Special Education Chief to Address Conference on Connecting Disabled Latinos to Employment 
Prof. Robert Pasternack of New Mexico, President Bush’s choice to run the national special education system, will address the first national conference on Latinos with disabilities and employment.

"ACTION ALERT!! Paratransit Policy Crisis" 
Your phone calls and e-mails are urgently needed ASAP, insisting that DOT not compromise the ADA requirement that transit agencies must provide eligible paratransit riders with next-day service.

About Parents and Their Children with Disabilities in a Latino Culture 
I got the call while I was at the office. My wife, on the other end of the line was sobbing inconsolably at the medical clinic. "The doctor says our baby needs to be tested for Down Syndrome" she managed to say. [full story]

9350 Registered for DeafWay II Held in Washington, D.C. 
At least 9350 people from all over the world registered for the second international arts festival of the deaf, called DeafWay. Held in Washington D.C. during July, the festival was organized by Gallaudet College.

Sign Language Interpretation Provided at Smithsonian’s Folklife Festival 
As it has for the last 15 years, the Smithsonian Institution provided several sign language interpreters for its annual FolkLife Festival on the mall in Washington, D.C. Held in July, some Deafway performers also participated in the Folklife Festival.

Flying High or Not So High? Check this out: New Hotline for Disabled Air-Travelers 
On August 5 the U.S. Department of Transportation announced it had set up a toll-free telephone hotline for disabled air travelers who were having problems with airlines or airports. This new hotline is a place to report or discuss disability air travel service problems.

Need Cheap & Accessible Room? International Hostel Guide Now Covers Accessibility 
Frequent travelers know that hostels always have the best rates and sometime have the best locations in tourist sites around the world. These are not luxurious places to stay, but are often cheap, friendly and well-located. Now, they are increasingly often accessible as well.

HHS Opens Disability Office 
The federal agency dealing with health and human services (HHS) announced on July 31 that it has created a new Office on Disability. The office, under the direction of Dr. Margaret Giannini, will open in the fall of 2002.

New National Report on Employment Barriers for Disabled People 
We all know the employment situation for people with disabilities in the U.S. is bad and this new publication analyzes why and makes suggestions for improvements. On August 12, the National Council on Disability issued a report that explains that no reliable statistics exist about employment of disabled people throughout the country.

Disability Leaders: Apply Now for $10,000 Awards 
Are you an emerging leader with a disability? If so, the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is looking for you. The AAPD will give up to five awards of $10,000 awards to people with disabilities who can demonstrate they are emerging leaders in their fields or community.

Win $25,000 for Your Accessible Community 
On July 24, the National Organization on Disability (NOD) launched its 2002 Accessible America campaign. A community or town or city will be given $25,000 for being especially accessible to its disabled residents.

Want a paid internship to learn customer-service techniques? Internships available in Long Beach, California 
Paid internships are now available for students who participate in the Customer Service training program at the Long Wire Contact Center based in Long Beach, California.

Employment for People with Disabilities in the Federal Government: Site Helps People with Disabilities Find Jobs, Get Information 
In support of President Bush's new Freedom Initiative, intended to integrate people with disabilities into the national work force, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has launched a web site aimed at making the search for federal jobs easier for men and women with disabilities.

Job-Hunting? Disability Career Expo, New York City, November 5 
A Disability Career Expo and associated workshops will take place November 5 in New York City. The purpose is to connect employers with potential employees with disabilities.

Proyecto Visión Staff at United Nations Meeting 
During the last week of July and the first 10 days of August, the United Nations held its first meeting to discuss the possibility of a UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities.

Martinez Named to Board of U.S. National Council on Disability
Kathy Martinez of California, director of the National Technical Assistance Center for Latinos with Disabilities, was confirmed in late July to the board of the U.S. National Council on Disability.