November NCD Bulletin (fwd)

[F. Pennell]

Here is the November edition of the NCD Bulletin which contains several
articles of interest.  Francie Pennell

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: 05 Dec 96 15:37:04 EST
From: Jamal Mazrui <74444.1076 at CompuServe.COM>
To: BlindCopyReceiver:  ;
Subject: November NCD Bulletin

NCD Bulletin
A Monthly Publication of the National Council on Disability (NCD)     
Marca Bristo, Chairperson                           November 1996
                                         

The Bulletin, which is free of charge, available in alternative 
formats, and on the Internet (http://www.ncd.gov), brings you the 
latest issues and news affecting people with disabilities.  
Please write, fax, or e-mail your comments to the Bulletin's 
editor, 
Mark S. Quigley (mquigley at ncd.gov).

                                 

ADA/Civil Rights Update
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has sued the nation's 
largest architectural firm for designing inaccessible sports 
arenas in Boston, Buffalo, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Portland, and 
Washington, DC.  The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in 
Minneapolis, charges the firm Ellerbe Beckett with designing six 
new indoor arenas-Fleet Center in Boston, the Marine Midland 
Arena in Buffalo, the Gund Arena in Cleveland, the Corestates 
Center in Philadelphia, the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon, and 
the MCI Center in Washington, DC-that do not comply with the 
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  The suit alleges that the 
arenas fail to provide spectators with disabilities a line of 
sight to the playing surface that is comparable to that of other 
spectators, as required by ADA since 1993.  For more information, 
contact the Disability Rights Section, Civil Rights Division, 
DOJ, 1425 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20005.

Secretary of Labor Reich Announces New Agency Initiatives
Speaking at Gallaudet University and later at the U.S. Department 
of Labor's (DOL) National Disability Employment Awareness Month 
Program, Labor Secretary Robert B. Reich announced two new 
initiatives benefiting people with disabilities.  In the first, 
the Bureau of Labor Statistics will provide further analysis to 
Bureau of the Census figures for employment and unemployment for 
people with disabilities.  The second initiative deals with 
converting America's unemployment system into a reemployment 
system by consolidating information and services for job seekers 
and making them available to the public all in one place.  DOL 
will ensure that these "One Stop Centers" are fully accessible to 
people with disabilities.  For more information, contact Rick 
Douglas, DOL, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room N4123, 
Washington, DC 20210.

Clinton Administration Opposes Physician-Assisted Suicide
In November, the Clinton Administration was one of thirty groups 
filing amicus curiae briefs to the U.S. Supreme Court in 
opposition to physician-assisted suicide.  On behalf
of the government, Solicitor General Walter E. Dellinger wrote, 
"There is an important 


and commonsense distinction between withdrawing artificial 
supports so that a disease will progress to its inevitable end, 
and providing chemicals to be used to kill someone."
The two cases currently before the Supreme Court emanate from 
Washington State and 
New York State.  Briefs were also filed by the American Medical 
Association, 18 states, Not Dead Yet and American Disabled for 
Attendant Programs Today (ADAPT), the Catholic Church, Muslims, 
and Orthodox Jews.

Legislative Update
According to a news release from ADAPT, 30 of its representatives 
met with Congressman Newt Gingrich (R-GA), Speaker of the U.S. 
House of Representatives, and "hammered out an agreement whereby 
the Speaker will introduce legislation early in the 105th 
Congress, which will change the future of long-term care services 
in America."  Currently, the preponderance of Medicaid money is 
used to provide nursing home care to the elderly and people with 
disabilities.  The introduction of the Community Attendant 
Services Act may afford equal access to home- and community-based 
services for the elderly and people with disabilities.  For 
additional information, contact ADAPT's Mark Johnson, Shepherd 
Spinal Center, 2020 Peachtree Road, NW, Atlanta, GA 30309, 
404-350-7490. 

International Update
_UN Commission for Social Development special rapporteur Bengt 
Lindqvist was the recipient of the 1996 Bush Medal at the 10th 
Annual William A. Spencer, M.D., Lectureship, "International 
Aspects of Rehabilitation," which was held in Houston on October 
17.  In addition, the 1995 Bush Medal was posthumously awarded to 
Edward V. Roberts, founder of the Center for Independent Living 
and the World Institute on Disability.  Former President George 
Bush made the presentations.

_Again this year, NCD is supporting the work of the special 
rapporteur by making a contribution on behalf of the United 
States to the UN Voluntary Fund.  Lindqvist is monitoring the 
implementation of the Standard Rules on the Equalization of 
Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities.


   


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