insulating their homes in the winter, and cooling their homes in the summer. HHS is releasing such a large allocation of LIHEAP funds now in order to ensure that states have resources available to support their energy assistance programs as the weather turns colder. For a complete list of state allocations of the funds released, go to http://www.acf.hhs.gov/news/press/2009/liheap_2010.html.

AUCD Pays Tribute to Senator Edward Kennedy, 1932-2009 | August 26, 2009
The Association of University Centers on Disabilities mourns the loss of a giant in the Senate and a fearless champion of children and adults with special needs and disabilities. Senator Edward M. Kennedy passed away on August 25 at his Massachusetts home at the age of 77. Over the course of his Congressional career, Senator Kennedy played a key role in passing legislation that positively impacts people with developmental and other disabilities, including the Developmental Disabilities Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Special Olympics Mourns the Loss of Eunice Kennedy Shriver | August 11, 2009
Eunice Kennedy Shriver died on August 11, 2009 in Hyannis, Massachusetts, surrounded by her family. Shriver was the founder and honorary chairperson of Special Olympics. She had been a leader in the worldwide movement to improve and enhance the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities for more than six decades.

Disability Awareness Novela to Air on La Movida | August 3, 2009
This novela was created for radio by the Wisconsin Family Support 360 project in collaboration with the Waisman Center, the Children's Service Society of Wisconsin, La Movida, and the UW Latino Student Psychological Association.

19th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilties Act | July 26, 2009
The DBTAC National Network of ADA Centers has created a Web page dedicated to the anniversary of the ADA: http://adaanniversary.org/. This site includes an Anniversary Toolkit containing important information about the ADA, as well as tools to help local communities celebrate the historic legislation. Find local ADA celebrations and events by contacting regional DBTAC ADA Centers.

Remarks by the President on Signing of U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Proclamation | July 24, 2009
President Barack Obama gave remarks prior to the U.S. signing of the U.N. proclamation. "This extraordinary treaty calls on all nations to guarantee rights like those afforded under the ADA. It urges equal protection and equal benefits before the law for all citizens; reaffirms the inherent dignity and worth and independence of all persons with disabilities worldwide."

Statement by HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on the 10th Anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court Decision Olmstead v. L.C. | June 22, 2009
HHS joins President Obama in commemorating a significant anniversary in the civil rights movement for persons with disabilities. Ten years ago, the United States Supreme Court issued its landmark decision in Olmstead v. L.C. recognizing that “unjustified institutional isolation of persons with disabilities is a form of discrimination” under the Americans with Disabilities Act. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

Channeling Autism | June 4, 2009
A Danish tech firm harnesses the power of brains of individuals with autism. (MACLEANS.CA)

DTV and People with Disabilities
Some consumers have expressed concern about how the digital-to-analog converter boxes will work and whether consumers will continue to receive closed captions after the transition to digital television. FCC rules require digital-to-analog converter boxes to either pass through available analog captions or generate their own digital captions if the programming is captioned. This article contains information about digital broadcasting and accessibility. (DTV.gov)

Day of the Child: A Community Celebration
Day Set Aside to Celebrate Children with Disabilities | April 15, 2009
The Oregon Family Support 360 Grantee, Juntos Podemos: Centro Integral para Familias/Together We Can: A One-Stop Center for Families, garnered media coverage with these articles spotlighting the services and supports it provides to the community, as well as the Day of the Child celebration it will hold to honor children and build self-esteem. (Statesman Journal)

Community Groups to Receive $1 Billion Boost From Recovery Act | April 10, 2009
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced plans to make $1 billion available for the Community Services Block Grant program. Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the new resources will be allocated to states across the country. States will distribute the new funding to community groups that help Americans through tough economic times.

New Study Confirms that the Supports Intensity Scale Assessment is Effective in Measuring the Support Needs of People with Intellectual Disability and Making Funding Decisions | March 3, 2009
The Supports Intensity Scale (SIS) assessment tool, which can effectively predict funding for people with intellectual disability based on individual needs, reveals a new study with 274 adults currently receiving funding from a state developmental disability agency. The study is published in the January 2009 issue of the American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AJIDD). The SIS is a planning tool developed by AJIDD to assess needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in 85 life areas.

Alliance for Full Participation (AFP) Launches Employment Initiative for Citizens with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities | March 17, 2009
The Alliance for Full Participation (AFP) has announced a national effort to increase employment in the U.S. for people with developmental disabilities. The AFP's initiative includes focused action and networking among multi-stakeholder state teams; nationally webcast education and town-hall events; national and state-level policy change advocacy; and directed local efforts to increase and enhance employment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Also anticipated is an October 2011 national summit to share leading practice, process recommendations and establish meaningful national outcomes. (supplied by The Arc)

Recovery Act: Medicaid Grant Award Process | March 17, 2009
Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), approximately $15 billion in grant money will be available immediately to help States, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Territories meet the health care needs of many of their most vulnerable citizens. The increase in the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage will be administered by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The grant award summary, a listing of dollar allotments for each state, is currently available. (supplied by HHS.gov/Recovery)

Recovery Act: IDEA Recovery Funds for Services to Children and Youths with Disabilities | March 7, 2009
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) appropriates significant new funding for programs under Parts B and C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The IDEA recovery funds under ARRA will provide an unprecedented opportunity for states, local educational agencies, and early intervention service providers to implement innovative strategies to improve outcomes for infants, toddlers, children, and youths with disabilities while stimulating the economy. (supplied by the U.S. Department of Education)

Recovery Act: Community Health Center Grants | March 2, 2009
On March 2, President Barack Obama announced the release of $155 million in grants authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support 126 Community Health Centers across the country. These New Access Point grants alone will help provide health services to 750,000 Americans and create 5,500 jobs. Over the next two years, a total of $2 billion in Recovery Act (ARRA) funding will be invested in Community Health Centers to support renovations and repairs, investments in health information technology, and critically needed health care services. (supplied by HHS.gov/Recovery)

Working To Get People Where They Need To Go | February 3, 2009
The Contoocook Valley Transportation Company (CVTC), a new nonprofit organization, is highlighted in this article as a solution to transportation issues for individuals with disabilities in New Hampshire. The CVTC project was planned and developed through the Under One Roof Project at The River Center, the New Hampshire Family Support 360 Grantee. (supplied by the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript)

President Obama's Agenda to Empower Individuals with Disabilities | January 29, 2009
President Obama and Vice President Biden have devised a four-part plan to provide lifelong support and resources to Americans with disabilities. The four aspects focus on increased educational opportunities, promotion of equal opportunity, increased employment rate, and support for independent, community-based living. (supplied by Whitehouse.gov)

New Feature on the Exceptional Parent Web Site – Audio Files of Select Articles | January 23, 2009
EP Global Communications, Inc., the parent company of Exceptional Parent (EP) magazine, is working in conjunction with the nonprofit organization Recording For The Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D) to offer select articles on the EP Web site in an audio format in EP's ongoing effort to make its resources and information available and accessible to the widest range of people with disabilities. Please note that a free registration is required to access the audio files.

AbilityOne Committee Approves Quality Work Environment Initiative | January 15, 2009
The Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled has unanimously approved a new policy on Best Practices for a Quality Work Environment. It provides guidance that will involve the over 600 nonprofit employers participating in the AbilityOne program, and it will result in the identification of state-of-the art best practices for the program’s workforce of over 42,000.

DTV Transition | December 10, 2008
On February 17, 2009, all full-power broadcast television stations in the U.S. will stop broadcasting on analog airwaves and begin broadcasting only in digital. The transition may disproportionately affect certain segments of the population, especially those who are more likely to have older, analog televisions and rely exclusively upon free over-the-air television. A coupon program is available to help pay for converter boxes.

Assistance to States for the Education of Children with Disabilities & Preschool Grants for Children with Disabilities | December 1, 2008
These regulations, that took effect on December 31, 2008, clarify and strengthen previously published regulations in the areas of parental consent for continued special education and related services; non-attorney representation in due process hearings; state monitoring, technical assistance and enforcement; and allocation of funds. The regulations also incorporate a statutory requirement relating to positive efforts to employ and advance in employment individuals with disabilities. (supplied by disabilityinfo.gov)

First Annual Recreation ALLIES Network Triathlon a Success | November 1, 2008
The Recreation ALLIES Network is an initiative of the Under One Roof Project, the New Hampshire Family Support 360 Grantee. This network aims to provide opportunities for people to connect through common recreational interests and recently held its first “Bike-Hike-Paddle” mini-triathlon for community members of all ages and abilities.

President Bush Signs ADA Amendments Act of 2008 | September 25, 2008
The President signed into law S. 3406, the "ADA Amendments Act of 2008," which clarifies and broadens the definition of disability and expands the population eligible for protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Click here to access the full text of the law. (govtrack.us)

Mattie Rhodes Center Selected to Receive 2008 MACDDS Cutting Edge Award | September 5, 2008
Missouri's Mattie Rhodes Center, home to Visions with Hope 360°, has been chosen to receive a Missouri Association of County Developmental Disabilities Services (MACDDS) Cutting Edge Award for 2008. The award is given for programs/services that are unique, inclusive, person centered, respectful, dignified, lead to more interdependence or independence and promote a learning culture in which creativity, innovation and risk taking are supported and where staff feel empowered to provide excellent supports.

Toys"R"Us Releases 2008 Edition Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids | September 3, 2008
Released annually, the Guide assists parents, family, friends and professionals by providing qualified toy recommendations to help aid in the skill development of children with physical, cognitive or developmental disabilities. The complimentary publication is available now at all Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us stores across the country and online, in both English and Spanish. Now through October 1, Toys"R"Us stores nationwide will also feature dedicated boutiques showcasing toys from the Guide. (Toys"R"US)

Communication Barrier , July 8, 2008
The Oregon Family Support 360 Grantee, Juntos Podemos: Centro Integral para Familias/Together We Can: A One-Stop Center for Families, garnered media coverage with this front-page article about the help it provided to the family of a young boy with autism. The family, speaking minimal English, was able to connect to supports and services with the aid of Spanish-speaking staff and foreign language resources available at Juntos Podemos. (Statesman Journal)

Medicaid Victory for Social Workers | June 19, 2008
The House of Representatives passed an urgent supplemental spending bill by a vote of 416 to 12. This broad legislation contains three critical Medicaid rule moratoria. The compromise bill reflects an agreement struck between the House leadership and the White House, and the Senate is expected to concur, clearing it for President Bush's signature. The bill addresses the following Medicaid Rules: Case Management and Targeted Case Management, Rehabilitation Services Option, School-Based Administration and Transportation Services. (National Association of Social Workers)

Accessible Taxicabs to be Available in Washington, DC | June 19, 2008
The National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board approved funding to bring wheelchair accessible taxicabs to the District of Columbia for the first time. The approval of funding is based on the collaborative efforts and support from the DC Taxicab Commission and the DC Office of Disability Rights. Three companies receiving funding will offer 21 wheelchair accessible taxis as early as January 2009.

Empowering the Disabled | June 12, 2008
The District of Columbia Family Support 360 grantee, Quality Trust Family EMPOWERment Center, garnered media coverage with this article about their new resource room, which includes computers equipped with speech recognition, touchscreen, and magnification assistive technologies. The article also spotlights the mission and goals of the Family EMPOWERment Center. (Washington Informer)

LABELED DISABLED Documentary | May 2008
During the last decade, classroom teacher, Maggie Doben, has worked with early childhood students, helping them to explore and understand physical disabilities. The transformation of perception is an amazing process. Each year as the lessons begin, they reveal the stereotypes and discriminatory behaviors that are imposed by society. LABELED DISABLED addresses curriculum that challenges those biases and demonstrates, through first hand experience that they are stereotypes, not reality. Watch what actually happens in the classroom as children discuss and challenge prejudice.

Olympic Dream Stays Alive, on Synthetic Legs | May 22, 2008
When an international court ruled Friday that a double-amputee sprinter from South Africa was eligible to compete in this summer’s Olympic Games in Beijing, the stage was set for disabled athletes to meet their own trailblazer. The watershed ruling made the runner, Oscar Pistorius, the first amputee to successfully challenge the notion that his carbon-fiber prosthetics gave him an unfair advantage and assured his right to race against able-bodied athletes in the Olympics, should he qualify. (New York Times)

Appeals Court: Paper Money Discriminates Against Blind | May 21, 2008
A federal appeals court recently upheld a 2006 ruling which may require the Treasury Department to make modifications to currency. In a 2-1 opinion, federal appeals court judges wrote that current bills deny people with vision disabilities "meaningful access" to U.S. money. A judge on the case noted that a person could not determine the difference between a one-hundred dollar bill and a one dollar bill by touch. (FoxNews.com)

Social Security Administration Amends the Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program | May 20, 2008
The Ticket to Work program provides Social Security Disability Insurance and disabled Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries expanded options for access to employment services, vocational rehabilitation services, and other support services. The Social Security Administration is revising prior rules to improve the overall effectiveness of the program to maximize the economic self-sufficiency of beneficiaries through work opportunities.

When Crisis Hits the Disabled: Limited Options for Support and Housing Exist for Aging Caregivers and Their Children | April 29, 2008
This article about a single mother and her son with Down Syndrome focuses on the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities and their caregivers. (The Wall Street Journal)

Children with ADHD should get heart tests before treatment with stimulant drugs | April 21, 2008
Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) should get careful cardiac evaluation and monitoring - including an electrocardiogram (ECG) - before starting treatment with stimulant drugs, a new American Heart Association statement recommends. Studies have shown that stimulant medications like those used to treat ADHD can increase heart rate and blood pressure. These side effects are insignificant for most children; however, they're an important consideration for children who have a heart condition. (American Heart Association)

President Announces Intended Nominees for the National Council on Disability | March 20, 2008
President George W. Bush announces his intention to nominate fourteen individuals and appoint one individual to serve in his Administration. The intended nominations include eleven individuals recommended to be members of the National Council on Disability.

Yale University to Implement Disability Counseling | February 13, 2008
Students with disabilities may have an added incentive to choose Yale University over its rivals, at least by 2013. When Yale implements a new "peer mentors" program as part of its reform of the freshman counselor system in fall 2009, it will be the first Ivy League school to provide student-to-student guidance geared specifically toward freshmen with physical, mental, and learning disabilities.

The Gift | December 23, 2007
This essay-style article by Sam Lipsyte tells the story of a man coping with caregiving for his ill and dying mother. (New York Times)

Neil Romano Nominated as U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor | December 3, 2007
President Bush sent to the Senate for confirmation the nomination of Neil Romano as Assistant Secretary of Labor in charge of employment disability policy. Romano is considered among the nation's leading authorities in the field of media and public advocacy. Mr. Romano founded America's Strength Foundation, a private organization designed to help people with disabilities find mainstream employment. Through America's Strength, he has become a source of information and assistance on how individuals with disabilities and related agencies can build stronger relationships with the business community. He has presented on the value of hiring individuals with disabilities from a business perspective.

Using Faith, Resources to Bond Parishioners from City, Suburbia | November 20, 2007
Minnesota's Star Tribune newspaper profiled a new collaboration involving Jordan New Life Community Church, the site of our Minnesota Family Support 360, and suburban Lutheran churches in the Minneapolis region.

Harvard Expands Financial Aid for Low and Middle-Income Families | October 25, 2007
Reinforcing its commitment to opportunity and excellence across the economic spectrum, Harvard announced a significant expansion of its 2004 financial aid initiative for low and middle-income families. Parents with incomes of less than $60,000 will no longer be expected to contribute to the cost of their children attending Harvard. In addition, Harvard will reduce the contributions of families with incomes between $60,000 and $80,000.

New Fact Sheet Examines the Role of Medicaid and SCHIP | October 1, 2007
The new fact sheet, "Health Coverage of Children: The Role of Medicaid and SCHIP," from the foundation's Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, summarizes the latest coverage data on the nation's children and examines the key role played by two public health coverage programs, Medicaid and SCHIP.

Family Wins Suit for Autistic Son's Health Care | September 26, 2007
Two years ago, Jacob Micheletti was diagnosed with autism. His parents say Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) has transformed their son from a boy who was retreating into darkness into a precocious, gregarious kid. Jake's father, Joe Micheletti, who works for the state of New Jersey, assumed the family's insurance company would cover the treatment costs. They were not, which came as a shock, Micheletti said. So he took the case to the state's highest court—facing off with fellow co-workers along the way—and won.

Minnesota Grantee Wins Award | September 14, 2007
Our Minnesota grantee's Partners in Policymaking online learning course has won a 2007 Best of Web and Digital Government Achievement award in the Government-to-Citizen State Government category. The Digital Government Achievement Award is a national program that recognizes outstanding agency and department Web sites and applications that enhance information interactions, transactions and/or services. Congratulations, Minnesota!

NCD Urges Congress to Support ADA Restoration | September 13, 2007
The National Council on Disability (NCD) today urged Congress to support legislation that will “right” the course of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and protect the civil rights of people with disabilities.

"Talent for a Winning Team" Poster Available to the Public | September 12, 2007
The 2007 National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) poster, depicting this year’s theme, Workers with Disabilities: Talent for a Winning Team, is now available. In addition to its representation of the national NDEAM theme, this poster is popular throughout the year in connection with events that foster employment opportunities for workers with disabilities.

Each year, U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao selects the official theme. The Office of Disability Employment Policy leads the national recognition. Public Law 176, enacted by Congress in 1945, established October as the official month to recognize the contributions that individuals with disabilities have made to the workforce and the workplace.

U.S. Labor Department Awards Grant to Establish National TA Center on Transition and Employment for Youth with Disabilities | August 30, 2007
The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has awarded a cooperative agreement to ensure that youth with disabilities graduate from high school and either enter employment or continue their education.

DisabilityInfo.Gov Introduces New State and Local Resources Map | July 18, 2007
The federal government's one-stop Web site for disability-related information and resources, DisabilityInfo.gov, unveiled a new resource feature. The new feature is a state and local resources map, designed to assist visitors in finding disability-related information in their own states and localities.

Wall Street Journal Examines Nursing Home Care For Children With Disabilities | July 2, 2007
This article summarizes The Wall Street Journal story that examines how thousands of children with disabilities live in nursing homes, even as "the cost to taxpayers, and the strain on families, is much lower" when the child lives at home. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services estimates that about 4,000 children nationwide live in nursing homes, many of which are primarily for the elderly. Medicaid guarantees nursing home care for people with disabilities, but coverage for in-home care is controlled by state governments and often is insufficient. Moreover, "there aren't enough home care workers, nurses and therapists to serve these families," the Wall Street Journal reports.

FTA Issues New Circulars for Human Service Programs | June 4, 2007
The Safe Accountable Flexible Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) includes three human service transportation programs administered by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) - Elderly Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities; Job Access and Reverse Commute; and New Freedom. These three federal programs provide formula funding for States and communities and are targeted to enhance transportation services for specific populations that depend on alternative transportation options for their day-to-day mobility.

These programs also include a NEW requirement for developing a coordinated public transit-human service transportation plan for people with disabilities, older adults, and individuals with lower incomes. This plan, developed by local stakeholders is intended to address the comprehensive transportation needs of the community.

FTA has also published a Federal Register Notice outlining the responses to comments submitted regarding an earlier proposed notice.

Vermont Family Support 360 Article from Common Ground | May 31, 2007
This article, written by Kathy Holsopple for Common Ground, the newspaper of the New England Association of Child Welfare Commissioners and Directors, is about Family Support 360 Peer Navigators. Ms. Holsopple outlines the focus and purpose of navigators and where they fit into the larger system.

Alabama Adds Self-Directed Home-Based Services Through Its State Medicaid Plan | May 24, 2007
Health & Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt announced today that Alabama is the first state to receive federal approval to allow self-directed personal assistance services (PAS) as a feature of its Medicaid plan, eliminating the need for repeated requests for time-limited section 1115 demonstration programs or section 1915(c) waiver programs.

Parents of Children with Disabilities Win Ruling | May 21, 2007
The Washington Post reported today that the United States Supreme Court ruled that parents of children with a disability do not have to hire lawyers to sue school districts when they attempt to ensure that their children's special needs are adequately met. The court found that the federal Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which guarantees children a "free appropriate public education," gives rights to parents as well. Parents may represent themselves in federal court when disputes arise between them and a school district over what is best for the child, the court held.

DOJ Issues New Installment of ADA Technical Assistance Materials | May 7, 2007
On December 5, 2006, February 27, 2007, and May 7, 2007, the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice issued installments of a new technical assistance document designed to assist state and local officials to improve compliance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in their programs, services, activities, and facilities. The new technical assistance document, which will be released in several installments over the next ten months, is entitled “The ADA Best Practices Tool Kit for State and Local Governments.” The Tool Kit is designed to teach state and local government officials how to identify and fix problems that prevent people with disabilities from gaining equal access to state and local government programs, services, and activities. It will also teach state and local officials how to conduct accessibility surveys of their buildings and facilities to identify and remove architectural barriers to access.

Detroit 360° Helps Parents of Severely Disabled Children | April 19, 2007
The Detroit Free Press reports on how the Detroit Family Support 360 project assists families in their area.

Press Release: CMS Announces Funding for Health Insurance Counseling Programs | April 5, 2007
Today the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) will receive $30 million to help people with Medicare until May 15, when the enrollment period for 2006 ends and during the next annual enrollment period beginning in November for drug coverage that will begin in January 2007.

Press Release: Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities Releases the Results of Opinion Poll that Measures Populations' Attitudes towards People with Developmental Disabilitites | March 1, 2007
A poll sponsored by the Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities comparing current attitudes of Minnesotans with those reported in a similar survey 45 years ago shows substantial movement toward greater inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in society. See the results of the opinion poll here.

Notice of Proposed Priority and Definitions for Special Demonstration Programs-Model Demonstration Projects-Improving the Postsecondary and Employment Outcomes of Youths With Disabilities | February 22, 2007
John H. Hager, assistant secretary of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), U.S. Department of Education, anncounces the Federal Register notice inviting public comment on the Notice of Proposed Priority and Definitions under the Rehabilitation Services Administration's Special Demonstration Programs—Model Demonstration Projects—Improving the Postsecondary and Employment Outcomes of Youths With Disabilities. This priority is intended to improve the post-school and employment outcomes of youths with disabilities. OSERS invites you to submit comments to help ensure that it does. The Federal Register notice, including relevant dates and directions on how to submit comments, may be viewed in HTML and PDF formats at www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/proprule/2007-1/021507a.html. The NPP is open for public comment until Mar. 19, 2007.

States Get Federal Backing to Build More Efficient, High Quality Medicaid Systems | January 25, 2007
HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today awarded $103 million to 27 states across the nation to fund implementation of new ways to improve Medicaid efficiency, economy and quality of care. States will use the funds to implement innovative systems to get more value out of the money they spend providing health care to their low-income elderly, children and disabled citizens.

DOT Announces $2.7 Million to Improve Transit Services for Older Americans and Persons with Disabilities | January 5, 2007
The U.S. Department of Transportation today announced a total of $2.7 million for eight U.S. cities to demonstrate how Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) can improve access to transit services for older Americans and persons with disabilities.

Combating Autism Act Signed by President Bush | December 19, 2006
President Bush signed into law S. 843, the Combating Autism Act of 2006. The law amends the Public Health Service Act to combat autism through research, screening, intervention and education.

HHS Launches New Web Site Promoting Long-Term Care Planning | December 14, 2006
Health and Human Service's Assistant Secretary for Aging Josefina G. Carbonell announced a new Website that will make it easier for consumers to get the information they need to plan for long-term care. The National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information Website provides comprehensive information about long-term care planning, services and financing options, along with tools to help people begin the planning process.

2006 Students of Parents with Disabilities Scholarship Winners Announced
The National Resource Center for Parents with Disabilities at Through the Looking Glass announces the winners of its 2006 College Scholarships for Students of Parents with Disabilities. These scholarships are funded through the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), U.S. Department of Education. Each award is a $1,000 college scholarship for an outstanding high school senior who has at least one parent with a disability.

KU Researcher Receives Disability-Study Grant | November 25, 2006
The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the Research and Training Center on Independent Living at Kansas University has received a grant from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) to help people with disabilities participate more fully in the community.

FDA Approves the First Drug to Treat Irritability Associated With Autism, Risperdal
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Risperdal (risperidone) orally disintegrating tablets, an adult antipsychotic drug, for the symptomatic treatment of irritability in autistic children and adolescents. The approval is the first for the use of a drug to treat behaviors associated with autism in children. These behaviors are included under the general heading of irritability, and include aggression, deliberate self-injury, and temper tantrums.

Gene Linked to Autism in Families With More Than One Affected Child
A version of a gene has been linked to autism in families that have more than one child with the disorder. Inheriting two copies of this version more than doubled a child's risk of developing an autism spectrum disorder, scientists supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the National Institute on Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) have discovered. In a large sample totaling 1,231 cases, they traced the connection to a tiny variation in the part of the gene that turns it on and off. People with autism spectrum disorders were more likely than others to have inherited this version, which cuts gene expression by half, likely impairing development of parts of the brain implicated in the disorder, report Drs. Daniel Campbell, Pat Levitt, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center at Vanderbilt University, and colleagues, online during the week of the October 16, 2006 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

CDC Launches Multi-State Study on Autism: $5.9 Million Awarded to Five Sites
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is initiating a multi-state collaborative study to help identify factors that may put children at risk for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and other developmental disabilities. Approximately 2,700 children, ages 2 to 5, and their parents will be part of this study. CDC has awarded a total of $5.9 million to five sites - Kaiser Foundation Research Institute in California, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the University of Pennsylvania. These sites make up the Centers for Autism and Developmental Disabilities Research and Epidemiology (CADDRE) Network. CDC will also be participating in the study, and will include children and their parents from the metropolitan Atlanta area.

DOE: $11.6 Million in Grants Awarded for Highly Qualified Special Education Teachers, Early Intervention Personnel
The Department of Education announced the award of $11.6 million in grants to help develop highly qualified teachers for students with disabilities, especially in areas where chronic shortages exist. The money will also be used to train specialists in early intervention and other aspects of services for students with disabilities, recognizing that the earlier children can be identified as being in need of services, the greater the likelihood they can reach their education potential.

Wisconsin Family Support 360 Press Release
Food, Fun and Family was the theme at Family Support 360’s picnic held on Thursday, August 3, 2006 at McKee Farms Park in Fitchburg. Sixty children, adults, and staff in attendance at the picnic enjoyed a banquet of grilled hot dogs and hamburgers, homemade ice-cream, along with the summer’s best offering of fruits and vegetables. Additionally, we are proud to announce that all of the families served by the project also received backpacks filled with required school supplies for back-to-school.

Self-Advocate Publishes Handbook on Healthy Relationships and Safe Sex for People With Developmental Disabilities
Joe Meadours, a self-advocate from Montgomery, AL, has written a handbook titled Healthy Relationships and Safe Sex: Tips for Self-Advocates (43 pages) to help other self-advocates learn how to have healthy relationships and be safe if they are sexually active.

North Side Gets a Boost
Quela Carlson hunched over a concrete footing in the back yard of a house in north Minneapolis on Monday morning, 1,100 miles from home. The teenager from Springfield, VA, was building a handicapped access ramp for someone she has never met.

United Cerebral Palsy Releases National Analysis of Medicaid
United Cerebral Palsy released a new national analysis of state Medicaid services for people with developmental disabilities and mental retardation. The report, titled A Case for Inclusion, includes state rankings for all 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as letter grades in key areas of Medicaid service delivery including Home- and Community-Based Services, Small Residential Settings, Reaching Those in Need, Services Self-Directed, and Cost Efficiency.

HHS Releases First Round of Katrina Aid to 32 States to Help With Evacuee Health Costs
HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt has released $1.5 billion to 32 states to help offset the medical costs of caring for thousands of Hurricane Katrina evacuees who sought refuge after the storm. Click on the above link to read the full press release.

Medicare Part D Transition
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator, Dr. Mark McClellan, announced a plan to address state reimbursement issues for Medicare Part D transition for those states that have stepped in to cover the cost of the drugs for dual-eligible beneficiaries in their state. Please read the letter following and the attached fact sheet for more information.

Open Letter From CMS Regarding the Medicare Drug Benefit
Dr. Mark B. McClellan, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator, has issued an open letter to CMS partners regarding the current status of implementation of the Medicare drug benefit. This letter contains details about improvements being made to the operation of this new program.

Medicare Rx Guide Released to Assist People With Disabilities Press Release
Advancing Independence, a disability-focused policy organization, has released a new guide for persons with disabilities, Understanding Changes in Prescription Drug Coverage for People with Disabilities on Medicare: A Guide for People with Disabilities, Benefits Counselors, Disability Organizations and Others On Transitioning to the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Benefit.

Suit Wins Changes for Disabled at Hospital
This Washington Post article summarizes a settlement agreement between the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Washington Hospital Center. It is a landmark agreement that includes inpatient room renovation, outpatient barrier removal, policy review and development, training, survey and purchase of accessible medical equipment, new publications, and much more. The agreement and a summary fact sheet of it are on the DOJ Americans with Disabilities' Web site.

Family Support 360: Response to Hurricane Katrina | September 15, 2005.