Legislative

May 2014 – The Conference of States Parties will hold its 7^th session on June 12, 2014 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. The session discussions will include the following topics: “Incorporating the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) provisions into the post-2015 development agenda; Youth with disabilities; and National implementation and monitoring.” The conference will cover committee membership elections, debates and topic specific roundtables.  The deadline for CSOs to register online for the convention is May 30^th.

April 2014 — Government Technology has released an interactive map detailing legislators with the most involvement in technology-related policies and legislation.

April 2014 — Federal contractors have filed a class action suit against the Government Services Administration (GSA) regarding the accessibility of the System for Award Management website, www.SAM.gov, run by GSA.  The case highlights that, among many responsibilities, GSA is responsible for ensuring that all “federal contractor programs and activities are Section 504 compliant and accessible to [individuals with disabilities].” Use of SAM.gov is essential for all federal government contractors, as contractors are required to register with the site before an

April 2014 – Robyn Powell, Attorney Advisor for the National Council on Disability (NCD), testified before the Massachusetts legislature concerning the rights of parents with disabilities.

April 2014 — The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it has entered into a 10-year, statewide settlement agreement with the State of Rhode Island. The settlement follows an investigation of Rhode Island’s statewide day-activity service system for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.