There are some celebrations and recognitions going on about the closing of Willowbrook. On September 17, 1987, it was officially closed. That was 25 years ago; however the story started 40 years ago with the expose by Geraldo Rivera. It took 15 years to stop what never should have happened. While this is something to [...]
Dear Colleagues, The Office for People with Developmental Disabilities and the National Alliance of Direct Support Professionals are partnering on a new initiative designed to help us support the development of our direct support professionals. We are planning six regional DSP Dialogues to present the national Code of Ethics for DSPs and these workshops will [...]
Now, this is a cool site. http://bridgingapps.org/ Bridging Apps: Our mission is to bridge the gap between technology and people with disabilities. This is the introduction to their website: We believe that it is more important to focus on the person who will be using the technology, rather than the device itself. We assume that [...]
13th Anniversary of the Olmstead Decision On June 22, 1999, the Supreme Court ruled in Olmstead v. L.C. that the unjustified institutional isolation of people with disabilities is a form of unlawful discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The court’s decision recognized that the civil rights of people with disabilities under the Americans [...]
On May 11, 2012 CMS issued a letter regarding the Publication of Final Rule “Medicare and Medicaid Program; Regulatory Provisions to Promote Program Efficiency, Transparency, and Burden Reduction CMS-9070-F”. These rules will take effect on July 16, 2012 and have a direct impact for ICF/IID (formerly ICF/MR) providers. Name Change: Based on Rosa’s Law (2010), [...]
STATE LEGISLATURE PASSES PROTECTION OF PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS ACT The State Assembly and State Senate passed landmark legislation on Wednesday to protect people with special needs and disabilities throughout the State of New York. The legislation, "The Protection of People with Special Needs" is the Governor's Program bill to implement major reforms throughout [...]
The Justice Center has received a lot of attention. In order for you to understand the details of this act I have provided a link to this legislation at the bottom of this message. This legislation provides for the creation of the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs; a statewide toll [...]
New York State Parks An Access Pass permits residents of New York State with permanent disabilities, as defined in the application, free use of the parks, historic sites, and recreational facilities operated by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation [...]
I have long been an advocate for not using restraints or seclusion. I was taught very early on that putting your hands on someone without their expressed approval or understanding was tantamount to abuse. I am providing a link to a new resource document by the US Department of Education. Here is an excerpt from [...]
Lives Worth Living PBS Documentary "Lives Worth Living" is the first televised history of the early fight for disability rights and explores how the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) came to life as one of this nation's greatest civil rights bills. The film is an essential teaching tool for organizations working not only with [...]