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via USA TODAYBy Lynn ElberNovember 10, 2009 LOS ANGELES (AP) — The glee club members twirl their wheelchairs to the tune of Proud Mary and in joyful solidarity with Artie, the fellow performer who must use his chair even when the music stops. The scene in Wednesday's episode of the hit Fox series Glee, which ...regularly celebrates diversity and the underdog, is yet another uplifting moment — except to those in the entertainment industry with disabilities and their advocates. For them, the casting of a non-disabled actor to play the paraplegic high school student is another blown chance to hire a performer who truly fits the role. "I think there's a fear of litigation, that a person with disabilities might slow a production down, fear that viewers might be uncomfortable," said Robert David Hall, longtime cast member of CBS' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. All of that is nonsense, said Hall: "I've made my living as an actor for 30 years and I walk on two artificial legs." Continue reading >>Read More

On Tuesday, November 17, from 10 AM to noon, Assistant Secretary Kathleen Martinez will be the principal guest speaker for an interactive forum to be held at the Cornell University Government Affairs Office in Washington, DC. The topic is “ODEP Update: New Directions for the Office of Disability Employment Policy... at the Department of Labor.” Other panelist/reactors will be Kelly Buckland, E.D. of NCIL; Paul Tobin, President and CEO of United Spinal Association, and Lori Golden of Ernst & Young. The Disability Policy Forums, sponsored by the Employment Policy RRTC in collaboration with the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), are held quarterly in Washington, DC and are available on the web. To register or to read more about the forum, visit http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/edi/p-eprrtc-policyforum.cfm Read More

Speak Out! EEOC Town Halls on ADA Ammendments Regulations From the EEOC (10/20/09): The EEOC will be hosting a series of forums for public input throughout the country in coming weeks to obtain direct input from the business/employer communities as well as the disability and disability advocacy community on EEOC's ...proposed regulations under the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA). Presided over by EEOC's Acting Chair, Stuart J. Ishimaru, Acting Vice Chair, Christine Griffin, and Commissioner Constance S. Barker, as well as DOJ’s Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, Samuel Bagenstos, Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, Mazen Baswari, and Chief of the Disability Rights Section of the Civil Rights Division, John Wodatch, the Town Hall Listening Sessions are an opportunity for these officials to hear directly from stakeholders of all perspectives on the proposed regulations. Five-minute time slots to address the panel will be available from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Some of the slots will be available on an advance registration basis and some on first-come, first-served sign up basis at the events.  Members of the public are also invited to attend and view the proceedings, with space available on a first-come, first-served basis. As a reasonable accommodation, there will be limited availability to provide public input by telephone.  To request this accommodation you must register in advance. Individuals representing themselves or organizations are urged to take advantage of this opportunity to provide input on the EEOC's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking which can be viewed, along with a question-and-answer guide, at www.eeoc.gov. Sign Language Interpreters, CART, and assistive listening devices will be available.  If you need printed materials in an alternative format please email Elisa.gonzalez.ctr@tma.osd.mil   Please let her know what you need and the location (city) of the event you will be attending. Both EEOC and DOJ want to encourage all individuals and organizations who cannot attend an event to make sure you submit comments and attachments electronically at http://www.regulations.gov, the Federal eRulemaking Portal. The ID #  is 3046-AA85. Written comments may also be submitted to Stephen Llewellyn, Executive Secretariat, EEOC, 131 M Street, NE., Suite 4NW08R, Room 6NE03F, Washington, DC 20507.  Comments may be transmitted by facsimile ('FAX'') machine by dialing (202) 663-4114. (This is not a toll-free number.)  Only comments of six or fewer pages will be accepted via FAX transmittal.  Comments must be submitted on or before November 23, 2009. California: The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division announce a full-day Town Hall Listening Session, on Monday, October 26, 2009, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at California Endowment, 1111 Broadway, 7th floor, Oakland, CA 94607. For more information, or to register as a speaker, please contact Ms. Linda Li at 415-625-5618 (TTY 415-625-5610) or at Linda.Li@eeoc.gov Illinois: The U.S.Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division announce a full-day Town Hall Listening Session, on Tuesday, November 17, 2009, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Access Living, 115 West Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60654 For more information, or to register as a speaker, please contact Ms. Rita Coffey at 312-353-7254 (TTY 312-353-2421) or at Rita.Coffey@eeoc.gov Louisiana: The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division announce a full-day Town Hall Listening Session, on Friday, November 20, 2009, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the University of New Orleans Training Resource and Assistive-Technology Center (UNO-TRAC), 2000 Lakeshore Drive, New Orleans, LA 70148. For more information, or to register as a speaker, please contact Maple Thomas at 504-595-2827 (TTY 504-595-2958) or at Maple.Thomas@eeoc.gov Pennsylvania: The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division announce a full-day Town Hall Listening Session, on Friday, October 30, 2009, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Liberty Resources, 714 Market Street, Suite 100, Philadelphia, PA 19106 For more information, or to register as a speaker, please contact Ms. Mary Tiernan at 215-440-2671 (TTY 215-440-2610) or at Mary.Tiernan@eeoc.gov Pass this information on to your friends and colleagues.  Downloadable Notices are attached below. >>>Download EEOC Notice for Chicago >>>Download EEOC Notice New Orleans >>>Download EEOC Notice Philadelphia >>>Download EEOC Oakland NoticeRead More