On the web dealing has exploded greatly in the previous ten years. The stock options dealer ought to use a dealer to help type in the stock orders.

While some people don't like to invest in so called "sin stocks," owning shares of tobacco companies could potentially fill an important gap in your investment portfolio. Tobacco stocks are characterized by low P/E ratios and high dividend yields. As a result, many investors seeking a steady stream of income find them to be attractive, especially when interest rates are low. Investing in tobacco stocks is inherently risky, because the companies are exposed to near constant litigation from former smokers seeking damages. While tobacco companies have generally been successful at fighting this litigation, it is a constant source of hesitation for the industry. Additionally, there is uncertainty associated with the future of tobacco companies now that they are regulated by the FDA. At this point, it is unclear if tobacco companies will be forced to further curtail their marketing practices, change ingredients, or drop brand segments all together.

The domestic tobacco industry is mature, and cigarette volumes are declining in the United States and Western Europe. Draconian taxes and smoking bans have made cigarettes less accessible. Marketing restrictions imposed in the 1990's have severely restricted the ability of tobacco companies to reach new customers. Additionally, the public's perception of smoking is more negative than at any time in the past. However, cigarettes are very addictive, and smoking is an extremely difficult habit to quit. Add the fact that smokers tend to be extremely brand loyal, and it becomes clear why this slowly declining industry is still very profitable.

Internationally, cigarette volumes are increasing. Most developing nations lack strict smoking bans like those seen in much of the United States and Western Europe. Smoking in bars, restaurants, and the workplace is still legal in many parts of the world. Combine this with low taxation and it's easy to see why smoking cigarettes is still extremely popular in many countries around the globe. Smoking is also perceived differently in many developing nations than it is in the United States. In America, a smoking habit is often seen as a sign of weakness, while smoking a Marlboro or Camel in a developing nation is frequently considered a status symbol or an affordable luxury.

The long term future for both domestic and international tobacco companies is inherently negative. Increasingly, governments are gaining the political will to pass strict laws taxing and regulating tobacco products. However, as we have seen in the United States and Western Europe, the industry is much more resilient than anyone could have previously thought. Although cigarette volumes are slowly declining by a few percentage points each year in developed markets, the business is still extremely profitable. While tobacco companies know that manufacturing cigarettes may not always be a viable business, the day of reckoning will not come for a very long while.

In the meantime, tobacco companies are increasingly diversifying by developing new tobacco products seen as less harmful than cigarettes. These products, mainly variations of smokeless tobacco, can be used discreetly in places where smoking cigarettes is forbidden. Smokeless products provide the user with a nicotine fix while not upsetting bystanders or impacting the health of others. Analysts estimate that the smokeless tobacco segment will grow by 5% in 2010.

All of the large tobacco companies are publicly traded, meaning that anyone can easily buy their stock through a stockbroker. Domestic companies include Altria Group (MO) Reynolds American (RAI) Lorillard (LO) and Vector Group (VGR). Tobacco companies with international exposure include British American Tobacco ADR (BTI) Imperial Tobacco Group ADR (ITYBY) and Philip Morris International (PM).

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Keli Goff, “political correspondent” for TheRoot.com (described as a “leading online source of news and commentary from an African-American perspective”) who wrote a piece this week entitled, “Does Paul Ryan's Black ...

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The GOP is turning what some see as a presidential slight aimed at business owners and entrepreneurs into a theme for a night of the Republican National Convention next week, titling Tuesday night&#39;s session “We Built This!

GOP convention session to be themed &quot;We Built This!&quot; - Fox <b>News</b>

Learning to make your home Wheelchair available. Nicely first thing to view will be the peak that you'll get.

Constructing a basic wood wheel chair ramp provides a much needed way to access porches and doorways for those who use wheel chairs. A very basic wood wheel chair ramp can be made from just a few basic materials bought at any home supply store. With the proper knowledge you can construct a wheel chair ramp that will provide just about anyone who uses a wheel chair access to a porch or through a doorway.

To be a success at tackling this project there are a few things you'll need. The first of the things you will need is a jigsaw, a pencil, a protractor, and a ruler. Next you will need a 4 foot by 8 foot ¾ inch thick piece of plywood, 2 - 8 foot long 2-by-4's, 2 - 4 foot long 2-by-4's, 2 - 1 foot long 2-by-4's. The next few things you'll need are a hammer, some 3 inch nails, some latex paint, and some sand. The last two things you will need for the project are a paint stick, and a paint brush. Once you have these materials in hand you can begin building the wheelchair ramp.

To build the wheelchair ramp it takes six simple steps. The first of which is for you to use the protractor, ruler and pencil to measure and mark a 45 degree angle on the sides at one end of each of the two 8 foot long 2-by-4's. Then you take the jigsaw and cut along the line you just created. This makes the ground end of the incline supports.

For your second step you need to use the two 4 foot long 2-by-4's and the two 1 foot long 2-by-4's to construct a box. The box will measure 1 foot high by 4 feet long. You will need to use the hammer and 3 inch nails to attach these boards on their ends to one another to create the box.

The third step of the project is to use the hammer and 3 inch nails to attach the uncut ends of the two 8 foot long 2-by-4's to sides of the 1 foot high box. This sets the incline supports into place on the box. The basic structure of the ramp is now made.

For the fourth step you will need to attach the 4 foot by 8 foot ¾ inch thick plywood sheet to the incline supports. Do this by first laying it onto the incline supports and then using the hammer to drive 3 inch nails along the edge of the plywood piece and into the incline supports and the top support of the 1 foot high box. The basic structure of the ramp is complete at this point.

Step 5 is to pour the sand into the latex paint and then mix it up with the paint stick. This creates a non skid mixture that when painted onto the ramp will help prevent slipping in inclement weather.

The final step is for you to use the paint brush to paint the ramp surface of the plywood. This will provide, when dried, the non skid surface that prevents slipping in rain, ice or snow. Allow about 2 days for the paint to fully dry before you use the ramp. At this point the ramp has been completely finished and will provide use for those needing access to porches and doorways.

As a final tip, it may be helpful if you are having to use this ramp with an extremely heavy person to add a couple of cross braces on the ramp between the incline supports. Also it might be recommended with an extra heavy person to use 4-by-4 lumber and 6 inch nails with this design as opposed to the 2-by-4's the design presented above calls for. Either way the steps will be the same in the construction of the ramp. By following the plan outlined above, you should find it an easy to follow plan that gives you a solid ramp that will provide much use for you and those needing access to buildings.

Sources
Wheel Chair Ramp.org: Handyman Articles - Handy Ramps
The Wheelchair Site: Wooden Wheelchair Ramps
Mobility Advisor: Build a Wheelchair Ramp

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Stocks having reduced price/book ratios or perhaps price/earnings ratios. Historically, importance shares have relished greater common results compared to progress stocks and options (shares using higher price/book as well as P/E quotients) in several places

The stock market has always been attracting investors. The reason behind is that, more the rate of change in the stock price resulting in more profits for the investor. So everyone who wants his/her savings to work hard as he/she did, invest in stocks. And through stock investment only the maximum profit margin can be earned. But it is also a fact that 95% of the people loose money in the stock market. This fact is quite true and discourages the investor's from investing in the stock market. Therefore through this article an attempt is made to help the investor to increase the chances of profits and decline the chances of losses.

There should be stages in which the whole process of stock market investment should take place.

Stage 1: Look for various famous and infamous stocks in the stock market. Discuss about the stocks with the friends, agent's etc. Note here that the discussion does not means that you agree everybody's view point. The motive is get initial stage information and there after your personal view will depend on facts and figures and not just words of mouth.

Stage 2: Pick out some stocks from various sectors, which attract you. The sector available for investment can be Information technology, Banking, Capital goods, Fast moving consumer goods, Construction, Petroleum etc. It is always preferred to invest in all the selective sectors so that if one sector faces decline, the boom in other sector may decline your losses.

Stage3: The information about the picked stocks should be gathered. Like the last year market value of the stock, profits comparison during last three to four quarters, news and views on the net or newspaper regarding company's inside management changes, decision regarding growth, development, expansion etc.

Stage 4: Look for the stock market conditions. That is if the stock market has been rising from the last six months. Than this is not the right time to invest. So much hikes in stock market results in the fall of the market in the coming future. So it will be better to play safe than taking hasty decisions for investments and get tucked in some expensive stock. Wait for the market to make corrections and than some part of investment can be made just to make a start. Note here that fifty percent of the investment available should not be used until you see a steep market fall for at least fifteen days. After these fifteen days only, an investment should be made in the pre-determined stocks. Investing after a few days of market falls may bring to you costlier stocks for investment.

Stage 5: Investment in proportions like starting 10% and then 20% and later again 20% is preferred. The rest of 50% should be saved for the market fall. Remember here again, that the market falls continuing for fifteen days after will prove real investment timing for you.

Stage 6: Do not make hasty decisions in selling also. That is if the bought stock prices decline then its better to wait for some time rather than booking losses. Therefore it is always suggested to use such money for investment in stocks which are in no need for the investor for at least one year. If a person make investment thinking that he/she will take out the money in one week or so, then his/her investment may prove to be insane. And the person may have to sell the stocks at losses so as to fulfill the monetary requirements.

Stage 7: Finally selling should be done after attaining the expected amount of profits. For instance if a person bought a stock at 8$ and the stock is now 18$ then the stock is ready for selling. A person may even opt for half of the selling of the stocks and may wait for further upward movement up to some extent only; otherwise full selling will be preferred. But if a person does book even a little profit at these levels and is waiting for 30$ target then his/her investment is in great danger and if a market falls come than all the profit may be lost from that specific stock.

Thus moving in stock market the above stated stages will help the investor's to decline the chances of losses and the chances of earning profits may rise.

How to play safe in a stock market...A ten step method for guaranteed results..

A stock market is a place, which attracts many people but also had made many people bankrupt. It is said that only those people make money from the stock market, which have experience. Let's forget this old thinking and tell you real way to play safe in the stock market and earn good money. Let's make you an experienced stock trader in ten minutes.

Investing in stock market should be done in a manner that it hurts less and benefits more. Therefore never invests full amount in the stock market. Say if you have one million dollars to invest in stock market. Then don't invest one million in one day in one stock. Move your investment in the following method.

Look out for the various kinds of stock attraction. Talk to people, read market news and expert views.

Pick out the best suitable and attractive one for you.

Invest 25% of your investment in initial stage on your picked stocks. Remember here that investing in more than one stock will help reducing the chances of loss due to one stock.

Wait for ten to fifteen days and watch the movement of your stocks.

If the stock starts moving up and then make 25% more investment moving your investment up to 50%. Remember here to buy other picked stocks. In case your stock is declining up to some points only than buy more stocks of the same kind so as to decline your average buying rate.

Leave the 50% of your investment safe in the bank and wait for the market decline.

When the market decline up to 25% then only make the next 25% investment which moves your investment up to the level of 75%.

Always make sure to take out the last 25% whenever the market moves upwards.

Take control over your greed of earning and make profits up to certain without waiting for double or triplet to come out of your investment.

Make the last 25% investment only when the market declines up to 50% or so. Because that will be the time when you may find your investment tucked in stocks and you have no finance to make more money.

There you are. You are now an experienced stock market person. Now go and play safe in stock market and make big money. And don't forget to thank god for helping you.

Stock market recommendations.

People from around the world are now investing in stocks with a motive to earn a good profit margin. Some people invest in stocks by using their savings, while other has made it their primary source of income. That is the intra-day move in the stocks helps the people to buy and then to book comfortable profits.

Many people have made their living through stock market. But the truth is that many have even lost big chunks of money. The reason for loosing so much money is the stock market is mostly.

Impatient nature of the investor.

Improper method of investing.

Inexperience way of outlook towards the stock market.

Lust for more profits.

Investing without proper book reading and understanding.

Thus the above reason results in loosing money in the stock market. Therefore people who don't have enough time and experience is always advised to invest in the mutual funds or use the step by step method of investing. The step by step method suggests investing in the form of monthly installment method.

Become the real benefited of the stock market.

The real benefited is the person who has really earned profits from the past so many years. Such person's investment and the return from the investment both rose with the passage of time. Every one today wants to become the real benefited but hardly some of them reach the mark up level.

To become the real benefited of the stock market a person has to go through the recommendations in the following so that the chances of loosing money decline. While the probability to get higher return from investing increases.

Recommendations:

A number of recommendations are suggested for the stock market investor's. These recommendations include the followings.

Investing in the form of systematic investment plan wherein the investment is made in the form of monthly investment plan. Such kind of investment is suggested for amateur and inexperience kind of investors. A person with not time to invest in the stock market is advised to invest through mutual funds.

Keep a control on your lust for earning huge profits. When the return from investment crosses the expected levels than the mind for selling should be prepared. Waiting for the investment to give double or triple returns increases the risks, which may results in selling the stock at decline and decreasing the already available return by selling the stock.

It is not advised to buy stocks at higher prices or when the stock market is making new highs. And if you do, then keep patience in case of decline the stock price or make stop loss in advance. Actually people get tempted to buy the market favorite stocks which show higher returns on the chart. But the fact is that such stocks are rising immensely not only due to the news and any other real factor. Such stock price may rise due to high investment made by the big investor to earn big profits and later to sell off high chunks of stock, making other people tucked in the same stock.

Stick to your stocks, which have valid reasons and news that are sure to make good returns in future. Don't jump to market favorite stocks, which are giving unnatural returns. After all the stocks you invested was the result of market research and some valid reason. So trust your decision and stick to it, as the market does not move the way it really should be, but the way the investor makes it move. So if your investment is made after careful go through than it is bound to give good returns.

Read carefully the offer document before investing is one major factor recommended to the people. Actually the offer document consists of the write up for reason and placement of the investor's money. Therefore the right placement and motive investment decides the real position of the new offer documents. That is if the new offer document is meant to meet growth and development requirement that the return can be expected to be good. While the new offer document meant to meet the repayment loan or any other of such kind of requirement will possibly not give enough returns on your investment.

Invest in a variety of stocks so that the chances of loosing money decline. That is a person make a whole lot of investment in one stock than his/her whole fate will depend on the fate of that particular stock. Making investment in a variety of stocks means making investment like some investment in banking stocks, capital goods stocks, FMCG (Fast moving consumer goods) stocks, infrastructure stocks, IT (Information technology) stocks. The possible movement in one kind of stock will help you join the party and not lagging behind by investing one particular stock.

Invest in stocks that have news and good future prospects. That is a stock with good future prospect and a solid reason to grow should be one selected for investment. Do not move on with investment just by the word of mouth or sayings of the close friends. No one can predict the market movement; these are all guesses and depending on guesses are not a good idea after all.

Keep an eye on the world stock markets, as the international stock market movement does effect the today's stock market movement of the country. Like market falling in Asia is joined by market falling in the East, similarly the Asian markets join the United States market falling.

Such money should be used in investment in stocks that you expect not be in use in near future. As if the immediate requirement of money may force you sell your stock at loss.

Evaluation:

A number of stock market recommendations are stated in the above. The need is just to sit back, read and understand and every single point so that the investment can be made safer and fruitful.

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Comedian Phyllis Diller has died, manager says – This Just In <b>...</b>

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What is a the particular Stock market? It can be the arranged method where by anybody as well as everybody could both purchase as well as promote the shares or even gives you

One of the handiest skills that I learned from obtaining an accounting degree is to properly read a corporate financial statement. This article will help you to better understand why it is important to learn to read a financial statement. This skill can come in very handy if you would like to begin investing in stocks. In fact, reading a financial statement is extremely important if you want to invest in stocks.

To the untrained eye, a financial statement can seem very complicated and overwhelming. The first step to understanding a financial statement is to understand the numerous ratios, which can be used to interpret the financial health of a company. Each ratio has a specific purpose and is derived by dividing a defined set of numbers by another set of numbers.

The purpose behind the deciphering a financial statement is twofold. The first purpose is to compare the company's current performance compared to its previous performance. Also, deciphering the financial statement is useful in comparing companies of different sizes. A large company on paper can look much more impressive compared to the smaller company. However, once some calculations and ratios are compared, the smaller company may actually be a better investment.

Using ratios will help to negate the effect of the larger sales revenue or net income a larger company would probably have. In other words, a security company which had $6 billion in sales, at first glance, may look more impressive than a smaller company that only had $3 million in sales. However, digging deeper by using ratios, you may determine the smaller company is in better financial health than the larger company.

You probably won't find a large amount of ratios calculated for you in financial reports. In fact, a company which has publicly traded stocks is required by the SEC to disclose only one ratio. That ratio is known as the earnings per share ratio, also known as the EPS. Privately owned companies, generally speaking, do not have to disclose any type of ratio in their financial statements.

It's important to realize that ratios should only be used as a guide. There are good for indicating a company's current financial health. However, they shouldn't be relied on as a sole source of information, to make an investment decision with.

An extremely telling ratio about how profitable a company is, is the gross margin ratio. This ratio is calculated by dividing the gross margin by the sales revenue. The bad news is, no company includes margin information in any form of documentation outside the company. Margin figures for company are proprietary. This information is withheld to protect it from the competition.

One handy ratio, you can use to calculate the bottom line of the company, is the profit ratio. This ratio will show you how much net income was earned per $100 of revenue obtained. The standard percentage through most industries is 5% to 10%. Within extremely competitive industries, a profit ratio of 1% is an uncommon. A good example of this would be grocery store chains.

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George Soros To Marry Tamiko Bolton: Billionaire To Wed For Third <b>...</b>

Get Breaking News by Email. HuffPost Social Reading. Some error occurred. Login with Facebook to see what your friends are reading; Enable Social Reading; i. Settings. Read Share Settings; Share everything I read; Share ...

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The Sun says: Triumphant | The Sun |<b>News</b>|Sun Says

IT ended as it began: as a celebration of Britain at its best. The flames of the London 2012 Olympic cauldron were extinguished after two weeks which will burn brightly for ever in our history. Can it really be over? If you're ...

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Guide to be able to stock options solution trading

If you are a beginner, before you start trading stock, ask yourself what your investment goals are.
Are you investing for income, growth or immediate profits?

If you are investing for income, you want a secure company in a solid industry. The stocks listed in the S & P 500 are a good place to start.Look for companies that produce consumables that people use year after year. Income producing stocks pay dividends. Dividends can be thought of like interest on a bank account. You are generally paid quarterly and the amount you receive corresponds to the number of shares you own. With these types of stocks, you buy and hold them for many years. The price generally stays steady. Income stocks are easy to find as all companies list dividends paid in their annual reports. Although all investments have an element of risk, for the beginner stock trader, income stocks can be considered less risky.

When you invest in a growth stock, you expect to see an increase in the price of the stock over time. It is rare for a growth stock to pay dividends. Growth stock investing can pay off with huge profits in the long run but, generally, has much more price fluctuation. Patience is needed to see your investment increase in value. To find growth stocks, look to industries that are undergoing change. The technology sector has had tremendous growth and has produced some huge stock winners.

If you are investing for immediate profits, you will be buying and holding your stock for short periods of time. Mostly less than one year and in the case of "Day Traders" only a matter of hours or even minutes. You need to do a lot of research, know the industries, know the companies and time your purchases and liquidations precisely. This type of trading depends on the volatility of the stock. Although the profits can be huge, the risk is high and not a type of stock trading for beginners.

Investing in the stock market doesn't have to be complicated. Find a strategy for stock investing and stick to it. Your strategy should fit your lifestyle. Do you want to spend everyday watching the market on your computer or do you want to "set it and forget it?" How much risk are you willing to tolerate? Will you break out in hives if the price of your stock dips by 5%? What about 25%? By determining your investment goals and your tolerance for risk even a beginner can succeed at stock trading.

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Where To Find Ge Handicap Ramps

Joseph Bragg is a "regular Joe" from Summers County. A Korean War veteran, he has lived in West Virginia all his life. When he had to go to the county courthouse in Hinton over a property dispute, he never thought that he would be filing a bigger suit of his own later that day. Since the city has many historical buildings, the courthouse being one, it was not accessible to people with disabilities. The courtroom was on the second floor and there was no elevator, only stairs to reach it. Mr. Bragg was faced the indignation of being carried up two flights of stairs by the Deputy Sheriff and another man because he used a wheelchair. However it was only until later, when he had to use the restroom, and had his son carry him to the first floor, only to find that his wheelchair would not fit through the door, did he get angry. He decided to file a complaint with the Department of Justice (http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/sumstor.htm).

The American Disabilities Act, passed in 1990, has helped many people like Joe gain access to their communities. They no longer face the discrimination, segregation, and alienation of people with disabilities in years past. When the Rehabilitation Act was passed in 1973, it was a step towards, but not the complete path towards equal opportunity, accessibility, and inclusion in everyday society for people with disabilities. In the following pages, cases prior to and after the ADA will be discussed, including the still present need for public places to become accessible to people with disabilities.

Prior to the passage of the American Disabilities Act, Congress passed the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This includes a section on the Employment of Individuals with Disabilities. This section states that "Each department, agency, and instrumentality (including the United States Postal Service and the Postal Rate Commission) in the executive branch shall, within one hundred and eighty days after September 26, 1973, submit to the Commission and to the Committee an affirmative action program plan for the hiring, placement, and advancement of individuals with disabilities in such department, agency, or instrumentality. Such plan shall include a description of the extent to which and methods whereby the special needs of employees who are individuals with disabilities are being met" (http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/rehab.html). This was clearly a huge step in the way of making society accessible for people with disabilities.

A case that occurred before the passage of the American Disabilities Act in 1990 was City of Cleburne v. Cleburne Living Center (1985). The Cleburne Living Center, Inc. planned on leasing a building as a group home for the mentally retarded, and was told by the City of Cleburne that they would need a special permit and classified the building as a "hospital for the feebleminded" under a zoning ordinance covering the area. The Living Center then filed suit against the city alleging that the zoning ordinance violated the equal protection rights of the incorporation and of its potential residents. The District Court held that the ordinance was constitutional. The Court of Appeals reversed that decision saying that mental retardation was a "quasi-suspect" classification, and the ordinance was invalid because it did not further an important governmental purpose (http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0473_0432_ZS.html). This case put the rights of people with disabilities in the public eye again and enforced all aspects of the Equal Protections Clause.

On July 26, 1990, President George H. W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act into law. The act was meant to supplement the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 in further prohibiting discrimination based on disability. It is composed of five Titles including Title 1 which took effect July 26, 1992, which prohibits private employers, state and local governments, employment agencies and labor unions from discriminating against qualified individuals with disabilities in job application procedures, hiring, firing, advancement, compensation, job training, and other terms, conditions and privileges of employment. Title 1 defines an individual with a disability as : "Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; Has a record of such an impairment; or Is regarded as having such an impairment." It also defines reasonable accommodation as: "Making existing facilities used by employees readily accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities. Job restructuring, modifying work schedules, reassignment to a vacant position; Acquiring or modifying equipment or devices, adjusting modifying examinations, training materials, or policies, and providing qualified readers or interpreters." The employer, however, is required to make an accommodation to the known disability of the applicant or employee if it would not impose an "undue hardship" on the operation of the employer's business. The ADA also says that employers may not ask job applicants about the nature or severity of their disability. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued regulations to enforce the provisions of the ADA on July 26, 1991. These originally took effect on July 26, 1992, and covered employers with 25 or more employees. On July 26, 1994, this requirement dropped to include employers with 15 or more employees (http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/fs-ada.html).

The Americans with Disabilities Act was a huge accomplishment a long time coming for people across the country, but cases afterward have shown that there is still work that needs to be done to make this country accessible for all. One of these cases is Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama et al. v. Garret et al. Patricia Garrett was a registered nurse who was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a lumpectomy, radiation treatment, and chemotherapy. Her treatments required her to take substantial leave from work; however when she came back, her supervisor informed her that she would have to give up her Director position. She then had to transfer to a lower paying position as a nurse manager. She and Milton Ash sought money damages under Title I of the ADA, which prohibits the States and other employers from "discriminating against a qualified individual with a disability because of that disability...in regard to ...terms, conditions, and privileges of employment." The District Court sided with the state of Alabama stating that the ADA exceeds Congress' authority to abrogate the State's Eleventh Amendment immunity. The Eleventh Circuit Court of Alabama reversed that court's decision saying that the ADA was perfectly within its bounds (http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=000&invol=99-1240). The case's decision was a setback for the purpose of the ADA because of its indecision by the courts, including the Supreme Court. It shows that even after the passage of such all-inclusive legislation, people with disabilities were being discriminated against.

In 1999, the National Federation of the Blind sued AOL because of its lack of accessibility. Nine defendants filed a suit against AOL for not being fully accessible to be independently used by individuals who are blind. AOL failed to redesign its internet service to permit the blind to use it through screen access programs and this violated the full and equal enjoyment and participation provisions of the ADA. The plaintiffs had a prayer for belief that the court would "(a) Declare that Defendant's actions and inactions with respect to its AOL internet service violate Title III of the ADA, (b) Enjoin Defendant from continuing to violate the ADA and order Defendant to redesign its AOL service and take such other and further steps as are necessary to allow independent access through screen access programs by persons who are blind; and (c) Grant Plaintiffs such other relief as the Court deems just, equitable, and appropriate, including an award of Plaintiff's reasonable attorney's fees, litigation expenses and costs" (http://www.education-rights.org/homenfbvaol.html). A case like this shows that even modern technology can be put to the test of following the "rules" of the ADA. This is probably a bigger accomplishment than the founders could have hoped for back in 1990.

Acknowledgement of the lack of accommodation and accessibility of public places for people with disabilities has come a long way since 1973 and Joe Bragg will be one who can tell you about the changes made since then. After he filed his complaint with the DOJ, Summers County started on a 36 month "renovation". So far they have made a curbside ramp and handicap accessible parking to the courthouse. They also hold cases in an accessible room if a party with a disability requests. However, much is still needed in the way of change. An example of this is my old college campus. Few of West Virginia Wesleyan's buildings are accessible and there are almost no signs giving directions to them around campus. Most of the problem with making these buildings accessible is that they are older and harder to renovate while keeping the essence of the building intact. Having experienced a friend's struggle to go to class and live in a certain dormitory because she uses a wheelchair brings the ongoing struggle for inclusive disability rights to a personal level. On a bright note, my alumni sorority Alpha Gamma Delta has set up a committee to make some accessibility changes around campus and hopefully will make progress soon. The American Disabilities Act has had many implications on all of our lives, whether we have disabilities or not, and will continue to do so, until all public places are accommodated and accessible.

"Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama et al. v. Garrett et al." FindLaw For Legal Professionals. http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=000&invol=99-1240.

"City of Cleburne, Texas v. Cleburne Living Center, Inc. (No. 84-468)." Legal Information Institute-Supreme Court Collection. http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0473_0432_ZS.html.

"Facts About the Americans with Disabilities Act." The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Last Modified on January 15, 1997. http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/fs-ada.html.

"Summers County, West Virginia." Department of Justice Website. Last Updated July 31, 2002. http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/sumstor.htm.

"The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Sections 501 and 505." The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Last Modified on January 15, 1997. http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/rehab.html.

"United States District Court For The District of Massachusetts." http://www.education-rights.org/homenfbvaol.html.

"U.S. Constitution." FindLaw For Legal Professionals. http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data/constitution/amendments.html.

public Handicap ramps

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