sábado, 26 de mayo de 2012

DOT fines Virgin America for disability complaints



The federal government fined the airline Virgin America with $100,000 for failure to solve complaints made by passengers with disabilities, and because the airline did not report them to the Department of Transportation.


Virgin America was ordered to cease further violations against these passengers.
 “We expect airlines to respond individually to disability-related complaints and to report those complaints to us,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.  “These are important parts of our rules protecting the rights of passengers, and we will continue to take enforcement action when they are violated.” 
DOT requires airlines to record disability-related grievances, categorize them by their type of disability and nature of the complaint, and submit an annual report on them.  If a complaint covers more than one issue, it  must be counted as another. 
In addition, if an airline receives a written complaint alleging a violation of the Department’s disability rules, the carrier must provide a written response within 30 days that specifically discusses the matter, and give the carrier’s version of  the alleged violation. The airline must say the complaint may be referred to DOT for an investigation.

In July 2011, the DOT’s Aviation Enforcement Office conducted a routine on-site inspection at Virgin America’s corporate headquarters, where it reviewed all its disability complaints. 



The Enforcement Office found Virgin America failed several times to provide written responses to address them.  In addition, Virgin America failed to  categorize and account  all the disability issues questioned from 2008 and 2009.  As result, many complaints were missing from Virgin America’s reports submitted in that period.  
The consent order is available at www.regulations.gov, docket DOT-OST-2012-0002.  The DOT’s annual report on disability air travel complaints is found at  http://airconsumer.dot.gov/publications/gateway1.htm 

viernes, 18 de mayo de 2012

HUD offers funds for poor with disabilities

States can apply immediately for $85 million federal housing funds for poor people with disabilities, as part of the program Section 811, which provides money to centers that partner with Medicaid and health and human services.

The funds will be released by the Department of House and Urban Development.  This is the first time funds will be allocated to centers that meet new eligibility criteria, including having a partnership with a state health and human services and Medicaid agency to provide basic healthcare.

Housing providers have until July 31, 2012 to apply for funds, which will benefit 2,800 poor with disabilities.

“The reforms the Obama Administration has made to the Section 811 program will strengthen HUD's efforts to provide affordable, supportive housing to thousands of the most vulnerable low-income persons with disabilities," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. “HUD and the Department of Health and Human Services are also seizing the opportunity to support innovative state-level strategies to transform and increase the availability of affordable housing, matched with needed services and supports, that will help keep people with disabilities out of institutions and integrated into the community.”

“We are excited about this new opportunity for housing with services for people with disabilities,” said Health and Human Resources Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.  “Our collaboration with HUD is critically important to helping people with disabilities lead productive lives as members of their communities.  This is a priority for our Department, which is reflected in the recent creation of the Administration for Community Living.  This agency provides leadership within HHS and across the federal government to make sure that people with disabilities have the opportunity to live in the community with the right mix of services and supports."

Both federal agencies want states to link individuals to get quality and affordable housing, with state-provided healthcare. Only current housing centers can qualify for the funds, whose tenants may be referred by Medicaid and other health agencies. Funds cannot be used for construction or rehabilitation.

 “The Section 811 Program is a lifeline for people in the disability community who want to live normal lives in society, but cannot afford the cost of even modest rental housing.  These reforms make the program even more significant to improve the lives of thousands more people with long-term disabilities," said Andrew Sperling, housing Co-Chair of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities Housing Task Force.

The funds challenge agencies to locate people who make 30 percent, or less than the average household income in an area. Under the plan, only 25 percent of units in a building could be used. 

Corporations, governments use poor as piggy banks

How Corporations and Local Governments Use the Poor as Piggy Banks | Mother Jones