[Nfbkabs] FW: NCD Calls for New Federal Approach to Disability Policy

Wed Apr 1 23:23:06 UTC 2009

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-----Original Message-----
From: Richardson, Sarah F (OVR-FK) [mailto:SarahF.Richardson at ky.gov] 
Sent: Wednesday, April 01, 2009 7:36 AM
Subject: FW: NCD Calls for New Federal Approach to Disability Policy

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Sarah Richardson

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From: Mark Quigley [mailto:MQuigley at ncd.gov] 
Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2009 3:57 PM
To: NCD-NEWS-L at LISTSERV.ACCESS.GPO.GOV
Subject: NCD Calls for New Federal Approach to Disability Policy

NEWS RELEASE 

NCD #09-581

March 31, 2009

Contact: Mark S. Quigley

202-272-2008

National Council on Disability Calls for New Federal Approach to Disability
Policy

WASHINGTON-The National Council on Disability (NCD) today released its
annual report to the President and Congress calling for a new integrated
approach to disability policy within the Federal Government.

According to NCD Chairperson John R. Vaughn, "The report focuses on the
current quality of life of people with disabilities in America and the
emerging trends that should be factored into both the design and evaluation
of the Federal Government's disability policies and programs in the coming
years. Strides have been made in access to transportation, education,
communications, technology, and employment. Other factors important to
quality of life, however, impede progress toward full citizenship, such as
lack of affordable, accessible housing, difficulty breaking into the job
market, poor access to health care, the institutional bias in Medicaid,
access barriers to technology, and negative public attitudes about people
with disabilities."

In preparing the report and developing our recommendations, NCD solicited
and received input from hundreds of disability community stakeholder
organizations and persons with disabilities from across the country. In
addition, we analyzed several national disability-related data sources and
also drew from NCD's current research and the studies of other government
agencies. NCD Emerging Trends Committee Co-Chair Marylyn Howe added, "Based
on our findings, the report provides 17 specific recommendations to address
many of the disability community's most pressing concerns, as well as areas
of disparity in the treatment of people with disabilities. Following those
recommendations are several principles for reviewing and modernizing
government programs to better serve people with disabilities and for
promoting a more integrated, inclusive, and cost-effective approach to
federal disability policy."

"In addition to the more than 50 million Americans with disabilities, the
United States faces a rapidly approaching demographic shift to an older
population, with an attendant increase in the incidence of disability. Given
this impending increase, as well as the significant impact of the current
economic crisis on people with disabilities, who even in the best of times
experience significant socioeconomic disparities, now is the time to develop
a bold, coherent, comprehensive approach to disability policy within the
Federal Government. In past economic recessions, government programs aimed
at ensuring the full inclusion of people with disabilities into society have
fared poorly. Recent and future efforts to stimulate the economy offer us a
great opportunity to ensure that all government initiatives take into
consideration the needs of people with disabilities and their families,"
Howe concluded. 

The report, National Disability Policy: A Progress Report, can be found at
<http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2009/Progress_Report.doc>
http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2009/Progress_Report.doc.

The purpose of NCD, an independent federal agency, is to promote programs,
practices, policies and procedures that ensure full inclusion of people with
disabilities into all aspects of society. NCD accomplishes this mission by
providing advice and making recommendations to the President, Congress,
governmental agencies, and other stakeholders.

For more information, please contact NCD's Director of External Affairs,
Mark S. Quigley, at mquigley at ncd.gov or by telephone at 202-272-2008.

# # #

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