Get Out and Vote, Florida!
It’s that time again, when Floridians go to the polls to elect a new Governor, Cabinet officers, judges, public defenders, and senators and representatives, both state and federal. The Primary Election is August 24, 2010. The General Election is November 2, 2010.
Voting is your right and responsibility as a citizen. If you vote, you can help select the national, state, and local officials who make laws, design programs, and decide how tax dollars are spent. To learn more about voting, go to http://www.fddc.org/publications and scroll down to “Voting in Florida - A Guide for Citizens with Disabilities.” This guide is full of useful voting information, and is designed especially for individuals with disabilities. You can download a copy from the website.
For more information about voting, including Election Dates, General Voting Information, Finding Your Early Voting Site by County, Absentee Voting, District Maps, and much more, go to the Florida Division of Elections Web site at http://election.dos.state.fl.us/voting/index.shtml.
Scenes from the ADA March, July 26, 2010
Click on each photo for an expanded view.
Hurricane Season Is Here. Are You Prepared?
Learn more about disaster preparedness and how to create your own disaster plan by reading, "Disaster Ready" -An Emergency Preparedness Guide for Floridians with Disabilities. This publication can help anyone prepare for a disaster, but includes specific information that is important for individuals with disabilities. The “Disaster Ready” guide can be sent to you at no charge. To order copies of the guide online click here. You may also order copies by emailing the Council at fddc@fddc.org or calling the Council office at 1-800-580-7801. Click here to download a PDF version.
FEMA Office of Disability Integration and Coordination
Click here for more information on integrating and coordinating emergency preparedness, response and recovery for children and adults with disabilities and others with access and functional needs before, during and after a disaster.
Accessible Emergency Information Website
Click here for more information.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced a new website called HealthCare.gov. This new tool lets consumers take control of their health care by connecting them to information about quality, affordable health care coverage. HealthCare.gov is the first central database of health coverage options--from Medicare to the new Pre-Existing Conditions Insurance Plan, with information from more than 1,000 private insurance plans. HealthCare.gov answers questions that relate to people with disabilities and health care, and also has information about insurance plans and community services in every state.
The Affordable Care Act - How It Helps You
Learn how the Affordable Health Care Act can help increase your health security and give you more control over your own health care.
Below is an implementation timeline for the Affordable Care Act
http://www.healthcare.gov/law/timeline/index.html
Click here for information on the Affordable Health Care Act
Click here for information on Health Reform for Americans with Disabilities
We Want to Hear from You
The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc. has created two surveys, one for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families, and another for service providers, to help obtain input for the Council’s 2011-2016 State Plan. Please make your voice heard by completing a survey. Click here for more information.
Click here for more information on health care reform and the effect on individuals with disabilities.
Council Survey
The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council is conducting this survey to gather information on Floridians with disabilities and their families, specifically, how familiar Floridians are with the Council and its work. We are also asking that you provide information on the county where you live so that we can send you information on meetings, conferences and other issues that are specific to your area of the state. Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey, which will help us better serve all Floridians. Click here to take the survey.
Disability.gov
The U.S. Department of Labor has launched Disability.gov, a redesigned federal Web site that connects the more than 50 million Americans with disabilities to thousands of trusted resources on disability-related issues, programs and services. Formerly known as DisabilityInfo.gov, the site has been completely redesigned and updated with new social media tools, such as a blog and a Twitter feed, to encourage feedback and interaction among visitors. Disability.gov is not just for Americans with disabilities, but also for parents of children with disabilities, employers, workforce and human resource professionals, veterans, educators, caregivers and many others.
