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DD Quarterly Summer 2004Circulation 21,187 Publication of the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council bringing disability issues and accomplishments to the attention of Ohioans. ODDC MissionIt is the mission of the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council to create change that improves independence, productivity and inclusion for people with developmental disabilities and their families in community life. Medicaid Redesign Continues: The Hope of CompromiseWhile the stakeholders involved in Medicaid Redesign in Ohio continue their turf-protecting ways, still unwilling to be "herded" (Medicaid Waiver Redesign: The Herding of Cats, DD Quarterly, Fall 2003), people with disabilities and their families stand by wondering if the stalemate will ever end. There have been recent hopeful signs of compromise. In mid-June, during a Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review hearing, a deal on the Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities Medicaid Rules was struck to at least temporarily diffuse the seemingly unending battles over rates paid to private providers and who can authorize providers for services to people with MR/DD and their families. At the June JCARR hearing, following hallway negotiating and wrangling, The Ohio Association of County Boards of MRDD, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS), the Ohio Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (ODMRDD), and the Ohio Department of Education (ODE), signed off on an agreement to permit three rules, including the controversial Contracting Authority Rule, to go into effect. The "deal" caused a fourth rule, the Rate Reimbursement Rule, to be pulled and replaced temporarily with an Emergency Rule that contains a provider reimbursement rate structure offered by ODMRDD. A much needed spirit of compromise seemed to be taking shape. Remembering what got us hereWhen House Bill 94 was passed three years ago to expand MRDD services through Medicaid, another "deal" occurred during the designing of the Community Alternative Funding System (CAFS). At that time County Boards of MRDD voluntarily agreed to offer millions of local levy dollars statewide as match to draw down more millions of dollars in federal Medicaid dollars, increasing service options and freedom of choice of providers. The CAFS resources were to convert to more Medicaid Waivers in number and type. But the stakeholder stalemate has slowed initial progress with Waivers (See Medicaid Redesign: Herding of Cats, Fall, 2003). Central to the stalemate has been the County Boards desire to have local administrative authority over provider contracting and reimbursement rates, while ODJFS claims that the federal Medicaid law of "statewideness" demands that the state agency needs to maintain administrative authority. When the Executive Branch Committee (EBC) was created for oversight of HB94 implementation, the intensity of stakeholder disputes increased, stalling much of the progress in Medicaid Waiver expansion and keeping anyone at the EBC table from getting what they wanted. The issues of contention continue to be rate reimbursement amounts and authority to contract with private providers. Recent eventsAs soon as each of the stakeholders took the June JCARR hearing "deal" back to their individual constituents, one of them apparently pulled back their approval. Although it is difficult to "know" exactly what happened, it appears that the ODE, after hearing from its larger school districts, reversed its approval of the temporary Emergency Reimbursement Rate Rule. The larger districts believe that some of the exorbitant private provider rates, the ones that local county boards consider as "budget-busters" for them, are necessary for certain kids and certain services. The emergency rule that lowers and caps reimbursement rates went into effect July 2, 2004, so it is unclear what effect ODE’s reversal will have. As their part of the "deal", the County Boards of MRDD and the ODMRDD accepted the Contracting Authority Rule that maintains ODJFS as the administrative authority over contracts. In August the regular rule writing procedure will continue, and the squabbling is expected to renew. ODE’s reversal causes the compromise deal to be even more fragile, like a balloon being tossed among cats with their claws extended. And people with disabilities and their families are holding their breath, wondering when the balloon will burst. What’s at cost nowFreedom of choice has always been and still remains central to what people with disabilities and their families need and want. They need:
Although all the stakeholders altruistically verbalize these same goals, it is not difficult to see that other priorities get in the way. People with disabilities and their families do not want providers to receive outrageous and unreasonable rates. They are not interested in anyone gaining financial windfalls from their personal situations. People with disabilities and their families do want providers, public and private, to be paid sufficiently and timely for the services they provide. They understand, as people who need a full array of service options, that one provider cannot provide all the services needed. They also know that "redesign" does not mean change just for families. Redesign means everyone at the table needs to be willing to change the way things have always been done. So what is the cost of the balloon popping; the spirit of compromise falling apart? The cost will be the very futures and quality of lives of people with disabilities and their families in Ohio. It is possible that the desire of all stakeholders to respond to the needs of people with disabilities and their families can lead them to acceptable compromises. Public pressure to bring all this to a close is too intense for the current situation to go on much longer. The governor has direct authority over the Departments of ODJFS and ODMRDD, less over ODE, and none over County Boards. But if forced to bring the Medicaid stalemate to a close, his decisions could make things difficult for all the stakeholders in one way or another. Eventually, decisions will be made that everyone will have to live with. And as always, those ultimately affected will be those for whom all the stakeholders profess to care. So it makes sense for all parties to use the power of compromise to achieve the best for people with disabilities and their families. Voices are beginning to express the need to rethink Medicaid Redesign altogether. After all, they say, Medicaid Redesign is fractured. We made assumptions that are no longer valid. Perhaps the question now becomes, "Is the resulting system really what we want?" People with disabilities and their families are now asking this question while other stakeholders continue to bicker. They will continue to ask this question louder and louder as their fears and frustrations increase. Until all involved in this process are able to look past their own personal and territorial interests, the important questions will not even be heard. What you can doThe JCARR Hearing process regarding the permanent Rate Reimbursement Rule will be starting in August. People with disabilities and their families need to:
APPC site plays role in creating commissions on disabilities in two SE Ohio townsAthens, and Marietta, Ohio are two of the first smaller cities in the state to take up the concerns and interests of citizens with disabilities as they each create commissions on disabilities. Last year, Athens resident Berry Dilley began the process of inquiring about the who, what and where of services for people with disabilities and their caregivers as she tried to assist her 65-year-old sister, who has multiple disabilities, and her mother, who is 97. "The last few years it’s been an education for me on what it is to have a disability, and what it is to be a caregiver," Dilley said. "It’s not easy. It’s hard enough to keep yourself together, let alone go to all the agencies asking for assistance," she added. That is why she approached Athens Mayor Richard Abel in August, 2003 with the request: Let’s have a commission on disabilities. The process began with a task force called AccessAbility, which Berry formed with HAVAR, Inc., an organization that helps about 75 people with mental retardation and developmental disabilities. HAVAR, Inc. is one of the DD Council’s Advocating for Public Policy Change (APPC) sites. Writing an ordinance"We wrote an ordinance to create the commission," Lisa Simpson, a program manager at HAVAR, Inc., said. "We had samples to go by, but it was a slow process. But it also wasn’t as complicated as it sounds. We were really interested in this because it was a chance for people with disabilities to have some real, formal official input within the city," Simpson said. Other agencies such as the Mental Health Board, Senior Services, Brain Injury Association and others also expressed interested in the commission. Mitch Daugherty, also a HAVAR program manager, helped to link advocates, and self-advocates to city officials. "I think a commission gives people with disabilities a direct voice in their local city government on issues that directly involve them," he said. Appointing commission membersBy May, 2004, Abel appointed nine interested city residents who will sit on the Athens City Commission on Disabilities in staggered, one- to three-year terms. Commission appointee Lauren Miller, an Athens County librarian, said her research skills will be important to the commission. "Inclusion benefits everyone," she said. "It is a win-win situation." Another appointee, Larry Jageman, professor emeriti from Ohio University specializing in special education and vocational programming, said he looks forward to the commission viewing all the business of the city through the lens of people with disabilities. "We want to participate in the decision process not after it’s done but during the process itself," he said. Don Dillinger, a wheelchair user, former member of ODDC, and former president of Athens Board of MRDD, said he hopes to make the city more accessible as a commission member, advising on "buildings, housing and all kinds of activities that so far haven’t been very open to people with disabilities," he said. And Berry, who did not seek a seat on the board, simply wants an informed commission for residents. "I hope (the commission) represents people with disabilities in the community through the local government, making our concerns more visible," she said. "With the commission, people with disabilities and their caregivers, policy makers, social service agencies can get to know what services are also available." Abel now looks to the commission for guidance. "I want the commission to focus on subdivision regulations, zoning code, housing code as initial areas. They will also provide an advisory role to the Planning Commission on all Planned Unit Development and new subdivisions," Abel said. "As a small community, local government does not have the staff or resources to serve all areas of the community," Abel said. "Advocacy groups help fill that void." Accessibility is key issueMeanwhile, as Athens efforts moved along, a similar push for the proposed City of Marietta Commission on Disabilities was under way there. Once again, HAVAR, Inc. stepped in to guide the process, said its Executive Director Debbie Schmieding. "We lifted the Athens city (commission) bylaws," she said. Similarly, the Marietta initiative began with a meeting with the mayor. Ironically, a person using a wheelchair at that meeting couldn’t get into the mayor’s inaccessible office. "The mayor was fairly graceful about it," Schmieding said, noting the dilemma helped Mayor Michael Mullen immediately recognize the need for the commission. "We know that with old towns with historic buildings, accessibility is a challenge. We are committed to meeting that challenge and making all public facilities accessible to all citizens," Mullen said. A group of concerned individuals and HAVAR staff also visited Marietta City Council, and gave information packets to the council members. "It was the first time we ran into hard questions, such as aspects of the purpose of the commission. It was good in a very supportive way," she said. "Marietta has curb cuts, but with about an inch and a half lip on them. And, you can’t appreciate grab bar not being in the right place until you need for it to be in the right place," Schmieding said. "These days you won’t find many elected officials who won’t want to listen," she said. "I think it’s a good thing to take advantage of that." Mullen, who has been Marietta’s leader since January, 2004, expects the City Council to unanimously pass the ordinance creating the commission in June. "The devil’s in the details," he said. "We want to make sure that the initial foundation documents we provide from are well executed." "I will certainly be involved as the mayor, but I want the commission to have its own eyes and ears rather than my agenda for it," Mullen said. The Marietta commission will be overseen by the city council’s Planning & Zoning Committee, he said. "You’re always proud when you look like you’re ahead of the curve and leading the parade (with commissions such as this)," Mullen said. And Athens’ Dilley hopes for one other thing...repetition by other small towns throughout Ohio in establishing more commissions on disabilities. "It will begin to spread, one way or another," she said. For more information, contact HAVAR: Athens Office, (740)594-3533 v; (740) 593-3894 fax. Marietta Office: (740) 373-7175 v; (740) 373-7116 fax; 416 Third St. Or visit, www.havar.org; email, info@havar.org Create a commission on disabilities in your town!Debbie Schmeiding, executive director of HAVAR, Inc., which helped facilitate talks that have led to the creation of commissions on disabilities in two small towns in southeast Ohio, said there are things to consider as you proceed with your commission suggestion: One Person - Creating a commission can start by the simple act of one person approaching a mayor or city council member. Repetition - While the process begins with an initial contact, be prepared to repeat your story or reason why your town should have a commission. Retell the story to larger and larger groups of people. Research - Find out what other communities have commissions on disabilities to show your elected officials that similar bodies exist. City Homework - Know what the limits are to your city’s authority to create and govern commissions. ADA Knowledge - Be familiar with ADA requirements. Kindness - Always be appreciative of the time taken by those you meet with to discuss commission creation. Organization - Keep track of your meetings and accomplishments as you meet with officials. Students build accessible modular homeWhat started as a modest, win-win agreement between the Delaware Area Career Center and Delaware Creative Housing may become a significant strategy to decrease shortages of accessible homes in Delaware County and throughout Ohio. The idea came togetherLast fall Michael Corbett, executive director of Delaware Creative Housing (DCH), went to a ball game and met Gene Scott, instructor at the Delaware Area Career Center. Typically, Scott leads teams of students from architecture, building trades, and horticulture in building one modular home each year and then auctioning it off. Sometimes homes sit for two to three years and are then sold at less than cost. Corbett and Scott decided that it would be mutually beneficial if the career center built an accessible home, which DCH would then buy at cost. Students working on the home would learn the usual building techniques along with new information about accessibility: wider doors, higher electrical outlets, roll-in showers, lower counters and light switches, no stairs, and so on. Corbett would identify the specific people who would occupy the home, and the students would build to suit those needs. When the unit was complete, Corbett’s group would move it to a location they acquired, hook up the plumbing, and make the house functional. DCH would acquire a home at much less than retail price, and the career center would break even. The added value would be the student awareness about accessibility issues. Corbett hopes other counties will adopt a similar approach. In fact, he and Scott will be presenting the idea at a November conference of superintendents of Ohio’s career centers. Funds for the first accessible home from the career center will come from the Delaware County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Delaware city’s CHIP grant (a Community Housing Improvement Program community block grant of federal funds from Housing and Urban Development), and possibly from the Ohio Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. Support from the CHIP grant significantly reduces the amount needed from the county board. John Jones is eighty-three. He lived in his own home for many years, a home that his sister and guardian bought for him after his parents died. Jones’ needs increased as he grew older, and his home was small, in disrepair, and had two stories. If Jones moved, an influencing factor was that his home would become a resource and disqualify him from Medicaid and his IO waiver.* "Initially," said Corbett, "I thought John could donate the property to DCH. In turn, DCH would raze the home and move the new modular home onto the site. John would have free rent for donating the property, and he would split the living and service costs with a roommate or two." Jones and his team liked the idea of having a new home where the old one stood. Then Jones met a prospective roommate, whom he liked very much. His name is Otto Simon. They may identify a third roommate later. DCH had a vacant apartment next door to Jones’ house! So Jones lives there temporarily, and he can watch the action from a front-row seat when they tear down his house and move the new one in. "The overall idea was fine [career center builds house and creative housing group buys it at cost]," said Corbett. "Later we discovered the systems weren’t quite flexible enough for the Jones piece of the puzzle. We found out John could not donate the land and home without jeopardizing his benefits. The way we will probably work this out is that DCH will buy the land from John through a land contract, and then John will use the money to pay rent. We’re working with the Department of Job and Family Services to see exactly what will work," said Corbett. Jones is a client of the Delaware County Board of Developmental Disabilities. Bob Morgan, superintendent of the county board, didn’t understand why it took so long to come up with a solution that Job and Family Services would like. "Corbett and I met with representatives from Job and Family Services and with a county commissioner, and I think the land contract idea will work for them," he said. Approximately 30 career center students built the modular home. Once the details related to Jones’ existing house are worked out, DCH will raze the old house and move the new one to the site, and Jones and Simon will move in. Corbett hopes this will occur in August 2004 because the students will start a new modular home in the fall and will need the space. In May, the career center held its annual extravaganza, where hundreds of people come to see what the center is doing. Each department had its specialty on display. Gene Scott and his building trades department showcased the home. "I introduced each student to John and Otto, and one by one they shook their hands. Then John or Otto would give the student a Delaware Creative Housing t-shirt as thanks for working on their house. It really put a face to an issue for the students. And it also helped John and Otto meet those who built them a better place to live. It was a special day for all, and one we hope to partake in each year," said Corbett. "The career center will build us a house every year," said Morgan. Housing is a steady need of the Delaware County Board and most other county boards. Morgan said other options for housing are Habitat for Humanity, purchasing modular homes from a company in Indiana, remodeling existing homes, and possibly obtaining homes from DCH if it becomes a builder of modular homes. "One of the things we’ve learned," said Morgan, "is that it’s much better and more cost efficient to build accessible housing rather than to remodel to create an accessible home." Jones and Simon’s home has approximately 1,500 square feet. It will sit on a crawl space and can be wired for security or a vision system (verbal prompting computer software that enables the house to become a talking home). It has three bedrooms, two baths, a large kitchen, small living room and laundry room. Its many windows are lowered. Doorways are large, electrical outlets are raised, and door handles are levers. * An I.O. Waiver is an Individual Options Medicaid Waiver. This is the funding stream from which Jones gets his day-to-day support. The waiver sets aside the standard Medicaid rules and allows those who are eligible (based on disability) to receive home modifications, in-home personal care, and so on. Delaware Creative Housing, Inc. (DCH) provides housing opportunities and options for people with disabilities and special needs. Currently it serves Delaware and Union Counties in Ohio, but it is not restricted by area. Other Ohio counties may have organizations with similar names; however, those organizations are not part of a network or the same corporation as DCH. DCH executive director Michael Corbett explained that because Ohio’s County Boards of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities cannot own property, in each of Ohio’s 88 counties there is at least one organization that owns properties and rents them to the county board for housing needs of clients. DCH provides other services, too, such as modifying homes and helping to enable home ownership. Corbett said that DCH may eventually manufacture its own accessible homes. "We would keep the agreement with the Delaware Area Career Center, however, as that is invaluable advocacy work with students. We feel we could build an accessible home in roughly six weeks....There appears to be enough need and interest to move forward in planning. We would average about 12 per year, and would promote them as custom-built accessible homes." For more information, contact: Mike Corbett, Delaware Creative Housing, 437 Dunlap St., Delaware OH 43015; (740) 368-5803; (740) 362-2477 fax; mcorbett@dcbdd.org In May, the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council (ODDC) announced the three-year appointment of Courtney Jordan of Medina, Ohio, as a member of the council. Jordan is a file clerk at the Medina County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities in Service and Support Administration (formerly known as Case Management). She also enjoys volunteering. Currently she volunteers for a program called People Together, operated by Medina County’s Society for Handicapped Citizens. People Together exposes school children to those with disabilities. She also serves on the Medina County District Library Americans with Disabilities Act Committee. "I enjoy giving back to my community," said Jordan, who lives with cerebral palsy. She believes she can make a difference in raising awareness of disability issues. She has a bachelor’s degree in mass communication, specializing in public relations, from Wright State University. As she builds her career, she wants to continue in disability advocacy. She acknowledges that work needs to be done everywhere in Ohio but says, "The action seems to be in Columbus, and eventually I may need to be there." She serves on the following ODDC committees: Employment and Health; Leadership Development; and Community Living. "In July, the Council will vote on the state plan. After that, we’ll get to see some new future projects. I’m excited," she said. ODDC consists of people who have developmental disabilities, parents and guardians of people with developmental disabilities, representatives from concerned state agencies, and nonprofit organizations and agencies that provide services to people with developmental disabilities. The ODDC is one of a national network of state councils committed to self-determination and community inclusion for people with developmental disabilities. ODDC receives federal funding to help carry out its mission of developing new and better ways of advocating, increasing capacities to assist people, and making needed changes to systems. Ask Toledo resident Ruben Garcia about leadership and advocacy, and he will tell you: "Being a leader is difficult -because you have to fight the whole system." But those who know Garcia, a member of the DD Council since February 2003, say he is an effective example of strong leadership for all. Garcia, 38, has worked as a materials handler at Lott Industries’ Telegraph Adult Services Center in Toledo for about 17 years. He is also a self advocate for the Lucas County Board of MRDD, and has traveled to nearly half of Ohio’s counties spreading the word about rights and responsibilities of people with disabilities. Garcia also was a founding member of People First of Ohio, said ODDC planning coordinator Mary Smithson. "Ruben is not only a leader himself but he encourages others to grow and develop their skills, too," she said. His passionate advocacy, she added, led to his being elected to head the Council’s Leadership Development committee. He sits on Council’s Children’s Issues, and Supported Living committees. "I see my role as educating other advocates and parents so they can have it easier than we did," he said. "My generation is helping the next generation to get what they deserve." Take it from Garcia - he knows a lot about generational issues. He comes from a family of seven brothers and three sisters. "With cerebral palsy, I had to learn to deal with not being able to do some things my siblings did - like sports," he said. "That’s why I do advocacy work. My mother and father always told me to never give up." His parents also insisted that he attend school. "If my Mom and Dad hadn’t believed in me, I would have been kept home," he said. He urges today’s Latino parents to "give their children a chance to be themselves. You don’t know what they can give the community if you don’t let them grow," he said. "I think we’re in a really good time to do advocacy because the state and federal government is listening to us," he said. But those with disabilities need to listen, too, he advised. "People with disabilities have the right to live on their own, with supports and we have the right to the same freedom as everybody else. Sometimes I think people with disabilities forget that." Tim Tyree, a service and support specialist with the Lucas County Board of MRDD, has confidence in Garcia’s finely honed advocacy skills. "He’s the guy you want on your side if you want something done," he said. "Ruben is about the strongest advocate I’ve ever met." Garcia said he got his first taste of advocacy, ironically, through a dare. "We were going to lose funding for our class and I told my friends we had to stand up for ourselves. They said, ‘Why don’t you do it?’ and I did," he said. He regularly encourages people with disabilities to get and stay involved in the policies that affect their lives. "If you want something changed, you have to start somewhere," he said. Garcia has spoken to groups at a moment’s notice, when called upon to substitute for others. "He just really steps up and enjoys speaking before crowds. He articulates himself well, and maintains the interest of participants," said Tom Calcamuggio, program manager at Lott Industries. His work on Council’s Leadership Development committee also involves encouraging people to work together on projects. "That’s really the big component for me," he said. "With bigger numbers, you get better results. We all need each other." "For example, people with disabilities are one-third of the voting bloc of this government. If we all voted, we could change the government," he said. To that end, he also advocates for accessible polling places. "That’s a critical issue," he said. Garcia’s inspiration comes from John F. and Robert F. Kennedy, and the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. "When King started the Civil Rights Movement, that’s how we got our (disability) movement going," he said. Myrna Torres, 47 of Sheffield Township, and a co-member with Garcia on the Leadership Development committee, is glad for his presence. Torres was the first Latina to join Council in 1999. "Ruben is ambitious," she said. "And he likes order." Torres said diversity results from having she and Garcia on Council. "It’s good to have people from different backgrounds here. We (Latinos) were in the background before we started to vote." Garcia’s dream? Perhaps to be an elected official, to become chair of the DD Council someday, and lead one million or two million marching people with disabilities to Washington, D.C. "It’s time for us to get involved," he said. What a difference a "Day" makes for senator’s MBI awarenessWhen State Sen. Steve Stivers met Melissa Day, the legislator also came face to face with the vital need for Medicaid Buy-In (MBI) for Ohioans with disabilities. Stivers, who represents 16th Senate District constituents in central Ohio, met Day - the 2003 Miss Wheelchair Ohio - at the Statehouse while she was on a tour. He asked her if she would be interested in a job as a Statehouse page, earning approximately $7.50 per hour. "She said, ‘I would love to do it, but I can’t. I’m not allowed to earn (that much) money because I would lose my medical benefits,’ Stivers said. "That was a very telling example of why we need Medicaid Buy-In," Stivers said. "To give people who want to be contributors to society the opportunity." If she had taken the paying job, Day would have put her skilled nursing care in jeopardy. She uses a wheelchair due to a 1994 diving accident that resulted in quadriplegia. She receives 40 hours of skilled nursing care per week, and 40 hours of additional aid. MBI would allow working Ohioans with disabilities to pay into Medicaid to retain health coverage at a rate determined according to their salary. It is already in effect or in proposal form in nearly 30 states. "I couldn’t have (taking a job) mess up my Medicaid coverage," Day said. "My health comes first." "Having an effective prohibition (on people with disabilities) to making money is against everything we believe in," Stivers added. "It was an eye-opener for me," he said. "It helped me see the disincentives we’ve created." The two decided Day, who is 25, could be a non-paid intern in Stivers’ office. She spent a portion of her time last fall conducting research on the MBI issue. Stivers said Day and he regularly met to talk about the issue. She also worked on constituent issues, legislation preparation, a town hall meeting, and more. "We wanted her to have exposure to everything our office is involved in," he said. "The work Melissa did (on MBI research) should be pretty helpful in the long run." "Melissa was an excellent employee," Stivers said. "She worked real hard, was smart, and was always on time. She was top-notch." "People with disabilities are just like anybody else," he said. "They are good employees, and they are even better than many because they have faced adversity and they have overcome it." Day found herself in the Statehouse through her initial high school-level political science studies and those at Columbus State Community College, where she received an Associate of Arts degree, with a focus on political science. She received her bachelor’s degree in that same discipline in 2003 from the Ohio State University. "I love America," she said. "I wanted to learn more about the system, and how I could advocate." She is currently considering furthering her studies in law school. Day, a member of the National Dean’s List in 2000, wrote a college thesis on political participation as the missing link between constituents and Congressional representation. "The more people get involved, whether being an activist or just voting, gives them a better understanding of what’s going on in the world," Day said. "We are a democracy, we have rights. (Elected officials) need to know what we want." Day’s internship with Stivers heightened her own awareness of the disadvantages people with disabilities face while not having MBI in the state. "It’s not fair. Here I am, an intelligent person -I like to work, and have a job," Day said. "Holding a job isn’t always about making money, either. You get to meet new people, and it’s a social setting, too." As a strong supporter for MBI, Stivers now speaks to colleagues about the importance of the proposal. He reports that still, legislators do not know about MBI. But he hopes that the story of its need actually arising under the legis- lature’s very roof at the Statehouse helps to make some headway. Unfortunately, the budget crisis Ohio is currently experiencing tends to overshadow many other legislative projects, including MBI, Stivers said. "We’re in a budget period where we have a short-fall. It’s hard to get government accountants to look at the bottom line. Instead, they look at static costs." Having Medicaid Buy-In would actually increase the tax revenues of the State of Ohio. People (who would enroll in a MBI plan) would be paying taxes, he said. "I think MBI will happen in short order- in the next couple of years," Stivers said. "We’re going to do it as soon as we can do it, because it makes sense." CHOICES Program assists woman to freedom from 32-years in nursing homeBarbara Emerson, of Warsaw, Ohio, is a free, self-determined woman living independently with supports after 32 years of nursing home institutionalization. Thanks to the CHOICES Program, which is funded by DD Council, and administered by the Arc of Ohio, Emerson left Echoing Hills Nursing Home on Feb. 2 of this year. In a speech delivered April 29, 2004 to the Ohio Governor’s Council on People with Disabilities, Emerson, who has cerebral palsy and speaks with the use of a communication device, said her liberation from the nursing facility "went as smooth as silk." But the planning for the move was more than two years in the making, including a few times when Emerson herself stopped the arrangements out of fear that each meeting with the nursing home staff would bring more and more reasons why she could not leave. "She was sanctioned (by the nursing home staff),"said Dan Loyer, CHOICES Nursing Home Team Leader. "She wasn’t allowed to use her computer for a period of time. With that, she lost her connection to the world, in many ways." At one point in the planning, an apartment had been located for Emerson and a ramp built there. When it was determined the dwelling was not completely accessible, CHOICES networking throughout the state was able to recycle the ramp for use by another person with a disability, a testament to the need for such equipment and the importance of communicating progress and needs with CHOICES friends and liaisons. "Throughout that time period, the networking of needs and sharing by advocates really came through," Loyer said.As Emerson’s moving date neared, flukes began to happen that could have dissuaded many from leaving the nursing home. Difficulties with a waiver. No emergency response items. "It seems like (nursing home officials) kept changing the criteria for her to leave every time we made it over a hurdle," Loyer said. Fears by the nursing home staff were expressed: Health and Safety... Lack of medication... Information was being withheld from Emerson, Loyer said. "She was afraid that if there were another meeting called, it would be another reason to stop her from leaving." "But it was all planned for her to move out on Feb. 2nd," Loyer said. Finally, that day arrived, and Emerson moved into her new apartment, which is near a shopping center and other places she now enjoys visiting with Nola Veatch, her personal assistant. "I am very proud of Barbie," Veatch said. "I’ve been eagerly anticipating her getting mainstreamed." Loyer said Emerson’s attitude has changed 150 degrees for the better since she left the nursing home behind. "She’s in a totally new world where everything is accessible to her within a few blocks. She is in her highest glory right now," he added. Veatch, who has known Emerson for nearly two years, said she is pleased for her efforts and strides to be an advocate for others with disabilities. "Now that she is out of the nursing home, she is able to be everything that she has always wanted to be," she said. "Barb is much more comfortable (away from the nursing home)," Veatch said. "And I do believe she will be able to fulfill her God-given destiny to change a lot of people’s lives." "Even though I am almost 55 years old," she told the Governor’s Council meeting attendees, "I am feeling very young these days, since living in my very own apartment!" "I love every inch of my apartment...bare walls and all. Pictures are up, now, though, and little What-Nots, which add to a house or apartment...MY apartment," she said. "The first morning when I woke up (after the move) I just lay in bed for a while, smiling and looking around, thinking, ‘Oh my Gosh, I’m in MY own bedroom, in MY own apartment! I’m not dreaming or on vacation...this is for real!" Emerson now dedicates her advocacy efforts in honor of her father, Dale Leking, who passed away in a California nursing home only weeks after she left Echoing Hills. News from Ohio Legal Rights Service (OLRS)Ohio Legal Rights Service Toll-free: 1-800-282-9181 www.olrs.ohio.gov Martin v. Taft: Settlement ReachedOn July 7, 2004, people with developmental disabilities (DD) in Ohio moved closer to obtaining the promise of community integration contained in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. That day saw the preliminary approval by a federal court of a consent order in the OLRS case of Martin v. Taft. The consent order was agreed to and signed by the plaintiffs in the case, the Governor, and the heads of Ohio’s Medicaid and Developmental Disabilities agencies. The order anticipates a major change in how the state uses the Medicaid program to fund residential services for people with DD. The proposal would shift funding of licensed residential facilities from the current Intermediate Care Facility/Mental Retardation (ICF/MR) program to a waiver. Unlike the current smaller waivers, known as Home and Community Based Waivers (HCBW) under section 1915c of the Medicaid program, the parties anticipate that this will be a large waiver. Known as a demonstration or 1115 waiver, it would encompass all aspects of the funding for residents of these facilities. The proposal must be approved by both the General Assembly and the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Under the consent order, choice and self determination are central to the new waiver proposal. The waiver must allow the person to continue living in the facility or to take the waiver dollars and move into the community with appropriate supports. Additional relief for the plaintiff class is contained in the order. The state must continue its current HCBS waiver programs unless and until it integrates them into the larger waiver. The order requires that a set number of current residents of ICFs/MR be given a priority for the current waiver programs. It also requires that the state institute a priority for residents of nursing facilities who are DD, which has been authorized since 2003 but never implemented. Finally, the consent order specifies that non-binding surveys be conducted of developmental centers and ICFs/MR to determine more accurately the number of people with developmental disabilities in those facilities who may wish to receive services in a waiver setting. The order also sets out procedures for monitoring and enforcement. Notice of the settlement is currently being sent to the class. Class members who object to the proposed settlement may send those objections to the court by no later than August 31, 2004. The court has set a fairness hearing for September 14, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. At that time, the court will review any objections, hear arguments from the parties, and decide whether or not to grant final approval of the consent order. More information of the consent order, as well as a copy of the proposed order, can be found at OLRS’ web site. A copy of the class notice or proposed order can be obtained by calling OLRS and asking to speak with the intake worker. OLRS’ Five-year Strategic PlanIn June 2004, The Ohio Legal Rights Service (OLRS) adopted a Five-year Strategic Plan to take the agency into a robust future. The plan is a bird’s eye view that maps out a course of action to where OLRS would like to be in five years. By embracing change, the plan focuses on continually enhancing quality advocacy services and progressively improving agency operations. As with any agency, it is crucial for OLRS’ health, stability, and longevity to review its successes and failures and construct a model for growth and improvement. The plan originates from OLRS’ vision and mission and directly guides the agency’s yearly work and priorities. The plan will assist OLRS in providing quality services to individuals with disabilities and will guide internal management decisions. The plan sets out five goals, developed by OLRS and its oversight Commission for the agency to achieve in the next five years. ORLS will:
For each goal in the plan, OLRS developed important strategies to help achieve these goals. This ambitious plan will bring OLRS an exciting and positive future. New Publication"Take Charge of Your Life: Know about Guardianship"In June 2004, OLRS published a booklet titled, "Take Charge of Your Life: Know About Guardianship." This booklet, written in people first language, explains what guardianship is and how a guardianship can be started, ended and questioned. The booklet also talks about a person’s rights in relation to guardianship, and emphasizes the importance of using alternatives to guardianship. The booklet wis based on the idea that all people have a right to self-determination. Knowledge supports and encourages that right. OLRS hopes the booklet will help strengthen the practical, day-to-day exercise of the right to self-determination for all people with disabilities. OLRS’ Statement of PhilosophyIn June 2004, the Ohio Legal Rights Service also adopted a revised Statement of Philosophy. The focus of the statement remains essentially the same: "OLRS at all times will represent the choices of people with disabilities in order to give them a voice in the matters that are affecting their lives." But the statement was modified to recognize the diversity of the population the agency serves: Ohio’s community of individuals with disabilities is growing and transforming, and OLRS’ Revised Statement reflects the changes. The new Statement also is written in "people first language." This means the language in which the statement is written gives honor and respect to the individual by first referencing him or her, and then referencing the disability. Thus, whereas before we may have said "disabled person," the principle of using people first language guides us to say "a person with a disability." An example from the philosophy statement says, "OLRS believes that people with disabilities have a right to control their own bodies, lives and pursuits of happiness" and that "all people, including people with disabilities, have a right to the ‘dignity of risk,’ and the right to make both good and bad choices for themselves and for their lives." Legal NotesOLRS v. Buckeye Ranch; OLRS v. St. Vincent’s Children’s HomeOLRS, as the protection and advocacy system (P&A) for Ohioans with disabilities, has filed these cases in federal and state court, respectively, to challenge the denial by the facilities of OLRS’ statutory access to client records. OLRS access is guaranteed in both federal and state law. In the case of Buckeye, OLRS alleges that it was denied access to the client record of a thirteen-year-old resident who had suffered a broken wrist when the OLRS investigator had probable cause to believe that the child had been abused or neglected. OLRS also seeks logs kept by both facilities related to incidents of restraint and seclusion of children. In a related case, the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals recently upheld the Tennessee P&A’s claim for access to a client’s nursing home records over the objection of the client’s guardian. OLRS had filed a brief as friend of the court along with the P&As in Michigan and Kentucky in support of the Tennessee P&A. Doe v OhioOLRS brought this class action in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio to challenge limited services and discrimination in Ohio’s special education programs. On July 9, 2004, the judge ruled on the state’s motion for summary judgment. The judge ruled that the plaintiffs could not proceed on their claims under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, but could pursue claims under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The parties will now conduct discovery, with a trial in the case not yet scheduled by the Court. NFB v BlackwellOLRS joined as local counsel on this case to require readily achievable private ballot access for Ohio voters who are blind in the November 2004 election under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. After 4 months of intense litigation, delaying tactics by state and county officials, and problems with vendors prevented any meaningful remedy for the plaintiffs, and the case was dismissed. In re Nicole R.OLRS filed due process under the IDEA to insure that this child with a disability received services with her nondisabled peers in the first grade. The case was settled with an agreement between the parents and the school district to provide time in special education classes in a school other than the child’s neighborhood school, and time in regular education in the child’s neighborhood school. A.M.H. v HayesIn this case, OLRS seeks to ensure that these children with disabilities are provided services under the Early Prevention Screening Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) program in order to prevent their being institutionalized. The state has filed a motion to dismiss the case, which OLRS has opposed, and the parties are awaiting a decision. Ohio shows deficiencies in services to childrenKay Treanor, staff person for DD Council’s Children’s Issues Committee, expressed her concern over information presented recently to the committee by Cesar D’Agord of GLARRC (Great Lakes Area Regional Resource Center). GLARRC works with special education agencies in the following states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin as the states seek ways to improve education and related services to infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities and their families. The staff of GLARRC assists with ongoing needs assessments and problem-solving processes. GLARRC analyzed data from 2001 and 2002 from Ohio and the eight other states GLARRC serves. Results showed Ohio ranking low - only Missouri was lower - on needs of children aged birth through two. Among other items, early identification lagged behind. Treanor, who also serves on the Help Me Grow Advisory Council in Ohio (formerly called "Early Intervention"), said that Help Me Grow has sites for each county to input compliance information. "We show deficiencies," she said. Treanor said, "Originally formal assessment of Ohio was set for July 2004. Now it’s postponed indefinitely." She emphasized the need to do better in Ohio, "Not just because the feds now have power to impose sanctions in these matters, but because we should do the best for our children." Treanor said a complicating factor in Ohio is that each county has different systems. In a state such as Michigan, access is fairly uniform. D’Agord commented that in relation to the entire nation, Ohio looks better than when compared to the other eight states in the Great Lakes region. Recommendations propel new abilities-testing lab at University of Michigan- June 1, 2004, Seth Warschausky, Ph.D., Marie VanTubbergen, Ph.D., Sunny Roller, M.A., and Heidi Lengyel, B.A. Planning the inclusive education of students with severe disabilities is best accomplished through active collaboration of students, their families, and staff. These important individuals in a student’s life also need access to accurate and thorough information about the student’s abilities. For children with communicative, physical, or sensory disabilities, traditional school testing practices often are not sufficiently informative. Traditional testing can be quite limited in helping to identify individual strengths and the accommodations and resources that best promote a well-rounded education. The ACSESS* Project is a collaborative effort led by Seth Warschausky, Ph.D. at the University of Michigan in conjunction with educators at the Washtenaw Intermediate School District and Western Michigan University. Project uses links to technologyThe project seeks to link advances in rehabilitation engineering and assistive technology with improvements in cognitive testing to better provide more accurate and comprehensive assessments of students’ capabilities and needs. In the first phase of the ACSESS project, focus groups with school psychologists, transition specialists, assistive technology specialists, and disability-focused faculty and staff discussed current assessment practices and the needs that exist to improve the assessment process. Eight themes emerged:
Parents involved in processParents were interviewed about past assessment experiences and how to improve the process. Parents generally reported feeling disconnected from the assessment process both in setting goals for the testing as well as in contributing their knowledge about their child’s preferences and specific strengths. When asked to identify ways to improve the process, they generated three themes:
The parents and professionals who participated in the interview provided excellent information regarding experiences with cognitive assessments as well as ideas for improving the assessment process. These ideas are being used as the ACSESS team builds the new Adapted Cognitive Assessment Laboratory located in Mott Hospital at the University of Michigan Health System. Qualified volunteer students with a disability, who live within driving distance of the University, are helping to pilot the workings of the lab. Results of their customized capability testing will be given to them for immediate use in their schools. Their parents, teachers, physicians, and therapists are also involved in preparations for the testing process. Students from Ohio are invited to participate if they meet study criteria. If you would like to learn more about The ACSESS Project, please contact Sunny Roller, Project Manager, at (734) 936-7051, or visit the ACSESS website at www.med.umich.edu/pmr/acsess. ·ACSESS stands for Adapted Collaborative Strategies to Evaluate Student Strengths. 2004 Harris Survey finds people with disabilities still face pervasive disadvantagesThe House Government Reform Subcommittee on Human Rights and Wellness met in June to hear the results of the just-released 2004 Harris Survey on disability trends, commissioned by the National Organization on Disability (N.O.D.). N.O.D. regularly works with the Harris Poll to survey people with disabilities and compare their attitudes and participation with other Americans. The current Harris survey interviewed 993 adults nationwide, 19 percent of them with disabilities, by telephone during the period of December 10-16, 2003. Results document trends affecting the more than 54 million Americans with disabilities. The 2004 results show that Americans with disabilities are at a critical disadvantage compared to other Americans in ten key areas of life that the Harris Poll has tracked since 1986. Key findings include:
"Progress is too slow, and the gaps are still too large," said N.O.D. President Alan A. Reich. "Looking back four years, or ten years, to our earlier N.O.D./Harris surveys, we see Americans with disabilities heading in the right direction. But people with disabilities remain pervasively disadvantaged. Our goal of full participation is a dream deferred. I hope that the findings will inspire legislators, public officials, and the American people to rededicate themselves to this goal." In addition to the primary findings, several others are also notable:
The N.O.D. publication, The State of the Union for Americans with Disabilities 2004, elaborates on these findings and their implications, and covers other issues of importance to Americans with disabilities. It calls on President Bush and his Administration, Congress, and other national leaders to prioritize the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities. Survey results, and related information can be found on the N.O.D. website, www.nod.org. Self Determination Immersion TrainingSponsored by the Ohio Self Determination Association, the Ohio Association of Adult Services, and the Ohio Department of MR/DD September 14-15 Crowne Plaza Quaker Square Akron, OH For more information, contact: Christie Ward, Ohio Self Determination Association, 11419 Center Village Rd., Galena, OH 43021, (740) 965-9822 or e-mail: ohiosda@earthlink.net PAR Annual ConventionPAR provides training to professionals in the field of mental retardation and developmental disabilities October 6-8 University Plaza Hotel Columbus, OH For more information, contact: Emma Cornell, PAR, One Marion Ave., Site 306, Marion, OH 44903, (419) 522-6207 Clip and save...Write for readersPart 3 of 3 partsPeople often look to the AXIS Center for Public Awareness, an ODDC grantee, for help with their writing, publications, marketing, and other communication challenges. AXIS’ new resource, Write for Readers, is available to newsletter readers free. Just clip and save the three installments, which began in the Winter 2004 issue. Write for Readers emphasizes 12 main writing points. In this issue, we feature points 9-12. A review of all points appears at the end. We continue with the 12 ideas to give your writing more punch. 9. Proofread.Double check spelling. Use a computer spell-checker if you have one, but don’t rely solely on its results. If you’ve used the word you instead of your, the computer won’t catch it. It also won’t flag there or it’s used incorrectly when you meant their or its. Double check punctuation. Among the most common punctuation errors are these:
Proofreading tips:
10. Write to express, not to impress.Don’t worry about writing "down" to your readers; write so it’s understandable to the most readers possible. Use words they know and can understand easily. Remember that in the United States, the average reading level is 7th grade. If 70% of your writing contains words of five letters or less, it’s readable to most people. You may know your specific audience as a group that needs shorter or longer words and sentences than average. Write so that your readers can understand; not so that they will be intimidated, overwhelmed, or impressed by your big words and long sentences. Readers have a limited amount of energy, which they divide between words and ideas. If you’re explaining what your readers would consider a complicated idea, then it’s best to use shorter words and sentences so readers can use their remaining energy to understand your thought. Alternatively, you may use longer words and sentences if your readers would consider your idea simple. For example, if you wrote to explain new tax law to tax accountants, you’d probably be able to use bigger words and longer sentences than if you wrote to explain new tax law to an average taxpayer. Never use a long word or phrase when a shorter one will do. Replace jargon, buzz words and acronyms that readers may not understand with short, simple and direct words. And when you want to use an abbreviation or acronym that most of your readers probably do understand, explain it the first time you use it, just in case there’s someone new who will read it. Limit your sentences to a single thought -one main idea. If you get "lost" in a sentence, it’s too long; so start a new one. If you need to reread a sentence to know what it means, rewrite it. Simplify sentences until they’re understood instantly. 11. Write mostly in active voice.The habit you want to develop is to write in active voice and choose to use passive voice selectively. Sometimes you need to write in passive voice because you need to emphasize the recipient of the action or because you don’t know who is taking the action. But most of the time you should write in active voice, which tends to use fewer words, give your writing more sparkle, and be less boring for the reader. To write in active voice, you eliminate forms of the verb "to be" as "helping verbs," and you say directly who is taking the action. Here’s how to change a passive sentence to an active sentence:
Passive voice: Adaptive equipment was installed on the playground in June by volunteers. Active voice: Volunteers installed adaptive equipment on the playground in June. 12. Stay consistent.When there’s a style choice, make the same choice each time. Often there are optional ways to do things. For example:
These are some of the decisions you may need to make. Once you make them, be consistent. Readers want consistency. Consistency makes your writing easier and quicker to understand, easier to scan for items of importance, and more believable and professional. What about using the same word repeatedly in your descriptions? Usually using the same word leads to clarity. For example, if you describe a conference, you may be tempted to refer to it later as a seminar, a meeting, a workshop, and so on. But if you consistently refer to it as a conference, it will probably be clearer to readers that you’re describing the same event. You can overdo it, however. And that’s why you need to think about whether your readers will understand if you use a different word. It’s usually best to use few synonyms. Likewise, be consistent with the type faces and styles that you use. Okay, so that’s it. Certainly these tips don’t tell you everything about writing. But if you follow these 12 rules and put your readers first when you make decisions, your writing will be more succinct and easier to understand, which will save your readers time and trouble. And you will achieve your goal of communicating your ideas. Keep these tips handy! Write for Readers!
DD Council grantees celebrate new initiatives and accomplishmentsOn Flag Day, June 14, The AXIS Center hosted DD Council’s annual Grantee Gathering at Embassy Suites in Dublin. This event enables representatives of all Council’s projects the opportunity to learn about each others’ activity and how to work together to promote Council’s mission. It’s also a way for Council to thank its partners for their hard work and successes. All attendees were encouraged to rally around the mission of DD Council and work to improve the lives of people with disabilities. Autism: Reaching for a brighter futureService Guidelines for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder/Pervasive Developmental Disorder (ASD/PDD) Birth through Twenty-OneDeveloped by The Autism Task Force in partnership with the Bureau for Children with Medical Handicaps and the Bureau of Early Intervention Services of the Ohio Department of Health. Marketing and distribution of guidelines funded by The Ohio Developmen-tal Disabilities Council. The guidelines were developed in response to the rapidly growing body of knowledge that is available regarding autism spectrum disorder. This information has expanded the opportunities available to families and professionals to improve the lives of people with ASD/PDD. Recommendations are based on current knowledge about "best practices" for assessment of individual needs and delivery of appropriate services and supports. 104pp. Free. Contact Lisa Badger, Bellefaire JCB, 22001 Fairmount Blvd., Shaker Hts., OH 44118-4897; email: badgerl@bellefairejcb.org. Or download from the DD Council web site:www.ddc.ohio.gov/pub/child.htm and click on ASD/PDD guidelines. AXIS Center to bring together people with disabilities and domestic abuse professionals A Meeting of MindsSurvivors and providers meeting the challenges of domestic violence and abuse of people with disabilities Monday, August 16, 10 am - 4 pm, Embassy Suites, Dublin$25 per person. Registration required. A limited number of stipends are available for people with disabilities. Contact AXIS for more information, or to request a stipend: (800) 231-2947 v/tty or axiscenter@aol.com During the past ten years, a growing body of literature has addressed the issues of domestic violence and abuse against people with disabilities. Yet, an appreciation for the extent of this problem in the Ohio disability community and the community of service providers still is poorly understood. Attend this one-day conference that will bring together these two communities - people with disabilities and professionals - to begin to understand issues, identify barriers, and plan strategies to remove the problems. Terri E. Pease, Ph.D, Chicago, a nationally recognized consultant on abuse and violence, will keynote the event. Peg Calvey, Cleveland, Disability Outreach Coordinator at Genesis House Domestic Violence Center, and a panel of people with various disabilities will describe their experiences with domestic abuse. Facilitated sessions will focus on the next steps. Sponsored by: Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council, AXIS Center for People with Disabilities, and Ohio Domestic Violence and Disability Task Force. 4th Annual Ohio Sibs ConferenceNovember 5-6, 2004 - Marriott Airport Hotel, Columbus, OHThis unique gathering is unlike anything else in the United States. Only at the Ohio Sibs Conference can adult brothers and sisters of people with MRDD gather together to hear directly from MRDD professionals, educators, politicians, and other adult siblings. The conference is an opportunity to share information, ideas and family experiences. Registration fee: $75 includes meals and materials. You may register online at: www.ohiosibs.org/register.htm For more information, contact: Tammy Savage, (614) 688-5710, tsavage@ohiosibs.org Three grants available for 2005DD Council is seeking proposals for three new grant projects. Advocating for Public Policy Change Projects (2 sites)Council currently supports grassroots advocacy through six geographically diverse sites of trained advocates. Council will provide funding for two additional sites to begin in January, 2005. Proposals may be submitted for sites in Lucas County and Cuyahoga County. Each site will receive $28,000. Council believes that the voices of advocates for people with developmental disabilities are essential for constructing a future society that includes increased opportunities for integration and inclusion, while at the same time ensuring a decent and safe place for vulnerable individuals. Advancement in public policy that will benefit people with developmental disabilities and their families requires information on issues and current legislation, opportunities for collaboration with the disability community, and strategic activities for introducing disability advocates into debates. The Council views itself as a facilitator of such advocacy efforts. The advocacy sites are encouraged to focus on state level issues identified by Council and local issues consistent with Council positions. Partners in PolicymakingCouncil will be awarding a grant that will offer the Partners in Policymaking education program in Ohio. Partners in Policymaking was created by the Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities in 1987. Since then, Partners programs have been implemented in 46 states, as well as in the United Kingdom and other countries. Approximately 13,000 Partners graduates are part of a growing national and international network of community leaders serving on policymaking committees, commissions, and boards at local, state and national levels. Partners is an innovative, competency based leadership training program for adults with disabilities and parents. The purpose of the program is two fold: teach best practices and teach the competencies of influencing public officials. The training curriculum and materials, a national speakers’ list and other information is available on the Partners website, www.PartnersinPolicymaking.com Council will award $50,000 for an entity to conduct Partners in Policymaking for at least 20 participants in one region of the state in 2005 and 2006; program would expand in future years. Partici-pants may use the Council’s Empowerment Fund for transportation, as needed. A Notice of Funds Available (NOFA) will be mailed in mid-August to Council’s mailing list. Applications for proposals also will be available by calling Council office: (800) 766-7462, or from the website: www.ddc.ohio.gov, beginning August 20. Applications are due by 5 pm Monday, October 10, 2004. Funding will begin on January 1, 2005. PATHS project moves mountainsThe Moving Mountains Award will be presented to Ohio’s Professional Advancement through Training and Education in Human Services (PATHS) project by The National Alliance of Direct Support Professionals and The Research and Training Center on Community Living at The University of Minnesota. The award recognizes excellence in Direct Support Professional Empowerment and Career Development through apprenticeship and credentialing. It will be awarded at the Reinventing Quality Conference in Philadelphia on August 10. PATHS began in January, 2001 with a dream to create a voluntary credentialing program for direct support professionals in Ohio. PATHS has received ongoing financial support from The Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council, The Ohio Department of MRDD, and The Ohio State Apprenticeship Council. PATHS has been implemented in three pilot regions and is expanding into other areas of the state. It has been characterized by extraordinary collaboration and partnership, and its results have been experienced by the Direct Support Professionals participating in the program, and even more importantly by the individuals they work directly with. For more information, contact: Amy Gerowitz, agerowitz@outlooks.us RESOURCES & ANNOUNCEMENTSLeaders of tomorrow... Builders for the futureThe Ohio Governor’s Council on People with Disabilities 2004 Annual Meeting Thursday, August 19 $25 per person. For more information, contact: Ohio Rehabilitation Association2004 Annual Conference "50 Years! The Past, Present & Future of ORA" October 5-8 For more information, contact: American Council of the Blind of OhioACBO State Convention October 15-17, 2004 "Expanding Your Horizons" Pre-registration: $70. For more information, write: Are you registered to vote in Ohio?To be able to vote in November’s general election, you must register by October 3, 2004. deaf initiativesStrengthening the potential of youth who are deaf or hard of hearingStatewide Conference September 24-26, 2004 Conference is designed to help facilitate the transition of deaf and hard of hearing youth from high school to post secondary education or work. Sessions are conducted for both youth and their parents. For more information, e-mail: TheDEAFund@aol.com or call: (800) 985-3323 v/tty Ohio AAMRpresents"Healthy People Build Healthy Communities" September 8-9, 2004 AAMR has long recognized that quality of life is directly related to the ability to access comprehensive, individualized, community based health services and supports. This conference will present a broad array of speakers and health related topics. Registration fees vary, depending on membership and days attending. For more information, visit: www.ohioaamr.org Or call: (614) 278-9367 23rd Annual Conference Brain Injury Association of Ohiopresents"Self-knowledge, Self-determination, and Community Supports" October 14-15, 2004 Columbus Marriott Keynotes: Exhibitors & sponsors welcome For additional information, contact: All resources listed in DD Quarterly are available from AXIS library: (800) 231-2947 or axiscenter@aol.com Reflections from a Different Journey: What Adults with Disabilities Wish All Parents Knew- 2004 Edited by Stanley D. Klein, Ph.D. and John D. Kemp"This book is a wonderful celebration of diversity. The essays have important messages for all of us as we strive to make our world a more caring, loving and peaceful place for all children and families." -From Foreward by Marlee Matlin Contains 40 essays written by successful adult role models who share what it’s like to grow up with a disability. These essays, arranged thematically, demonstrate that, first and foremost, people with disabilities are human beings with the same needs and desires as people without disabilities.
For parents and family members, older children with disabilities, and education and health care professionals. 205pp. $18.95 plus S&H. McGraw-Hill Companies, Two Penn Plaza, New York, NY 10121; (877) 833-5524; www.mcgraw-hill.com The New Language of Toys: Teaching Communication Skills to Children with Special Needs-A Guide for Parents and Teachers- 2004 Third Edition, Sue Schwartz, Ph.D.This easy-to-use book presents more than sixty new toys and accompanying toy dialogs-short conversations that help teach language skills to children from birth to age six. The dialogs show parents how to play purposefully with their child - using store-bought and homemade toys - to provide language-learning opportunities. Play activities are organized by language developmental age. Sections include:
332pp. $18.95 plus $4.50 S&H. Woodbine House, 6510 Bells Mill Rd., Bethesda, MD 20817; (800) 843-7323; www.woodbinehouse.com Working Relationships: Creating Career Opportunities for Job Seekers with Disabilities through Employer Partnerships- Second edition, 2004, Richard G. Luecking, Ellen S. Fabian, George P. TilsonA must-have for all employment service providers. Provides both theoretical and practical information for professionals to assist people with disabilities identify their career goals, capitalize on their strengths, develop new essential skills, and connect with employers in a way that everyone benefits. This second edition also encourages strategies to effect change in the way employment professionals and agencies do business with employers and link them to job seekers. Filled with helpful case studies and examples, this valuable resource will help employment specialists develop strong, respectful partnerships with businesses - partnerships that will lead to rewarding careers for people with disabilities. 275pp. $34.00 plus $5 S&H. Brookes Publishing, PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624; (800) 638-3775; www.brookespublishing.com Visit-ability: an approach to Universal Design in housing- 2002 Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access, School of Architecture and Planning, University at Buffalo, the State University of New YorkVisit-ability is an affordable, sustainable and inclusive design approach for integrating basic accessibility features into all newly built homes and housing. To be considered Visit-able, homes need:
This booklet provides a basic understanding of the concept of Visit-ability, including good practice examples and cost estimates for Visit-able features. It describes advocacy strategies for developing Visit-ability projects in local communities and includes a list of resources. 48pp. A limited number of copies are available free from AXIS. Or, download from the web site of the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Universal Design at Buffalo: www.ap.buffalo.edu/rercud; (716) 829-3485 x329; (877) 829-3758 tty Justice Alternatives
- Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services
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