Disability News Now

Deaf community in Rogue Valley promotes video remote interpreting technology to ease communication

Thousands of foreign refugees, including many Cubans, are scheduled to lose Social Security disability aid in less than two months because they have not become citizens.

Thousands of foreign refugees, including many Cubans, are scheduled to lose Social Security disability aid in less than two months because they have not become citizens.

Age and Agent Orange are closing in on Vietnam veterans, a legacy of hurt for those who served — and a very big bill for American taxpayers. It’s a world turned upside down from decades ago when returning soldiers had to fight to get attention for deadly lymphomas linked to the herbicide. Now the frailties of men in their 60s — prostate cancer, diabetes, heart disease — lead the list of qualified Agent Orange disabilities, and the result has been an explosion in claims and the government’s liability. The latest expansion, approved by Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki in October, adds ischemic heart disease and Parkinson’s and will cost at least $42 billion over the next 10 years. The VA estimates 349,000 individuals are already receiving Agent Orange disability benefits, and that number could soon reach 500,000 — or one out of every four surviving Vietnam veterans by the VA’s count.

Age and Agent Orange are closing in on Vietnam veterans, a legacy of hurt for those who served — and a very big bill for American taxpayers. It’s a world turned upside down from decades ago when returning soldiers had to fight to get attention for deadly lymphomas linked to the herbicide. Now the frailties of men in their 60s — prostate cancer, diabetes, heart disease — lead the list of qualified Agent Orange disabilities, and the result has been an explosion in claims and the government’s liability. The latest expansion, approved by Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki in October, adds ischemic heart disease and Parkinson’s and will cost at least $42 billion over the next 10 years. The VA estimates 349,000 individuals are already receiving Agent Orange disability benefits, and that number could soon reach 500,000 — or one out of every four surviving Vietnam veterans by the VA’s count.

An Illinois appeals court has agreed to allow a central Illinois student to keep his autism helper dog in school.

An Illinois appeals court has agreed to allow a central Illinois student to keep his autism helper dog in school.

Tunney argued that the dog is an emotional support animal, a type of service animal that helps her deal with the pain of arthritis, chronic depression and a long list of other physical ailments. She needs the assistance like a blind person needs a seeing-eye dog, Tunney said, and as such, civil rights laws allow her to keep the dog there.

Tunney argued that the dog is an emotional support animal, a type of service animal that helps her deal with the pain of arthritis, chronic depression and a long list of other physical ailments. She needs the assistance like a blind person needs a seeing-eye dog, Tunney said, and as such, civil rights laws allow her to keep the dog there.

Despite that fact — and his 15 years of experience — Clark has been looking for a permanent job for more than a year since his last position ended when the organization closed because of lack of funding. Although he has no definitive evidence, Clark, who has been doing independent contract work, believes his job search may be hindered by his disability; he has cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder that can affect speech and movement. He is one of the about 54 million Americans with disabilities, and he feels that he frequently encounters unspoken barriers, such as an employer’s perception of the costs and difficulty of accommodating people with disabilities.

Despite that fact — and his 15 years of experience — Clark has been looking for a permanent job for more than a year since his last position ended when the organization closed because of lack of funding. Although he has no definitive evidence, Clark, who has been doing independent contract work, believes his job search may be hindered by his disability; he has cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder that can affect speech and movement. He is one of the about 54 million Americans with disabilities, and he feels that he frequently encounters unspoken barriers, such as an employer’s perception of the costs and difficulty of accommodating people with disabilities.

As the Obama administration pledges to hire more people with disabilities, some new numbers suggest the percentage of disabled American workers employed in the public sector is on par with the percentage of workers who are not disabled.

As the Obama administration pledges to hire more people with disabilities, some new numbers suggest the percentage of disabled American workers employed in the public sector is on par with the percentage of workers who are not disabled.

"Team Warfighter Sports" is made up of service members severely injured in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The team includes former and active duty members -- one is a woman -- who are amputees, blind or who have traumatic brain and severe muscle injuries.

"Team Warfighter Sports" is made up of service members severely injured in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The team includes former and active duty members -- one is a woman -- who are amputees, blind or who have traumatic brain and severe muscle injuries.

Across-the-board spending cuts will be coupled with previously announced federal aid — and some state reserves — to eliminate a newly projected shortfall of $377.5 million in state tax collections announced Thursday.

Across-the-board spending cuts will be coupled with previously announced federal aid — and some state reserves — to eliminate a newly projected shortfall of $377.5 million in state tax collections announced Thursday.

John Paul Scott wasn't sure he'd heard correctly. "It's in the computer system that you're deceased," repeated an official from the Department of Veterans Affairs. "What are you talking about?" Scott asked. The 39-year-old Army veteran from Houston had been calling the VA's hotline twice a day for weeks to check the status of his disability claim. This time, on July 12, the VA official who answered the phone informed Scott he would no longer be receiving benefits because, according to VA records, he had passed away in April.

John Paul Scott wasn't sure he'd heard correctly. "It's in the computer system that you're deceased," repeated an official from the Department of Veterans Affairs. "What are you talking about?" Scott asked. The 39-year-old Army veteran from Houston had been calling the VA's hotline twice a day for weeks to check the status of his disability claim. This time, on July 12, the VA official who answered the phone informed Scott he would no longer be receiving benefits because, according to VA records, he had passed away in April.

Vanderbilt University’s new Next Step certificate program is providing a college experience to six students with intellectual disabilities, allowing them to participate in classes and extracurricular activities with typical college students.