Dan Walters: California budget boss jumps off before train wrecks Nov 8, 2009
That's why, one suspects, Democratic legislators staged a hearing last week to decry cuts in home care services for the disabled that would reduce the ranks of unionized care workers cuts for which they had voted in July. That leaves spending deferrals, raids on other funds and bookkeeping gimmicks the sleight-of-hand that has been used too often to make budgets balance on paper. (Fresno Bee -- Local)
WNY groups reach out to disabled Nov 6, 2009
That puts rehabilitation and services for the disabled at the top in terms of economic impact, according to the 2009 Million Dollar Nonprofits, an annual research report by Business First that analyzes the nonprofits from an eight-county region with revenues of at least $1 million. This year, that list includes 233 agencies who made the threshold based on 2007 IRS tax data. (Buffalo Business First, NY)
Hong Kong to improve services for disabled and mentally-impaired Oct 14, 2009
HONG KONG. Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- The government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) will pool more resources to improve rehabilitation services for the disabled and the mentally-impaired residents, HK chief Donald Tsang said Wednesday. "Aside from increasing government-funded residential care places, we will continue to assist non-governmental organizations in developing self-financing residential care homes, and introduce a pilot Bought Place Scheme for residential care homes... (Xinhuanet, China)
Ghana: Give Access to All in Eye [editorial] Oct 10, 2009
The theme and the key messages of the commemoration are relevant to Ghana, especially as we have demonstrated in recent times our readiness to address the issue of disability and create opportunities for equal access to services for the disabled. The theme for this year's World Sight Day was Gender and Eye Health - equal access to care. (allAfrica.com)
Cabcharge takes a cut from disabled taxi subsidy Sep 19, 2009
THE country's most powerful taxi group, Cabcharge, is earning a commission from a government subsidy scheme designed to improve taxi services for the disabled. While the national competition watchdog takes legal action against Cabcharge for trying to wipe out its competitors, the NSW Government is paying exclusive commissions to the company to process incentive payments to wheelchair taxi drivers. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Deal Helps Disabled Dispute Card Charges Sep 3, 2009
He praised HSBC for its cooperation in what he calls a precedent for providing customer services for the disabled. "HSBC is committed to addressing any special needs our customers have to ensure they receive a positive card experience," said Cindy Savio, vice president for public affairs at HSBC-North America. (Click2Houston, TX)
Disabled people get help disputing credit charges Sep 2, 2009
He praised HSBC for its cooperation in what he calls a precedent for providing customer services for the disabled. Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company. (Boston Globe)
Eunice Shriver remembered as ‘fearless warrior’ Aug 15, 2009
She has done more for those with special needs than anyone in the world, said Vivian Donnelly, a nurse who works with Cape Abilities, a nonprofit group that provides services for the disabled. We can t express what a loss it is. (Boston Globe)
Historical society honors two couples in Hughson Aug 10, 2009
The society offers sign language classes, home transportation support, referral services for the disabled and a loan closet of adaptive equipment such as wheelchairs, hospital beds and walkers. Members of the Doctors Medical Center Service League were honored at a recent quarterly meeting and luncheon. (Modesto Bee, CA)
Cuts hurt disabled Jul 31, 2009
Welfare, health care programs for low-income families and in-home services for the disabled and elderly will be reduced. Nearly 40,000 will have their in-home support services terminated. (Fresno Bee -- Opinion)
Whatever way, you'll pay Jul 29, 2009
" The new charges: From September, Telstra will charge: $2.20 when paying bills over the counter or by mail. The credit card surcharge for MasterCard, Visa and Amex will rise from 0.69 per cent to 1 per cent. Diners Club surcharge will rise from 1.68 per cent to 2 per cent. Those paying over the counter with a credit card will have to pay both charges. Pension card holders, those paying through Centrelink, healthcare card holders and people using Telstra's services for the disabled will be... (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Sacramento RT lands $23M in U.S. funding Jul 28, 2009
It also will allow to provide more services for the disabled community in Sacramento by purchasing 11 minivans, replacing an outdated phone system and supplementing Americans with Disabilities Act operations in Sacramento and El Dorado counties. The funding is in addition to $1 million announced last week through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act for preventative maintenance. (Sacramento Business Journal, CA)
California has plan to plug holes in budget (18) Jul 26, 2009
Welfare, health care programs for low-income families and in-home services for the disabled, elderly and frail will be reduced. Nearly 40,000 will have their in-home support services terminated. (Coos Bay-North Bend The World, OR)
Calif. Lawmakers Pass Plan To Balance Budget Jul 25, 2009
to make these cuts in the safety net at a time people need this support more than ever," said Bass. The budget agreement will be felt in nearly every community of the nation's most populous state. Cuts to public schools are expected to force teacher layoffs, more crowded classrooms and scaled-back offerings in art, music and sports. College students will pay hundreds of dollars more per year in fees, course offerings will shrink and tens of thousands of prospective students will be turned away.... (Click2Houston, TX)
Lawmakers: Calif. budget crisis resolved, for now Jul 25, 2009
Anchorage Daily News. Daylight : 5:15 AM - 10:57 PM. (Anchorage Daily News)
Democrats to send GOP's budget to vote Jul 10, 2009
The budget-balancing could require laying off as many as 6,000 of the 77,000 state workers; deep cuts in human services, such as hospital neonatal services, burn centers, mental health programs, nursing home funding and services for the disabled; the closing of many state parks; the loss of health insurance for some children, and cuts in aid for senior citizens. Senate Bill 850 will also reduce state aid for education, Democrats said, forcing counties and school districts to increase their... (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
Bonuses hurt credibility Jul 9, 2009
The agency did not reduce services for the disabled to pay the bonuses, he said ... The agency did not reduce services for the disabled to pay the bonuses, he said. (Fresno Bee)
MARION M. KARIAN: CVRC shouldn't have awarded bonuses Jul 9, 2009
The agency did not reduce services for the disabled to pay the bonuses, he said. Autistic children in the cross hairs of state budget crisis. (Fresno Bee -- Opinion)
Critics say nonprofit erred with bonuses Jul 8, 2009
The agency did not reduce services for the disabled to pay the bonuses, he said. Nevertheless, state Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez, D-Shafter, told Riddick in a letter sent Tuesday that the agency's decision to issue the bonuses "certainly raises a whole host of ethical and programmatic questions.". (Fresno Bee -- Local)
People with service pets fight misconceptions (6) Jun 16, 2009
Monkeys, birds, horses, cats and other animals are also trained to provide services for the disabled. A dog like Heisman is more recognizable as a service animal but medical alert dogs like Sissy have been around for many years, said Mary Helen Cederholm, founder of the Arizona Registry of Service Animals and a former service dog trainer in Flagstaff. (Sierra Vista Herald, AZ)
LETTER: Paying our fair share of taxes is a patriotic duty Apr 28, 2009
All good reasons to favor a public policy requiring the wealthy to contribute in proportion to their means; a policy of using tax money to pay for such benefits as health care, old age and survivors benefits, public education, aid to families with dependent children, services for the disabled, and disaster relief, often spoken of scornfully as a federal welfare system. None of us has acquired their wealth solely as a result of their own hard work. (Mattoon Journal-Gazette, IL)
N.H. Dems, GOP make pitch over competing budgets Apr 7, 2009
Republicans also propose cutting funding for a conservation program, a deeper cut to the state's share of retirement, cutting $8 million from the courts' budget, and cutting higher education aid and funding to a variety of social service programs including cancer prevention and services for the disabled. Republicans would add $50 million for municipal aid and $83 million for school construction aid. (Seacoast New Hampshire)
Our views: Wasting taxpayers time Apr 3, 2009
Floridas budget crisis looks worse by the day, with too few dollars to pay for education and services for the disabled and frail elderly. Tens of thousands of Sunshine State residents are losing their jobs or having hours and wages slashed. (Florida Today)
China to further improve social welfare for disabled Mar 27, 2009
BEIJING, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu on Thursday urged to speed up building a system of social welfare and public services for the disabled, in an effort to improve their living conditions. Hui said at the plenary session of the State Council Coordination Committee on Disability that a complete system of social welfare and public services is the fundamental move to help the disabled share the fruit of China's economic development. (Xinhuanet, China)
Housing survey being conducted to assess needs Mar 10, 2009
Survey questions include annual income, whether a person owns or rents a home, whether homes are adequate for special needs, or close enough to services for the disabled, and whether the person taking the survey believes illegal immigration is affecting the availability of affordable housing. More than 300 people had taken the survey as of Thursday, Heavers said. (Montrose Daily Press, CO)
State Income Tax Refunds On The Way Mar 8, 2009
As of Thursday, the Controller's Office already had released $45 million in delayed payments, including funds for regional health care centers, owners of unclaimed property and local services for the disabled. He planned Friday to start releasing the remainder of the delayed payments, including $1. (KCRA 3, CA)
'An embarrassment to Iowa' Feb 11, 2009
My God, this is an embarrassment to the state of Iowa, said Sylvia Piper of Iowa Protection and Advocacy, a federally funded group that oversees services for the disabled. This should not be happening in our state. (Muscatine Journal, IO)
