U Of A Currents is announcing a new class April 2011

"Multiculturalism and Disabilities " Presented by Melinda Masters.

April 4, 6, 8, 2011, 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. CSTDescription: This course will explore the concept of culture and expanded definitions of multiculturalism. Our society tends to be both tolerant and yet excluding of people and groups who participate in and are from different cultures. Various disabilities will be discussed as each relates to the model of cultural health. An examination of culture shock as it applies to disabilities and multiculturalism will be presented.
View (and register!) for all our 2010 teleclasses at: http://www.rcep6.org/bridgeworks/Default.aspx

Kelly Campbell, University of Arkansas CURRENTS

501/623-7700 Ext 19 office OR 501/624-6250 fax

http://www.uacurrents.org/
501.623.7700

Message From 2011 TRA President Stanfill

TRA Members/Officers –

As I reflect on the busy and productive year we just completed under our out-going 2010 TRA President, Dr. Shawn Saladin, I realize that I have some large shoes to fill as incoming TRA President. I also know that it was only through the hard work and commitment of our membership that any of our goals were/are met. I am asking you all, the veterans who have kept TRA moving forward all of these years as well as the newer members whose fresh ideas and vitality help keep us progressive in our purpose, to work with me this year.

Some important dates and 2011 objectives I want you to please keep in mind are:

1) National and State legislatures will begin the year dealing with budget issues that will directly impact VR services and the disabled community. TRAN/TRA is working together again on these issues to ensure that our voices are heard at both governmental levels and to show our support for the various VR programs that must continue moving forward in 2011.

2) We also start 2011 with a very important and unique two (2) day Board meeting and workshop at TLC in Galveston which will be the first ever joint TRA/TRAN Board meeting. Incoming TRAN President, Greg Mason, is as committed as I am to seeing our two great organizations working together, sharing ideas and implementing statewide activities for the betterment of our profession and for the lives of the disabled community that we serve.

3) Commissioner Murphy has retired and a search is on for a replacement which will be hard to equal.

4) Grants and Scholarships Committee has been revitalized under the direction of Susan Reed. Susan already issued one monetary award late last year and we are looking forward to helping those clients with needs that cannot be met elsewhere with financial support in 2011.

5) Our 2011 TRA Conference will be at the Gunter Hotel in San Antonio on June 26th through the 28th and it is shaping up to one of our best ever.

6) With our veteran TRA leader, Bob Cox, now serving as NRA Treasurer, we are receiving some much overdue attention from NRA. There is serious discussion ongoing about bringing the 2012 NRA conference to San Antonio! I still say this is a first but others tell me they recall a national conference in Dallas many years ago. Maybe so but this remains a big deal for Texas and one that I support and hope you do too.

As you can see, our plate is full in 2011 and we can only accomplish these goals if you participate. 2009 TRA President Paul McCollum, is looking for a few more people willing to serve on the TRA Board or as Officers. Please step up and show your support for TRA and our 2011 goals by letting him know that you are willing to help. We are looking at making our Board meetings more travel friendly and may even attempt participation by teleconferencing and/or video-conferencing as necessary.

My best wishes to you and your families in this upcoming year. Let’s all work together to make 2011 an outstanding year in Texas.

Wallace A. Stanfill, Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services

713-896-6902 Office

713-851-3256 Cell

713-896-0011 Fax

United Airlines Settles EEOC Disability Discrimination Suit

Federal Agency Obtains Policy Changes and $600,000 for Reservation Agents With Disabilities

SEATTLE — United Airlines has agreed to settle a federal lawsuit alleging that the company violated the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) when it refused to allow employees with disabilities to work reduced hourly schedules as a reasonable accommodation, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced today.

In addition to paying $600,000 to a group of reservation agents with disabilities, United will end its blanket policy against reduced hourly schedules and provide training to staffers who administer United’s reasonable accommodation process, according to the terms of a three-year consent decree approved by the court (EEOC v. United Airlines, C-06-01407 TSZ).

Prior to 2003, United had permitted reservations sales and service representatives to work reduced hourly schedules as an accommodation for employees’ various disabilities, including multiple sclerosis, DeQuervain’s tendonitis and carpal tunnel, and myasthenia gravis (a muscle condition). By suddenly abolishing its long-standing practice and policy of providing reduced hourly schedules, United required all reservation sales and service representatives who could not work their full bid schedules to either retire or go out on extended leave, and then terminated them when their leave ran out. These policies and practices violate the ADA, the EEOC said.

One worker who had worked for United for 25 years and had worked a reduced-hour schedule for 23 years prior to the policy change, said, “Contributing 25 years of work, in a way compatible with my health, was positive for me, for United and for society. A sweeping policy that disregards individual circumstances doesn’t give someone like me a chance to do my job. I took my case to the EEOC, and I'm glad to know that United is going to stop its blanket policy on work hours.”

The ADA protects individuals with disabilities from employment discrimination and requires employers to make reasonable accommodations to employees and applicants with disabilities, unless the accommodation would create an undue hardship. After a neutral investigation conducted by the EEOC’s Honolulu and Seattle offices and after first attempting to reach a voluntary settlement through conciliation, the EEOC filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.

EEOC San Francisco Regional Attorney William R. Tamayo said, “United conceived of this policy as a cost-cutting measure -- a means of tightening the belt. However, this action did not lessen any monetary strain for the company or boost the department’s performance. Thinking creatively and flexibly to retain skilled and experienced workers would be a better survival strategy for companies than stereotyping workers with disabilities as expensive and expendable.”

EEOC San Francisco District Director Michael Baldonado noted, “Decisions regarding reasonable accommodations for a disability must be made on a case-by-case basis. A blanket policy that takes options off the table by setting minimum work hours not only violates the ADA, but it also may have a negative impact on the company’s morale, productivity and bottom line.”

According to www.united.com, United Airlines (NASDAQ: UAUA) is one of the largest international carriers based in the United States, with 52,000 employees worldwide and operating nearly 3,000 flights a day to more than 200 domestic and international destinations from its hubs in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Chicago and Washington, D.C.

The EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. Further information about the EEOC is available on its web site at www.eeoc.gov.

Cheryl Bates-Harris

NDRN

900 2nd Street NE, suite 211

Washington, DC 20002

202-408-9514 x 117

Fax 202-408-9520

Cheryl.Bates-Harris@ndrn.org

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