The Serve America Act, sponsored by Senators Ted Kennedy and Orrin Hatch "would increase opportunities for community service in a variety of ways from offering tax incentives for employers who allow workers to take time off for service to setting up funds to help non-profit groups recruit more volunteers." A Senate committee will hold a hearing Tuesday on this bill.
USA Today reports that applications are rising for government service programs. At AmeriCorps, online applications are up from 3,159 last February to 9,731 this year, attributed in part by the economy and the president's call to service. At the Peace Corps, applications are up 16%.
Budget director Peter Hatch was quoted in the article as saying that community volunteers doing more will mean government will "have to do less to provide for those in need".
The blog New Service has been tracking the bill and links to the Times piece by the senators entitled 21 Ways to Serve America.
Related : National Service Inclusion Project (provides training and technical assistance to include people with disabilities as participants in national service programs. Online requests can be submitted at the link.)
2 comments:
I like the inclusion project idea. Service learning at many universities is not inclusive. Nor are plans for having volunteers with disability included for projects like Habitat for Humanity, though there's much people can do even with a disability. The Habitat for Humanity applications in our local city even state a "physical ability" to put in work on the house--now that to me doesn't seem quite right since there is other work that can be done and people with disabilities often don't have housing. I checked on this not for us, but from curiosity about how disability can affect housing availability when people are poor.
Frida- the housing situation for pwd is not good. There's affordable/subsidized segregated housing - where you can live with senior citizens - who have different needs and often that mix doesn't work. I have known cases, however, where Habitat for Humanity, in conjunction with local churches or groups, have helped make apartments accessible. I agree that the physical ability to put work in on a house requirement on the application should be waived in lieu of possibly other contributions a potential homeowner with a disability can offer.
Post a Comment