According to data on the 2019 legislative session gathered by the Delaware Public Integrity Commission, the four organizations whose lobbyists met most often with legislators and state employees were all in the health care field. The Delaware Healthcare Association reported the most lobbying acts, while the Ability Network of Delaware reported the fourth most.
As the Department of Veterans Affairs plans to expand eligibility for its program supporting unpaid family caregivers, advocates are insisting that it move away from a “recovery based” model that sometimes conditions program participation on a veteran’s recovery from injury or disability. A member of the VA’s caregiver advisory committee says that the focus should shift to “sustaining … life,” recognizing that some disabilities, like paralysis, are permanent.
Delaware state transportation officials announced a $2.6 million federal grant that will raise the state’s total electric bus fleet, currently six, to 20 by 2021. A DelDOT director said the buses are more fuel-efficient and will likely require less maintenance, which may help lower bus fares. The buses also have improved wheelchair lifts to increase accessibility.
In an examination of counties’ elections policies and technology, POLITICO found that electronic voting machines are often more effective at accommodating voters with disabilities but more vulnerable to malfunction and sabotage. A common solution, using primarily paper ballots but keeping electronic machines for voters to use on request, is controversial among some advocates because it seems like a form of “separate but equal” discrimination.
A recent study indicates that, in people with autism, higher IQ does not correspond with improved functional skills like self-care and communication. The researchers conclude that labeling children with autism “high functioning” based on IQ score might put them at a disadvantage because it creates the impression they don’t need as much support.
