learning disability

Thanks to Concord Academy in Memphis, for hosting this event on March 22, 2012. This slidedeck has a lot of updated statistics on postsecondary and workforce participation by young adults with disabilities. Please reference the note pane view for this PPT presentation, as it contains narrative linking the slides together.

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2011-10-23 http://t.co/bG4WULFs # Unpacking my bag & brain from World #Disability Union General Assembly in Istanbul 65 countries met committed to …http://twitter@2011wdu.com # Digesting experience of being part of World #Disability Union- 65 countries find common ground 2 ratify Constitution 4 barrier-free world # Put some pictures to share from World Disability Union http://t.co/nXHikokT # World Disability Union General Assembly October 22-23, 2011 http://t.co/GNbkfGQj # World Disability Union General Assembly October 22-23, 2011 http://t.co/8YuHygsR # Buying sugar skulls for Ofrenda to my relatives @Dia de los Muertos http://t.co/mGKQDV13 #

Delegates came to Istanbul representing 6 continents & 65 countries in order to establish the World Disability Union and a global Congress addressing Universal Design. They left as friends, relatives and colleagues dedicated to our motto "WE KNOW NO BARRIERS!" httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4XaXA1B2hs

Going to Istanbul in a couple of hours as US delegate for World #Disability Union. Follow tweetfeed @2011wdu. http://t.co/JbpFlAzD # Global Network for #Entrepreneurs with #Disabilties wrote a throughtful post about our work. Thanks for the expression…http://t.co/9mSDHh6z # Made it to Istanbul, but my bag didn't! Please follow @2011wdu # 65 countries, 6 continents meet in Istanbul at World #Disability Union- We Know No Barriers! # Delegations begin to arrive @2011wdu http://t.co/4bBekL67 # Some early accessibility issues for wheelchair users at WDU- conference staff did not make aisles wide enough for them to pass! # Opening remarks from Vodafone Foundation of Turkey welcomes delegates @2011wdu # Enjoying musical performances of virtuosity by Pwd @2011wdu # WDU President Metin Senturk sets the agenda and thanks the @2011wdu team # Building community and sharing lives through common cause @2011wdu # US Ambassador to Turkey shares that 1 billion global citizens live with #disability @2011wdu # US Ambassador ...

Interesting conference in Washington DC on "Race, Ethnicity & Disabilities: State of the Science"-information thru the…http://t.co/khx5uEvN # LDI Tour http://t.co/gpXRo34P # LDI Tour http://t.co/uV0YxkhJ # Student Life at LDI http://t.co/tHBF6QcZ # The White House hosting state-specific calls to discuss the American Jobs Act & FY 2012 budget on October 12-14. Join the Arizona American … # I was able to ask WH rep today how workers with #disabilities are specifically included in the #American Jobs Act. Sho…http://t.co/jXSkOUlT # Experiential Learning http://t.co/Msz0CHtd # Experiential Learning http://t.co/m0K0Titk # White House doing state calls for public input re the American Jobs Act-dates/details on link for your state. Had...: http://t.co/j1idEXuJ #

A series of US Senate hearings chaired by Sen. Tom Harkin of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) committee is literally reshaping the nature of the debate, recognition, and ultimately, funding of services /benefits for adults with disabilities as well as the aging American workforce. The most recent HELP committee hearing on September 15, 2011, centered on the subject of the “Future of Employment for People with the Most Significant Disabilities”, which can be watched through clicking on this link. So, if the Disabled are finally gaining the hard-won recognition of being important enough for our government to do some long-range policy planning,  develop dedicated programs, and commit funding -why the concern over this terminology? From what I have read, watched, and discussed with others of the proceedings- adults, advocates, and families should become familiarized, alarmed, and energized over who is going to be considered disabled enough (channeling my Schindler’s List emotions) to get on “ The Good List.” According to a study published in 2009 on Conducting and Benchmarking Inclusive Employment Policies, Practices, and Culture, because employees with disabilities who become employed face important disparities such as lower pay ...

For me, finding meaning in life through my work has been dedicated to updating public perceptions and attitudes towards the capabilities of PwD. A focus of these efforts (made possible by many helping hands) is to celebrate the transformative power of achieving the American right to decent work and fair treatment by bringing public attention to the lifespan issues of adults with disabilities associated with work, health care, housing, and community connectedness. I have tremendous faith and belief that doing so moves us forward as a more just community transcending the fears, stigmas and exclusion of relatives, neighbors, and people who have a disability into creating an inclusive society with them as citizens of equal standing. We do it because it makes sense, not just because of a personal identification with being a person with a disability, but to do that which calls to us as a purpose that matters. Therefore, when professional peers from the business/employment community acknowledge these efforts through an award, the act both surprises, pleases, and sobers one. We are glad to share this award with our friends and colleagues through this blog, knowing that there is much more that can and will be done to improve the quality of ...

Purpose: A rally dedicated to updating public perceptions and attitudes towards the capabilities of People with Disabilities. Where: Arizona State Capitol Mall, 1700 West Washington, Phoenix, Arizona When: October 28, 2010, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Opportunities: A slate of local and nationally known speakers from grassroots, business, and government will: Celebrate the transformative power of achieving the American right to decent work and fair treatment. Build “Disability Confident” employers by making an effective business case for the advantages of working with this diverse workforce. Share the potential of harnessing the largest and most underserved American minority through voter registration, market-specific branding, and innovative product/service creation. Bring public attention to the lifespan issues of adults with disabilities associated with work, health care, housing, and community connectedness. Move us forward as a more just community that transcends the fears, stigmas and exclusion of relatives, neighbors, and people who have a disability into creating an inclusive society with them as citizens of equal standing. Connect your social media/organization sites to the EmployAbility links below and post news from your community to ours that support or promote efforts to improve employment for people with disabilities. On the day of the event, host & post your  live local YouTube, ...

Hope for a new day of equal opportunity In January, 2009, The U.S. House of Representatives showed overwhelming bipartisan support for the American’s with Disabilities Amendments Act by a vote 405-17 approving the measure. Political ideology did not trump Congress being on the right side of this vote.  Many in the business community supported this expansion of civil rights protections, which no doubt helped clear it for passage. As this bill is enacted in the workplace, it now expands the protection focus towards what constitutes discrimination rather than what constitutes disability. ADAA is a reminder that “disability in the workplace” is an intentionally broad standard, rather than a high threshold standard (retirement laws, healthcare benefits). In general, this new standard of disability is viewed favorably by most observers, as it drives legislative language intended to open up employment by removing overly restrictive judicial definitions of disability. The Act considers that is in the best interests of the common good to include such a broad definition as it allows otherwise qualified individuals to speed their entry into employment and reduce the level of governmental benefits. This is especially pertinent for the Boomer generation with its own onset of age-related disabilities and the impending entitlement drain ...

There are now many more adults with disabilities under the age of 35 (comprehensive special education was created through P.L. 94-142 in 1975) who are better prepared for inclusion into higher education, postsecondary, and employment settings. They also have higher expectations of themselves and their chances for success as a result of being the recipients of support they received for their various conditions. Within overall global education reform strategies, how is the U.S. addressing their prospects-both during the educational journey and in finding fulfilling careers afterwards? This post takes a quick look at what  can start being done to facilitate greater inclusion and successful outcomes for adults with hidden disabilities in higher education and postsecondary settings. Getting organized: Interagency & Intergovernmental coordination A recent report from the GAO found that while higher education participation among students identified as having a disability is up to 11% of total enrollment, there is a lack of coordination among the federal agencies, knowledge among college faculty of best practices, uncertainty of the legal obligations to offer reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities, and the consequences for everyone if accommodations are denied. Of particular concern, according to this report is how to appropriately assist, teach, and support students who are veterans with TBI/PTSD, ...