A new funding opportunity from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) at ACL has been announced for an Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on community living and participation for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The purpose of the RRTC program, which are funded through the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program, is to achieve the goals of, and improve the effectiveness of, services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act through well-designed research, training, technical assistance, and dissemination activities in important topic areas as specified by NIDILRR. These activities are designed to benefit rehabilitation service providers, individuals with disabilities, family members, and other stakeholders.

The purpose of this particular RRTC is to conduct research, training, and related activities to contribute to optimal community living and participation outcomes of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. View more details and application directions.

Please visit the link above for more details about the grant opportunity and application process. This grant opportunity closes on June 4, 2018.

To stay current on NIDILRR grant opportunities, please visit www.grants.gov and search: NIDILRR or 93.433.

Within ACL, NIDILRR works to generate new knowledge and promote its effective use to improve the abilities of individuals with disabilities to perform activities of their choice in the community; and to expand society's capacity to provide full opportunities and accommodations for people with disabilities. NIDILRR conducts its work through grants that support research and development.

A lawsuit is accusing the U.S. Department of Justice of acting illegally when it withdrew more than two-dozen guidance documents late last year, including several clarifying the ADA. The guidance documents describe the government’s interpretation of federal laws, providing information that can be important to state and local agencies, employers and recipients of federal funds. According  to the lawsuit, the guideline helped people with disabilities “move away from ‘sheltered workshops,’ where they are often paid much less than the minimum wage and are vulnerable to exploitation and abuse”.

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Advocates filed suit against Lyft, a ridesharing technology company, for violations of the Unruh Civil Rights Act and California Disabled Persons Act. The class-action suit claims that Lyft does not operate enough wheelchair accessible cars. Lyft has a service called Access designed for customers with disabilities. However, the lawsuit alleges that this service is a sham, and calls it an "inadequate substitute for actual accessible transportation."  When requesting a car in Access mode, Lyft only promises access for foldable wheelchairs and service animals. For people who need a ramp or motorized lift, the app sends a text message that links to a website listing phone numbers for other transit companies that may be able to provide accessible transportation.  The suit does not ask for money damages, but instead only for accessibility through Lyft.

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Twitter recently added "disability” to a list of protected groups on its abuse and harassment reporting page.  This is in response to user requests to allow reporting of abusive or harassing tweets targeting people with disabilities.   

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Recently, the National Council on Disability released a report that explains  that guardianship is commonly seen as a “benevolent measure” and imposed based upon assumptions about the capabilities of people with disabilities without appropriate reason.  Most states require courts to consider less restrictive alternatives before turning to guardianship, the National Council on Disability said, but that rarely happens. The report recommends that the federal government take several steps to help mitigate the overreliance on guardianship.

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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is requesting public input about Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans.

Section 50311(b) of the recently passed Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (Public Law No. 115-123) creates a new Section 1859(f)(8) of the Social Security Act in order to increase integration of Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs). In particular, the statute directs CMS to:

1. develop unified grievance and appeals processes for D-SNPs; and
2. establish new standards for integration of Medicare and Medicaid benefits for D-SNPs.

CMS’s Medicare-Medicaid Coordination Office is soliciting comments to help inform its next steps related to unified D-SNP grievance and appeals processes and new benefit-integration standards. This request for comments is directed to stakeholders working on addressing the needs of dual eligibles, individuals who are served by both Medicaid and Medicare.

Through April 12, 2018, CMS is inviting written stakeholder input on these provisions.

Please see the request for stakeholder input at: https://www.cms.gov/Medicare-Medicaid-Coordination/Medicare-and-Medicaid-Coordination/Medicare-Medicaid-Coordination-Office/DSNPBBA2018.html, which provides additional background information and outlines topics and questions for which the Medicaid-Medicaid Coordination office especially would benefit from YOURinput.

Please submit comments, using the subject line “Comments on Section 50311,”to MMCOCapsmodel@cms.hhs.gov.

Thank you for providing comments.

Google  Maps has a new accessibility feature that makes it easier for people with disabilities to get around.  The "wheelchair route" feature is now available in certain large cities.  The company plans to work with transit agencies to expand this feature to other cities.  

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