Advances in disability rights have great meaning for individuals, but don't always make headlines. Behind the scenes, people with and without disabilities campaign passionately for equal rights and quality of life every day of the year. As we head into 2007, the time is right to acknowledge success, give credit, and ramp up efforts for the coming year.

At county level

When Dan Onorato won the county executive job in 2003, he promised to keep disability issues front and center. Signs of this commitment were evident this year. Just this month, Mr. Onorato signed an executive order promoting greater diversity on the county's 30 appointed boards, authorities and commissions. The county's Web site (www.county.allegheny.pa.us) will maintain a database of members that lists the race, gender, geographical area of residence, ethnicity and -- yes -- disability status.

Allegheny County also took gigantic strides to ensure barrier-free polling sites in 2006. Like most of the nation, the county has had an embarrassing number of inaccessible voting sites. Kudos to County Election Director Mark Wolosik for reducing that number from 258 two years ago to just nine in time for the November election. Let's hope the success is contagious: Disability rights activists in Washington County are urging their election officials to acknowledge a similar problem.

The county also deserves praise for launching the Allegheny Link to Aging and Disability Resources, where senior adults and people of all ages with disabilities can get "one-stop" information and assistance in applying for services. "We do the work so people don't go in a circle," says director Judy Barricella. To reach Allegheny Link, call 1-866-730-2368 (voice) or 412-350-5205 (TTY).

State action

At the state level, Gov. Ed Rendell recently signed a "visitability design" bill that allows counties, school districts and municipalities to offer tax credits of up to $2,500 to home owners who incorporate three basic features that make a home "visitable" -- a no-step entrance, wider doorways, and a first-floor bathroom or powder room with enough space for a wheelchair to turn. Kudos to state Sen. Jim Ferlo, who co-sponsored the bill.

Gov. Rendell also made a good move in establishing a Cabinet for People with Disabilities within his office. This body -- composed of top state officials -- will advise the governor on policy issues.

But the governor frustrated the disability community by vetoing cost-of-living increases for the historically underpaid direct-care providers, and by failing to reduce waiting lists for services for people with mental retardation and developmental disabilities. These persistent issues impact the most vulnerable individuals in our region.

Accessible housing

Sometimes, only a lawsuit can bring about needed change. In November, a settlement was reached in the class-action suit against the Pittsburgh Housing Authority. For years, the authority had not provided the number of accessible apartments required by law. The settlement requires the construction or renovation of more than 300 accessible units. The authority also must establish procedures ensuring that tenants are matched with the types of apartments that best fit their disability needs.

In schools

Education rights advocates were bolstered this year by the roll-out of the Gaskin Settlement initiatives. These efforts -- the result of a class-action lawsuit against the state Department of Education -- identified school districts most in need of training about "least restrictive" placements and inclusive practices.

In addition, the department issued $1 million in grants for inclusive education efforts. All this is good -- but a recent leadership shuffle that removed Linda Rhen as chief of the Bureau of Special Education has advocates worried that positive momentum will be replaced by "business as usual."

A definite win for education in 2006 is the law that permits special education students to participate in graduation ceremonies with their classmates at the end of 12th grade, even if they will continue to receive special education services until age 21. In the past, many students were prevented from participating in this benchmark event.

Locally, a shining star for families of special education students was the opening of the PEAL (Parent Education and Advocacy Leadership) Center (412-281-4404, www.pealcenter.org), which focuses on high quality education for all students.

Autism news

Locally and nationally this year, significant attention was paid to the condition of autism, which affects one in 166 children born in the United States. The long-awaited Combating Autism Act was signed into law this month. This federal initiative commits $1 billion to research. In Harrisburg, the first director of autism affairs, Nina Wall-Cote, launched efforts to train physicians and other professionals on best practices. Locally, the Autism Center of Pittsburgh (412-364-1886; www.autismcenterofpittsburgh.com) opened its doors to provide support, information and treatment options.

Home care

Aging and disabled people often prefer living at home to institutional settings. Greater understanding of this issue was evident in 2006. The federally-funded Nursing Home Transition Project continued to offer people the opportunity to move from congregate settings to homes with appropriate supports. Three Rivers Center for Independent Living and its local partners helped 126 Allegheny County residents make the change this year.

Technology

Living at home with a disability often depends on assistive technology. In 2006, Pitt and CMU joined together to establish the Quality of Life Technology Engineering Research Center. The center, supported by a $15 million grant from the National Science Foundation, will design innovative devices that improve life for people with disabilities.

The new year will bring continued effort on these and many other issues. As disability rights advocates often say, the work is never done.