National
Issues
The DAWN does not closely monitor or provide updates on federal issues. Many national organizations closely monitor federal issues and post updates on their web sites.
In addition, some national organizations such as Family Voices, NACCD, the Association of University Centers on Disabilities and Congress.org, offer you the opportunity to send a message to your federal elected officials from their web sites.
Lastly, several organizations have e-mail action networks focused on a single or broad spectrum of issues. Many national organizations also maintain archives of past alerts on the web.
DAWN readers interested in federal issues are strongly encouraged to subscribe to a national e-mail network. Links to national organizations and other resources follow:
- Links to National
Organizations
Organizations listed that have an advocacy component. - Links to National
E-Mail Networks
Either single- or multi-issue action networks.
Federal Budget Issues:
U.S. Congress Votes Database
Hurricane Katrina and People with Disabilities
As you know Hurricane Katrina wrecked enormous havoc on the Gulf Coast area. Much has been reported about the devastation and destruction in both property and human lives. What has been often missing in the reports is the toll the hurricane has had on people with disabilities and the response to their needs. [More details.]
Key Federal Issues:
Links to national organizations and resources sorted by issue:
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) - Civil rights law
- Family Opportunity Act (FOA) - Bill would establish Medicaid buy-in program for families
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) - Law requires free and appropriate education for students with disabilities
- Medicaid Community-Based Attendant Services and Support Act (MiCASSA) - Bill would provide equal access to community services
- Mental Health Parity - Bill would require health insurance plans to cover mental illness to same extent as other illnesses
- Rehabilitation Act - Law provides funding for vocational rehabilitation system, needs reauthorization
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) - Law which replaced the AFDC or "welfare" program, needs reauthorization
- Voting Rights - The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) was signed into law in 2002. This law requires accessible voting for people with all types of disabilities, as well as provisional balloting, poll worker training, funding to make poll sites accessible and much more.
