advocacy

JULY 26, 2008. Write it down. Not only is it the date of the 18th anniversary of the signing of our civil rights law, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it's also the date set for a historic, nonpartisan, cross-disability forum on national disability policy, featuring the 2008 presidential candidates (invited) in Columbus, Ohio. With over 60 national, state and local disability-related organizations and moderated by news anchor and journalist Judy Woodruff ("The News Hour with Jim Lehrer," PBS), this event promises to be THE disability event of this election cycle.

Take Action - Call, Write, Fax, and Attend Rallies

Help us to create some friendly pressure on the McCain and Obama campaigns by calling, writing and/or faxing the campaign offices to participate in person at the National Forum on Disability Issures on July 26, 2008 in Columbus, Ohio. Tell McCain and Obama "See you in Columbus, Ohio."

Senator John McCain
National Headquarters:
John McCain 2008
P.O. Box 16118
Arlington, VA 22215
(703) 418-2008
(703) 752-2515
(703) 414-0740 FAX

Senator Barack Obama
National Headquarters:
Obama for American
P.O. Box 8102
Chicago, IL 60680
(866) 675-2008
(312) 819-2089 FAX

Information curtesy of CCDI. Visit CCDI's web site, ccdionline.org

House Bill sponsors: Rep. Jim Watson; William B. Black; Jil Tracy.

HB 5493 recognizes American Sign Language (ASL) as the language of the deaf community and to authroize and encourage public and independent schools, including college and universities, to offer ASL as a course of study and to accept ASL credits as foreign-language credits.

Hearing: Higher Education Committee Hearing - March 5, 2008 at 4:00 PM in the Stratton Building Room C-1 Springfield, IL

for more information on HB 5493 to to: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=5493&GAID=9&GA=95&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=36084&SessionID=51

Support HR 5613 Protecting Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued several regulations which will significantly cut payments to Medicaid providers and services to beneficiaries.The regulations are an attempt to implement the Medicaid cuts proposed in the Bush Administration's Fiscal Year 2008 Budget.Three regulations, in particular, will severely cut services to people with disabilities. One would narrow the scope of rehabilitation services. The second would prohibit all Medicaid payments for school-based administration and most transportation services.And finally, the third would limit transition from institutional care to the community.None of these cuts are acceptable, nor appropriate.The state of Illinois stands to lose more than $1 billion in estimated Medicaid cuts over five years.

How much will the Medicaid regulations cost Illinois? See: oversight.house.gov/features/medicaid08/

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-MI) and Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA) introduced the Protecting Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 (H.R. 5613) on March 13. The bill would provide a 1 year moratorium (a legally authorized postponement that allows Congress time to review the regulations closely and propose needed revisions through legislation) on the regulations, prohibiting CMS from taking action to implement them until April of 2009. A Senate companion bill is expected to be introduced soon.

Take Action

Call your US Representative and ask them to cosponsor HR 5613 – Protecting Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008.If you do not know the name of your US Representative, you can find this information by visiting: www.elections.state.il.us/DistrictLocator/SelectSearchType.aspx. Passage of HR 5613 will depend greatly on how many people your US Representative hears from.

A committee of individuals with disabilities, employers, and disability advocacy organizations have joined together to help people with disabilities find and keep a job. Staff from several Illinois state agencies are assisting the committee in their work.

We need your help to identify the challenges, opportunties, strengths, and needs that you face when you are looking for a job, or trying to keep the job you have. Let us hear from you in an online survey? Click on the link below.

If you are a person with a disability, go to: www.surveymonkey.com/migconsumer

If you are a parent of a transitioning student, go to: www.surveymonkey.com/migparent

If you are a service provider, go to: www.surveymonkey.com/migprovider

We plan to develop a strategic plan to reduce employment barriers for Illinois residents with disaiblities based on your feedback from the survey.

To obtain a written copy of the survey or alternate format of the survey, or to learn more about the Medicaid Infrastructure Grant and the strategic planning process, please call 1-217-524-7170 or e-mail at Sandra.Mott@illinois.gov

Illinois wants to know your opinion. Here's your chance to be heard!

This survey is federally funded through the Medicaid Infrastructure Grant. The Departments of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Human Services, and Healthcare and Family Services are working together to implement this grant.

On January 29th, Illinois Governor Rod R. Blagojevich and Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs Director Tammy Duckworth launched the Illinois Warrior Assistance Program – a first in the nation program that will screen returning Illinois National Guard members for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) while offering TBI screening to all Illinois veterans, and a 24-hour toll-free psychological helpline for veterans suffering from symptoms associated with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The Illinois Warrior Assistance Program confidential helpline, 1-866-554-IWAP (4927), will be available and staffed around the clock by health professionals to assist veterans, day or night, with the symptoms associated with PTSD and to screen for a possible TBI. For more information, visit www.illinoiswarrior.com .

House Bill Sponsors: Rep. Rosemary Mulligan; Maria Antonia Berrios; Elizabeth Coulson.

Last Action: Date Chamber Action 02/15/08 House Referred to Rules Committee.

HG 5598 creates an income tax deduction for any amount exceeding $2,000 for the purchase of a hearing aid for use ither by the tax payer or a dependent.

For more information: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=5598&GAID=9&GA=95&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=36987&SessionID=51

IMPROVING TRANSITION OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Sponsor: Representative Rosemary Mulligan

House Bill 4822 will improve transition outcomes for high school students with disabilities by:

MAKE BULLYING AND HARASSMENT IN A CLASSROOM OR DURING CLASS ACTIVITY A POTENTIAL HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION

Cheif Sponsors: Senator John Cullerton; Representative John Fritchey

For more information: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=2256&GAID=9&GA=95&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=31108&SessionID=51

COMPREHENSIVE PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND SENIOR CITIZENS

Sponsors: Representative Jack Franks; Senator Debbie Halvorson

HEALTH BENEFITS FOR WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES RETAIN ELIGIBILITY IF DISABILITY IS "MEDICALLY IMPROVED"

Sponsors: Representative Elaine Nekritz; Senator William Delgado

For more information: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=5251&GAID=9&GA=95&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=36500&SessionID=51

Education, Health Care, and Human Services are closely linked as part of our human care system in Illinois. Children who are attempting to deal with poverty, hunger, domestic violence, sexual assault, abuse and neglect, addiction, disabilities, mental illness, crime, violence and other issues need community-based supports and services in order to stay in school and achieve successful educational outcomes that lead to a bright future.

FORMULA FUNDING

For years INCIL has been trying to get the State to implement a formula for providing funding to Centers for Independent Living so they can support their operations and expand their services to reach all who need them.

This year the budget introduced by the Governor includes an amount of $2 million that would be divided among all 23 centers to begin implementing the formula.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT THIS AMOUNT NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE BUDGET DURING THE COMING NEGOTIATIONS.

When you meet with your legislators, please ask them to urge their leaders to be sure this funding remains in the final budget.

For more information go to: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=1655&GAID=9&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=30468&SessionID=51&GA=95&SpecSess=0

Go to The Campaign for Better Health Care

click here to read more

Go to The Illinois Olmstead Implementation Act

click here to read more

Thomas, at the nursing home after his accident.

By Shirley Black, Reintegration Coordinator

Thomas Mabie’s life changed on March 29th, 2006 when he was involved in a motor vehicle accident. He was admitted to the hospital with a C- 7 facet fracture and multiple closed head injuries. Tommy (as he prefers to be called) was in a coma through much of his stay at the hospital. He was put on a ventilator and given a feeding tube. The hospital was able to take Tommy off of the ventilator, but left the feeding tube for medication and nourishment because he was losing too much weight.

On June 5th, 2006 Tommy was transferred to Capital Health Care Center. After Tommy had been at the nursing home for 2 months, Shirley Black, SCIL’s Reintegration Coordinator was invited to visit him. Tommy’s family was present for the first meeting. Shirley remembers that first day she met with Tommy: “It seemed he was in a constant state of panic. His room was filled with his entire family.” Tommy Junior, who is in his early 20’s, had to become his father’s legal guardian. Tommy Jr. was eager to learn how to help get his father back home. Shirley explained the reintegration program to Tommy (Sr.), Tommy Jr.., and other family members. A plan was developed to move Tommy out of the nursing home in September.

Tommy faced many physical problems; he was able to walk with a walker if supported by another person, although use of a wheelchair was frequently necessary. He was confused, upset, and in a constant state of agitation. Tommy would not leave his room at the nursing home to eat because he was afraid that his room would be taken away from him. When his family took him home for the afternoon, he would insist that someone call the nursing home to make sure he still had his room. The nursing home staff would have to pretend to lock his door to get him to go to the shower room. When Shirley tried to talk to Tommy in the nursing home he would only say “Yes”, “I don’t know”, or “Thank you.” A tent was placed around the bed because Tommy would get confused, try to climb out of bed and fall onto the floor.

After careful planning by SCIL’s Reintegration staff, and with the support of his family, Tommy moved out of the nursing home and into his brother’s home on September 15, 2006. Tommy had a wonderful Personal Assistant (PA) Frances who assisted him with his daily care needs. Frances transported Tommy to all of his therapy appointments and worked with him daily to develop physical strength and increase his memory and communication skills. Tommy told Shirley that when his feeding tube was first removed it really scared him. He said for months he would hold a wash cloth over the closed hole while in the shower and was afraid to get in the swimming pool. Tommy thought if he got in the pool the water would rush into his stomach and cause him to sink to the bottom of the pool and drown. He worked every day to build physical, emotional and communication skills. Frances assisted him to use the walker to walk around the block over and over until he could do it without assistance. Tommy then moved up to walking around the block with Frances while using his cane. Eventually Tommy could walk independently. Tommy and Frances worked on other physical skills like swimming and riding a bike. Eventually Tommy could swim laps, ride a bike and cook breakfast.

After Tommy moved out of the nursing home, his friends and family had a fundraising event at one of the clubs at Lake Springfield. The woman who was tending bar that night knew Tommy from high school. Tommy said he summoned all of his courage and asked her for her phone number, and to his surprise she gave it to him. As of September 30, 2007 Tommy is in a long term relationship, has passed his drivers test, and is talking about going back to work in the very near future. Because Tommy has worked so hard and made such amazing progress his personal assistant, Frances, completed her last day of work as his PA on December 1.

Tommy visited SCIL in December. He drove up in his very own vintage car. SCIL staff couldn’t resist taking a picture! (included on this page) Tommy was full of smiles as he beamed at the camera. He told Shirley and Christina Bormida, Reintegration Assistant, that he had made contact with a potential employer and might have a job within the next 3 months. He laughed with Shirley and Christina as he entered the building and seemed to be a person who has much to look forward to.

Now, you don't have to choose between your work and your health care coverage. Click on http://www.hbsdillinois for more information.

For those who are using "rabbit ears" or a rooftop antenna for TV reception will need a converter to have the TV and captioning system to work. For those who are concerned about upgrading their current system, the government will be providing coupons for these converters between January 1st, 2008 to around March 2009.

for more information about these converters and transition please visit the following web site: Digital Television Transition and Public Safety, http://www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon/faq.html

This information came to us via Dean DeRusso, Deaf Systems Advocate, Regional Center for Independent Living, Rochester, NY.

101 Accessible Vacations

101 Accessible vacations is published by Demos Publishing and is the first book of its kind. It is a must have resource for wheelchair- or scooter-users, slow walkers, and travel agents. It's a guide to barrier-free travel.

101 Accessible Vacations is available at bookstores, through the publisher (800-532-8663) or on-line at www.101AccessibleVacations.com. Visit the web site to read a sample chapter, and see the table of contents for more information.

Information via email from author, Candy Harrington.

A wonderfully comical commercial featuring actors using sign language.

Check out Pepsi's commercial at

http://blog.deafread.com/abcohende/2008/01/24/bobs-house-two-thumbs-up/

Audism is the term that discribes anyone hearing or non-hearing that is prejudice against the hearing impaired or deaf. A person who is prejudice is called an audist. For more on this term you can go to

http://library.gallaudet.edu/deaf-faq-audism.shtml.