In this Issue:

TASH News ◆ TASHcares News ◆ Disability Employment Technical Assistance Center News ◆ Community News ◆ Upcoming Events ◆ Thank You to Our Donors

Message from the Executive Director

As Autumn starts, we are looking forward to the 2023 TASH Conference: Opportunity for All, in historic Baltimore, Maryland. The “Charm City” has great food, sites, culture and people and we’re looking forward to over 140 Conference breakout sessions, dozens of poster presentations, a research colloquium, intensive workshops, TASH Talks and of course the TASHbash dance and other social and networking events. The complete schedule is online now. There is still time to register and to book a room at the beautiful host hotel, the Hyatt Regency Inner Harbor. There is also still time to be a sponsor and/or exhibitor; for more information, click the link to the Sponsorship and Exhibitor Prospectus which outlines a variety of ways to support TASH and promote your organization or company.

As we look forward to our Conference, we are mindful about COVID-19 and the flu which are likely to increase as the weather cools. We are fortunate to have highly effective and safe vaccines to mitigate both of these viral threats. TASH has been proud to be part of a Vaccine Outreach Project which formally concludes on September 29; we will continue to post information on our #TASHcares project page to help inform people with disabilities, direct support professionals, and family caregivers as we all work to mitigate these diseases and protect the health and well being of people with disabilities and those who work for and with them. Please consider getting the updated and highly effective COVID-19 vaccine which is now available. You can visit vaccines.gov to find a location near you.

On behalf of TASH, I hope to see you later this Fall in Baltimore.

With appreciation,

Michael Brogioli

TASH News

TASH Conference
Sponsor and Exhibitor Opportunities

The deadline for 2023 TASH Conference sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities is October 23. We offer a variety of opportunities to promote your company or organization and support TASH; please refer to the 2023 TASH Conference Sponsorship and Exhibitor Prospectus. We can also craft a customized sponsorship opportunity. Please contact DeVonne Parks at dparks@tash.org or (202) 450-1832.

Thank You to our Platinum Sponsor:

Join us at the Baltimore Inner Harbor

The 2023 TASH Conference takes place November 30 – December 2 at the Hyatt Regency Baltimore Inner Harbor, putting you in the very center of the city, close to interesting neighborhoods such as the Bromo Arts District, Fells Point and Mount Vernon, Baltimore is a city full of history, art, food and drink. See our guide to some of the outstanding attractions of the city.

You can learn more about the Hyatt Regency Baltimore Inner Harbor at their website. A room block has been secured at a special rate of $129/night plus tax and applicable fees (single/double occupancy). This rate is available through Monday, November 6, 2023, or until our room block is sold out. Visit the Conference website for details on scheduling your room.

Join the Next CommuniTEA Conversation
1:00 – 2:00 PM Eastern, Friday, October 20th

TASH Diversity and Social Impact community of practice has been hosting open conversations around some “hot topics”. This is place for everyone to join into discussion and sharing of stories which reflect and respect multiple points of view about what is happening in the real lives of people with disabilities and their families.

In June we heard a powerful presentation from Oscar Hughes about the Rainbow Support Group Guidebook for LGBTQ+ and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities that was developed by a group of people with disabilities who are also part of the LGBTQ+ community, followed by a great conversation around quality-of-life issues. In August we took a look at back-to-school with a robust conversation around inclusive education, facilitating relationships, and parent support.

We would love to have you join us in conversation on October 20 when our discussion will center around holiday practices in the U.S including bringing awareness to possible challenges for people with disabilities, making holidays more inclusive, providing choices, alternatives and accommodations to enhance participation and more.

Celebrating 50 Years of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973

September 26, 2023 was the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the first civil rights legislation protecting people with disabilities from discrimination. The Administration for Community Living released a statement and list of resources and Senator Ed Markey introduced a Congressional resolution recognizing the act. You can also read more about the act on Wikipedia.

There were a number of events recognizing the anniversary. Above and right are photographs from the Senate Committee on Aging: Rehabilitation Act 50th Anniversary Roundtable Discussion. Above is Senator Casey with the panel. Right is Michael Brogioli with panelist John Wodatch, who was a primary author of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

The New Fall 2023 COVID-19 Vaccine

On September 11 the FDA approved a vaccine against the newer XBB.1.5 strain of COVID-19. Though the XBB family is no longer the most prevalent strain, studies have found the vaccine to be highly effective against subsequent variants (see, e.g., NPR’s story on the effectiveness of the new vaccine). Find out where you can get vaccinated in your area at www.vaccines.gov. Keep up with #TASHcares at tash.org/vaccines.

ACL/CDC Webinar: Fall Vaccinations and the Bridge Access Program
Thursday, October 5, 2023 | 1:30-2:15 PM ET

Please join ACL and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for a webinar on CDC’s fall vaccination guidance and the Bridge Access Program. This webinar is for aging and disability network stakeholders who are providing services to support vaccinations for older adults and people with disabilities in their local communities. Attendees will learn about the most recent vaccine guidance issued from CDC and the Bridge Access Program, which temporarily provides no-cost COVID-19 vaccines to adults without health insurance and adults whose insurance does not cover all COVID-19 vaccine costs.

Speakers will include:

• Alison Barkoff, Performing the duties of ACL Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging; Principal Deputy Administrator, ACL
• Nirav D. Shah, M.D., J.D., Principal Deputy Director, CDC
• Amanda Cohn, M.D., CAPT, U.S. Public Health Service; Acting Principal Deputy Director, CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases

Live captioning and ASL interpretation will be provided. The webinar will be recorded and posted on ACL’s YouTube page. Advance registration is required.

For questions, contact Nicole Becerra.

Register for the Webinar

Webinar Recording:
The Future of COVID-19 and Vaccines

TASH and NADSP hosted a joint webinar to explore the latest developments in COVID-19 variants and the future direction of vaccine development and policy. Katelyn Jetelina addressed scientific and policy developments and what to expect during the post pandemic. Dr. Jetelina was followed by B.J. Stasio and Nikeeta Smith who discussed their experiences during the pandemic and the importance of vaccination for people at greater risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19 infection, as well as the people who support them. The webinar streamed live on August 31, 2023. You can watch it as a recording here.

Advancing Access and Equity for People with Disabilities through Innovations in Technology
3:00 – 4:00 PM Eastern, Tuesday, October 10, 2023

Join us as we celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) focused on how technology has the potential to advance access and equity for people with disabilities. Innovative technology tools ranging from assistive technology to augmentative intelligence are continually evolving to increase independence by providing accommodations or enhancing access to information and services. The panel of innovative thinkers will share how designing technology solutions for the needs of the customer with a disability to overcome barriers in transportation, education, and housing increases opportunities to advance competitive, integrated employment. Additionally, the panel will highlight how partnerships play a key role to generate new creative solutions to increase access and equity in the workforce and our communities.

Presenters

	Regina ‘Gina’ Kline Founder & Managing Partner, Enable Ventures
	Kathy Sheppard-Jones Executive Director, Human Development Institute, University of Kentucky
	Christina Espinosa Division Director, Community Education, Human Development Institute, University of Kentucky

Register

Let’s Commemorate the Rehabilitation Act of 1973: The Power of Independent Living & Employment

September 2023 marked the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehab Act). This webinar commemorated the milestones that have been achieved, while focusing on the power of the Independent Living movement in advancing employment. Jeremy Munson (Employment Services Manager) and Ron Jackson (Fast Track Specialist) with the Regional Access and Mobilization Project (RAMP) and Mary-Kate Wells (Program Director) with the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) jointly reflected on successful strategies they adopted over the years to move people with disabilities out of institutions and to help them obtain and retain competitive, integrated employment.

This DETAC monthly community of practice webinar originally streamed on September 19, 2023 and is available in-full as a recording here.

New Publications from the Disability Employment Technical Assistance Center

A Brainstorm from Independent Living Centers on Different Ways to Work with Consumers on Employment Skills

The following brainstorm list came from a peer support group with Centers for Independent Living brainstorming together some potential ways that Independent Living could support individuals through this process. When looking at jumping into employment work, sometimes starting small and looking within your organization for the resources and skills you already have is the best place to start. Read the full report here.

The Evolution of Assistive Technology: Advancing Access and Equity – Then, Now, and Next

The Technology-Related Assistance Act of 1988 was passed to provide funding to states for AT. The law was reauthorized in 2004 by converting funding from competitive grants to a formula grant program. The reauthorization resulted in a key shift to place individuals with disabilities at the forefront of service planning. During this time, the digital age advanced quickly with the invention of off-the-shelf assistive technology devices, adding to assistive technology options. However, people with disabilities continue to represent the group with the least amount of access to technology devices and internet access. In 2022, the Congress reauthorized the Assistive Technology Act through legislation titled The 21st Century Assistive Technology Act. This legislation updated and modernized the AT Act and went into effect during June 2023. Read the full report here.

Follow DETAC on social media for news and resources:

Community News

NIH Designates People with Disabilities as a Population with Health Disparities

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funds research on health inequities based on race, gender, economic class, rural vs. urban and other demographics, but to-date has omitted people with disabilities. On September 26, 2023 the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) announced their decision to designate people with disabilities as a “health disparity population”. The decision increases NIH funds available for research and resources designed to reduce health disparities.

Earlier in September, the National Advisory Council on Minority Health and Health Disparities recommended against the designation, leading to a groundswell of activism from hundreds of disability organizations, advocates and researchers. In the NIH press release, NIH’s Acting Director, Dr. Lawrence Tabak, stated, “To the disability community, we hear you and thank you for sharing your lived experiences with NIH.”

You can read the NIH press release, the NIMHD press release and articles in the Washington Post and Disability Scoop.

Our Lives, Our Choices, Our Rights!
The Rainbow Support Group Guidebook for LGBTQ+ and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

LGBTQ+ self-advocate leaders Pauline, Fran, and Nora and PhD student Oscar worked together to write a guidebook for families, service providers, and educators about understanding the lives and perspectives of LGBTQ+ people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Based on interviews with 23 LGBTQ+ adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities from across the United States, the guidebook includes:

• Information about gender and sexual identities
• Quotes and personal stories
• Advice on how to provide support
• A statement of their human rights
• Tips for sex educators
• A letter to family and friends
• Accessible handouts to download

Read the Rainbow Guidebook for free online at RainbowGuidebook.com.

Project ENGAGE Seeks Input from People with Intellectual Disabilities

Katie McDonald, Ph.D. (Syracuse University) and Maya Sabatello, LLB, Ph.D. (Columbia University) want to learn what adults with intellectual disability think about being included in a new type of health research. They will use what they learn to create new resources to help researchers include adults with intellectual disability in health research. If you would like to learn more or participate, you can read the Project ENGAGE flier or watch their YouTube video about the survey.

Upcoming Events

Thank You to Our Donors!

We would like to thank everyone who donated to TASH in July 2023. We are grateful to all of our supporters who help us achieve equity, opportunity, and inclusion for people with disabilities. Thank you!

TASH advances equity, opportunity and inclusion for people with disabilities, with a focus on those with the most significant support needs, in the areas of education, employment and community living through advocacy, research and practice. More information about TASH can be found at www.tash.org.

TASH
1825 K Street NW, Suite 1250, Washington, D.C. 20006 | (202) 808-8148 | info@tash.org

Copyright © 2023 TASH, All rights reserved.

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