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AHEAD OF THE TIMES
Volume 23, Number 3
December, 2002

THE INCLUSIVE HOME DESIGN ACT ACTION ALERT - H.R. 5683
On October 17, the first national basic access or Visitability legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by our great ally and champion of disability rights, Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL). This bill mirrors Kansas' HB 2020 which was signed into law by Governor Graves in the 2002 legislative session and became law July 1. This is a major and historic national legislative action which would begin to stop the practice of building inaccessible housing which excludes people with disabilities. 

This legislation will enhance safety for all our children, friends and families. It would create more choices of where we can live in the community, and it will make aging in place in the community more workable for everyone.

It would require all newly constructed, federally assisted housing that consists of one to three dwelling units to meet minimum standards of visitability for persons with disabilities:

1. At least one entrance to the dwelling unit that is accessible to and usable by people with disabilities.
2. Doors on the main floor that provide a 32 inch clear width when the door is open at a 90 degree angle.
3. Environmental controls located 15 to 48 inches above the floor, and no higher than 3 inches above a counter, sink or appliance.
4. Accessible habitable space and bathroom. This means one interior room of not less than 70 square feet, and at least one bathroom with a toilet, sink and wall that are reinforced to allow for later installation of grab bars.

We need your help with getting the word out and generating tons of letters in support of this great legislation. There are three different ways to get involved:

1. Contact the Bill's sponsor and express your support:
   
   Representative Jan Schakowsky
   U.S. House of Representatives
   515 Cannon House Building Bldg.
   Washington, DC 20515
   202/225-2111(phone)
   202/226-6890 (fax)
   www.house.gov/apps/list/press/i109_schakowsky/2002.accessliving.html 
   
2. Contact your legislators and let them know that you support this bill. Below is the draft of a letter that you can use:
   
   H.R. 5683, The Inclusive Home Design Act of 2002, was introduced October 17 by Representative Schakowsky. We ask for your support and cosponsorship of H.R. 5683.
   
   H.R. 5683 will change the way our country builds homes, and provide all residents of our nation an opportunity to maintain choices and dignity throughout their age, disability or during unexpected accidents. This historic legislation will assure that our federal housing dollars will be used in the most cost effective manner, while ending the practice of excluding entire segments of our population. Basic access to all newly constructed homes will provide enhanced safety and immeasurable benefits for our children, and our families, now and into the future. Thank you for your support.
   
   
   Sincerely, ____________________________
   
   
   Please send copies of all letters of support to DRACH Visitability Headquarters: Darrel Price, Access Living, 614 W. Roosevelt Rd., Chicago, IL 60607
   
3. To become involved locally, contact Bob Mikesic and the Independence, Inc. Access Task Force at 785/841-0333.
   
   Other contacts include:
   Becca Vaughn, 800-443-2207 (Topeka)
   Robin Tropper, 800-569-5926 (Hays)
   Karen Jones, 316/262-2122 (voice)
   316/262-8208 (TTY) (Wichita)
   
   For information on national, state and international "Visitability" initiatives go to www.concretechange.home.mindspring.com 

The Center will be closed noon December 24 through January 1. 
We will reopen January 2. No Transportation will be available.

COOKING CLUB/PEER SUPPORT GROUP 
Please join members of the Cooking Club and Peer Support Group on Monday, December 16 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. for good food and fun conversation. Our guest chef for this month will be Lori Neuman who is the new receptionist/administrative assistant for Independence, Inc. If you would like to meet Lori and sample her "chef's surprise" then RSVP with Ranita at 841-0333 by noon on Friday, December 13. 

As we close out the year, the members of the Cooking Club would like to say thank you to all of our guest chefs for 2002 for their great recipes. If you would like copies of any recipes from Cooking Club 2002 then check out the Independence, Inc. consumer support groups web page at www.independenceinc.org. Kudos to Mark Creamer, for designing the consumer web page.

QUILTING/ARTS & CRAFTS GROUP
The Quilting/Arts & Crafts Group will meet Monday, December 16, 1 - 3 p.m. in the large conference room at Independence, Inc. Ms. Wanda will work her magic while teaching us how to make wonderful items for the holidays. If you have any questions, call Ranita at 841-0333.

AIDS AND HIV IN KANSAS AND BEYOND
Join us to hear Buck Rowlands from Douglas County AIDS Project (DCAP) speak about the incidents of AIDS and HIV in Kansas, Douglas County, the United States and the world, new trends in treatment, DCAP services and the basics of HIV prevention. Monday, December 16, 10 a.m. in the Independence, Inc. conference room. 

For more information for to request an accommodation, contact Susan Mikesic at 785/841-0333, toll-free at 888-824-7277, or by e-mail at susanm@independenceinc.org. 

(Please remember that Independence, Inc. is a scent-free zone, which means we ask visitors to refrain from wearing perfumes and other scented products. Thank you.)

DEVELOP YOUR SELF-ADVOCACY SKILLS
Do you want to become a better self-advocate? I am a graduate student from Vietnam, attending the University of Kansas. I will be conducting research for my master's thesis early in 2003. I would like to help people with disabilities learn more about the accommodations that they need to participate in employment, education, and community activities, and to request these accommodations very clearly when needed. This project should help people become better self-advocates, and as a person with a disability, I know how important this is. If anyone is interested in developing their self-advocacy skills, please contact me at 864-4095 and ask for Yen and I will tell you more about the project. We can learn form each other, and I will bring what I learn back to Vietnam to improve life for people with disabilities there.

LEADERSHIP TRAINING FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES 
An innovative training program will be offered in Topeka next summer to provide high school students with disabilities a unique combination of career and leadership skills that can prepare them for transitioning from school to life after high school.

Recruitment efforts are underway for students to attend the third annual Kansas Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) for high school juniors and seniors with disabilities. The forum will be hosted at Washburn University in Topeka, June 16 - 21. Student delegates are selected through a competitive application process. Qualified applicants must be a junior or senior in high school as of December 31, 2002 and have a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The YLF is a motivational forum that brings 45 student delegates together on a college campus for a week of exploring leadership issues. During their five-day stay at the forum, the delegates will participate in workshops to develop their leadership skills, learn about disability rights and self-advocacy, assistive technology, and resources at all levels. Each student will go home with a personal leadership plan with identified goals to work on.

The highlight of the week consists of a visit to the State Capitol where the delegates will have their photos taken with the Governor, participate in a mock debate in the Senate chambers, and attend a formal luncheon with adult mentors. A barbecue, talent show, and dance are additional activities aimed at developing friendships and celebrating accomplishments.

Because the forum is underwritten by public and private partnerships, there is no charge for students to attend. All special needs accommodations are provided at no cost to the student. For additional information on the Kansas Youth Leadership Forum, contact Brenda Eddy at 785/ 267-1717 V/TTY or email beddy@kacil.org. Applications can also be printed from the website at www.ksylf.org. The deadline for applying for forum is January 30, 2003.

NCD RELEASES LATEST ADA AND THE SUPREME COURT POLICY PAPER
The National Council on Disability (NCD) "Significance of the ADA Finding That Some 43 Million Americans Have Disabilities," is the latest addition to the ongoing policy brief series analyzing and responding to certain problematic aspects of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court.

The brief, which is available at www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/43million.html, examines the sources of the 43 million figure, the congressional understanding behind its inclusion in the ADA, the conclusions the Supreme Court has based on it, and problems with the Court's interpretation of the figure.
For more information, contact Mark Quigley or Joan Durocher at 202/272-2004, or 202/272-2074 (TTY). 1331 F Street, NW, Suite 850 Washington, DC 20004. mquigley@ncd.gov 

Loan Bank NEWS
This month the Independence, Inc. Loan Bank donated 14 wheelchairs and 24 walkers in need of repair to Hope Haven. The organization collects items, has them repaired and sends them to folks in other countries such as India, Honduras and Belize who cannot afford a chair or walker.

Here are some of the items currently available in the Independence, Inc. loan bank:

• Wheelchairs
• Walkers
• Canes
• Commodes
• Bed Rails
• Grab Bars
• Variety of splints and braces
• Variety of orthopedic foot and shoe items
• Medical items such a colo bags and pulmo items
• Personal care items such as diapers, pads and chux.

Remember that if you have a relative visiting for the holidays that might need an item from our Loan Bank - be sure to call us soon. To be sure the item is available don't wait until the last minute. Call Jim, Susan, or Meredith at 841-0333. 

JUDY HEUMANN BECOMES ADVISER TO THE WORLD BANK
Judy Heumann has been appointed as the World Bank's first-ever Adviser, Disability and Development in the Human Development Network. In her new position, Heumann, an internationally recognized expert on disability and diversity issues, will lead the World Bank's disability work and highlight its importance. She will include it in the Bank's discussions with client countries, its country-based analytical work, and support for improving policies, programs, and projects that allow disabled people to live and work in the economic and social mainstream of their communities.

Some 400 million people in developing countries are thought to be disabled, many of whom are excluded from school or the workplace and forced to depend on their family for lifetime support. Older disabled people run the risk of being shunned or segregated, and forced to live on the margins of life. For this reason, the World Bank says helping to improve the social and job prospects of marginalized populations of disabled people in poor countries around the world is key to reducing poverty and spurring development.

Heumann, who had polio in 1949 and uses a motorized wheelchair, has worked extensively with governments and NGOs since the 1970s to contribute to the development of human rights legislation and policies benefiting disabled children and adults and to the worldwide development of the self-help and independent living movement. From 1993 to 2001, she served as Assistant Secretary of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services at the Department of Education, supervising a program that served almost 6 million disabled children and adults nationwide.

Her recent international activities have included cochairing of the International Leadership Forum for Women with Disabilities, which brought together 600 participants from 80 countries, and policy consultations with governmental and non-governmental agencies in Mexico, Brazil, Japan, China and throughout Europe.

Heumann co-founded the World Institute on Disability, the first public policy research think tank devoted to disability issues. She also shaped and co-directed the nation's first Center on Independent Living in Berkeley, California, a self-help and human rights organization. She serves as a member of the board of directors on many public policy and service organizations.
In recognition of her collaborative work on diversity and human rights issues, Heumann has received numerous awards.

Heumann, a US national, received her Master of Public Health in 1975 from the University of California, Berkeley, an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in 1995 from Long Island University, Long Island, NY and an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Public Administration, in 2001 from University of Illinois, Champaign, IL. Up until her new appointment, she was managing her own consulting firm which provides consulting services on disability issues.

PANEL ON BUDGET CUTS FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
The Arc of Douglas County will hold a panel discussion on how to deal with budget cuts for people with developmental disabilities in Douglas County. Speakers will be Scott Brunner, Kansas Department of Budget; Dr. Bruce Pasman, Executive Director of Support Services for Lawrence Public Schools; and Sharon Spratt, Executive Director of Cottonwood, Inc.

This presentation is held in conjunction with the Arc of Douglas County Annual Membership meeting on Thursday, December 5, 7 p.m. at the United Way Center, 2518 Ridge Court.

ESSAYS WANTED ON DISABILITY
Guidelines For A Different Journey: Personal stories for parents by adults with disabilities is a new book that Stan Klein and John Kemp are co-editing. For this book, adults who have grown up with disabilities and/or health care needs are invited to write short essays for parents of children with disabilities and/or health care needs. In their essays, authors are asked to write an essay that they wish their own parents had read or been told while they were growing up. 

Specific guidelines for essays: 

1. Please write an essay of about 1500 words, or less. Add a biography of about 150 words, or less, that would follow the essay in the book. At the end of the essay, please write your mailing address, telephone number, fax number, and e-mail.
2. Please submit your essay as an attachment in Microsoft Word to an e-mail or paste your essay into the body of your e-mail. Send e-mail to: stan@disabilitiesbooks.com 
3. If you submit your essay by regular mail, please double space the text. If at all possible, please also submit the essay on a disk as well. Please label each page of your printed essay and the disk with your name and address. Send the printed copy and disk to: Stanley D. Klein, Ph.D., DisABILITIESBOOKS, Inc., P.O. Box 470715, Brookline, MA 02447-0715.
4. All essays are to be received by February 15, 2003. Authors of essays accepted for inclusion in the book will receive $125 for the right to include their essay.

COMPUTER LEARNING CENTER CLASSES
Enroll now for classes in the Independence, Inc. Computer Learning Center. For more information contact us at 785/841-0333, 1-888-824-7277, e-mail webmaster@independenceinc.org or visit our website http://www.independenceinc.org 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SEARCH
Independence, Inc. is seeking a new executive director. Our current director, Robert LeGresley, will be leaving early in the new year. Information about the position and the job application process are available on the Independence, Inc. website at  www.independenceinc.org. If you or someone you know is interested in this opportunity, please check the website.