The course is designed to teach participants “valuable skills to effect systems change in their individual campuses and increase their own skills in self-advocacy and self-help.”

This is an exciting move forward for ASAN and we hope it can be an exciting move forward for you. If you are a current college undergraduate student who identifies on the Autism Spectrum, including Autistic Disorder, Asperger’s Syndrome, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified, with a strong interest in the Disability Rights and Autistic Rights movements, we invite you to apply for this leadership training. Applicants must be currently enrolled in a higher education institute or college in the United States (including the District of Columbia), with at least one year left after completion of the leadership training.

For more information, visit the Autistic Self Advocacy Network.

Dr. Houtenville discussed the Compendium’s design; the various topics covered; new time trends statistics added in the 2011 edition; patterns and trends in overall numbers of people with disability living in the community, employment rates of people with disabilities, unemployment trends, SSDI applications, vocational rehabilitation, and federal expenditures; potential uses the Compendium by researchers and policy makers; the possibility of adding more time-trend information based on statistics estimated by StatRRTC; and information on accessing the Compendium as well as a technical assistance available through a toll-free number.  The 2011 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium is a product of the NIDRR-funded Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Statistics and Demographics (StatsRRTC) at Hunter College, New York that provides statistics on people with disabilities and government programs that serve the disabilities population.  The data is compiled from federal sources and surveys on disability prevalence, population size, including break-downs by state and disability type, employment and earnings, education, health and health care coverage, rehabilitation, and participation in benefit programs.

Audio and the PowerPoint presentation slides from the January 25^th webinar will be available through KTER within the next week or so at www.kter.org/index.php/ktactivities/webcasts.  The 2011 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium is available for free through NARIC and the Compendium website.  The technical toll-free technical assistance number for the Compendium is 866/538-9521.

For more information on the following NIDRR-funded projects related to this presentation:

• Center on Knowledge Translation for Employment Research (KTER Center)
  www.kter.org
• RRTC on Employment Policy and Measurement
  (Principle Investigator Dr. Houtenville, presenter)
  www.iod.unh.edu/Projects/epm_rrtc/project_description.aspx
• Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Statistics and Demographics (StatsRRTC)
  www.ilr.cornell.edu/edi/p-srrtc.cfm
  disabilitycompendium.org

On the Slopes

People with disabilities are hitting the slopes and participating in winter sports in increasing numbers, including skiing, hockey, and snowmobiling. Amputees, people with visual disabilities, and people with paralysis can all learn to ski. There are several types of adaptive skiing, including mono skiers (individual skiers sitting or standing on a single ski) and bi-skiers (who have two skis under their bucket and have someone standing behind them).  At the age of 60, Neal Williams, a Vietnam veteran whose back was crushed in seven places, was a volunteer at the 2002 Paralympics and was encouraged by members of the US Ski Team to give adaptive skiing a try. By 2008, Williams was skiing for seven hours a day and says that skiing has given him a “new lease on life”. The US Disabled Ski Team (USDST) is filled with very competitive men and women! Disaboom introduces you to the USDST Alpine Racers.

For more thrills, some athletes opt for snowmobiling. The main snowmobile event at the X Games is called the SnoCross and involves multiple competitors racing through a course of slopes and turns. Adaptive SnoCross, with vehicles and equipment modified for competitors with disabilities, will make it’s first appearance in the Winter X Games 14. Adaptive SnoCross willl be the third X Games competition designed for action sports athletes with disabilities.

On the Ice

If you prefer team sports, check out sled hockey, also known as sledge hockey. Sled hockey is played in three, 15 minute periods and has the majority of the same rules as professional hockey. This is a full contact sport with plenty of offsides, power plays, and icing. The equipment worn by players with disabilities is similar to that worn by professional players with the exception of the two metal hockey sticks which are used to direct the puck and to propel the player on the ice. To learn more visit the Northeast Sled Hockey League. This video from the US Paralympic Sled Hockey Team introduces you to the sport and its major players.

There are plenty of opportunities for people with disabilities to get out and enjoy the season. To learn more about winter sports for people with disabilities (and to meet more athletes), please visit the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. You will be introduced to several athletes and they include a video on how skiing has affected some skiers with disabilities. To find adaptive ski programs, Adaptive Ski programs that have been expanded to include other sports, or additional winter sporting opportunities in your area, please visit Access-able’s site.

The hour long presentation included statistical information on the health status of individuals with disabilities and the growing health disparities compared to individuals without disabilities.  Presenters discussed key indicators of health derived from Healthy People 2020, what are health disparities and their causes, and specific self-reported survey data from the Behavior Risk Surveillance System (BRFSS).  The BRFSS data indicated the following disparities across seven health indicators:

• People with disabilities were more likely to have fair to poor health status compared to those without disabilities
• People with disabilities were more likely to be overweight/obese compared to people without disabilities
• Women with disabilities over the age of 40 were less likely to get a mammogram over a two year time period
• People with disabilities were more likely to be more physically inactive compared to people without disabilities
• People with disabilities were more likely to report having an unmet medical need due to cost and/or access to care compared to those without disabilities
• People with disabilities were more likely to report being a current smoker compared to those without disabilities
• People with disabilities were less likely to have use dental services compared to those without disabilities

The disparities gap has continued to widen over the past five years with obesity in people with disabilities being the biggest issue and health concern.  Presenters discussed promising practices implemented by specific CDC-funded state disability and health programs to reduce disparities in key health indicators; and partnerships between organizations such as the National Center on Physical Activity and Disability (NCPAD), the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation/Paralysis Resource Center, the Amputee Coalition, and various others.  Finally, presenters discussed how to move forward on improving health outcomes and reducing health disparities for people with disabilities by building on previous recommendations and continued efforts by the CDC, NIH, and others to fund disability and health-related research.

Audio and the PowerPoint presentation slides from the January 24^th webinar will be available from the AAIDD and AAHD websites www.aamr.org and www.aahd.us, respectively.  The fourth and final episode of the four-part series the “CDC’s Roadmap for Improving the Health of People with Disabilities” will take place on February 21^st, 2012 at 4 p.m. EST.  For more information on previous episodes in this series and to register for the February 21^st webinar please visit www.aamr.org/content_7633.cfm.

For more information on the disability and health from the CDC please visit www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/index.html and for more information the BRFSS please visit www.cdc.gov/brfss.

Response to this webinar was overwhelming with approximately 1,200 people registering and many in attendance.  The approximately hour long presentation based on the survey report “Emerging Employment Issues for People with Disabilities:  Disability Disclosure, Leave as a Reasonable Accommodation, and Use of Applicant Screeners” was presented by Sarah von Schrader, PhD (Assistant Director) and Susanne M. Bruyère, PhD, CRC (Director) of the Employment and Disability Institute.  This research was funded by the National Institute on Disability Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR).  The presentation provided an overview on employment and disability; particularly the importance of disability disclosure by individuals with apparent and not apparent disability to employers.  Additionally, survey methods and findings on the perspectives of individuals with disabilities on disclosure and the implications for employers on improving workplace culture and inclusion were discussed.

The survey was the result of a joint effort between Employer Practices RRTC, the AAPD, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). AAPD and SAMHSA served as the primary dissemination point for the online survey through social media resources such as listservs, newsletters, Facebook, and Twitter.  To access the full text survey report “Emerging Employment Issues for People with Disabilities:  Disability Disclosure, Leave as a Reasonable Accommodation, and Use of Applicant Screeners” please visit digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/edicollect/1288.

For more information on the NIDRR-funded Employer Practices RRTC please visit www.ilr.cornell.edu/edi/p-emprrtc.cfm.  For more information on the AAPD and/or SAMHSA please visit www.aapd.com and/or www.samhsa.gov, respectively.

Additional Resources for Employers:

• Employer Resource and Assistance Network (EARN)
  askearn.org
• Employment and Disability Institute (EDI) – NIDRR-funded
  www.ilr.cornell.edu/edi
• Job Accommodation Network (JAN)
  askjan.org
• HR Tips
  hrtips.org
• National ADA Network Centers – NIDRR-funded
  adata.org

After Director Shiu shared on the OFCCP and the proposed rule, Mr. Dale introduced Dr. Charlie Lakin, PhD, the new Director of the National Institute of Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). Director Lakin briefly shared his background with the callers and began to speak about the Mission of NIDRR, which includes the generation, dissemination, and promotion of knowledge so that the lives of people with disabilities are improved. As part of this mission, NIDRR conducts comprehensive programs of research so that people with disabilities are fully included, socially integrated, employed, and living indepdently. Director Lakin also touched on someo of the core areas of NIDRR research, which include employment outcomes, health and function, technology for access and function, and capacity of building. To learn more about NIDRR, please visit their webpage on Frequently Asqued Questions about NIDRR. Dr. Lakin also announced the completion of NIDRR’s Long Term Plan for 2012-2016. A period for public comments will be announced in the near future.

After Director Lakin spoke, Mr. Dale shared several announcements including that the White House Council on Disabilities does not archive these conference calls. Another announcement that Mr. Dale shared is the plan to host conferences in different cities around the country that will deal with disability issues in a local, regional, and national level. The plans for these conferences are still in the works and, as plans are confirmed, Mr. Dale will share where and when these conferences will be. Finally, Mr. Dale announced a townhall meeting will be held outside of the Washington, DC area after the President’s State of the Union Address. This townhall meeting will be held with the disability community and will be led by Mr. Kareem Dale. Details will be posted for the conferences and the townhall meeting as soon as they are made available.

Upon viewing the new homes and the attention to detail, it is easy to see the brilliance of lead designer Michael Graves, who not only lent his vision as a renowned architect to the project, but also his real-life experience as someone who is paralyzed from the chest down. Graves’ designs, created with design firm IDEO incorporate the functionality of an accessible care facility with the outward appearance of a modernized single-level, three-bedroom family home. Innovations such as automatic, keyless, and level entryways; easy access sliding doors; spacious hallways and kitchens; extra storage space and electrical outlets for assistive technologies; and even a dedicated therapy room are coupled with home design features such as luxury plank vinyl, vibrant coloring, wide and level windows, and extra spacious garages. These are only a few of the amenities encapsulated in each 3,000 square foot home—valued between $500,000-$600,000.

The Wounded Warriors Home Project incorporates the research and development work of the University of Buffalo’s Universal Design program, which is conducting data research on the schematics of these homes for use in more expansive and civilian settings. The NIDRR-sponsored Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) division at the University of Buffalo specializes in research and development in the field of universal design and partners with various industries to help put their discoveries into practice. The RERC’s mission is to create safer and more accessible environments and structures for people with disabilities while maintaining a comfortable balance with the general public.
The full Washington Post article, published in December 2011, is available at http://www.washingtonpost.com/realestate/michael-graves-army-partner-to-design-homes-for-wounded-soldiers/2011/12/06/gIQAjI03vO_story.html

We encourage you to attend this call and to call in about five minutes early due to the large number of callers. The conference call will be held on January 18th, 2012 at 2 pm and will probably last an hour and half. To call in please call 800/762-4758 and use “White House Disability Call” for the code. For live captioning, please login at the start time of the call by clicking on the live captioning feature. Please only use the live captioning feature if you are deaf or hard of hearing.

We highly recommend the video series from Brain Line featuring Dr. Kreutzer and Dr. Taryn Tjeskal on what happens to families who experience brain injury. This video and more are available free to download along with an excellent collection of other resources.

How has brain injury affected your family? Please feel free to leave your comments below!

We receive many requests and provide referrals for statistical information.  The following is a brief listing of NIDRR-funded statistical resources from our Ready Reference.

Disability Statistics Online Resource for U.S. Disability Statistics
Phone:  607/255-7727, 607/255-2891
Email: DisabilityStatistics@cornell.edu
www.disabilitystatistics.org

Disability Statistics Center at UCSF (DSC)
Produces and disseminates policy-relevant statistical information on the demographics and status of people with disabilities in American society.
Phone: 415-502-5214
dsc.ucsf.edu

Burn Model System Projects Database Coordination Center
Phone:  303/315-6873
Email:  BMS/DCC Project Coordinator
bms-dcc.uchsc.edu

Center for Outcome Measurement in Brain Injury (COMBI) –
www.tbims.org/combi

National SCI Statistical Center (NSCISC)
Phone: 205/934-5049
Email:  NSCISC@uab.edu
www.spinalcord.uab.edu/show.asp?durki=24480

Traumatic Brain Injury National Data Center
www.tbindsc.org

More statistical resources are available through our online Ready Reference at www.naric.com/public/readyref/statistics.cfm.