ADAPT Protests in Tennessee for Affordable, Accessible Housing
On March 22, over 400 ADAPT members protested at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office in Nashville, Tennessee to demand that the federal government make housing vouchers available to get people out of nursing homes and into their own homes. ADAPT is a national activist organization focused on getting people attendant care services in the community so that they can live in their own homes rather than in nursing homes or other institutions.
The protesters blocked the entrance of the building for approximately one hour before William Dirl, director of the local HUD office, came out to meet with ADAPT members. Dirl accepted a letter from the group and agreed to present it to HUD Secretary Alfonso Jackson, in Washington, DC.
According to ADAPT, over 6,700 Tennesseans in nursing homes want to live in their own home. The group contends that the state is not providing the needed supports for these individuals to live in the community.
In its letter to HUD Secretary Jackson, ADAPT demanded action on four policies:
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• Improve the timing and coordination of affordable, accessible, integrated housing with the receipt of home and community-based services;
• Facilitate the rebalancing of the long-term care system;
• Implement the goals of the New Freedom Initiative; and
• Assist states in implementing the Supreme Court’s Olmstead decision.
Maryland to Approve Funding for Stem Cell Research
On March 29, 2006, Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich announced that he would sign the Maryland Stem Cell Research Act of 2006. The governor’s announcement came shortly after the Maryland House of Delegates approved the measure, which will provide up to $15 million in grants next year for research involving stem cells, including those derived from embryos.
In response to the withdrawal of federal support for stem cell research, a number of states have initiated their own funding efforts. This new law will put Maryland at the forefront of that movement and, more important, enactment of this legislation will give hope to Americans with spinal cord injuries or disorders that new treatments and cures may one day be discovered. California, Connecticut, Illinois, and New Jersey have approved state funding for stem cell research, although California’s initiative is stalled by lawsuits.
New York and HAVA: Update
As we reported in last month’s Legislative News, the United States Department of Justice filed suit on March 1 against New York State for failing to upgrade its voting system as required by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA). DOJ’s complaint specified that the basis for its suit is New York’s failure to follow HAVA’s mandate that voting systems and polling places be made accessible to people with disabilities.
On March 14, 2006, United Spinal Association sent a letter to DOJ indicating its appreciation for DOJ’s action. In its letter, United Spinal requested that any conciliation agreement entered into with New York State ensure that the accessibility provisions of HAVA are strictly adhered to.
In addition, on March 20, 2006, the New York City Bar Association issued a joint-committee statement urging New York and DOJ to resolve the lawsuit in a way that ensures access to voting systems by all voters, including those with disabilities.
The federal judge overseeing the case ordered New York to produce a plan by April 10, 2006 to comply with provisions of HAVA that requires the state to create a database of registered voters, and to make its voting machines accessible to persons with disabilities. As details become available, we will keep you posted on how this story develops.
Social Security Agency Changes Disability Determination Process
On March 31, the Social Security Administration issued final regulations that make a number of changes to the process for determining whether an applicant for disability benefits has a disability. The changes are intended to speed up the process, which has been plagued with huge backlogs that often keep applicants waiting many months, and even years, for a decision on their claim. The changes are also intended to reduce the need for appeals by making it more likely that the right decision is made early in the process.
The new regulation will allow quick decisions to be made for applicants who are “obviously disabled.” It also makes a number of changes to the process for appeals. The new process will be phased in gradually on a region-by-region basis, beginning with the Boston region (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont) this summer.
United Spinal worked with other disability organizations to provide input into the final regulation and will be watching closely as SSA implements the new process.
To read the new regulation, go to edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/06-3011.pdf.
