The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): The Definition of Disability

[From Summary] The threshold issue in any Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) case is whether the individual alleging discrimination is an individual with a disability. The ADA definition is a functional one and does not list specific disabilities. It defines the term disability with respect to an individual as (A) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual; (B) a record of such an impairment; or (C) being regarded as having such an impairment. The Supreme Court in the landmark decision of Sutton v. United Air Lines examined the definition of disability used in the ADA and found that the determination of whether an individual is disabled should be made with reference to measures that mitigate the individual\u27s impairment. This holding and related ones in other Supreme Court decisions have spawned new issues regarding the definition of disability in recent lower court cases. This report will briefly discuss the Supreme Court\u27s opinions and analyze how the lower courts are interpreting the Supreme Court\u27s holdings. It will be updated as appropriate

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act: Part B Regulations

[Excerpt] The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) provides federal funding for the education of children with disabilities and requires, as a condition for the receipt of such funds, the provision of a free appropriate public education (FAPE). The statute also contains detailed due process provisions to ensure the provision of FAPE. On December 1, 2008, the Department of Education (ED) issued a final regulation to “clarify and strengthen current regulations” promulgated under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The areas covered by the regulation include (1) parental revocation of consent after consenting to the initial provision of services; (2) a state’s or local educational agency’s (LEA’s) obligation to make positive efforts to employ qualified individuals with disabilities; (3) representation of parents by non-attorneys in due process hearings; (4) state monitoring, technical assistance, and enforcement of the Part B program; and (5) the allocation of funds, under Sections 611 and 619 of the act, to LEAs that are not serving any children with disabilities. The regulations take effect on December 31, 2008. This report will briefly discuss the issues raised by these changes

Neuropharmacological targets for drug action in vestibular sensory pathways

The use of pharmacological agents is often the preferred approach to the management of vestibular dysfunction. In the vestibular sensory pathways, the sensory neuroepithelia are thought to be influenced by a diverse number of neuroactive substances that may act to enhance or inhibit the effect of the primary neurotransmitters [i.e., glutamate (Glu) and acetylcholine (ACh)] or alter their patterns of release. This review summarizes various efforts to identify drug targets including neurotransmitter and neuromodulator receptors in the vestibular sensory pathways. Identifying these receptor targets provides a strategic basis to use specific pharmacological tools to modify receptor function in the treatment and management of debilitating balance disorders. A review of the literature reveals that most investigations of the neuropharmacology of peripheral vestibular function have been performed using in vitro or ex vivo animal preparations rather than studying drug action on the normal intact vestibular system in situ. Such noninvasive approaches could aid the development of more accurate and effective intervention strategies for the treatment of dizziness and vertigo. The current review explores the major neuropharmacological targets for drug action in the vestibular system

Getting to the Core of Role: Defining Interpreters' Role Space

This article describes a new model of interpreted interactions that will help students as well as experienced practitioners define and delineate the decisions that they make. By understanding the dimensions that comprise the concept we call role, interpreters can more effectively allow participants to have successful communicative interactions

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): Comparison and Analysis of Selected Provisions in H.R. 1350 as Passed by the House and by the Senate, 108th Congress

CRS ReportCRSIDEACompare.pdf: 489 downloads, before Oct. 1, 2020

Re-visiting Role: Arguing for a multi-dimensional analysis of interpreter behaviour

In this paper, the authors present the outline of a new model of interpreted interactions. This model draws upon the fields of conversational analysis and classical sociological theory to define and delimit the behaviours of interpreters that contribute to successful interpreted interactions

Collecting Older Lesbians' and Gay Men's Stories of Rural Life in South West England and Wales: "We Were Obviously Gay Girls ... (So) He Removed His Cow From Our Field"

The emerging recollections, perceptions and storied biographies of older lesbians and gay men and their experiences in rural Britain are presented in the article, alongside consideration of the multiple qualitative methodologies used in a unique multi-method participatory action research project. The project aimed to empower older lesbians and gay men in rural areas through a collaborative design and meaningful participation in the research process itself. Methods included the core Biographic Narrative Interpretive Method (BNIM) (JONES, 2001, 2004; WENGRAF, 2001) with its interpretation of data by panels of citizens. In addition, visual ethnographic site visits, a focus group and two days of theatrical improvisation of interview data to explore action within the texts were used. The project embraced the principles of a performative social science (GERGEN & JONES, 2008; JONES, 2006, 2012a, 2012b) in its dissemination plan. Four of the collected stories are elaborated on here. These and other stories, reports and observations contributed to the creation of the main output of the project—a short professionally made film (Rufus Stone). The film is used to encourage community dialogue and inform service providers, opening up new possibilities of connectivity, communication and common ground at both macro and micro levels

The Surgical Release of Dupuytren's Contracture Using Multiple Transverse Incisions.

Dupuytren's contracture is a condition commonly encountered by hand surgeons, although it is rare in the Asian population. Various surgical procedures for Dupuytren's contracture have been reported, and the outcomes vary according to the treatment modalities. We report the treatment results of segmental fasciectomies with multiple transverse incisions for patients with Dupuytren's contracture. The cases of seven patients who underwent multiple segmental fasciectomies with multiple transverse incisions for Dupuytren's contracture from 2006 to 2011 were reviewed retrospectively. Multiple transverse incisions to the severe contracture sites were performed initially, and additional incisions to the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints, and the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints were performed if necessary. Segmental fasciectomies by removing the fibromatous nodules or cords between the incision lines were performed and the wound margins were approximated. The mean range of motion of the involved MCP joints and PIP joints was fully recovered. During the follow-up periods, there was no evidence of recurrence or progression of disease. Multiple transverse incisions for Dupuytren's contracture are technically challenging, and require a high skill level of hand surgeons. However, we achieved excellent correction of contractures with no associated complications. Therefore, segmental fasciectomies with multiple transverse incisions can be a good treatment option for Dupuytren's contracture