Brittany Matthews of the DoD Computer/Electronic Accommodation Program (CAP) will tell us about the USDA-CAP Partnership Program that will provide assistive technology reasonable accommodations to USDA employees. Bruce McFarlane, Acting Director of the USDA TARGET Center, will tell us about the implementation of the program at USDA. Both will be available to answer your questions.

When asked how satisfied they were with CAP services, customers reported a98 percent satisfaction rate overall. Also, 73 percent of survey respondents said that they received their equipment in less than 30 days. We are further pleased to announce that two of our disability teams, Blind/Low Vision and Cognitive, each received an outstanding 100 percent satisfaction rate! With 88 percent of CAP customers rating our services Above Average or Excellent, it is clear that CAP continues to provide quality services to DoD and Federal employees.

When planning an event, it is important to ensure that all invited guests have the opportunity to engage in the event equally, including people with disabilities. The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination based on disability and mandates accessibility in programs and activities conducted by the Federal government. To plan an accessible event, planners must examine the means of communication being used and the accessibility of the facility. Things to consider when planning an event:

Schedule interpreting services in advance
Placement of lighting
Number of interpreters needed
Modes of communication requested
Provide extra microphone for interpreters
Provide advance copies of agenda and handouts

• Presentations:

Ensure that any videotapes used are captioned
Provide handouts in alternative formats
Ensure use of easily visible overheads or slides
Make and distribute large-print copies for handouts
Use microphones to ensure that participants can hear
Read all overheads out loud and describe pictures or graphs
Repeat audience questions with responses

• Printed Materials:

Available in alternative formats
Large print in18-point or larger font
Braille (text only)
Electronic media
Audio cassette

• Facilities Requirements:

Adequate parking and ramp accessibility for persons with disabilities
38-inch-wide, easy-opening doors
Conference room setup ensuring wheelchair users can see the program
Signs indicating facility locations marked in Braille and/or raised letters
Accessible restrooms
Teletypewriter (TTY) machines
Assistive listening systems

Submitted By Maria Teresa Vandergriff, USAID

If you suffer from extreme sensitivity to fragrances, chemicals, molds, or other irritants, and suffer effects at the workplace requiring accommodation of some sort, requesting reasonable accommodations for your condition can at times become a frustrating and stressful experience. Fragrance/chemical sensitivity may very well be one of the least understood health problems impacting employees in the workplace. An agency's failure to grant a reasonable accommodation when you suffer from fragrance/chemical sensitivity may require the filing of an EEO complaint against an agency for failure to provide a reasonable accommodation. However, there are a number of tips to keep in mind when requesting a reasonable accommodation at your workplace to enhance your entitlement to this right and make the filing of a complaint less likely.

Take care in identifying the types of accommodations that will work for you.  You should be prepared to submit medical documentation from your treating physician identifying the recommended accommodations. Bear in mind that, generally, an agency is not required to provide a fragrance-free environment, one in which your entire office must discontinue use of all fragrant products. And remember that upon requesting a reasonable accommodation, it is important that you engage in continuing dialogue with the agency regarding your medical condition and accommodation needs. Your cooperation in providing the agency information regarding your medical condition, a description of how your medical condition impacts you, and your accommodation needs is critical. Doctor support and medical documentation is vital.

NEWPORT BEACH, CA - Deaf Fiesta 2002, the largest tradeshow in the deaf community, is coming to Washington D.C.! The exciting event will take place at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC on March 30, 2002, from 10a.m. to 8 p.m. The Washington Convention Center is surrounded by the majesty of the monuments, the beauty of the parks and the friendly charm of the neighborhoods. It is a few miles away from Gallaudet University.

Deaf Fiesta 2002 will continue its tradition of offering free Deaf Fiesta 2002 shirts, prize drawings, and a broad range of information, demonstrations and educational opportunities to everyone deaf, hard of hearing, or hearing.

"We're expecting the show to grow, enter new markets and provide value for attendees, exhibitors and sponsors everywhere in the deaf community," Arthur Wiesblatt, CEO, stated.

Deaf Fiesta 2002 is expected to attract 7,000+ attendees. They can shop, compare, enjoy the entertainment, view live demonstrations, and surf the net while meeting with exhibitors and friends.

"Our goal has always been to combine great entertainment with critical consumer education and deaf life stage needs and options," states James Kittell, Founder of Deaf Fiesta. "We are excited to present events where deaf and hearing people can meet and gather important information, learn from our quality providers, and have fun -- all at the same time."

Training provides us with new perspectives and exposure to government-wide issues and concerns. Planning ahead ensures that you have time to prepare an excellent application package and indicates to your management that you are interested in career development and upward mobility.

The Good News: Managers seeking to recruit employees for summer employment or permanent positions have a valuable resource in the Workforce Recruitment Program, available through the Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy (DOL ODEP).

Now is the time to respond to Secretary Ann M. Veneman's commitment for USDA to hire 9,000 people with disabilities over a 5-year period. Now, more than ever, USDA managers are challenged to employ, promote, and retain employees with disabilities.

Now is the time to get the message out to managers and supervisors that the recruitment of quality employees is easier. In 2001, agencies used Workforce Recruitment Program to hire hundreds of qualified college students with disabilities to work in engineering, law, accounting, computer technology, human resources, and other areas.

The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) invites you to participate in the 2002 Biennial NAD Conference. The Conference theme is, "Hand in Hand * We Make a Difference!" The theme signifies the importance of partnerships to accomplish goals set forth in the Conference to improve our lives.

Biennial NAD Conferences, rotated annually among the various regions of the country, have traditionally brought together at least 2,500 deaf, hard of hearing, late deafened, deaf blind and hearing consumers, parents, youth, professionals, educators, organizational and corporate representatives for five days of professional development, training, networking, governance meetings, receptions and related evening events.

The upcoming 46th Biennial NAD Conference is expected to attract well over 3,000 attendees, many of whom are also expected to take part in the July 8-13 Deaf Way II Conference in Washington, DC. Come and join us!

In January, the National Capital Area Chapter (NCAC) of the American Council of the Blind of Maryland hosted a demonstration of Maryland's new accessible voting equipment that will be installed in four counties by September 1, 2002. Paul Valette from the Board of elections in Montgomery County as well as Joe Tory, and David Heller from the State Board of Elections demonstrated three machines. One machine was set up with voice output, one had large print access, and the third was a standard machine with no accessibility programming. The demonstration of the Global Election System technology allowed members of the National Capital Area Chapter of the American Council of the Blind of Maryland to comment on the accessibility of the voting process.

Submitted By Linda L-W. Dallos, FAS

The universal reaction among The Deaf Way participants can be best summarized in one word, euphoric exclamations such as: "Wow," "Amazing," or "Wonderful." For nearly a week in July 1989, well over 5,000 deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing individuals from all over the world participated in The Deaf Way conference and festival. More than 600 scholarly presentations and artistic performances promoted international cross-cultural exchanges of language, culture, history, and art of deaf and hard of hearing people. The participants came out of the conference proud of their heritage and excited about the future. The Deaf Way sparked numerous positive changes for deaf and hard of hearing people worldwide.

Gallaudet University is privileged to once again host Deaf Way II on July 8 -13, 2002. The Organizing Committee has begun planning to ensure that this second international event will be as educational and enriching as the first --- and more! We are excited by unlimited possibilities in reaching out to an even larger audience both here and abroad, through use of the World Wide Web and other emerging Internet technologies.

NYTimes.com Article forwarded by Norene Blair/WO/USDAFS
By SALLY McGRANE, January 24, 2002

TWO years ago, Wayne Westerman, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Delaware, had a problem. His dissertation was almost due, and he couldn't type more than one page a day because of repetitive stress problems that had begun when he was an undergraduate. "I couldn't stand to press the buttons anymore," he said.

For Mr. (now Dr.) Westerman, work also provided a solution. His dissertation in the university's electrical and computer engineering department involved the development of a keyless keyboard, one that did not require the same degree of finger pressure. This new approach to entering data allowed Dr. Westerman, now a visiting assistant professor in the same department, to finish his dissertation and eventually to be free of symptoms.

Dr. Westerman and his co-developer, John G. Elias, a professor in the department, are trying to market their technology to others whose injuries might prevent them from using a computer. The TouchStream Mini from their company, FingerWorks (www.fingerworks.com), uses a thin sensor array that recognizes fingers as they move over the keyboard. The sensors monitor disturbances in the touch pad's electric field, not pressure, so typing requires only a very light touch. Unlike similar touch pads on hand-held computers or on laptops, which only recognize input from a single point, this surface can process information from multiple points, allowing for more rapid typing.

"We thought there would already be something out there that would do multifinger input," Mr. Westerman said. "We ended up building the whole thing from scratch."

The TouchStream technology also replaces computer mouse movements with gestures across the screen. To issue commands, the user runs various finger combinations over the pad. For "cut," the thumb and middle finger are pulled together in a snipping motion, and for "open," the thumb and next three fingers are drawn in a circle on the pad, as if they are opening a jar. ("Close" is the opposite motion.) Because the software knows the difference between a typing movement and a mouse or command gesture, the user can give mouse commands anywhere on the pad, even right on top of the keyboard area.

"A lot of electrical engineers come at the problem of input and go immediately to voice recognition," Dr. Westerman said. Because he had studied piano for 12 years, he said, the idea of using the technology with multiple fingers made sense to him.

FingerWorks is just beginning to offer commercial products for sale at its Web site. The TouchStream Mini is $199; the larger TouchStream Stealth, which includes an extensive two-handed-gesture set, is $329. The iGesture Pad, which supplants the mouse and number pad, is $189.

Graciela Perez, manager of the lab ergonomics program at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, bought one of the FingerWorks keyboards for its ergonomics demonstration room. "The whole concept is really good," she said. Although the keyboard is not the right size for a person with small hands, she added, "people really like it."

"Most of our people are on computers with keyboard trays with the mouse to one side, so the shoulder is out or even worse, back," Ms. Perez said. "There's also an anticipatory reflex with mouse work: as someone waits for the next window to come up, they hold onto the mouse for dear life." The FingerWorks keyboard, she said, "forces you to relax. It appreciably reduces force and repetitive issues and encourages dynamic motion."

The keyboard software is not configured to change key sizes for users with hands of various sizes because the keyboard overlay, which shows users where the keys are, is static. Mr. Elias and Dr. Westerman hope to incorporate a key-size option in the future.

FingerWorks may ultimately introduce handwriting in addition to gestures as an alternative to traditional typing and mousing. In theory, said Mr. Elias, the touch pad could be as thin as a sheet of paper and cover an entire tabletop. At the touch of a fingertip, the tabletop pad's software could reconfigure from a keyboard to a game console to the keys of a musical instrument. No real keys would exist. "You could spill coffee on it," he said.

Submitted By Terry Thir

The Social Security Administration has launched a new Ticket to Work program designed to give people with disabilities with more opportunities to help them go to work. The Ticket Program is the cornerstone of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act, signed into law in December 1999.

Social Security disability and Supplemental Security Income disability beneficiaries will begin receiving tickets in the mail this week that may be used to obtain job training, rehabilitation and other services. The Ticket Program will be in operation nationwide by January of 2004.

Over the next five months, approximately 2.4 million Social Security and SSI beneficiaries with disabilities will receive a Ticket to Work. The mailings will be staggered, based on the last digit of a beneficiary's Social Security number. Those wanting a ticket immediately can call 1-866-968-7842 (1-866-YOURTICKET). TDD/TTY users should call 1-866-833-2967 (1-866- TDD2WORK).

This is how the program works: a ticket holder gives the ticket to a local employment service provider, called Employment Networks. The network, with the ticket holder, designs an individual employment plan outlining the services to be provided to assist the beneficiary in reaching his or her employment goal. Individuals will receive services from an Employment Network for free; SSA will pay the Employment Networks for successfully helping a beneficiary go to work. The Ticket Program is voluntary. Social Security and SSI beneficiaries who receive a ticket are not required to work, and Employment Networks are not required to accept tickets.

Between February and June, approximately 2.4 million beneficiaries will receive tickets in Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Vermont and Wisconsin.

The second phase of the program is scheduled for late 2002 in Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee and Virginia and in the District of Columbia.

The final phase of the Ticket Program is scheduled for 2003 in Alabama, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming, as well as in American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

APDA Membership Application for Calendar Year 2001