Senators Gillibrand (D-NY) and Gardner (R-CO) introduced the John S. McCain Opioid Addiction and Prevention Act (S. 724) earlier this month, and while the text is not available, the press release says it would impose across-the-board, seven-day limits on opioid prescriptions for acute pain nationwide. Amid widespread efforts to combat opioid addiction and overdoses, this bill is yet another example of aggressive reductions in opioid prescribing that would have unintended, but by now predictable, results for people with serious acute, episodic, and chronic pain. As an organization that represents people with disabilities across the country, many who live with such pain, the National Council on Independent Living opposes this bill.
[Read more…]Action Alert: Honor Women’s History Month by Securing New DIA Cosponsors!
March 28, 2019 By Leave a Comment
March is Women’s History Month and we are celebrating by honoring all the women in this world with disabilities! Our goal in March is to get all women in Congress – both the House and Senate – to sign on by the end of the month.
Let’s finish Women’s History Month strong! We can use this opportunity to win freedom for millions and get the Disability Integration Act (H.R. 555 / S. 117) passed into law in the 116th Congress!
This may take multiple calls and emails, but together we will get this imperative civil rights legislation passed and FREE OUR PEOPLE.
“Struggle is a never ending process. Freedom is never really won, you earn it and win it in every generation!” – Coretta Scott King
[Read more…]NCIL Mourns the Loss of Emet Tauber
March 27, 2019 By Leave a Comment
It is with great sadness that we write to inform you about the passing of Emet Tauber. Emet was a Rabbi, activist, teacher, and friend to many. He was also a dedicated NCIL Board Member. Emet passed away on Monday evening surrounded by his friends and family. He was 24 years old.
Emet was a fierce disability rights and trans activist. He served in many roles in addition to his NCIL board position, including as a GLSEN National Advisory Council member. Emet was a teacher and a friend who over the course of his short life found countless ways to support and bring knowledge, joy, and hope to other queer and trans disabled people near and far. He continued to share his experiences with honesty and openness until the very end. Read a beautiful article about Emet published in January.
The disability community and NCIL have lost a wonderful friend and advocate. As Emet was a member of NCIL’s Board, his picture will be added to the Wall of Fame in NCIL’s office. Additionally, as we recently announced, this year we are introducing the Emet Tauber Youth Scholarship to our Annual Conference. Emet’s life was changed by the Youth Scholarship Fund and, as one of his final acts, he wanted to enable others to have the same opportunities as he did. Per Emet’s wishes, the Emet Tauber Youth Scholarship will be awarded each year to one national disabled youth who is also trans and/or Jewish in recognition of Emet’s activism within these communities.
[Read more…]Action Alert: Honor Women’s History Month by Securing New DIA Cosponsors!
March 20, 2019 By Leave a Comment
March is Women’s History Month and we are celebrating by honoring all the women in this world with disabilities! Our goal in March is to get all women in Congress – both the House and Senate – to sign on by the end of the month.
Both the House and Senate are currently on recess, which means that your Representative and Senators are back in their home districts the rest of the week. Let’s use this opportunity to win freedom for millions and get the Disability Integration Act (H.R. 555 / S. 117) passed into law in the 116th Congress!
[Read more…]2019 NCIL Youth Scholarship Applications Now Open!
March 19, 2019 By Leave a Comment
NCIL is proud to announce the 2019 Youth Scholarship Fund. For the fifth year in a row, we will be offering scholarships to our Annual Conference to youth with disabilities ages 18–26 who may otherwise be unable to afford the cost of attendance.
NCIL offers three tiers of scholarships:
Local: Up to $110 to cover the cost of registration for youth with disabilities living in the Washington DC/Baltimore metropolitan area (this includes youth who will be in the area at the time of the conference for a summer internship or job).
Regional: Up to $975 to cover registration, travel, and hotel costs for youth with disabilities living in the Region III area (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia).
National: Up to $1,200 to cover registration, travel, and hotel costs for youth with disabilities living in other areas of the United States.
[Read more…]Organizers Forum: Women, Gender, Sexism, and the Disability Rights Movement
March 15, 2019 By 1 Comment
- Tuesday, March 19, 2019
- 1:00-2:00 p.m. Eastern; 12:00-1:00 Central; 11:00-12:00 Mountain; 10:00-11:00 Pacific
- RSVP
- Call-in: 1-515-739-1285, passcode 521847#
- Join the meeting online
In honor of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, the March Organizers Forum will be about women, gender and sexism in the disability community. We’ll talk about how to make disability spaces feminist spaces, how to address the leadership gap for women (and non-binary people) in the disability community, and intersectional feminism.
[Read more…]Registration Now Open for NCIL’s 2019 Annual Conference!
March 13, 2019 By Leave a Comment
July 22-25, 2019; Grand Hyatt, Washington
Next week, NCIL will publish our Annual Conference Guide with complete details on this year’s Conference, but you can also find the information you need to plan your trip right now at ncil.org.
Visit our 2019 Annual Conference web page for:
- Registration details
- Hotel information and reservations links
- Basic Conference Agenda
All registrations received and paid before April 26, 2019 are eligible for the Early Bird registration rates.
NCIL Mourns the Passing of Thaddius Launderville
March 8, 2019 By Leave a Comment
It is with great sadness that we write to inform you that on Monday, March 4, 2019, Thaddius Lauderville passed away. Thad was married to Sarah Launderville, NCIL’s Vice President and Executive Director of the Vermont Center for Independent Living (VCIL), for 23 years, and together they have three children. Thad passed away surrounded by his family.
Thad was treasured by so many and will be remembered as a thoughtful, creative, and loving man. He had a wide range of interests, hobbies, and jobs, and he was a devoted friend, husband, and father. His passing is a huge loss for all who knew him, and our thoughts are with the Laundervilles during this incredibly difficult time. Read more about Thad’s life.
[Read more…]CIL-NET Presents: A National Learning Collaborative on Business Acumen at Centers for Independent Living
March 7, 2019 By Leave a Comment
May-December 2019
Are you looking to begin, secure, or grow contracts and funding from health plans and payers, but need help with your business acumen efforts?
CIL-NET is offering a National Learning Collaborative to assist CILs in improving business acumen by contracting with health plans and other health payers to establish income-producing community-based services that enable people with disabilities and significant health issues to live successfully in the community.
Goal of the Collaborative: To increase the Center’s capacity to engage in new business practices, notably contracting with health plans and payers, in order to establish and operate self-sustaining service programs in the community.
[Read more…]National Council on Independent Living 2018 Annual Report
March 7, 2019 By Leave a Comment
Dear Advocates and Friends,
We are pleased to announce that NCIL’s 2018 Annual Report is now available at our website.
- Open the NCIL 2018 Annual Report in PDF, Word, or plain text.
Peace in my mind,
Love in my heart,
When my friend can have his way and his part,
A home from the start.
I’m so proud of the amazing work the Independent Living community accomplished in 2018.
The beauty of NCIL is that you, our members and supporters, run the show. In 2018, you fought attacks on the Americans with Disabilities Act, gained the support of a record number of co-sponsors for the Disability Integration Act, testified about the devastating impact of Electronic Visit Verification, and spoke out against policies that would limit access to opioids for people with chronic pain. Your tireless advocacy made all the difference.
[Read more…]
