This story has made national news the last two day. Here, it is offered by the Los Angeles Times..
A 0-year-old girl in a gray zip-up sweater ran to her mother in tears.
"Mommy, I still have blood on my sweater," she cried.
Elisabeth Barajaz had reunited with her daughter Marissa after hearing there had been a shooting at her San Bernardimno school.
"TH eboy just walked in with the gun," said Marissa, a third-grader. "He just shot everywhere. I went under the table and then I saw a teacher run out. So I just ran out. My friend and my teacher, they got shot."
A gunman had walked into a North park Elementary School classroom of children with special needs Monday morning and opened fire on his wife, a teacher there, and then killed himself, police said. Stray bullets struck two students, who were rushed to a hospital in critical condition. one of them, an 8-year-old boy, died later in the morning.
Word of the shooting set off a panic in a city traumatized by a terror attack just 16 months before. Where the unthinkable had already happened, nerves were triggered for a catastrophe.
Parents wept as they waited for word of their children outside North Park. one woman fell to her knees. A man tried to push through the police line to get inside.
As details emerged, it was clear the shooting was domestic violence, not terrorism- another terrible day in a wave that has shaken the city as much as the December 2015 mass shooting and yaken many more lives.
Cedric Anderson, 53, of Riverside, Calif., entered the school's front office and checked in, saying he had to drop something off with his estranged wife, Karen Smith, San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said. School officials did not see Anderson's .357 handgun, Burguan added.
About 10:27 a.m., Anderson walked into Smith's special education classroom and, without speaking, opened fire, hitting her and two students behind her. Anderson then reloaded and shot himself, Burguan said. Smith, 53, died at the scene. Jonathan Martinez,8, was airlifted to a hospital and died before entering surgery. A 9-year-old boy was in stable condition on Monday evening.
Burguan said Anderson had a criminal history, including weapons charges and "a domestic violence past" that preceded his relationship with Smith, Los Angeles County Superior Court records show that Anderson was charged in July 2013 with assault and battery, brandishing a firearm and disturbing the peace.
Burguan added that it was "not uncommon" for a person to be able to gain access to a campus to meet his or her spouse. San Bernardino City Unified School District Supt. Dale Marsden said the school's staff followed entry procedures, including daughter and Anderson showed a different side to his personality and Smith :decided she needed to leave him," Sykes said in a telephone interview.
Sykes declined to provide details of Anderson's behavior.
she said her daughter pursued a teaching career after raising four children. Smith earned a degree and teaching credentials at Cal State San Bernardino about a decade ago, Sykes said, because she had a passion for helping children with autism and learning disabilities.
Diane Abrams, who worked in the class for those with special needs, said Smith was a "beloved teacher" who "went to bat for every one of her students."
Abrams remembered Jonathan as an "8-year-old boy full of life. He was so special to teach...He was curious to learn. He'd say, 'Ms. Abrams, am I being an all-star?"
North Park is a magnet school for students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade who are interested in environmental issues, said Maria Garcia, a school district spokeswoman, Armed security officers are not assigned to any of the district's elementary schools, Garcia said, but she described security on the North Park campus as "very, very tight."
"Once the school bell rings, the only way into the campus is through the front office," she said.
She credited school staff with getting the students outside within minutes of the shooting.
Jaidyn Stanley, 9, was in another classroom when it happened.
"I was in my class and my teacher was teaching us a lesson, and then I heard three gunshots. My teacher told us to get on the ground. Then we started hearing sirens," the third-grader said.
After about 30 seconds, his teacher told the class to run, following her out an emergency exit. They left their backpacks behind.
"There was a lot of people in my class crying and they were scared," the boy said. "They thought the shooter was going to come in the classroom."
Jaidyn said once he and his classmates were outside on a soccer field, they planned to walk to nearby Cajon High School, but he spotted his mother and she scooped him up and took him home.
Other parents desperately tried to get into the school, but officers turned them away.
They watched in terror as police in bulletproof vests walked through basketball courts, helicopters droning overhead.
Sandy Detinne, whose 5-year-old grandson attends the school, was one of them. She was driving by when she saw police racing to the campus.
"I thought, 'Oh my God! They bombed the school,'" she said.
Mark Coronado, 45, a stay-at-home dad and self-described helicopter parent, heard " way too many sirens." The first thought that entered his mind was the Inland Regional Center shooting, which left 14 dead in 2015.
His children no longer attended North Park, but he still volunteers there.
He ran to the school and directed confused parents where to go to pick up their kids.
This is a good neighborhood school, he said, with teachers who live nearby.
Still, he said, he always worried about security at the campus. About a year and a half ago, he said, a man tried to bring a knife to the school when trying to pick up his child. he said he confronted the man before the police came and dealt with him.
After the shooting, the children were taken to nearby Cal State San Bernardino and Cajon Hgih School, but parents had trouble finding them.
"We were told to come to Cajon," said Talia Martin, who was trying to pick up her 9-year-old ,, "Nobody is here to guide us. It's a mess."
Barajaz, whose daughter Marissa was in the classroom, was furious that she could not get any information until the afternoon.
"I don't know how we're going to get through this," she said.
She said she'd have to get counseling for Marissa to help her cope with seeing her teacher killed.
"She was very kind," Barajaz said of Smith. "She would always tell me how Marissa was doing."
In the end, she had one haunting question: "How did he get in?"
Thursday, April 13, 2017
IN THE NEWS- WATERPROOF POWER WHEELCGAIR MAY BE HEADED TO MARKET
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette posts the following article..
years ago in Germany, Rory Cooper learned from the director of a production, engineering and automation institute about motors powered by compressed air. It got him thinking.
Most wheelchairs are heavy, run on batteries with lots of electronics involved. They do work well- but only if they stay dry.
"It dawned on me that the real demand would be for use at pools, beaches and water parks," said Cooper, director of the University of Pittsburgh Human Engineering Research Laboratories. "Wheelchairs don't work in wet conditions, with their batteries and electronics."
After about three years of design and development, HERL's PneuChair wheelchair, fully waterproof and powered by a compressed-air-powered motor, made its debut this month at Morgan's Inspiration Island, a $16 million splash park scheduled to open this spring.
Early in the wheelchair project, park officials actually contacted Cooper, who holds a Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering, about creating a waterproof wheelchair. Gordon Hartman is founder of the Gordon Hartman Family Foundation, which developed and now operates the park, through its nonprofit organization, Sports Outdoor And Recreation. SOAR has partnered with HERL to get the PneuChair into mass production and distributed through a licensing agreement. Cooper said he hopes production can begin before the end of the year.
Hartman, who first saw the chair last week, said he likes its look and how it operates. It also weighs only 80 pounds- about one-third the weight of an electric wheelchair.
"I knew it was special. They designed it and put it together better than I thought when we first got into this," he said."What it will do for us is make our ultra-accessible park truly ultra-accessible. What this wheelchair can do in a wet environment is incredible, plus it assures that everyone can use the park regardless of what their special needs may be."
PneuChair's name reflects the use of pneumatic power. It works with a piston engine powered by air pressure that allows the chair to reach a tp speed of 5 mph but currently set to travel at 3 mph. It can go up a fairly steep 10-degree slope (about a 1 foot rise for every 5 to 6 feet in distance), and travel three miles before needing to be recharged with an air compressor. While it can take up to eight hours to recharge a wheelchair battery, the PneuChair can be recharged in just minutes.
In its carbon-fiber tanks, similar to scuba tanks, air is compressed to 4,5000 pounds per square inch, said Ben Gebrosky, HERL's testing engineer. There's a slight hissing noise when it's operating. Air coming from the motor is breathable, Gebrosky said.
Although it is not commercially available, PneuChair's durability, lightweight and quick recharge all serve to make it ideal for airports, nursing homes, parks, malls, grocery and retail stores, with a role perhaps as a primary wheelchair for some people, said Cooper, who has used a wheelchair since 1980, when a truck struck him while he was riding a bicycle in Germany.
Demand is large with about 4 million people using wheelchairs in the United States. Cooper described the wheelchair's potential as "trans formative."
"I think this will change the world for a lot of people," he said.
years ago in Germany, Rory Cooper learned from the director of a production, engineering and automation institute about motors powered by compressed air. It got him thinking.
Most wheelchairs are heavy, run on batteries with lots of electronics involved. They do work well- but only if they stay dry.
"It dawned on me that the real demand would be for use at pools, beaches and water parks," said Cooper, director of the University of Pittsburgh Human Engineering Research Laboratories. "Wheelchairs don't work in wet conditions, with their batteries and electronics."
After about three years of design and development, HERL's PneuChair wheelchair, fully waterproof and powered by a compressed-air-powered motor, made its debut this month at Morgan's Inspiration Island, a $16 million splash park scheduled to open this spring.
Early in the wheelchair project, park officials actually contacted Cooper, who holds a Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering, about creating a waterproof wheelchair. Gordon Hartman is founder of the Gordon Hartman Family Foundation, which developed and now operates the park, through its nonprofit organization, Sports Outdoor And Recreation. SOAR has partnered with HERL to get the PneuChair into mass production and distributed through a licensing agreement. Cooper said he hopes production can begin before the end of the year.
Hartman, who first saw the chair last week, said he likes its look and how it operates. It also weighs only 80 pounds- about one-third the weight of an electric wheelchair.
"I knew it was special. They designed it and put it together better than I thought when we first got into this," he said."What it will do for us is make our ultra-accessible park truly ultra-accessible. What this wheelchair can do in a wet environment is incredible, plus it assures that everyone can use the park regardless of what their special needs may be."
PneuChair's name reflects the use of pneumatic power. It works with a piston engine powered by air pressure that allows the chair to reach a tp speed of 5 mph but currently set to travel at 3 mph. It can go up a fairly steep 10-degree slope (about a 1 foot rise for every 5 to 6 feet in distance), and travel three miles before needing to be recharged with an air compressor. While it can take up to eight hours to recharge a wheelchair battery, the PneuChair can be recharged in just minutes.
In its carbon-fiber tanks, similar to scuba tanks, air is compressed to 4,5000 pounds per square inch, said Ben Gebrosky, HERL's testing engineer. There's a slight hissing noise when it's operating. Air coming from the motor is breathable, Gebrosky said.
Although it is not commercially available, PneuChair's durability, lightweight and quick recharge all serve to make it ideal for airports, nursing homes, parks, malls, grocery and retail stores, with a role perhaps as a primary wheelchair for some people, said Cooper, who has used a wheelchair since 1980, when a truck struck him while he was riding a bicycle in Germany.
Demand is large with about 4 million people using wheelchairs in the United States. Cooper described the wheelchair's potential as "trans formative."
"I think this will change the world for a lot of people," he said.
PHILLY SPORTS CORNER
Speaking of Philly sports..
The Sixers finished their season last night with a record of 28-54, an 18 game improvement from last season. Many say the year was a success, with the future looking bright. Mt take is that it was yet another losing season by a Philadelphia sports team.
Sadly, our Philly fans have gotten used to mediocrity. Being average is OK. We accept the "trust the process" method of losing on purpose to get better draft picks. We accept the Phillies and Flyers preaching patience, that better days are ahead as the teams kick the can down the road and "wait til next year" becomes next year..and then next year..and then next year.
Give the Eagles credit for refreshingly going for it this year by signing Alshon Jeffery. The Eagles are giving us hope, something to cheer about. Maybe making the playoffs and having meaningful games in December is so much better than not having a chance of making the playoffs.
Philly sports needs to stop the loser mentality. Why can't the Phillies go for Chris Sale instead of Clay Bucholtz? Why can't the Flyers bring up their young defense men when they really need defensive help? Why can't the Phils start the season with prospects like Hoskins, Quinn, Crawford and Williams playing regular time in the majors instead of washed-up vets like Saunders? Players like Galvis and Hernadez are "nice" players but not special. They aren't going to take the Phillies to a championship- and isn't that what teams play for?
Luckily, the teams all have young prospects on the horizon. In another year, most should reach the big-time. Then we will see if the team's player evaluations are accurate. Give the young guys a chance to play, see what you got. There's a logjam in Lehigh Valley and Reading. Hopefully, starting this summer, the Phillies start to give their future a chance to play, giving the fans some excitement and hope.
Once Philly teams start to spend some money or trade for franchise players like Mike Trout, then our local teams will have turned the corner and become consistent winners like Boston, not like a Detriot. Philly is wallowing in mediocrity right now, not as bad as a Buffalo or Cleveland, not as good as Boston or Chicago.
Philadelphia is one of the largest markets in America with 4 professional sports team. Fans need to demand to the local organizations to strive for greatness, not accept average. I have never been one to preach not attending games, as I enjoy seeing games in person. Other than not giving the owners your hard-earned cash by not attending sporting events, fans could put the heat on owners by writing letters and making sure the Philly teams know that their fans aren't happy with losing, with no future.
Insist on nothing less than perfection. Philly fans deserve it.
PHILLIES-
Once again, the Mets have the Phillies number, after sweeping them recently at Citizens Bank park. The Phils seem intimidated by the New Yorkers. The Mets started the year slowly before coming to Philadelphia. They own the Phils and they know it- and worse, so do the Phils. The Mets are better in all areas- starting pitching, power, you name it. Maybe in another year the culture will change when the young prospects start to arrive in South Philly. Til then, like it or not, we have to endure Met fans invading CBP and chanting "Let's Go Mets" like the obnoxious fans that they are.
Looks like Clay Bucholtz is done with the team after tearing a muscle in his right forearm. $13 million down the drain. Granted, the Phillies had money to spend, and they took a shot at a veteran pitcher, who they could trade in July for prospects. A failure for GM Klentak. Just because you have money to spend, you have to spend it wisely. Makes me leery about free agency in the upcoming off-seasons.
You hate to see anyone get hurt, let alone possibly an end to their baseball career. But it was clear that Bucholtz was going to be slop for the Phils this summer. Now a young kid has a chance to make the rotation, and the Phils are deep in young starting pitchers, with the likes of Efflin, Thompson, Pivetta and Lively. They are the future, not aging, injury-prone guys like Bucholtz. If the Phillies are going to rebuild,, don't do it half-assed. So maybe this injury wa a blessing in disguise in the long run.
Jeremy Hellickson may be a decent pitcher, but he's not the future either, and hopefully the Phillies get rid of him this July. He left his most recent start with "cramping" in his right arm. He was out of breath and out of shape while running for a triple in the season opener, later stating, "I'll never do that again..I'll stop at second base and take a double." Plus, he didn't sound too enthused to be named the opening day starter. Another malcontent who needs to go.
Adam Morgan may never get to the majors again, at least with the Phillies. He is what he is-a Kyle Kendrick-type of 2-11 pitcher. Average or even below-average guy. The Phils can do better, even in the role of long relief. With the abundance of starters at Lehigh Valley Morgan's only hope at returning to Philly is a return to the bullpen.
Vince Valasquez...He can't go past 5 innings. His future is in the back of the bullpen as a closer. He worries about strikeouts too much. 100 pitches in 5 innings? Sad. As a closer, he can come into a game and throw as hard as he can and go for strikeouts without a worry. It's a shame, because he is a power-arm the Phillies don't have and need. Lucky for the Phils, they have depth at starting pitching. I like Vince. He's only 24. But if he won't listen to the coaches and turns into a real pitcher-not a thrower- he's better off in the 'pen- or as possible trade bait.
SIXERS-
The most excitement with the Sixers will be the may 16 draft lottery. A sham will continue in the fall when Embiid and Simmons return to the court, but in what roles? Will their playing time be limited? Will the 76er's spend money this summer for a free agent? Will they screw-up the draft? Will Coach Brown return? Are we again settling for mediocrity if Brown returns?
EAGLES_
two weeks until the NFL draft in Philly. Common sense says the Birds will take a defensive back with pick 14 in the first round. But with corner backs being so deep in the draft, the Eagles could get 2 or 3 quality backs later in the draft. Should they select a weapon, like a young running back or wide receiver, and give Carson Wentz more help?
Stanford's RB Christian McCafferty is gaining popularity by the draft so-called "experts". He's the all-purpose back perfect for the Eagles' offensive scheme.
What about a young receiver like MIke Williams? Whoever gets speedy John Ross, with his 4.22 combine time, may hit the jackpot down the road. A middle linebacker is a possibility and a pass-rushing defensive end is needed. Or, could GM Howie Roseman pull one of his infamous surprises and reach with someone not on the board? Can't wait to find out.
The Sixers finished their season last night with a record of 28-54, an 18 game improvement from last season. Many say the year was a success, with the future looking bright. Mt take is that it was yet another losing season by a Philadelphia sports team.
Sadly, our Philly fans have gotten used to mediocrity. Being average is OK. We accept the "trust the process" method of losing on purpose to get better draft picks. We accept the Phillies and Flyers preaching patience, that better days are ahead as the teams kick the can down the road and "wait til next year" becomes next year..and then next year..and then next year.
Give the Eagles credit for refreshingly going for it this year by signing Alshon Jeffery. The Eagles are giving us hope, something to cheer about. Maybe making the playoffs and having meaningful games in December is so much better than not having a chance of making the playoffs.
Philly sports needs to stop the loser mentality. Why can't the Phillies go for Chris Sale instead of Clay Bucholtz? Why can't the Flyers bring up their young defense men when they really need defensive help? Why can't the Phils start the season with prospects like Hoskins, Quinn, Crawford and Williams playing regular time in the majors instead of washed-up vets like Saunders? Players like Galvis and Hernadez are "nice" players but not special. They aren't going to take the Phillies to a championship- and isn't that what teams play for?
Luckily, the teams all have young prospects on the horizon. In another year, most should reach the big-time. Then we will see if the team's player evaluations are accurate. Give the young guys a chance to play, see what you got. There's a logjam in Lehigh Valley and Reading. Hopefully, starting this summer, the Phillies start to give their future a chance to play, giving the fans some excitement and hope.
Once Philly teams start to spend some money or trade for franchise players like Mike Trout, then our local teams will have turned the corner and become consistent winners like Boston, not like a Detriot. Philly is wallowing in mediocrity right now, not as bad as a Buffalo or Cleveland, not as good as Boston or Chicago.
Philadelphia is one of the largest markets in America with 4 professional sports team. Fans need to demand to the local organizations to strive for greatness, not accept average. I have never been one to preach not attending games, as I enjoy seeing games in person. Other than not giving the owners your hard-earned cash by not attending sporting events, fans could put the heat on owners by writing letters and making sure the Philly teams know that their fans aren't happy with losing, with no future.
Insist on nothing less than perfection. Philly fans deserve it.
PHILLIES-
Once again, the Mets have the Phillies number, after sweeping them recently at Citizens Bank park. The Phils seem intimidated by the New Yorkers. The Mets started the year slowly before coming to Philadelphia. They own the Phils and they know it- and worse, so do the Phils. The Mets are better in all areas- starting pitching, power, you name it. Maybe in another year the culture will change when the young prospects start to arrive in South Philly. Til then, like it or not, we have to endure Met fans invading CBP and chanting "Let's Go Mets" like the obnoxious fans that they are.
Looks like Clay Bucholtz is done with the team after tearing a muscle in his right forearm. $13 million down the drain. Granted, the Phillies had money to spend, and they took a shot at a veteran pitcher, who they could trade in July for prospects. A failure for GM Klentak. Just because you have money to spend, you have to spend it wisely. Makes me leery about free agency in the upcoming off-seasons.
You hate to see anyone get hurt, let alone possibly an end to their baseball career. But it was clear that Bucholtz was going to be slop for the Phils this summer. Now a young kid has a chance to make the rotation, and the Phils are deep in young starting pitchers, with the likes of Efflin, Thompson, Pivetta and Lively. They are the future, not aging, injury-prone guys like Bucholtz. If the Phillies are going to rebuild,, don't do it half-assed. So maybe this injury wa a blessing in disguise in the long run.
Jeremy Hellickson may be a decent pitcher, but he's not the future either, and hopefully the Phillies get rid of him this July. He left his most recent start with "cramping" in his right arm. He was out of breath and out of shape while running for a triple in the season opener, later stating, "I'll never do that again..I'll stop at second base and take a double." Plus, he didn't sound too enthused to be named the opening day starter. Another malcontent who needs to go.
Adam Morgan may never get to the majors again, at least with the Phillies. He is what he is-a Kyle Kendrick-type of 2-11 pitcher. Average or even below-average guy. The Phils can do better, even in the role of long relief. With the abundance of starters at Lehigh Valley Morgan's only hope at returning to Philly is a return to the bullpen.
Vince Valasquez...He can't go past 5 innings. His future is in the back of the bullpen as a closer. He worries about strikeouts too much. 100 pitches in 5 innings? Sad. As a closer, he can come into a game and throw as hard as he can and go for strikeouts without a worry. It's a shame, because he is a power-arm the Phillies don't have and need. Lucky for the Phils, they have depth at starting pitching. I like Vince. He's only 24. But if he won't listen to the coaches and turns into a real pitcher-not a thrower- he's better off in the 'pen- or as possible trade bait.
SIXERS-
The most excitement with the Sixers will be the may 16 draft lottery. A sham will continue in the fall when Embiid and Simmons return to the court, but in what roles? Will their playing time be limited? Will the 76er's spend money this summer for a free agent? Will they screw-up the draft? Will Coach Brown return? Are we again settling for mediocrity if Brown returns?
EAGLES_
two weeks until the NFL draft in Philly. Common sense says the Birds will take a defensive back with pick 14 in the first round. But with corner backs being so deep in the draft, the Eagles could get 2 or 3 quality backs later in the draft. Should they select a weapon, like a young running back or wide receiver, and give Carson Wentz more help?
Stanford's RB Christian McCafferty is gaining popularity by the draft so-called "experts". He's the all-purpose back perfect for the Eagles' offensive scheme.
What about a young receiver like MIke Williams? Whoever gets speedy John Ross, with his 4.22 combine time, may hit the jackpot down the road. A middle linebacker is a possibility and a pass-rushing defensive end is needed. Or, could GM Howie Roseman pull one of his infamous surprises and reach with someone not on the board? Can't wait to find out.
Wednesday, April 12, 2017
IN THE NEWS- MICROSOFT HOSTING JOB FAIR FOR THOSE ON THE SPECTRUM
From Disability Scoop..
In a bid to help more people with autism land jobs, Microsoft and other Fortune 500 companies are teaming up for a virtual career fair specifically for those with the developmental disorder.
The first-ever Autism @ Work virtual career fair will allow people with autism to connect with recruiters from the tech giant in addition to AT&T, EY, Ford, Hewlett Packard Enterprise's Dandelion program, JPMorgan Chase, NCR and SAP,Microsoft said.
Participating companies will have virtual job booths during the online event eith representatives ready to answer questions, discuss openings and accept applications.
"The vast majority of people with autism are either unemployed or underemployed, leaving a large pool of untapped talent," said Neil Barnett, director of inclusive hiring and accessibility at Microsoft, in a blog post about the recruiting event. "Each of these industry leaders have a hiring program to support candidates with autism and help them bring their best selves to an interview."
Microsoft introduced its own autism hiring initiative two years ago, which features a nontraditional interview process designed to help those on the spectrum highlight their talents be held Thursday between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. PST
In a bid to help more people with autism land jobs, Microsoft and other Fortune 500 companies are teaming up for a virtual career fair specifically for those with the developmental disorder.
The first-ever Autism @ Work virtual career fair will allow people with autism to connect with recruiters from the tech giant in addition to AT&T, EY, Ford, Hewlett Packard Enterprise's Dandelion program, JPMorgan Chase, NCR and SAP,Microsoft said.
Participating companies will have virtual job booths during the online event eith representatives ready to answer questions, discuss openings and accept applications.
"The vast majority of people with autism are either unemployed or underemployed, leaving a large pool of untapped talent," said Neil Barnett, director of inclusive hiring and accessibility at Microsoft, in a blog post about the recruiting event. "Each of these industry leaders have a hiring program to support candidates with autism and help them bring their best selves to an interview."
Microsoft introduced its own autism hiring initiative two years ago, which features a nontraditional interview process designed to help those on the spectrum highlight their talents be held Thursday between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. PST
Monday, April 10, 2017
IN THE NEWS- CONGRESS WEIGHS EXPANDING ABLE ACT
This from Disability Scoop..
As new accounts allowing people with disabilities to save money without jeopardizing their government benefits become increasingly available, Congress is considering changes to the program.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives introduced a package of bills this month to modify the Achieving a Better Life Experience, or ABLE, Act.
The 2014 legislation created a first-of-its-kind saving up to $100,000 without sacrificing Social Security and other government benefits. Medicaid eligibility is not affected by any level of funds saved in the accounts.
With three new proposals, lawmakers are looking to make ABLE accounts more available and more flexible.
The legislative package includes one bill that would incentivitize work by allowing individuals with disabilities who are employed to save extra money.ABLE accounts are limited to $14,000 in annual deposits, but under the proposal, those who are working could save an additional amount equal to the federal poverty level, currently at $11,770.
A separate bill would increase the eligibility age for ABLE accounts to 46. At present, individuals must have a disability that onsets before the age of 26 in order to qualify.
Meanwhile, a third bill would allow families to rollover money saved for an individual with a disability in a 529 college savings plan to an ABLE account.
"ABLE accounts already help thousands of Americans with disabilities live a fuller life," said Rep. Tony Cardenas, D-Calif., a sponsor of the new proposals. "This legislation builds on that progress and eases the financial burden that many of these families face."
An effort last year to push similar updates to the ABLE Act stalled amid opposition from disability advocates who wanted all three measures to advance jointly and were dismayed when one of the bills was left behind.
Since the ABLE ACT was approved, 19 states have made ABLE accounts available, according to the ABLE National Resource Center. In many cases, the accounts are offered to qualifying individuals regardless of which state they reside in.
Chris Rodriguez, director of public policy at the National Disability Institute, said that based on conversations with ABLE program administrators in various states, there are about 10,000 open ABLE accounts across the country.
Rodriguez said that he and other advocates are hopeful that the new bills will be considered as part of a larger tax reform effort that members of Congress are expected to undertake soon.
"There is hope that they would move this year," Rodriguez said.
The package of legislation that House sponsors are calling "ABLE 2.0" includes bills known as the ABLE to Work Act, the ABLE Financial Planning Act and the ABLE Age Adjustment Act.
As new accounts allowing people with disabilities to save money without jeopardizing their government benefits become increasingly available, Congress is considering changes to the program.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives introduced a package of bills this month to modify the Achieving a Better Life Experience, or ABLE, Act.
The 2014 legislation created a first-of-its-kind saving up to $100,000 without sacrificing Social Security and other government benefits. Medicaid eligibility is not affected by any level of funds saved in the accounts.
With three new proposals, lawmakers are looking to make ABLE accounts more available and more flexible.
The legislative package includes one bill that would incentivitize work by allowing individuals with disabilities who are employed to save extra money.ABLE accounts are limited to $14,000 in annual deposits, but under the proposal, those who are working could save an additional amount equal to the federal poverty level, currently at $11,770.
A separate bill would increase the eligibility age for ABLE accounts to 46. At present, individuals must have a disability that onsets before the age of 26 in order to qualify.
Meanwhile, a third bill would allow families to rollover money saved for an individual with a disability in a 529 college savings plan to an ABLE account.
"ABLE accounts already help thousands of Americans with disabilities live a fuller life," said Rep. Tony Cardenas, D-Calif., a sponsor of the new proposals. "This legislation builds on that progress and eases the financial burden that many of these families face."
An effort last year to push similar updates to the ABLE Act stalled amid opposition from disability advocates who wanted all three measures to advance jointly and were dismayed when one of the bills was left behind.
Since the ABLE ACT was approved, 19 states have made ABLE accounts available, according to the ABLE National Resource Center. In many cases, the accounts are offered to qualifying individuals regardless of which state they reside in.
Chris Rodriguez, director of public policy at the National Disability Institute, said that based on conversations with ABLE program administrators in various states, there are about 10,000 open ABLE accounts across the country.
Rodriguez said that he and other advocates are hopeful that the new bills will be considered as part of a larger tax reform effort that members of Congress are expected to undertake soon.
"There is hope that they would move this year," Rodriguez said.
The package of legislation that House sponsors are calling "ABLE 2.0" includes bills known as the ABLE to Work Act, the ABLE Financial Planning Act and the ABLE Age Adjustment Act.
Saturday, April 8, 2017
PHILLY SPORTS CORNER
More Philly sports..
FLYERS-
Last two meaningless games this weekend..The Flyers are a terrible season A failure, not making the playoffs. The younger players didn't improve, which, in the long run, is more troubling. Are the vets like Giroux aging too fast? Listless and uninspired. The 10-game winning streak in December was fools gold. They currently pick no. 11 in the next draft. The winning streak hurt their odds of getting a better prospect. The winning streak also may have fooled the front office into not making key moves at the trade deadline. There can't be hope going into next season, even with more talented youngsters on the way.
PHILLIES-
After 4 games into the season, the Phils find themselves at a loss, without an identity. Power team? Speed team? They don't bunt, or hit-or-run enough. They still make stupid mistakes on the bases. They seem to hustle and are motivated. But they are what they are-average.
They need stars. They need to give the fans a reason to watch and attend the games. Hopefully the next wave of prospects at Lehigh Valley and Reading bring hope and excitement. Til then, it will be another long summer of boring, often frustrating baseball.
OTHER-
Allen Iverson completely sold out when he did the recent commercial for the Atlanta Braves. he must be hard-up for money. How can he claim to be a "Braves fan since I was little" when he played in Philadelphia and wore a Yankees cap during his playing days? An embarrassing, stupid commercial and decision by Iverson.
Who wants to see or hear Tony Romo as a CBS color guy? Not me. The media is in love with former Dallas Cowboy quarterbacks. Troy Aikman does a good job. But will Romo really be fair calling a Cowboy game? Why not pay your dues instead of automatically being elevated to the no. 1 team doing NFL football? A bad decision by CBS. Romo may be back playing before you know it.
EAGLES-
Counting down to the draft. One scenario for the Eagles- draft WR Mike Williams in the first round, get a running back in the second round, giving Carson Wentz more weapons to grow with. The draft is deep in corner backs. Grab a couple later on. My thinking is, go for the weapons early, and fill in later.
FLYERS-
Last two meaningless games this weekend..The Flyers are a terrible season A failure, not making the playoffs. The younger players didn't improve, which, in the long run, is more troubling. Are the vets like Giroux aging too fast? Listless and uninspired. The 10-game winning streak in December was fools gold. They currently pick no. 11 in the next draft. The winning streak hurt their odds of getting a better prospect. The winning streak also may have fooled the front office into not making key moves at the trade deadline. There can't be hope going into next season, even with more talented youngsters on the way.
PHILLIES-
After 4 games into the season, the Phils find themselves at a loss, without an identity. Power team? Speed team? They don't bunt, or hit-or-run enough. They still make stupid mistakes on the bases. They seem to hustle and are motivated. But they are what they are-average.
They need stars. They need to give the fans a reason to watch and attend the games. Hopefully the next wave of prospects at Lehigh Valley and Reading bring hope and excitement. Til then, it will be another long summer of boring, often frustrating baseball.
OTHER-
Allen Iverson completely sold out when he did the recent commercial for the Atlanta Braves. he must be hard-up for money. How can he claim to be a "Braves fan since I was little" when he played in Philadelphia and wore a Yankees cap during his playing days? An embarrassing, stupid commercial and decision by Iverson.
Who wants to see or hear Tony Romo as a CBS color guy? Not me. The media is in love with former Dallas Cowboy quarterbacks. Troy Aikman does a good job. But will Romo really be fair calling a Cowboy game? Why not pay your dues instead of automatically being elevated to the no. 1 team doing NFL football? A bad decision by CBS. Romo may be back playing before you know it.
EAGLES-
Counting down to the draft. One scenario for the Eagles- draft WR Mike Williams in the first round, get a running back in the second round, giving Carson Wentz more weapons to grow with. The draft is deep in corner backs. Grab a couple later on. My thinking is, go for the weapons early, and fill in later.
Friday, April 7, 2017
OLD-SCHOOL WHEELING-DISABILITY INSURANCE
Originally published in The Phoenix on August 8, 3006..
August marks the 50th anniversary of the passage of Social Security Disability Insurance. This is an important landmark, since three out of 10 of today's 20-year-olds will become disabled before reaching the age of 67. Seventy percent of the private sector work force do not have long-term Disability Insurance has been one of the beneficial amendments in American history, as the sudden and often unexpected loss of income due to a worker's disability can lead families into poverty. And this was the case before 1956.
Many changes have been made to the original Social Security Act, which was passed in 1935. Many don't realize that at the time, no provisions for disability insurance were included in the act. It wasn't until 1956- two decades later- when President Eisenhower and Congress made an amendment to the Social Security Act to include a disability program.
Even then, at first, only qualified workers between the ages of 50-65 were eligible for disability benefits. This coverage was expanded to include dependents of qualified disabled workers a few years later.
Even later, legislation created an entirely separate program called Supplemental Security Income (SSI). This program would hinge more on financial need as opposed to benefits based on prior work done.
Many disabled individuals want to work. Many just can't because of their health, or because the job market is tough, even for able-bodied workers. So, thankfully Social Security Disability exists, and will continue to be in existence for those in need.
If you need more information about Disability Insurance, go online to www.socialsecurity.gov.
August marks the 50th anniversary of the passage of Social Security Disability Insurance. This is an important landmark, since three out of 10 of today's 20-year-olds will become disabled before reaching the age of 67. Seventy percent of the private sector work force do not have long-term Disability Insurance has been one of the beneficial amendments in American history, as the sudden and often unexpected loss of income due to a worker's disability can lead families into poverty. And this was the case before 1956.
Many changes have been made to the original Social Security Act, which was passed in 1935. Many don't realize that at the time, no provisions for disability insurance were included in the act. It wasn't until 1956- two decades later- when President Eisenhower and Congress made an amendment to the Social Security Act to include a disability program.
Even then, at first, only qualified workers between the ages of 50-65 were eligible for disability benefits. This coverage was expanded to include dependents of qualified disabled workers a few years later.
Even later, legislation created an entirely separate program called Supplemental Security Income (SSI). This program would hinge more on financial need as opposed to benefits based on prior work done.
Many disabled individuals want to work. Many just can't because of their health, or because the job market is tough, even for able-bodied workers. So, thankfully Social Security Disability exists, and will continue to be in existence for those in need.
If you need more information about Disability Insurance, go online to www.socialsecurity.gov.
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