Scholarships available for Californians with mental health disabilities to attend Alternatives 08 Conference

PAI is offering up to three scholarships for Californians with mental health disabilities who would like to attend Alternatives 08. This year's conference will be at the Adams Mark Hotel in Buffalo, New York, from October 29 to November 2. The deadline to apply for a scholarship is August 22. Click here for a scholarship application ...

One machine, one vote for everyone

Prime III, a Universal Design electronic voting system, offers a secure, open-source, multimodal electronic voting system. Developed by the Human Centered Computing Lab at Auburn University, Prime III combines system security, integrity and user satisfaction safeguards. Its user-friendly interface accommodates all people regardless of ability. Learn more about Auburn University's Universal Design voting machine ...

Federal directive adds barrier to voting for injured veterans

What is the secretary of Veterans Affairs thinking? On May 5, the department issued a directive that bans nonpartisan voter registration drives at federally financed nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and shelters for homeless veterans. As a result, too many of our most patriotic American citizens - our injured and ill military veterans - may not be able to vote this November. Read more about the voting barrier in The New York Times ...

Disability & the National Democratic Convention in Denver

Becky Ogle, Senior Advisor on Disability for the Democratic National Committee, acts as a liason between delegates with disabilities and the DNCC. She is also responsible for ensuring that attendees with disabilities have the accommocations they need to participate in all convention activities. Here's what you need to know about disability, accessibility and the convention ...

Protection & Advocacy Inc., soon to be Disability Rights California, announces logo contst winners

The Board of Protection & Advocacy Inc. has selected a new logo to embody the organization’s name change to Disability Rights California. Artists from around the country submitted over 120 logos in response to a contest launched in February 2008. Click here to learn who won first, second and third place in the logo contest ...

In reaction to broadcast of Savage’s autism attacks, PAI Board confronts his employer & advertisers about hate speech

Since July 16 when radio host Michael Savage first broadcast his assertions that children with autism were “brats” who just needed more parental discipline, autism advocacy groups and disability rights organizations across the country have been conducting a campaign to convince his employer, Talk Radio Network (TRN), radio stations and advertisers to withdraw their support for the Savage Nation program. Read more here about the board's response ..., and read the letter to Talk Radio Network ..., and the letter congratulating AFLAC for pulling its advertising ..., and see photos in a related San Francisco Chronicle article ..., and read Disability and prejudice: A case for extended protections, from Jurist ...

Recommended reading:

Marines, Navy aim to remove stigma of mental health issues, San Diego Union Tribune, 8/15/08

South African swimmer makes history: tackles Olympics and Paralympics, ABC News, 8/14/08

Inside the nation's largest mental institution, National Public Radio, 8/13/08

Fact Book, Tenth Edition, Department of Developmental Services, April 2008

Mental health act doomed by initiative origin, Sacramento Bee, 8/11/08

"Tropic Thunder" protesters picketed last night's Hollywood premiere, Justice for All, 8/12/08

The "R" word and "Tropic Thunder" film: not funny, Washington Post, 8/11/08

Stamping Out the ‘R-word’, The Downey Patriot, August 2008

Writing off disabled children: The Texas example, The New York Times, 8/8/08

Dreamworks meets with disability advocacy groups objecting to use of "retard" in about-to-be-released Simple Jack film, The New York Times, 8/7/08

What's the latest on accessible websites?
www.accessify.com - furthering web accessibility though free tools;
www.accessites.org - web professionals specializing in accessibility;
www.gawds.org - guild of accessible web designers

To be old, frail, and evicted: patients at risk, Wall Street Journal, 8/7/08

The Downturn: Seniors on fixed incomes face hardships as economy worsens, survey finds, Sacramento Bee, 8/6/08