At AbilityMaine we are developing a special page for events, committee meetings, board meetings, etc. that are of interest to people with disabilities. The calendar link will still be on our site, but this special page will be specifically for disability related meetings and events. If you have items to add to this page, if you are a committee member who can provide dates for your meetings,or if you are planning an event, send items to Mainefun40@hotmail.com with CALENDAR in the subject line.

We're always looking for news and information at Abilitymaine. If you have items you think we can use, send them to Mainefun40@hotmail.com with NEWS in the subject line.

NewsBriefs
March 30, 2007

Justice Department Publishes Guidance on ADA Compliance

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is preparing guidance material for use by state and local governments in complying with the ADA. The “ADA Best Practices Tool Kit” provides guidance on identifying barriers to access in government programs, services, activities, and facilities and how to correct them. The first installment, released in December, provides an overview of the ADA and relevant regulations. A second section covers notice and grievance procedures and includes a compliance checklist and sample notices and policies. The information is posted on DOJ’s website at http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/pcatoolkit/abouttoolkit.htm.
Additional installments will be posted throughout the year as they become available.

Congressman Stark Introduces Legislation That Would Create Mental Health Parity Under Medicare
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=43867

Hard of Hearing - Car Visor Card:
http://www.hearinglosshelp.com/articles/PDF/visorcardhoh.pdf

The Project Forum Website — http://www.projectforum.org/

From the website:

"Our aim is to facilitate improved services to children and youth with disabilities by gathering and sharing information that supports changes to policy and practice at the national, state and local levels.

Each year, Project Forum:

• identifies 15 critical topics within the field of special education;
• conducts policy analyses on these topics;
• convenes policy forums on two of these topics;
• maintains, in collaboration with the Regional Resource Centers, a national database of state laws, policies and regulations that govern special education (NSPD); and
• distributes information that will contribute to better results for children with disabilities.

Our primary consumers are administrators of IDEA programs (i.e., state and local directors of special education and Part C and 619 coordinators). However, our products are written in a reader-friendly manner and we hope they will be useful to others. "

From the Council for Disability Awareness:
http://www.disabilitycanhappen.org/