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March 14, 2008

Why disability rates are dropping among older Americans

Better medical care and more education�not positive life-style changes�are the major reasons for a decades-long decline in disability rates among older Americans. That's according to a new study funded by the National Institute on Aging that provides one of the first comprehensive looks at the factors fueling the welcome trend. .

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March 12, 2008

SAA urged to reinstate full disability service

South Africa Human Rights Commission is calling on the South Africa Airways (SAA), to reinstate full service to passengers with disabilities. The commission says it has been receiving a number of complaints from SAA customers who feel their rights to equality, dignity, independent living and that of mobility and transport have been violated. It further states that some of these customers have been turned away completely or advised to use other carriers. SA Human Rights and disability Co-coordinator Simmi Pillay says that the national carrier was aware of the termination of the previous contract of the service providers and should have made adequate plans to manage the transition. "Passengers should have not had to bear the brunt of operational challenges," says Pillay.

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March 11, 2008

Why disability rates are dropping among older Americans

Better medical care and more education�not positive life-style changes�are the major reasons for a decades-long decline in disability rates among older Americans. That's according to a new study funded by the National Institute on Aging that provides one of the first comprehensive looks at the factors fueling the welcome trend. .

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March 10, 2008

Mary Shojai Chairs Disability Access and Compliance Committee

SDSU President Stephen L. Weber appointed Mary Shojai to head the 2007-08 SDSU Disability Access and Compliance Committee (DACC), which met for the first time on Feb. 22 and is charged with implementing CSU requirements for disability support and accommodations. Shojai, director of Student Disability Services in Student Affairs, is particularly well-qualified for this role, and her expertise on disability issues is often sought by other CSU and California institutions. "I believe there is no one at this university more suitable or more dedicated to advocate for our students, faculty, staff and visitors on these issues than Mary," Weber said. About Shojai Shojai serves on the campus steering committee and instructional materials committee for the CSU Accessible Technology Initiative, the CSU Directors Council for Services to Students with Disabilities and the Cooperative Programs Advisory Committee for the California Department of Rehabilitation.

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March 09, 2008

Disability doesn't limit lover of life

A friend of a friend knows this guy, David Morris, who he says I should do a story on. He has some physical disabilities, I am told, but they don't hold him back at all; he's a regular guy who is an inspiration to everyone he meets. So we set up an interview at the offices of Omni Brokerage, the investment real estate firm in the south end of the valley where Morris works. I arrive first, wondering exactly what disabilities we're talking about here, and then Morris walks in and it's obvious. He has short arms. His hands hang at chest level, about where your elbow should be. "I have TAR syndrome. I was born with it," Morris explains, anticipating my obvious first question as we shake hands. "TAR stands for a very complicated medical term." (Thrombocytopenia with absent radius, to be exact, an extremely rare genetic condition with an incidence of just 0.42 per 100,000 live births.

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March 08, 2008

Shevlino, Anthony supporters fight on

Anthony's troubled childhood, his learning disability and the fact that he admitted in court to using alcohol shortly before his sentencing are enough justification to revisit his sentence, Allen said. Allen also formed a political action committee to "Save Mikey." Even if the group can't legally help the boys, it intends to lobby for reform of state sentencing guidelines and rally opposition against Wilson in the upcoming solicitor's race. "We are going to go out of our way to help who she runs against." Pete Shevlino, Sean's father, also is trying to get people to vote against Wilson. He insists his son has no business in an adult prison. The law needs to take into account that teens' brains operate differently than adults and that they need to be held to different standard for their actions, he said.

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March 07, 2008

Council for the Blind is part of 'Disability Day on the Hill'

The Mid-Tennessee Council of the Blind is among the groups that will take part in "Disability Day on the Hill" Wednesday at Legislative Plaza. It's a chance for advocates of people with disabilities to lobby their lawmakers and also a time for them to pass on consumer information, including services and support groups, to the public. .

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March 06, 2008

City To Improve Disability Access

Cambridge businesses may soon be widening their doors and converting small steps to smooth ramps following the adoption of a new city ordinance. The City Council adopted a measure at last night's weekly meeting that incorporates provisions from the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into the Cambridge Municipal Code. The ordinance requires the removal of small architectural barriers that prevent people with disabilities from accessing businesses and public buildings. “We are not providing them with a new right," said Vice Mayor Brian P. Murphy '86-'87, “but providing them with a way to make that [existing] right tangible." Title III of the ADA requires that such barriers must be removed when doing so is “readily achievable"—that is, when it can be done without too much difficulty or expense.

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March 05, 2008

City To Improve Disability Access

Cambridge businesses may soon be widening their doors and converting small steps to smooth ramps following the adoption of a new city ordinance. The City Council adopted a measure at last night's weekly meeting that incorporates provisions from the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into the Cambridge Municipal Code. The ordinance requires the removal of small architectural barriers that prevent people with disabilities from accessing businesses and public buildings. “We are not providing them with a new right," said Vice Mayor Brian P. Murphy '86-'87, “but providing them with a way to make that [existing] right tangible." Title III of the ADA requires that such barriers must be removed when doing so is “readily achievable"—that is, when it can be done without too much difficulty or expense.

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March 04, 2008

City To Improve Disability Access

Cambridge businesses may soon be widening their doors and converting small steps to smooth ramps following the adoption of a new city ordinance. The City Council adopted a measure at last night's weekly meeting that incorporates provisions from the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into the Cambridge Municipal Code. The ordinance requires the removal of small architectural barriers that prevent people with disabilities from accessing businesses and public buildings. “We are not providing them with a new right," said Vice Mayor Brian P. Murphy '86-'87, “but providing them with a way to make that [existing] right tangible." Title III of the ADA requires that such barriers must be removed when doing so is “readily achievable"—that is, when it can be done without too much difficulty or expense.

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