Cognitive Impairments

In April, the Department of Justice reached a 10-year settlement agreement with the State of Rhode Island following investigations into the state’s day-activity service system for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Under the settlement, Rhode Island has agreed to redirect State funding to more integrated services to ensure individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities are afforded better employment and employment transition services.  Federal...

In March, H&R Block entered into a five-year consent decree with the Department of Justice (DOJ) following complaints that H&R Block violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by failing to ensure accessibility on their website and mobile applications.

In regulatory news, the Federal Communications Commission (...

In February, U.S. Representatives Matt Cartwright (D-PA), Mark Takano (D-CA) and Steve Stockman (R-TX) introduced a new bill, the Alice Cogswell and Anne Sullivan Macy Act[H.R. 4040], to enhance education for students with sensory disabilities. The bill would ensure children who are blind, have low vision or are deaf or hard of hearing are provided with proper evaluation of their educational needs and qualified teachers to meet those needs....

In January,The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Policy Statement Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) regarding the rollout of text-to-911. , the FCC urged Commercial Mobile Radio Service providers as well as providers of other text messaging services to enable text-to-911 for their consumers.

Complementing...

In November, the United States District Court found that New York City failed to accommodate the needs of people with disabilities when planning for and responding to disasters in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The court highlighted that the plan does not include provisions for the accessibility of transportation, emergency shelters, or emergency communications for people with disabilities. Although the case only holds the City liable for their actions, the decision...

This month, The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a Public Notice [EB Docket No. 04-296] seeking comment on issues identified following the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS).  Although the test was regarded as successful, the Bureau is seeking comment on...

In August, the FCC issued a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to revise the rules for Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service ( IP CTS); addressing improper practices.  The new rules prohibit IP CTS providers from providing financial incentives or awards to entice customers to register for the service, while...

In July the Student Success Act [H.R. 5] was approved by the House of Representatives. The bill, which would reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, works to reduce “the federal role in education” through State level academic and teacher assessments in addition to providing State-level grants to promote education for specific populations, such as students with limited English proficiency or students in rural areas. The Assistance...