Liberty Blog
Sign up for email alerts!

Friend us on Facebook follow us on Twitter Check us out on YouTube Check us out on LinkedIn Join our mailing list

Let PPA Know Philadelphia Needs Accessible Taxis NOW!

The Philadelphia Parking Authority is proposing regulations that will put 300 accessible cabs on the city streets by the end of the year. Can this really happen?

YES, if we all take a few moments to tell PPA how important such cabs are to the disability community. Of the 10 largest cities in the U.S., Philadelphia is the only city without a fleet of accessible cabs.

We don’t have much time. Send a short message to PPA by Friday, February 3. Keep it short, but make it clear that accessible taxicabs are important to Philadelphia and the disability community. Tell PPA to approve the proposed regulations and stop the discrimination against people with disabilities!

Send your message by email to: CMilstein@philapark.org

Or, mail to:

Philadelphia Parking Authority
2415 S. Swanson St.
Philadelphia, PA 19148

The deadline for comments on the proposed regulations to provide more accessible taxi cabs on Philadelphia streets is Friday, February 3.  That is THIS Friday!

The deadline for comments on the proposed regulations to provide more accessible taxi cabs on Philadelphia streets is Friday, February 3. That is THIS Friday!

SAVE THE DATE: On February 15, a public hearing on this issue will be held. Time and location will be announced.

Posted in ADAPT, Advocacy Alert, Disability News, Liberty News | Leave a comment

Canada.com: New technology enables blind to use smart phones

Disability resource centre teachers help others communicate

By Alyson McAndrews

Jessica Rathwell holds her iPhone close to her ear while she types out a tweet using special voiceover technology. With remarkable speed, she navigates her way through her tiny keyboard, adding and deleting letters.

Rathwell is blind, and she is a self-described huge Apple fan and tech geek.

Her technology skills have led her to a career in teaching other blind and low-vision people to use Apple computers and devices as they come out of the box, with no additional technology or modifications.

Full story at Canada.com

Posted in Beyond Philly, Disability News, Resources | Leave a comment

Phila. Weekly: City Council to Introduce ‘Land Bank’ Bill

Philadelphia Weekly

After tons of debate and activists’ push regarding a potential Philadelphia land bank to deal with vacant property and blighted land, City Council is expected to introduce a Land Bank Bill in one week, on February 2. The bill, co-sponsored by Bill Green and Maria Quinones-Sanchez, is similar to what activists had been pushing for and may solve the city’s vacant land/property/blight problem.

The main community group that’s been pushing for such a bill is the Campaign to Take Back Vacant Land, a coalition which includes Action United, Liberty Resources, Neighborhood Networks, the Philadelphia Orchard Project, Unite HERE, the Women’s Community Revitalization Project and several others.

Full Story from Philadelphia Weekly Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy Update, Disability News, Liberty News | Leave a comment

Philly.com: Cabbies say Phila. wheelchair rule would break them

Philly.com
Monika Zaleska, Inquirer Staff Writer

The Philadelphia Parking Authority’s proposal to make every taxi in the city wheelchair-accessible by 2016 would drive cabbies out of business, owners and drivers said this week.

The proposal, whose first phase calls for 300 wheelchair-accessible taxis by the end of this year, is nudging operators “more with the stick than with the carrot,” said Alex Friedman, owner of Checker Cab Dispatch. Friedman said he is wary of the high costs of the plan, which would mandate that every medallion cab be wheelchair-accessible by 2016.

Full story at Philly.com

Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy Update, Disability News, Liberty News | Leave a comment

Daniel Denvir: Cut to the Bone

by Daniel Denvir
Philadelphia CityPaper

Federal rollbacks, slashing funding to Philly housing programs by a third, could be devastating for low-income homeowners.

One hundred forty miles away, in Washington, D.C., Republicans in Congress last month congratulated themselves on hammering out a conservative fiscal 2012 budget — a victory that entailed deep cuts to spending on urban and social issues. But here in Philadelphia those same cuts have sent programs that shelter the homeless, help the poor and people with disabilities repair and retrofit their homes, and assist residents facing foreclosure spiraling into crisis.

In next year’s budget, there will be far less money to meet a growing need for housing-related services, which could mean a mushrooming number of homes that will leak and crumble, and a boom in the homeless population due to increased foreclosures. Funding provided by the stimulus package has also largely run out.

“It’s going to be tough,” says Michelle Lewis, president of Northwest Counseling Service, which assists Philadelphians facing foreclosure. “A reduction in staff. A reduction in resources available to help the residents. That’s going to be determined agency by agency. For many, it will put them out of business. For us, it won’t put us out of business, but it will have a devastating impact.”

Read the full article at CityPaper.net

 

Posted in Disability News, Housing Advocacy, Liberty News | Leave a comment

CMS: HHS to give states more flexibility to implement health reform

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DECEMBER 16, 2011
Contact: HHS Press Office at 202-690-6343

Approach will help ensure consumers have quality, affordable coverage starting in 2014

The Department of Health and Human Services today released a bulletin outlining proposed policies that will give states more flexibility and freedom to implement the Affordable Care Act.

The Affordable Care Act ensures all Americans have access to quality, affordable health insurance. To achieve this goal, the law ensures that health insurance plans offered in the individual and small group markets, both inside and outside of the Affordable Insurance Exchanges (Exchanges), offer a comprehensive package of items and services, known as “essential health benefits.” Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy Update, Disability News | Leave a comment

Cassie James Holsworth Honored by PA Resolution

Liberty’s own Director of National Policy and Advocacy, Cassie James Holdsworth, received a great honor in Harrisburg this week. In recognition of her over 30 years of advocacy and activism on behalf of the disabled community, a resolution presented by PA Representative Bebette Josephs passed 196 – 0.

A short description:

A Resolution honoring Cassie James Holdsworth, the Director of National Advocacy and Policy for Liberty Resources, Inc., for her service to the disabled community, for her tireless advocacy for the rights of persons with disabilities and for her strength in overcoming the obstacles and challenges of her disabilities while fulfilling her duties as an American citizen by exercising her First Amendment rights.

Full text of the resolution after the jump.

Continue reading

Posted in ADAPT, Advocacy Update, Disability News, Independent Living Services, Liberty News | Leave a comment

Liberty Advocates for Ben Franklin Bridge Ramps

By Shannon McDonald
www.newsworks.org

The Delaware River Port Authority will meet Wednesday to review its 2012 budget, which could include long-awaited ramps on the walkway of the Camden side of the Ben Franklin Bridge.

Advocacy group Liberty Resources wants the money set aside to install the ramps, for which funds were supposed to have been allotted in last year’s budget. Liberty Resources wants the bridge walkways to be accessible to everyone. Wednesday, cyclists supporting the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia will bike to the DRPA meeting to show the ramps would benefit several portions of the population. Continue reading

Posted in Disability News, Independent Living Services, Liberty News | Leave a comment

Liberty eNews, December 2011

The latest edition of Liberty’s email newsletter has just hit inboxes across the land. Did you miss out? Click here to check it out!

In the future, you can receive Liberty’s monthly email newsletter directly. Sign up at http://libertyresources.org/news-alert.html

Posted in E-News | Leave a comment

Liberty’s Inaugural Taste of Independence Event a Success!

Held on October 26th, 2011, Liberty Resources Inaugural Taste of Independence event drew support from a wide range of community partners who gathered to enjoy fine food, drink, music,  and most importantly, to toast the successes of the Independent Living Movement, and the role of Liberty Resources and our supporters therein.

The elegant Sheraton Society Hill Hotel on 2nd and Dock Streets in Philadelphia served as an ideal setting to recognize two undeniably deserving honorees among Liberty’s many supporters: Philadelphia Inquirer Journalist Daniel Rubin and Philadelphia-based insurance broker, The Graham Company. Continue reading

Posted in Liberty News | Leave a comment