Congress decides the funding level for this program each year, which means we need to sign the Make the First Five Count petition each year. So, if you signed the petition last year, you need to sign it again for it to help this year. Let’s break last year’s record of 40,000 signatures!

It’s very easy. All you have to do is link to our Make the First Five Count page and scroll to the bottom. Hit the “sign the petition” button and fill out your contact information. In less than two minutes, you can make your voice heard. Thank you — your voice really matters!

I gave it a try, and … Eureka! I found an extremely helpful option there right off the bat: the TSA offers a Can I bring my … through the security checkpoint? feature where you can type in names of items to learn what you can and can’t take through security when you fly. The results let you know if the item can be carried-on, put in checked baggage, or if it’s not allowed for plane travel at all.

For me, I might type in stuff like “metal dog food bowl,” and “Braille slate and stylus” to see if I can carry them through the checkpoint or whether I have to check them in a bag. For now, let’s try “folded white cane.”

Okay, here’s what came up:

Some mobility aids may require specialized screening. To expedite your travel, notify the Transportation Security Officer of your need for special assistance at the beginning of the checkpoint screening process. At any time during the screening process, you may ask for a private screening area.

The response went on to say that even if an item is generally permitted, it may be subject to additional screening. In the end it might not be allowed through the checkpoint anyway if it “triggers an alarm during the screening process, appears to have been tampered with, or poses other security concerns.” The site said the final decision on whether to allow any items on the plane rests with TSA and suggest you notify the security officer of your medical condition or need for special assistance at the beginning of the checkpoint process.

The TSA Contact Center (TCC) recently extended its hours, and representatives are now available Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern time, and weekends and federal holidays, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time. The TSA encourages passengers to contact the TCC with questions about TSA procedures, upcoming travel or to provide feedback or voice concerns. I may have to give them a call. When I typed in “metal dog food bowl” no such items were found. I tried “bowl” and while it didn’t answer my question about metal dog food bowls, I did learn I couldn’t bring a bowling ball along in my carry-on bag if I wanted to. The response said “sports equipment that can be used as a bludgeon are prohibited in the cabin of the plane.”

Whitney and I will be taking a couple flights later this month, though, and when I did a little research to see if the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) had any helpful tips about getting help at airport checkpoints, I got word about a Passenger Support Specialists Program.

Passenger Support Specialists are Transportation Security Officers, Lead TSOs and Supervisors who, in addition to their regular checkpoint duties, have volunteered to take on the extra responsibility of helping passengers like me who may be in need of special assistance. From the Transportation Security Administration web site:

More than 2,600 Passenger Support Specialists at airports across the country assist passengers who require additional assistance with security checkpoint screening.

Passenger Support Specialists receive specialized disability training provided by TSA’s Office of Civil Rights and Liberties, Ombudsman and Traveler Engagement. Training for Passenger Support Specialists include how to assist with individuals with special needs, how to communicate with passengers by listening and explaining, and disability etiquette and disability civil rights.

The site said that travelers who need special accommodations or are concerned about checkpoint screening can ask a checkpoint officer or supervisor for a Passenger Support Specialist to provide on-the-spot assistance. Travelers can request a Passenger Support specialist ahead of time, too, by calling the TSA Cares hotline at 855.787.2227. TSA recommends you call approximately 72 hours ahead of travel to give TSA Cares a chance to coordinate checkpoint support with a TSA Customer Service Manager at the airport if necessary. I may just give this a try. Experience has shown me that you can never get enough help when it comes to navigating O’Hare Airport!

The first is the across-the-board cut to most disability programs and the other is the federal fiscal year 2013 appropriations bills. Here’s a summary of the debate ahead in March:

• March 1, 2013: Across-the-board cuts (or sequester) to almost all federal programs goes into effect. Nearly all programs — including early intervention and special education — will be cut equally by approximately 5%. Unless Congress and the president reach an agreement within the next three weeks, these cuts will be implemented.
• Mid-March: The president will release a proposed budget for fiscal year 2014 and both the House and Senate have agreed to pass budgets this year. These activities are aligned with the standard federal budget process. The budgets do not have the force of law but do allow the president and Congress to establish their priorities.
• March 27, 2013: The current funding law expires on March 27, 2013 and
  Congress must take action to continue to fund the federal government through September 30, 2013. If Congress does not act by March 27, the federal government must shut down.

At every stage of the debate, Easter Seals is working with other advocates to convince Congress to take a more thoughtful and needs-based approach to reaching long-term financial security that does not disproportionately harm children and adults with disabilities and their families. TAKE ACTION: Urge Congress to vote to STOP the across-the-board cuts set for March 1 and preserve critical funding for the life-changing programs that support families with disabilities!

Assessing accessibility

by Kelly Zatlin

The mom of a daughter who has Spina Bifida keeps a blog about some of the daily challenges and joys of having a child with a disability. A recent post called The Disability Excuse brings up a struggle I haven’t heard parents of children with disabilities talk about before: the difficulties discerning between the want and need for special treatment. While there may be necessary “exceptions” for her child in school and in society, this blogger mom says she has found herself using the disability as an excuse at times and isn’t quite sure what to think about it.

The post describes sitting in multiple parent meetings where parents will insist their child not be treated any different than other children, only to hear them demanding special treatment minutes later. The post author says she herself struggles with what lessons she is teaching her own children when it comes to taking advantage of using the accessible entrance at Disneyland or getting free special needs screenings.

Here at Easter Seals, we strive to give children with disabilities the best and most independent lives possible through use of play, education, therapy, and many other means. Sometimes, the phrase “special treatment” has a bad connotation, but I don’t think it needs to be thought about negatively. I don’t see any reason for a parent to feel guilty for heading to the front of the line at a theme park with their child who is in a wheelchair, but there’s also nothing that says they must.

Many situations like this may just be up to the parent’s discretion and personal beliefs. I can say this, though: I myself sure would never want anyone to feel it’s wrong to take advantage of special access for people with disabilities or other things like it. Promoting accessibility is part of our mission here at Easter Seals. So much in this world seems to be built for people without disabilities, so I think having these extra tools for those with disabilities is just one way that the world can become more accessible for them and their families.

I know it’s important for parents to be careful about contradicting themselves in how they want their children to be treated, but I think it’s also important for parents to be aware of the services out there that are meant to help, not hinder, them.

While many members of Congress are sympathetic to the needs of those with disabilities, Harkin has a “laser focus” on this population that’s not currently shared by any of his colleagues, said Katy Neas, who worked for Harkin as a congressional staffer in the 1980s and early 1990s and currently handles government relations for Easter Seals.

Katy told the reporter that Harkin looks at every piece of legislation that comes his way and asks what it might mean for people with disabilities.

Without such an ally in the Senate, Neas said disability advocates will soon be left to persuade lawmakers who have other items at the top of their agendas.

“We’re going to have our work cut out for us educating legislators about why people with disabilities should be a priority,” she said.

Harkin was the leading force behind the Americans with Disabilities Act. Melanie Gabel, the Conference and Meeting Coordinator for the Executive Office here at Easter Seals, worked in D.C. with Senator Harkin on the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Disability Policy back in the 80s and 90s to get that landmark legislation passed.

Melanie grew up in Iowa, and like Tom Harkin’s beloved late brother Frank, Melanie was born with a significant hearing loss. She told me her fondest memory of working with Sen. Harkin is being there to see him on the U.S. Senate Floor introducing the Americans with Disabilities Act in sign language, dedicating it to his brother.

“Seeing him signing that statement, I was overwhelmed with emotions,” Melanie said, describing her feelings of empowerment, happiness and, for the first time in her young adult life, patriotism. “It made me proud to have, and know, a true friend and champion of disability rights on Capitol Hill.”

Melanie echoed what Katy Neas told the Disability Scoop reporter, regaling me me with story after story of Harkin paying special attention to any legislation that could potentially impact the disability community. “Having him not be present there on Capitol Hill will be difficult,” she said. “He was always the fighter for disability rights, and he will be missed.”

The panel took place one day after the Pentagon announced that the U.S. military will be lifting its ban on women serving in combat. When Mitchell was asked to comment on the Pentagon’s decision, she pointed out that as a Navy veteran, she knows women have been serving side-by-side with their male counterparts for years. Referring to the Pentagon’s announcement as a “watershed moment for our country,” she said it recognizes the capabilities, valor and achievements of all service members.

“Opening combat roles to females should not be lauded as a bold step but rather a normal progression towards equality,” she said. “The military’s mix of gender, races, creed, lifestyles, and backgrounds makes it a bellwether of society. This decision should not be used as an opportunity for demagoguery, but rather a chance to acknowledge our military’s ability to fight and win our nations’ wars.”

Mitchell — along with Dixon Center and Easter Seals — urge policymakers to collaborate with the myriad of resources in the civic and private sector. She emphasized the need to support and dedicate resources to all military service members — women and men alike — and their families and the families of the fallen when they return home from their deployments. “We need to consolidate local efforts in communities and find synergies for the delivery of services or to services,” Mitchell concluded. “We as a society need to focus on enabling their potential, and not create more cookie-cutter solutions. This is our mission at Dixon Center.”

Easter Seals is a valuable resource to military service members, veterans and their families. Call Easter Seals Community One Source at 866-423-4981 to find local support if you’re a military family or if you want to learn how to make a difference for military families.

Learn about our “Get Going!” guide

by Lucinda Shannon, MPA

Last month NorthJersey.com. published a story about our GET Going! Guide, which helps adults with autism deal with unexpected interruptions in their travel routines.

Mary Leary, vice president, Business Innovation and Easter Seals Transportation Group, was featured in the article along with Linda Walder Fiddle, founder and executive director of The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation. The two of them worked with their teams to develop the pocket-troubleshooting guide after Fiddle heard a young man with autism speak last year at a conference on transportation for people with disabilities.

Transportation for people with disabilities and older adults is a priority for Easter Seals. In addition to the variety of transportation services provided by many of our affiliate offices, Easter Seals’ Transportation Group administers two federally-funded training and technical assistance centers to support people who need assistance with transportation.

The National Center on Senior Transportation (NCST) works to improve and increase transportation services for older adults, and Easter Seals Project Action (ESPA) collaborates with the disability community, transportation providers and human service providers to improve transportation options for people with disabilities.

Both training and technical assistance centers are funded through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration. You can visit the NCST website to learn more about senior transportation, and ESPA’s website to learn about transportation for people with disabilities. Browse both sites for publications and resources, and while you’re there, check our calendars for upcoming training events and online courses. If you have questions, you can reach ESPA at 800-659-6428 and NCST at 866-528-6278.

Additionally, it’s important the bill minimizes the impact people who take itemized deductions for charitable contributions and continues the critical Medicare therapy cap exceptions process.

While disappointed the bill repeals the Community-Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act, the new long-term services and supports commission appears to be a serious attempt to address the issue of access to long-term services and supports for people with disabilities and older adults.

As the across-the-board cuts are only postponed until March, there is still much work to do. These automatic budget cuts will affect almost all federal programs serving people with disabilities. The consequences to children and adults with disabilities and their families are significant if the sequester is allowed to go forward:

• Fewer infants with cerebral palsy will have access to speech or physical therapy.
• Fewer teachers will be trained to meet the special needs of students with autism.
• Fewer high school students with disabilities will get the resources to get a job or go to college.
• Fewer people with disabilities will get employment supports.
• Fewer children with autism will get essential health services.
• Fewer veterans will get needed supports like job training and employment services.

These programs provide vital — even life-saving — services to millions of kids, adults and families living with disabilities. Moreover, they are wise investments — leading people from lives of dependence to lives of independence.

Easter Seals is committed to working with our nation’s leaders to avoid devastating cuts to such important programs while still being fiscally responsible.

Inouye lost an arm in World War II combat, and he paid special attention to the needs of military service members, veterans and wounded warriors. In 2011, Easter Seals affiliates Serving Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC honored Sen. Inouye with its Advocacy Award, and in his very poignant acceptance speech during that awards dinner Senator Inouye humanized how difficult the experience is for military families when their loved ones leave for combat and they are separated.

As Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Inouye directed our nation’s resources to investments in children and adults with disabilities and their families. In his 53 years in Congress representing Hawaii, he contributed to the passage of major legislation that ensures people with disabilities can live, learn, work and play in their communities, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1975, the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 and countless other civil rights laws for people with disabilities.

Thank you for a life of service, Senator Inouye. You will be deeply missed.