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The Justice Department issued guidance earlier this year to facilitate compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) during interactions criminal justice entities have with individuals with mental health, intellectual, or developmental disabilities. The document sets forth the key regulatory provisions under the ADA and also provides recommendations for anticipating and preparing for disability-related needs of individuals. Recommendations include training criminal justice personnel, conducting reviews of policies and procedures, and collaborating with mental health and disability service providers.

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A new report reveals that direct care workers can't afford to stay in their jobs.  The average home care worker makes $10.49 an hour, but due to varying hours, people typically don't make enough to live on.  The report states that most home care workers live below the poverty line.

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It's estimated that people who receive Social Security could see a 1.8% increase in 2018.  This is based on an annual cost of living adjustment.  The cost of living adjustment is based on consumer price index data.  The article explains that estimating the cost of living adjustment has been more challenging this year due to the impact of the major hurricanes.

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The Americans with Disabilities Act covers many aspects of disability rights that affect the everyday lives of people with disabilities. One major element of the ADA is its regulations regarding sidewalks. A new paper, written by faculty and students at Syracuse University College of Law, presents the historical and modern state of the ADA's legal influence on sidewalks and answers important legal questions about the duties of local communities and governments under the ADA.

The paper examines several topics, including how different laws define "sidewalk," when performing sidewalk repairs will bring older sidewalks under the scope of the ADA, and how snow removal can affect accessibility. It also offers a summary of the currently available resources for businesses and governments to use in planning for accessible sidewalks.

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According to a new national report, Wisconsin is expected to need an additional 20,000 home care workers  by 2024.  It's widely known that there is already a serve shortage of care workers in the state.  Many blame low wages and poor working conditions for this.  A 4% increase for Medicaid reimbursement for personal care workers was approved in the recent state budget, but many  felt a 15% increase is needed to do  any good.

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In 2017, the National Association of States United for Aging Disabilities administered a survey of state agencies that deliver Long Term Services and Supports, including aging and disability agencies as well as Medicaid programs, regarding the significant policy, fiscal, and operational issues occurring within each state. During the survey, they collected detailed information about the structure of agencies, the supports provided, and the populations served by state programs.

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A first of its kind digital hub is designed to address needs of over 1 billion people facing disability, digital literacy or aging related barriers.  The unique online digital hub was launched in 2017 at a conference  in the UK.  It provides the resources needed to learn about, create, improve and market accessible products.  

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Google is looking to the public in an effort to make navigating the world easier for people with disabilities.  They're asking users to add information about wheelchair accessibility to entries on Google Maps. Wheelchair accessibility was added to Google Maps last year, and now they're making a push to add more accessibility attributes to the map.

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The American Association on Health and Disability (www.aahd.us) is accepting applications for the Frederick J. Krause Scholarship for undergraduate (junior/senior status) and graduate students with disabilities who are majoring in a field related to disability and health.  Please feel free to distribute to your colleagues.

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM CRITERIA: The AAHD Frederick J. Krause Scholarship on Health and Disability is awarded annually to deserving students with a disability,pursuing undergraduate/graduate studies (must be at least enrolled as a Junior in college) in an accredited college or university. Preference is given to students majoring in a field related to disability and health, to include, but not limited to  public health, health promotion, disability studies, disability research, rehabilitation engineering, audiology, disability policy, special education and majors that will impact quality of life of persons with disabilities.

Applicant must have a disability Applicant must be enrolled  FULL TIME as an undergraduate student (junior standing and above) or enrolled PART TIME or FULL TIME in a graduate school Preference is given to students majoring in a field related to disability and health (see Scholarship  Program Criteria above) Applicant must be a US citizen or legal resident living in the US and enrolled in an accredited United States university Funds are limited to under $1,000

FUNDING INFORMATION: Funds are limited to under $1,000. The AAHD Board of Directors Scholarship Committee will evaluate each of the applicants and make a decision in December of each calendar year.  The 2017-2018 Scholarship Award will be awarded January 2018.  It is the discretion of the Scholarship Committee to determine how many scholarships will be awarded each year and the amount of each scholarship. 

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS: 

• Applicant must provide a Personal Statement (maximum 3 pages, double spaced), including brief personal history, educational/career goals, extra-curricular activities, and reasons why they should be selected by the AAHD Scholarship Committee. This statement must be written solely by the applicant
   
  
• Applicant must provide two (2) Letters of Recommendation (One must be from a teacher or academic advisor). Letters may be sent by U. S. mail or by email attachment as pdf and should include the signature of the teacher or advisor, and the name of student should appear in the subject line of the email.
   
  
• Applicant must provide an official copy of college transcript, which should be mailed to AAHD in a sealed envelope.
   
  
• Applicant must agree to allow AAHD to use their name, picture and/or story in future scholarship materials.

Applications are due November 15, 2017.

APPLICATION FORM: PDF
Please attach your application, supporting materials, etc. and email to: scholarship@aahd.us. Place “2017-18 Scholarship” in subject line. (Please use MS Word for your personal statement and MS Word, if at all possible, and/or PDF for all other documents that are emailed as attachments).  If this is not possible, please mail documents to:

Scholarship Committee
American Association on Health and Disability
110 N. Washington Street, Suite 328-J
Rockville, MD 20850

Only completed applications will be considered and must be postmarked and/or received by email no later than November 15, 2017.

The Administration on Aging (AoA) within the Administration for Community Living (ACL) commissioned a supplemental issue of Generations through its National Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Center (NADRC) in an effort to advance the establishment and enhancement of dementia-capable home and community-based systems. It is titled Supporting People with Dementia and Their Caregivers in the Community. The Generations supplement is comprised of 18 articles authored by experts in a broad range of dementia care and advocacy topics.

This special issue is dedicated to the delivery of information on a range of topics of significance for people living with dementia and their caregivers.  Intended to put dementia care in context, this issue provides insight into evidence-based interventions, person-centered/directed dementia care, underserved and vulnerable populations, and other topics for providing effective home and community-based services.

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