Rockland Independent Living Center
Creating accessible communities for people with disabilities
This page contains
past articles by and about RILC
and articles affecting people with disabilities
Past News and Features
*VISIT OUR HISTORY PAGE FOR MORE PAST NEWS AND FEATURES
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Embryonic Stem Cells Aug 2001
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supreme Court and ADA July2002
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Law for disabled remains puzzling Nov 2001
Page Contents:
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President signs landmark legislation
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Veterans History Project seeks stories
Medicaid buy-in adopted in New York
(FREEDOM TO WORK INITIATIVE)
On January 15, 2002 the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly passed S.6084/A.9610 also known as the “Freedom to Work” initiative. This legislation allows people with disabilities to continue to receive their essential Medicaid funded health-care benefits while returning to work. The Medicaid Buy-In Program was adopted by the State legislature and Governor George Pataki on January 17th, 2002.
Under the Medicaid Buy-In Program New Yorkers with disabilities would no longer have to choose between going to work and having health insurance. By expanding Medicaid eligibility, a major barrier will be removed, allowing the working disabled to pursue new or better employment opportunities without losing their health care coverage. An estimated 19,000 working disabled individuals will benefit from this legislation.
Persons eligible would be employed individuals between the ages of 16 and 65 who would be eligible for benefits under the Supplemental Security Income Program definition of disability and workers with a severe medically determinable impairment who were disabled and would lose coverage. To be eligible, an individual must have a net available income that does not exceed 250% of the applicable federal income poverty line as defined by the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (approx. $44,000 in a household of one, $58,000 in a household of two). In addition, total household resources cannot exceed $10,000.
Eligible individuals earning between 150 percent and 250 percent of the federal income official poverty line will pay a premium equal to the sum of three percent of net earned income and seven and one half percent of net unearned income. Eligible individuals earning below 150 percent of the federal income official poverty line will pay no premium. Implementation of the Medicaid Buy-In in New York will not take effect until April 0.1, 2003. Employment in this bill is considered to be “earning at least minimum wage” and “working at least 40 hours per month.”
This has been a top priority for us at The Rockland Independent Living Center and of New York’s advocacy community over the past three years. “At long last, thousands of New Yorkers with disabilities will be able to move from the margins to the mainstream, taking their rightful place in the states workforce without having to sacrifice their healthcare,” said Brad Williams, executive director of the New York State Independent Living Council and one of the programs chief proponents.
November 2002
PRESIDENT SIGNS LANDMARK ELECTION REFORM LEGISLATION
October 29,
2002 Washington, D.C. — Exactly
one week before Election Day, President Bush signed into law legislation,
to ensure that all registered voters in America have the right to cast a
vote and have that vote counted. The law addresses many of the problems
that were highlighted in the trouble-plagued elections of 2000. The
legislation would authorize provisional ballots, so that no qualified
voter can ever again be turned away from the polling place without first
being offered the opportunity to cast a provisional ballot; require states
to develop uniform and nondiscriminatory statewide voter registration
lists; and establish a new commission – the Election Assistance Commission
– to assist states. It also authorizes more than $3.8 billion over the
next three years to help states replace and renovate voting equipment,
train poll workers, educate voters, upgrade voter lists, make
polling places more accessible for the disabled, and for other
election administration purposes. The legislation has been applauded by a
broad range of organizations, including the NAACP, the Congressional Black
Caucus, UAW, AFL-CIO, and the National Federation for the Blind,
as well as state and local election officials.
”Almost two years from the 2000 elections, this legislation will help
America move beyond the days of hanging chads, butterfly ballots and
illegal purges of qualified voters,” said Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut.
The measure also establishes statewide registration lists that would use
the last four digits of a voter’s driver’s license or Social Security
number as an identifier for the database. Voters with neither number would
be assigned an identifying number by the state.
Election reform law signed Tuesday by President Bush
includes provision to explore internet-assisted elections in the future.
Lawmakers still have the task of finding money to pay for the
bill, although both sides have vowed to make sure the necessary
dollars are approved
***
Election Reform Information Project website at
www.electionline.org.***
ELECTION OVERHAUL CHANGES
The election overhaul compromise reached by
House and Senate negotiators:
· Would send nearly $4 billion to states over three years.
· Includes $325 million for states who want to replace punch-card and lever voting machines; $325 million to states to begin improvements required by the bill, such as poll worker training. This money would be sent immediately to states upon congressional approval. Each state is guaranteed at least $5 million.
· Establishes statewide registration systems.
· Establishes provisional voting for voters whose names do not appear on the registration lists but who still believe they are eligible to vote. Election officials would determine later whether the ballots were valid.
· Gives the Justice Department the right to sue states for violating voting requirements. States must also establish a grievance procedure for individuals alleging voting violations.
· Requires that each polling place have at
least one machine that is accessible to the disabled.
The bill
also includes $100 million to improve disability access.
· Requires that jurisdictions with certain demographics provide translation services.
· Requires that voters who register by mail provide identification the first time they vote. Photo IDs, utility bills or other documents would be allowed.
· Requires that voters have an opportunity to check for and correct ballot errors privately.
· Includes $30 million for research on new voting technologies and $10 million to encourage college and high school students to volunteer as poll workers.
New York State
SENATE COMMITTEE ON ELECTIONS
(HELP AMERICA VOTE ACT (HAVA)
United States Public Law 107-252 10/29/02
May 8, 2003
Testimony
Distinguished
Panelists:
My name is Bill Mullin. I represent the Rockland Independent Living Center.
I am here to speak as a disabled citizen of Rockland County a veteran and a
registered voter in New York for forty five years. For twenty two years one
of my daughters had to accompany me into the voting booth to draw the
curtain, make the selections and pull the lever and that was after I fumbled
to sign my name with my writing device. Every so often, we
have an event come up that is of extreme importance to people with
disabilities. This is one of those times.
New York State is at the decision point
regarding the development of the State Plan for the implementation of the
Help American Vote Act and the purchase of thousands of new voting machines.
It is imperative that right decisions are made.
The U.S. Congress in its debate intended to make it easier for people to
vote, and harder for people to cheat. But we don’t want to put to much
emphasis on cheaters and not enough on making it easier to vote. This is a
golden opportunity for New York State to correct these problems and
demonstrate its leadership. We would like to see
the “State Plan” conform fully to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA),
National Voter Rights Act (NVRA), and the Voting Accessibility for the
Elderly & Handicapped Act when developing a State HAVA plan. The State Plan
should:
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Set deadlines for polling site accessibility for people with disabilities .At least one accessible machine at every polling place as quickly as possible.
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Set up a State complaint procedure for alleged violations of election laws including those on Election Day.
Change the requirement that voters reregister when moving from one county to another. -
Recognize that the States full face ballot requirement discriminates against those with disabilities.
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The State must adopt uniform voting system standards. Recognize the need for one state voting system and the centralization of election services in each county board. One clear set of standards for manufacturers of voting systems.
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A Voters Bill of Rights should be prominently displayed in all polling places and widely distributed before an election.
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The State must ensure that voting systems are accessible to all citizens with disabilities in a manner that provides the same opportunity for access and participation (including privacy and independence) as for other voters. Many different forms of disability, physical, mental, sensory must be considered. The blind, hearing impaired, mobility impaired, mental and learning disabled must have accurate, effective and accessible voting systems. This means computer systems with a simple adaptation that offers speech synthesis or human voice so the blind can hear the ballot. Special switches or a touch screen that allow voters like me with arm or hand disabilities or those unable to hold a pen to cast their ballot independently . A recent GAO report found that eighty four percent of surveyed polling places across the country were found to have barriers that prevented people with disabilities from voting. Sixty-seven percent of these same polling places prevented voters who use wheelchairs from even entering.
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A collaborative process between the disability community and election officials should begin to ensure accessibility standards are fully implemented. A leader in the disability community should be used to ensure all Federal funding and Grants available for voter accessibility are being distributed properly and not redirected for other use. This person can ensure that all available funds and grants are applied for and used so that no money is lost or runs out. The State Plan should make sure money is not supplanted for other purposes at the local level.
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Poll workers must be educated about disability etiquette in order that they may serve disabled citizens appropriately. Poll workers and election officials must be trained to ensure uniform and nondiscriminatory treatment of voters throughout the State.
In my opinion computerized voting from ones home is feasible and desirable New York State should lead the country in making this possible for people who prefer to vote from home with their computer. With a computer there is no racism, discrimination or favoritism. The computer doesn’t know what color you are, if you are elderly or if you have a disability. Everyone is equal.
A perfect voting experience for me would be:
To drive up to the polling place and
immediately find a handicapped parking spot. Then be able to find
a nearby curb-cut for my wheelchair to get up on the sidewalk.
Electronic doors would open automatically, or at least the
doorways would be wide. To enter the polling site and find
knowledgeable, courteous and helpful poll workers. A voting Bill
of Rights would be right next to the American Flag. I would then
roll into a cubicle privately and independently touch a screen to
make my selection. If I inadvertently pushed the wrong candidate I
could tell the poll worker and they could easily fix the problem
and ensure that I could correct it and definitely have my vote
counted. I would then go home and watch the election returns until
2 in the morning to watch my guys win and thank God I live in
America.
On behalf of the Rockland Independent Living Center and the
disability community in Rockland County I would like to thank you
for the opportunity to testify.
William H. Mullin
ref: United States General Accounting Office
The thirty- five million voting age Americans with disabilities
are the sleeping giant of American politics.
We will continue to follow election reform in Rockland County.
Veterans History Project seeks stories
Local videotaping of these oral histories will take place in January 2003
at the Rockland Independent Living Center, in the Eugene Levy Shopping Mall,
230 N. Main St., Spring Valley.
By NANCY CACIOPPO
THE JOURNAL NEWS (Original publication: December 20, 2002)
Marine Corps veteran Bill Mullin of Garnerville had a front-row seat to history while serving on the USS Intrepid in 1958. Mullin, then an 18-year-old sergeant, jet mechanic and airplane captain, was among those who had to qualify a Marine Air Wing squadron for landings on the fabled aircraft carrier. He said watching a Douglas F4D Skyray interceptor take off with afterburners blazing was one of the most exciting times of his life.
Forty-four years later, Mullin was once again on the Intrepid, which is now a Sea-Air-Space Museum in New York City. But this time, he was helping to promote the national Veterans History Project.
As Mullin sat in his wheelchair on the Intrepid's flight deck last June, he told an interviewer from the Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association, "I thought about the brave sailors and Marines who manned this ship in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, the kamikaze attacks by Japanese pilots in the Pacific, the carrier on fire in the midst of battle and the men who died there." Mullin also looked at the New York City skyline and thought about Sept. 11, 2001, adding that he "couldn't help feeling there were a lot of brave souls and a lot of courage in the air around here."
The Veterans History Project, which was established by an act of Congress
in 2000, is being directed by the Library of Congress through its American
Folklife Center in collaboration with the EPVA and the American Association
of Retired Persons.
Its mission is to record oral histories and gather other documents
chronicling the wartime experiences of the nation's veterans and other
citizens for a comprehensive national catalog. As an official partner, the
EPVA is searching for veterans from World War I, World War II, and the
Korean, Vietnam and Persian Gulf wars to record their wartime stories and
experiences. www.loc.gov/folklife/vets/
Local videotaping of these oral histories will take place in January at the Rockland Independent Living Center, in the Eugene Levy Shopping Mall, 230 N. Main St., Spring Valley.
Organizers said the urgency of collecting wartime memories has become more precious as the number of veterans dwindles by 1,600 per day. "We feel it's important for the public and for our younger citizens in particular to have an understanding of what it meant to individuals and the country as a whole to have served," said Gerard Kelly of New City, executive director of the EPVA. "Our members live it every day, so it's a daily reminder of their service. But other veterans don't always think of themselves in this way."
Vietnam veteran Jerry Donnellan, director of Rockland County Veterans
Affairs, agreed that some veterans might shy away from sharing their wartime
experiences. "These are not war stories but first-person stories," Donnellan
said. "By leaving it to historians, the personal side of combat doesn't
always get into the books. Not to translate what we know is doing a
disservice to those who come after us."
All veterans who served in war, in support of combat operations, and in all
ranks and all branches of service — the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps
and Coast Guard — are invited to contact the EPVA to schedule an interview.
Merchant Marines, those involved in home-front activities and citizens who
supported the armed services are also welcome to share their stories.
"We want to allow at least two hours for each individual taping, but veterans who wish to give a briefer experience are also encouraged," EPVA spokeswoman Donna Fredericksen said.
The Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association, a nonprofit organization with 2,100 members in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and eastern Pennsylvania, is located in Queens. Since 1946, it has worked to improve health care, research and the quality of life for veterans and all Americans with spinal cord paralysis. The association has been a leading advocate for accessible transportation in New York City and nationwide through its work on the transportation provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. It also sponsors a variety of wheelchair recreation and sports programs, including the Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association Mets Wheelchair Softball. For more information about the association, visit the Web site Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association www.epva.org.
For registration and further information about the Veterans History Project, call Fredericksen at 718-803-3782, Ext. 283, e-mail dfred@epva.org or visit the Web site www.loc.gov/folklife/vets/
Rockland Independent Living Center
75 W. Route 59
Suite 2130
Nanuet, NY 10954
(845) 624-1366 Fax: Fax: (845) 624 1369
RILC is an equal opportunity agency committed to providing
reasonable accommodations to everyone.
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