July 17, 2012
SURVIVORS OF TROPICAL STORM DEBBY MAY QUALIFY FOR FEMA RENTAL ASSISTANCE
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — While survivors finish repairs to their homes or find a new place to live, money may be available to help them pay for a clean and safe place to stay.
Survivors who have been staying with friends or relatives because their homes were damaged or destroyed by Tropical Storm Debby may qualify for temporary rental assistance.
Florida survivors living in a county designated for Individual Assistance may be eligible for federal disaster aid. By law, the Federal Emergency Management Agency cannot duplicate insurance benefits. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE…
June 28, 2012
Click to view The Department's statement
The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) is committed to improving the delivery of services to Floridians who are deaf or hard of hearing. It is essential that the Department eliminate or reduce barriers these clients experience when seeking services through our programs.
To reach this goal, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and DCF have entered into an agreement to ensure that auxiliary aids and services are provided for these clients or their companions. This website has been designed to provide DCF staff as well as the Department’s contracted service providers with resources enabling them to meet our goal to eliminate or reduce barriers, thus ensuring effective communication with deaf or hard of hearing clients and companions as outline in the agreement. Questions regarding any information contained on this website should be directed to the DCF Office of Civil Rights, 1317 Winewood Blvd., Building 1 Room 110, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0700. Staff may also call the DCF Office of Civil Rights at (850) 487-1901 or the Region Civil Rights Officer.
http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/admin/servicedelivery/index.shtml
April 16, 2012
U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division:
According to regulations issued [by the Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division]and in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 2010, many hotel pools are likely to be noncompliant with ADA regulations by March 12 when they take effect. According to the regulation created in 2010, hotels must have pool lifts to provide people with disabilities equal access to pools and whirlpools or have a plan in place demonstrating they are trying to obtain a lift. The fine for not complying with this rule is up to $55,000. Most hotels have pools and the cost of pool lifts ranges from $3,000 to $6,000. It is being reported that many hotels may close their pool altogether to avoid having to purchase such a lift. New hotels being built must include the lift in the pools’ construction plan. While the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the hotel industry’s lobby coalition, has requested that the Department of Justice extend the deadline, reports state this request was not granted and the regulations did go into effect yesterday. Eve Hill, Deputy Chief of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division stated, “They’ve had quite a bit of time to do their planning. If they have legitimate reasons in good faith that they can’t comply, then that will be taken into account.” For more information, visit: http://travel.usatoday.com/hotels/story/2012-03-13/Disabled-access-rule-may-close-some-hotel-pools/53517388/1.