The Christie Administration today announced the launch of a new program to help seniors and individuals with disabilities whose primary homes were damaged by Superstorm Sandy. The Home Repair and Advocacy program, funded by an $8.2 million federal Social Services Block Grant (SSBG), is administered by the New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS) through Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs). Eligible households could receive up to $5,000.
Posts filed under Advocacy
New DOT Rules for Passengers with Disabilities
The following news release is forwarded by the Great Lakes ADA Center for your information:
WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), in its ongoing effort to ensure equal access to air transportation for all travelers, is requiring airline websites and automated airport kiosks to be accessible to passengers with disabilities. In addition, DOT will allow airlines to choose between stowing wheelchairs in a cabin compartment on new aircraft or strapping them to a row of seats, an option that will ensure that two manual, folding wheelchairs can be transported at a time.
The new rules are part of DOT’s continuing implementation of the Air Carrier Access Act of 1986.
“All air travelers should be treated fairly when they fly, regardless of any disabilities they may have,” said Secretary Foxx. “These new rules build on our past work in ensuring that our air transportation system is accessible for everyone, while balancing both airlines’ and passengers’ need for flexibility.”
Under the new websites-and-kiosks rule, covered airlines are required within two years to make pages of their websites that contain core travel information and services accessible to persons with disabilities, and to make all of their web pages accessible within three years. Websites are required to meet the standards for accessibility contained in the widely accepted Website Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). The requirement applies to U.S. and foreign airlines with websites marketing air transportation to U.S. consumers for travel within, to or from the United States.
The rule also requires ticket agents to disclose and offer web-based discount fares to customers unable to use their sites due to a disability starting within 180 days after the rule’s effective date. Airlines are already required to provide equivalent service for consumers who are unable to use inaccessible websites. Under the new rule, airlines must also offer equivalent service to passengers with disabilities who are unable to use their websites even if the websites meet the WCAG accessibility standards.
In addition, any automated kiosks installed at U.S. airports for services -- such as printing boarding passes and baggage tags --must be accessible to passengers with disabilities until at least 25 percent of all kiosks at each airport location are accessible. Even if no new kiosks are installed, 25 percent of kiosks at each airport location must be accessible within 10 years. The standards for accessible kiosks are based on those set by the U.S. Department of Justice for ATM and fare machines in its 2010 Americans with Disabilities Act rule as well as the Section 508 standards for self-contained closed products, such as copiers.
DOT’s wheelchair rule provides airlines with more flexibility because it permits airlines to transport passenger wheelchairs by strapping them across a row of seats using a strap kit that complies with applicable safety standards, in addition to stowing them in a closet or similar compartment. In 2008, DOT issued a rule prohibiting airlines from using the seat-strapping method on new aircraft as an alternative to stowing the manual wheelchair in a closet or similar compartment. In that same rule, DOT allowed the use of a seat-strapping method on existing aircraft. Based on a fuller evaluation of the costs and benefits, DOT has now revised its position to also allow the use of seat-strapping on new aircraft subject to certain conditions. For example, if an airline chooses to use the seat-strapping method to stow a wheelchair, it must transport two wheelchairs in the cabin if requested unless stowing the second wheelchair would displace other passengers.
If an airline chooses to use a closet to stow a wheelchair, then it will still be required to stow only one wheelchair in the cabin. However, in this case it must install a sign or placard prominently on the closet indicating that a wheelchair and other assistive devices are to be stowed in this area with priority over other items brought onto the aircraft by other passengers or crew, including crew luggage.
The rule on accessible websites and kiosks is available on the Internet at www.regulations.gov, docket DOT-OST-2011-0177. In addition to accepting public comments on the web and kiosk rule through this website, the Department partnered with Cornell University’s eRulemaking Initiative (CeRI), Regulation Room, designed to improve the public’s ability to understand and participate in the rulemaking process. A goal of the CeRI team is to make Regulation Room as accessible to as many users as possible. This partnership supports President Obama’s open-government initiative. The final rule on wheelchairs is available at the same website at docket DOT-OST-2011-0098.
Tell your Senator to reauthorize the Rehabilitiation Act!
Please take a moment to send a message to your legislator. All you have to do is
click on the link below and
fill out your name and address. Thank you!
Test drive new accessible voting machines!
ACI is working together with Advancing Opportunities to come up with a new way to vote. Come and try the accessible voting machine New Jersey uses, and help us improve the next generation of voting machines! Get a $20 gift card to Wal-Mart for your time.
What's expected of you
- 30 minutes of your time.
- You will need to come to our demonstration site.
- Answer a few question.
- Try out the new accessible voting features of the voting machines NJ uses.
What we're looking for
- People with disabilities who have trouble using the standard voting machine.
- Someone who has limited use of their hands.
- People who have no upper extremity use, and use switches to control things.
WHEN: October 16th and 29th (by appointment).
To RSVP, please call Judy Nigl, Assistive Technology Services at 888-322-1918 ext. 595 or Luke Koppisch, ACI Deputy Director at 732-738-4388 ext. 110.
Accessible Taxi Cabs in Middlesex County Survey
Photo source: Post-Gazette
Do you live, work or travel in Middlesex County, NJ? Please take a moment to fill out this important survey. Thanks!
New Accessible Parking Law in NJ
A message from nj.com
People with disabilities will now be required to have their medical conditions recertified every three years to qualify for parking privileges in New Jersey, Motor Vehicle Commission chief administrator Raymond Martinez said today.
In the past, motorists would be required to undergo only an initial medical classification to qualify for the special placard and license plate. After that, materials would be renewed by mail every three years.
Now, when renewal is up, so is a medical classification requirement by a qualified medical professional. The changes take effect Aug. 1.
Motorists who already have the placards will not need to submit recertification until they're due for renewal.
The placards that are hung on rearview mirrors will also be redesigned to make the expiration date more visible and to prevent alterations. License plates that are renewed every year are also subject to the three-year medical recertification.
Martinez said the new rules aim to reduce fraud associated with the program. He said law enforcement officers often find motorists who use placards that are not assigned to the vehicle they are using or the placards belong to someone who has died.
Mainly, the new laws aim to reduce the number of placards and license plates issued to people who are no longer qualified to have them.
"It was almost an automatic renewal," Martinez said of the previous process. There was "no certification process with teeth to it, with scrutiny."
There are more than half a million placard and license plate holders in the state.
The MVC has already begun mailing registration renewals explaining the new law.
"This is just an attempt to tighten up the process a little bit," Martinez said. "Those spots are not just there for convenience, they're out of necessity."
SOURCE: nj.com via Associated Press
Pejorative Mental Health Language Bill Becomes Law
A message from the Mental Health Association in New Jersey
On August 7, New Jersey made important progress in our efforts to end stigma when Governor Christie signed A3357/S2224 into New Jersey law. The passing of this law will result in the removal of negative terms referring to people with psychiatric, cognitive or developmental disabilities in state statutes. The bills were sponsored by Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle and Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg with many co-sponsors. It is important to note that the bill passed through both the New Jersey Senate and Assembly with unanimous positive votes in both houses!
Mental illness can strike anyone. It knows no age limits, economic status, race, creed or color. During the course of a year, one in four families is affected by mental illness. Many people have wrong and damaging ideas on the subject. Their opinions affect their actions and often prevent New Jersey residents with mental illness from living productive lives and contributing to their communities. Stigma around mental illness is often a huge obstacle to individual recovery. Accurate facts and information may help change negative ideas and help develop more informed and fair opinions.
"The Mental Health Association in New Jersey applauds our legislators for recognizing the importance of language in the fight against stigma," stated Carolyn Beauchamp, President and CEO of the Mental Health Association in New Jersey (MHANJ).
"Opinions are often formed by what is said, words that are used to describe mental illness or those with a mental illness. Changing outdated, disparaging language in our laws makes a strong statement that in New Jersey we are taking responsibility at the highest levels to acknowledge and remove destructive words that have contributed to stigma against those suffering with a mental illness," said Senator Weinberg.
"This is an important step in helping to change opinions about mental illness that are negative and based on incorrect information. These views cause stigma which often inhibits people who have mental illness from seeking treatment due to fear of repercussions of public knowledge of their problem. The treatment they avoid could be the key to enable them to lead productive lives and contribute to their communities," stated Assemblywoman Huttle.
Ultimately, this law eliminates demeaning and disrespectful terms when referring to persons with psychiatric, cognitive or developmental disabilities. For example: first-person language is now used; provisions are made gender neutral to the extent possible; anachronistic and unclear language has been eliminated or refined; and the names of institutions and agencies have been made current.
Examples of language to be replaced include:
Old Language
- Lunatic
- Institution for the Blind, Feeble Minded, Epileptic, and Insane
- Insane Asylum
- Incompetent
New Language
- Mentally Incapacitated
- Institutions for persons who are blind or have a mental illness or developmental disability
- Psychiatric Facility; Psychiatric Hospital
- Incapacitated
The MHANJ, Disability Rights New Jersey and other community partners consulted with the New Jersey Law Revision Commission as the bill was designed and developed. The MHANJ in a leadership role, along with the New Jersey Mental Health Coalition and others in the mental health community were strong advocates in supporting the bill.
SOURCE: MHANJ's Cutting Edge Newsletter
