Day in Washington Disability Policy Podcast - Episode Summary:  This week, DIW has a guest host, Lars Lindberg.  Lars is Deputy Director at the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs in Sweden.  He talks about a number of issues relating to Sweden's Disability Policy including: 

1.  Disability Policy in Sweden 

2.  Employment Discrimination in Sweden versus the United States

3.  History of Sweden's Disability Policy

4.  Disability Policy Today and in the Future (Including the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities - CRPD)

Lar's discussion also includes a description of Sweden's law that REQUIRES the provision of Personal Attendant Services for those who need them to allow for independent community-based living which is particularly pertinent considering this last week's Kick-Off on Capitol Hill for the Community Choice Act.

(Note:  Unfortunately, I was using an analog tape recorder and the quality of Lars' recording was poor.  If you cannot understand the audio, a narrated version of the original podcast is also provided.) 

Audio Files: 

Day in Washington #36 (Lars Lindberg - Sweden's Disability Policy)

Day in Washington #36 (NARRATED VERION:  Lars Lindberg - Sweden's Disability Policy)

Text File:  See Comments

Day in Washington Disability Policy Podcast - Episode Summary: During his campaign, Obama outlined his plan for people with disabilities in an 8-page document. After his election, that outline became part of his Administration's Disability Policy Agenda. This episode is an overview examining President Obama's Disability plan and what it means for people with disabilities.

Audio File: Day in Washington #34 (Obama Disability Agenda and What Does it Mean?)

Text File:  See Comments

Resources:

White House Disability Agenda

Day in Washington explores and discusses various aspects of disability policy. Each episode covers a specific issue within disability, and/or a disability-related news article. These 6 minute podcasts offer an easy to understand analysis of current disability policy and politics. You can find the text of each podcast in the comments. If you have difficulty downloading a podcast, please right-click and save it to your computer for playback.

Episode Summary: This episode offers a closer look at the disability policy in the Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (H.R. 1) and also comments on the politics behind the bill.

Audio File: Day in Washington #33 (Economic Stimulus, Recovery and Disability)

Resources:

New York Times Coverage of the Economic Stimulus Legislation

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Economic Recovery Watch Special Series

Disability Scoop - Economic Stimulus Compromise Bill

Day In Washington Podcast #27 (Medicaid Moratorium)

Day in Washington explores and discusses various aspects of disability policy. Each episode will cover a specific issue within disability, and/or a disability-related news article. These 6 minute podcasts offer an easy to understand introduction to disability policy and resources for those interested in further study. You can find the text of this podcast in the previous post. If you have difficulty downloading the podcast, please right-click and save it to your computer for playback.

Episode Summary: This episode is a restrospective of the top ten disability events of 2008.  Listed in order of importance, this podcast asks listeners/readers to respond to the question:  What is YOUR #1 Disability Event for 2008? 

Audio File: Day in Washington #32 (The Top Ten Disability Events of 2008)

Day in Washington: The Disability Policy Podcast explores and discusses various aspects of disability policy. Each episode will cover a specific issue within disability, and/or a disability-related news article. These 5-10 minute podcasts offer an easy to understand introduction to disability policy and resources for those interested in further study. You can find the text of each podcast in the comments. If you have difficulty downloading the podcast, please right-click and save it to your computer for playback.

Episode Summary: This episode covers the breaking news of the Senate's Passage of the ADA Amendments Act. As many of you know, in spite of the progress wrought by the original Americans with Disabilitie Act, Supreme Court and lower court decisions have greatly narrowed the scope of who is protected by the ADA.  As a result, there have been significant efforts to pass a "fix" for the ADA - H.R. 3195 and S. 3406.  The House bill passed in late June.  Today, the Senate version passed by unanimous consent. 

Audio File: Day in Washington #29 (ADA Restoration Efforts - Senate Passage of the ADA Amendments Act)

Show Notes

- Introduction, Date of Podcast

- Need for an ADA "fix"

- Senate Passage

- Press Briefing Statement Quote - Senator Tom Harkin

- Press Briefing Statement Quote - Senator Orrin Hatch

- Press Briefing Statement Quote - House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer

- Closing and Contact information

- Disclaimer

Resources

Reuters - US Senate Passes Bill Protecting Disabled People

ADA Restoration Policy Update - What is Really Going On (August 29, 2008)

From the ADA Restoration Act to the ADA Amendments Act  (July 1, 2008)

ADA Restoration Act Video Testimony - Carey McClure (January 29, 2008)

House Committee on Education and Labor Hearing on the ADA Restoration Act (January 29, 2008)

Day in Washington Podcast #14(b) - Senate ADA Restoration Hearing (November 15, 2007)

Day in Washington Podcast #11 - ADA Restoration House Hearing (October 4, 2007)

Day in Washington Podcast #5 - ADA Restoration - An Analysis (What is ADA Restoration and Why is it Necessary)

American Association of People with Disabilities ADA Restoration Blog

Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities ADA Restoration Page - Includes Written Testimony of Additional Supporters

Unfortunately, I am (once again) behind on my posting and podcasts. Work has been quite busy and I was recently out of town for our national convention. In spite of the fact that I did not have a post for Day in Washington for August so far, I am still thinking about and working on disability policy issues (and of course the listenership/readership of Day in Washington). The resulting disability policy update is part of Show 55 for Beth Case's Disability 411. For those of you unfamiliar with podcasts, I would posit that this is probably the grand-daddy or grand-mom of disability podcasts.

The specific podcast was about ADA Restoration. There has been a lot of discussion about this legislative effort and to be frank, not all of it has been positive. This isn't about the need for the legislation and the need for a "fix" but about the conflict or is it confusion or concern, to be honest, I'm not sure which or all of the words are appropriate. You can find out the details about the legislative language on various sites on the internet, but Beth asked that I try to address what controversy is there. Episode 55 is my attempt to explain the history behind and the dynamics of the current ADA restoration effort in as open and non-judgmental manner as possible. At the end of the day, I think everyone involved in the effort towards passage is interested in the same thing - improving the lives of people with disabilities and minimizing (if not eliminating) discrimination.

Posted August 9th, you can listen to my commentary on the ADA Restoration at Disability 411 -

Episode 55 - Disability 411

As usual, a transcript of my podcast is in the comments. (Note: Disability411 also provides a transcript for all of its programming)

Day in Washington: The Disability Policy Podcast explores and discusses various aspects of disability policy. Each episode will cover a specific issue within disability, and/or a disability-related news article. These 5-10 minute podcasts offer an easy to understand introduction to disability policy and resources for those interested in further study. You can find the text of each podcast in the comments. If you have difficulty downloading the podcast, please right-click and save it to your computer for playback.

Episode Summary: In this episode we will be discussing the Presidential Candidates National Forum on Disability Issues. The National Forum on Disability Issues, featuring the 2008 Presidential Candidates (invited), Senators John McCain and Barack Obama, is a historic, nonpartisan forum on national disability policy to be held on July 26, 2008 in Columbus, Ohio.

Audio File: Day in Washington #28 (Presidental Candidates Forum on Disability Issues)

Show Notes

- Introduction, Date of Podcast

- The National Forum on Disability Issues

- Sponsors

- Candidate Attendance

- Event Details

- Closing and Contact information

- Disclaimer

Resources

Promotional Video for the National Disability Forum

Created by Day in Washington We'd love to receive feedback on our first video!

Presidential Action Center 2008

The American Association of People with Disabilities Site

National Forum on Disability Issues Main Page

Registration, location and sponsors

 Disaboom's National Forum on Disability Issues Site

Registration for the July 26 Presidential Candidates Forum on Disability Issues

Day in Washington- The Disability Policy Podcast explores and discusses various aspects of disability policy. Each episode will cover a specific issue within disability, and/or a disability-related news article. These 5-10 minute podcasts offer an easy to understand introduction to disability policy and resources for those interested in further study. You can find the text of each podcast in the comments. If you have difficulty downloading the podcast, please right-click and save it to your computer for playback.

Note: At the request of some listeners, in this episode we will be experimenting with a slightly different, more casual delivery. Please let us know which style you might prefer. You can contact Day in Washington by posting a comment, or leaving a voicemail or fax at: 206-279-9159. Thank you!

Episode Summary:  In this episode we will be will be reviewing and providing a summary analysis on three of seven Medicaid regulations that have been proposed by the Center on Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).  The disability community has been very involved for the past few months in legislative efforts to create a Medicaid moratorium to prevent the finalization of these rules.  Although the purpose of the regulations is stated as reigning in out-of-control health care costs and preventing fraud and abuse, the result of the language of these regulations will significantly negatively impact people with disabilities.  Although we've been told that these proposals are "bad" in this podcast we will be analyzing them to understand what they will actually do.

Audio File: Day in Washington Podcast #27 - (Medicaid Moratorium)

Show Notes

- Introduction, Date of Podcast

- Analysis of the Medicaid Regulation Regarding Payments for Ancilliary Services Under Case Management Plans

- Analysis of the Medicaid Regulation Regarding Rehabilitation

- Analysis of the Medicad Regulation Regarding School Administrative Costs and Transportation

- What is this really about?  Money

- Congressional Response

- Contact your Legislator

- Closing and Contact information

- Disclaimer

Video: President Signs GINA into Law

As stated in the previous Day in Washington Disability Policy Podcast, the President was scheduled to sign the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act (GINA) today. Above is the link for the video from the White House of this event. (Transcript is available in the comments).

Day in Washington- The Disability Policy Podcast explores and discusses various aspects of disability policy. Each episode will cover a specific issue within disability, and/or a disability-related news article. These 5-10 minute podcasts offer an easy to understand introduction to disability policy and resources for those interested in further study. You can find the text of each podcast in the comments. If you have difficulty downloading the podcast, please right-click and save it to your computer for playback.

Episode Summary:

GINA, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act has passed both the House and Senate and is expected to be signed into law today, May 21st, 2008. This bill was created to protect individuals from genetic discrimination by employers and insurers. If an individual is healthy but has a genetic predisposition to a specific disease or disability, the legislation would prevent health insurers and group health plans from refusing to cover them or from charging them a higher premium.

Audio File: Day in Washington Podcast #26 - (Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act)

Show Notes

- Introduction, Date of Podcast

- What is the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act (GINA)

- Prevalence of Genetic Testing

- The Need for Federal Non-Discrimination Legislation

- Examples of Current Discrimination

- History of Genetic Non-Discrimination Legislation

- Congressional Activities on GINA and White House signing

- Note Regarding ADA Discrimination Protection and Epilepsy Compared to GINA Discrimination Protection and Epilepsy

- Closing and Contact information

- Disclaimer

Resources

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/04/genetic_nondiscrimination.html

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/on-women/2008/4/25/new-gina-law-would-stop-genetic-discrimination.html

http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/legislat.shtml

http://www.mises.org/story/2808