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>
>Words from Washington
>August 14, 2001
>Vol. 107 No. 10
>
>In this issue. . . .
>
> * OSERS Officials Confirmed
> * HHS Provides Opportunity for Input on Community-Based
> Alternatives
> * Bill Introduced on Medicare Coverage for Rehabilitation
> Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind
> * FCC's List of Section 255 Manufacturers and Service
> Providers
> * Disability Rights Section, Civil Rights Division, U.S.
> Department of Justice
>
>OSERS Officials Confirmed
>
>On July16,2001 the Senate confirmed Robert Pasternack as
>Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative
>Services. He was sworn in on August 8. Joanne M. Wilson was
>confirmed as Commissioner, Rehabilitation Services Administration
>and sworn in on August 6. They are expected to assume their posts
>this month.
>
>=====
>HHS Provides Opportunity for Input on Community-Based
>Alternatives
>
>On June 18, 2001, President Bush signed Executive Order No. 13217
>on Community-Based Alternatives for Individuals with
>Disabilities. HHS is the lead agency for the Departments of
>Justice, the Department of Education, the Department of Labor,
>the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Social
>Security Administration who will be evaluating the policies,
>programs, statues, and regulations of their respective agencies
>to determine whether any should be revised or modified to improve
>the availability of community-based services for qualified
>individuals with disabilities. The results of the evaluation must
>be reported through the Department of Health and Human Services,
>to the President by October 16, 2001.
>
>Essential to the review of the federal programs is the
>involvement of consumers, advocacy organizations, providers, and
>relevant agency representatives.
>
> * A Federal Register notice
> (http://www.hcfa.gov/medicaid/newfreedom/fr072701.htm) soliciting
written
> comments was published on July 27. Comments are due by
> August 27, 2001. You can send comments by e-mail to
> [log in to unmask] or by postal mail to the New Freedom
> Initiative Group, Department of Health and Human Services, P.O. Box
23271,
> Washington, D.C. 20036-3271.
>
> * You can participate in a toll free teleconference session on
> August 15, 1:00 - 4:00 EDT. To participate in the
> teleconference, call (888) 396-9929. The code is: "Public Input".
>
> * There will be a National Listening Session on September 5,
> 2001, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. EDT at the Ronald Reagan
> Building and International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania
> Ave., N.W., Washington DC. Interested parties are invited to
> provide a three-minute testimony. You must register by
> August 31. Registrations can be made on-line, by fax, or
> through the mail. To register on-line, obtain a registration
> form or request additional information, visit the New
> Freedom Listening Session website at
> http://www.hsrnet.com/meeting/newfreedom/ or call Martrell
> Kelly at 202-828-5100.
>
>For further information visit
>http://www.hcfa.gov/medicaid/newfreedom/pubinput
>
>=====
>Bill Introduced on Medicare Coverage for Rehabilitation Services
>for Older Individuals Who Are Blind
>
>On July 30, Martin Frost (D-TX-24) introduced H.R. 2674, the
>"Medicare Equity Act for the Blind of 2001." The bill would
>amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to include coverage
>under the Medicare Program for rehabilitation services provided
>by State vocational rehabilitation agencies to older individuals
>who are blind.
>
>As reported in WFW 7/18/01
>(http://www.afb.org/info_document_view.asp?documentid=1562), on
>July 12 Representative Michael E. Capuano (D-MA-8) introduced
>H.R. 2484, "Medicare Vision Rehabilitation Services Act of 2001"
>that would allow payment for vision-related rehabilitation
>services for Medicare beneficiaries.
>
>=====
>FCC's List of Section 255 Manufacturers and Service Providers
>
>The FCC publishes lists of Section 255 equipment manufacturers
>and service providers. These lists contain, in most cases, a
>contact name, address, phone and fax telephone numbers, and
>e-mail addresses. You will find the manufacturers' list at
>http://www.fcc.gov/cib/dro/section255_manu.html and the service
>providers list at
>http://www.fcc.gov/cib/dro/service_providers.html. You can find
>guidance on asking the right questions when selecting a phone in
>AFB's brochure, "Telecommunications: What You Should Be Getting."
>You will find it at www.afb.gov/section255.asp or contact AFB's
>Information Center (800-232-5463 or [log in to unmask]) for a copy
>in print or accessible media..
>
>=====
>Disability Rights Section, Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department
>of Justice
>
>The primary goal of the Disability Rights Section (DRS) is to
>achieve equal opportunity for people with disabilities in the
>United States by implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act
>(ADA). The DRS is headed by Section Chief John L. Wodatch who is
>a career federal employee [is that correct?]. The Section uses a
>multi-faceted approach toward achieving compliance with the ADA
>pursuing a comprehensive program of enforcement and technical
>assistance activity under the ADA. The Section also carries out
>responsibilities under Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation
>Act. Section activities affect six million businesses and
>non-profit agencies, 80,000 units of state and local government,
>49 million people with disabilities, and over 100 Federal
>agencies and commissions in the Executive Branch. The ADA
>Information Line receives up to 150,000 calls annually seeking
>information and publications on the ADA. The Section's ADA Home
>Page on the World Wide Web receives up to 100,000 hits per week.
>For more information on the Civil Rights Division visit
>http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/activity.html#drs. To obtain technical
>assistance documents or for information on enforcement efforts
>visit http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm.
>
>=====
> 2001 American Foundation for the Blind
>
>Paul Schroeder, Alan Dinsmore, Mark Richert and Barbara LeMoine
>are contributors to WFW.
>
>WFW is published by the American Foundation for the Blind,
>Governmental Relations Group, 820 First Street, N.E., Suite 400
>Washington, DC 20002, 202-408-0200, Fax: 202-289-7880, E-mail:
>[log in to unmask] Address questions regarding subscriptions or
>content to Barbara Jackson LeMoine.
>
>This report focuses on the most significant issues currently
>being addressed by AFB's Governmental Relations Group, and is
>delivered to you approximately biweekly via the Topica "Words
>from Washington" list. WFW (with live links) is available,
>shortly after publication, at www.afb.org/gov.asp.
>=========================
>[log in to unmask]
>Barbara Jackson LeMoine, Legislative Assistant
>Governmental Relations Group
>American Foundation for the Blind
>Washington, D.C.
>=========================
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