Showing posts with label Department of Justice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Department of Justice. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

JetBlue Violated Air Carrier Access Act Rules

FROM DISABILITY.GOV--
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today assessed a civil penalty against JetBlue Airways for violating rules protecting air travelers with disabilities. DOT’s rules implementing the Air Carrier Access Act require airlines to provide assistance to passengers with disabilities in boarding and deplaning aircraft, including the use of wheelchairs, ramps, mechanical lifts or service personnel where needed. A review of complaints about the treatment of passengers with disabilities filed with the airline and with DOT showed violations of the requirement to provide this kind of assistance to travelers with disabilities.

For more information visit this link: http://www.disability.gov/transportation/laws_%26_regulations

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

ADA Updates

Thanks to NRCA for the following updates:

ADA/Emergency Management

The US Department of Justice entered into settlement agreements with several local governments regarding the accessibility of their emergency management plans and facilities (e.g., seeking input from people with disabilities and their families, making emergency shelters accessible and planning for accessible temporary housing). To read the agreements, see:
http://www.ada.gov/civicac.htm

ADA Employment Video

The US Department of Justice has a new video aimed at educating employers about the employment provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Ten Employment Myths: Information about the Americans with Disabilities Act uses a question-and-answer format to express common misconceptions, fears and false assumptions that many employers have about employees with disabilities. The video refutes these unfounded myths, explains the ADA in common sense terms and highlights the advantages of hiring qualified persons with disabilities. Single DVD copies can be ordered through at 800-514-0301 (voice) or 800-514-0383 (TTY). An online streaming version will also be available soon. See: http://www.ada.gov

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Former Rehab Provider Sentenced For Fraud

(HOUSTON) - James Earl Dunn Jr., 39, former owner and operator of Rehab Specialist Inc. (RSI), has been sentenced to 33 months confinement in federal prison by United States District Judge Lee Rosenthal for submitting more than $300,000 in fraudulent claims against the government, United States Attorney Tim Johnson announced today. The sentence was handed down late yesterday evening.

Dunn received contracts from the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), formerly known as the Texas Rehabilitation Commission, from funds awarded by the U.S. Department of Education, to provide vocational rehabilitation training to individuals with mental and physical disabilities.
Indicted in May 2007, Dunn pleaded guilty Aug. 12, 2008, to one count of submitting fraudulent claims against the government acknowledging in his plea agreement that during the years 2001 to 2003 he had fraudulently obtained federal vocational rehabilitation funds through DARS by claiming that he was providing employment training and coaching to clients with disabilities when, in fact, the clients were not receiving such training.

"Dunn knowingly and willfully abused his position of trust to steal funds that were supposed to be used to provide needed education and vocational rehabilitation to disabled adults. That is unacceptable,” said Mary Mitchelson, acting Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Education. “I’m proud of the work of Office of Inspector General Special Agents, the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services and the U.S. Attorney's Office for holding this man accountable for his fraudulent actions.”
Dunn, who has been on bond, has been permitted to remain on bond pending the issuance by the court of an order to surrender to a Bureau of Prisons facility to be designated in the near future.

The investigation was conducted by special agents with the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General and the DARS Investigations Unit. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Quincy L. Ollison.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ANGELA DODGE FRIDAY, SEPT. 4, 2009 PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER WWW.USDOJ.GOV/USAO/TXS (713) 567-9388