Commonwealth Conversations: Health and Human Services

May is Older Americans Month: Unleashing the Power of Age

A message from the Office of Elder Affairs Secretary Ann Hartstein

Fifty years ago, the youngest United States president designated May Senior Citizens Month.  At the time President Kennedy issued his proclamation, 17 million Americans had reached their 65^th birthday.  Medicare wouldn’t be enacted until 1965 and there were few federal and state benefits in place. Life expectancy was 66 years.

Today, there are more than 41 million Americans who have celebrated their 65^th birthday and their ranks are increasing at the rate of 10,000 per day.  Life expectancy is 78 years across the nation, and nearly 81 years in Massachusetts.  Seniors currently represent nearly 20 percent of the population, but by 2030, more than 26 percent of the country will be 65 or older.

This year, the theme of Older American’s Month – President Carter changed the name in 1980 – is Unleashing the Power of Age, which seems eminently appropriate given the numbers and longevity of today’s senior population.  More seniors are still working or looking for jobs, engaged in athletic activities, volunteering in their communities, retooling skills, following artistic pursuits, aging in place, and caring for family members.  With the advent of antibiotics, healthy lifestyles, greater access to health care and community supports, seniors remain in their homes, a visible part of the social spectrum.

Yet, one barrier remains inhibiting seniors from fully experiencing their power.  That barrier is ageism – the ingrained belief that seniors are less capable, less “with it,” less resilient than their younger peers.  Regrettably, many seniors believe that about themselves.  Ageism undermines the reality of senior accomplishments and abilities.  We fail to acknowledge that if someone has lived a long productive life, he or she probably has been doing something right and experience worth sharing.

Ageism fails to acknowledge that seniors are quite adaptable, having lived through multiple technological and social changes in their lifetimes. Many feel perfectly at home with computers, iPads, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and whatever other new media you can think of.  They were born into a century of unleashed technological power and they adapted to it.  Our misplaced assumptions about older people prevents us and them from realizing their full potential.  

Consider this: aging begins the day we are born. At every age, we unleash the power of age.

May is Mental Health Month: Take the Hero of Hope Pledge!

Since 1949, May has been officially recognized as Mental Health Month.  The first Thursday in May is celebrated as Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day, to raise awareness about the importance of children's mental health and that positive mental health is essential to a child's healthy development from birth.

Over the next week, the Partnership for Early Childhood Mental Health, (which includes the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, the Department of Public Health and the Boston Public Health Commission) invites all state employees to take a pledge to nurture a child’s social and emotional development. Enter your pledge and state email address at www.ecmhmatters.org, in the “for families and friends” section, and you will be included in a raffle to win an Early Childhood Mental Health Matters t-shirt. 

 Why take the Hero of Hope Pledge?

 Early childhood mental health means that young children are growing in their ability to understand and share feelings, have close and positive relationships, and explore and learn. Studies show that good social and behavioral skills in young children lead to good academic performance in the 1st grade and beyond.

Like adults, all children experience stressful events which can affect them emotionally and physically. Parents and other caregivers can help children cope with stress in healthy ways. Even the youngest child will benefit from simple, every day activities that will provide her with security, safety, and a loving environment, be this at home, at childcare or at school. 

 

Help the child or children in your life develop their ability to cope with stress. Nurture healthy social and emotional development in babies and young children. Here are some things you can do:

	For Babies and Toddlers Rock, stroke, soothe and cuddle often. Use words of comfort to calm. Allow babies freedom to explore in safety. Encourage toddlers to calm themselves. Help your child to recognize feelings and develop language to express emotions. Help your child stick to a daily routine.		For Preschoolers and Older Children Spend time every day talking, discussing and sharing what's happening in your child's life. Discuss what it means to be a friend and help your child to make friends Practice effective ways to resolve conflict at school or on the playground. Praise completed tasks, perseverance, desired behavior. Build on developing an emotional vocabulary and how to label feelings. Model and teach attitudes of empathy and ways of caring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Transformative Power of Performing Arts: Using Creative Arts to Strengthen DYS Youth Success

By Daisy Gomez-Hugenberger, Communications Coordinator, Department of Youth Services

Studies show that integrating the creative arts into a young person’s life enhances their academic, social, and personal developmental outcomes. The Department of Youth Services (DYS) uses creative arts programming to provide supportive relationships and to build skills that encourages their strengths while fostering their future potential as adults.

Kerrin is living proof that the arts can have a positive impact on a youth’s self-image and self-
esteem. She is doing just that through a collaborative program between the Department of Youth Services and the Actors’ Shakespeare Project, which provides innovative, statewide arts programing supported by DYS and educational partner the Commonwealth Corporation (Comm. Corp.).

As Kerrin was preparing to reenter the community, DYS staff created a plan that kept her connected to resources through Bridging the Opportunity Gap (BOG), an initiative that provides employment-related services for youth returning to their communities following residential treatment. Once home, Kerrin continued learning from the Actors’ Shakespeare Project and began a three month theatre intensive, attending rehearsals at The Charlestown Working Theater two to three times each week and working alongside teens from local high schools and the professional actors.

The moment arrived when her doubts and fears would dissolve on the stage and Kerrin played several characters during the three night production of Shakespeare’s Henry V, keeping her on stage throughout the entire two-hour performance.

Kerrin credits her DYS caseworker, Jayson Griffin and Actors’ Shakespeare Project instructor, Lori Taylor, with supporting her throughout this entire process: “They never lost faith in me and that made me want to work harder to memorize all my lines and have a good performance. There were times when I was nervous but this experience taught me that you have keep going and push through.”

Demonstrating the value of this important creative arts partnership, last month Commissioner Ed Dolan joined Mayor Thomas M. Menino to announce that the City of Boston will support the Actors’ Shakespeare Project by hosting a production of Romeo and Juliet Boston’s Strand Theatre in Dorchester.

With support from DYS staff and education providers, Kerrin currently is working with the Actors’ Shakespeare Project as a theatre intern and is excited to continue her involvement in the performing arts.

SECRETARY POLANOWICZ COMMENDS WORK OF AUTISM COMMISSION

Health and Human Services Secretary John Polanowicz commended the members of the Governor’s Special Commission Relative to Autism for their important work in developing and releasing their report.

Secretary Polanowicz was joined by Representative Danielle Gregoire, Autism Commission Chair and former Representative Barbara L’Italien, Assistant Secretary for The Office of Disability Policy and Programs Rosalie Edes and Department of Developmental Disabilities Commissioner Elin Howe.

“The Patrick-Murray Administration has deep appreciation for the dedicated and comprehensive work that went into the Autism Commission,” said Secretary Polanowicz. “At the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, we share in a commitment to children and families living with autism and we look forward to continuing our work together.”

HHS has a number of programs that have a proven track record of helping children and adults with autism. In particular, at the Department of Public Health early intervention program has been a national leader in providing specialized services for toddlers with a diagnosis of autism so that they can have the appropriate treatments as early as possible, and at the Department of Developmental Services, the work of the Division of Autism and the Children's Autism Medicaid Waiver Program, has established a foundation upon which we can build additional services for children and adults on the spectrum.

As next steps, Secretary Polanowicz will direct HHS agencies to continue to engage in meaningful dialogue with the members of the Commission so as to develop strategies to meet the goals articulated in the Commission’s Report.  These include:

• Assessing the feasibility of expanding the eligibility criteria for the Department of Developmental Services to ensure that we comprehensively serve all individuals with developmental disabilities, including those with autism
• Examining what information and referral resources are currently available, what data systems are currently in use, and what can be better coordinated in this area
• Developing a task group to facilitate improved coordination of care management within HHS
• Strategizing to develop employment supports that are tailored to the unique needs of individuals with autism
• Determining what supports should be put into place to meet the needs of individuals with autism who need mental health and behavioral health services.

“Autism incidence is growing at an alarming rate, as evidenced by last week's CDC report which concluded  as many as 1 in 50 school-age children are on the Autism Spectrum,” said Commission Chair L’Italien. “As a parent, former State Representative and Chair of the Autism Commission, I have first-hand experience and knowledge of the critical, often  unmet needs of this growing population and its impact on individuals and their families. The Autism Commission report  is a collaborative effort of bipartisan members of the legislature, state agencies, leading medical practitioners, educators, advocates and parents which  details the current state of services and supports and recommends a ten-year blueprint to better manage the many challenges faced by children and adults with Autism. It is critical that Massachusetts take a comprehensive state-wide approach to the needs of this burgeoning population to allow them to live life to their fullest potential.”

The Autism Commission was created by Legislative Resolve in April 2010 and was given the broad charge of investigating individuals with autistic spectrum disorders and the range of services and supports necessary for those individuals to achieve their full potential across their lifespan, ranging from education, employment, housing, and health care.  

 

Community partnership addresses important barriers for DYS youth

By Daisy Gomez-Hugenberger, communications coordinator for the Department of Youth Services

Through an enduring government and nonprofit partnership, youth engaged with the Department of Youth Services (DYS) are receiving leadership and employment training from social enterprise More Than Words (MTW).

Since 2006, More Than Words (MTW) has empowered DYS youth to make positive changes in their lives through education, employment and opportunities towards self-sufficiency. With a Bridging the Opportunity Gap (BOG) grant from DYS through the state’s, Commonwealth Corporation Educational Services contract, More Than Words is currently providing workplace-readiness training and summer employment to DYS youth who are transitioning into the community following residential treatment.

Participants are provided a variety of employment trainings and are taught important job-related skills such as managing inventory or shipping orders. Currently, several DYS youth are helping manage an online bookselling venture that operates out of a warehouse in the South End neighborhood of Boston, and a Starbuck’s-inspired bookstore and café on Moody St. in Waltham.

The partnership’s success is evident: 75 percent of DYS youth obtained work experience or opportunities to further their education. One DYS youth, Cory, joined More Than Words in December 2011, and since then has accomplished two important goals: he has completed his GED and he received a promotion at work. Cory describes MTW opportunities as “not your typical job-job - it’s a transitional job that helps you prepare for what’s next.”

Youth involved with the MTW program also set aside work hours each week so they can commit to specific modules that relate to their individual goals. Modules include topics such as “how to talk about a Criminal Offender Record Information or CORI”, “steps to complete a GED”, “how to write a professional cover letter and resume”, and “help with researching colleges,” to name a few. Cory’s favorite part of his job is the time he spends working on himself and the extra “push” and support he receives from More Than Words staff to keep working towards his aspirations. With help from the MTW team, Cory is currently focusing on securing full-time employment at a local moving company.

MTW participant, Jarris works on adding newly donated books to warehouse inventory which will then be uploaded to a database for online purchase

Youth at MTW not only strengthen critical business skills, they are also required to work towards accomplishing individual milestones. Youth participants are asked to choose what personal goals they want to accomplish during their MTW participation; typically, youth identify completing their GED or HS degree, admission into a 2 or 4-year university, and/or securing full-time employment, and develop a plan with MTF staff to meet their objectives.

Like Cory, MTW participant Jarris enjoys working towards goals that will empower and improve his options for the future. Jarris set his personal goal early in the program – to get into a college – which he has accomplished this year. As part of his professional growth, Jarris will also begin a one-year intensive training program in technical skills in September. Once his training is complete, he will be eligible to participate in an internship through a relationship with the nonprofit organization Year Up and its corporate partners.

DYS is invested in providing a continuum of services through agencies like More Than Words. Collaborations supported through Bridging the Opportunity Gap (BOG) grants strengthen the way we address the career readiness and employability needs of DYS clients. We look forward to continuing to foster relationships with agencies that provide youth with tools needed to succeed in their communities and reinforce our efforts to make a positive difference in their lives.

 

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Childcare for Refugee Populations: Partnerships for Increased Access

By: Diane M. Randolph, Director, Community Building Unit/ Massachusetts Office for Refugees and Immigrants (ORI)

There is a well-known African adage: It takes a village to raise a child. Seemingly this phrase hasn’t lost its accuracy.

The United States has consistently received an influx of new populations from nations where people have been displaced. In recent years, this refugee population swell has continued. Here in Massachusetts approximately 2,000 refugees  arrive annually, making the Commonwealth their home. Their places of origin vary greatly, from Burma to Somalia, Nepal, Haiti and many other countries. Many refugees come with small children and babies and can have the greatest needs of all: transitioning to a new physical, cultural and social environment, and doing so while raising growing families.

Refugees receive services under an umbrella of providers, so these families are nearly immediately connected to essential services. These services may include receiving referrals to agencies providing medical care, assistance for needy families, English language education and more. However, something the Massachusetts Office for Refugees (ORI) and the MA Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) are working to ensure there are opportunities to improve access to early education and care for refugee families. This is, a top priority for the following three reasons:

1. Increased access to early education can improve lives.
   Research has indicated that the amount of time in a pre-school or other early learning environment directly correlates with an individual’s likelihood of attending and finishing college and can impact their lifetime earning potential, as well can affect an individual’s physical, mental or behavioral health outcomes. Access to early education also increases employment options for refugees, by ensuring safe and continuous care for children as parents work.
2. 2.Increased Reach into Refugee Communities can Benefit Early Education Providers.Having access to training and structured forums where conversations can occur between child care providers and the refugee populations, can address cultural barriers both groups may face. By participating in such activities, staff and parents can feel confident about the care provided to children is as culturally responsive, appropriate and safe for all.
3. Early Education is a Statewide Priority.In June 2008, Governor Deval Patrick and the Patrick Administration released the Education Action Agenda calling for cross-sector support to ensure “universal excellence” and access to education to all children in the state. The Administration has tasked all government agencies with fostering children’s development and to incorporate working with families to improve service delivery and coordination.

Given these opportunities, ORI and EEC are working to reduce the disparity of access to childcare services to refugee families. On April 1, 2012 the two agencies signed an agreement to support a project that does just that. Overall this partnership will Increase the knowledge and understanding of the unique needs of refugee families, provide cultural competency training to childcare providers with regard to refugee families and support “two-way” conversation between providers and the needs of refugee families.

The agencies look forward to increasing access to early education and care to refugee children in the Commonwealth, as, after all: it takes a village,  or in our case a partnership, to support the needs of our children. 

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MCDHH and MRC's Transition to Work Program 2012

By Commissioner Heidi Reed 

For the second consecutive summer, the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH), in collaboration with the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) offers Summer Transition to Work services from June to September 2012.  Sixty Deaf and Hard of Hearing high school and college students currently serve paid internships in a wide variety of public and private employment settings throughout the Commonwealth.

Unemployment and under-employment are drastically more prevalent among people who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Today, when jobs are scarce and competition for them is fierce, Transition to Work offers unique opportunities for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students to explore areas of interest, learn vital job-seeking skills and benefit from a work experience that is strongly supported by weekly meetings with individual job coaches.   In addition to specific job skills, students learn to prepare resumes, practice interviewing techniques, fill out time sheets and related paperwork, budget money while picking up nuances of the workplace, e.g. how to dress, appropriate body language, etc.  As a result, students become more confident and independent and therefore, are more likely to stay in school and pursue their dream job.

Transition to Work would not be possible without support and collaboration from the many companies, agencies, schools, etc. within Massachusetts that open their doors to welcome Deaf and Hard of Hearing students to the workplace. Some past host employers have included CVS, Children’s Hospital, BU, MBTA, and Senator Hart’s office. Student roles ranged from clerical work, teacher’s aide, graphic arts, and maintenance/landscaping.

The employers/mentors benefit, as well:  they have an expanded workforce and a chance to groom future employees.  For many, working alongside a Deaf or Hard of Hearing worker is a new – and often mind-opening – experience.   Sign language interpreters are provided as needed for the workplace by MCDHH and MRC to make initial communication as comfortable as possible for everyone involved.

I personally would like to congratulate the students and their mentors who welcomed them as summer interns. Participation in these internships is pivotal to the future of the workforce here in Massachusetts. Transition to Work is part of our vision of the Commonwealth becoming a Model Employer; actively seeking to employ Deaf and Hard of Hearing people and people with disabilities who are under-represented in the workforce.  Here at MCDHH, we thank our interns for their commitment to learning their jobs and wish them well with future endeavors as they return to the classroom this fall.  And, we are sincerely grateful to the employers and mentors who welcomed, guided and advised students throughout the summer.

Participants of the Transition to Work Program: Interns Chi wai-Kwong-Sito and Mark Mohan Jr. with Edgar Herrera, Business Manager and Commissioner Heidi Reed

 

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Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital opens today: New facility reflects new frontier for mental health

By DMH Commissioner Marcia Fowler

Today marks the official opening of the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH) Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital (WRCH). The new, state-of-the-art facility represents an evolution in modern public psychiatric care and treatment and reflects a remarkable collaboration among scores of stakeholders in the mental health community.

Since 2005, when the first meeting of the state’s Department of Mental Health Facility Feasibility Commission took place, the guiding principles for this historic project have always focused on recovery for individuals with serious mental illness and on Community First, the Patrick-Murray Administration’s principle of prioritizing a person’s reintegration into the community. DMH believes that true recovery from mental illness is not only possible, it is real.

I am so grateful to the hundreds of individuals, agencies and organizations who, for the past seven years, have dedicated their energy, expertise and hard work to creating the Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital, and the hope we know it will bring to many individuals and their families.

WRCH is designed to foster dignity and respect for all who come through its doors; the building’s design and features themselves guide the recovery journey for adults and adolescents who need continuing care. WRCH will lead the nation, and possibly the world, in how clinical treatment and the recovery model can restore purpose and independence to persons whose lives have been interrupted by serious mental illness.

A crowning achievement of this magnitude could not be possible without the commitment, faith and compassion of many. To name them all would fill volumes, but I attempt here to acknowledge these remarkable folks who have made their mark on this extraordinary facility.

Under the leadership of Governor Patrick, Lt. Governor Murray and Executive Office of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. JudyAnn Bigby, the creation of WRCH will ensure that citizens with serious mental illness are treated with dignity and respect and provided access to the best care and treatment in the nation. All of the thought and development that has gone into WRCH has unceasingly kept a keen eye toward recovery for all of individuals seeking care.

I extend my heartfelt thanks to the members and staff of the Department of Mental Health Feasibility Commission and the Massachusetts Legislature who have shown unwavering leadership and support for citizens with serious mental illness.  I also want to thank former DMH Commissioner Barbara Leadholm, who, during her tenure led the Department and our stakeholders, community, consumers and families in their deep commitment to recovery, the principle of Community First and an innovative, state-of-the-art psychiatric hospital for Massachusetts.

The success of this project would not have been possible without the partnership of the Division of Capital Asset Management; Ellenszweig Associates; and Gilbane Inc., who for the past five years have worked collaboratively and closely with DMH and our stakeholders to conceptualize, design and build a public psychiatric hospital that sets the state for reforming mental health care and treatment nationwide.

I especially want to extend my deepest appreciation to the many DMH staff, who over the past five years, have spent countless hours working on developing WRCH and informing a hospital design that keeps recovery as its focus and is infused in every aspect of the building and grounds. Thank you for your tremendous contribution to WRCH and to the Department.

It takes a village to raise a child, and today’s opening reflects the entire community it took to build Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital. Without the many contributions of creativity, compassion and innovation of so many, we would not have the facility we are so proud to open today. On behalf of all citizens of the Commonwealth, I extend my gratitude to all who made it possible.

 

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DYS state-wide training event celebrates staff and client achievement

By DYS Commissioner Edward Dolan

The dedication and efforts of DYS staff are critically important to the mission of impacting the lives of youth in our care. We recently recognized our employee’s work by honoring more than 100 DYS clinicians, caseworkers, district managers and resource specialists from throughout the state at DYS’ 4^th Annual Community Services Training.

The full-day training offered extensive information sessions, multi-media presentations, and staff and client panels showcasing positive youth outcomes.  The event also featured guest speaker, Ed Gerety - a trainer who specializes in youth leadership and personal development. Gerety animatedly engaged the audience in his keynote address and explored how to motivate young people who need guidance in controlling the trajectory of their lives. Gerety’s presentation resonated with many staff as he described that in “living life with gratitude, responsibility, kindness and passion- we can all make a difference to better the lives of others.”

DYS Commissioner, Edward Dolan and DYS Assistant Commissioner of Operations, Peter Forbes present Roxbury District Office caseworker, Anthony Pitts, with an award in recognition of 25 years of service at DYS’ 4^th Annual Casework Conference.

Undoubtedly, one of the most inspiring elements of the day was listening to a panel of DYS youth and colleagues describe the experiences had in various DYS-sponsored programs created to support positive youth development.

With broad smiles, several youth expressed pride in their accomplishments and gratitude for the DYS programs and for the staff who went above and beyond to help guide and encourage them. Each of the five state-wide regions on the panel revealed that collaborating with local agencies to create programs focused on pro-social, positive development, and skill-attainment activities had important benefits for the lives of DYS-involved youth.

The teens, in person and on video, shared how they acquired new skills and meaningful experiences such as gaining employment as an auto body repair supervisor and personal fitness trainer, and overcame obstacles to achieve important milestones such as graduating high school.

“The Patrick-Murray Administration works to help the DYS staff make significant contributions to helping DYS-committed youth achieve positive outcomes,” said Assistant Commissioner of Operations, Peter Forbes. “This year’s training demonstrated an exceptional level of commitment and creativity on the part of both staff and youth.”

DYS-sponsored programs highlighted at the 4^th Annual Community Service Training included:

• Central Region – Bridging the Opportunity Gap, Becker Community College Gaming Program: Teaching youth the science of video game design
• Metro Region – Sole Train: A running club teaching youth how to reach goals through a series of well-paced steps (this collaboration was recently in the news)
• Northeastern Region – Educational Pathways and Achievements: An education initiative which increased the numbers of youth graduating from high school or receiving their GED
• Southeast Region – Southeast District Office Basketball Tournament: Fostering teamwork and supporting physical health through friendly competition among youth and staff
• Western Region – Bridging the Opportunity Gap, Taconic Vocational Program: Guiding youth through various vocational trainings such as culinary arts and automotive repair

The future of our youth is better-served when we strengthen the mechanisms necessary to bolster the innovative services that reinforce the mission of DYS. We look forward to continue celebrating and supporting the innovative and effective efforts of our workforce. 

One of several poster presentations; Central Region employees showcased their program’s work at DYS’ 4th Annual Casework Conference.

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On the 22nd anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, a resolve to continue championing all rights of all individuals with disabilities

By MRC Commissioner Charles Carr

As we approach 22nd Anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) this Thursday, now is an ideal opportunity to reflect on the progress we have made.

 The ADA, a broad civil rights law for people with disabilities, was enacted in 1990 and is the most comprehensive civil rights legislation passed since the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

 On July 26, 1990, when President George H. W. Bush signed the ADA into law, he said, “let the shameful wall of discrimination come down today,” and life for people with disabilities slowly began to change.

Much like the discrimination that people of color and women experienced in this country, people with disabilities faced blatant discrimination.  These practices would continue unless American society deemed it illegal to do so. The Civil Rights Act and Title IX provided protections for people of color and women, respectively, and that experience helped teach people with disabilities how to organize and push for over a decade to achieve the passage of the ADA.

As each of the Act’s titles began being implemented throughout the country, lawsuits were filed under the new legislation alleging employment discrimination and lack of access to public accommodations including public transportation. This new body of case law became fertile ground to support many more challenges which eventually led to the historic Olmstead decision in the Supreme Court.

The 1999 Olmstead decision was based on an ADA lawsuit against the state of Georgia on behalf of two women with intellectual disabilities who lived in a state institution but wanted to live independently in the community. The suit claimed that the ADA requires that the state must provide opportunities for people with disabilities to live in the “least restrictive environment."  It said that people with disabilities have protection under the law to make the decision to live in the community rather than institutions.. L.C. vs. Olmstead made its way all the way to the Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of the plaintiffs. The Olmstead decision was a significant advancement for people with disabilities.

Today, as a society, we are richer and significantly more diverse as a result of the inclusion of people with disabilities into the social mainstream. Prior to the ADA It was the rule rather than the exception for people with disabilities to live their lives in institutions away from their families and friends. Although there are still many lingering instances of people living in institutions, that trend has been significantly reversed.

Before the passage of the ADA, the vast majority of public places and services like restaurants, theaters, municipal buildings, hotels and public transportation were totally inaccessible to people who use wheelchairs or have other mobility-related disabilities. Today, this too has dramatically changed.  People with disabilities can expect to take accessible public transportation to a baseball game and go out for dinner afterwards without being confronted with physical barriers. People who are deaf and hard of hearing are no longer excluded from basic telecommunications including the Internet.

These are a few examples of why the ADA was necessary and how the quality of life for people with disabilities has been significantly enriched over the past two decades. As with any law, however, we must be vigilant about its enforcement. This takes hard work and organization. I am grateful to the thousands of disability organizations and individuals around the country who are dedicated to safeguarding and advancing community inclusion as afforded by the law.

However, one aspect of the ADA remains largely unaddressed. Although Title I of the ADA guarantees protection against discrimination in employment and guarantees access to “reasonable accommodations” (such as a sign language interpreter or physical modifications to a work environment) once you are on the job, employment remains the unfulfilled promise of the ADA. 

People with disabilities are the largest and poorest minority in the country. This is largely due to a substantially higher unemployment rate for people with disabilities -- 30% versus the national rate of 8% in the general public. Recently, Sen. Tom Harkin, one of the original authors of the ADA, released a report that reflects this troubling fact and calls for sweeping changes in the public and private sectors. Undoubtedly, this will serve as a motivating force for people with disabilities, employers, lawmakers and others. Perhaps this will serve as the blueprint to tackle the problem of poverty and unemployment for people with disabilities in this country.

So as we celebrate our many accomplishments within the disability community over the past 22 years, let's not forget how much work there is left to be done. Let us continue to fulfill a promise made on this date exactly 22 years ago; that all people with disabilities will have equal access to all social and economic aspects of the American Dream.