WID in Brief

As an internationally recognized public policy center organized by and for people with disabilities, WID's mission is to strengthen the disability movement through research, training, advocacy and public education so that people with disabilities throughout the world enjoy increased opportunities to live independently.

Founded in 1983 by leaders of the Independent Living Movement, WID's vision is that culture, laws, policies, perceptions and customs everywhere reflect the full participation of all people including people with disabilities. WID's work focuses on those areas crucial to allowing persons with disabilities to live full and independent lives, and WID's unique, innovative programs promote employment, economic development and financial stability for Americans with disabilities; address the needs of marginalized disabled people from minority backgrounds with bilingual, bicultural programs; provide information and services on public benefits programs for both disabled consumers and service providers; conduct research on accessible health care and personal assistance services; work to develop policy to make technology accessible; and build the capacity of disability NGOs and support emerging disabled leaders in developing countries.

A majority of the Board of Directors and staff are people with disabilities and are respected national leaders in the disability field as well as in industry, government and social services. WID maintains a grassroots focus and cutting-edge status in the disability movement by bringing a diverse disability perspective to improving public policy and civil rights.

WID is located in downtown Oakland, California.

California Work Incentives Initiative (CWII)

WID developed the California Work Incentives Initiative in 2000 to provide health coverage, work and benefits information to California youth and adults with disabilities. Program services help people manage their health coverage and benefits related to employment and other changes.

CWII provides community outreach, training and web-based services, including one on one technical assistance at Disability Benefits 101 (www.db101.org). CWII launched "DB101" in 2004, creating the first plain language, interactive, state-focused website on public and private benefits, employment services and resources from state, federal and private arenas. All of DB101 is being translated into Spanish. The suite of statewide services is called Disability Benefits 101 Information Services, working with a disability in California.

DB101 will soon launch six Benefits Planning Sessions at the website to allow users to quickly explore "scenarios" that match their own current situation with new plans, to find out more about benefit eligibility when things change, when planning a new job, a change in earnings, when getting married or with other financial planning. Each Session allows users to produce their own "Results" section, rich with individual information to help users understand "break-even" periods when planning to work, and to plan future events based on their own information. The first "Benefits to Work Scenario" should be in widespread beta testing with DB101 users by summer 2006.

CWII provides timely services in collaboration with scores of public agencies, community based service providers and technical contractors with both in-kind support and funded contracts. CWII's most important collaborators are the users of services who share their experiences with staff to improve services. CWII staffs a statewide policy, education and discussion forum on health, work, benefits, and disability - The California Work Group on Work Incentives and Health Care (the CWG).

CWII receives support from the California Health Incentives Improvement Project, The California Endowment, the Social Security Administration, and individual training and event sponsors.

For more information, contact Bryon MacDonald, Project and Policy Development Manager, at bryon@wid.org.

Access to Assets

Asset building is an anti-poverty strategy helping low-income people move toward greater economic independence by saving and purchasing long-term assets. Building assets, as opposed to increasing income, provides the stability to escape the cycle of poverty.

The purpose of WID's Access to Assets project is to open doors for the disability community. Approximately 20% of the United States population lives with some level of disability. Over one-third of adults with disabilities live in households with income of $15,000 or less compared to only 12% of those without disabilities.

Access to Assets bridges the gap between the asset building and disability communities through the following services:

• Training and Technical Assistance: Advise asset building organizations on how to include consumers with disabilities in their programs.

• Disability Community Outreach: Inform disability organizations about available programs and relevant federal policy.

• Policy Analysis: Develop and influence federal asset building legislation conducive to the participation of people with disabilities.

• Public Education: Distribute monthly EQUITY e-newsletters, which include articles from leaders in the field, program administrators, and participants in asset building programs. Also included are helpful tips, answers to questions about disability issues, periodic federal policy updates, and resources. Read current and past editions of EQUITY at: http://www.wid.org/equity

• Information and Referral (I&R): Operate toll-free hotline serving individuals with disabilities seeking information on how to participate in poverty reduction programs.

For more information, contact Thomas Foley, Access to Assets Project Manager, at tom@wid.org or Toll-Free: 1-866-723-1201.

Health Access and Long Term Services (HALTS)

WID seeks to improve the quality and availability of health care and long-term services for people with disabilities.

Personal Assistance Services (PAS) is home health care and help with the activities of daily living, such as dressing, bathing and eating. The availability of PAS for people with disabilities can make the critical difference between independent living in the community or institutionalization. Because PAS is the cornerstone of inclusion in the community, WID works on many levels to ensure the availability of PAS, researches abuse by personal assistance providers and advocates for the use of PAS in the workplace.

To reduce the incidence of abuse of people with disabilities receiving personal assistance in the community, WID is creating a comprehensive training curriculum to educate service providers, people with disabilities and family members about abuse awareness and abuse prevention strategies. Funded by the National Institute on Disability Rehabilitation and Research, CAPE, Curriculum on Abuse Prevention and Empowerment, explores fundamental issues of abuse, best-practices training approaches, and personal narratives of successful abuse interventions. CAPE will be distributed nationally via CD Rom, print or the web, in English and Spanish.

WID strives to address health care disparities for people with disabilities by working to improve access to quality health care for people with disabilities. In addition to addressing physical accessibility, WID trains doctors and medical staff on how to make services and equipment accessible, as well as how to provide culturally competent health care.

In 2004, WID created Access to Medical Care: Adults with Physical Disabilities, a twenty-minute video and training curriculum for physicians, dentists, nurses, and other medical staff about key issues that affect the quality of care for patients with disabilities in outpatient clinical settings. The video uses interviews with expert medical providers and a diverse group of people with disabilities to address cultural competence; access and communication issues in the clinic; common myths and stereotypes about disability that interfere with accurate assessment of patients; and barriers to health care delivery. The training curriculum offers case-based learning exercises and extensive in-depth reference materials about appropriate provision of care, specific skills to increase good communication and rapport, and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and emphasizes access and communication as the fundamental components in addressing health care disparities for people with disabilities.

For more information, contact Marsha Saxton, Senior Researcher, at marsax@wid.org.

Proyecto Visión: National Technical Assistance Center for Latinos with Disabilities

Proyecto Visión is the first National Technical Assistance Center to increase employment opportunities for Latinos with disabilities in the United States. Established in 2001 with support from the U.S. Department of Education's Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), Proyecto Visión provides culturally and linguistically appropriate services to employers, service providers and jobseekers to address barriers that preclude Latinos from effectively availing themselves of the disability service delivery system and connecting to work.

Proyecto Visión has a toll-free technical assistance hotline (800) that provides access via the telephone to a live bilingual bicultural job specialist who provides information and referral to jobseekers; a website that serves as an online source of news, resources, scholarship/internship/employment opportunities and success stories about Latinos with disabilities who found employment; an electronic newsletter & listserv; annual conference and training, Bridges to Employment, that brings employers, service providers and jobseekers together to network and exchange ideas on solutions for employment of disabled Latinos; and, regional trainings, about topics including disability awareness, cultural competency and more for groups such as recruiters at large companies, Latino and disability service providers, disabled student associations.

Proyecto Visión staff have provided services to thousands of individuals including:

• Latino jobseekers with disabilities for education, employment preparation, job development, job placement, skills acquisition, information and referral to vocational rehabilitation, independent living centers and other service providers;

• Employer representatives (chief diversity officers and human resource executives) for training regarding recruiting, hiring, training and retaining employees with disabilities, and accommodations and disability etiquette in the workplace; and

• Social service providers for training on how to provide culturally competent services and how to include Latinos with disabilities in their constituencies.

Proyecto Visión's activities are carried out in conjunction with partners Access Living in Chicago; Best Buddies International in Miami; the Central Coast Center for Independent Living in Salinas (CA); Public Health Institute in Oakland; and the Westside Center for Independent Living in Los Angeles.

For more information about Proyecto Visión, contact Kathy Martinez, Executive Director, at kathy@wid.org.

International Development and Disability Inclusion

WID serves as a center for the international exchange of information and expertise on disability and disability policy. WID's international activities include training, technical assistance, program development and evaluation, legislative and policy development, exchange programs, research, conferences, materials development and international resource and referral. WID is committed to aiding disability organizations throughout the world to create networks, programs and services that promote the full inclusion of disabled people in their societies.

DisabilityWorld.org

DisabilityWorld.org, published by WID since 2000, is the leading international online periodical focused on disability issues worldwide. During the first 5 years, 26 issues were produced from a disability rights perspective, covering law, policy and governance; access and technology; employment and entrepreneurial activities; mass media and arts; and independent living and community integration. In 2006, WID DisabilityWorld issues are focusing on effective laws, policies, projects and socio-economic programs to improve the lives of the estimated 400 million disabled children and adults living in developing and poor countries. The DisabilityWorld website is used by 30,000 visitors a month, originating from 200 countries. In 2002 DisabilityWorld received the Ashoka Changemakers Award.

For more information, contact Jennifer Geagan, Program Manager, at Jennifer@wid.org.

International Projects

Building on 13 years of experience working in Russia, WID currently has two projects funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and a third funded by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to promote inclusive education and to develop emerging disabled leaders in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Uzbekistan, Georgia proper and Abkhazia.

The International Network of Disabled Youth Activist Teams Promoting Equal Access to Education Project: In 2003, WID was funded by USAID's Incorporating Democratic Values Program to work with teams of young disabled activists representing disability NGOs from in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and two regions in Siberia to promote inclusive education for children with disabilities. WID, in partnership with the Russian disability NGO, Perspektiva, is empowering disabled youths, parents and other members of the community to challenge discrimination against persons with disabilities and to advocate for the elimination of social and physical infrastructure barriers to an equal education faced by young disabled people. In 2 years, more than 2000 teachers, journalists and other professionals have participated in project workshops and roundtables, 15,000 people have attended project sponsored film festivals and other public education activities, and 12,000 students have received disability awareness training from the disabled activist trainers. Over. The disabled activist teams have conducted peer support groups and other activities for more than 3000 youth with disabilities and, as part of their community projects, have built dozens of ramps, creating access for wheelchair users to public buildings and schools in the 5 cities where the teams are located.

Civic Diplomacy through Disability Advocacy Youth Teams: In 2004, WID and Perspektiva received funds from the government of Belgium via the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to include teams from Georgia proper and Abkhazia in the International Network of Disabled Youth Activist Teams Promoting Equal Access to Education Project. In addition to fully participating in the International Network Project activities, these 2 new teams, despite the current conflict issues between their governments, are working to develop additional cooperative activities to achieve their common goal of social integration and inclusive education. WID plans to launch another project in Georgia and Abkhazia in 2006 that will continue to support the cooperative relationship established by these teams. The new project will build and operate two wheelchair producing micro-businesses while disabled advocacy teams work to remove physical barriers in their communities and promote policies that ensure access for persons with disabilities in Georgia proper and Abkhazia.

The Protection of the Human and Legal Rights of Russians with Disabilities: Access to Education Project: WID is supporting Perspektiva in creating a legal network in Russia which protects the human and legal rights of persons with disabilities to an equal education. As the first disability project to receive Human Rights funding from USAID through its Moscow Mission, Perspektiva and WID work with USAID, Russian government policy-makers, lawyers, parents and disability NGOs to ensure that human rights, civil society, and education becomes more accessible to people with physical and mental disabilities in Russia and are creating a model, multi-regional legal advocacy network that works in partnership with community coalitions to promote and defend the human and legal rights of disabled children and adults to an equal education. Through organizational strengthening and human-rights/legal advocacy training of the Down's Syndrome Association of parent organizations and other disability NGOs, this project is demonstrating that legal and civic coalitions can successfully legislate, enforce and defend human and legal rights to an education in Russia. In 2004, the project won a landmark court case in Russia, allowing a girl who has Downs Syndrome to enter a regular kindergarten and requiring the local department of education authorities to pay for any necessary accommodations.

For more information, contact Bruce Curtis, International Program Manager, at bruce@wid.org.

Training and Public Education

WID's Training and Public Education Program provides fee for service training for corporations, government agencies and organizations on disability awareness and etiquette, access for persons with disabilities including compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other disability civil rights laws, accommodating employees with disabilities, and increasing workplace diversity through recruiting people with disabilities.

For more information, contact Kathy Martinez, Executive Director, at kathy@wid.org.

Technology Policy

As people are increasingly dependent on email, cell phones, voicemail and the Internet to work and communicate, people with disabilities are being left out of the digital revolution due to inaccessible products. WID built the public policy groundwork that led to Section 255 of the 1996 Telecommunications Act, which requires that telecommunications companies make their products and services accessible to consumers with disabilities. WID was also instrumental in advocating for the 1998 amendments to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, which requires federal government agencies to comply with the Section 508 accessibility standards when procuring, developing, maintaining or using electronic and information technologies.

WID advises the information technology and telecommunications industry on how to make their products and services accessible. WID also develops public policy recommendations, identifies best practices and offers training curriculums on how consumers can find accessible technology.

For more information, contact Kathy Martinez, Executive Director, at kathy@wid.org.

Ever Widening Circle

WID, in partnership with the Corporation on Disabilities and Telecommunication (CDT), will proudly present the 8th Annual Ever Widening Circle, An Evening of Entertainment Celebrating Art and Disability, this fall at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco.

Each year, Ever Widening Circle features a diverse line-up of professional performers with disabilities. Through this event, WID and CDT aim to improve the images and to reduce misconceptions about people with disabilities by showcasing the community's strengths and artistry; build awareness and support for WID and CDT; professionally present top-quality performers representing a variety of disabilities, racial and ethnic identities and different performance arts; educate the community-at-large about the contributions disabled performers are making in the entertainment field; and create opportunities for performers with a disability to become role models to our youth.

Last year's benefit headliner was the Matt Savage Trio featuring Matt Savage, a 13-year old composer and jazz pianist who was diagnosed with autism at the age of three, and internationally renowned AXIS Dance Company, comprised of dancers with and without disabilities. Past headliners include the Blind Boys of Alabama and Diane Schuur.

Ever Widening Circle serves as a model for presenting entertainment that is accessible for all audiences. WID and CDT work to maximize the accessibility of the venue and performance for patrons with disabilities and provide a wide range of access options and accommodations including American Sign Language interpretation and audio description of the performance, Braille and large print programs, assistive listening devices, and wheelchair seating.

For more information about Ever Widening Circle, contact Kathy Martinez, Executive Director, at kathy@wid.org.