CENTER FOR LEARNING AND LEADERSHIP OKLAHOMA’S FEDERALLY DESIGNATED UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (UCEDD)
August 2012
Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act Our nation celebrated the 22nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 2012. The ADA was first signed by George H.W. Bush in 1990 and was the first comprehensive declaration of equality for people with disabilities. In honor of the 22nd anniversary, President Barack Obama gave a proclamation, stating:
“We celebrate the contributions Americans with disabilities have made to our Nation, and we rededicate ourselves to empowering every individual with those most American principles of equal access and equal opportunity.”
To view the complete proclamation, go to www.whitehouse.gov or visit our website at www.ouhsc.edu/thecenter. The National Archives also is commemorating the anniversary of the ADA by featuring Presidential records related to the history of the disability movement in our country. To access these records, go to www.archives.gov/research.
Center for Learning and Leadership Launches New Website The Center for Learning and Leadership now has new website, available at www.ouhsc.edu/thecenter. (Our web address has not changed.) The website includes a new design and layout, a translation tool, and will soon have a video collection. Our products also continue to be available to view, print and download. If you have any questions or comments about the website, please e‐mail crisann‐hanes@ouhsc.edu.
Resources for Understanding the Affordable Care Act With the recent Supreme Court decision related to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), citizens may want information about how the ACA will affect their lives. Resources that seek to provide that information are highlighted below. The Kaiser Family Foundation has developed a guide about the Supreme Court’s decision related to the Affordable Care Act. The guide explains the decision for each provision of the act, and what the decision means for the implementation of healthcare reform. To view the guide, go to www.kfff.org/healthreform. The Kaiser Family Foundation also has a consumer guide that explains how the ACA will affect different groups of people. This guide is available at www.kaiserhealthnews.org. Additionally, our national network, the Association of University Centers on Disability, maintains a health reform hub on their website. Available at www.aucd.org/projects/health_reform, this resource provides updated information about the ACA and its implementation. MARK YOUR CALENDAR August 18: Oklahoma Family Network “Supporting Parent” training (for family members who want to support others by sharing their experiences raising a child with special health care needs), free, 10 a.m.‐1:30 p.m., St. Francis Children’s Hospital classroom, Tulsa. To register, call 918‐227‐1797 or e‐mail lora‐roberts@oklahomafamilynetwork.org. August 31: Oklahoma Early Access Autism Project ‐free autism screening for children ages 18 months to 7 years, Crossroads Head Start, 325 SW C Avenue, Lawton, OK. Phone: 405‐295‐5273 Website: www.earlyaccessok.org. September 6, October 4, November 15: No More Meltdowns ‐three‐part series for parents and caregivers,6‐7:30 p.m., Christ United Methodist Church, Enid. Visit www.okautism.org or call 405‐271‐7476 for more information. September 11: On the Road Family Perspective Conference (free), 8:45 a.m.‐3 p.m., Central Technology Center, 1720 S. Main Street, Sapulpa, OK. Registration required. E‐mail: sally‐selvidge@ouhsc.edu Phone: 1‐800‐426‐2747 September 29: Down Syndrome Association of Central Oklahoma Buddy Walk, Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, Oklahoma City, 9 a.m.‐1 p.m. For more information, visit www.dsaco.org or call 405‐463‐5641. October 10‐12: Southwest Conference on Disability, Albuquerque, NM. Early registration ends Sept. 9. Website: cdd.unm.edu/swconf/register.asp October 22‐23: Oklahoma Statewide Autism Conference, Embassy Suites, Norman. Early registration deadline: August 31. Stipends may be available for family members and self‐advocates. Website: www.okautism.org/conference October 25‐28: The Arc National Convention, Washington, D.C. Early registration ends Sept. 3. Website: www.thearc.org/page.aspx?pid=2871. October 30: “Bully Free is the Way to Be” Sooner SUCCESS training for parents, professionals and youth (free), 9 a.m.‐2 p.m., Chisholm Trail Technology Center, Highway 33, between Kingfisher and Watonga. Contact your local Sooner SUCCESS coordinator or call 1‐877‐441‐0434. To view the flyer, click here. NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. P0STAGE
PAID
OKLA.CITY, OKLA
PERMIT #220
focus facts
Center for Learning and Leadership/UCEDD
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
P.O. Box 26901, ROB 342
Oklahoma City, OK 73126
focus facts is published for the Center for Learning and Leader-ship, Oklahoma’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD). It is dissemi-nated to a statewide and national network of people interested in developmental disabilities. If you would like to submit informa-tion to be published in the newslet-ter, please e-mail or mail our Editor. Be sure to include the source, de-scription, and contact information relevant to the information you are submitting. Email: Learn2Lead-UCEDD@ouhsc.edu focus facts is supported by grant #90DD0685 from the U.S. Depart-ment of Health and Human Services Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Addi-tional support is provided by Okla-homa co-sponsors: OU College of Medicine, The University of Okla-homa Health Sciences Center, and project partners: East Central Uni-versity and Cameron University. The University of Oklahoma pub-lishes this newsletter in compliance with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal laws and regulations. The University of Okla-homa, in compliance with all Federal and State applicable laws and regu-lations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures. This in-cludes but is not limited to admis-sions, employment, financial aid, and educational services. www.ou.edu/eoo