Government

A new report finds that cancer patients who participate in the creative arts, such as music therapy, dance, art therapy and writing, may be able to better cope with cancer-related anxiety, depression and pain. Researchers looked at the effects of the creative arts on common problems associated with cancer, including anxiety, depression, pain, fatigue and quality of life, and found that the arts helped with all issues except fatigue.

The U.S. Department of Justice has reached a settlement with the architects and civil engineers involved in the design and building of housing complexes in Mississippi, Louisiana and Tennessee. The lawsuit alleges that the housing complexes violated the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act by not having accessible features for people with disabilities. The designers and builders of the housing complexes have agreed to get training on the FHA. 

Health tip for parents of babies who may show early signs of communication delays. While newborns can't speak, they should be trying to communicate in different ways. Learn more about developmental delays and milestones that babies should achieve by their first birthday.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has charged the Founders Pavilion, Inc., of Corning, NY, with disability discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Founders allegedly violated the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act by asking for family medical history from job applicants and employees. The EEOC also alleged that Founders violated the ADA for refusing to provide an employee with reasonable accommodations and for firing  mployees because of perceived disabilities. 

Health & Disability Advocates will hold a free career fair for jobseekers with disabilities on May 21, 2013 from 1 - 4 p.m. Eastern Time. Jobseekers with disabilities will be able to "Get in Line" to chat with different employers nationwide who are actively recruiting people with disabilities. The chats will be text-based, similar to instant messaging-style chats. No audio or video will be part of the chat.

The National Disability Institute's LEAD Center will hold a webinar on May 29, 2013 from 3:00 – 4:30p.m, which will provide information on two best practices – Customized Employment and Customized Self Employment. Participants will learn how these practices can support job placement efforts for job seekers both with and without disabilities. Register online.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has released four revised publications on protection against disability discrimination in the workplace. The publications address how the Americans with Disabilities Act applies to job applicants and employees with cancer, diabetes, epilepsy and intellectual disabilities. You can find these documents on the EEOC website at "Disability Discrimination, The Question and Answer Series."

The U.S. Department of Justice has signed an agreement with Stewart County, GA, to improve access to all aspects of community life for individuals with disabilities. The agreement is part of Project Civic Access, the department's effort to make sure that counties, cities and towns comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The county will make changes to the sheriff’s department, health department, senior center, municipal center, recreational vehicle park and polling places.

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announced that it will be sending persons with disabilities as Sports Envoys to China May 15 – 20, 2013 to promote inclusion and equality in sports for persons with disabilities. The Sports Envoy program supports global promotion and practices that respect diversity in sports, and recognition that persons with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as people without disabilities.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced $150 million in new funding to help more uninsured Americans enroll in new health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Funding will go to eligible community health centers to help consumers understand their coverage options, determine their eligibility and enroll in new affordable health insurance. The deadline for health centers to apply is May 31, 2013. Find a health center near you.

The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) issued a notice of proposed priority for a Rehabilitation Research Training Center (RRTC) Program on Disability in Rural Areas. The RRTC would research ways to improve access to transportation in rural areas. People with disabilities make up approx. 13.2 percent of the rural population. Improving rural transporatation access would lead to more jobs and community living opportunities for residents with disabilities.  Comments on the proposed priority are due by June 6, 2013.

The U.S. Department of Justice has settled a lawsuit against the Golden Corral restaurant in Westland, MI, for disability discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The lawsuit alleged that Golden Corral refused to serve a mother and her children because they had a genetic skin disorder, epidermolysis bullosa. The mother explained her children's disability and that they weren't contagious, but the manager requested the family leave based on customer complaints.

New research has found that the number of children with a neurodevelopmental or mental health disorder has increased by 16 percent in the last 10 years. The increases may be due to high rates of autism and attention deficit disorders diagnosed in children. The social acceptance of these conditions over the years also may explain the increases. The report also shows that over the same period of time physical disabilities in children have decreased.

The Federal Communications Commission has charged AT&T with improperly billing the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) fund for certain Internet-based TRS calls. TRS allows an individual who is deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind, or who has a speech disability, to have telephone communications. Internet-based Relay allows an individual who has difficulty hearing or speaking to communicate through the telephone system with hearing persons using a computer and the Internet.

The U.S. Department of Justice has reached a settlement agreement with an Oregon developer, David Montagne, Montagne Development Company, Gateway II LLC, Dav II Investment Group LLC and William Jones to remove accessibility barriers at Gateway Village in Salem, OR. The lawsuit alleged that the developers had violated the Fair Housing Act by building the complex with steps and other features that made it inaccessible to people with disabilities. 

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has charged Fabricut, Inc. of Tulsa, OK with alleged disability discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Fabricut was also charged with alleged violation of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act when it asked for the job applicant's family medical history. The company refused to hire an applicant after a pre-employment medical exam found that she may have carpal tunnel syndrome. 

If you receive Social Security disability benefits and want to make more money through work, Social Security's Ticket to Work (TTW) program can help you to transition to greater financial independence and self-sufficiency. Register for the free Work Incentives Seminar Event on May 22, 2013 from 3 - 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. You'll hear about a person with mental illness who found employment through TTW. Register online or call 1-866-968-7842 (V) or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY).

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has charged SITA Information Networking Computing USA, Inc. (SITA) in Atlanta with alleged disability discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act. A new employee requested a reasonable accommodation to be allowed to work part-time to complete her recovery from cancer surgery. Instead, SITA withdrew its job offer. The company has agreed to provide equal opportunity training to its staff.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has charged the Fort Worth Center of Rehabilitation (FWCR) with alleged disability discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act. A job applicant requested a reasonable accommodation in the form of a different drug test because of her kidney failure. Instead, the Texas-based FWCR denied her request and took back its conditional offer of employment. The center must pay damages to the applicant and take steps to avoid future discrimination.

The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, U.S. Department of Education, has issued a notice inviting applicants for new awards for PTICs in fiscal year 2013. PTICs provide parents of children with disabilities, from birth to age 26, with the training and information they need to help their children. Two awards will be given to PTICs that serve Montana and Arkansas. Application deadline is June 10, 2013 (CFDA Number 84.328M).