NEWS BRIEFSAt 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 This edition of NewsBriefs contains some politics, some conference announcements, device releases, scholarship info, info on Windows 98 and Me, plus---? Read on to find out! Scholarship Program for College Students with DisabilitiesThe Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars is pleased to announce it will continue to help increase employment for students with disabilities through an academic internship program. Through a partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy, The Washington Center is working to help students develop leadership skills and gain valuable work experience in public service. The Washington Center will complement students' professional experience with solid academic training for credit from highly qualified instructors. In addition, students will be exposed to community, national and international leaders through workshops, seminars, lectures, embassy visits and networking events held throughout the course of each semester. The Washington Center is able to provide a total of 50 competitive scholarship awards in the amount of $8,500 for each eligible student with disabilities interested in working in the executive, judicial or legislative branches of the federal government during the fall 2006 and spring 2007 semesters (scholarships are not available in the summer). Applications are available at: http://www.twc.edu/students/how_to_apply.shtml. Please contact The Washington Center if you require the application in an alternate format. The application for the scholarship is the same as the regular application. IMPORTANT DATES You can also visit us on the web at http://www.twc.edu. Medicare Recipients: Do You Have the Wheelchair You Need? If Not, We Need to Know Outdated policies prevent many Medicare recipients from getting the wheelchair they need to live independent and productive lives. Currently, Medicare will only pay for a wheelchair if you need it for use in your home. If you can function at home with a manual chair, but need a power chair to go to work, your doctor, or the local grocery store, Medicare will only pay for a manual chair. United Spinal is embarking on a major legislative campaign to ensure that every Medicare recipient with a disability has access to the "Right Wheelchair." If you don't have the right wheelchair because Medicare refuses to pay for it, we need to hear from you. Personal stories from members affected by this disastrous rule are the most powerful tool we have to make Congress understand why legislation is urgently needed. This policy affects you if: * You are a Medicare recipient, AND * Medicare is not providing you with the type of wheelchair you need to fully access your community. If this describes you, please contact Dan Anderson, legislative analyst, Public Policy, and help us convince Congress that it's time to fix this irrational policy. Contact Dan at 1-800-404- 2898, extension 294, or e-mail danderson@unitedspinal.org Thursday, June 29 the Washington Post records the inclusion of Christin Cox on his ticket. “… a 36-year-old female Cabinet secretary who is blind. Ehrlich made the formal reelection announcement standing on the front steps of his parents' modest brick rowhouse in the Baltimore suburb of Arbutus, telling a sun-drenched crowd that he wants to be Maryland's first Republican governor in 50 years elected to a second term. Today he is expected to embark on that effort with Kristen Cox, his secretary of disabilities, sources close to the governor said. Cox, who has never sought political office, did not attend the campaign kickoff. But in recent weeks, she has appeared more frequently at Ehrlich's side, at state and political events. His advisers believe the selection could help bolster Ehrlich's standing with female voters -- whose support, as indicated in polls, has been declining since he took office. … Ehrlich, 49, will spend the next five months locked in combat with Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley, the Democrat… In a 15-minute speech, Ehrlich… also reached out to farmers, environmentalists, moderate Democrats and, most notably, given his choice of running mates, the disabled. "People with disabilities in Maryland are empowered more than in any other state in the country," he said. Ehrlich created a Cabinet-level position two years ago aimed at addressing the community's needs. Cox became that department's first secretary. Cox, who was born in Bellevue, Wash., has said she lost her vision to a degenerative genetic disease at 11 while growing up in Utah. She walks with the aid of a white cane. She told the Examiner newspaper in a recent interview that she had to "memorize everything" when she attended Brigham Young University because she had not yet learned Braille. She went on to receive a bachelor's degree in educational psychology and a certificate in special education, then worked as a lobbyist for the National Federation for the Blind, according to the state Web site. While working on Capitol Hill, she got to know Ehrlich. "She was never subtle. That was never one of her strengths," said the governor at an event last fall with Cox. In 2001, she was appointed by President Bush to serve at the U.S. Department of Education. She joined Ehrlich's administration in 2003. Cox lives in Towson, in Baltimore County, with her husband, Randy, and her two sons. She did not return calls for comment yesterday. Sources close to Ehrlich spoke about Cox on the condition that they not be named because the governor has attempted to keep her name closely guarded until today. In New York, Democrat Eliot L. Spitzer has selected a blind state senator as his running mate in this fall's race for governor. CodeFactory announces the release of Mobile Magnifier Pocket, a full screen magnifier software for Pocket PC and Pocket PC phones http://www.codefactory.es/ from http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article796 “Microsoft names Windows 98 and Millennium execution day SOFTWARE giant Microsoft has named the day that Windows 98 andMillennium users will no longer have support. On July 11, the two operating systems will have their final breakfast before being wiped from Vole's support brain. Although many expected Microsoft to stop supporting the quaintly antique software, the date for liquidation was uncertain. According to the Washington Post, Security Vendors are also followin gsuit and are phasing out support for two operating systems”…. 8th Annual Autism Summer Institute Each day participants will attend a workgroup to discuss the presentations and raise issues, concerns and questions. Groups will focus on skill development in planning, problem-solving and decision making, as well as instructional and support strategies for students in general education classrooms. For complete information pleasevisit RTC Updates: Research and Training Center on Family Support and Children's Mental Health TBI and Self Employment Postsecondary Students with Disabilities Web cast, "Reducing Restraint and Seclusion of Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury" TalkAutism Newsletter |