National Council on Disability

The National Council on Disability ( NCD ) was founded in 1978 as an advisory body within the United States Department of Education with the task of ensuring equal opportunities for people with disabilities . The NCD has 15 members who are directly nominated by the President of the United States and approved by the United States Senate . An extension of the Rehabilitation Act of 1984 made the NCD an independent body.

The main goal of this institution is to enable disabled people to participate in all areas of life and to lead a self-determined life.

Fields of activity

According to the statute of the NCD, the institution has the following tasks:

• Review and evaluation of the federal government's policies , programs and procedures in relation to disabled people.
• Review and evaluate the statutes and regulations relating to government programs designed to benefit disabled people to ensure that they meet the needs of disabled people.
• Review and evaluation of emerging policies on the state as well as on the community and private sector level that affect disabled people. This happens, for example, in relation to care, personal assistance , inclusive education and in relation to the effect of these efforts on the disabled.
• Issued recommendations to the President, Congress, the Department of Education, the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, and other government institutions.
• Advising Congress on recommendations, draft laws, and other information as the NCD or Congress deem appropriate.
• Gather information about the enforcement, effectiveness, and impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act .
• Advising the President, Congress, the Rehabilitation Services Administration , the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, and the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research on the development of programs to be carried out under the Rehabilitation Act 1973.
• Advising the officer for the policies and management of the Rehabilitation Services Administration .
• Issued recommendations to the director of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research regarding disabled people.
• Advising the Interagency Disability Coordinating Council on the priorities of activities and reviewing recommendations for legislative and administrative changes.
• Prepare and submit an annual report to the President and Congress.

activities

While numerous government organizations deal with issues that affect people with disabilities, the NCD is characterized by the fact that it is the only government organization tasked with analyzing current policies on issues relevant to the disability sector and making recommendations on this basis exhibit.

The NCD played a key role in implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act . Since then, the NCD has been helping disabled people to participate in numerous areas.

history

In 1978, a small advisory body within the US Department of Education, the National Council on the Handicapped, was promoted to the status of an independent federal agency. The resulting federal authority was called the National Council on Disability (NCD) and was tasked with examining and assessing all federal laws and programs that affect people with disabilities and to what extent this enables people with disabilities to participate in society on an equal footing. These assessments serve as the basis for recommendations for draft legislation. Finally, the NCD undertook to present the results of its work to the President and Congress in the form of a report. The NCD consists of 15 members, each of whom has a two-year term of office.

In the 1970s, there was a shift from benevolent behavior towards disabled people to disability rights and the NCD played a crucial role in enforcing the relevant legal framework.

The main merit of the NCD is to bundle issues that affect people with disabilities and to incorporate them into the decision-making processes. The NCD disseminates critical information on issues affecting people with disabilities through its website, NCD bulletin and mailing lists, and works with other disability organizations and the media.

Members of the National Council on Disability

Linda Wetters, Chair; Patricia Pound, First Vice-Chair; Marylyn Howe, second vice chairman; Victoria Ray Carlson; Robert R. Davila, Ph.D .; Graham Hill; Lisa Mattheiss; Heather McCallum; Katherine O. McCary; Lonnie Moore; Anne M. Rader; Tony J. Williams.

Web links

• National Council on Disability (English)
• NCD: 20 years of independence (English)