VOLUME 22 NUMBER 11 MAY 2017 ININ THISTHIS ISSUEISSUE AWARENESS DAY Alzheimer’s Hearing Senate Focuses on U.N. Convenes Experts for Autism Discussion Quality of Life PAGE 2 Lyft To Improve Rideshare Company Agrees to Access For Blind Riders PAGE 2 Supreme Court Rules Students Must Get More Services PAGE 3 Law for Loops Hearing Devices Required In More Spaces PAGE 3 Cesario Honored Long-Time Advocate Honored by United Spinal PAGE 4 Julia Debuts on PBS Character With Autism Comes to ‘Sesame Street’ PAGE 4 In recognition of World Autism Awareness Day, a zanne Sheldon, senior advisor for the Global Com- panel of international leaders recently convened at pact on Migration; Donald Wertlieb, coordinator of the United Nations (U.N.) Headquarters in New York the Early Childhood Development Task Force for City to discuss challenges and develop solutions the Global Partnership for Children with Disabili- for migrants with autism and other developmental ties; Melissa Diamond, founder of a Global Voice disabilities. for Autism; and Zsuzsanna Szilvasy, president The event’s co-hosts included the permanent of Autism Europe. U.N. missions of Qatar, Bangladesh, China, India Organizers will summarize the panel’s recom- VISIT and Turkey, as well as Autism Speaks. Panalists mendations in a consensus document that will be ABLE’S included Werner Obermeyer, deputy to the execu- shared with all U.N. member states and posted on WEBSITE tive director of the World Health Organization; Su- the Autism Speaks website when completed. WWW.ABLENEWS.COM Senate Holds Alzheimer’s Hearing ABLE NEWSPAPER costly institutionalization.” P.O. Box 395, Old Bethpage, NY 11804 he United States Sen- The witnesses told the com- 516 939-2253 FAX 516 939-0540 ate Special Committee mittee that despite a diagnosis In its written testimony, www.ablenews.com Ton Aging recently held of Alzheimer’s disease, things AFA discussed the increasing a hearing to discuss issues can be done to enhance quality incidences of the disease, its associated with cognitive de- of life and delay placement in costs and that there is cur- cline, where the Alzheimer’s costly institutions. rently no cure. Foundation of America (AFA) Further, measures such as Early and accurate diagno- submitted written testimony undergoing periodic memory sis of Alzheimer’s disease can describing the state of Alzhei- screenings and attention paid empower and enhance quali- mer’s disease, its impact on to brain health, may help pre- ty of life for the person living millions of American families, vent or delay cognitive decline. with Alzheimer’s and their Published By the need for increased feder- “Alzheimer’s disease is a de- family caregivers. Melmont Printing al funding for research and bilitating illness that affects AFA’s National Memory not only those with the dis- Screening Program can be a services for caregivers, the Publisher importance of memory screen- ease, but their families, care- first step in determining if a Angela Miele Melledy NEW YORK ABLE NEWSPAPER- MAY 2017 PAGE 2 2017 PAGE MAY ABLE NEWSPAPER- YORK NEW ings and of taking a proactive givers and communities,” said person is experiencing mem- approach to brain health. Charles Fuschillo Jr., presi- ory issues. The program pro- Editorial Staff The hearing featured two dent of AFA. vides free, confidential screen- Assistant panels of witnesses, one of “It is important to educate ings in convenient locations in Allison Howe which included Maria Shriv- people and raise awareness. communities across the nation er, journalist and founder I applaud Chairman [Susan] and an opportunity to learn Staff Writer of the Women’s Alzheimer’s Collins (R-Maine), Ranking more about lifestyle choices Beth Guarino (emerita) Movement. The other fea- Member [Bob] Casey (D-Pa.) for healthy aging. tured Kristin Yaffe of the Uni- and the members of the Sen- Early detection of memory Columnists versity of California and San ate Special Committee on Ag- problems can afford people the Disabled in Action Francisco VA Medical Center, ing for holding this hearing opportunity to establish care- Edith Prentiss Christopher Callahan of the and shining a light on Alzhei- giver networks, address finan- Anthony Trocchia Indiana University Center for mer’s. Yet, more positive steps cial and legal matters, express Task Force Aging Research and family are needed to further examine end-of-life wishes, and take Assemblymember Didi Barrett caregiver Phyllis Gallagher of the disease so that we can en- advantage of caregiving train- United Spinal Association Pennsylvania. hance quality of life and delay ing and support services. Jim Weisman AFA, based in New York, is Lyft Will Improve Access For Blind a nonprofit that unites more Staff than 2,600 member organiza- Production Director Lyft and the National Fed- including those who use guide Debbie Simko eration of the Blind (NFB) dogs, are able to access the tions nationwide with the goal of providing optimal care and Art & Production recently announced a collabo- service when and where they Jennifer Becker services to individuals living rative effort to ensure reliable need it, without fear that they Ann Imbrogno with dementia, their caregiv- and equal service to individu- will be refused service. My Technical Assistance als who are blind and use ser- wife Melissa uses a guide dog, ers and families. Louis Melledy vice animals. and consequently our family Its services include a nation- Office Manager As part of that effort, Lyft has occasionally experienced al, toll-free helpline staffed by Fannie Miele (emerita) kicked off the company’s first the refusal of transportation licensed social workers, edu- Accounting Service Animal Month. They services, which violates the le- cational conferences and ma- Margaret Wenzel also announced a new policy gal and civil rights of the blind terials, a free quarterly mag- which clarifies that every rider and people with disabilities." azine and their AFA Partners Beloved P.I.A. Emeritus who has a service animal must “Lyft is excited to partner in Care dementia training for Harry Wieder be accommodated, regardless with the NFB to confirm its healthcare professionals. It is estimated that Alzhei- Advertising Rates of a driver’s preferences or cir- commitment that everyone Furnished Upon Request cumstances. who requests a ride through mer’s costs the United States In addition, Lyft is commit- the Lyft app is provided with an estimated $259 billion a ting to a number of education equal service, regardless of year, including $175 billion in costs to Medicare and Medic- Postmaster: Send address changes to initiatives for their drivers to whether the rider is accom- Able News at P.O. Box 395, Old Bethpage, N.Y. make sure they are aware of panied by a service animal,” aid. 11804. Periodicals are being paid for at Beth- These costs are expected to page, N.Y. post office. ©1994 ABLE NEWSPA- the policy. said Laura Copeland, Lyft’s PER. Able Newspaper is published monthly by Drivers who don’t comply head of community. “At Lyft, skyrocket as the baby boom Melmont Printing, 6 Robert Court, Bethpage, generation ages. Currently, N.Y. 11714. Able welcomes manuscripts and with the new policy may face we are committed to creating suggestions for articles. However, to assure safe immediate and permanent de- a community where everyone there is no known prevention return, manuscripts must be accompanied by a or treatment for Alzheimer’s self-addressed stamped envelope. No respon- activation from the platform. feels welcome, comfortable sibility is assured for unsolicited manuscripts or "Companies like Lyft are and respected. Drivers should disease. art. Submissions are the author’s warranty that the material is not an infringement of the rights empowering blind people to always say yes when it comes of others and that the material may be published live the lives we want by pro- to transporting riders with without further approval. Editorial material does not necessarily reflect the view of the editor/ viding fast, convenient and af- service animals.” Deadline for the publisher of Able Newspaper. Advertisers are re- fordable transportation,” said Lyft is implementing these sponsible for the content of advertisements. No June issue of part of this publication may be reprinted without Mark Riccobono, president changes pursuant to an agree- the permission of the publisher. Able is not re- of NFB. “This empowerment ment with law firms that rep- Able Newspaper sponsible for errors in advertisements beyond the price of the space occupied by the error. The can only be real and complete, resented NFB and guide dog Will be May 9 publisher reserves the right to decline advertis- however, if all blind people, users. ing for any reason. PAGE 3 MAY 2017- NEW YORK ABLE NEWSPAPER YORK 2017- NEW 3 MAY PAGE Court Rules For More Student Services he U.S. Supreme Court re- a behavior intervention plan that free, appropriate public educa- In Endrew F., the U.S. Court of cently issued a unanimous addressed the child’s specific tion in the least restrictive envi- Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, Tdecision in Endrew F. v. strengths and needs. He started ronment, meaning they should following a prior decision writ- Douglas County School District, a to flourish and made significant be as integrated as possible with ten by Pres. Donald Trump’s crucial victory for special educa- academic progress. their peers who do not have Supreme Court nominee Judge tion students because it address- His parents filed a complaint special needs. However, some Neil Gorsuch, held that under es the level of educational benefit with the school district seeking students cannot realistically be IDEA, public schools need only schools are required to provide to reimbursement for their tu- integrated or access that curric- provide a “merely more than de children with disabilities under ition payments to the private ulum.