TO: NDSC Members and Affiliated Parent Groups
FROM: Susan Goodman, Director
Governmental Affairs
DATE: July 24, 2008

Ohio Presidential Forum to be webcast
Sign on to Senate ADA Amendments Act

Ohio Presidential Forum

This Saturday, July 26, the National Forum on Disability Issues featuring the 2008 Presidential Candidates will take place from 12:30 to 4:30 in Columbus, Ohio. Senator John McCain, the Republican nominee will be present by satellite from Arizona. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) will be present to speak on behalf of Senator Barack Obama (D-IL). This event is sponsored by AAPD.

Each candidate will present their visions for the future of disability policy in America during allotted time slots. They are expected to address issues of education, employment, healthcare, long-term community-based supports and transportation. It will be followed by questions by moderator Judy Woodruff, news anchor and journalist who regularly appears on the News Hour with Jim Lehrer. Ms. Woodruff is also the parent to a son with a disability.

You may view the forum by webcast by following the link http://www.disaboom.com/AAPDSignUp.aspx

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Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act

As reported in an NDSC/NDSS Informational Alert in June, the ADA Amendments Act (H.R. 3195) passed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 402 to 17.. This Act, which was negotiated by the business and disability community, seeks to address restrictions placed by the Supreme Court and other lower courts on the individuals protected by the ADA.  (See NDSC/NDSS Informational Bulletin, June 25, 2008).

Our advocacy efforts are now focused in the Senate, where a bill has not yet been introduced. The following Alert was posted by Justice for All in order to solicit state organization sign-ons. Please consider signing on to this important legislation. If you wish to see a complete list of sign-ons, please contact Susang1961@aol.com.

Received from Justice for All

Dear Advocates,

On June 25, we had an amazing victory in the House for restoration of the ADA with a House floor vote of 402 to 17 in support of the ADA Amendments Act (H.R. 3195).

We've now shifted focus to the Senate and hope to have a bipartisan Senate bill to the floor in September. Help us show the U.S. Senate how much support there is in the community for this bill by signing a broad-based support letter. 

We have a tight deadline of next Monday. Over 300 of you lent your organizations' names in support of the House bill last month. Please add your voice again to the Senate letter! Add your organization's name the letter that follows, which will be sent to every U.S. Senator showing the broad support for the bill. Send us an email (aostrom@efa.org) indicating your organization's support no later than close of business on Monday, July 28th.

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Senator ___________
XXX _____________
Washington, D.C. 20510
 
Re: The ADA Amendments Act of 2008
 
Dear Senator ___________,
 
The undersigned groups, representing a broad scope of business, disability, civil rights, faith-related, veterans and other interests, write in support of the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (H.R. 3195).
 
The ADA Amendments Act maintains the individual functionality that entities covered under the law, including employers and public accommodations, deem so necessary for the effective administration of this law, while still providing important protection for individuals with disabilities.  In essence, this bill strikes a delicate balance between the needs of individuals with disabilities and the realities experienced by covered entities under the law, including employers and public accommodations.
 
As you know, the bill recently passed the House by a vote of 402 to17.  The proposed legislation has now moved to the Senate for consideration.  We urge your support in making enactment of the ADA Amendments Act this year a reality and we stand ready to work with you towards that end.
 
Sincerely,

<List of Supporting Organizations>

 To read the text of this law, go to http://thomas.loc.gov and enter H.R. 3195 in the space designed for bill

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If you have questions or comments, please contact Susang1961@aol.com.