Patti's Blog - Advocate for Elders, People with Disabilities and Their Families

Detroit celebrates Disability Pride Month

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How to Find a Good, Well-Staffed Nursing Home - The New York Times

Here are the telltale signs to look for in nursing homes to avoid, and resources that can point to better places.

Few people want to go into a nursing home, but doing so can be the right choice if you or a loved one is physically or cognitively disabled or recovering from surgery. Unfortunately, homes vary greatly in quality, and many don’t have enough nurses and aides to give residents the care they need.

Start with Medicare’s online comparison tool, which you can search by city, state, ZIP code or home name. Ask for advice from people designated by your state to help older and disabled people searching for a nursing home. Every state has a “no wrong door” contact for such inquiries.

via www.nytimes.com

Disability advocates fight for their right to join the workforce

Alexis Smith has decided that being diagnosed with cerebral palsy will not get in the way of her goal to become a journalist.

Still, Smith acknowledges there are obstacles, but she's working so that she -- and others -- will not face potential discrimination from hiring managers.

"I'm directly impacted by inaccessibility, so I would like to help in being a part of the change," says Smith, a 29-year-old disability advocate working in Chicago.

via uk.news.yahoo.com

DOJ says Missouri violated ADA by unnecessarily institutionalizing adults with mental health disabilities – Newstalk KZRG

The Justice Department announced its findings that the State of Missouri violated Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by unnecessarily institutionalizing adults with mental health disabilities in nursing facilities. The investigation also examined the role of guardianships in such institutionalization.

The Justice Department determined that there is reasonable cause to believe Missouri violates the ADA by failing to provide the community-based services adults with mental health disabilities need in order to remain in their communities. It also found that the state is improperly relying on guardianship and that this leads to people entering nursing facilities even though community-based services are appropriate for their needs.

“People with mental health disabilities should not have to be confined to a nursing facility because they cannot access the community-based services they need,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division will safeguard the rights of people with disabilities to participate fully in their communities. The state’s reliance on guardianships that serve as a pipeline to nursing facilities, rather than engaging people in community-based mental health services, has led to violations of the ADA.”

via newstalkkzrg.com

Microsoft Settles Allegations Of Disability Leave Discrimination - Disability Scoop

Microsoft will pay a $14.4-million settlement after California’s Civil Rights Department accused the company of retaliation and discrimination against workers who take parental or disability leave, or leave to take care of a family member.

Workers at Microsoft in California experience disadvantages in pay and promotion opportunities when they take these types of protected leave, a multiyear investigation by the Civil Rights Department found.

Employees who took protected leave would receive lower bonuses and unfavorable performance reviews, the department said in its complaint, filed July 1 in Santa Clara County. When Microsoft managers awarded annual bonuses, stock awards, or merit increases they did not consider time on protected leave as time where employees were actively working — although other forms of leave were not discounted, according to the complaint.

via www.disabilityscoop.com

Medicaid For Millions In America Hinges On Systems Plagued By Errors - Disability Scoop

Deloitte, a global consultancy that reported revenue last year of $65 billion, pulls in billions of dollars from states and the federal government for supplying technology it says will modernize Medicaid.

The company promotes itself as the industry leader in building sophisticated and efficient systems for states that, among other things, screen who is eligible for Medicaid. However, a KFF Health News investigation of eligibility systems found widespread problems.

The systems have generated incorrect notices to Medicaid beneficiaries, sent their paperwork to the wrong addresses, and been frozen for hours at a time, according to findings in state audits, allegations and declarations in court documents, and interviews. It can take months to fix problems, according to court documents from a lawsuit in federal court in Tennessee, company documents, and state agencies. Meanwhile, America’s poorest residents pay the price.

via www.disabilityscoop.com

Study Warns Against Too Much Autism Intervention - Disability Scoop

When it comes to autism intervention, new research suggests that more may not always be better.

It’s often recommended that children diagnosed with autism receive 20 to 40 hours per week of intensive interventions, which can include behavioral or developmental approaches.

However, a new analysis factoring data from 144 previous studies involving over 9,000 kids finds that the current advice may be misguided.

via www.disabilityscoop.com

Supreme Court Ruling May Upend Disability Rights Protections, Advocates Fear - Disability Scoop

Countless federal regulations ensuring the rights of people with disabilities to everything from health care to community living could face legal challenges after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a 40-year-old precedent.

In a ruling issued late last month, the high court said that courts should no longer defer to the interpretation of federal agencies in situations where laws are ambiguous.

The decision in the case Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo throws out the court’s 1984 ruling in Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, which has shaped how federal agencies have gone about their work for decades. Under that approach, the government has relied on its experts at each agency to fill in the details clarifying how various laws should be applied in practice.

via www.disabilityscoop.com

ARC Director Peggy Fakler steps down after 30 years

HOLLAND — As June drew to a close, Advocacy and Resource Center of Ottawa County Executive Director Peggy Fakler sat behind her desk, surrounded by stacks of paper and checklists.

They represented the end of a three-decade career with ARC. At first, Fakler spent four to six hours a week mentoring parents. Eight years ago, she took the helm.

ARC of Ottawa County was established in 1968 to ensure locals with intellectual and developmental disabilities are valued and able to participate in and contribute to the community.

via www.hollandsentinel.com

Why We’re Speaking Up for Parents of Children with Intellectual DisabilitiesB02307A8-FFCB-477F-888E-4C58EAD89C2E9400A84E-FF86-46B0-88D5-EC202DB3E17B

On the surface, we may look like we walk very different paths. Tony Snell is a professional basketball player and nine-year NBA veteran. Tim Shriver is Chairman of the Special Olympics Board of Directors. Today, we're joining our voices as fathers, speaking out in defense of parents of young children with autism.

Rearing a child is one of the most demanding jobs there is. But for millions of parents of children with autism and other developmental disabilities, finding the right care at the right time can mean years of struggle, especially if you're poor or a person of color. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you have, the struggle is universal—and we want to change that.

For Tony, 32, his journey with autism started with his two sons, Karter, 3, and Kenzo, 2. The autism diagnoses they received last year led to a surprising diagnosis of his own, one that was somehow reassuring.

via www.mariashriversundaypaper.com