Illinois news
July 1999
Supreme Mischief
The Supreme Court ended its 1998-99 term on two
deeply disturbing notes. It significantly weakened protections barring discrimination
against people with disabilities. Then it significantly strengthened the power of the
states in the Federal system while weakening those of the Federal Government.
Dart: Victory, Loss,
Fight!
Justin Dart on the Olmstead victory.
Equitable Coverage On the
Way for Mental Illness
Clinton has announced that he will require Federal
employee health plans that cover nine million people to provide the same coverage for
mental illness and substance abuse that they do for other diseases.
Work Incentives
Improvement Act, S.331
Clinton: "This impressive vote sends a
strong signal that all Americans, including people with disabilities, should have the
opportunity to work. "
Work Incentives Stories
White House seeks stories on the effects of the
WIIA.
Social Security Q&A
'Substantial gainful activity' defined.
Voter Accessibility Act Needs
Your Support
Many people with disabilities have reported
difficulty getting in to vote. John Kerry and John McCain have introduced
legislation to address this problem.
Supreme Court: No Inherent Conflict Between ADA and Soc. Security Act
Gramm Blocks Senate Vote
on Work Incentives Improvement Act
Bill containing major health care, work incentive
reform, and "ticket to work" provisions was put on hold during June recess.
Social Security Q & A
Direct deposit, changes in benefit amounts
White House Seeks Equal
Coverage for Physican and Mental Ills for Federal Employees
Tipper Gore will lead the charge at a mental health
conference this month.
Access Board Appoves
Proposal for New ADA Accessibility Guidelines
This will be the first comprehensive update of the
guidelines since they were issued in July 1991.
May 1999
Supreme Court Re-examines the ADA
April 1999
Olmstead v. LC Briefs Available
Update on MiCASA
II/MiCASSA
The purpose and main points of MiCASA remain the
same, but some changes have been made to clarify the original intent; the format was
changed for clarity as well.
Postal Service
Celebrates the Century
Raise your voice, and perhaps we'll see a stamp
commemorating passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
NCD Finds Enforcement of Air Carrier Access Act Ineffective
The National Council on Disability has released a
report that documents the ineffective enforcement of the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA)
since its passage in 1986.
"On A Roll":
Talk Radio
Bobby Silverstein, Sen. Harkin's Staff Director and
Chief Counsel for more than a decade, hosts a radio show that reveals some special
relationships that are important to the disability community.
Denial of Medicaid
Services
HMOs are out for profits at your expense. Here
are some pointers.
Clinton:
Protecting our Elderly
The Nursing Home Resident Protection Act provides
critical new protections to the hundreds of thousands of nursing home patients who rely on
Medicaid to pay for their care.