Quality of Florida Health Care Studied

A majority of Floridians believe that the state is not providing good medical care to people with disabilities, according to the annual Sunshine State Survey results released Tuesday.
Susan MacManus, the survey director and University of South Florida political scientist,  said concerns over health care for the state’s most vulnerable received some of the most negative findings.

N.J. Human Services Chief Leaving Post

Jennifer Velez, credited by policy analysts and healthcare advocates with expertly handling some of the biggest Medicaid changes in New Jersey’s history, is ending her eight-year run as state human services commissioner.

Her tenure was marked by an ability to balance competing demands under governors from both major political parties, and reshaping Medicaid as well as non-healthcare programs affecting the state’s children.

With Little Warning, Agency Is Crumbling

 A sad story in today's New York Times about FEGS. So many individuals with disabilities and friends depend on this agency for services.

The bombshell dropped on a quiet Friday evening. Steven Banks, the commissioner of the city’s Human Resources Administration, was in his office when he got the call.

On the line was Kristin M. Woodlock, the new chief executive of FEGS Health and Human Services, one of New York City’s largest social service agencies, a venerable institution often praised by corporate titans and community leaders alike.
But this was no social call: FEGS, the Human Resources Administration’s biggest provider of job placement services to the impoverished and disabled, had discovered a gaping hole in its budget and was suddenly struggling to stay afloat.

Opinion: Battle Looms Over Social Security Disability and Other Funds

A technical rule change engineered by House Republicans on the first day of the new Congress may signal the beginning of a major battle over the future of the Social Security Disability program—and, more broadly, other federal programs for people with disabilities.

The immediate issue is the fate of the SSDI trust fund, which is expected to become exhausted in 2016. If new funding is not found, SSDI benefits will be cut by about 20 percent for 9 million workers, 2 million of their children, and about 160,000 spouses.

Nebraska County Struggles to Be Compliant on Group Homes

So disturbing the reactions of area residents in their efforts to restrict group homes in their community. What makes them think that the individuals who would live in those homes are any different ... they want a nice place to live, good friendships and relationships, a job or meaningful activity and the opportunity to learn new skills while enjoying access to the community. 

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — Grand Island developer Greg Baxter told the Regional Planning Commission Wednesday night that he’s glad he wears boots and not the shoes of Regional Planning Director Chad Nabity, Grand Island Building Director Craig Lewis and Fire Marshal Fred Hotz.

Nabity, Lewis and Hotz have been working for months on addressing a fair housing complaint filed against both Grand Island and Hall County by the Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission.

The complaint essentially says that the city and county zoning regulations are out-of-date and out-of compliance with federal fair housing regulations as defined by case law handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court.

With Caregiver Pay Hike, Feds Warn States About ADA Obligations

As new rules roll out mandating better pay for in-home care workers, federal officials say states must not compromise the rights of people with disabilities in the process.

Starting in January, home care workers will qualify for the first time for federal minimum wage and overtime protections. Now, the Obama administration is warning states not to forget the needs of people with disabilities — who often rely on in-home care providers — as they implement the new policy.

Lawmakers Urged to Fund Developmental Disability Services in Florida

TALLAHASSEE-- .Advocates for people with developmental disabilities Tuesday called on lawmakers to take advantage of Florida's improved economic outlook, slash a waiting list for services and raise hourly wages for caregivers.

The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council and The Arc of Florida said their legislative agenda includes supporting Gov. Rick Scott's budget recommendation of $20 million to reduce a waiting list for home- and community-based services under what is known as a Medicaid "waiver."

The thousands of people on the waiting list have different levels of need, but the Agency for Persons with Disabilities has identified people to serve as quickly as possible because of critical needs.

Legislation Planned to Halt Closing of Two New Jersey Developmental Centers

WOODBRIDGE, N.J. — State Sen. Joseph Vitale, D-19th District, plans to introduce legislation next week that would reverse the binding aspect of a recommendation made by a task force last summer to close two of the state’s developmental centers, including the one here.

A similar bill is planned in the Assembly, and if approved could lead to a more negotiated discussion about the future of the development centers that house some of the state’s most profoundly developmentally disabled residents.

Opinion: U.N. Treaty Vote Defies Even Dole

It may be difficult for many to remember how formidable Bob Dole was. The respected lion of the Senate, former Senate majority leader and standard-bearer of the Republican Party in 1996 worked miracles across the aisle with Democrats. It was a different era.

And that’s why it was so heartbreaking to see the 89-year-old Kansan, in his wheelchair, return to the Senate floor trying, in vain, to persuade fellow Republicans to vote for an international treaty to ban discrimination against people with disabilities.

Texas Budget Brings Good and Bad News

AUSTIN -- The recently passed Texas budget dealt people with disabilities good news, bad news and a couple of wild cards, and because the cuts didn't land evenly across the board, advocates are unsure how things will play out.
Overall, funding for human services took a 17.6 percent cut. The five state agencies whose responsibilities include providing services to people with physical, mental and other disabilities will receive about $53 billion in 2012 and 2013, down from $64.7 billion in the previous two-year state budget.
But some programs, such as community mental health services, emerged intact. Others, such as early childhood intervention, took big hits. And then there are the wild cards, like how funding shifts will play out for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Study: Families Providing More Caregiving

More than 40 million Americans care for adults with disabilities and aging individuals, according to a new study that values the volunteer services these family members provide at a whopping $450 billion annually.
The report released this week from AARP finds that the number of family caregivers is on the rise and more is being demanded of them.

People with Disabilities Protest at Capitol

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- A dozen people with disabilities were camping out again Tuesday at the state Capitol in Harrisburg.

They called it a nonviolent protest over cuts to disability funding and services. The group was initially cited by Capitol police for not having a permit. The permit was rescinded once the group acquired it, organizers said.

The protesters are asking state lawmakers to restore nearly $30 million in funding. The funding allows people with disabilities to live independently rather than at nursing facilities.

Editorial: Finally, Having a Say

Just a brilliant editorial in the Chicago Sun-Times today, regarding the expected ruling by a Federal judge in the settlement of a lawsuit. Hopefully other states will see the light.

Most states recognized a long time ago that people with developmental disabilities are just like the rest of us.
They want to work. They want to choose where they live and with whom. And they don’t want to be cut off from the rest of society.
States that have seen the light have moved away from warehousing people with disabilities in large, residential facilities in favor of placing them in smaller, community-based settings.
Illinois, though, continues to rely heavily on institutional care for the disabled and the mentally ill, spending less per capita on community-based services than just about any other state.

Services for People with Disabilities Face Cuts

Services for people with disabilities continue to face cuts in government aid.


HOUMA, La. — Local programs aimed at helping people with disabilities could suffer budget cuts this month.

The cuts are among proposed changes to the state Department of Health and Hospitals’ budget under consideration by the Louisiana Legislature.

Terrebonne and Lafourche ARC programs, which serve people with mental and physical handicaps, could see up to 7.4 percent cut to state Medicaid payments.

That would mean a $237,000 loss for TARC, which serves more than 300 people in Terrebonne, and $938,000 cut to Lafourche ARC’s budget, which serves more than 400 in a seven-parish area that includes Terrebonne and Lafourche.

“You can’t take that kind of money out of your budget and expect to not run some deficits,” said Lester Adams, Lafourche ARC’s executive director.

Businesses Provide Opportunities and Jobs

WESTMINSTER, Md. -- Ask Erin Baldwin why she loves her job at Furnace Hills Coffee Co. in Westminster. She'll have a bunch of reasons.
She enjoys working with her parents, she's built a great friendship with a co-worker and she even has her own blend of coffee: Erin's Breakfast Blend.
That's not all.
"I like the smell of the coffee," Erin, 37, said Wednesday, while roasting coffee beans at the business.
Furnace Hills Coffee opened in Westminster Wednesday, and owner Dave Baldwin is hoping to hire a few new employees as business grows. He's hoping some of the applications are submitted by people with developmental disabilities, like his daughter. Erin has Down syndrome.

Community-Bound and Breaking Isolation

WOODSTOCK, Ore. -- A year ago Kerry Pinney, a Woodstock resident and Development Coordinator for UCP, was meeting with colleagues at the UCP office near the airport. They began to discuss ways that UCP participants could reduce their isolation, and get out into the community.
How could people with developmental disabilities explore different neighborhoods, and connect with businesses? Slowly the idea for a program evolved. The program would be called "Neighborhood Waves" — the name implying friendliness between businesses and people with disabilities.

New Hampshire to Inform Those Who May Lose Services

CONCORD, N.H. -- State officials plan to tell people with developmental disabilities next month if they would lose their services under the state budget proposed by the House.
The budget significantly cuts spending on services for people with developmental disabilities, such as money to help make their homes accessible or to provide respite care that allows parents who are constantly with their children time to run errands or tend to other needs. Senate budget writers could insist on restoring some of the spending, but with little more than two months until the new fiscal year, state officials have already proposed tentative criteria to determine who would continue receiving services and who would be cut off.

Opinion: Maybe the Dumbest Cut of All

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The House budget that could be approved in the next two weeks would cut more than a billion dollars in health and human services spending over the next two years, more than $710 million of it from Medicaid. That's a bad idea for several reasons.
The deep reductions in Medicaid funding means fewer services for people who need them, lower reimbursements for the medical professionals who provide them, and a loss to the state of more than $2 billion in federal Medicaid funding, since the federal government matches state Medicaid expenditures 2 to 1.

Lady Gaga Drops the 'R' Word

Lady Gaga has long been heralded for her civil rights work, but she has outraged a whole new group of fans by using the word "retarded."
During a recent interview, a journalist asked the singer whether she thought her last single Born This Way was a knock-off of Madonna's hit Express Yourself.
Outraged, Lady Gaga replied: "I'm a songwriter. I've written loads of music. Why would I try to put out a song and think I'm getting one over on everybody? That's retarded."