MMWDC 28 07-16-07

Banner for Monday Morning in Washington, DC

Volume 07 Issue 28 July 16,2007

Welcome to Monday Morning in Washington, D.C., published weekly by The Arc of the United States. We will bring to you news of interest to self advocates and their families, volunteers, professionals, and supporters of the disability movement. Please send any comments to mmwdc@thearc.org. You are welcome to reproduce and distribute items from Monday Morning in Washington, D.C., but please credit Monday Morning in Washington, D.C. (The Arc of the United States,2007).

The Arc of the United States advocates for the rights and full participation of all children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Together with our network of members and affiliated chapters, we improve systems of supports and services; connect families; inspire communities; and influence public policy.

[NOTE: Having trouble reading this newsletter? Read it online.] [Past Issues]

IN THIS ISSUE:

Park Pass
Training on Changes in IDEA
Secretary Jackson issues follow up MFP letter to PHAs
The Riot! Issue #13
2007 Newborn Screening Report Card Released
Child Welfare: HHS Actions Would Help States Prepare Youth in the Foster Care System for Independent Living.
Connecticut Launching Ground-Breaking Employment Initiative for People with Disabilities
Training and Employment Notice 36-06: Human Resource Transportation Coordination
Imparato's Senate HELP Committee Long-term Care Testimony Available on AAPD website
The Commonwealth Fund Commission on a High Performance Health System
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities this month released a 2-page report by Leighton Ku-"New Research Shows Simplifying Medicaid Can Reduce Children's Hospitalizations."
EDUCATE YOURSELF ON CRITICAL LEGISLATIVE ISSUES FOR PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES WITH FACT SHEETS PUBLISHED BY THE ARC OF THE UNITED STATES FOLLOWING THE 2007 DISABILITY POLICY SEMINAR HELD IN WASHINGTON, DC
Research Project Evaluates 20 Years of What Works for Youth with Disabilities-
Need For and Use of Family Leave Among Parents of Children With Special Health Care Needs
Sources of Income of People Age 50 to 64 with Work
Valuing the Invaluable: A New Look at the Economic Value of Family Caregiving
Divided We Fail: Debates Fall Short in Addressing Health Care and Financial Security Issues
Mental Health Update: Mental Health Resources for Returning Veterans & Their Families
Grants & Funding in Health Update: New Funding Opportunities for ADHD, Tourette Syndrome and the Amputee Coalition of America
Aging Update: NIH Senior Health Web Site
Universal Design and Visitability: From Accessibility to Zoning
KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION LAUNCHES HEALTH08.ORG,A HUB FOR INFORMATION ABOUT HEALTH CARE AND THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN
Urban Institute Report on Non-Profit governance
Stakeholder Webcast Announcement
New Products added to the Quality Mall

Park Pass

A great benefit from the National Forestry & Wildlife Division. You may or may not know about.

It is a free lifetime access pass for any person with a disability or for the caregivers of a person with a disability. It allows access to ALL national parks for free.

All that is required is a letter from the physician stating the disability and you take it to your local National Forestry & Wildlife Division to get the pass. Each pass will admit up to 4 adults and children under 16 are always free. This link answers all the questions: http://store.usgs.gov/pass/access.html

Training on Changes in IDEA

Greetings from NICHCY, the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities. You are receiving this letter because you signed up for our eNews service and indicated you were interested in resources on children with disabilities, especially important education and disability laws.

Here's the latest news: NICHCY has just posted another training module online for the Building the Legacy training curriculum on IDEA 2004. This one's a biggie!

Module 2,Overview of Key Changes in IDEA 2004 - www.nichcy.org/training/contents.asp#ThemeA

This module summarizes what's new or different in IDEA. There's a lot to know—and, if you're a trainer, to tell others. The module includes a PowerPoint slide show to use in training sessions, a detailed discussion of changes in IDEA for trainers, and handouts for audience participants.

Wondering about the 2004 date? No, the info we're offering isn't old! IDEA, our nation's special education law, is only reauthorized by Congress once or twice in a decade. Federal regulations for IDEA 2004 were just published in 2006 and will be with us for many years to come. So these training materials are not only extremely current, they are also an exceptional and authoritative source of information on the law itself, its 2006 implementing regulations, and practice in the field.

In all,19 modules on critical IDEA topics are planned. With this newest posting,8 are already available. We're working as fast as we can and will be sure to write you the moment that more modules are posted on our site. The next one will be very soon-Module 1,The Top 10 Basics of Special Education.

We hope you'll find these training resources helpful in your work or personal life. As always, please feel free to call or email us with your disability-related concerns, or visit our Web site, at: www.nichcy.org.

NICHCY,P.O. Box 1492,Washington,DC 20013,1.800.695.0285 (V/TTY), nichcy@aed.org,www.nichcy.org

Secretary Jackson issues follow up MFP letter to PHAs

July 9th,HUD Secretary Jackson issued a follow up letter on MFP and the Housing Authorities. Below is a link to get a PDF copy. Among other things, the Secretary encourages the PHA Executive Directors to work with CILs, P&As, community and advocacy groups that work with people with disabilities. In addition his letter asks the Directors to write to HUD, by August 31st, with details about how they are implementing the MFP Rebalancing Initiative

Here is the link to the full letter, http://www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/disabilities/MFP-RebalancingMemo.PDF. Please feel free to share his letter with your colleagues and partners.

The Riot! Issue #13

The 13th issue of The Riot! is available for your viewing pleasure! To read this issue, click on the links below.

Download The Riot! as an adobe PDF document by clicking here: www.hsri.org/docs/Riot_Issue_13.PDF
Download The Riot! as a Rich Text file: www.hsri.org/docs/Riot_Issue_13 12.RTF
You can read past issues of The Riot!, purchase self-advocacy materials, or get your Riot! Gear at www.theriotrocks.org.

NECTAC eNotes - July 13,2007
2007 Newborn Screening Report Card Released

Source: March of Dimes - July 11,2007

Almost 90 percent of all babies born in the United States live in states that require screening for at least 21 life-threatening disorders, according to the latest March of Dimes Newborn Screening Report Card. This is more than double the percentage in 2005. However, approximately half a million newborns are still not screened for these disorders, which if diagnosed early can be successfully managed or treated to prevent severe consequences. To read more go to http://www.marchofdimes.com/aboutus/22663_25778.asp

Child Welfare: HHS Actions Would Help States Prepare Youth in the Foster Care System for Independent Living.

www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-1097T Highlights - www.gao.gov/highlights/d071097thigh.pdf

One-Stop Toolkit Resources of the Week Technical Assistance Project

Connecticut Launching Ground-Breaking Employment Initiative for People with Disabilities

New Connect-Ability Initiative Emphasizes 'Seeing the Ability' as Workers Bring Skills and Resourcefulness to Job

Hartford, Connecticut, June 27th /PRNewswire-USNewswire

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/06-27-2007/0004616536&EDATE=

[The following is excerpted from the article.]

Hundreds of employers, workers and advocates from government and business witnessed the launch of the state's innovative new 'Connect-Ability' initiative - aimed at opening employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The initiative debuted at the second annual Employment Summit, held at the Connecticut Convention Center. One of the first initiatives of its kind in the nation, Connect-Ability focuses on ability, not disability. The initiative will connect employers and able employees who have disabilities through a statewide education and media campaign, comprehensive online resources at http://www.Connect-Ability.com,and a host of community-based initiatives.

"Connecticut's economic vitality is fueled by outstanding employers and a workforce that is second to none," Governor M. Jodi Rell said. "More and more, our employers are recognizing that the individual qualities of workers, regardless of whether they have a disability, are key to a successful business. Helping everyone to 'see the ability' in current or prospective employees is the theme of the Connect-Ability initiative. The overall goal is to strengthen Connecticut's business and jobs climate even further by bringing employers together with highly motivated, highly skilled workers who will not let anything get in the way of their success." State Social Services Commissioner Michael P. Starkowski, whose agency is administering the Connect-Ability initiative, said Connecticut has exemplary, homegrown role models for success in the workplace. "The public awareness campaign shows real Connecticut people and real Connecticut businesses, ranging from a self-employed trucker to a senior systems administrator at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy," Commissioner Starkowski said. "These individuals are raising the bar of achievement and shaping the way we all should see the abilities of our Connecticut residents."

Research conducted by the University of Connecticut and participants at last year's Employment Summit provided insights to help shape the Connect-Ability initiative. This year's Summit is an opportunity for stakeholders to review the progress made and provide additional input. "Connect-Ability began as a federal grant, but its success depends on the how well we can work together in a public/private partnership," said Brenda Moore, director of the Department of Social Services' Bureau of Rehabilitation Services. "We're eager to share our progress and hope everyone will agree that our name - Connect-Ability - goes to the heart of the program's purpose: to facilitate connections between employers and able employees and focus on the ability, not the disability." The communications campaign centers on Connecticut people and employers who have not let a disability prevent job success. Stories of a stroke survivor working as a laboratory biologist, a trucker who drives without the use of his legs, an auto tech with a different way of learning, among others, are told through videos, television, radio and print messages, which will be unveiled at the Employment Summit.

Connect-Ability is funded by a $5.1 million Medicaid Infrastructure Grant awarded to Connecticut by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The state Department of Social Services has been administering the Medicaid Infrastructure Grant program since 2001 but, until now, has focused mainly on helping working people with disabilities with access to health care and personal care assistance. The new grant results from a year-long public planning effort that will guide the agency in tackling employment issues from a much broader perspective. The plan encompasses both state and community-level initiatives, and seeks to increase the employment rate and earnings of Connecticut citizens with disabilities. Besides employers, effort will focus on young adults moving from school to post-secondary education or employment, raising the career potential of people with disabilities who are already working, and helping people overcome barriers to get started in the job market.

Connect-Ability is an initiative connecting Connecticut employers with the state's talent pool of people with disabilities. Connect-Ability will open minds by helping employers see the ability, not the disability. The initiative will bring together more resources than ever to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Addressing the fundamental barriers to employment, it is one of the first initiatives of its kind in the nation and a model for other states planning similar efforts.

Training and Employment Notice 36-06: Human Resource Transportation Coordination

U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (ETA) Issues Notice on Recent Policies from the Interagency Council on Access and Mobility

http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/attach/TEN/TEN36-06acc.pdf

BACKGROUND

Transportation continues to top the list of support services necessary to assist people who are transit disadvantaged (e.g., people who are low-income, disabled, and/or elderly) to become employed. A 2005 study by the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) looked at One-Stop Career Center services and found that nearly half of their customers were transportation disadvantaged. A 2005 survey of Disability Program Navigators (DPNs), located in One-Stop Career Centers, identified transportation as the most significant barrier to employment. Transportation is a frequently cited barrier to both employment and access to the One-Stop Career Centers' services for customers who fall into one of the groups above.

Approximately 80 percent of One-Stop Career Centers recently surveyed by CTAA provide some form of transportation assistance to their customers. While most provide information on available transportation services, some One- Stop Career Centers provide more direct services, such as tokens or vouchers to ride transit, gas allowance for car trips, funding for bus or van services, in addition to other support.

PURPOSE OF THE TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT NOTICE

The purpose of the ETA Training and Employment Notice (TEN 36-06) is to announce two recently released policies from the Interagency Council on Access and Mobility and identify how the workforce investment system can link to a newly devised coordinated human services transportation planning process. These coordination policies were promulgated to: (1) promote the participation of federally-assisted grantees in a locally-coordinated human services transportation planning process which would reduce transportation duplication, increase service efficiency, and expand access for populations that face major transportation challenges; and (2) coordinate resources to maximize accessibility and availability of transportation services by encouraging vehicles and rides to be shared with other federally-assisted programs, customers, or other members of the riding public.

RESOURCES

The TEN includes information on how local areas can establish and/or become involved in the human service transportation coordinated planning process. It highlights the new law, SAFETEA-LU, which address the needs of individuals with disabilities among other populations. Section 10 of the TEN provides an extensive list of Internet-based resources for transportation coordination.

Questions on this TEN can be directed to Mary Ann Donovan at (202) 693-3936 and Randee Chafkin at (202) 693-2723.

SOURCE: AAPD

Imparato's Senate HELP Committee Long-term Care Testimony Available on AAPD website

Andrew Imparato of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) delivered oral testimony on behalf of ADAPT, National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE), and AAPD as a part of a six-person panel before the Senate HELP Committee today at a hearing entitled: Community Services and Supports: Planning across the Generations. The hearing was well-attended by a variety of grassroots advocates from across the disability rights community, even necessitating an overflow room, which was filled with over a hundred additional advocates. Although his oral testimony was limited to five minutes, Mr. Imparato also submitted more complete, written testimony to the record on behalf of ADAPT, NCIL, SABE, and AAPD. That written testimony is now available on the AAPD website at: www.aapd.com/policies/070710_jfa.htm

Family Voices of North Dakota/Share the Wealth Week of July 9th

The Commonwealth Fund Commission on a High Performance Health System

Released the first-ever comprehensive comparison of health system performance in all 50 states. Aiming Higher: Results from a State Scorecard on Health System Performance - pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/119/5/e1047 ranks states on 32 performance indicators of access, quality, avoidable hospital use and costs, equity, and healthy lives. The report is now available for free download on www.commonwealthfund.org,where you can also find an interactive U.S. map - www.commonwealthfund.org/statescorecard/ containing rankings and performance data for each state.

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities this month released a 2-page report by Leighton Ku—"New Research Shows Simplifying Medicaid Can Reduce Children's Hospitalizations."

This summary of research conducted by Dr. Andrew Bindman and his associates at the University of California at San Francisco, "indicates that improving the continuity of Medicaid coverage through what is known as '12-month continuous eligibility' can improve children's health and avert unnecessary hospitalization costs." To view the report, go to www.cbpp.org/6-11-07health.pdf.

EDUCATE YOURSELF ON CRITICAL LEGISLATIVE ISSUES FOR PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES WITH FACT SHEETS PUBLISHED BY THE ARC OF THE UNITED STATES FOLLOWING THE 2007 DISABILITY POLICY SEMINAR HELD IN WASHINGTON, DC

More than 600 people gathered at the 2007 Disability Policy Seminar held in Washington in March 2007 to learn how to advocate for critical issues facing the developmental disability community. Now presentations from the seminar as well as fact sheets on key issues are available for download at www.thearc.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?&pid=1404&srcid=209. The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities is a co-sponsor of the Disability Policy Seminar.

Research Project Evaluates 20 Years of What Works for Youth with Disabilities-

The What Works Transition Research Synthesis Project funded by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) has published the first report in a series to be released. The project was established to review and synthesize the past two decades of research and advancements in the area of transition for youth with disabilities. By reviewing 50 previous studies, this first report examines how teaching life skills as an intervention affected the lives of 482 youth with varying levels of intellectual disabilities. To read the first report A Systematic Review of the Effects of Curricular Interventions on the Acquisition of Functional Life Skills by Youth with Disabilities, What Works Transition Research Synthesis Project,2006 go the National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center web site, www.nsttac.org/?FileName=what_works&type=1 As they become available, additional reports will be posted on the site.

Need For and Use of Family Leave Among Parents of Children With Special Health Care Needs -

Parents of children with special health care needs are especially vulnerable to work-family conflicts that family leave benefits might help resolve. In this study, published in the May issue of Pediatrics, researchers find that many full-time working parents of kids with special health care needs say they need more leave than they have access to. pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/119/5/e1047

AARP Policy & Research Update - Volume 3,Issue 14
Sources of Income of People Age 50 to 64 with Work

Income sources for people age 50 to 64 unable to work due to disabilities or health conditions are analyzed in this AARP Public Policy Institute Data Digest by Ke Bin Wu and Laurel Beedon. The report highlights the distribution of such individuals and of their major income sources by gender and race/ethnic group. More on this report- www.aarp.org/research/work/employment/dd157_income.html

Valuing the Invaluable: A New Look at the Economic Value of Family Caregiving

The unpaid contributions of family caregivers are not only the foundation of America's long-term care system but are, as this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Brief by Mary Jo Gibson and Ari Houser demonstrates, an important component of the U.S. economy, with an estimated economic value of about $350 billion in 2006. More on this report - www.aarp.org/research/housing-mobility/caregiving/ib82_caregiving.html

Divided We Fail: Debates Fall Short in Addressing Health Care and Financial Security Issues

With Presidential debates failing to address America's top domestic issues, the Divided We Fail group announced a debate question tracker will debut after this week's PBS forum at Howard University. Only 6.4 percent of total questions asked in the first five national debates focused on health care and financial security. More on this release - www.aarp.org/research/press-center/presscurrentnews/debate_questions.html

DisabilityInfo.gov

Mental Health Update: Mental Health Resources for Returning Veterans & Their Families

Information for returning veterans and their families about prevention, treatment and recovery support for mental health and substance use disorders. This information has recently been updated, and is now available - www.disabilityinfo.gov/digov-public/public/DisplayPage.do?parentFolderId=151

Grants & Funding in Health Update: New Funding Opportunities for ADHD, Tourette Syndrome and the Amputee Coalition of America

New funding opportunities to develop educational materials about children and adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and to provide education and intensive training for healthcare professionals, educators and the general public about Tourette Syndrome. This information has recently been updated, and is now available - www.disabilityinfo.gov/digov-public/public/DisplayPage.do?parentFolderId=5104

Aging Update: NIH Senior Health Web Site

Provides a variety of information and resources about topics related to senior health, including information on Alzheimer's Disease, depression and exercise for older adults. This information has recently been updated, and is now available - www.disabilityinfo.gov/digov-public/public/DisplayPage.do?parentFolderId=5125

Universal Design and Visitability: From Accessibility to Zoning

New Resource On Universal Design & Visitability

Universal design implies a process that goes beyond minimum access codes and standards, to design environments that are comfortably usable by people from childhood into their oldest years. Integrating the core principles of universal design- equitable use, flexibility in use, simple and intuitive, perceptible information, tolerance for error, low physical efforts, and size and shape for approach and use-can improve livability and quality of life for everyone.

Universal Design and Visitability: From Accessibility to Zoning - Edited by Jack L Nasar and Jennifer Evans-Cowley

https://kb.osu.edu/dspace/handle/1811/24833

This book is available for down load at no cost through the generous support of The National Endowment for the Arts Universal Design Leadership Initiative, The Ohio State University's Knowlton School of Architecture, John Glenn School of Public Affairs, Kirwin Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity, Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator's Office.

We hope it advances your interest and understanding of this exciting and ever-widening approach and assists in the teaching of universal design, developing policies that encourage the use of universal design as a process for planning and designing environments that are attractive, comfortable and usable.

KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION LAUNCHES HEALTH08.ORG,A HUB FOR INFORMATION ABOUT HEALTH CARE AND THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN

New Website Provides Up-to-Date Polling, Analysis, Facts, News, Video, and Interviews from Kaiser and a Broad Range of Sources.

The new health08.org website (www.health08.org) - which will be free of charge and not include advertising - will serve as a hub of information about health and the election, including original content produced by Kaiser and easy access to health-related resources from the campaigns, other organizations, and news outlets.

A weekly email roundup of developments related to health and the election and free syndication of content available to other websites. Sign up for the email at www.health08.org/email.

Urban Institute Report on Non-Profit governance

www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/411479_Nonprofit_Governance.pdf

Grants.gov

Stakeholder Webcast Announcement

Please join us for the next Grants.gov Stakeholder Webcast on Thursday, July 19,2007,from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. This meeting will be a webcast only; registration is NOT required.

Before July 19:

Go to www.hud.gov/webcasts/index.cfm

Click on an archived webcast link to ensure your connection is working properly.

If you do not have the appropriate viewer, you will be redirected to a free download.

If you require technical webcast assistance, call 202-708-6067 or check out the Help and Troubleshooting section on the HUD webcast webpage.

On July 19:

Go to www.hud.gov

Go to the bottom right hand corner of the page under the title "Now Playing." At 12:30 Eastern Time on July 19th the Grants.gov Stakeholder Webcast will be visible.

Click on the link and you will be connected. (Please note that this link for Grants.gov will not be available prior to July 19th at 12:30 Eastern Time.)

New Products added to the Quality Mall

Until Next week

The Arc of the United States,1010 Wayne Avenue, Ste. 650,Silver Spring, MD 20910,Phone: 301-565-3842,Fax: 301-565-3843,Email: mmwdc@info.thearc.org,Web: www.thearc.org

Disclaimer: MMWDC publishes information about issues and events that we believe to be important and likely to be of interest to advocates and others interested in inclusion of persons with disabilities in all parts of society. However, MMWDC and The Arc of the United States and TheArcLink Incorporated do not necessarily endorse all events, sponsoring organizations and reports which appear.