October 2014 – The National Council on Disability (NCD) issued their 2014 edition of the National Disability Policy: A Progress Report. The report highlights findings related to the “Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD), employment access and inclusion, subminimum wage, education outcomes, Medicaid managed care, mental health care, and data trends in disability policy.” The details of the NCD report are intended to provide policymakers, stakeholders, and advocates of disability rights with a social context regarding progress and opportunities for people with disabilities.
The 2014 Progress Report also recommends public policies and research agendas to contribute to a more inclusive and accessible society, including:
- Encouraging the Department of Transportation to partner with the private sector on researching autonomous vehicle technology and its potential for people with disabilities.
- Recommending that the Department of Labor develop a science technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) initiative for youth with disabilities in order to prepare them for an encourage careers in STEM fields.
- Advising the FCC to provide guidance on best practices on including people with disabilities in the research and development (R&D) throughout all phases of the development process, from concept to market.
To read a full copy of the NCD’s 2014 Progress Report, please click the link below.