Patti's Blog - Advocate for Elders, People with Disabilities and Their Families

United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Excerpt from: CBM (click for full article)

 

The Convention and its Optional Protocol was adopted on 13 December 2006 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, and was opened for signature on 30 March 2007. There were 82 signatories to the Convention, 44 signatories to the Optional Protocol, and 1 ratification of the Convention.

This is the highest number of signatories in history to a UN Convention on its opening day. It is the first comprehensive human rights treaty of the 21st century and is the first human rights convention to be open for signature by regional integration organisations. The Convention entered into force on 3 May, 2008.

ADA Showdown: Dog-Fearing Cabbie vs. Blind Customer

Excerpt from: Lawyers.com (click for full article)

 

A Connecticut cab driver who was fired after he refused to pick up a blind customer with a service dog is now suing under the Americans with Disabilities Act, claiming his own disability – fear of dogs – and saying his employers discriminated against him.

The lawsuit filed in federal court in Connecticut on September 11 against the Yellow Cab company and the Connecticut State Department of Transportation by Mansoor Ahmad and his father, another cabbie who was fired after complaining about the treatment of his son, admits Ahmad refused to pick up the passenger from the cab line at Bradley Airport.

Board member Gabriella BurmanTV interview about special needs parenting

Children, Youth and Families interviews Gabriella Burman, child special needs advocate. For more information about the CYF commission please visit www.cyf.us

Click here to view video

 

 

Athlete With Disability Leads Sports Illustrated Contest

Excerpt from: Disability Scoop (click for full article)

 

He made national news in his bid to play high school sports and now a teen with Down syndrome is in the running to win $25,000 from Sports Illustrated for his plight.

Eric Dompierre publicly challenged the Michigan High School Athletic Association over a rule that disqualified him from playing football his senior year because at 19 he had aged out. With significant media attention, Dompierre was able to convince the association earlier this year to alter its rules and grant him a waiver to participate in school sports for one final year.

Now a Sports Illustrated video about Dompierre’s experience is one of 10 finalists in the magazine’s annual “Underdogs” contest. Readers will choose the winner in an online vote that’s open through Nov. 15.

The video about the Ishpeming, Mich. teen is currently leading the pack. If Dompierre’s story comes out on top, he’ll score a $25,000 grant for his school and a trip to New York, reports MLive. To read more click here.

Schuette Announces Win for Religious Liberty: Federal Judge Blocks Implementation Of Obamacare Mandate in Michigan Case

Excerpt from: Michigan.gov (click for full article)

Patti's comment: I am hoping this will get appealed, but just wanted to share the news with you all.

 

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette today announced that a federal judge has issued a ruling blocking the implementation of a controversial U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) mandate that would force religious employers to violate their religious and faith-based beliefs by providing insurance plans that cover services, including abortion-inducing drugs, that conflict with those beliefs.

The ruling comes in a lawsuit filed by Michigan-based Weingartz Supply Company and Legatus, an organization of Catholic business owners, to defend religious liberty and challenge the unconstitutional Obama administration mandate.  Schuette filed an amicus brief in support of the plaintiffs on September 27, 2012.

"Religious liberty is America's first freedom," said Schuette.  "Any rule, regulation or law that forces American employers to violate their free exercise of religion is a flat-out violation of the First Amendment and federal law, including the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

"This victory is an important step in defeating an unconstitutional mandate that will force private sector job-providers across America to violate their conscience.  The First Amendment applies to everyone, and we must defend religious liberty for all, not just the chosen few dictated by the federal government."

On October 31, 2012, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Cleland in the Eastern District of Michigan ruled in Legatus et al. v Kathleen Sebelius, et al. that the case can move forward into the discovery phase and signed an order preliminarily blocking the federal government's implementation of the HHS Mandate against Weingartz due to the "risk presented here of substantially infringing the sincere exercise of religious beliefs."  The mandate will remain enjoined pending the outcome of the case (Case no. 12-12061).

 

Alberta businesses hiring people with disabilities

Excerpt from: Calgary Herald (click for full article)

 

Alberta businesses are among the most likely in Canada to hire workers with a disability, although the numbers could be better, according to a new BMO report.

A recent bank survey found 52 per cent of Alberta employers have hired a person with a disability, compared to 44 per cent nationally.

The results suggest stigmas still exist about discussing disability in the workplace - on the part of employers, job candidates and employees - preventing businesses from hiring more disabled candidates, the bank said.

"Despite dismantling many barriers to the inclusion of people with disabilities in the workforce, certain, perhaps hidden, forces are still at play," said Sonya Kunkel, BMO Financial Group managing director of diversity and inclusion.