Parents or close family members of a child with intellectual and developmental disabilities (mental retardation) are invited to submit applications for a one-year fellowship in Washington, DC, to learn how legislation is initiated, developed and passed by Congress or how programs are administered and regulations promulgated by federal agencies. Candidates should have solid disability policy experience in state level advocacy, education, development of community supports and services, or similar areas, beyond the level to benefit solely the candidate’s own child. For application details, see the announcement at www.jpkf.org. The application deadline is September 1.

Address questions to Jill Fosse, 301-565-5476. Salaried experience in the field is not required. For more information, click here.

The Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation: Professional Public Policy Fellowship Program 2006

Mid-career professionals in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities are invited to submit applications for a one-year fellowship in Washington, DC to participate in federal public policy development through work as staff of a member of Congress, congressional committee or federal agency. Outstanding disability policy experience is sought in 1) state-level advocacy; 2) education, law, economics, criminal justice, international issues, child welfare or other social services, housing, community organizing; 3) federal public benefits programs, health/mental health care policy affecting persons with intellectual disabilities; or 4) development of family support services. For application details, see the announcement at www.jpkf.org. The application deadline is September 1.

Address questions to Jill Fosse, 301-565-5476. For more information, click here.

 

• APTA's Legislative Action Center
  • http://capwiz.com/amerpta/home/
• APTA Government Affairs

 ADA Homepage
The U.S. Department of Justice maintains an extensive ADA Homepage.  On it, you can find information on technical assistance, enforcement, certification, and a wide range of other useful topics.   They also have a special area on the 10th Anniversary of the ADA.  Of particular interest might be their Toll-Free ADA Information Line, which you may call to obtain answers to general and technical questions about the ADA and to order technical assistance materials: 800-514-0301 (voice) 800-514-0383 (TDD)

• Internet address:  www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm

Disability & Business Technical Assistance Centers (DBTACs)
The Department of Education funds ten regional centers to provide technical assistance on the ADA. The mission of the DBTACs is to facilitate voluntary and effective compliance with the ADA.  The goals of the DBTACs is to:

• Promote the successful implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act by providing technical assistance and training on all titles of the Act
• Increase public awareness about the benefits of ADA compliance
• Develop and support local and state affiliates that provide technical assistance on the ADA
• Enhance existing national, regional, state, and local ADA efforts
• Undertake outreach initiatives to minority populations affected by the law
• Identify ADA issues for research and development

See below to find additional information on the DBTACs and the ADA in general.

• Disability & Business Technical Assistance Centers:  800-949-4232 (voice/TTY)
• Internet address:  www.adata.org

Access America for People with Disabilities Website.
The website, Access America for People with Disabilities - www.disAbility.gov is a "one-stop" electronic link to an enormous range of useful information for people with disabilities and their families. The Website contains information relating to children and youth; employment, self employment, and entrepreneurship; transportation; health care and long term services and supports; choice and self-determination; recreation and travel; civil rights and protections; college, adult and vocational education; housing; technology; income supports; tax credits and deductions; disability statistics; and emergency preparedness.
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U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
The EEOC offers technical assistance on the ADA provisions applying to employment; also provides information on how to file ADA complaints. The EEOC takes an active and forceful role in removing barriers and increasing opportunities for people with disabilities in the workplace through a   multi-pronged, comprehensive approach to ADA implementation -- technical assistance, education, and outreach as well as the use of administrative processing, litigation, and policy development.  Contact information can be found below:

• Employment - questions:  800-669-4000 (voice), 800-669-6820 (TTY)
• Employment - publications:  800-669-3362 (voice), 800-800-3302 (TTY)
• Internet address:  www.eeoc.gov

Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission offers technical assistance on ADA telephone relay service (TRS) requirements. Through their Disabilities Rights Office, the FCC works hard to make sure that people with disabilities, such as individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, or those with speech or vision or other disability, get the same chance as everyone else to telecommunicate. The DRO, housed in the FCC's Consumer Information Bureau, provides technical assistance to consumers, to business and other entities on their rights and responsibilities to provide disability access and protect consumers with disabilities.   Contact information can be found below:

• TRS Publications and questions: 888-225-5322 (voice), 888-835-5322 (TTY)
• Internet address: www.fcc.gov/cib/dro/

U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights
The mission of the Office for Civil Rights is to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence throughout the nation through vigorous enforcement of civil rights. Go to their Homepage for further information.
   

Internal Revenue Service
Internal Revenue Service provides information about tax code provisions including tax credits (section 44) and deductions (section 190) that can assist businesses in complying with the ADA.

• Tax code - information:  800-829-1040 (voice), 800-829-4059 (TTY)
• Tax code - legal questions:  202-622-3110 (voice), TTY: use relay service
• To order Publications 535 and 334:  800-829-3676 (voice), 800-829-4059 (TTY)
• Internet address:  www.irs.gov/plain/index.html