The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development plans to replace fair housing guidelines that prohibit practices that have “disparate impact” on certain groups of people, including people with disabilities. The new rule would raise the burden of proof for filing discrimination complaints. Leaders at The Arc and the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, among other advocates, warn this could create additional barriers for tenants with disabilities.
The Indian River School District’s board of education unanimously approved Delaware Department of Education’s Certificate of Necessity and architectural design for the Howard T. Ennis School, necessary steps in the construction process. The district superintendent estimated the project could be done as soon as fall 2020.
Philadelphia elections officials have moved 89 polling places for the city’s upcoming municipal election, a routine action that voting rights organizations nevertheless criticized as likely to depress turnout among people with disabilities and others. Officials responded that they disseminated notifications as required by law and that some moves were in fact to more accessible locations.
Easterseals Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore announced that it has received a $25,000 grant from Discover Bank to offer children with autism under age three Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy. Research has consistently shown that interventions such as ABA are more effective the earlier in a child’s life they begin.
Google recently gave a loan to innovative affordable housing advocacy organization The Kelsey Project, financing the construction of an inclusive apartment building. The building will have a set number of units reserved for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (20 percent of the total occupancy) and low incomes. Rent prices will be adjusted to the residents’ finances.
