Beyond the Ramp

Prenatal Tests and Difficult Choices

2007-05-08T23:41:00.000-04:00

Amy Harmon in an article in the New York Times entitled "Prenatal Test Puts Down Syndrome in Hard Focus" discusses the battle some parents of children with Down Syndrome are waging to educate people about the positives in their children's lives. According to the article 90 percent of pregnant women who are given a Down syndrome diagnosis have chosen to have an abortion.

"Convinced that more couples would choose to continue their pregnancies if they better appreciated what it meant to raise a child with Down syndrome, a growing group of parents are seeking to insert their own positive perspectives into a decision often dominated by daunting medical statistics and doctors who feel obligated to describe the difficulties of life with a disabled child. "

While the parents are not trying to prevent people from having abortions, they want to make sure that parents facing this decision have as much information at their disposal as possible. For these parents the issue is not political but moral. To raise a question I first touched upon when I started this site, is the high rate of abortions for fetuses with disabilities a statement about the way we as a society view these disabilities? If so, perhaps efforts like the ones these parents are making, can help change people perceptions.

Good Job VA?

2007-05-06T02:54:00.000-04:00

According to an article by Hope Yen of the Associated Press, Congressman John Hall is introducing legislation that will place a hold on this year's bonuses for senior VA officials. "Under the measure, 2007 bonuses could not be released until the VA pares down its backlog to under 100,000 cases — a feat the VA has said could take many months, if not years. Currently, the backlog of claims ranges from between 400,000 to more than 600,000, with delays averaging 177 days." These bonuses figure to about 20 percent of their annual salaries. The bonuses add up to almost $4 millio, quite a large sum for an agency having trouble providing enough care for veterans returning from war.

Social Security and Disability Resource Center

2007-05-05T17:43:00.000-04:00

For anyone interested in finding out more about Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid or a host of other useful information please check out The Social Security and Disability Resource Center. The site also includes a forum where people can share their experiences or concerns.

Longer Tours Increases Mental Illness

2007-05-05T00:16:00.000-04:00

An article in the Washington Post entitled “Troops at Odds with Ethics Standards" by Thomas Ricks and Ann Scott Tyson details a study into American soldiers’ psyches. “The study also found that the more often soldiers are deployed, the longer they are deployed each time, and the less time they spend at home, the more likely they are to suffer mental health problems such as combat trauma, anxiety and depression. That result is particularly notable given that the Pentagon has sent soldiers and Marines to Iraq multiple times and recently extended the tours of thousands of soldiers from 12 to 15 months.”

The authors of the study feel that the Iraq War might be more of a strain on troops than World War II or even Vietnam. Even though there have been fewer casualties in Iraq than the Vietnam War, the lack of a safe zone for troops in Iraq has provided the troops with few opportunities to let their guard down . The authors recommended giving soldiers breaks from the fighting during their tours and 18 to 36 month breaks between tours, neither of which is currently followed.

The study also found that 20 percent of the soldiers surveyed and 15 percent of the Marines appeared to suffer from depression, anxiety or stress.

An Athlete with a Disability May Qualify for the Olympics

2007-04-24T16:27:00.000-04:00

The BBC is reporting about Oscar Pistorius, a double amputee from South Africa making an Olympic bid for the 100m, 200m, and 400m races. Predictably, some people are worried that his prosthetic limbs, called blades, are giving him an unfair advantage. The manufacturer argues that they are "passive devices" that lag behind the potential of biological legs. Oscar attributes his success to the fact that he trains harder.

Dole Demands Faster Disability Benefits

2007-03-19T01:55:00.000-04:00

The News and Observer reported on efforts by U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole to get more funding for the Social Security Administration so that disability benefits eligibility can be processed more quickly. Dole "told the leaders of the Senate Budget Committee that the agency needs more money to resuce the backlog and long delays in reviewing appeals for Social Security disability benefits."

The After-Effects of War

2007-03-19T01:43:00.000-04:00

In today's New York Times, Bob Herbert, in Death of a Marine tells the story of a marine who died as a result of the Iraq War that is often over looked. Jeffrey Lucey served in Iraq when the war had just started. In his diary, he described a Scud explosion, “The noise was just short of blowing out your eardrums. Everyone’s heart truly skipped a beat. ... Nerves are on edge.” Jeffrey exhibited all the signs of deep depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. After being unable to receive adequate help from either the military or the Veterans' Administration, Jeffrey committed suicide. His parents Kevin and Joyce shared their story because they wanted more people to realize how dangerous post-traumatic stress disorder can be if not properly treated. Ms. Lucey said "We hear of so many suicides. We thought that if we told other people about Jeffrey they might see their loved ones mirrored in him, and maybe they would be more aggressive, or do something different than we did. We didn't feel we had the knowledge we needed and we lost our child." The Luceys have joined the antiwar organization Military Families Speak Out, and hope to bring the Iraq War to an end.

Walter Reed Just the Beginning

2007-03-05T01:51:00.000-05:00

In yet another startling article by the Washington Post, Anne Hull and Dana Priest further uncover the problems facing veterans in need of medical support. In today's Post, "It Is Just Not Walter Reed" details how Walter Reed Hospital is merely a reflection of problems facing military health care throughout the country. Since the problems facing veterans at Walter Reed first came to light, veterans from across the country have responded with stories of their own detailing the horrible conditions they have experienced. Whether it is asbestos in the barracks in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, or scare tactics in Fort Dix, New Jersey to prevent soldiers from "signing sworn statements to assist fellow soldiers for their medical needs,"the system is in serious need of an overhaul.

Accommodations for the Maine Bar

2007-01-22T15:58:00.000-05:00

An Associated Press article on Boston.com titled "Learning-disabled Law Graduates Sue for Bar Test Accommodations," discusses two law school graduates lawsuit against the Maine state board that administers the bar examination, for failing to give them adequate accommodations for their disabilities. Bruce Montogomery, 62, has been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and has failed the bar four times. Toby Jandreau, 30, has a nonverbal learning disaility and has failed the bar twice after being denied extra time. In their lawsuit, the two seek a preliminary injunction that allow them to take the bar in February with additional time for both and a private room for Montgomery.

In 1998 a federal appeals court ruled that high schools and colleges had to make accommodations for people with learning disabilities such as ADHD and dyslexia. The article explained that "in the applicants' requests, the bar examiners said their disabilities do not limit them enough to justify changing the test rules. The board said in letters to Montgomery and Jandreau that an applicant seeking accommodations must show a more "broad-based and substantial impact" that goes beyond the ability to perform on timed tests."

The outcome of this case could have national implications for all Bar exam takers.

Assisting Law Students with Disabilities Conference

2007-01-18T13:48:00.000-05:00

The Washington College of Law is hosting a conference March 8, 2007 titled "Assisting Law Students with Disabilities in the 21st Century: Brass Tacks." The conference is from 9AM to 5PM and will examine cutting edge technology, court decisions and resource allocations. This event is important for administration and faculty interested in being up to date on ways to make their schools and classrooms more accessible as well as law students interested in knowing their rights. To find out more about the event or to register you can check the Washington College of Law website.

Taxicab Accessibility in NYC

2006-11-18T14:58:00.000-05:00

A reader of Beyond the Ramp has asked about Taxicab Accessibility in New York City. In response to this, I would like to alert everyone to a letter written by the New York City Bar Committee on Legal Issues Affecting People with Disabilities in February of 2005. The letter addresses many of the problems people with disabilities face using Taxicabs in the city.

Total Wounded in Iraq

2006-11-09T15:47:00.000-05:00

A reader of this site expressed difficulty finding statistics on the number of soldiers wounded in Iraq. Officially the American Soldiers Wounded in Iraq is 21,077. In addition to a running count of the number of US military deaths and soldiers wounded, the site also has many other interesting statistics about how disabilities are affecting soldiers and veterans. It is worth mentioning that the site is antiwar.com, but the statistics are accurate and have not been manipulated.

Murderball Star Interview

2006-11-09T15:38:00.000-05:00

Murderball star Marc Zupan, who was posted about earlier on this site, will be interviewed tonight in Canada on CBC at 11PM. For those not living in Canada, the interview can be viewed on the CBC website after it airs tonight.

Gallaudet Changes Course

2006-10-29T19:28:00.000-05:00

According to a report on cnn.com, the board of trustees has voted today to terminate the appointment of the incoming president. The initial decision to appoint Jane Fernandes as the new president was met with protests by students and faculty. A new search will now begin for the next president of Gallaudet University.

Father and Son with CP to Compete in Final Ironman Race

2006-10-19T14:23:00.000-04:00

Rick Hoyt and his son, Dick Hoyt, are competing in their final ironman race in Hawaii. Dick, who has CP, cannot walk. But his father tows him in a boat for the swim, pushes him in front of his bike, and pushes him in the chair during the run. The amazing story can be found here.

Disability Mentoring Day

2006-10-17T20:16:00.000-04:00

According to a press release by the American Association of People with Disabilities, tomorrow AAPD will host a national disability mentoring day. The day has expanded from a DC based event to include more than 14,000 mentees in every state and many international locations. Disability Mentoring Day not only gives people with disabilities the opportunity to learn firsthand about different career opportunities, it also exposes employers to prospective employees with disabilities. This exposure helps break down the barriers employers have to hiring people with disabilities.

The press release lists many of the organizations that are participating in the event. "In addition to the support provided by Darden and SSA, AAPD is also proud to partner with the U.S. Department of Education, the Verizon Foundation, and the following national corporate sponsors: Hewlett Packard, IBM, Microsoft, Pitney Bowes, and SunTrust Banks, Inc. Additionally, SAP is the founder and sponsor of the AAPD/SAP High Technology Disability Mentoring Program and of AAPD's first-ever Disability MentorNet program, a premiere online mentoring program for people with disabilities."

Parent to Parent

2006-10-13T14:45:00.000-04:00

Parent to Parent is an incredible resource for parents of children with special needs and the professionals who work with them. The website has a training center to help parents learn how to be effective advocates for their children in the health care system. It also has many other resources and support services.

Special Education In Crisis

2006-10-13T14:25:00.000-04:00

According to Gail Robinson's article "Special Ed:Needs Improvement" in the Gotham Gazette, only 37% of special education students in New York State graduate. Even worse though is that less than 17% of New York City special education students graduate. In fact from the school year 1996-1997 through school year 2003-2004 only 4% of students classified with "emotional disturbance" and only 11% of students with speech impairment graduated.

In 2002, then Chancellor Harold Levy said that the problem the city faced was that affluent parents would have the city pay for private education that would drain the city's special education budget, which is currently $3 billion.

When a child is thought to need special education, the Department of Education has 60 days to create an Individual Education Plan for that child and an additional 60 days to deliver those services. According to a study conducted in 2004 by the office of Public Advocate Besty Gotbaum, 80% of psychologists and administrators that were spoken to said that their schools had a backlog of special education students who needed to be reevaluated. Last year though, superintendent Weskinoff said that 87% of the evaluations were done on time and 81% of the plans were delivered on time.

In the first years after Joel Klien became Chancellor, the number of special education cases that led to legal hearings has increased %13 according to the Hehir report. Kim Sweet, associate General Counsel at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest said that the current administration "is fighting at hearings in a way that doesn't promote the best interest of the child. Its the sort of money saving approach that leaves kids out in the dark."

Another problem with the special education system is that the all of the bureaucratic red tape makes it hard for immigrants and poor parents to maneuver the system and get their children the services they need. While only a third of the city's students are black and Latino, more than half of the students classified as "emotionally disturbed" and more than 40% of the students labelled mentally retarded are black.

In addition to problems facing minorities, smaller high schools are off-limits to all special education students. The city says that it will take 3-4 years for the schools to be ready to serve these students. Ellen McHugh of Parent to Parent, an advocacy group for parents of special education students, said that if the department "was making statements it could not provide services to people of color, prople would be up in arms."

20% of Veterans Returning From Iraq and Afghanistan Have Disabilities

2006-10-13T12:42:00.000-04:00

In "Data Suggests Vast Costs Loom in Disability Claims," Scott Shane of the New York Times, reports on the growing number of veterans with disabilities. "Nearly one in five soldiers leaving the military after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan has been at least partly disabled as a result of service, according to documents of the Department of Veterans Affairs obtained." The data suggests that the number of veterans of the current conflict receiving disability benefits could rise from 100,000 to as many as 400,000. To date 30,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have sought treatment for post traumatic stress.

One possible problem the report presents is a discrepency in the number of active duty veterans versus National Guard and Reserve unit veterans who are denied coverage. While only 8% of active duty veterans are denied, 18% of Guard and Reserve veterans are denied. Joseph A. Violente, the national legislative director for Disabled American Veterans thinks, "The Guard and reservists may be falling through the cracks at a higher rate. The V.A. needs to study why there's a difference."

Backlog Slows VA Disability Claims

2006-10-11T02:46:00.000-04:00

According to an article in the Montgomery Advertiser by Lisa Horn, veterans filing claims to determine their disability level and benefits are waiting on average 126 days for initial decisions. With appeals, the process takes much longer. Dennis Ware, a Montgomery firefighter and Persian Gulf veteran filed his first rating claim in June 2005 for service-related health problems. It took him an entire year to get a response, which he has since appealed. "'Last time I talked to the service center, they were working on appeals from 2003,' he said. 'Who knows how long it will take for my appeal to come back?'"

Mike Dusenbery, the Southern area direcor for the Veterans Benefits Administration believes the backlog is due to a national hiring freeze at VA service centers last year. Dusenbery said that the problem is that once a station gets behind, it is even harder to catch up. In addition to the hiring freeze, which has since been lifted, the increase in claims coming from newly injured veterans is also slowing down the system. Joe Davis, a spokesman for the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Washington said, "It's shocking. When you have a country that owes its entire existence to the American soldier, the nation has a responsibility to take care of those who safeguard their freedoms."

Night of Too Many Stars

2006-10-11T01:36:00.000-04:00

Sunday October 15th at 8PM EST, Comedy Central is broadcasting Night of Too Many Stars: An Overbooked Benefit for Autism Education. The event is designed to raise awareness of autism. With big names such as Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Will Ferrell and Adam Sandler, the fundraiser is sure to be a success. Tickets to this New York City event are still available on Comedy Central's website. The site suggests www.nyc4a.org or www.alpinelearninggroup.org as resources on autism education. The site also recommends autismspeaks.org for information about autism advocacy and research. For more information on the event or ways you can help check out the website.

$6 Million Autism Study to Begin

2006-10-09T16:27:00.000-04:00

An article by the Associated Foreign Press titled "Autism Undergoes Biggest-Ever US Study" reported on a five-year study that will look into the causes of autism spectrum disorders. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention The study will involve 2,700 children and five separate research institutes at a cost of roughly $6 million. CDC assistant surgeon general Jose Cordero hopes that the study will help them learn more about how the environment and genetics may affect child development. He said that "by conducting the study in six different geographic areas across the country with diverse populations... we hope to have a study sample that more closely represents children with ASDs."

Big Ten Ref Fired for Losing an Eye

2006-10-08T01:36:00.000-04:00

Ira Berkow of the New York Times reported in "One-Eyed Referee Flags the Big Ten Over Firing" about the lawsuit one former referee filed for being unfairly dismissed under the federal disability act. For thirteen years, James Filson was a referee for Big Ten Conference football games, the last five seasons of which, he officiated with only one eye.

Even after Filson lost his eye in accident, his calls on the football field appeared to be better. "Officials are reviewed after every game by, among others, coaches and other officials. Filson's rating were good enough in January 2004, almost four years after having lost his right eye, he was assigned to the Miami-Florida State game in the Orange Bowl, an honor given to only the highest-rated officials."

According to the lawsuit, Filson requested a meeting with the commissioner of the Big Ten, Jim Delany. "Delany met briefly with Filson and told him that he was terminated because he did not 'have two eyes,' failed to fulfill the minimum physical requirements of the job and did not have a full field of vision."

Roger Haberer, a referee who officiated games for many seasons with Filson, disagrees with the firing saying, "He refereed some high school and other amateur games, to see if he could do it. He felt confident he could, and then did it well for five years or until he was terminated. I don't think he missed a beat."

Death Sentence Returns to Supreme Court

2006-10-07T00:31:00.000-04:00

According to the Associated Press, a convicted killer's death sentence will again go before the Supreme Court. "Justices previously overturned LaRoyce Smith's death sentence, ruling in 2004 that juror's in his trial did not consider his learning disability and other evidence. However, in March the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals reimposed Smith's death sentence after it concluded that any problems with the jury instructions were harmless." The legal issue in the case is not over his guilt, but whether he should be sentenced to death or life in prison.

Gallaudet Students Protest the New President

2006-10-07T00:11:00.000-04:00

Susan Kinzie and Nelson Hernandez reported in their article "Protestors Occupy Gallaudet Classroom" for the Washington Post about the reaction students are having to their school's incoming president. Gallaudet University is viewed in the deaf community as its cultural center. Therefore students and alumni place great emphasis on the role of the school's president. When Gallaudet announced that Jane K. Fernandes would be the new president, protests were held not only on Gallaudet's campus but also at other schools for the deaf throughout the country. Students, Alumni and Faculty have pitched tents and held signs demanding the search for the new president be reopened. Even though the faculty had several no-confidence votes in the spring, the administration still plans to turn over control of the school to Ms. Fernandes in January.