In 2020, North Dakota reached a federal regulation concerning institutionalized care for people with disabilities.
As they craft a new vision, state officials are publicizing programs that provide residents with disabilities with more pathways to community care. The Department of Human Services (DHS) highlights initiatives designed to help people with disabilities make a smoother transition from an institution to a community setting.
Jake Reuter, program administrator for DHS, acknowledged that the state still has a long way to go to improve access, but he noted that the demand for the programs is a good sign that they are reaching people who they must achieve.
“We have many, many referrals for services to help prevent institutional care in the first place,” Reuters reported.
The department hosted a webinar this week to discuss programs like “money follows the person“, which helps eligible Medicaid enrollees transition to community care. Since 2007, the federally funded option has helped more than 400 disabled North Dakotans. The recent settlement follows allegations that the state had too much about placing people in nursing care facilities.
To achieve future goals, Reuters said issues such as a better educated workforce and affordable housing must be addressed. He noted that having the flexibility to provide care in an integrated community setting gives those affected more choices in daily life.
“They eat their meals when they want, how they want,” Reuters said. “They can go out into the community, they hang out with whoever they want.”
Department heads added that as part of their response to past issues, they have tried to improve communications with key partners, such as hospitals and nursing homes.
The legislator has set aside more funding in this field, including the use of US rescue plan aid.
In rankings compiled by Case for Inclusion, North Dakota landed 46th in the nation for policies such as promoting independence for people with disabilities.
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Navigating education can be difficult for parents of children with disabilities. An organization in Montana is dedicated to helping families through this process.
The Montana Empowerment Center is the clearinghouse for state parent training – programs funded by the U.S. Department of Education that are found in every state and offer free support.
Executive Director Rebecca Richards said parents’ struggle to educate children with disabilities began in the mid-20th century.
“When the first law was passed to educate students with disabilities in the public school system in 1975,” Richards said, “they wrote to have parent training information centers in that law so parents would have external advocacy to understand the nuances of their right to education.”
Richards said today there are more than 100 centers across the country funded to help families.
The Montana Empowerment Center was founded in 2018. Their educational services help families of children with disabilities from birth to 26 years old.
Richards’ organization works with families on a number of issues, including early intervention and K-12 services and the Individualized Education Program, which is a plan put in place between parents. and Educators which describes special education services.
She said it also includes a young adult’s transition from school, noting that this process may be different than other children turning 18.
“We’re starting to talk about life skills,” Richards said, “what does that look like? And so we really want to get the big picture for those students and help families through that process and help students themselves in this process, wherever they are, depending on their disability.”
Richards said the rural nature of Montana can present challenges because fewer services are generally available than in larger urban communities.
She said her organization is staffed, managed and led by parents and relatives of a person with a disability.
“Whether it’s a child, grandchild, or family member with a disability,” Richards said, “we all come to this with very personal connections to the world of disability. “
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He is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Monthand the groups highlight housing and voting as two main areas of concern.
To mark International Women’s Daythe National Association of Counseling on Developmental Disabilities hosted a virtual event on Tuesday.
Tameka Citchen-Spruce, a disability justice advocate and former Ms. Wheelchair Michigan 2006 who spoke at the event, said making sure every polling place has a machine is crucial. to vote for people who cannot fill out a paper ballot. And while the affordable housing crisis is affecting many people in Michigan, she said there are additional factors if you live with a disability.
“As everyone knows, finding accessible and affordable housing is a huge challenge, especially when you have a physical disability; use a wheelchair, like me,” Citchen-Spruce explained.
Nationally, approximately 57 million Americans live with some form of disability and approximately 180,000 Michiganders have developmental disabilities.
Citchen-Spruce is a filmmaker as well as an activist, and she said disability rights advocacy and storytelling go hand in hand.
“I think it’s so important, because we need to be represented in the media,” Citchen-Spruce said. “People need a reflection of themselves and their stories matter. And that’s why, alongside my advocacy for disability rights, I think it’s so important to create representation and tell stories. stories.”
Governor Gretchen Whitmer has proclaimed march to be Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in Michigan. She said the state’s Department of Health and Human Services encourages residents to recognize Michigan’s progress, but also to recognize that the work is not yet done to ensure the full inclusion of people with disabilities.
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Experts say Missouri ranks at the bottom of the states when it comes to steps it has taken to improve voting accessibility.
Denise Lieberman, director and general counsel of the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition, which has a disability rights committee, said people with disabilities face barriers at all stages of the voting process, from registration to vote at the ballot and at the counting of their ballots.
She pointed out that for many people with disabilities, voting independently is really important and that there should be accessible options both in person and by mail.
“We must respect the right of all voters to vote by secret ballot,” Lieberman said. “And one of the ways to do that is to use voting machines that are accessible to people with various disabilities.”
Lieberman noted a Bill before the Legislative Assembly ensure that at least one accessible voting machine is available at each polling station. She added that measures such as increased access to curbside voting would also make a big difference.
Chris Fagan, a self-advocate and president of People First in St. Joseph, said that in addition to more ramps at polling places and accessible ballots, it’s important to raise awareness of the rules.
“People think their vote doesn’t matter, and that’s just not true,” Fagan pointed out. “Their vote matters, and I think they should have more accessible changes to vote for.”
Joan Lipkin, founder of the DisAbility Project and artistic director of That Uppity Theater Company, one of the oldest ensembles in the United States presenting shows about disability culture, including actors with and without disabilities, said voters people with disabilities care about the same issues as everyone else. : COVID-19, economy, health, education, employment.
But she noted that there are other concerns that may not be priorities for people without disabilities, such as community living, housing, accessible transportation, Medicaid, health care, and more.
“We need to make sure people understand that their interests are served by voting,” Lipkin said. “The majority of Americans believe that everyone should have the right to vote. And an increasing number of people, especially with an aging population, will experience a disability, an increasing number of people have family members with disabilities.”
She added that if people have questions or need guidance about registering to vote or voting, they can call the Voter Protection Hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE.
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Philippine Cerebral Palsy
