NEW YORK - New Yorkers with disabilities have cause for concern when it comes to possible future disasters and terrorism events, because the U.S. Justice Department says the city is in violation of federal law in failing to prepare. In a statement filed in the Southern District of New York, the Department declared that New York City has neglected to plan for the needs of New Yorkers with disabilities. New York officials say it isn't so.
Susan Dooha, executive director of the Center for Independence of the Disabled in New York, said the situation isn't good.
"If you're a person with a disability in the city of New York, the city has no plan for you," as she put it. "It's important because we do know that if you don't have a plan, you don't have a chance."
The legal department for the city of New York responded by saying the allegations are not true and that the city has a robust outreach program.
Dooha however said the Justice Department backs up what local advocates for people with disabilities have been saying for many years: that New York is not ready for the next natural disaster such as Superstorm Sandy, or terrorist acts like the Boston bombings.
"There are lots of emergencies that have no notice, related to the subways or to dense highly-populated areas or big events, and we need emergency plans that deal with all of these contingencies," she said.
The list of areas where the city is falling short in terms of disaster planning is a long one, Dooha said.
"Transportation, communication, sheltering, housing, and all of the other aspects of emergency planning," are wanting, she charged.
It's now up to Federal Judge Jesse Furman to decide whether New York has complied with federal law in its disaster and terrorism planning for people with disabilities. The judge is expected to rule by this summer.
get more stories like this via email
Utah lags behind the national average of identifying children for autism.
In an effort to improve the state's standing, the Institute for Disability, Research, Policy and Practice at Utah State University will offer free, remote early identification of autism training for Utah service providers.
Janel Preston, special educator at the university, said when early identification is missed, children and families are not getting critical services to increase overall quality of life.
"It is really important for providers, as well as just the general public, to have a better understanding of what autism is," Preston urged. "And how we can help support and increase that awareness, acceptance."
Data from 2020 show 10 Utah children per 1,000 were identified to have autism by age 4. The national average is more than 20 per 1,000. Preston pointed out the Autism ECHO sessions will start on Sept. 25 and will aim to give educators, providers, case managers, administrators and families the tools they need to improve identification.
Preston acknowledged it is hard to pinpoint why Utah falls behind in the early identification of autism but suspects it could be due to lack of access. She added in comparison to other states, Utah is pretty rural, which can pose unique challenges.
"If you live along the Wasatch Front you have access to a lot of things," Preston explained. "But coming maybe from San Juan County, that is a long drive into the Wasatch Front, which requires families to take time off from work, if you have a child that is not able to make transitions very easily that can then cause a ripple effect."
Preston added children who go years without being diagnosed can struggle to navigate interactions with peers, manage school work and get a job later in life.
Preston hopes the program provides all kinds of Utahns the ability to foster connections and community.
"I could say, 'Hey, I have this kid or this family, this is what is going on, what are some things that I could do? What are some resources that I might not be aware of?'" Preston emphasized.
get more stories like this via email
A Nevada program is aiming to centralize transition services and improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
It will help create a centralized hub for children and young adults to explore career and postsecondary opportunities. The initiative will also offer professional development to service providers in an effort to enhance and increase the availability of resources.
Jennifer Kane is the project director of The Nevada Transitions Roadmap through Innovative Partnerships. She explained last year the state's Department of Education secured a $10 million grant from the federal government, which will be used over the next five years.
"There isn't really a system that takes us from age 10 to age 24 by itself," Kane pointed out. "If they're trying to get us to a truly seamless transition, they gave us an age range which we have to work together to get there."
Kane noted the program will be approaching the end of its first year later this month. She added just last week, it had its first Nevada TRIP Advisory Work Group meeting to bring together stakeholders, including significant participation from children and youths with disabilities and members of their support systems.
Ashley Price, co-project director for the Nevada Department of Education, said one of the main goals of Nevada TRIP is to cultivate strong partnerships with agencies and break down the state's current siloed systems presenting significant challenges to families.
"One very unique thing about Nevada is how rural Nevada is," Price emphasized. "So of course we get a lot of concentration in Washoe County and Clark County, and the rest of the state struggles. They might not have certain age ranges of students and young adults who have needs and then all of a sudden they do."
Price added many people across Nevada simply do not know what resources and support are available.
"Even as we are diving through this, trying to map out different agencies and different resources we're learning new things that we had no idea and that we are going to go ahead and include," Price explained. "That's probably the biggest misconception, is that people don't know that there is help or don't think there is help where they are."
On the flip side, Price stressed many agencies are ready to help but cannot find the necessary recipients, which is precisely one of the areas Nevada TRIP aims to help bridge.
get more stories like this via email
Thirteen students, ranging in age from 14 to 21, have just graduated from the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council Youth Leadership Academy.
The program's goal is to develop young leaders who learn skills that build their confidence.
A dozen students from Iowa welcomed one from Illinois who is attending school in Iowa. Together, they learned during the weeklong academy how to be more effective advocates for their communities.
That's exactly what 21-year-old Andrew Allen, who has been diagnosed with ADHD, autism and severe separation anxiety, was looking for when he applied.
"I got bullied a lot," said Allen. "When I was in school, I got pushed aside a lot and I thought, 'Enough is enough.' They taught me how to communicate, have conversation with special needs, and help our community."
The annual academy teaches students ways to advocate for themselves, become more civically engaged and to be of service in their communities.
19-year-old University of Iowa student Jackie Corless, who said she has an intellectual learning
disability, also took part in the Youth Leadership Academy.
She said the topics ranged from advocacy to communicating, and lots of useful skills in between.
"Leadership skills," said Corless. "I learned about networking, setting goals - you know, the difference between how to be an advocate and how to better strengthen your advocate goal. How networking really works within the disability world."
The Youth Leadership Academy is a partnership between the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council, Disability Rights Iowa, ASK Resource Center, the University of Iowa Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, and Access to Independence.
get more stories like this via email
Contact
