Hello all,

I must agree 100% with these findings and reports.   Past complaints to DOJ
were swept under the rug.  DOD and The Veterans Affairs are yet to make
their programs and facilities accessible.  Most recent example: VA "in home
care services" require that you go to a clinic for evaluation and
certification by a doctor.  This is to certify that you can not go to the
clinic and need in home care.  U.S. Postal Service post office buildings
are still not accessible and like the VA their programs are not accessible
either.  Everything in print, no alternate formats or accessible signs.
Our files, going back for more than 20 years show how lax or nonexistant
enforcement has been and how even the Office of the Inspector General of
the respective agencies ignored complaint after complaint.  (We are
preparing some new complaints)

Accessible web sites are great but serve only a small part of PWD, many PWD
do not have computers.  Most of their other programs are not accessible.
And what about HUD?  Accessible housing is one of our must critical
problems. And while on the topic of enforcement, what about the numerous
problems PWD have with getting enforcement against criminals?  What about
the many "hate crimes" that go unreported or acted on?  Why are PWD to
blame for accidents in most cases?  Bias or discrimination?

Department of Transportation of Federal agencies is the "leader" in
enforcement, based on my experience.  They have investigators who actively
investigate complaints and staff that takes positive enforcement action
when called for.

I was especialy please to see the "Go For The Gold" recommendation.  Cut
the funding to those who fail to comply.

Rev Clyde Shideler
>
>Washington Post
>February 13, 2003
>
>Federal Agencies Lax on Disability Act, Report Says
>Council Asks Bush For More Money to Enforce Civil Rights
>
>By Eun-Kyung Kim
>
>The federal government lacks a systematic way to track and investigate
>hiring complaints from the disabled, resulting in inconsistent enforcement
>of a law barring discrimination, investigators say.
>
>The National Council on Disability, in a report (
>http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/section504.html ) to be released
>today, looked at five federal agencies to get a snapshot at how the
>government is complying with provisions of the 30-year-old Rehabilitation
>Act.
>
>A section of the act says the government may not discriminate in hiring
>because of disability, nor may government contractors and grant recipients.
>
>Overall, the report found that the agencies have not done a good job of
>policing the entities they fund and that Congress has been lax in its
>oversight of the agencies.
>
>"Without effective enforcement and program initiatives, the federal
>government remains complicit in advancing disability discrimination," the
>report said.
>
>The council examined the departments of Education, Labor, Health and Human
>Services, State and Justice.
>
>HHS received the highest marks for consistently devoting money to civil
>rights enforcement. It also had a user-friendly Web site that gave
>exemplary details and advice on the law.
>
>The Education and Labor departments also were praised for information on
>their Web sites.
>
>The State Department fared the worst in the report. The council said the
>agency lacks any kind of enforcement program and has never earmarked money
>for compliance efforts.
>
>A spokeswoman for the State Department's human resources department said
>agency officials are reviewing the report.
>
>The disability council recommended that the Bush administration increase
>funding  for civil rights enforcement.
>
>"Adequate staffing is the most critical factor in providing prompt and
>effective enforcement," the  report said.
>
>The council also said agencies should complete self-evaluations routinely
>to look for potential challenges to people with disabilities. When problems
>are found with contractors, the agencies should remove  funding.
>
>Cutting off money "remains perhaps the single most effective way to remedy
>discrimination," the report said.
>
>The National Council on Disability is an independent federal agency made up
>of 15 members who are appointed by the president and must be confirmed by
>the Senate.
>
>
>
>