Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia http://www.silcga.org Committed to equal participation of people with disabilities within their communities Thu, 17 May 2012 17:33:16 +0000 en hourly 1 Have Your Voice Heard . . . Vote! http://www.silcga.org/have-your-voice-heard-vote http://www.silcga.org/have-your-voice-heard-vote#comments Thu, 17 May 2012 17:33:16 +0000 rrtuttle http://www.silcga.org/?p=1210 On July 31st, we vote for the Regional Plans that are a result of the Transportation Investment Act – each region votes on the one cent sales tax that can fund transportation projects (get more information at www.atlantaregionalroundtable.com).  To vote on July 31, 2012 you must be registered to vote BY July 2, 2012.

The general election is on November 6th.  To vote on November 6, 2012 you must be registered to vote BY October 9, 2012.

Voter Registration Forms are available at disABILITY LINK, libraries, County Election Offices and many other locations, or at the Secretary of State’s web page,

www.sos.ga.gov - use this same form to change your address.

Absentee voting is an opportunity to fit voting into a busy life or to accommodate limited transportation options, etc.  – the application for the absentee voting form is also available at the Secretary of State’s web site – please note that in many situations a separate absentee form must be completed for each election – the form contains information about how to mail or fax it back – once approved for absentee voting, a ballot will be mailed to you, it must be returned by the close of business day on election day.  Absentee voting can be completed without a photo ID.

Should you require assistance to complete either the voter registration, or the absentee voting registration, then the person who assists must also sign the form to say they have done so.

While there is controversy regarding voter IDs, the current law in Georgia requires voters to have a valid, state or federally issued photo ID (such as a Georgia drivers license, passport, Military ID, Tribal ID, etc.) – free Georgia ID cards are available through your County Elections Office or the Department of Driver Services – for more information call the Secretary of State’s office – 1-877-725-9797 or www.GaPhotoID.com

Many of your voting questions can be answered at the Secretary of State’s office, including how to contact your County Election Office – log onto www.sos.ga.gov  or call 1-877-725-9797.

The Secretary of State’s web site also has “My Voter Page,” or MVP, and there you can log in and find out about your voter registration status, poll locations, early voting locations, elected officials and sample ballot of the upcoming election.

Your vote holds your local and national leaders responsible for the decisions they make.  Your vote sends a message about the issues you think are important.  Your vote affirms your rights as free citizens to elect our government and take part in democracy.

Vote because you care about your community.  Vote because you believe in free government and want to add your voice.  Vote because it will make you feel good to participate and have a say.  Vote because it’s the right thing to do!

Here are web sites that may be helpful to you:

www.blackboxvoting.org

www.canivote.org

www.fairvote.org

www.flackcheck.org

www.headcount.org

www.kidsvotingusa.org

www.rockthevote.com

www.sos.ga.gov/elections/disability_voting.htm

https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction!input.action

www.vote411.org

www.votesmart.org      or   1-888-868-3762

]]> http://www.silcga.org/have-your-voice-heard-vote/feed 0 Check out where Georgia stands in the nation when it comes to long-term care . . . http://www.silcga.org/check-out-where-georgia-stands-in-the-nation-when-it-comes-to-long-term-care http://www.silcga.org/check-out-where-georgia-stands-in-the-nation-when-it-comes-to-long-term-care#comments Mon, 14 May 2012 16:03:45 +0000 rrtuttle http://www.silcga.org/?p=1205 http://www.longtermscorecard.org/DataByState/State.aspx?state=GA

]]> http://www.silcga.org/check-out-where-georgia-stands-in-the-nation-when-it-comes-to-long-term-care/feed 0 Action Alert! Tell the White House: Send the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Treaty to the Senate Now http://www.silcga.org/action-alert-tell-the-white-house-send-the-convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities-treaty-to-the-senate-now http://www.silcga.org/action-alert-tell-the-white-house-send-the-convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities-treaty-to-the-senate-now#comments Thu, 10 May 2012 16:11:17 +0000 rrtuttle http://www.silcga.org/?p=1201
It is time to send a message to the White House: transmit the CRPD treaty to the Senate immediately! The CRPD Committee, an 18 member international committee that oversees implementation of the treaty, is holding elections for nine of its members in September at the UN. The U.S. must ratify in order to nominate a U.S. citizen to serve on the Committee and / or to vote for the nine open seats.
 
Who to Contact:
Message: If the White House supports ratification of the CRPD, the treaty must be sent to the Senate now!
I am calling / writing to ask you to send the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to the Senate now.
  • We believe that the Obama Administration strongly supports the CRPD.
  • The CRPD has bipartisan support in the Senate.
Time is of the essence. Elections for the CRPD Committee that guides the implementation of the treaty occur this September:
  • The U.S. must ratify the treaty before September in order to participate.
  • The opportunity to have a U.S. citizen join the Committee will not arise again until 2015.
  • Not participating in the CRPD Committee election will continue to lessen the value of the U.S. leadership on disability rights.
Our understanding is that the Administration’s treaty package is complete.
  • The disability community is ready to advocate for this treaty package and rally our senators’ support for swift ratification.
The United States cannot forego this important opportunity to affirm its leadership on disability rights and help advance a more accessible world for all Americans with disabilities.
]]> http://www.silcga.org/action-alert-tell-the-white-house-send-the-convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities-treaty-to-the-senate-now/feed 1 Judge: State discriminating against deaf people with disabilities http://www.silcga.org/judge-state-discriminating-against-deaf-people-with-disabilities http://www.silcga.org/judge-state-discriminating-against-deaf-people-with-disabilities#comments Mon, 07 May 2012 18:22:52 +0000 rrtuttle http://www.silcga.org/?p=1191 http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/judge-state-discriminating-against-1430596.html#.T6gGMiViLY4.email

Check out the above article from the AJC on discrimination and people with disabilities in the state of Georgia.

]]> http://www.silcga.org/judge-state-discriminating-against-deaf-people-with-disabilities/feed 0 DOJ and Georgia Schools http://www.silcga.org/doj-and-georgia-schools http://www.silcga.org/doj-and-georgia-schools#comments Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:18:34 +0000 rrtuttle http://www.silcga.org/?p=1184 The U.S. Justice Department plans to investigate claims that Georgia schools are discriminating against students with disabilities, the Southern Poverty Law Center announced Thursday.

The investigation by the department’s Office of Civil Rights follows a complaint filed by the center in November, claiming  the Georgia Department of Education uses a funding formula that encourages districts to segregate students with disabilities in order to collect more money.

See the full article at: http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001O2bY9vfLBsBDkuTlAxGJsHFefjPppFDdfJywlBFwZnCQnExogtYfkHpcLe7-XQYI_qIeku6TRA0Cl_AanXfTtpoyVtFExB4kfZQ5zs7c_MXlrrLklJq5Mn3Yg-i_XHMT1eVCzKqpm9HKe9prTFwv7EQoB10q6HeQ4T5Nnz-0_9s=  . Below is a letter from Southern Poverty Law Center and I urge you to send in comments if you have concerns with special education in the State of Georgia. We need to speak up!

Dept of Justice Investigation into the Special Education Funding Formula: 

Dear Friends,

In November, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) filed a complaint with the Department of Justice against the State of Georgia and the Georgia Department of Education regarding the special education funding formula. As many of you know, Georgia uses a complex school funding formula that encourages school districts to unnecessarily segregate students with disabilities in restrictive school settings in order to receive greater funding. Worse still, the formula makes it difficult for school districts to receive full reimbursement for supportive services, such as paraprofessionals, that would allow children with disabilities to succeed in an inclusive classroom. Our students, teachers, and administrators deserve better.

If you are the parent of a child who is eligible for special education services in a public school in Georgia, SPLC would like to hear from you.

Please contact us on-line through the following link:  http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001O2bY9vfLBsC_w9lwAdSDpRqSQ9IEQ4eGQ-MSWM1qqB7GJnQF-iYsyw6XPqXXFUFcd6CgaTuovkBAQxlkhNMuxu6Z9jjivgmsnCQHWWO-VbQpOYo3xrP6etQLARVmvZjnHZNFu-CQp6VF_TdJrof0XcIGRAv9msXAFC0EHImTxzw=  .

Sincerely,

Jerry Katzerman

Southern Poverty Law Center

]]> http://www.silcga.org/doj-and-georgia-schools/feed 0 Empowering Our Youth Invites You . . . http://www.silcga.org/empowering-our-youth-invites-you http://www.silcga.org/empowering-our-youth-invites-you#comments Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:41:27 +0000 rrtuttle http://www.silcga.org/?p=1174 Empowering Our Youth (EOY), disABILITY LINK’s program for youth and young adults, invites you to Zumba Fitness – please mark your calendars for Saturday, May 19 from 2.00pm to 4.00pm at Sammiches N Stuff at 515-A N. McDonough St, Decatur GA 30030 (flier attached – info below) - registration is required – a donation of $15.00 is requested – for more information contact Rashidah Shariff, Youth Advocacy Coordinator at rshariff@disabilitylink.org or 404-687-8890 X102 – this is a major fundraiser for EOY and your support is very much appreciated – the Zumba will be accessible for anyone who wishes to participate – have fun, work out and support young people with disabilities.

]]> http://www.silcga.org/empowering-our-youth-invites-you/feed 0 Independent Living Skills Classes – disABILITY LINK http://www.silcga.org/independent-living-skills-classes-disability-link http://www.silcga.org/independent-living-skills-classes-disability-link#comments Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:52:20 +0000 rrtuttle http://www.silcga.org/?p=1162 Friends, Colleagues, Advocates and Supporters – disABILITY LINK is holding a series of Independent Living Skills Classes for people with disabilities, scroll down for more information – classes begin on Wednesday, May 2 and continue to (including) Wednesday, June 20 – for additional information, or to RSVP, please contact Bonnie Dieringer at 404-687-8890 ext. 120 or  bdieringer@disabilitylink.org

]]> http://www.silcga.org/independent-living-skills-classes-disability-link/feed 0 Shut Out, Priced Out, and Segregated http://www.silcga.org/shut-out-priced-out-and-segregated http://www.silcga.org/shut-out-priced-out-and-segregated#comments Tue, 28 Feb 2012 16:49:56 +0000 rrtuttle http://www.silcga.org/?p=1132 In 2008, the National Fair Housing Alliance, along with four other plaintiffs–including Metro Fair Housing Services, filed suit against A.G. Spanos Companies, one of the largest construction companies in the United States and a major developer of multi-family apartment communities. The suit alleged that Spanos violated the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 by building apartments that were inaccessible to people with disabilities. The lawsuit was resolved with Spanos agreeing to pay more than $12 million to retrofit 13,200 units in 41 developments throughout the country.

The SOPOS Coalition is a multi-disciplinary group of experts who are committed to implementing the recommendations of the SOPOS Report. They represent architects, developers, builders, lenders, professors, attorneys, disability advocates, government agencies, nonprofits, and others. The Coalition includes people who were involved in writing the report as well as others who want to help implement it.

http://www.metrofairhousing.com/sopos_coalition.htm

]]> http://www.silcga.org/shut-out-priced-out-and-segregated/feed 0 Medicare Video from CMS http://www.silcga.org/medicare-video-from-cms http://www.silcga.org/medicare-video-from-cms#comments Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:37:54 +0000 rrtuttle http://www.silcga.org/?p=1102 Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released an educational video in American Sign Language (ASL) to provide important information about the Medicare program to people who are Deaf or hard of hearing.
The video consists of an overview of the Medicare program, including what Medicare is, who qualifies, the four parts of Medicare (A, B, C, and D), new preventive services under the Affordable Care Act, and help paying Medicare costs.
The video will be available on Medicare.gov, cms.gov and the CMS YouTube channel.
To access go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eskZVAg7v0o.
To download, go to http://downloads.cms.gov/media/video/ASLOverview.mp4.

]]> http://www.silcga.org/medicare-video-from-cms/feed 0 Groups push for more accessible housing http://www.silcga.org/groups-push-for-more-accessible-housing http://www.silcga.org/groups-push-for-more-accessible-housing#comments Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:44:21 +0000 rrtuttle http://www.silcga.org/?p=1100 On November 30th, housing advocates gathered to discuss the findings from a research paper on housing for people with disabilities. Please click the following link to read the article from the AJC: http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/groups-push-for-more-1247201.html

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