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Winter 2021 Newsletter
From: Washington Civil & Disability Advocate
Picciano Press release
On November 11, 2020, Washington Civil & Disabilitly Advocate (WACDA) and Stein & Vargas published a press release highlighting their allegations that Clark County Jail failed to feed plaintiff Gaven Picciano while he was detained.
Although Mr. Picciano notified jail officials that he has Celiac Disease, requested a gluten-free diet and signed off on release of his medical records to prove it, the jail initially refused to provide a safe diet, instead telling Mr. Picciano to trade his meals to other people in detention for bananas.
Mr. Picciano continues to suffer impact from his treatment, although he has been released.
Stein & Vargas, LLP and the Washington Civil & Disability Advocate represent Mr. Picciano. “Defendants treated Mr. Picciano in a way that no civilized society should accept.” said Mary Vargas of Stein & Vargas, LLP.
Update on Ninth Circuit Mariner’s case
“We all know what it’s like to go to a major league baseball game. It’s about the sights, the sounds, the experience. The primary reason for going to the game is for what is taking place on the field,” said attorney Conrad Reynoldson in the opening of his oral argument. In December, Mr.Reynoldson came before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, along with co-counsel Stephen Hylas from Munger, Tolles & Olson, to argue that T-Mobile Park should provide a comparable fan experience for everyone. WACDA represents four diehard Mariners fans who use wheelchairs and regularly attend games at T-Mobile Park. In some sections of the stadium, nearly all wheelchair accessible seats are far from the field or have obstructed views compared to other seats, creating a “second class” experience for wheelchair users.
The trial judge decided in favor of the defendants, but WACDA disagreed with the decision, and filed a notice of appeal. 17 different prominent disability rights organizations from across the country submitted an amici curia brief in support of WACDA’s case.
Fans who use wheelchairs cannot see the playing field when standing spectators in the rows in front of them stand up. Additionally, the majority of accessible seating is relegated to the back rows of the stadium.
WACDA is excitedly waiting for the Ninth Circuit to issue the decision. Check back in the Volume II, Issue 2 newsletter to (hopefully) read about the results!
We Celebrated
July 26, 2020 marked the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act! This landmark civil rights law was passed in 1990 and protects people with disabilities from discrimination in employment, government services, businesses open to the public, telecommunications, and more. In celebration, WACDA launched a 30 Days of Accessibility social media campaign, seeking to educate the community about the ADA and other disability rights issues.
RPC Lunch n’ Learn
As a part of WACDA’s mission to educate its Guardians and the community, legal intern Rachel gave a Lunch N’ Learn presentation about the Rules of Professional Conduct (RPCs). The presentation focused on the work product doctrine, attorney client privilege, and the duty of confidentiality.
Learn more about these rules and watch the Lunch N’ Learn presentation on our YouTube channel!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWn3q4G-m_4
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Your Companion for the Challenges of Post-Polio Syndrome
The World-Wide Fellowship of Polio Warriors
Le communiqué – Number 9
Here is the December/January Newsletter. Hope you enjoy it!
December is a month when Christians celebrate Christmas, the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah takes place and is also a month with significant days for Muslims, Buddhists, Pagans and Zoroastrians.
So to everyone, have a very happy and safe holiday time and best wishes for 2021.
In this newsletter:
* Did You Know?
* Don’t Miss Out on Seeing Your Friends This Holiday
* Wheelchair Checks
* Advice on Exercise and Fatigue Management
* To Make You Smile!
* COMPETITION –Win a Fellowship Tee-Shirt
* A Christmas Thought
* Useful Websites
* An Inspiring Story
* Finding a Hobby
* To Make You Smile! (some more)
* Quiz No. 3
Go here:
https://poliowarriors.org/_OLD/Newsletter/Newsletter9.pdf
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DAHRT DISPATCH
SUMMER 2020 NEWSLETTER
Because of Covid-19, the DAHRT offices are temporarily closed. We will not be meeting or having events until it is safe again. However, you can still contact us by phone, mail or e-mail and we will respond to you. Please give us time to get back to you as we are not having regular business hours until this situation has been solved and resolved by all the health officials. Thank you for your understanding and patience.
Welcome to the Summer of 2020! The world is in a crazy place right now. We hope you are all staying safe and well. Since so many places are closed, we are not traveling this summer. We love to travel in our RV, but with all the restrictions at the parks due to Covid-19, we are much better off at home with our view of Puget Sound and easily keeping our distance from everyone!
If you decide to travel in or out of the country, please call ahead and find out all the relevant rules and regulations before you go. For those of us with disabilities or in the age group above 65, we are much more vulnerable to the virus and therefore need to be more careful if we are traveling or leaving home. You need to always wear a mask, take sanitizer or disinfectant wipes with you and wash your hands often or wear gloves for protection. There are different rules everywhere now, and even new restrictions on Service Animals. Some places will not let you take your Service Animal into their stores and restaurants. It may not be fair, but other countries are not the US and not subject to the same ADA rules.
We may all need to have “staycations” this year or enjoy long walks (or rolls) in places where we can all keep our distance. Along these lines, following the current health rules will also encourage others to follow them as well. We hope you all have a great Summer. As we move into fall, it is time to get your free annual Flu shot and to vote. We all have the ability to vote by absentee ballot. This is the best way to vote. It comes early in your home mail along with the Voter’s Pamphlet and has all the information you need to know to vote. It is also free to vote! There are Ballot Boxes in every neighborhood. You can even mail your ballot without a stamp and it will still get delivered.
OTHER NEWS
Reports from the Governor’s Committee states that there are still many problems coming to individual states with respect to the ADA and the federal laws. There is still high unemployment among people with disabilities and a lack of accessible housing as well. Also, because the area is muddied about Service animals and Comfort animals, it is now much harder to travel with your Service animal. You will be required to file more paperwork weeks before you fly or travel by train or other public transportation. The federal Government wants to give the individual states the ADA choices and regulations. They want out of the business of deciding what the states should rule on ADA cases. This would be a bad precedent to set! Individual states would then make their own decisions about following the ADA. It is important for all of us to vote and to let our representatives know how we feel.
Going from state to state could be a nightmare if states do not honor the ADA laws because there are already states that are way behind in following the current ADA laws. The virus has set all of us back and even more for people with disabilities. Be sure you carry paperwork if you can’t wear a mask, as you may be stopped or denied access to a store. Also, some restrooms are no longer open to the public because of the virus. Please call ahead and find out before you leave your house.
If you have trouble buying shoes as a person with a disability, check out “billyfootwear.com” and you may be able to find shoes that will work for you. They specialize in footwear and some clothes for people with disabilities.
We hope you all have a wonderful and safe summer and fall. Stay warm and well. Included below are a few more websites you may find of interest to you. DAHRT still has T-shirts, bags, sweatshirts and stickers for sale. Contact us for more information.
Also, DAHRT recently lost two of our most valuable volunteers to Oregon. If you have a desire to help or volunteer, we would love to have you! Contact our Chair, Joanne Lawrence, and we will sign you up!
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WACDA Winter 2020 Newsletter
*(Washington Civil & Disability Advocate)
In January, WACDA announced the beginning of our quarterly newsletter and now Volume I Issue IV is out!
The WACDA newsletter reports on WACDA news & developments as well as current news in the disability rights sphere. This is WACDA's way to share the work we are engaging in to help create a more accessible world. In this volume, you can read about current developments for WACDA as well as disability-related legislation that is impacting the community right now.
The newsletter is available on our website:
And in PDF format, in addition to this email!
Enjoy!
WACDA's Mariners Appeal
Ninth Circuit oral arguments for WACDA’s appeal with the Disability Rights Law Center of Landis, et al v. WA State MLB Stadium PFD, et al. are set to take place virtually the afternoon of December 10th.
Read more:
Roque v SHA
Plaintiff Tony Roque is quadriplegic and lives in an apartment owned and operated by the Seattle Housing Authority (SHA). Mr. Roque filed a lawsuit against SHA on April 30, 2020, claiming that SHA violated the Fair Housing Act by refusing to grant him a reasonable accommodation, and that SHA illegally and intentionally discriminated against him on the basis of his disability.
Read more:
Online Accessibility Act
Disability rights advocates must be wary of proposed changes to existing disability rights legal protections, as often these amendments are thinly vailed attempts by lobbyists to strip people with disabilities of their rights under the law and conferred to them by courts. The Online Accessibility Act H.R. 8478 is no exception. This bill, which seems on its surface to even be adding rights for individuals with disabilities in regard to online accessibility, actually makes it much for difficult for private plaintiffs to assert their rights and bring actions for online inaccessibility in court.
Read more:
Happy Holidays!
This year has not been what any of us expected and has provided us many new challenges to overcome. As the holidays approach, we are reminded just how different this year will be. Celebrations of love and joy will look unlike they ever have before for so many people around the world. While gatherings to share in the light of this season may be going virtual this year, this will not be the way of things forever. Take time this holiday season to reflect on the year to come and how we can all do our best to spread compassion - not the virus - by wearing a mask [be sure your nose is covered] and social distancing. Instead of visiting family, stay home and create new traditions in the spirit of caring and generosity such as donating to charities whose mission you believe in, like Washington Civil & Disability Advocate. This year, let us put technology to its best use by gathering and giving together! No matter how you celebrate this year, may you find love, kindness, and joy surround you. We are sending the warmest wishes to you and your families from everyone here at Washington Civil & Disability Advocate. Merry Christmas and happy holidays!
Read More:
Our Website:
Copyright © 2020 Washington Civil & Disability Advocate, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
Washington Civil & Disability Advocate
4115 Roosevelt Way NE · Suite B
Seattle, WA 98105 · USA
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WANNA GO HIKING IN YOUR WHEELCHAIR?
Our Mission:
To build disability community and justice in the outdoors.
Our Vision:
An outdoors culture transformed by fair representation, accessibility, and justice for disabled and all other marginalized outdoors people.
About the Project:
Disabled Hikers is a project by disabled hikers for disabled hikers. We provide information and resources that will help you know what to expect on a trail and plan accordingly. We want to help you enjoy the outdoors and love the experience from where you are.
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THE ALL-IN-ONE ACCESSIBILITY DEVICE
Tecla gives individuals with physical disabilities the ability to communicate, control, and connect with the world.
Tecla makes it possible for people of all abilities to control mobile and smart home technology.
For individuals with limited mobility including:
Muscular Dystrophy
Cerebral Palsy
Brain Injury
Stroke
Spinal Cord Injury
Multiple Sclerosis
ALS
Parkinson's Disease
Assistive Technology Funding Information in the United States and Canada
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You can now buy a single shoe or build a pair using different sizes from some of your favorite brands!
https://www.zappos.com/e/adaptive
Zappo for shoes for people with disabilities
Just four of over 20 brands carried by Zappos:
Nike FlyEase, Tommy Adaptive Collection, Friendly Shoes, BILLY Footwear.
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GCDE News
Looking for Young Adults with Disabilities of Military Families
Hi friends, I hope you are well!
I have been asked to help with a project to learn what it's like to receive disability-related services through the military. We are looking for people with disabilities between the ages of 18-26, who grew up in military families, to participate in a short interview.
If there are any young adults with disabilities of military families out there who would like to participate, please let me know. You can also follow the link to the form to sign up if you are interested in completing an interview: https://www.tfaforms.com/4813654. The first 10 people to complete the Zoom interview will receive a $25 Amazon gift card.
Please circulate this information to get the word out to others that may have an interest in joining this conversation!
Thanks,
Daman Wandke, CEO/Founder, Wandke Consulting
Files coming soon.
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