They say, give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime. That’s the idea behind Fifth Freedom. Fifth Freedom gives people with disabilities the tools to organize themselves and tackle common problems. Maybe some buildings aren’t physically accessible. Or local public transportation needs to be improved. Or perhaps, legislators need to hear what 20% of their constituents think about how they spend their tax money. Whatever the case, we are here to empower people with disabilities to remove the barriers that thwart their potential. So if you’re the self-reliant type, contact us. We’re assembling a cast of thousands statewide who are willing to invest a little time to make a big difference.
» Read more about: Fifth Freedom – Empowering People With Disabilities To Make Positive Change »
Information courtesy of The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD)
One in three Americans is classified as obese. Obesity rates may be even higher for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), with some studies indicating half of individuals with IDD are obese. On September 27, tune in to an informative webinar to learn about current obesity research related to people with IDD. The webinar will also cover resources for behavioral weight management and policy recommendations for future weight management and people with IDD.
» Read more about: Obesity and Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities – Webinar September 27 »
Information courtesy of the Washington Post, NPR, and Kaiser Health News
The federal government is cutting funding for Affordable Care Act (ACA) navigators, individuals or organizations trained to help consumers look for health coverage options through ACA marketplaces. The cuts vary widely by state. Maine is getting an 8% cut, while Indiana will receive the deepest funding cut of any state, 82%.
» Read more about: Indiana sees biggest cuts to Affordable Care Act outreach funding »
Information courtesy of Indiana Disability Rights
The central idea of disability advocacy is “nothing about us without us.” This is the idea that representatives should not make decisions that impact a group without that group’s full and active participation in the decision making process. The first and perhaps most important step is voting.
» Read more about: National Voter Registration Day is September 26 »
Information courtesy of Hear Indiana, HealthyHearing.com, WebMD.com, and the Better Hearing Institute
A new bill in the House would add coverage for hearing aids to Medicare. A third of people age 65 to 74 have some level of hearing loss. Hearing aids can cost from $1,000 to $4,000 and more for a single device, and many users need a pair. In addition to making it easier to communicate, studies have shown the benefits of hearing aids to include reduced mental fatigue, decreased feelings of social isolation and depression, and improved memory.
» Read more about: Medicare Hearing Aid Coverage Act »
Information courtesy of PEATworks.org
On September 21, Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology (PEAT) will present a discussion on Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates (VPAT). A VPAT is a table used to report a product’s compliance with government accessibility regulations for Information and Communication Technology. Learn about the business significance of VPATs and best practices for handling customer requests for this important information.
» Read more about: Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates – Webinar September 21 »
