http://www.wid.org daily 1 2006-12-27T04:11:02Z http://www.wid.org/world-institute-on-disability-applauds-fcc The World Institute on Disability (WID) applauds the Federal Communications Commission's National Broadband Plan for recognizing the importance of broadband access for millions of people with disabilities in the United States. "While a National Broadband Plan is a significant step forward to ensure full economic and civic participation by people with disabilities in the United States, it is also a significant step forward to ensure that millions of Americans with disabilities will be able to fully participate in a global economy," stated Anita Aaron, World Institute on Disability’s Executive Director. No publisher jennifer News TECH 2010-03-19T15:06:13Z News Article http://www.wid.org/wid-welcomes-new-executive-director-anita-shafer-aaron The World Institute on Disability (WID) is pleased to announce the appointment of Anita Shafer Aaron as Executive Director. Aaron replaces Kathy Martinez who left WID earlier this year to accept a position in the Obama administration as Assistant Secretary for the Department of Labor's Office on Disability Employment Policy. In joining WID, Aaron concludes nearly twenty years of service as Executive Director/CEO of the LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, headquartered in San Francisco. The LightHouse mission includes advocacy, information, education, services and programs focused on adjustment to and living with vision loss. No publisher jennifer News 2010-02-05T22:23:03Z News Article http://www.wid.org/oldies-but-goodies-classic-wid-publications-now-available-to-download-for-free As WID prepares to move to the new Ed Roberts Campus, we are dusting off our older publications and making them available to download for free in both PDF and TXT on our website. Visit our Publications section to download WID classics on personal assistance services (PAS) and more for free. No publisher jennifer News 2010-02-06T01:17:14Z News Article http://www.wid.org/wid-launches-3-year-project-in-the-republic-of-georgia WID's International Program launched in 2009 a 3-year project in the Republic of Georgia in partnership with Whirlwind Wheelchair International (WWI) and the Coalition for Independent Living in Georgia, along with their regional member organizations, the Association of Disabled Women and Mothers of Disabled Children in Zugdidi and the Association of Gori Disabled Club, to set up a sustainable wheelchair production and repair facility in Tbilisi. No publisher jennifer INTL News 2010-02-10T21:03:21Z News Article http://www.wid.org/year-in-review-world-institute-on-disability2019s-2009-accomplishments The World Institute on Disability’s vision is a world where people with disabilities live fully integrated lives economically and socially. As an internationally recognized public policy center organized by and for people with disabilities, WID’s mission in communities and nations worldwide is to eliminate barriers to full social integration and increase employment, economic security, and health care for persons with disabilities. No publisher jennifer News 2010-02-11T05:31:11Z News Article http://www.wid.org/new-law-will-improve-medi-cal-for-california-workers-with-disabilities Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California signed AB 1269 into law just a few hours before the legal deadline on October 11, 2009. Staff for the bill’s author, Assemblymember Julia Brownley (Santa Monica), informed the bill’s sponsor, World Institute on Disability, WID, shortly after the bill became law. California residents who work and use Medi-Cal services reacted swiftly. “The changes made by this law will finally allow thousands of Californians with significant disabilities to go to work without jeopardizing vital health care that is not available under employer-sponsored health insurance, or Medicare coverage,” declared Alana Theriault, Director of Benefits Planning for Abilicorp, a disability-focused employment company. No publisher jennifer News CWII 2009-10-14T21:42:01Z News Article http://www.wid.org/a-cape-of-self-protection-for-people-with-disabilities-and-elders-living-independently Abuse of people with disabilities and elders creates a significant barrier to independent living and full integration into the community. Abuse and mistreatment is defined as any unwanted, hurtful, dangerous, neglectful, frightening, insulting, oppressive, or demeaning behavior directed at a person or persons with disabilities. It can include physical, verbal, emotional, sexual, or financial mistreatment, including theft, violation of privacy or autonomy, and crime, including hate crime. To reduce the incidence of abuse, WID created a comprehensive training curriculum in English and Spanish to educate people with disabilities, services providers, and family members about abuse awareness and prevention strategies. No publisher jennifer CAPE HALTS News 2009-10-07T19:10:07Z News Article http://www.wid.org/kathleen-martinez-wid-executive-director-tapped-by-white-house-as-new-dol-assistant-secretary World Institute on Disability proudly announces swearing in of Executive Director Kathleen Martinez as Assistant Secretary for U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). ODEP was established to bring permanent focus within the U.S. Department of Labor and across the Federal government to address barriers to employment facing people with disabilities and to better coordinate matters affecting employment of Americans with disabilities. Martinez was appointed WID’s Executive Director in 2005, after serving as Deputy Director since 2002. No publisher jennifer News 2009-10-14T21:47:11Z News Article http://www.wid.org/workforce-health-and-productivity-in-health-care-reform Two day Workforce Health and Productivity Summit in November 2008 publishes its Workforce Summit Report. The World Institute on Disability (WID) was an active participant at this thought challenging two-day Summit focused on proactive health strategies and workplace health management. The Report's Executive Summary reflects WID's contributions when describing a workforce that includes those of us who live and work with long-term chronic conditions and disabilities. This is a report from corporate America, with WID contributions as a coherent partner, on topics of economic empowerment and the health we need to achieve it. No publisher jennifer News CWII 2009-10-14T21:48:39Z News Article http://www.wid.org/ewc-2009 Join us for a very special night, as we celebrate the 11th Annual Ever Widening Circle with renowned singer and songwriter Janis Ian, who has recorded such hits as “At Seventeen,” “Jesse” and “Society’s Child.” A career that has spanned more than 40 years, Janis has been prolific in writing and recording music that has garnered her 9 Grammy nominations (2 wins) with her songs being recorded by herself and countless others. In addition to her multi talented music career, she is also a columnist, lecturer and science fiction writer. Come hear a legend in an intimate one-of-a-kind setting. This year’s event will again take place in the ballroom of the downtown Oakland Marriott on Friday, October 30, 2009. The evening will open with writer and performer Greg Walloch and include a variety of exquisite desserts that will be served during intermission. No publisher jennifer Ever Widening Circle News 2009-12-15T16:25:03Z News Article http://www.wid.org/sam-simon-chairman-of-amplify-public-affairs-and-vice-chair-of-wids-board-of-directors-to-receive-inaugural-frank-bowe-award Samuel Simon, Vice-Chair of WID's Board of Directors, received the inaugural Frank Bowe Award in recognition of his contribution to the development of disability policy in telecommunications. The award was given on June 5th at the University Club at Hofstra University following a Disability Leadership and Policy Summit. No publisher jennifer News 2008-07-18T22:21:28Z News Article http://www.wid.org/bruce-curtis-travels-to-iraq-to-train-disability-ngos-in-advocacy-strategies Bruce Curtis is used to dealing with obstacles - stairs in front of a door, uneven spots in a sidewalk, telephones that need dialing... No publisher jennifer INTL international development News 2009-05-27T04:47:32Z News Article http://www.wid.org/wid-releases-ground-breaking-manual-on-work-incentives-and-benefits State and federal rules on access to health coverage and benefits can bewilder even a Ph.D. Some programs, like Social Security disability benefits, have thousands of pages of laws and regulations governing them. Every program has its own unique set of rules on interaction with other programs. The resulting confusion can have a devastating impact on people using more than one program or contemplating a return to work. What can state agencies and other organizations do to help people with disabilities navigate this network and improve their lives? In a groundbreaking new manual—Work Incentives Information Services: Developing a State-Focused Training and Technical Assistance Center—the California Work Incentives Initiative (CWII) at the World Institute on Disability (WID) presents a clear blueprint on how to establish a technical assistance and training center (“TA Center”) addressing these issues. No publisher jennifer CWII disability benefits AB925 Publication News 2009-03-03T00:22:30Z News Article http://www.wid.org/wid-researcher-marsha-saxton-to-present-irving-kenneth-zola-memorial-lecture Marsha Saxton, researcher at the World Institute on Disability and lecturer in the UC Berkeley Disability Studies program, presented this year's Irving Kenneth Zola Memorial Lecture at Brandeis University in the Boston area on March 31, 2008. Irving Kenneth Zola was a much beloved leader in the disability studies movement from the early 70's until his death in 1995. A contemporary of Ed Roberts, Irv, in his capacities as medical sociologist and disability rights activist was particularly interested in the relationship between patients and doctors, and the interaction between the medical system and disability issues. No publisher jennifer News research HALTS health care access 2008-05-10T00:27:43Z News Article http://www.wid.org/wid-and-american-red-cross-partner-to-provide-innovative-training-to-better-assist-those-with-disabilities WID and the American Red Cross announced on October 10, 2007 the creation of an innovative national training, awareness and action program to help Red Cross staff and volunteers better serve people with disabilities during disasters. The specialized training program will be funded through a grant from the Verizon Foundation. “The American Red Cross is committed to providing the best service possible by constantly learning and building on its over 100 years of providing disaster relief," said Harold Brooks, chief executive officer of the organization’s Bay Area Chapter. "The American Red Cross trains staff and volunteers to respond to almost 75,000 disasters annually. This grant from Verizon is much appreciated and will help people with disabilities through this collaboration with the World Institute on Disability,” Brooks said. No publisher jennifer News 2008-03-21T18:43:03Z News Article