| April, 2003 |
|
In the News
U.S. and Canada Adopt New Braille Terminology
The Braille Authority of North America (BANA) announces a change in terminology to what has been traditionally known as "grade 1" and "grade 2" Braille.
These categories will now be referred to as "uncontracted" and "contracted" Braille respectively.
The change is being made at the request of many in the blindness field.
People often confuse grades of Braille with first and second grades in elementary school.
BANA believes that the change to more accurately descriptive language will increase awareness and improve the overall understanding of how Braille is learned, read, written and transcribed.
BANA urges all organizations, agencies, teacher training programs, Braille production facilities, software developers, professionals in the field of blindness and braille readers to incorporate this terminology into writing, publications, presentations and general practice.
The ultimate goal is to enhance understanding and more accurately reflect what Braille truly is-a versatile and effective reading and writing system for people of all ages who are blind and visually impaired.
President Bush proposes new transition program
PRESIDENT WILL PROPOSE $1.75 BILLION PROGRAM TO HELP TRANSITION AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES FROM INSTITUTIONS TO COMMUNITY LIVING
In his budget next month, President Bush will propose a new $1.75 billion,
five-year program to help Americans with disabilities transition from
nursing homes or other institutions to living in the community.
The proposal is one of several new efforts to be included in the FY 2004
budget for the President's New Freedom Initiative, a nationwide effort to
integrate people with disabilities more fully into society. Altogether, the
President's New Freedom budget proposals will represent $2.1 billion in
planned new spending over five years, with $417 million in new spending
proposed for FY 2004.
The proposals build on recommendations made to the President last year in
"Delivering on the Promise," a comprehensive survey of federal policies and
rules that may impede community living for those with disabilities.
"The New Freedom Initiative was one of the earliest actions announced by the
President in his first days in office," said HHS Secretary Tommy G.
Thompson. "The President and I are committed to changing policies that
unnecessarily confine people with disabilities in institutional settings. We
want to work with the states and the disability community to change old
programs and develop new ones that will serve people with disabilities in
the settings that work best for them."
Proposals in the FY 2004 budget will include:
"Money Follows the Individual" Rebalancing Demonstration --
$1.75 billion over five years, with $350 million proposed for FY 2004. This
five-year demonstration would assist states in developing and implementing a
strategy to "re-balance" their long term care systems so that there are more
cost-effective choices between institutional and community options,
including financing Medicaid services for individuals who transition from
institutions to the community. Federal grant funds would pay the full cost
of home and community-based waiver services for one year, after which the
participating states would agree to continue care at the regular Medicaid
matching rate. This significant demonstration would build upon existing
state success stories in Texas, Wisconsin, Michigan and Washington. It also
provides incentives to states for increased use of home and community-based
services and would help provide information on costs of different
approaches.
New Freedom Initiative Demonstrations -
$220 million over five years, with $11 million proposed for FY 2004. This initiative would fund four demonstrations that promote home and community-based care alternatives. Two of the demonstrations provide respite care services for caregivers of adults with disabilities or long-term illness and children with substantial disabilities. Another demonstration provides community-based care
alternatives for children who are currently residing in psychiatric residential treatment facilities. The President proposed these demonstrations for FY 2003, but it is not expected that Congress will include this in its final FY 2003 appropriations.
Spousal Exemption --
$95 million over five years, with $16 million proposed for FY 2004. This proposal would continue Medicaid eligibility for spouses of disabled individuals who return to work. Under current law, individuals with disabilities might be discouraged from returning to work because the income they earn could jeopardize their spouse's Medicaid eligibility. This proposal would extend to the spouse the same Medicaid coverage protection now offered to the disabled worker.
The budget will also propose to establish a new state option enabling
Medicaid presumptive eligibility for institutionally qualified individuals
who are discharged from hospitals into the community. This would make it
more feasible to discharge a person who has been hospitalized to the
community, rather than to an alternative institutional setting, or to ensure
that the institutional placement is of short duration.
Expanding on an existing effort, the FY 2004 budget will also include $40
million for "Systems Change Grants" to support states in their planning to
create new systems to support people with disabilities in the community
instead of in institutions.
In addition to the "Systems Change Grants," HHS has worked with 40 states
and the District of Columbia to design and implement Ticket-to-Work
provisions. And last year HHS offered an "Independence Plus" waiver
template to help states develop consumer directed services.
Last year, the President named his New Freedom Commission on Mental Health,
and charged it with conducting a comprehensive study of the United States
mental health service delivery system, including both private and public
sector providers, and advising him on methods of improving the system.
Secretary Thompson also created a new Office on Disability within HHS in
2002 to coordinate activities across the Department and serve as a focused
contact point for disability issues.
"Improving our programs for people with disabilities, including the need to
tackle the institutional bias in some programs, is a daunting task,"
Secretary Thompson said. "It will require sustained effort over many years.
We've made a start with the most comprehensive survey ever taken of problems
and opportunities in federal programs, as well as new structures to support
our efforts. The President's budget proposals will take us to the next
level, with substantial demonstration activities and more help for Americans
with disabilities to enter and stay in the workforce."
NOD's Emergency Preparedness Initiative
The full text version of this document is available at:
http://www.nod.org/
The National Organization on Disability (N.O.D.) launched its Emergency
Preparedness Initiative in the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks.
N.O.D. recognized that people with disabilities have a great stake in the
effectiveness of public programs aimed at preparing for and responding to all
types of disasters.
The Emergency Preparedness Initiative has two main objectives. The first is to
make sure that the special needs of people with disabilities are adequately
addressed prior to an emergency in order to minimize the adverse impact on them and their communities. This enables emergency responders to make informed decisions for the best use of available resources during emergencies. The second is to ensure that people with disabilities are included in the emergency planning process at all levels of government and the private sector so they can offer their insights, knowledge, and resourcefulness. People with disabilities can contribute greatly to the effectiveness of local emergency management planning.
Accessible Technology For Students In Maryland
http://www.msde.state.md.us/technology/comar13a.htm
As schools work to integrate technology into the classroom, acquiring accessible technology for all students is a growing concern for educators.
Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) and the Maryland state legislature recently passed Code of Maryland's Regulation (COMAR) 13A.05.02.13H and Senate Bill 226. These regulations require that all schools (pK-12) consider accessibility when purchasing technology-based instructional products used by students.
The Mid-Atlantic Regional Technology in Education Consortium (MAR*TEC) in conjunction with the Maryland State Department of Education developed a checklist to help educators consider the accessibility of instructional software. The checklist is associated with a database of instructional software. Educators can use the online database to evaluate a specific piece of instructional software or to consider other practitioner's accessibility reviews. The checklist and accompanying online tutorial include a hypertext glossary of terms specific to Section 508 and technology related terms.
HHS Awards 2.5 Million to allow the disabled to work
HHS AWARDS $2.5 MILLION TO FIVE STATES
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced $2.5 million in grants to five states to help people with disabilities in those states to become and stay competitively employed. Each of the states -- Indiana, Maryland,
Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina -- will receive $500,000 to support efforts to increase services and supports to workers, as well as help others return to work without the fear of losing health coverage.
Including today's grants, HHS has awarded more than $59 million to 40 states and the District of Columbia to expand their health coverage for disabled workers through the Medicaid program. The grants support the goals of the President Bush's New Freedom Initiative, which is working to eliminate the many barriers that unnecessarily hinder Americans with disabilities as they seek to participate fully in the life of their communities.
"Already through this initiative, nearly 30,000 disabled workers have returned to work without losing their health coverage, and the number of states offering expanded health care to these workers continues to grow," Secretary Thompson said. "We must continue to work together to create these kinds of opportunities for people with disabilities so we can fulfill President Bush's promise to make life better for millions of Americans with disabilities who work."
The grants advance the goals of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives
Improvement Act of 1999 (TWWIIA), a law passed by Congress to encourage people with disabilities to work without fear of losing their Medicare, Medicaid or similar health benefits.
The grants will help states build the systems they need to allow individuals with a disability to purchase health coverage through Medicaid at affordable rates. People with a disabling condition often cite the fear of losing health coverage as one of the major barriers to a possible return to work.
"Initiatives by the federal government and states that provide opportunities for disabled individuals to become more productive and successful in their lives makes sense for the person and the economy," said Thomas Scully, administrator of HHS' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). "We encourage the business community to take advantage of this pool of workers who are willing and able to be productive members of the workplace."
The grants can be used to support systems that provide personal assistance and supports. Such assistance can include help with bathing, dressing and other activities at home or on the job. States can also use the funds to reach out to people with a disability, train staff in new employment possibilities and improve transportation or other support programs that allow people with a disability to become productive members of the American workforce.
HHS plays a key role in carrying out the President's New Freedom Initiative and leads inter-agency efforts to increase opportunities for community living. Earlier this month, President Bush appointed Secretary Thompson and other Cabinet members to serve on an interagency work group to identify ways to help individuals with disabilities obtain assistive technology mobility devices needed for employment.
In addition, President Bush has proposed a new $1.75 billion, five-year program to help Americans with disabilities transition from nursing homes or other institutions to living in the community. The proposal is one of several new efforts in the fiscal year 2004 budget for the President's New Freedom Initiative. Altogether, the President's New Freedom Initiative budget proposals will represent $2.1 billion in planned new spending over five years, with $417 million in new spending proposed for fiscal year 2004.