Disability Issues

Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Mike Johanns (R-NE) recently introduced legislation that would greatly expand affordable housing options under the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Section 811 program for people with disabilities.

The Senate has passed a bill that would postpone the Bush administration's effort to restrict case management services provided to Medicaid beneficiaries, including individuals with physical or mental disabilities and children in foster care.

Here's a brief overview of recent federal initiatives to help adults with special needs surmount employment obstacles and find meaningful work.

A proposal to establish a new national long-term care insurance program for those with disabilities is under attack by the insurance industry.

A recent Parade magazine article highlights the problems that young adults face when they "age-out" of special education services and announces a Web site where families of people with autism can connect.

On July 26, 2010, President Obama signed an Executive Order directing Office of Personnel Management, which oversees federal hiring, to create new recruitment and hiring strategies that will significantly increase employment for people with disabilities in the federal government.

President Obama has signed into law a bill eliminating use of the phrase "mentally retarded" from all federal law.

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against the state of Florida, accusing it of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by placing children with severe special needs in nursing homes rather than in less restrictive settings.

The Transportation Security Administration recently introduced a dedicated hotline that travelers with special needs and their families can call with questions or concerns about the security screening process.