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December 1998
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December 1998
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A memorial service for Dr. Kenneth Jernigan, past president and leader of the national Federation of the Blind has now been scheduled for Saturday afternoon, December 5, 1998, at 1:00 p.m. It will take place at the Omni Inner Harbor Hotel located at 101 West Fayette Street, Baltimore, Maryland, telephone number 410-752-1100. All are welcome to come.
Following the memorial service, there will be a festive reception at the National Center for the Blind.
Dr. Jernigan was a great and influential leader of many blind people worldwide. His efforts changed lives of many of us. We are celebrating the work of Dr. Jernigan and dedicating ourselves to continuing the efforts he began.
If you are able to come to the memorial service, please let Patricia Maurer know. You can call her at the National Center for the Blind. We want to be able to plan for everybody who will be there, and it is important to have an accurate count of those who will attend.
Rooms are available at the Omni. The costs are singles and doubles, $95.00, triples, $105.00, and quads, $115.00. Reservations should be made directly with the hotel. These room rates are available on Friday night, December 4, and Saturday night, December 5. I look forward to seeing you there.
Cordially,
Marc Maurer, President NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
American Sign Language Browser
commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/aslweb
Michigan State University's ASL Browser Web site allows you to look up thousands of ASL signs. Each sign includes a QuickTime video clip and interesting explanation. Grade Level: Elementary, Middle School, High School Content Area: Foreign Language (American Sign Language), Education (Special Education) [Dewey #490] Application type: Reference/Tool
Congress Affirms the Importance of Technology in the Lives of Individuals with Disabilities
November 18, 1998
Contact: Ms. Nell Bailey, Director RESNA Technical Assistance Project 703-524-6686, extension 305
On Friday, November 13, 1998 the president signed into law the Assistive Technology Act of 1998 (ATA) (P.L. 105-394) which affirms that technology is a valuable tool that can be used to improve the lives of Americans with disabilities. An assistive technology device is defined by the Act as, "any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities."
The ATA, the result of a bipartisan effort in Congress, extends the funding of the 50 states and six territories (America Somoa, District of Columbia, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) that had received funding under the Technology-Related Assistance Act of 1988, as amended (Tech Act) (P.L. 103-218) to develop comprehensive statewide programs of technology-related assistance. Under the ATA all states and territories are eligible to complete 10 years. States that have completed 10 years will have 3 additional years of federal funding to continue their assistive technology programs.
Under the new ATA, states and funded territories are required to:
A. Support a public awareness program designed to provide information related to the availability and benefits of assistive technology devices and assistive technology services.
B. Promote interagency coordination that improves access to assistive technology devices and services for individuals with disabilities of all ages.
C. Provide technical assistance and training including the development and implementations of laws, regulations, policies, practices, procedures, or organizational structures that promote access to assistive technology devices and services.
D. Provide outreach support to statewide community-based organizations that provide assistive devices or services to individuals with disabilities or assist individuals in using assistive technology devices and services including focusing on individuals from underrepresented and rural populations.
The states and funded territories under the ATA have the option of performing several discretionary activities including providing alternative state-financed systems to increase access to and funding for assistive technology; providing demonstrations of assistive technology devices; offering options for securing assistive technology devices and services; and use various methods to provide technology related information.
Individual legal advocacy for obtaining assistive technology through state protection and advocacy (P&A) agencies continues to be a provision of the new Act. Under the ATA, state P&A's will receive their funding directly from NIDRR, the administrating agency for the assistive technology programs.
For fiscal year 1999, $30 million has been appropriated for ATA activities.
The RESNA Technical Assistance Project provides information and consultation to the state assistive technology programs. The technical assistance project assists the state assistive technology projects in their efforts to promote access to availability of and funding for assistive technology to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities. The RESNA Technical Assistance Project is funded through the U.S. Department of Education's National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.
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