Disability Law Handbook Available

The DBTAC Southwest ADA Center announces the publication of The Disability Law Handbook, a 50-page guide to the basics of the Americans with Disabilities Act and other disability related laws. Written in an FAQ format, The Disability Law Handbook answers questions about the Americans with Disabilities Act, the ADA Amendments Act, the Rehabilitation Act, Social Security, the Air Carrier Access Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, and the Fair Housing Act Amendments.

Individual copies of The Disability Law Handbook are available at no charge by emailing Rauseo@bcm.edu, or by calling Dionne Rauseo at 713.520.0232, ext.113.
"Listen to the Disability Law Lowdown Podcast at http://dll.ada-podcast.com"

Office of Disability Employment Policy Activities Highlighted

ODEP’s Activities and Resources Highlighted in SHRM Article:
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) published "Can Hiring One Employee with a Disability Make a Difference?". The article covers a wide range of disability employment interests including ODEP’s policy activity, EARN, WRP, and more. The article is available through the Office of Disability Policy's home page.

Biden Announces $250 SSA Recovery Act Payments

FROM THE SSA PRESS OFFICE:
Vice President Joe Biden and Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social
Security, announced today that the federal government will send $250.00 economic recovery payments to people who receive Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits beginning in early May 2009. The Payments, made under The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will inject more than $13 Billion into the US economy. See: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pressoffice/pr/recovery-payments-pr-alt.pdf
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides for a one-time payment of $250 to adult Social Security beneficiaries, and to SSI recipients, except those receiving Medicaid in care facilities. To receive the payment the individual must be eligible for Social Security or SSI during the months of November 2008, December 2008 or January 2009.

The legislation also provides for a one-time payment to Veterans Affairs (VA) and Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) beneficiaries. The VA and RRB will be responsible for paying individuals under their respective programs. However, if someone receives Social Security and SSI, VA or RRB benefits, he or she will receive only one $250 payment.

Recipients do not need to take any action to receive the payment, which SSA will send separately from the person's regular monthly payment. If they do not receive payment by June 4, 2009, SSA beneficiaries should contact SSA.

• For more detailed information about the $250 one-time economic recovery payments, go to http://www.socialsecurity.gov/payment
• To learn more about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009,visit http://www.recovery.gov/

NCD Opens Phone Access for Report Releases

FROM THE NRCA LISTSERV:
In response to numerous requests, NCD has arranged for telephone access for those who would like to listen to the release proceedings of two important NCD reports on Tuesday March 31, 2009, at the NCD quarterly meeting in Washington.
The toll-free, call-in, listen-only number for each event is 888-790-6568, and the pass code is “NCD Meeting.”
Release 1: Federal Employment of People with Disabilities (An evaluation of the employment of people with disabilities within the Federal Government):
10:15 a.m. EDT – 11:00 a.m. EDT
Release 2: National Disability Policy: A Progress Report (This is the mandated report to the President and Congress prepared by the Council which includes 17 recommendations) 3:45 p.m. EDT – 5:00 p.m. EDT

DARS Improves Stakeholder Relations Website

The Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services has improved its Stakeholder Relations website with the addition of "Stakeholder News". For details and to subscribe, visit: http://www.dars.state.tx.us/stakeholders/index.shtml

Recent CPPP Legislative Testimony

From the Center for Public Policy Priorities:
TDI Sunset Bill (SB 1007): Testimony to the Senate Government Organization Committee
- Regarding the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) sunset process to provide affordable health insurance available to more Texans.
Modernizing the Vehicle Asset Test (HB 1625): CPPP Testimony to the House Committee on Human Services
- Supporting updates to Texas' public benefits asset tests to ensure individuals and families in need have transportation.
Child-Only Group Health Plans (SB 76): Testimony to Senate State Affairs
- Supporting affordable health care coverage options for every child in Texas.
High Risk Pool Discount Program (SB 879 / HB 2064): Testimony to the House Insurance and Senate State Affairs Committees
- Relating to the Texas Health Insurance Risk Pool (risk pool), which provides health insurance to eligible Texas residents who, due to medical conditions, are unable to obtain health insurance.

New Food Stamp Bills

New Food Stamp legislation may maximize federal funding to provide food assistance for needy Texans. HB 1627 would use the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LiHEAP) program to maximize Food Stamp benefits for currently eligible families. HB 612 would eliminate the current ban on Food Stamps for drug felons. The Center for Public Policy's Policy Page explains these bills and summarizes the arguments for adopting these changes to Food Stamp policy in Texas. Learn more: http://www.cppp.org/research.php?aid=841

Texan Lloyd Doggett Leads Co-Pay Relief

COURTESY OF THE ARC/UCP Capitol Insider: Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) recently reintroduced Medicare Part D co-payment elimination legislation for low-income residents of assisted living and residential care facilities and people receiving home and community-based services under Medicaid. The Medicare Part D Home and Community Services Copayment Equity Act of 2009 (H.R. 1407) would extend protection from Part D co-pays to people residing in the community. Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) introduced a Senate version (S. 534).

New "Meeting the Challenge" Transport Survey

DIRECT from Meeting the Challenge, Inc. --In conjunction with a Federal Transit Administration grant, Meeting the Challenge, Inc. is collecting information from people with disabilities regarding their experiences with public transportation. Information will be used to create Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) technical assistance materials directed toward alleviating transport barriers.Access the 5 to 10 minute survey at http://mtcinc.transit.sgizmo.com/ . For a paper copy, call 1-800-864-4264 (select menu choice #2), Monday through Friday between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM (MT). The survey closes March 31, 2009.Message Courtesy of:Cristi L. HarrisSpecial Projects DirectorMeeting the Challenge, Inc(800) 949-4232 (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY)(719) 444-0252 ext. 108

Webcast on Air Carrier Access Act

The Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center (DBTAC) Southwest ADA Center at Independent Living Research Utilization (ILRU) has a webcast on "The
Air Carrier Access Act Update and Impending Changes" set for Wednesday,
April 1, 2009 at 2:00pm Central.

The webcast will provide an overview of the new amendments to the Air Carrier Access Act of 1986 (ACAA) and Regulation 14 CFR Part 382 (Part 382) which will become effective on May 13, 2009. The ACAA prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in
commercial air transportation.
To link to this webcast and download accompanying materials visit:
http://ilru.org/html/training/webcasts/calendar.html

Presentation slides are available in text and PDF as alternate formats.
For instructions on how to access a webcast visit: http://www.ilru.org/html/training/webcasts/instructions.html

For technical assistance, please visit the ILRU at:
http://www.ilru.org/html/training/webcasts/FAQ.html or contact a webcast team member at swdbtac@ilru.org or 713.520.0232