Disabilities / Public News Service

Peter Sussman is among three patients with disabilities who have asked to intervene in a lawsuit challenging California's End of Life Option Act. (Nancy Rubin)

Monday, September 25, 2023

Advocates ask to intervene in CA medical aid-in-dying case, request dismissal

California's medical aid-in-dying law is back in court. Three patients with disabilities and two doctors are asking to intervene in a lawsuit …

A recent report found incarcerated individuals were sleeping on steel bunkers without a mattress at the South Mississippi Correctional Institution in Leakesville. (Photo courtesy Disability Rights Mississippi)

New Bill Advocates for Incarcerated People with Disabilities

A new bill in Congress would ensure assistance and resources for people with disabilities who are in jail or prison. It could have a major effect in …

The CDC says about one in three Indiana adults lives with some type of disability, in categories that include mental, cognition, hearing, vision or self-care. (Adobe Stock)

Today: Virtual Session to Boost Participation for IN Voters with Disabilities

This election season, Indiana will have a new governor or perhaps a new mayor of Indianapolis. One group is working to increase voter participation …

New Jersey's Medical Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act requires a physician to determine whether the patient is a New Jersey resident before writing a prescription for the medication. (Jon Anders Wiken/Adobe Stock)

Some Terminally Ill PA Patients Seek Medical Aid Across State Lines

Some Pennsylvania patients with long-term chronic illnesses are hoping to make legal headway, allowing them to seek medical aid in dying across state …

Some 70% of Michigan residents are either currently providing care or have provided care in the past for an adult relative or friend. (Studio Romantic/Adobe Stock)

Michigan Adults Strive to Stay Mentally Sharp as They Age

AARP Michigan's Vital Voices survey results are in, and more than 700 Michigan adults 45 and older say they are most concerned with staying mentally …

The Americans with Disabilities Act, the Voting Rights Act and the Helping America Vote Act, as well as Michigan election laws, require accessible voting for all. The policies have been in place for decades. (PondShots/Adobe Stock)

Poll Accessibility Could Mean 60 Million More Voters

In Michigan and across the country, nearly 25% of the population encounters challenges in voting and accessing the polls. The Carter Center and …

An Advocates for Children of New York report finds 454 New York City public schools are fully accessible to some people with disabilities, 263 are only partially accessible, 65 aren't fully accessible, and 547 are completely inaccessible with no plans for renovation. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Two-Thirds of NYC Schools Not ADA Compliant

A recent report finds only around 31% of New York City public schools are disability accessible. The report, from Advocates for Children of New …

The number of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities living in non-family home settings with six or fewer people grew from 27% in 1999 to 82% in 2018. (karelnoppe/Adobe Stock)

Missourians Segregated Due to Disability May Have Discrimination Claims

In Missouri and around the country, people with disabilities are living in institutions who could successfully live in the community with the right …

The National Organization for Women notes abusers might exploit a person's disability to further exert power and control over their victim. Life after a sexual assault for a disabled person can be challenging since trauma-informed services addressing sexual abuse and a person's disability are limited. (Adobe Stock)

Preventing Sexual Assault Against NY'ers with Developmental Disabilities

Advocates for New Yorkers with disabilities are voicing concerns about cases of sexual assault against people with developmental disabilities…

According to the University of Minnesota's Residential Information Systems Project, in 2019, 16,200 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities were living in 112 state-run facilities in 33 states. (M.D�rr & M.Frommherz/Adobe Stock)

ADA, Court Ruling Protect Disabled Missourians' Right to Integrated Living

Many Missourians with developmental and intellectual disabilities live successfully in the community, and disability advocates stress this is their …

In 2018, Michigan's Proposal 3 was touted as a

Report Cites 'Flawed' Voter Purges as Unfair

There are many good reasons for states to update their voter rolls in preparation for elections, but a new report contended many are too zealous …

The World Health Organization says structural factors such as ableism can lead to an increase in health inequities experienced by people with disabilities. (Adobe Stock)

NV's Disability Community Fights Against Ableism

The Nevada Statewide Independent Living Council wants to educate policymakers and the public on how ableism can be damaging to those with disabilities…

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources offers all-terrain track chairs at selected sites. The battery-powered chairs give visitors with mobility disabilities a chance to explore state park trails that cannot be accessed using a regular wheelchair. (Photo courtesy of DNR)

MN Expands Opportunities for 'Wheelchair Hiking' in State Parks

Spending time at state and national parks has often been linked with health benefits, but accessing sites has long been a barrier for those with …

More than 7 million Americans are receiving Supplemental Security Income. (Adobe Stock)

Social Security Administration Raising Awareness of SSI in Maryland

The Social Security Administration wants to make sure Marylanders know about the Supplemental Security Income program. Supplemental Security Income …

A report from the Rural Housing Coalition of New York finds rural counties saw their amount of housing increase between 2011 and 2020. However, they're still facing an 18% vacancy rate. (Photo Courtesy of Snow Belt Housing Co.)

Some Rural NY Renters See Benefits of Covid Block Grants

Some one-time grant funding has made the difference between renters in rural New York having a safe place to live - or having to move. The McNeil …

In no state, metropolitan area, or county in the U.S. can a worker earning the federal or prevailing state or local minimum wage afford a modest two-bedroom rental home at fair market rent by working a standard 40-hour work week. (Adobe Stock)

GOP Budget Cuts Could Push a Million People Into Homelessness

Colorado's minimum wage workers would have to work 94 hours per week to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment, according to a new report. Even after …

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 49% of adults living with a disability experience depression, compared with 15% of the public. (Adobe Stock)

Self-Advocacy Helps MO Residents with Disabilities Live Fuller Lives

Almost one in three in Missouri lives with a disability, which can sometimes make navigating the world a challenge. People First of Missouri has …

A U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission report finds there have been 121 fatalities nationwide related to e-bikes and e-scooters between 2017 and 2021. (Adobe Stock)

NY Disability Advocates Seeking E-Bike Safety Measures

Some New York groups are taking action to reduce the number of disabled people being hurt in e-bike crashes. According to New York City's crash …

The Olmstead lawsuit began with two Georgia women, both of whom had received diagnoses of mental-health conditions and intellectual disabilities. (Adobe Stock)

NV's Aging & Disability Services Works on New Olmstead Plan

The Nevada Aging and Disability Services Division is working on a new Olmstead Plan in the Silver State, which mandates that public entities ensure …

Family caregiving includes demanding duties that can it difficult for caregivers to find time for themselves. (Tierney/Adobe Stock)

AARP WA Provides Resources to Care for Family Caregivers

Family caregivers are providing crucial services, but they also need support. That's why AARP has compiled resources for the people taking care of …

Breaking down big tasks into smaller steps helps children develop what experts refer to as executive function skills. (Delete/Adobe Stock)

For Some IL Students, Summer Means Practicing School Preparedness

Tasks like packing a suitcase for summer travel may be difficult for some Illinois children. Experts said parents and caregivers can help kids over …

One in three Coloradans age 65 and older face significant housing cost burdens, according to a new report. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado Ranks 3rd Nationally for Senior Health Outcomes

Colorado ranks third nationally when it comes to caring for its most vulnerable adults, according to a new UnitedHealthcare report. The strong …

A 2023 AARP report finds Connecticut's 420,000 unpaid family caregivers in Connecticut provided care valued at $7.2 billion in 2021. Nationally, these caregivers provided over $600 billion in care during the same period. (Adobe Stock)

CT Unpaid Family Caregivers Working In Strained Conditions

The ongoing healthcare workforce shortage in Connecticut and across the U.S. is straining unpaid family caregivers. A 2023 AARP report finds they …

HB 209 would prohibit a person from receiving a payment or providing a payment to another person for distributing, ordering, requesting, collecting, completing, obtaining, or delivering an absentee ballot application or absentee ballot of another person in certain circumstances.(Adobe Stock)

Civic Groups Unite to Fight Against Voter Suppression Tactics in the South

Civic groups are taking action against what they call voter suppression tactics in the South. This week Alabama Values, Southern Leadership for …

CDC data from 2020 reveals about one in 36 children in the United States is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Boys are four times more likely to be diagnosed with ASD than girls. (Adobe Stock)

Indiana School Tailors Program for College Students with Autism

College is the opportunity to gain some independence, learn time management and make new friends. But high school graduates with autism spectrum …

To implement the changes caregivers are seeking, the State of Connecticut will need an additional $390 million in Medicaid funding for this budget to cover care for the elderly and people with disabilities in long-term care settings and their homes. Currently, federal funding covers 56% of Connecticut's Medicaid expenditures. (Adobe Stock)

CT Caregivers Call on State Leaders for Better Working Conditions

Caregivers in Connecticut are calling on state officials for better conditions and higher pay. They're seeking a $25 an hour minimum wage, paid …

Accessible voting booths require staff to assist with machine use and collect completed ballots from people who are considered 'print-impaired.' (petrushin1984/Adobe Stock)

Voting for People with Visual Impairments Could Get Easier in IL

A proposed measure in Illinois aims to improve access to the ballot for visually impaired voters. Senate Bill 282, introduced by Sen. Julie Morrison…

Robert Fisher of Adel, Iowa, prevailed in his efforts to have an electronic button installed to operate the door at the local U.S. Post Office. (Robert Fisher/Iowa Council on Developmental Disabilities)

One Person's Battle Against the Post Office Prevails

A man in Adel who is part of Iowa's community of people with disabilities has been successful in having an electronic door installed at the U.S…

Eleven jurisdictions that have authorized medical aid in dying represent 22% of the nation's population. (Adobe Stock)

National Group Defends CA End-of-Life Option Amid Federal Lawsuit

A national nonprofit organization is speaking out about a federal lawsuit filed last week against California officials, challenging the state's End …

Across the nation, 54.7% of adults (28 millon people) with a mental illness don't receive treatment. (Adobe Stock)

NY Group Hosts Wellness Fair for Mental Health Awareness Month

During Mental Health Awareness Month, a New York organization is celebrating by helping people learn about mental health. The Center for the …

Some 21,134 existing housing units in Denver are currently unoccupied, more than enough to house all the estimated 10,000 people experiencing homelessness across the state. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Colorado's Housing Affordability Crisis Calls for Strategic Investments

Housing affordability has become a top priority for Colorado lawmakers and voters, and a new report from an organization with nearly four decades of …

The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates 5 million to 14 million people will lose Medicaid coverage as the public health emergency ends and states and resume the annual renewal process. (suthisak/Adobe Stock)

MO Medicaid Renewals Underway; Recipients Urged to Update Information

Missouri's Department of Social Services anticipates as many as 200,000 Missourians will lose their Medicaid benefits over the course of the next year…

Members of the Iowa Council on Developmental Disabilities gather at the State Capitol in support of direct support health care providers. (ICDD/Brooke Lovelace).

Advocates Rally at Capitol for More Provider Pay

With key deadlines approaching at the Iowa statehouse, advocates are calling on lawmakers to provide better wages for direct service professionals…

Jennifer McLelland's son James gives a thumbs-up as his ventilator equipment continues to run, thanks to a portable power station used during a recent power outage. (Jennifer McLelland)

Groups Call for Expanding Power Outage Battery-Backup Program

By Jennifer McLelland for Yes! Magazine.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Yes! Media-Public News …

Single adults in Colorado can earn up to $19,392 and a family of four can earn up to $39,900 per year, and still qualify for Medicaid health insurance. (Adobe Stock)

Options for 325,000 Coloradans Losing Health Insurance

After Congress rolled back a pandemic-era policy that prohibited states from dropping Medicaid recipients from their rolls, 15 million people in …

Delayed speech and language skills in children could suggest an autism spectrum disorder. Left undiagnosed, a child can struggle in school and lack important socialization skills. (Adobe Stock)

IN Parents Urged to 'Act Early' to Help Detect Autism

April is Autism Awareness Month, and Indiana has made early detection a priority. According to the Indiana Resource Center for Autism at Indiana …

Members of the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council gather at the Iowa Statehouse in Des Moines in support of House File 264. (Brooke Lovelace/IDDC)

Lawmakers Propose Eliminating Taxes for IA Disability Care Providers

Iowa lawmakers have advanced legislation that would eliminate the income tax for health-care workers who support people with disabilities. Advocates …

Senate Bill 68 would raise real property taxes statewide by 20 cents per $500 of value to bolster supportive housing. (Adobe Stock)

NV Disability Community Feels Lawmakers Are 'Missing the Mark' on Housing

While some Nevada laws such as Senate Bill 68 aim to increase supportive housing for those with behavioral, mental and physical disabilities…

The Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act was signed into law in 2000 by President Bill Clinton. (Cliff Booth/Pexels)

Disability Rights Group Focuses on Employment in Indiana

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, and this year's theme is "Beyond the Conversation". In Indiana, that could mean 'less talk and …

According to 2022 data from the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, 21.3% of people with a disability were employed, which has increased from 2021. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates Urge Age Cap Removal on NY Medicaid Buy-In Program

New York disability-rights advocates are calling for the age cap on the state's Medicaid Buy In Program to be raised or eliminated. The program is …

Washington state lawmakers will begin crafting their budgets as the session begins to wind down in April. (Zack Frank/Adobe Stock)

Housing Assistance on Docket for Lawmakers in Olympia

Affordable housing is a major concern in Washington state and lawmakers in Olympia are considering a slate of measures to address it. One option is …

It costs taxpayers $13,400 to provide supportive housing per person each year, compared with between $21,000 and $40,000 for medical care, incarceration, detox treatment and shelter services. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Denver Mayoral Candidates Off the Mark on Homeless Crisis

Advocates for people experiencing homelessness are pushing back against proposals by several Denver mayoral candidates who are including forced mental…

Members of the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council attend the signing of House Resolution 9 at the State Capitol, observing March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness month in Iowa. (Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council)

Advocates Call for More Awareness, Education During Developmental Disabilities Month

To recognize Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, state lawmakers have signed a resolution to raise awareness surrounding people with …

More than 230,000 residents of New Hampshire, or roughly one in five adults, are diagnosed with a disability ranging from serious mobility issues to vision impairment. (Adobe Stock)

Disability Community Celebrates Life of Advocate Judy Heumann

The disability community is mourning the loss of one of its greatest advocates. Judy Heumann, often called the "mother of the disability rights …

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2022, 30% of workers with a disability were employed part-time, compared with 16% of non-disabled workers. (Adobe Stock)

Legislation Would Help Working Missourians with Disabilities

For Missourians with a disability, earning too much money, or having a spouse earn too much, can mean losing important Medicaid health coverage…

Since 2017, AARP has awarded more than $12.7 million to more than 1,060 projects, including 22 in Colorado, through the Community Challenge to nonprofit organizations and government entities. (Adobe Stock)

AARP Colorado Seeking Projects to Help Improve Communities

AARP Colorado is putting out the call for creative projects to help improve communities, by creating new public transportation and housing options…

According to analysis by the American Health Care Association, job growth for nursing-home employees slowed in 2022. It says if that pace remains, nursing homes won't return to pre-pandemic staffing levels until 2027. (Adobe Stock)

CT General Assembly Considers Nursing-Home Reforms

Connecticut's General Assembly is considering legislation to establish sweeping nursing-home reforms. Senate Bill 989 would establish minimum …

The federal government can have a say in whether states add work requirements to their Medicaid programs. But South Dakota Republicans say it is worth exploring if 2024 brings a change in administrations, despite objections from those who say voters already approved the expansion. (Adobe Stock).

SD Considers Adding Work Requirement to Medicaid Expansion

South Dakota is poised to launch a Medicaid expansion this summer, after voters approved the idea last fall, but there is a legislative push to add a …

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