June, 2009

AT&T Tennessee today delivered a check for $466,628 to the Tennessee Regulatory Authority for the Tennessee Relay Service and the Telecommunications Devices Access Program.  TRS and TDAP are services administered by the Tennessee Regulatory Authority to provide free or low cost services for qualifying Tennesseans with disabilities.   

Samuel Rees of Nashville received the Presidential Award from Ruth Roberts, President of The Arc of Tennessee during the Tennessee Disability MegaConference Awards Banquet and Dance held Friday, May 29 at the Nashville Airport Marriott.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) voted today to revise its regulations to conform to changes made by the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008, which would make it easier for an individual seeking protection under the ADA to establish that he or she has a disability.

We are working to update our contact information for readers of the ENews and/or the Coalition Quarterly magazine.  Keeping your address up-to-date ensures we can provide timely updates about breaking news and important issues in the disability community as well as targeted information about TN legislative actions.  Please help us by answering three easy questions at: http://www.surveygizmo.com/s/147235/contact

The Tennssee Health Care Campaign will be hosting "Pathway to Promise" on June 19th and 20th.  This will be a time to get information, participate in discussions, and learn about specific action steps you can take to help make health care reform a reality.  More than 20 regional and national speakers will bring their expertise to bear on discussions.

Disability Law & Advocacy Center of Tennessee (DLAC) is working to address communication issues experienced by people with disabilities.  The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires businesses and governments to provide communication support services when necessary. Examples of support services include sign language interpreters, Braille documents, large print, and real time text.

A number of aging and disability groups are participating in a national call-in day Thursday, June 4, targeted especially to the U.S. House of Representatives, to urge that long-term care (LTC) is in included in health care reform.  Our call to action is:  We’re counting on Congress to give all Americans the choice to receive the services and supports they need at home

The call-in number for this effort is:  1-800-335-6946.  

Below is some background information.