To promote the availability and accessibility of transportation options for older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, and communities throughout the U.S., Easter Seals and the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging announce the launch of the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center. Read more.

A first-of-its-kind, fully-functioning teaching hotel designed to provide job training and employment for people with disabilities is ready to open its doors.

The 150-room Courtyard Muncie at Horizon Convention Center in Muncie, Ind. will open with a ribbon cutting on Dec. 22.. Read more.

Without the Inland Regional Center, Kristine Metcalf doesn’t know if her 11-year-old daughter would have ever learned to walk or talk. Since her birth, Metcalf has used the center’s services to help care for her disabled child. Kimie was born premature, blind in her right eye and with cerebral palsy. At age 4, she was diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer.

But today, she is a spirited grade schooler who has actually spoken as an ambassador on behalf of the center. Read more.

Beginning in December, 400 randomly chosen families will be contacted by volunteers contracted by DDS to conduct family surveys. Each year a specific group is targeted for the National Core Indicators (NCI) survey, and data collected is used by NBRC to set performance goals for it’s contract. Data is also used by DDS to identify important statewide performance goals as well and track progress being made. This year families of children under 18 years will receive a survey that they can can complete and return by mail. NBRC encourages all families that receive the survey to complete and return these; contact your Service Coordinator if you have questions and click here (para español) for more information.

Yesterday two armed individuals- a man and woman- entered Inland Regional Center- one of California’s 21 non-profit regional centers- and opened fire. The entire developmental services community has rallied around regional center employees, families, and people with developmental disabilities as their safety is our paramount concern.

While  there were no known threats against other regional centers, out of an abundance of caution, eight centers closed early yesterday and NBRC employed additional security. Today we know that no Inland Regional Center employees nor individuals receiving services were harmed, but our hearts are heavy knowing innocent lives were cut short. Regional centers are places that connect families and people with developmental disabilities to their communities, and safety and health is paramount to our service system. While any act of violence is a tragedy, in a place focused on services to people with developmental disabilities, it is even harder to comprehend.
“ARCA, the regional centers, and the developmental disabilities community are united in mourning and support. The victims of today’s shooting were connected to us by service to those in need. Our hearts are with all those affected,” said Anne Struthers, President of the Association of Regional Centers (ARCA) Board of Directors.

With time running out on open enrollment season, many seniors are facing sharply higher premiums for Medicare‘s popular prescription drug program. The reason: rising drug costs have overtaken a long stretch of stable premiums. Read more.

Nine-year-old J.J. Paris will light the California Capitol Christmas tree on Dec. 2 with Gov. Jerry Brown and First Lady Anne Gust Brown in Sacramento.
Ornaments made by Paris and his fourth-grade    classmates  at Curtis Creek Elementary School will hang on  the 61-foot-tall white fir from Latour Demonstration State Forest near Redding in Shasta County.
Paris said during an interview last week that he is excited to light the Capitol tree. He is the first child from Tuolumne County to help light the state tree. Read more.