The Bulletin, which is free of charge and at NCD's award-winning Web site(http://www.ncd.gov), brings you the latest issues and news affecting peoplewith disabilities. To subscribe to the NCD listserv, go tohttp://listserv.access.gpo.gov, click on Online mailing list archives, selectNCD-NEWS-L, click on Join or leave the list, then complete the shortsubscription form. Please send your editorial comments to Bulletin editor MarkS. Quigley ([email protected]).
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NCD to Release Employment Report
Each October is designated by Congress as National Disability EmploymentAwareness month. This October, NCD will highlight employment by releasing itslatest report, Empowerment for Americans with Disabilities: Breaking Barriersto Careers and Full Employment, at a news conference and panel discussion onOctober 1 to 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. in the House Committee onAdministration Hearing Room, 1309 Longworth House Office Building,Independence and New Jersey Avenues, SE, Washington, DC.
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This report comprehensively reviews the issues integral to the employmentof people with disabilities. It has two broad aims: (1) to summarize theexisting knowledge regarding the employment of people with disabilities in aseries of short issue briefs; and (2) to present new information on theperspectives of employers, people with disabilities, and disabilityspecialists on the key barriers and facilitators of employment.
Research Opportunity Awarded
NCD is pleased to announce that it has awarded its one-year study TheVocational Rehabilitation Act: Transition Outcomes and Effects to the VirginiaCommonwealth University. NCD will assess the impact of the Rehabilitation Actof 1973, specifically related to transition from school to work and/or post-secondary education, as well as collaboration with post-secondary educationalsystems. NCD expects that the resulting report will be used by policymakersand the public to refine and strengthen the ongoing implementation of theRehabilitation Act.
FEMA Releases Disability Disaster Reference Guide
On August 21, the Department of Homeland Security's Federal EmergencyManagement Agency (FEMA) released a new reference guide that outlines existinglegal requirements and standards relating to access for people withdisabilities. A Reference Guide for Accommodating Individuals withDisabilities in the Provision of Disaster Mass Care, Housing and HumanServices is the first of a series of disability-related guidelines to beproduced by FEMA for disaster preparedness and response planners and serviceproviders.
The document summarizes equal access requirements for people withdisabilities within disaster mass care, housing, and human services functions.The Guide explains how applicable federal laws relate to government entities,the private sector, and religious organizations. A full copy of the Guide maybe accessed at http://www.fema.gov/oer/reference.
Under the Homeland Security Appropriations bill (H.R. 5441) signed byPresident Bush on October 4, 2006, NCD has been assigned key responsibilitiesfor disability-related issues in homeland security. These responsibilitiesinvolve the administrator of FEMA working, in conjunction with other FEMAstaff, with NCD and others (e.g., a national advisory council, organizationsrepresenting people with disabilities) on at least nine major tasks includingthe following:
NCD continues to meet with key FEMA and DHS staff, as well as withnational organizations representing people with disabilities, about these keyresponsibilities and the direction FEMA is taking to fulfill its newdisability mandates under H.R. 5441.
To read NCD's latest document on emergency preparedness, please go to TheImpact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on People with Disabili
