Latest news with #AmericanswithDisabilitiesAct
Newsweek
an hour ago
- General
- Newsweek
Service Dogs Say Last Goodbye to People Who Raised Them Before Graduation
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A video of the moment newly graduated service dogs were reunited with the people who helped raise them has melted hearts online. On May 9, 2025, Canine Companions, the nation's largest service dog organization, celebrated its 50th anniversary with National Graduation Day across all seven regional centers in the United States. Leading service dog trainers and providers, Canine Companions have been training and providing dogs to people in need since 1975. Each Canine Companions service dog, which costs over $50,000 to raise and train, is provided at no charge to those in need, thanks to donors. For Canine Companions, service dog training begins with volunteers who welcome puppies into their homes when they are just eight weeks old. Puppy raisers devote more than a year to teaching basic commands, socializing the dogs, and providing a loving foundation before the animals transition into professional training. "At the end of a year and a half, we ask the puppy raisers to do something difficult... They say goodbye to these dogs that they've raised and loved," John Bentzinger, Manager of Public Relations & Marketing for Canine Companions' Northeast Region told Newsweek. "These future service dogs enter our professional training program and work with our instructors for 6 to 9 months learning over 40 advanced commands that are useful to a person with disabilities." Pictures of some of the service dogs being reunited with the people that raised them. Pictures of some of the service dogs being reunited with the people that raised them. @canineorg/TikTok The training process culminates in "Team Training," a two-week immersive experience where individuals with disabilities are matched with their service dogs. During this period, participants stay in fully accessible dormitories and learn how to work with their highly trained canine partners. Graduation day is a deeply emotional event, as the volunteer puppy raisers reunite with the dogs they helped raise and witness their transition to life as service animals. "During the graduation ceremony, the volunteer puppy raiser presents the dog's leash to our new client," Bentzinger said. "Usually not a dry eye in the house." Service dogs are defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and are dogs intentionally trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities. Examples include seeing eye dogs, dogs that alert to health issues and assist people with disabilities in things like retrieving dropped items, opening doors and pulling a wheelchair. In a video shared on the Canine Companion's official Instagram page, 1.9 million people viewed the moment the new graduates were reunited with the volunteers who took them in as puppies—and it was clear they recognized them. A series of clips revealed excited dogs launching themselves into the arms of the people who helped raise them. "I'm not crying. You're crying," said the video caption, posted in May. "We shared it on Instagram because it's graduation season, and it's such a heartwarming moment that happens behind the scenes," Bentzinger said. Comments on the video poured in, with responses from people who had cared for service puppies, received a service dog and those who were just delighted by the moment. "I will never be able to thank enough the person that raised my service dog. The raiser helped to change my life. Thank all of you," said one commenter who has her own service dog. While a fellow puppy raiser wrote: "I'm crying! But in a good way. Puppy raising is one of the best things we did!" "The reaction is so touching and emotional in a positive way, and we hope that more people become aware of Canine Companions and understand the importance of raising and providing service dogs to people with disabilities," Bentzinger said.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Greenville ISD officials work to pay down debt ahead of a potential bond effort
At their meeting in April, the Greenville ISD Board of Trustees worked on reducing the district's debt burden. For the fourth time in five years, the board voted to refinance and/or pay off outstanding bonds ahead of schedule. On May 22, that early defeasance of bonds was finalized, Through those four defeasances, through a combination of scheduled payments, refinancing at lower interest rates and early repayments, the district has reduced its total principal and interest obligations by $89.7 million since 2020. At the end of the 2020 fiscal year, the district's outstanding principal balance stood at $73.445 million. By the end of the current fiscal year, that number will be down to $33.635 million – a reduction of more than 50%. In addition to the financial savings, the district has shortened the final maturity date of its outstanding debt by seven years, accelerating its path to full repayment. In addition to paying down its debt, the district is looking to approve a total property tax rate of 94.09 cents per $100 valuation, which would be 2.6 cents lower than it's current rate of 96.69 cents for every $100 that a property is worth. 'These savings reflect our board's commitment to sound financial management and our ongoing responsibility to the taxpayers of Greenville,' said GISD Superintendent Joe Lopez. 'It's about doing what's right for our students, our schools and our community.' GISD's most recent round of debt reduction comes as the district consults with WRA Architects on the planning of a future bond effort. While the firm has recommended that the district take its time with the community surveying, designing and budgeting process, they have estimated that another bond election could likely be called as soon as this November — a decision that would have to be made in August to meet state election requirements. So far this year, GISD officials and WRA have been meeting with a facility planning committee made up of community members, giving them tours of various multiple campuses to give them a better idea of the district's needs. While GISD has not publicly proposed any specific projects for a future bond election, the district's three previous bond attempts – in May 2022, November 2022 and November 2023 – included as their main projects replacements for both the middle school and the early childhood center, because the two existing campuses are 74 years old, deteriorating and out of compliance with current Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, Texas Education Agency standards and updated building codes.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Cracking down on fake emotional support, service animals among notable bills from May
While state budget negotiations happen in the background, Wisconsin lawmakers have been busy introducing dozens of bills, spanning from mental health care for college students to protecting endangered bees. Several hundred pieces of legislation are pitched each session, and only a fraction end up becoming law. Around 300 proposals have been introduced since lawmakers reconvened at the state Capitol in January. Here's a roundup of notable ones from May. Most haven't yet received public hearings, the first step on the path to becoming law. You can read our April roundup here. Republicans leading the bill say business and property owners have reported higher cases of emotional support and service animal misrepresentation, with owners using fake harnesses or vests. The bill would enshrine in law landlords' ability to ask tenants for documentation showing a prescription for an emotional support animal. Tenants who provide false documentation or health care providers who don't have a 30-day, established relationship with the patient could face a $500 fine. Under the bill, people who bring fake service animals in public places could face a $200 fine. The state Department of Workforce Development would be required to create signs for businesses that say "task-trained service animals are welcome" and misrepresenting a service animal is against state law. The bill "does not infringe on the federal protections under the Fair Housing Act or the Americans with Disabilities Act. It simply reinforces responsible and verifiable use of those protections in Wisconsin," lawmakers argue. Disability Rights Wisconsin didn't immediately have comment on the bill but is reviewing the proposal. Other states have moved to crack down on people passing off their pets as service animals. Authors: Sen. Rachael Cabral-Guevara, R-Appleton; Rep. Paul Tittl, R-Manitowoc Lawmakers introduced a group of bills aimed at protecting pollinators. One would name the endangered Rusty Patched Bumble Bee the official state native insect. Another would create a "Protect Pollinators" license plate, generating revenue for the state's endangered species fund. While there are some Republican supporters, the bills have typically been sponsored by Democrats in past sessions and never made it far in the state Legislature. Bees, butterflies and other insects keep ecosystems thriving, and a whole week in mid-June is dedicated to pollinators. Authors: Sen. Jodi Habush Sinykin, D-Whitefish Bay; Sen. Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee; Rep. Deb Andraca, D-Whitefish Bay; Rep. Elijah Behnke, R-Chase; Rep. Lee Snodgrass; D-Appleton; Rep. Vincent Miresse, D-Stevens Point More: These Wisconsin specialty license plates were the most popular in 2024 This bill would require the University of Wisconsin System to contract with a vendor to provide virtual mental health services for students, beyond traditional business hours. Campuses have already utilized telehealth, lawmakers note. "Telehealth services have proven to be effective in shortening waiting times to see a provider, and allow patients to receive care at their convenience," bill authors wrote. The bill doesn't include any new funding. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers' budget proposal included $22 million for the UW System to support student mental health, including telehealth services and 57 new counselor positions. Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee removed several UW-related portions of Evers' budget at their first meeting, but didn't strike the mental health provisions. The budget will likely be signed later this summer, so it's not clear if mental health funding for UW will be in the final version. Authors: Sen. Jesse James, R-Thorp; Rep. Todd Novak, R-Dodgeville More: The state of mental health across Wisconsin's public universities in 4 charts In Wisconsin, each city, town or village sets its own early voting hours and locations, where voters can cast an absentee ballot in-person starting two weeks before Election Day. This bill would require municipalities to offer a minimum of 20 hours of early voting. Bill authors argue early voting access has become unequal between large cities and smaller towns. Milwaukee offered 10 sites for the November election, for example. But some election officials told VoteBeat it wouldn't make sense for communities with only a few dozen voters and limited clerk capacity. Supporters plan to propose funding in the budget to help smaller communities reach the 20-hour minimum. Authors: Sen. Rachael Cabral-Guevara, R-Appleton; Sen. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater; Rep. Scott Krug, R-Rome More: Wisconsin early voting surges compared with the 2023 spring election This bipartisan proposal would require the state Department of Health Services to work with health care providers to develop informational materials on menopause and perimenopause, the transitional phase. Those handouts would include information like symptoms, treatments, when to consult a provider, the biological process and how to talk to friends and family. The bill is modeled after legislation in Pennsylvania, where public testimony highlighted the "difficulty women have in being heard and taken seriously discussing menopause and the issues that surround it," lawmakers said. Authors: Sen. Dianne Hesselbein, D-Middleton; Sen. Rachael Cabral-Guevara, R-Appleton; Rep. Karen DeSanto, D-Baraboo This proposal could provide up to $2 million for a data sharing pilot program for police and sheriff's departments in Milwaukee and Waukesha counties. The grant would reduce siloed data between agencies, helping solve cases faster, bill authors argue. The bill was introduced May 12 and quickly received a hearing May 27 in the Senate. It has at least one Democratic cosponsor. The Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association, which supports the bill, testified that the proposal would help agencies struggling with staffing. "While geographic boundaries may define our jurisdictions, the individuals committing crimes do not recognize or respect those lines," the association said. "Effective information sharing is essential to modern policing." Authors: Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine; Rep. Bob Donovan, R-Greenfield This bipartisan bill would allow funeral processions to use flashing purple lights. Current law allows flashing amber lights during the procession, but that can be ambiguous to divers, lawmakers argue. Bill authors point out purple is a symbol of mourning in many cultures and would be distinct from red and blue lights used by emergency vehicles. Wisconsin would join about a dozen other states that use purple lights for funeral processions, including North Carolina. Authors: Sen. Julian Bradley, R-New Berlin; Sen. Mark Spreitzer, D-Beloit; Rep. Dean Kaufert, R-Neenah Two lawmakers are leading a resolution that urges the "overdue induction" of Jack Vainisi into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Vainisi scouted and drafted 12 future Hall of Famers, from Bart Starr to Ray Nitschke, and played an important role in persuading the team to hire Vince Lombardi. He "may have had more influence on the Packers dynasty than any player or coach," lawmakers wrote. Resolutions are different than bills — they express the opinion of lawmakers but don't carry the force of state law. The Hall of Fame selection process is intense, with a 50-person selection committee and only a handful of new enshrinees each year. Authors: Sen. Andre Jacque, R-New Franken; Rep. Rob Kreibich, R-New Richmond This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin Legislature's May bills include fake service animals
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Prison heat lawsuit gets go-ahead
A federal judge has rejected a request by Florida corrections officials to dismiss a potential class-action lawsuit alleging the state has violated inmates' rights because of hot conditions at a prison in Miami-Dade County. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams on Wednesday issued a 30-page ruling that said inmates at Dade Correctional Institution can pursue claims under the U.S. Constitution's 8th Amendment, the Americans with Disabilities Act and a disabilities-related law known as the Rehabilitation Act. The 8th Amendment bars cruel and unusual punishment. Williams' ruling described a prison with a large number of older inmates that does not have air conditioning or adequate ventilation in dormitories or in the dining area. It also detailed heat indexes that often top 100 degrees in South Florida and said inmates are 'regularly and consistently exposed to heat indexes within the NWS (National Weather Service) danger zone during the summer months.' 'Plaintiffs further allege that the issue of excessive heat at Dade CI is exacerbated by insufficient ventilation systems,' Williams wrote. 'Plaintiffs allege that the ventilation systems in the dormitories, which were installed decades ago, have not been adequately maintained and are missing critical components, such as fans and motors.' Attorneys for three inmates filed the lawsuit in October against the state Department of Corrections, Corrections Secretary Ricky Dixon and Dade Correctional Institution Warden Francisco Acosta. It seeks class-action status, though Williams has not ruled on that issue. The prison has a capacity of 1,521 inmates. The named plaintiffs are Dwayne Wilson, who was described in the lawsuit as a 66-year-old inmate with hypertension, an enlarged prostate and a burn scar over much of his body that impairs his ability to sweat; Tyrone Harris, a 54-year-old inmate who has conditions such as hypertension and asthma; and Gary Wheeler, a 65-year-old inmate who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In a December motion to dismiss the case, the state's attorneys argued, in part, that the 8th Amendment argument 'fails because the facts do not give rise to a substantial risk of serious harm to plaintiffs, nor demonstrate that Secretary Dixon or Warden Acosta has been deliberately indifferent to the conditions and risks faced by these (named) plaintiffs in particular.' 'By itself, the lack of air conditioning does not pose a substantial risk of serious harm. The deprivation required to allege an Eighth Amendment claim must be objectively 'extreme' enough to deny an inmate 'the minimal civilized measure of life's necessities.' The allegations of the complaint (the lawsuit) have not 'cleared this high bar.'' the motion said, partially quoting legal precedents. But Williams wrote that the lawsuit 'alleges a wide range of heat related injuries: heat exhaustion, heat cramps, heat stroke, and death. Plaintiffs also extensively detail how excessive heat can exacerbate underlying medical conditions, in a facility where over 50 percent of all prisoners are over the age of 50. Finally, plaintiffs allege that, since 2021, extreme heat has contributed to the deaths of at least four individuals at Dade CI.' She also said that attorneys for the plaintiffs wrote to Acosta in September 2023 'detailing concerns about the extreme heat, lack of ventilation, and the serious threat of medical harm posted to the inmates based on those conditions. The court finds that the allegations plaintiffs raise about the ongoing excessive heat issues at Dade CI easily support the plausible inference that defendants were subjectively aware of the risks of heat-related harms.' The Miami-based judge also cited a report published in 2023 by the KPMG consulting firm, which had received a state contract to develop a master plan for the Department of Corrections. 'The report concluded that most FDC (Florida Department of Corrections) dormitories, including those at Dade CI, require retrofitting to comply with current ventilation standards, and that over one-third of FDC facilities were assessed to be in 'critical' or 'poor' condition,' Williams wrote. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘CODA' Director Sian Heder's ‘Being Heumann' Lands Ruth Madeley as Lead
Ruth Madeley will play disability rights activist Judy Heumann in the Apple movie Being Heumann from CODA director Sian Heder. The BAFTA-nominated actress will play Heumann as she leads over a hundred disabled people to take over the San Francisco Federal Building, kicking off a 28-day sit-in. The protest led to the enforcement of section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which required all federal spaces to become accessible. Heumann, known as 'the mother of the disability rights movement,' was a central architect of the Americans with Disabilities Act. She died in 2023 at the age of 75. More from The Hollywood Reporter Lin-Manuel Miranda and Original 'Hamilton' Cast Performing at Tony Awards John Mulaney's Fight With Three 14-Year-Olds Was a Bit of a Letdown Sydney Sweeney, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson, Michelle Yeoh Films Sell Wide at Cannes The film is based on Heumann's best-selling memoir of the same name, which Heder and Rebekah Taussig adapted for the screen. Heder will also produce under her overall deal with Apple, along with David Permut and Kevin Walsh for The Walsh Company via that banner's overall deal with the studio. Heumann's managers John W. Beach and Kevin Cleary of Gravity Squared Entertainment will also serve as producers. Executive producers include a posthumous credit for Heumann, Being Heumann co-author Kristen Joiner and Diana Pokorny. 'What an unbelievable honor to play The Mother of disability rights, an icon and powerhouse to the disabled community. Judy has always been a source of inspiration for me personally, and I am so excited to share her story with the world,' said Madeley, who was born with spina bifida. Her credits include U.K. series Dr. Who and Years and Years. Madeley is repped by Curtis Brown and Tapestry London. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 13 of Tom Cruise's Most Jaw-Dropping Stunts Hollywood Stars Who Are One Award Away From an EGOT 'The Goonies' Cast, Then and Now
