FYI Devva Kasnitz, PhD Adj Professor, City University of New York—School of Professional Studies—Disability Studies Telecommunications Access for the Deaf and Disabled Administrative Committee, CA 1614 D Street Eureka, CA 95501-2345 Text and Voicemail: (510) 206-5767 Email: <mailto:devva@earthlink.net> devva@earthlink.net If you don’t know me, I prefer email, Skype with IM, or text as I do have a significant speech impairment. NOW IN PAPERBACK! Occupying Disability: Critical Approaches to Community, Justice, and Decolonizing Disability Editors: Block, P., Kasnitz, D., Nishida, A., Pollard, N. <http://www.springer.com/us/book/9789401799836> http://www.springer.com/us/book/9789401799836 From: Tauna Szymanski <tszymanski@communicationfirst.org> Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2023 7:46 AM To: AllC1st@communicationfirst.org Subject: Fwd: Disability Community Newsletter Just FYI ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: White House Office of Public Engagement <OPE@mail.whitehouse.gov <mailto:OPE@mail.whitehouse.gov> > Date: Tue, Apr 18, 2023 at 10:14 AM Subject: Disability Community Newsletter To: <tszymanski@communicationfirst.org <mailto:tszymanski@communicationfirst.org> > Biden-⁠Harris Administration Announces Most Sweeping Set of Executive Actions to Improve Care in History <https://mailchi.mp/4fec109b35ca/disability-community-engagement-newsletter-4808244?e=9983750cff> View this email in your browser <https://mcusercontent.com/b999ee4d97253671de1a2d1fa/images/a6f95d0d-9844-4574-9878-e275bec36642.png> Disability Community Engagement Newsletter April 18, 2023 Biden-⁠Harris Administration Announces Most Sweeping Set of Executive Actions to Improve Care in History "Today, President Biden will announce the most comprehensive set of executive actions any President has ever taken to improve care for hard-working families while supporting care workers and family caregivers. Joined by people with disabilities, family caregivers, long-term care workers, early educators, veterans, and aging advocates, the President will sign an Executive Order that includes more than 50 directives to nearly every cabinet-level agency to expand access to affordable, high-quality care, and provide support for care workers and family caregivers." Read and share <https://whitehouse.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b999ee4d97253671de1a2d1fa&id=10b75e5f25&e=9983750cff> FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Announces Most Sweeping Set of Executive Actions to Improve Care in History | The White House. President Biden Delivers Remarks on Strengthening the Economy <https://whitehouse.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b999ee4d97253671de1a2d1fa&id=7e67b1352b&e=9983750cff> Today at 2 PM ET, President Biden will deliver remarks on actions to help families access care, support care workers and family caregivers, and strengthen the economy. <https://whitehouse.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b999ee4d97253671de1a2d1fa&id=48dae94b18&e=9983750cff> Watch his speech live. New Section 508 Reporting Requirements The 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act includes a section (752) that establishes requirements for federal agencies to assess and improve the accessibility of their electronic and information technology to individuals with disabilities. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB), <https://whitehouse.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b999ee4d97253671de1a2d1fa&id=ac6fb3c8f3&e=9983750cff> U.S. Access Board, and General Services Administration’s (GSA) Government-wide IT Accessibility Program closely collaborated to provide updated criteria and instructions for federal agencies to report on the implementation of <https://whitehouse.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b999ee4d97253671de1a2d1fa&id=4eb4c25f17&e=9983750cff> Section 508 of the <https://whitehouse.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b999ee4d97253671de1a2d1fa&id=b152b47930&e=9983750cff> Rehabilitation Act. Federal departments and agencies are required to develop, procure, maintain, and use information and communications technology (ICT) that is accessible to people with disabilities and to provide employees and members of the public with disabilities equitable access to information and data. Congress requires federal agencies to report on the implementation of Section 508 in accordance with the updated criteria and instructions by August 11, 2023. The <https://whitehouse.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b999ee4d97253671de1a2d1fa&id=d3dd68b16a&e=9983750cff> assessment criteria, including general information and the questions, are available now for planning and to facilitate reporting. Instructions for reporting, key dates, contact information, and other information are on the <https://whitehouse.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b999ee4d97253671de1a2d1fa&id=08b26de029&e=9983750cff> Section508.gov Government-wide Section 508 Assessment webpage. Federal agency Section 508 reports assist OMB, GSA, Access Board, and the Department of Justice in fulfilling statutory reporting requirements to evaluate agency implementation progress. GSA, in consultation with OMB, will issue a report to Congress, as well as a publicly available data file that contains all agency responses, by Dec 29, 2023. Invest in America: Spotlight on President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funded by President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the U.S. Department of Transportation: Dedicates $39 billion to modernize transit and improve accessibility for aging adults and people with disabilities, with $1.75 billion specifically for the All Stations Accessibility Program that will make rail stations accessible to all users; 15 grants were awarded to 19 states in the first round of funding this past December totaling $686 Million. Read <https://whitehouse.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b999ee4d97253671de1a2d1fa&id=45071ac2e9&e=9983750cff> Biden-Harris Administration Announces $686 Million in Grants to Modernize Older Transit Stations and Improve Accessibility Across the Country | US Department of Transportation. _____ Requires that a person with a disability be included on Amtrak’s board of directors; In FY2022 Amtrak modified 22 stations to bring them into ADA compliance. In FY2023, Amtrak plans to complete 39 additional station ADA compliance projects. BIL will also fund the replacement of Amtrak’s Regional and long-distance fleet (LDF). That procurement will begin in FY2023. Regarding existing Amtrak vehicles, Amtrak is installing accessible restrooms in 23 Superliner I coach cars. The first coach is nearing completion. Read <https://whitehouse.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b999ee4d97253671de1a2d1fa&id=d6aa6d56d9&e=9983750cff> Biden-Harris Administration Announces $600 Million from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to Replace Aging Railcars Across the Nation | FTA (dot.gov). _____ Dedicates $5 billion toward improving airport terminals, with preference given to projects that expand accessibility and ADA compliance. 85% of the grants (73 grants out of 85) are in part focused on making airport terminals more accessible to people with disabilities. Read <https://whitehouse.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b999ee4d97253671de1a2d1fa&id=315ab811af&e=9983750cff> U.S. Department of Transportation’s Disability Policy Priorities | US Department of Transportation. _____ On March 21st, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced the first round of grants totaling over $94 million for 59 projects across the country through the new Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grants Program. The competitive grant program, established by President Biden’s historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, provides State, local, and Tribal governments $500 million over five years to leverage technology to create safer, more equitable, efficient, and innovative transportation systems. <https://whitehouse.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b999ee4d97253671de1a2d1fa&id=5a625537b1&e=9983750cff> Read the announcement. The full list of awards, including awards related to improving accessibility, totaling $94,783,781 can be viewed <https://whitehouse.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b999ee4d97253671de1a2d1fa&id=dd7393bea7&e=9983750cff> here. Funding Opportunities On April 17th, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced that it has opened the process for cities, towns, counties, Tribal governments and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) to apply directly for a total of $1.177 billion to fund local projects that the Safe Streets and Roads for All Notice of Funding Opportunity: <https://whitehouse.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b999ee4d97253671de1a2d1fa&id=28e0824322&e=9983750cff> Biden-Harris Administration Announces More Than $1 Billion for Local Communities to Improve Roadway Safety | US Department of Transportation. _____ U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Department of Education: Personnel Development To Improve Services And Results For Children With Disabilities Program: Associate Degree Preservice Program Improvement Grants to Support Personnel Working with Young Children with Disabilities. <https://whitehouse.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b999ee4d97253671de1a2d1fa&id=f0672eea46&e=9983750cff> Apply by April 24, 2023. _____ The Administration for Community Living published a notification of funding opportunity <https://whitehouse.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b999ee4d97253671de1a2d1fa&id=0e07726f8a&e=9983750cff> Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERC) Program: RERC on Universal Access to Information and Communication Technology. The purpose of this RERC is to conduct research, development, and related activities that: a) help ensure that accessibility standards are met or exceeded for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) used by people with disabilities; b) promote availability and usability of individualized ICT configurations for people with disabilities across devices and contexts; c) identify barriers to and facilitators of sustainable adoption of innovations that provide universal access to ICT. ACL plans to make one grant under this opportunity in FY 2023. The grant will have a 60-month project period, with five 12-month budget periods. _____ The Administration for Community Living published a notification of funding opportunity <https://whitehouse.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b999ee4d97253671de1a2d1fa&id=582b987d17&e=9983750cff> Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Disability Statistics and Demographics. The purpose of this RRTC is to conduct activities to advance the use and usefulness of disability statistics and demographic data to inform disability policies and practices toward providing full opportunities and accommodations for people with disabilities. This includes analyzing disability-relevant nationally representative data, improving methods for surveying people with a wide variety of disabilities, and conducting knowledge translation of findings and related disability data resources. ACL plans to make one grant under this opportunity in FY 2023. The grant will have a 60-month project period, with five 12-month budget periods. _____ The Administration for Community Living published a notification of funding opportunity <https://whitehouse.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b999ee4d97253671de1a2d1fa&id=800c191177&e=9983750cff> Traumatic Brain Injury State Partnership Program. The purpose of this program is to create and strengthen person-centered, culturally competent systems of services and supports that maximize the independence and overall health and well-being of all people with TBI across the lifespan, their family members, and their support networks. For the 2023 funding cycle, ACL is funding one TBI State Partnership Program grant to a state for building, enhancing, or expanding infrastructure that supports the stated purpose of the TBI State Partnership Program. _____ The Administration for Community Living published a notification of funding opportunity <https://whitehouse.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b999ee4d97253671de1a2d1fa&id=999aaa7d3a&e=9983750cff> Centers for Independent Living Competition - American Samoa. ACL intends to award funds for the establishment of one center for independent living in American Samoa to provide, expand and improve the provision of independent living services and support the network of centers for independent living. The estimated total funding amount to be awarded to establish a center for independent living in American Samoa is $159,762. President Biden Announces Key Appointments to Boards and Commissions On April 13th, President Biden announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities: * Bruce Cohen, Co-Chair * Lady Gaga, Co-Chair * Jon Batiste, Member * Constance M. Carroll, Member * George Clooney, Member * Philip J. Deloria, Member * M. Angélica Garcia, Member * Jennifer Garner, Member * Nora Halpern, Member * Steve Israel, Member * Marta Kauffman, Member * Ricky Kirshner, Member * Troy Kotsur, Member * Katie McGrath, Member * Laura Penn, Member * Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya, Member * Arnold Rampersad, Member * Shonda Rhimes, Member * Kimberly Richter Shirley, Member * Horacio Sierra, Member * Anna Deavere Smith, Member * Joe Walsh, Member * Kerry Washington, Member * Pauline Yu, Member Learn more: <https://whitehouse.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b999ee4d97253671de1a2d1fa&id=d75b5b7635&e=9983750cff> President Biden Announces Key Appointments to Boards and Commissions | The White House. Upcoming Events Commit to Connect Webinar: Supporting Independence and Inclusion Using the Temple University Community Participation Measure April 21, 2023 | 1:00-2:30 PM ET <https://whitehouse.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b999ee4d97253671de1a2d1fa&id=b07f0b5105&e=9983750cff> Register for the webinar. Meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Individuals with Disabilities and Disasters (NACIDD) April 20 | 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM ET <https://whitehouse.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b999ee4d97253671de1a2d1fa&id=9376eb5532&e=9983750cff> Register for the meeting. Best regards, Anna Perng Senior Advisor The White House Office of Public Engagement <https://whitehouse.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b999ee4d97253671de1a2d1fa&id=925be7a6c0&e=9983750cff> <https://whitehouse.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b999ee4d97253671de1a2d1fa&id=efd057ec8d&e=9983750cff> <https://whitehouse.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b999ee4d97253671de1a2d1fa&id=a30b16307d&e=9983750cff> Our mailing address is: Office of Public Engagement 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, DC 20504-0001 Want to change how you receive these emails? 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