Community for Disabled

Cap & Trade Bill = Needing a license (label) to sell your home

livinglakecountry.com Community Blogs 'Hears' to Life! — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:25:00 GMT

Just received this via an email. If this is really what is in this bill, why aren't we all hearing about how much it is going to cost us if we should decide to sell our homes? Here's the link: http://www.nachi.org/forum/f14/cap-and-trade-license-required-your-home-44750/ If we are now going to allow someone to come into our homes and give us an energy efficiency rating, how on earth are all of the homeowners out there going to be able to afford to upgrade their private residences to meet...(read more)

Startup makes clothes for the disabled

BusyBee — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:28:00 GMT

via WESTFAIR online
by Kelly Liyakasa
Nov-13-09, 03:10 PM

This week the Bedford resident debuts online Ross Daniel Adaptive Apparel (RDAA), a stylish sock line designed for disabled children and teenagers who are fitted with orthotics.

Her son Ross was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at a young age.

He turns 16 next week.

Steadfast in transforming her pain into a passion that can help others, Kleiman does not leave room for personal pity.
"It was the hardest decision of my life, but the best," she said of enrolling son Ross in The Center for Discovery in Monticello some years back. "It gave him a social life that I couldn’t give him."

Water Tower View Senior Apartments in Greenfield, WI

livinglakecountry.com Community Blogs 'Hears' to Life! — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:06:02 GMT

For those of you that are looking for housing that caters to the D/HOH, here is the newest one in our area. http://www.cardinalcapital.us/greenfield.php Some of the amentities that are in these apartments can be viewed by following the links below: https://astarusa.box.net/shared/7eoozlca7g - WTV 074.jpg https://astarusa.box.net/shared/snop83rpa4 - WTV 058.jpg https://astarusa.box.net/shared/b55b6y6cyk - WTV 057.jpg Amenities also include: 1. Professional, on-site Oral Deaf Signer managment 2. Elevator...(read more)

Assistant Secretary Martinez to be the Principal Guest Speaker at Disability Policy Forum

BusyBee — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:26:00 GMT

On Tuesday, November 17, from 10 AM to noon, Assistant Secretary Kathleen Martinez will be the principal guest speaker for an interactive forum to be held at the Cornell University Government Affairs Office in Washington, DC. The topic is “ODEP Update: New Directions for the Office of Disability Employment Policy at the Department of Labor.” Other panelist/reactors will be Kelly Buckland, E.D. of NCIL; Paul Tobin, President and CEO of United Spinal Association, and Lori Golden of Ernst & Young.

The Disability Policy Forums, sponsored by the Employment Policy RRTC in collaboration with the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), are held quarterly in Washington, DC and are available on the web. To register or to read more about the forum, visit http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/edi/p-eprrtc-policyforum.cfm

US Business Leadership Network Airs on Sky Radio Network

BusyBee — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:59:00 GMT

Interview promotes employment as part of the Campaign for Disability Employment

WASHINGTON, DC (November 11, 2009) - The US Business Leadership Network (USBLN®) today announced that its Executive Director & General Counsel, John D. Kemp, will be featured on the Sky Radio Network's upcoming edition of "Industry Innovators" airing worldwide on Delta Air Lines throughout November/December 2009. Kemp's radio interview calls attention to the high unemployment rate among people with disabilities.

The Campaign for Disability Employment, a collaborative effort which the USBLN is a founding member of, supported Mr. Kemp's three-minute interview about capitalizing on the talents and abilities of all employees - including people with disabilities - which will air on the Sky Radio Network. The interview will have a captive audience of over 10.1 million business travelers and frequent flyers. The high-quality business and lifestyle programming educates and entertains millions of airline passengers every month. "Industry Innovators" presents audio interviews that spotlight industry leaders and innovative business solutions. They focus on companies, both large and small, from a variety of industries.

"We're thankful for the opportunity to help raise awareness about disability diversity in the workplace, marketplace and supplier chain to over 10 million travelers," summarized Kemp about his interview on the Sky Radio Network. "It is my hope that the interview will share our message that at work, it's what people can do that matters...and, by capitalizing on everyone's talents and abilities at work - including people with disabilities - business can benefit; there's a great dividend to be realized by fully including people with disabilities."

The Sky Radio Network interview can be downloaded or read online at http://www.usbln.org/video_pop-up_05.html

About the US Business Leadership Network: The US Business Leadership Network (USBLN®) is the only national business organization currently representing 60 BLN affiliates and satellites in 36 states - including the District of Columbia - and more than 5000 employers using a "business to business" strategy to promote the business imperative of including people with disabilities. For additional information about the USBLN® and its 2009 Exceptional Leadership Awards, please contact Brandon M. Macsata by email at info@usbln.org.

About the Campaign for Disability Employment: The Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE) is a collaborative effort between several organizations to promote positive employment outcomes for people with disabilities by encouraging employers and others to recognize the value and talent they bring to the workplace. The Campaign is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), receives technical assistance from the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) and is supported by the Disability Policy Research Center (DPRC) at West Virginia University.? To learn more about the Campaign, visit http://www.whatcanyoudocampaign.org.

For additional information about the USBLN® and its involvement in the Campaign for Disability Employment, please contact John D. Kemp by email at john.kemp@ppsv.com.

'Glee' wheelchair episode hits bump with disabled

BusyBee — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:44:00 GMT

via USA TODAY
By Lynn Elber
November 10, 2009

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The glee club members twirl their wheelchairs to the tune of Proud Mary and in joyful solidarity with Artie, the fellow performer who must use his chair even when the music stops.

The scene in Wednesday's episode of the hit Fox series Glee, which regularly celebrates diversity and the underdog, is yet another uplifting moment — except to those in the entertainment industry with disabilities and their advocates.

For them, the casting of a non-disabled actor to play the paraplegic high school student is another blown chance to hire a performer who truly fits the role.

"I think there's a fear of litigation, that a person with disabilities might slow a production down, fear that viewers might be uncomfortable," said Robert David Hall, longtime cast member of CBS' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.

All of that is nonsense, said Hall: "I've made my living as an actor for 30 years and I walk on two artificial legs."

CA, IL, LA, and PA: Speak Out! EEOC Town Halls on ADA Amendments Regulations

BusyBee — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:15:00 GMT

Speak Out! EEOC Town Halls on ADA Ammendments Regulations

From the EEOC (10/20/09):

The EEOC will be hosting a series of forums for public input throughout the country in coming weeks to obtain direct input from the business/employer communities as well as the disability and disability advocacy community on EEOC's proposed regulations under the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA).

Presided over by EEOC's Acting Chair, Stuart J. Ishimaru, Acting Vice Chair, Christine Griffin, and Commissioner Constance S. Barker, as well as DOJ’s Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, Samuel Bagenstos, Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, Mazen Baswari, and Chief of the Disability Rights Section of the Civil Rights Division, John Wodatch, the Town Hall Listening Sessions are an opportunity for these officials to hear directly from stakeholders of all perspectives on the proposed regulations.

Five-minute time slots to address the panel will be available from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Some of the slots will be available on an advance registration basis and some on first-come, first-served sign up basis at the events. Members of the public are also invited to attend and view the proceedings, with space available on a first-come, first-served basis.

As a reasonable accommodation, there will be limited availability to provide public input by telephone. To request this accommodation you must register in advance.

Individuals representing themselves or organizations are urged to take advantage of this opportunity to provide input on the EEOC's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking which can be viewed, along with a question-and-answer guide, at www.eeoc.gov.

Sign Language Interpreters, CART, and assistive listening devices will be available. If you need printed materials in an alternative format please email Elisa.gonzalez.ctr@tma.osd.mil Please let her know what you need and the location (city) of the event you will be attending.

Both EEOC and DOJ want to encourage all individuals and organizations who cannot attend an event to make sure you submit comments and attachments electronically at http://www.regulations.gov, the Federal eRulemaking Portal. The ID # is 3046-AA85. Written comments may also be submitted to Stephen Llewellyn, Executive Secretariat, EEOC, 131 M Street, NE., Suite 4NW08R, Room 6NE03F, Washington, DC 20507. Comments may be transmitted by facsimile ('FAX'') machine by dialing (202) 663-4114. (This is not a toll-free number.) Only comments of six or fewer pages will be accepted via FAX transmittal. Comments must be submitted on or before November 23, 2009.

California:

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division announce a full-day Town Hall Listening Session, on Monday, October 26, 2009, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at California Endowment, 1111 Broadway, 7th floor, Oakland, CA 94607.

For more information, or to register as a speaker, please contact Ms. Linda Li at 415-625-5618 (TTY 415-625-5610) or at Linda.Li@eeoc.gov

Illinois:

The U.S.Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division announce a full-day Town Hall Listening Session, on Tuesday, November 17, 2009, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Access Living, 115 West Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60654

For more information, or to register as a speaker, please contact Ms. Rita Coffey at 312-353-7254 (TTY 312-353-2421) or at Rita.Coffey@eeoc.gov

Louisiana:

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division announce a full-day Town Hall Listening Session, on Friday, November 20, 2009, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the University of New Orleans Training Resource and Assistive-Technology Center (UNO-TRAC), 2000 Lakeshore Drive, New Orleans, LA 70148.

For more information, or to register as a speaker, please contact Maple Thomas at 504-595-2827 (TTY 504-595-2958) or at Maple.Thomas@eeoc.gov

Pennsylvania:

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division announce a full-day Town Hall Listening Session, on Friday, October 30, 2009, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Liberty Resources, 714 Market Street, Suite 100, Philadelphia, PA 19106

For more information, or to register as a speaker, please contact Ms. Mary Tiernan at 215-440-2671 (TTY 215-440-2610) or at Mary.Tiernan@eeoc.gov

Pass this information on to your friends and colleagues. Downloadable Notices are attached below.

>>>Download EEOC Notice for Chicago

>>>Download EEOC Notice New Orleans

>>>Download EEOC Notice Philadelphia

>>>Download EEOC Oakland Notice

7 Strategies to get your resume noticed online

BusyBee — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:10:00 GMT

via JOBSEARCHINGSTRATEGIES.COM
by Cori
November 5, 2009

Sourcing is a term used for recruiters to find and uncover candidates and recruiters are getting more and more creative with their sourcing techniques. One creative sourcing technique being used today is going to Google or other search engines and putting in search strings filled with keywords and terms to generate resumes from all over the internet.

Since recruiters are getting creative with their sourcing techniques, job seekers should start getting creative with online exposure techniques.

7 strategies to get your resume noticed online:

Create a career blog: Start a blog that focuses on your career industry and include tips, articles, news, and industry related topics. You don’t have to be a writer to create a blog. You can link to other articles and news about that industry topic and add comments showing your industry knowledge. Also, set up a page on the blog for your resume, where you are highlighting your industry knowledge, experience, and expertise. You can easily set up a blog for free using programs such as blogger.com or wordpress.com
Use free document sharing websites: There are a number of free file sharing websites that can help you gain more resume exposure online. Save your document in different forms such as DOC and PDF so your resume shows up under those search terms. Yes, recruiters will search for resumes using words such as pdf, rtf, doc, and cv. You can even save your resume as a powerpoint presentation! Here are few free sites to check out: keepandshare.com, slideshare.net, Google docs

Research suggests attitudes toward people with disabilities are changing

BusyBee — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:01:00 GMT

via examiner.com
by Steve Carter
Dallas Disability Examiner
October 30, 11:16 AM

Employers’ negative attitudes and fears have long been a barrier to the employment of individuals with disabilities. Accordingly, attitude literature on the employment of people with disabilities has focused almost exclusively on employers. However, due to their influence over business practices, the successful employment of people with disabilities is also contingent on the views of the consumer.

A recent study published in the Journal of Rehabilitation indicates that this attitude is becoming more positive toward companies that hire the disabled.

The study extended previous studies that focused on the attitudes of employers by going directly to
the consumer. Consumer attitudes toward companies that hire individuals with disabilities were assessed through a national public survey.

Holiday specials - Prices in Wisconsin are higher

livinglakecountry.com Community Blogs 'Hears' to Life! — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:37:03 GMT

Just a reminder for all of you Holiday shoppers out there. Starting Nov. 7th, stores like Wal-mart started advertising their specials for the Holiday season. If you are looking at the ads online, please keep in mind that the prices will be higher if you buy it in Wisconsin or for that matter, any other state that has the Minimum mark-up law. We made the mistake of standing in line at the Mukwonago store last year (Black Firday) at 4am. At 7am, the manager came out to let all of those in line know...(read more)

November meeting for HLAA - Lake Country Chapter

livinglakecountry.com Community Blogs 'Hears' to Life! — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:43:01 GMT

Place: Wales Community Center Address: 216 W. South St. Wales, WI 53183 Time: 6:30pm - 8:00pm Topic for the meeting: HLAA Walk4Hearing in May 2010 and plans for the December Holiday meeting! There is no charge to attend our meetings. Anyone with an interest in hearing loss as well as their families and friends are invited to join us! You don't have to be a member of HLAA. If you have questions, please contact Tami at tamiklink@gmail.com Have a great week!...(read more)

AARP's agreement with HearsUSA

livinglakecountry.com Community Blogs 'Hears' to Life! — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:53:02 GMT

Thanks to Bob for sending me this link. Here's the actual agreement including who gets how much of the money for the 'new' AARP agreement with HearsUSA for Hearing aids. Needless to say, I really have a problem with a non-profit making monetary deals with a for-profit company. And, most of the public has no clue how this organization is really working. http://biz.yahoo.com/e/090814/ear8-k.html AARP does do some good for Seniors in that they are a great provider of information. But, now...(read more)

Latest News/Links from the Illinois D/HOH Commission

livinglakecountry.com Community Blogs 'Hears' to Life! — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:36:04 GMT

Also includes the latest info. on the H1N1 flu virus for those of you in Illinois. http://www.idhhc.state.il.us/familyInfo/index.htm Have a great week!...(read more)

AARP tries to rip off yet another Senior Citizen!

livinglakecountry.com Community Blogs 'Hears' to Life! — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:42:03 GMT

If you don't know about the AARP and the millions of dollars that they get via their side company, AARP Financial, you would be wise to check it out before sending your money in for a membership. I received an email via HLAA's National office in Bethesday, MD yesterday and guess what one of the articles is going to be about in their Nov./Dec. 2009 Hearing Loss Magazine? You guessed it. AARP and the rollout of their newest program to help all of the Seniors that they supposedly advocate for...(read more)

Illinois Deaf Mom is tackling Insurance Coverage of Hearing Aids

livinglakecountry.com Community Blogs 'Hears' to Life! — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:17:05 GMT

This is another 'blog' for those of you interested in learning more about the movement to get Insurance Companies to cover the cost of hearing aides. Most insurance companies will pay the cost of getting a Cochlear Implant (cost is thousands of dollars!), but will not offer any coverage for those of us that wear hearing aids. Just doesn't make sense... Here's the link: http://putzworld.blogspot.com/2008/04/insurance-companies-dont-cover-hearing.html Have a great week!...(read more)

COBRA may fill insurance needs if taking Social Security disability

BusyBee — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:33:00 GMT

by Janet Kidd Stewart The journey
via Chicago Tribune
November 1, 2009

Q: If you are on Social Security disability, can you get any kind of health insurance discount?

I'm 56, have had Parkinson's disease for 10 years and have worked full time for 36 years. My husband, 60, had a heart transplant 12 years ago and is retired. We both have insurance, and we need both for the check-ups and routine stuff.

If I get on Social Security disability, I will get my full pension but lose my health care insurance for both of us. It's hard to get new insurance with pre-existing conditions. I also have other health problems affecting my ability to work. Should I apply for SSD and try to find new insurance or keep trying to work? We also both need insurance for our medications because we take a lot, and they are very expensive.

D.M.

A: First, check to see whether your husband's policy would pick up some or all of the decrease in your coverage if you lose your insurance.

If you do need more coverage, you can most likely continue your current coverage for up to 18 months under COBRA, the health benefits provisions of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, said Dorothy Clark, a spokeswoman for the Social Security Administration.

If it is determined that you are disabled, that period can be extended another 11 months. And if you are approved for disability benefits, Medicare will kick in after the 29 months of COBRA expires, she said.

Of course, under COBRA, you will likely pay not only your contribution but also the employer's portion of the insurance bill.

Margaret Buth - A pioneer in the Hearing Loss World

livinglakecountry.com Community Blogs 'Hears' to Life! — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:09:04 GMT

Margaret is 94 years old and a member of our Hearing Loss group out here in Wales. In a lot of ways, she is younger at heart than the rest of us are. Our group ranges in age from 29 to 94. We recently learned that Margaret has Ovarian Cancer. She is in the final stages of this terrible disease. Back in August, we had her do a presentation at one of our meetings. Below is the transcript from CART of her views as well as how she developed ways to live in the hearing world. MARGARET: I WAS NOT BORN...(read more)

Angies' Story

livinglakecountry.com Community Blogs 'Hears' to Life! — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:35:03 GMT

I was talking with someone with hearing loss a few weeks ago and she said something that caught my attention. She stated that over the past 5 years since she finally realized she was living with hearing loss, she decided to tackle this head on. In the process, she ended up working so hard on learning more about her loss that she lost her marriage. Wow, that's a pretty big leap. While we continued our discussion over a period of 2 weeks, she went on to tell me how this all happened. In retrospect...(read more)

Have a child in college? Here's a new Tax Credit for 2009/2010

livinglakecountry.com Community Blogs 'Hears' to Life! — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:07:00 GMT

For all of you that are int he midst of college tuition years, there's a new education tax credit for 2009/2010. The link is below. http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=205674,00.html I know that we used the Hope and Lifetime Learning Tax credit on some of our kids and this one will also be used for the next two years. Have a great week!...(read more)

The HEAR Act!

livinglakecountry.com Community Blogs 'Hears' to Life! — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:50:03 GMT

Well, at least there's someone in Washington that has thought about this. http://brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press_releases/release/?id=A4DD257A-09F1-4D99-829A-86B2485FFDEC If you are for this, please take the time to contact your representative/congressperson. Without all of us letting all of them know how strongly we feel about getting the insurance benefit we have all been paying for all of these years, it will just get swept under the rug. Insurance companies (most of them) call hearing aids...(read more)

When was the last Emergency Declaration by the President made that was not disaster related?

livinglakecountry.com Community Blogs 'Hears' to Life! — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:08:02 GMT

Found this rather interesting. Did you know that there was a National Emergency similiar to the one put into place this weekend by the President earlier this year? Do you know what it was for? For the first time ever, one was declared for the 2009 Presidential Inauguration. I don't remember reading anything about this, do you? And, why was it declared for just Obama's Inauguration and not others in the past? Interesting. For those of you wanting to know more about what these State of Emergencies...(read more)

Hate Crimes Bill Protecting People With Disabilities Headed To White House

BusyBee — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:26:00 GMT

By Michelle Diament
October 23, 2009

The Senate approved legislation Thursday to make crimes committed against a person based on their disability a federal offense.

The hate crimes legislation, which passed the House of Representatives earlier this month, is an expansion of the 1968 hate crimes act. Currently crimes committed based on a person's race, color, religion or national origin are protected under federal law. The new legislation would add disability, gender, sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of protected statuses.

The measure, which was attached to a defense spending bill, passed the Senate on a vote of 68 to 29. Most Republicans opposed the legislation, saying it was unnecessary.

Expanded hate crimes legislation has long been sought by many advocates. The Bush administration opposed the legislation, but the tone changed dramatically when President Barack Obama took office.

In June Attorney General Eric Holder urged the Senate to pass the new bill and now it appears set for enactment. In order to become law, the bill must be signed by Obama, who has indicated his support.

"The action by Congress today to pass this vital legislation is a milestone in helping protect Americans from the most heinous bias-motivated violence," Holder said in a statement Thursday. "The passage of this legislation will give the Justice Department and our state and local law enforcement partners the tools we need to deter and prosecute these acts of violence."

A Justice Department study released earlier this month found that people with disabilities are 50 percent more likely to experience nonfatal violent crime than those without disabilities.

Furthermore, about one in five crime victims with disabilities say they believe their disability was the reason they were targeted.

Have you thought about where your money is going for Christmas this year?

livinglakecountry.com Community Blogs 'Hears' to Life! — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 07:35:00 GMT

For those of you that don't 'believe' in this kind of stuff, feel free to stop reading now. I wouldn't want to offend anyone or subject you to a bad start to your day.... My family does not go to a particular church every Sunday. We used to! When the kids were little. Once they all headed out on their own or went off to college, Brian and I decided to put our Sundays to other uses. For those of you that are not in agreement with this, I understand! We've decided that we don't...(read more)

A Day Late and a Dollar Short

PennyRdr — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:30:00 GMT

The message showed up in my e-mail in box seven times within the space of an hour and a half. Now, it's true that I am a member of lots of e-mail list-servs or "message boards," as some call them, but even for me, to receive the same message seven times within a couple of hours, and from seven different sources, may be some kind of record. The announcement concerns a new paper-currency identifier that costs only $99. Spending nearly a hundred dollars for a gadget that identifies the denominations on paper currency may seem like an extravagance to you, especially if your eyes work for the purpose of currency identification, and if you are unaware of the costliness of many pieces of assistive technology, but to the correspondents on the various blindness-related lists, this announcement was real news! The only other portable money identifier that anyone has ever known about or used has been selling for as much as $400, and I've never seen it for under $230, and that was a big sale! Some people own scan-and-read-aloud systems, like OpenBook, and Kurzweil, with a currency identification feature, but the software costs well over a thousand dollars, and flat-bed scanners are neither ESPECIALLY portable nor fast! I think the new scan and read software that can be installed in a cell phone has a currency identification feature, but that system is also quite expensive, selling for well over the $99 price tag for this little gadget.

People were definitely excited, some were counting their pennies to see just how soon they could order the gismo, which is being marketed by Orbit Research, and is called the iBill Talking Banknote Identifier. Others were adding it to their holiday wish lists.

Not I! I don't want one. I don't covet it, I won't be buying it for myself or for a friend, and, before too long, I won't need it! That's what I told several people who had passed along the announcement to me. The U. S. Department of the Treasury is under a court order to make our paper currency accessible, and although the months and years have dragged by since December of 2006, WHEN the American Council of the Blind (ACB) won their 2002 law suit against the U. S. Department of the Treasury, and since the Bush administration immediately appealed that decision, and since the ACB prevailed in the appeals process in May of 2008, and since September of 2008 when the judge told the Treasury that they couldn't release any more new bills until they had found a way to make them accessible, and furthermore that he expected them to issue frequent progress reports detailing their efforts - and advancement - toward reaching the goal of making paper money accessible, and, since the Bureau of Engraving and Printing hired a consultant to compile statistics and research various means for doing just that, and since the consultants released a detailed report on the subject in August of 2009... Phfew, it's been a long time since attorney Jeffrey Lovitky filed the law suit on behalf of the American Council of the Blind in 2002, but our long wait must be nearly over, I told my friends and colleagues. I think this device is a day late and, at a dollar short of a C-Note, I'm not buying!

I began calling the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in the U. S. Department of the Treasury. Over two days, I called and left messages and was shuffled back and forth between departments and spokespersons, none of whom, it seemed, actually wanted to speak officially about the long delay in arriving at accessible currency, the court order, or an anticipated date for actually making our bills accessible. Finally, within minutes of my go-to-press deadline, Claudia Dickens, Manager for External Affairs, at the U. S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing in the Department of the Treasury, was able to answer my questions. Her answers have made me think again about my refusal to purchase a gadget that will read aloud the printed denominations on paper currency. The wait has been a long one, and, according to Dickens, there is no definite end date in sight!

"We are still analyzing the results from the report," she said, and, no, they have not identified one best solution for making currency accessible.

Why, I asked, is it taking so long? In 1995, the National Science Foundation conducted significant research about ways of making currency accessible for people who cannot see. They released a comprehensive report. The Department is aware of that research, is it not, I continued, momentarily abandoning my resolve to come across as objectively as possible.

"The report is on our web site," she replied. "But it's not as simple as it would appear," she said.

"Can you project a date by which time we can expect the issuance of an accessible bill," I asked.

"No," she said. "It won't be until after the issuance of the new one-hundred dollar bill," and she added, "And we don't know when that bill will be issued."

"Will it be accessible?" I asked.

"It will not," Dickens replied. Apparently, or at least according to her explanation, currency does not have to be accessible until the Department issues the bill that comes out after the new one-hundred.

So, now, I'm rethinking my resolute commitment to wait for the Treasury to come through. My wait, it appears, may continue to be a long one.

Maybe an extra hundred dollars isn't all that much to spend for easy access to the printed information on my paper currency, I'm trying to convince myself. None of the reasons for declaring that the U. S. Government is violating Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 by not making paper currency accessible to all of its citizens has changed. I guess the court, and ACB and their lawyer are still receiving progress reports from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Who knows exactly how long the Bureau can or will delay...

A year ago, in this blog-space, I urged then Secretary of the Treasury Henry Paulson, to move making paper currency accessible up on his to-do list. A new administration has come to town, and, yes, there are many extremely important issues on their proverbial plate, but it appears that we still need to encourage the Treasury Secretary to make this civil rights issue one of them and move accessible currency up on the departmental to-do list! Secretary Bernanke, are you listening?

It appears that, once again and still, it's the U. S. Department of the Treasury that's a day late and a dollar short!

FDA launches new Hearing Aid information website!

livinglakecountry.com Community Blogs 'Hears' to Life! — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 06:33:04 GMT

Finally! The Food and Drug Administration has a new hearing aid website. Thanks to Caroline Ludka from the Milwaukee/Racine HLAA Chapter for sending it my way! Here's the link: http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm185723.htm Isn't it interesting that the FDA considers Hearing Aids a Medical Device? The Insurance Industry considers them cosmetic devices. That's how they get out of paying for them if you have medical insurance. The power of words... Have a great week!...(read more)