National Down Syndrome Congress
30 Mansell Court
|
|
|
|
NDSC Participates in a Press Conference to Deliver Petition to Governor O' Malley
On September 5th, NDSC Director of Governmental Affairs Susan Goodman joined members of the Saylor family, NDSS, and State Delegate Heather Mizeur at a press conference in front of the Maryland State House to deliver a 340,000 signature petition to Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley asking for an independent investigation into the tragic death of Ethan Saylor. Patti Saylor spoke for her family and read a statement by Ethan's sister, Emma, who initiated the petition. Mrs. Saylor spoke about Ethan's love for police officers, an ironic twist in this tragic event.
Subsequently Governor Martin O'Malley issued an Executive Order to improve training to help law enforcement personnel, paramedics, and other first responders better respond to situations involving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities ("IDD"). The Executive Order creates the Maryland Commission for Effective Community Inclusion of Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (the "Commission"). Governor O'Malley also announced that he would name Dr. Timothy P. Shriver, Chairman and CEO of Special Olympics, as Chairman of the Commission.NDSC applauds the formation of this Commission, but believes that the Governor should initiate an independent investigation into the tragic circumstances of Ethan's death.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Can law enforcement handle those with disabilities?
On September 11th, the Washington Post printed the following letter from Susan Goodman in reference to the Saylor case:
Thanks to The Post for calling for the state of Maryland to review the tragic death of Ethan Saylor, a young man with Down syndrome who died while being restrained by off-duty Frederick County sheriff's deputies because he refused to leave a movie theater [" Shining a light on 2 deaths ," editorial, Sept. 8]. The comments of the attorney representing the sheriff's department attempting to shift the blame to Mr. Saylor's family were unconscionable.
I am a parent of a man with a disability. I have worked all his life to equip my son to live, work and recreate in the community, as is his right. Now do I have to worry that, if he displays unusual behavior in a public place, he may die at the hands of law enforcement, whose mission is to protect the public?
Mr. Saylor's family, and all Marylanders, deserves an unbiased accounting of what really happened that day.
Susan Goodman, Olney, Maryland
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Take Part in Webinar on Law Enforcement Training
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New Federal Regulation Requires Federal Contractors to Increase Numbers of People with Disabilities
The Department of Labor (DOL) has released the final regulation to Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. The Rehabilitation Act prohibits federal contractors and subcontractors from discriminating against individuals with disabilities in employment, and requires these employers to take affirmative action to recruit, hire, promote, and retain these individuals.
Federal contractors and subcontractors will now be required to meet the goal of ensuring that 7 percent of each job group in their workforce be qualified individuals with disabilities. The rule sets out required activities that contractors and subcontractors will need to take in recruitment, training, record keeping, and policy dissemination.
Federal contractors employ about 25% of the workforce in the US.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Senate HELP Committee Marks Up Bill to Reauthorize Workforce Investment Act
On July 31st the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee marked up S. 1356, the Workforce Investment Act of 2013 approving the bill by a vote of 18 to 3. This bipartisan legislation would reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act, including the Rehabilitation Act.
NDSC supports proposed changes to the Rehabilitation Act which provides greater emphasis on transition from high school to competitive integrated employment, however NDSC opposes Section 511 of the bill which puts into law the unacceptable outcome of a placement in a segregated setting/sheltered workshop.
|
|
|
