Banner for Monday Morning in Washington, DC

Volume 07                                                                     Issue 17                                                      April 30, 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:

 

[FCTD] April News & Notes: Summer Camp 2007

In This Issue....
http://www.fctd.info/resources/newsletters/index.php 

Through the years a new way of camping has evolved for children with special needs and their families, a way that emphasizes a child*s abilities over his or her disabilities, a way that not only accommodates assistive technology but is dependent on it, along with other factors, to ensure a summer of rich experience. This issue examines the evolution of summer camp for children with disabilities, the level of training achieved by contemporary camp counselors and staff and the role of assistive technology in the camp experience.

This month's issue features an Interview with Bernie Kosberg, Executive Director of Ramapo for Children, an 85-year-old non-profit umbrella organization that includes Camp Ramapo and serves more than 1,700 special needs and at-risk children in the New York City metropolitan area. Supporting our interview with Bernie Kosgrove are resources to assist parents and others in finding the most appropriate camp for their children with disabilities.

Please share this newsletter with other organizations, families and professionals who may benefit from it. We invite you to contact us at http://www.fctd.info. We welcome feedback, new members and all who contribute to our growing knowledge base.

To read the full story....http://www.fctd.info/resources/newsletters/index.php  

Family Center on Technology and Disability (FCTD), 1825 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 700S, Washington, DC 20009, email | fctd@aed.org,
web | www.fctd.info

Children's Health Coverage Information - Online Interactive Tools

Children's Health Coverage: New Interactive Tools from statehealthfacts.org and Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured

As Congress takes up the reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), the Kaiser Family Foundation has prepared a diverse set of resources dedicated to children's health coverage including two new online tools:

Children's Health Insurance Timeline- http://www.kff.org/medicaid/childrenshealth_timeline.cfm?CFID=13207185&CFTOKEN=21587340  

This new interactive timeline presents enrollment and major policy developments in health insurance coverage for children in public programs during the last 40+ years. As major developments occur, the timeline will be updated. The timeline provides links to related resources and can be easily printed. Link to the timeline from your website- http://www.kff.org/medicaid/childrenstimeline_link.cfm

Children's Health Data and Customized Fact Sheets- http://www.statehealthfacts.org/cgi-bin/healthfacts.cgi?action=children

This interactive tool provides easy online access to the latest children's health coverage and health status information, as well as Medicaid and SCHIP eligibility, enrollment and spending data for children from the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured.

Link to the children's health data from your website- http://www.statehealthfacts.org/linking.html

For additional resources pertaining to children's health coverage and the ongoing SCHIP debate, visit kff.org- http://www.kff.org/medicaid/schipresources.cfm

Creating a Vision: Survey for Youth with Disabilities

Hello young disability activists,

A group of young leaders are working on a presentation for the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) conference. We have the opportunity to present twice at this year's conference. We will share what young people want for the future and our direction for the Disability Rights Movement.

We really want this vision statement to represent what you and other young people think is important for the Movement. We've created a short survey. Please take time to share any ideas or comments. Many times older adults in the disability community say that they want to see us "take the reins" [take control] but they don't really listen to what we have to say about the Movement. This is our chance!

If you could fill out the survey (the link is below) before May 20th 2007 we would appreciate it. Please email us at: surveydisculture@gmail.com if you have any questions or if you want to be part of a conference call to talk more about disability culture and disability community.

We would also like to hear from adults in the disability community. We know you all have good ideas to for the future of the community too.

Find the survey at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=334633619052  [The survey should take between 10-25 minutes]

Lead on! Source: Disability Activist Collective
 

U.S. Needs Better System to Care for People with Disabilities, Report States

 In light of the expanding elderly population in the U.S., a better system is needed to provide care for the disabled, according to a report released Tuesday by the Institute of Medicine, AP/Long Island Newsday reports. The report estimates that more than 40 million U.S. residents are disabled in some way. Aging baby boomers are likely to increase the country's disabled population. The report also predicts that younger generations will contribute to the disabled population because of declines in physical activity and increases in obesity and diabetes. The report recommends that Congress and federal agencies:

The study concludes that action "taken sooner rather than later" is "essential for the nation to avoid a future of harm and inequity and, instead, to improve the lives of people with disabilities." Alan Jette, chair of the committee that prepared the report and director of the Health and Disability Research Institute at the Boston University School of Public Health, said, "If one considers people who now are disabled, those likely to develop a future disability and people who are or will be affected by the disabilities of family members or others close to them, it becomes clear that disability will eventually affect the lives of most" U.S. residents.

Jette added that "over the past two decades, far too little progress has been made in adopting major public policy and practice advances to reduce disability in America" (Schmid, AP/Long Island Newsday, 4/24).

Source: Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report

NewsCLIPS: The DRA Section 6087 - Self-Directed Personal Assistance Services State Plan Option - Spring 2007

 

http://www.hcbs.org/files/110/5450/Spring_2007.pdf

The National State Policy Database

Where you can search and download full copies or sections of federal and state special education laws, all in one place.  Very handy. http://www.rrfcnetwork.org/content/view/347/382/

New training modules online RE: IDEA 2004

Greetings from NICHCY, the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities. You are receiving this letter because you signed up to be notified when training modules become available as part of the Building the Legacy training curriculum on IDEA 2004.

Here's the latest news:  NICHCY has just posted two training modules: Module 6, Early Intervening Services and Response to Intervention; and Module 12, The IEP Team: Who is a Member? Both modules include a PowerPoint slide show to use in training sessions, detailed discussions of IDEA for trainers, and handouts for audience participants. The module is available for download, use, and sharing at: http://www.nichcy.org/training/contents.asp

In all, 19 modules on critical IDEA topics will be available by Summer 2007. 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 up will be "Meetings of the IEP Team."

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
 

New Forensic Interviewing of Victims with Disabilities DVD Released!


After much anticipation, the "Victims with Disabilities: The Forensic Interview*Techniques for Interviewing Victims with Communication and/or Cognitive Disabilities" (April 2007) has been released by the U.S. Department of Justice's Office for Victims of Crime.


This 57-minute DVD provides a specific set of guidelines for law enforcement officers, prosecutors, victim advocates, forensic interviewers, and others for interviewing adults and children with communication and/or cognitive disabilities.  An interactive companion discussion guide including a complete transcript of the DVD and a glossary of terms and concepts used in the film is also available. This DVD can be ordered through the National Criminal Justice Reference Service at: http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/shoppingcart/ShopCart.aspx?item=NCJ %20212894&repro=0

 

May 2 Interactive Webcast To Focus On Children's Coverage and Health Disparities

On Wednesday, May 2, 2007 at 1 p.m. ET, the Kaiser Family Foundation will host an interactive webcast to discuss racial/ethnic disparities in children's health, and how efforts to expand health coverage can reduce these inequalities.  The discussion is the latest in the bi-monthly interactive webcast series, "Today's Topics In Health Disparities," which is devoted to addressing a range of issues relating to health and health care disparities in the United States.      http://www.kaisernetwork.org/todaystopics/02may07

WHAT: The next discussion in the online series is "Disparities in Child Health: Why are Expansions in Coverage Important?"  Approximately 60% of the nation's 9 million uninsured children are African American, Latino, Asian, or from other populations of color.  The panel will discuss how the lack of coverage affects disparities in children's access to quality health care, as well as national and state efforts underway to expand coverage to children and their parents. 

WHO: Kaiser Family Foundation senior health policy analyst, Cara James, will moderate the discussion.  Panelists will include:

WHEN: Wednesday, May 2, 2007 at 1:00 p.m. ET.
Add this program to your Outlook calendar-http://www.kff.org/outlook/TodaysTopics050207b.vcs

WHERE: Watch the live webcast on kaisernetwork.org at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/todaystopics/02may07 .

HOW: You can ask questions of the panel in advance of or during the webcast by emailing your question to TodaysTopics@kaisernetwork.org. 

Please note: The program is accessible via webcast on the Internet and not via teleconference. If you have never viewed a webcast before, please test your media player in advance of the live webcast at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/healthcast/howtoview.
 

South Asians and Disabilities Conf in NJ on June 15

 

fyi...something we are doing as the second in a series of cultural awareness events. This is pretty much focused on New Jersey and helping build bridges between South Asian communities here and services/supports.

Register now for the South Asian Community and Disabilities Conference!
The South Asian Community and Disabilities: Raising Awareness, Facing Challenges, Accessing Resources


June 15, 2007 at the Hyatt Regency, New Brunswick, NJ

Free to Family Members! Professionals only $35 with Early Bird Registration by May 23!

View and print the brochure: http://rwjms.umdnj.edu/boggscenter/conferences/Brochures/Boggs%20Center/2007%20CultAwarebrochure%20final.pdf

 

If you have any questions, please go to The Boggs Center website at http://rwjms.umdnj.edu/boggscenter for registration contact information.
Bill Gaventa, M.Div., Associate Professor, Director, Community and Congregational Supports, The Elizabeth M. Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, P.O. Box 2688, 335 George Street, New Brunswick, N.J. 08903, Phone: 732-235-9304, FAX: 732-235-9330, Web Page: http://rwjms.umdnj.edu/boggscenter

 

New Publication on Medicaid and SCHIP Coverage for Older Adolescents

 

Incenter Strategies, an affiliate of the Maternal and Child Health Policy Research Center, is pleased to announce the release of a new fact sheet on Medicaid and SCHIP eligibility policies affecting older adolescents

 

The Public Health Insurance Cliff for Older Adolescents
By Harriette B. Fox, Stephanie J. Limb, and Margaret A. McManus

 

This fact sheet examines the mandatory and optional eligibility pathways for older adolescents ages 19 and 20 under Medicaid and SCHIP. Drawing on information from a variety of sources, it provides new information on states' use of these pathways. It documents that, in the majority of states, older adolescents who do not qualify as pregnant, parents, or disabled only have access to public insurance if they meet the criteria for working adults with disabilities. Moreover, in states that do cover all older adolescents as a group, income eligibility levels are usually well below those of younger adolescents.  

This and other recent publications are available at www.incenterstrategies.org . For more information about the publication or Incenter's ongoing work, please contact Stephanie Limb at slimb@incenterstrategies.org.

 

[LGT-National] The Future of R S A - Rehabilitation Services Administration

 

Comments Invited on Draft Strategic Performance Plan Goals and Objectives

RSA is developing a Vocational Rehabilitation Strategic Performance Plan for the vocational rehabilitation (VR) program in order to ensure a long-term strategic focus on program performance, performance improvement, and outcomes for individuals with significant disabilities. RSA will use this plan to guide its administration of the VR program and address its basic challenges. By identifying goals and objectives linked to specific populations and high priority outcomes, the plan will assist RSA in monitoring progress of the VR program and provide appropriate, targeted support to state agencies toward the achievement of desired outcomes.

The plan will identify long-term performance goals and objectives that RSA will monitor in cooperation with the VR agencies. These goals and objectives and related performance measures will provide RSA with the foundation to begin documenting practices that lead to successful outcomes for individuals with significant disabilities and transitioning youths, identify factors that may inhibit success, and identify effective practices that help accomplish the program's mission of providing high quality vocational rehabilitation services that are tailored to the needs of individuals with disabilities. RSA will use the plan to assist state VR agencies to focus their mandated planning activities on practices that will assure progress in providing high quality services for individuals with significant disabilities. Overall, the plan will promote results shaped by careful planning, monitoring of results, and implementation of strategies designed to improve performance.

You may access the website at http://www.ed.gov/programs/rsabvrs/performance.html
 

NCD Announces Research Opportunities

 

NCD has a research opportunity available. The following is a prerelease notice and it is posted at www.grants.gov and on NCD's Web site at http://www.ncd.gov/resources_researchopps.htm. If you have questions, please contact Joan Durocher at jdurocher@ncd.gov. Thank you.

 

Prerelease Notice
National Council on Disability
The Vocational Rehabilitation Act:  Transition Outcomes and Effects

 

April 5, 2007-Initial Announcement of Funding Opportunity

Funding Opportunity for a Cooperative Agreement:  NCD-07-02

Application materials will be made available on May 7, 2007 at www.ncd.gov

You can also request applications by writing to: Joan Durocher, National Council on Disability, 1331 F Street, NW  Suite 850, Washington, DC 20004

Or by e-mail request at:  jdurocher@ncd.gov

 

Applications will be due on June 15, 2007

Maximum amount available for this project:  $100,000

All potential applicants are eligible to apply

Cost sharing is not required

 

Project Overview:

NCD is seeking researchers to assess the implementation of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, specifically related to transition from school to work and/or post-secondary education; as well as collaboration with post-secondary educational systems.  Traditionally, the VR program has been justified as a good investment, with supporters pointing to cost-benefit studies showing high positive ratios of earnings gains of former clients to money spent on program services and administration. But questions have been raised about whether the program is able to serve all those who are eligible and desire services, whether the services provided are sufficient in scope and suitably targeted to meet the needs of a diverse clientele, and whether the program's effects persist over the long term.

 

Now, more than ever perhaps, effective vocational rehabilitation programs are necessary. Those responsible for decisions about the state-federal VR program need information about how those with disabilities are being served and what works. Individuals with disabilities are more likely to be unemployed or living in poverty than are Americans without disabilities. But many individuals, especially those with severe disabilities, are also in need of education, skill training, and other assistive services to effectively prepare them to take advantage of work opportunities.  There is a persistent high rate of unemployment among people with disabilities.  Though the high unemployment rate is due to a number of factors, there does appear to be a correlation between employability and education and training.  To be competitive in today's world, one most often needs education and training beyond the secondary school level. 

 

NCD expects that the resulting report will be used by policymakers and the public to refine and strengthen the on-going implementation of the Rehabilitation Act.

 

NCD Health Care Research Opportunity

 

Overview Information
National Council on Disability-Notice of Funding Opportunity-The Current State of Health Care for Americans with Disabilities

 

April 23, 2007- Initial Announcement of Funding Opportunity
Funding Opportunity for a Cooperative Agreement:  NCD-07-01
 Authority: Section 400, Title IV of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended
Application materials are available at  www.ncd.gov/resources_researchopps.htm
You also can request applications by writing to: Julie Carroll, National Council on Disability, 1331 F St NW Ste 850, Washington, DC  20004, or by e-mail request to: jcarroll@ncd.gov


Applications will be due on June 4, 2007 by 5:00 PM EDT

Deliver all materials to: National Council on Disability, 1331 F Street NW Suite 850, Washington, DC  20004-1107
ATTN:  Julie Carroll
Maximum amount available for this project:  $250,000
All potential applicants are eligible to apply
Cost sharing is not required
The estimated period of performance is August 1, 2007 - August 1, 2008

 

Project Summary
The National Council on Disability (NCD) is an independent federal agency charged with making recommendations to Congress and the Administration on issues, policies, and laws affecting people with disabilities. It is NCD's mission to promote policies, programs, practices, and procedures that guarantee equal opportunity for all individuals with disabilities, regardless of the nature or severity of the disability, and to empower individuals with disabilities to achieve economic self-sufficiency, independent living, and inclusion and integration into all aspects of society. NCD is responsible for gathering information about the implementation, effectiveness, and impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

 

In the course of monitoring the impact of the ADA, NCD has learned that Americans with disabilities do not have equal access to quality health care and health promotion services, due in part to a lack of ADA implementation and enforcement in health care facilities, as well as to inadequate access to health insurance, deficiencies in health care coverage, and inadequate training of health care professionals.

 

The United States health care delivery system is touted by many to have outstanding providers, facilities, and technology. Many Americans enjoy easy access to care. However, not all Americans have full access to high quality health care, and too many Americans with disabilities have inadequate or no access to health care.

 

The lack of access to high quality health care can be particularly problematic for service members and veterans with disabilities, women with disabilities, and individuals with communication disabilities, such as people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, people who are blind, people who have speech impairments, or people with intellectual disabilities. The consequences of these problems are often far-reaching, leading to unemployment, poverty, homelessness, the development of secondary health conditions, and a shortened life span.

 

NCD seeks to enter into a Cooperative Agreement with entities that have the knowledge and experience to conduct a study of the current state of health care for Americans with disabilities, with a particular focus on service members and veterans with disabilities, women with disabilities, and individuals with communication disabilities. Partnerships and collaborative efforts are encouraged to ensure that appropriate expertise is brought to bear on this complex project involving diverse stakeholders. Input must be gathered from individuals with disabilities, health care providers, and health insurers. An NCD report blending a similar mix of perspectives can be viewed in The Current State of Transportation for People with Disabilities in the United States (June 2005) at www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2005/current_state.htm.

 

The entire research opportunity can be found at http://www.ncd.gov/research_opportunity/currentstate_04-23-07.htm.

 

Thank you. Mark S. Quigley, Director of Communications, National Council on Disability, 1331 F Street, NW Suite 850, Washington, DC 20004

 

GAO Report on Nursing Homes Finds Lack of Enforcement

Volume 12 Number 79
ISSN 1091-4021
Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Lead Report: Nursing Homes

GAO Cites Problems with CMS Enforcement Of Nursing Homes with History of Infractions

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is not effectively carrying out "immediate sanction" enforcement mechanisms against nursing homes with a history of harming residents, according to a report by the Government Accountability Office issued in March but released April 23.

"CMS's immediate sanctions policy fails to hold homes with a long history of harming residents accountable for the poor care provided," according to the report, Nursing Homes: Efforts to Strengthen Federal Enforcement Have Not Deterred Some Homes from Repeatedly Harming Residents (GAO-07-241).

The number of sanctions and serious deficiencies cited against nursing homes declined during the five years studied, reflecting a nationwide trend, GAO reported. The report was prepared at the request of Senate Finance Committee ranking member Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa).

Yet almost half of the 63 homes reviewed "continued to cycle in and out of compliance," causing harm to residents, GAO found. The homes reviewed, all of which had a history of harming residents, corrected deficiencies only temporarily, the report found. In fact, eight of the homes cycled in and out of compliance seven or more times.

GAO also said the deterrent effect of civil monetary penalties was "diluted" because CMS imposed the penalties at the lower end of the allowable range for all of the homes reviewed.

Also, the median per day penalty imposed ranged from $350 to $500 for the homes studied, far below the maximum allowable fine of $3,000 per day. The homes do not have to pay a federally imposed monetary penalty while they are appealing their deficiencies, a process that can take years, GAO wrote.

Enforcement Tools Lacking

The most powerful enforcement tool, termination of the nursing home from federal health care programs, occurs very rarely. Only two homes were terminated involuntarily by the end of 2005, GAO wrote.

More than half of the DPNAs imposed gave homes up to three months to correct deficiencies, rather than those that only give homes 15 days, as is allowed. Finally, CMS did not impose a sanction for nearly one-quarter (22 percent) of the homes reviewed that met the agency's criteria for immediate sanctions, a problem that GAO had identified previously.

CMS's implementation of immediate sanctions did not appear to deter future repeat violations at the homes studied: 18 of the 27 homes with immediate sanctions had multiple instances of such sanctions between 2000 and 2005.

GAO's findings appear similar to its reports in 1998 and 1999, which identified significant weaknesses in government oversight and enforcement over nursing homes. Primarily GAO found then that sanctions imposed on nursing homes, including those that repeatedly harmed residents, often did not take effect because the nursing homes were given grace periods to correct deficiencies. Thus, "homes cycled in and out of compliance, harming residents while avoiding sanctions," GAO wrote.

As a result, CMS created a new "immediate sanctions" policy for repeat offenders and developed of a new data system to improvement enforcement management. Under the new policy, CMS may impose sanctions without giving homes an opportunity to avoid them by correcting problems--for serious deficiencies that resulted in actual resident harm or put residents at risk of serious injury.

GAO Recommendations

GAO said management of nursing home enforcement "is hampered by the overall complexity of its immediate sanctions policy" and by its fragmented data systems and incomplete national reporting capabilities.

To help improve nursing home care, GAO recommended that CMS develop an administrative process for collecting penalties more quickly and seek legislation to do so. The report also advised CMS to strengthen its immediate sanctions policy, expand its oversight of homes with a history of harming residents, and improve the effectiveness of its enforcement data systems.

GAO recommended a reduction in the lag time between certain citations and the implementation of the sanctions and stop allowing repeat-offender nursing homes to escape sanctions. It also recommended holding states accountable for reporting serious deficiencies identified during complaint investigations.

The report is available on the Web at: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d07241.pdf
 

The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy
Grants

 

U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

 

Qualified faith-based and other organizations may apply for a program on Engaging with Disabled People's Organizations (DPOs) in Development Cooperation. The overall objective of this proposed program is to facilitate the full and equal participation of persons with disabilities in all facets of life by ensuring that voices of persons with disabilities are being heard within the agency and providing the training and tools necessary to USAID, NGO, and Disabled People's Organization (DPO) staff to effectively reduce barriers and promote more full inclusion.

 

Applications should address two or more of the following program areas: strengthen and build capacity of DPOs; support Disability Self-Help Groups to advocate for full inclusion and equality; increase USAID and NGO staff capacity to better include people with disabilities in the planning, development, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of development efforts; develop pilot or model approaches to effective inclusion at the USAID Mission level; and increase awareness of inclusive development policies and practices within USAID field staff and partners.

 

A total of $1.7 million is available to fund this program over the next two years. Applications are due May 17, 2007.The program announcement is at http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?oppId=13545&mode=VIEW.

 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration

 

Qualified faith-based and other organizations may apply for a Rural Policy Analysis Cooperative Agreement. The purpose of this program is to support research and analysis that informs policy makers of key policy issues affecting rural communities. The program looks at cross-cutting rural health and human services issues in order to identify trends and challenges. Activities emphasize the changing rural environment including, but not limited to, the following: facilitate public dialogue on key rural policy issues by tracking emerging rural health and human services policy issues and synthesize them in a manner that provides for easy consumption by rural community leaders, with particular emphasis on rural health care providers and systems; identify opportunities for integrating health and human services in rural policy, program, and evaluation in a local community context; provide detailed analysis of health workforce trends including physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and nurses and how those trends affect rural communities; and assist community leaders with understanding the unique role played by rural community colleges in training allied health professionals to practice in rural communities.

 

A total of $225,000 is available to fund this program. Applications are due May 17, 2007.The program announcement is at
https://grants.hrsa.gov/webExternal/SFO.asp?ID=17A725F1-F0FE-4261-B11F-BD8E41102E85.

 

New Products added to the Quality Mall

 

"PARTnerships" http://www.qualitymall.org/products/prod1.asp?prodid=3638

"Autism is a World" http://www.qualitymall.org/products/prod1.asp?prodid=3674

"Positioning, Turning and Transferring" http://www.qualitymall.org/products/prod1.asp?prodid=3786

 

AAC-RERC/Dr. Beukelman/DynaVox Release Visual Scene Display - Adult for Aphasia & TBI

Now available on the DynaVox V and Vmax is a new communication framework for individuals with chronic aphasia and traumatic brain injury. This exciting framework was developed by a collaborative team headed by Dr. David R. Beukelman, PhD, the AAC-RERC and jointly tested to ensure integration with the DynaVox Series 5 software.

The new Visual Scene Display for Aphasia and TBI allows device users to use their own contextually meaningful images or photographs for a variety of conversational situations. These new displays allow the ability to easily program conversational messages related to a person or setting, all without the need to navigate to a new page. These visual cues greatly enhance the communication experience for those with for Aphasia and TBI.

Click here to learn more about this exciting new page framework for the DynaVox V and Vmax! http://www.dynavoxtech.com/files/DynaVox_VSD_for_Aphasia.pdf

Click here for a sample scene display http://www.dynavoxtech.com/img/SampleDisplayAphasia.jpg

Visit www.dynavoxtech.com to learn more about DynaVox and the new DynaVox V

One-Stop Toolkit Resources of the Week Technical Assistance Project
 State Statistics, December 2005 (released April 2007)

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/policy/docs/factsheets/state_stats/2005/index.html

 

Just released!  This website will take you to fact sheets with Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Income (OASDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and earnings and employment data arranged by state and region. There is one fact sheet (2 pages in PDF) for each state, District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands.

 

Circle of Champions: Innovators in Employing All Americans

 

DOL Office of Disability Employment Policy

http://www.dol.gov/odep/newfreedom/coc2007/brochure.htm

 

The Office of Disability Employment Policy has issued a new "Circle of Champions" brochure, which includes examples of effective disability employment practices among companies that have been recipients of the Secretary of Labor's New Freedom Initiative Award.

 

Building Mobility Partnerships for People with Disabilities: Opportunities for Federal Funding

 

Updated January 2007

http://projectaction.easterseals.com/site/DocServer/building_mobility_partnerships_update.pdf?docID=38803

http://projectaction.easterseals.com/site/DocServer/building_mobility_partnerships_update.txt?docID=38804

 

Many transportation options now exist beyond the requirements of the ADA, and a wide range of federal initiatives, including legislation, grant opportunities, and other programs have been established to supplement these options and increase mobility for people with disabilities. This guide is designed to help transportation providers, metropolitan planning officials, disability service providers and individuals with disabilities explore the federal programs and services available to them.

 

Building Mobility Partnerships for People with Disabilities: Opportunities for Federal Funding offers supplementary information gathered by Easter Seals Project ACTION about additional programs that specifically target and provide for increased mobility for people with disabilities and older Americans.


 The Arc and People First of CT
 Progress toward Respectful Language

 

Everyone,

 

Our style on the use of the word "retarded," variations of that word and the phrase "mentally retarded" has changed. The now acceptable phrase is intellectual disabilities. I've added a style entry for "individual disabilities" and have changed the entry under "retarded."

 

The state Department of Mental Retardation recently proposed changing its name out of concern over the use of the word "retarded" and its variations, such as "retardation" and "mental retardation." That word has fallen out of favor among some people who have what are now called intellectual disabilities and most if not all of their mental health advocates. The new name will be the state Department of Developmental Services. I believe that name is intended to reflect the fact that the department serves more than just people with intellectual disabilities. 

 

At the federal level, the President's Committee on Mental Retardation is now called the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities. The former Association for Retarded Citizens changed its name to The Arc of the United States, or locally The Arc of Connecticut.

So we are joining  those who no longer use the word "retarded" and its other forms, except in quoted material and in historical references.

 

I'd also like us to use what's known as "people first" language when referring to people with diseases, syndromes, intellectual disabilities and other maladies. For example, if someone has diabetes, we should refer to him or her as having diabetes, not as a diabetic. Our language might be: Jones, who has diabetes, knows a lot about insulin. This is similar to our style of saying Jones, who uses a wheelchair, rather than Jones, who is wheelchair-bound. The point of "people first" is that people are not their maladies. The maladies are a part of their lives, but they're people first. I've added a style entry under "people first language."

 

So rather than say someone is retarded, we would say the person has intellectual disabilities. Notice I said "has" and not "suffers from," a phrase we should also try to eliminate.

 

In headlines, where space will seldom allow for "intellectual disabilities," we should use "disabled" rather than "retarded." 

 

 

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 do not necessarily endorse all events, sponsoring organizations and reports which appear.