AdvocacyCenter

Morris students want more time with special education classmates

2010-03-22T01:20:00Z

"Montville High School senior Rusty Van Riper would see the students with disabilities sit together at lunch with their adult aides and after quickly eating, retreat to their self-contained classroom. ..."

BY LAURA BRUNO
DAILY RECORD
MARCH 20, 2010

http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20100320/COMMUNITIES/100319074/1005/NEWS01/Morris-students-want-more-time-with-special-education-classmates

DHAP-Ike -- IMPORTANT NEWS!

2010-03-20T19:47:00Z

The original program deadline for the Disaster Housing Assistance Program for Hurricane Ike (DHAP-Ike) was March 31, 2010.The state requested a one-year extension of DHAP-Ike to end on March 31, 2011 in alignment with the extension of FEMA’s direct housing mission. Because of limits in the program’s current grant authority, FEMA and HUD approved an initial extension through May 27, 2010 last month. The state has been assured that the extension for the remaining 10 months (through March 31, 2011) has passed through concurrence in both agencies and an announcement will be forthcoming.

In the meantime, all eligible clients who have not yet enrolled in DHAP-Ike contact their Public Housing Authority immediately to begin that process.
The deadline to enroll in DHAP-Ike is March 31, 2010.

Last week, HUD sent letters to thousands of potentially eligible clients in the state who were referred to, but never enrolled in, the program. If you work with any of these families, please encourage them to consider participation.

If any Housing Choice Vouchers should become available to families displaced by hurricanes Gustav and Ike, it is expected that the preference will be given to participants in DHAP-Ike. It is very important that eligible families in need of permanent housing do not lose this opportunity.

Please encourage any eligible families to contact their PHA, or call HUD at 1-866-785-3239 or 1-866-373-9509, to find out how to enroll in DHAP-Ike as soon as possible.

Disabled man to get aid pending ruling

2010-03-19T02:26:00Z

"The state agreed to continue round-the-clock community services for a developmentally disabled Franklinton man who is suing state health officials over planned cuts in services. ..."

By MARSHA SHULER
Advocate Capitol News Bureau
Published: Mar 11, 2010

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/87303517.html?index=1&c=y

Burger King: We Want It Our Way

2010-03-18T00:17:00Z

From NAMI.org

Burger King has been running a new television commercial that shows "The King" on a rampage, chased by men in white coats, restrained and taken away, while being called "crazy" and "insane." Many StigmaBusters have been horrified—calling it one of the worst they've ever seen.

It's the kind of stereotype and language that perpetuates stigma, reinforcing perceptions that associate violence with mental illness. "Comic" stereotypes also trivialize medical illness. Please contact the company and tell them:

* Stop running the "Crazy King" commercial.
* Support the U.S. Surgeon General-stop stigma. Help educate people about mental illness and recovery. Don't be a public health hazard.
* We want it our way at Burger King—stigma free.

John W. Chidsey
Chairman & CEO
Burger King Corporation
5505 Blue Lagoon Drive
Miami, Florida 33126

Customer Relations: (305) 378-3535
BKQuestions@qdi.com

See the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYA7AnVwejo

More information on NAMI's Fight Stigma Campaign:
http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?section=fight_stigma

'You just don't look disabled'

2010-03-17T16:40:00Z

"People come up to Aimee Mullins all the time and say, 'you know, I have to tell you, you just don't look disabled.' ..."

By Richard Galant
March 9, 2010
CNN.com

http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/03/09/mullins.beyond.disability/index.html?hpt=C2

San Antonio opens amusement park for special-needs children

2010-03-17T03:48:00Z

"On March 3, San Antonio will open an amusement park with a unique mission: to create a play space for individuals with special needs. Billed as the world's first ultra-accessible family fun park, Morgan's Wonderland covers 25 acres and sits on the former site of the Longhorn Quarry, northeast of downtown. The project's inspiration came from Morgan, the special-needs teenage daughter of founder-philanthropist Gordon Hartman, who watched her struggle at birthday parties, playgrounds and pools. ..."

By Andrea Sachs

Washington Post

2/28/10

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/25/AR2010022505198.html

Historic agreement reached to transition Illinois residents unnecessarily housed in large, impersonal nursing homes - 3/15/10

2010-03-16T00:43:00Z

CHICAGO – A landmark agreement between the State of Illinois and thousands of persons with mental illnesses will result in significant reforms of Illinois’ outmoded, overcrowded and scandalized nursing home system. The agreement, filed in federal district court in Chicago on March 15, 2010 will begin a systemic process of giving approximately 4,500 persons with mental illnesses the choice to move out of large nursing homes known as “Institutions for Mentally Diseases” (IMDs) and into community-based settings with the supports they need to be successful. These large, impersonal IMDs are operated in a manner that allows individuals little opportunity for independent living and personal growth.

Today’s settlement, if approved by the court, will offer people who no longer want to live in these institutions the opportunity to move to community-based settings with the kind of care and services that is appropriate for their individual circumstance.

“This is a momentous day for our clients,” said Benjamin Wolf, associate legal director for the ACLU of Illinois, one of five legal organizations representing the plaintiffs. “It also is a good day for the people of Illinois. This agreement moves us from antiquated, failed policies that forced people into these large institutions and embraces the current best practice across the nation of permitting persons with mental illness to live in the most independent setting possible.”

“We are pleased that the administration has made the commitment to improve the care and services provided to these often ignored citizens,” said Donna Welch, a partner with Kirkland & Ellis, LLP.

The agreement is the latest development in the case Williams v. Quinn, originally filed in August 2005 by two individuals forced to live in Chicago area nursing homes. The process for transition outlined in the agreement builds on recently-released recommendations of the Governor’s Nursing Home Safety Task Force. After examining the state’s troubled and scandalized nursing home system, the Task Force concluded that “(t)here is . . . remarkable consensus that many people currently admitted to nursing homes with serious mental illness would be better cared for in specially designed and monitored community residential settings.”

If the agreement reached between the parties is approved by the court, the State will develop a specific plan (in consultation with the plaintiffs’ counsel) to transition those persons with mental illness currently housed in IMDs to community-based settings. Trained professionals will be hired to evaluate eligible members of the class who reside in IMDs to determine: a.) if they are able to transition to permanent supportive housing and other community-based settings; and, b.) what additional services will be necessary for each individual as part of the transition process. An individualized plan for each person will be developed, implemented and tracked.

“This settlement is about people with mental illnesses in Illinois having the freedom to the live the lives that we take for granted everyday, like making their own breakfast and buying their own groceries,” said Jennifer Mathis, deputy director of the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law. “With appropriate supports, people with mental illnesses can live and thrive independently in the community and disprove the myth that people with mental illnesses are unable to live on their own.”

The parties have agreed that the transition of all those eligible for transfer will take place over the next five years. It is estimated by most experts that a vast majority of the more than 5,000 persons with mental illness who are housed in IMDs across the State would flourish living in a community-based setting.

“Congress and the Supreme Court of the United States have found that unjustified institutionalization of people with disabilities is a form of discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act,” said Barry Taylor, Legal Advocacy Director at Equip for Equality. “By entering into this agreement, the State is demonstrating its commitment to making the ADA’s promise of integration a reality for people with mental illness in Illinois.”

Ironically, the agreement actually will relieve some of the state’s financial burden created by housing individuals in IMDs, which are supported by 100% state funding. Not only will the costs be less expensive, but the state will be eligible to receive federal Medicaid reimbursements for medications and health care when an individual is receiving those services in a community-based setting.

“Illinois’ antiquated policy has been bad for the individuals and costly for the State,” added Ed Mullen, Managing Attorney for Community Integration at Access Living. “Estimates are that the State could save more than $50 million over the next few years by transitioning residents from IMDs into the community. Given the state’s current fiscal crisis, this is a welcome development.”

Lawyers representing the plaintiffs are from a coalition of organizations, including Access Living, the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, Equip for Equality, the Roger Baldwin Foundation of the ACLU of Illinois and the Chicago office of the law firm Kirkland & Ellis.

The papers filed today ask Judge William Hart who is overseeing the case to schedule a “fairness hearing” to consider the specifics of the plan. Once the agreement is approved, the State and the advocates involved on behalf of the class of IMDs residents will move quickly to begin the planning process.

***
Equip for Equality, the Illinois Protection and Advocacy agency, was one of the legal firms representing the plaintiffs.

For more information or to view supporting documents, visit: http://www.equipforequality.org/news/pressreleases/williamsblagojevichfiles.php

‘Sweetheart' relishes her crowning achievement

2010-03-14T15:55:00Z

"When Hope Dempster heard the teacher call her name, she kept her calm and remained all business. ..."

By Daniel McBride
Daily Comet - Thibodaux
March 8. 2010

http://www.dailycomet.com/article/20100308/ARTICLES/100309379/1212?p=all&tc=pgall

Contact Senators about Medicaid Funding

2010-03-13T23:33:00Z

Protect Medicaid AND Help the Economy

Urge Your Senators to Extend the Increased Federal Share of Medicaid

Temporarily increasing the federal matching rate for Medicaid is one of the most effective ways to help the economy and to protect our citizens who are most in need. The economic stimulus law's temporary increase in the federal matching rate (known as the federal medical assistance percentage or FMAP) is scheduled to end on December 31, 2010 - right when families most need help and state budgets are in crisis. Without an extension, most states will be forced to severely cut their Medicaid budgets resulting in loss of direct support professional jobs and services for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

This week, the Senate will be voting on a bill that includes a 6-month FMAP increase extension that will:

Allow states to sustain Medicaid without making additional eligibility or enrollment cuts.
Generate additional business activity, jobs, and wages as dollars are spent for home/health care personnel, including Medicaid physicians and direct support workers.

What to do?
Review this information. Contact Senators Landrieu and Vitter to let then know whether you feel that the federal medical assistance percentage should be extended. PLEASE include information in your message about why Medicaid and job creation are so important to you.

Survey for Parents of Children with Mental Illness

2010-03-12T22:04:00Z

In November of 2009, representatives of the Governor’s office, and the Secretaries of the Department of Social Services, the Department of Health and Hospitals, the Department of Education, and the Office of Juvenile Justice announced an important new cross-agency project that will, for the first time, create a true “system of care” for children with mental, emotional, and behavioral health needs in Louisiana. The system will serve children and youth that have significant behavioral health challenges who have had to be placed in out-of-home settings or are at imminent risk of out of home placement.

The Advocacy Center is working with state officials to distribute a questionnaires to families of children with mental, emotional, and behavioral health needs in Louisiana and help them respond. The questionnaire and an informational letter are linked below.

http://www.advocacyla.org/news/lettertoparents.pdf

http://www.advocacyla.org/news/parentsurvey.pdf

Please help us to spread the word about this important survey.

To request paper copies of the survey and letter, email your name, address, and number of copies needed to Stephanie Patrick: spatrick@advocacyla.org.

Return the completed surveys to:

Karen Stubbs Executive Director of the Children's Cabinet Office of the Governor P. O. Box 94004 Baton Rouge, LA 70804 (225) 342-3327 (225) 376-4924 (fax) Karen.Stubbs@LA.gov.

Judge to end oversight of city schools - Accord reached in 26-year lawsuit on behalf of special-education students

2010-03-11T16:22:00Z

"The often-contentious 26-year-old lawsuit that attempted to provide equality for Baltimore's special-education students but ultimately helped to change the course of the public school system is nearing an end after a federal judge agreed Monday to end his oversight. ..."

By Liz Bowie
Baltimore Sun
March 9, 2010

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/education/bal-md.specialed09mar09,0,815575,full.story

Plans for disabled questioned - Legislators caution Jindal about private group home move

2010-03-09T18:41:00Z

"Lawmakers urged the Jindal administration Monday to use care in moving the developmentally disabled into private facilities. ..."

By MICHELLE MILLHOLLON
Advocate Capitol News Bureau
Published: Mar 2, 2010

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/politics/85923007.html?index=1&c=y

CHILDREN LOST IN THE SYSTEM Mental health bureaucracy fails to meet clients' needs

2010-03-09T01:19:00Z

"An investigation by the California Department of Education has found several Monterey County agencies are violating state and federal laws in their handling of students with mental health problems. ..."

By CLAUDIA MELÉNDEZ SALINAS
Monterey Herald
3/7/10

http://www.montereyherald.com/local/ci_14629524

Election Hotline - Saturday, March 6th

2010-03-06T13:01:00Z

On Saturday, March 6th, Orleans parish voters in Districts A and E will go to the polls to elect a new Council person.

Advocacy Center will staff a voting hotline.

Call 1-800-960-7705 or email advocacycenter@advocacyla.

org with voting questions.

District A: Susan Guidry vs. Jay Batt
District E: Austin Badon vs. Jon Johnson

Restraint and Seclusion Bill Update

2010-03-05T22:00:00Z

The US House of Representatives passed the Keeping All Students Safe Act, H.R. 4247 on Wednesday, March 3rd.

The legislation addresses inconsistent (and sometimes non-existent) standards in many states on the use of restraint and seclusion in schools; parents and guardians not being informed of the use of restraint and seclusion on their children; use of inherently dangerous restraint and seclusion techniques with little to no training or monitoring; use of restraint and seclusion in situations that clearly do not call for the use of such extreme techniques (i.e. blowing bubbles in milk, fidgeting in a chair), and the lack of reporting of such incidents to help the proper authorities identify where problems may exist that could be addressed with additional training and technical assistance.

Louisiana Representatives Alexander, Boustany, Cassidy, Fleming, and Scalise voted against H.R. 4247. Representatives Cao and Melancon voted for it.