What's New in December

December 2012 news, events, and updates.

• WRAL (SpED) Teacher of the Week
• Important Information regarding the Supports Intensity Scale from a provider / mother.
• Arc NC Action Alert.
• NCGA Meeting Notice: JLOC on HHS, 12/11.
• added to Google events calendar.
• From the Arc NC: Tillis Requests Special Session To Address PCS/Group Home Crisis
• Alliance Behavioral Healthcare Weekly Updates, 11/30

[ What's New Main ]

Connecticut Shooting Raises Questions About Autism

From DisabilityScoop

[ view original article here ] 

Connecticut Shooting Raises Questions About Autism

By MICHELLE DIAMENT

December 17, 2012

News that the gunman responsible for the Connecticut school shooting last week was reportedly diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome is coming with a dose of caution from autism advocates.

A law enforcement official told The Associated Press over the weekend that Adam Lanza, 20, had Asperger’s. Lanza killed 26 people at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. Friday, most of them children in the first grade.

But autism advocates say the diagnosis does not explain the mass shooting and point out that there is no link between the type of planned violence that Lanza displayed and the developmental disorder.

“There is absolutely no evidence or any reliable research that suggests a linkage between autism and planned violence,” reads a statement from The Autism Society. “To imply or suggest that some linkage exists is wrong and is harmful to more than 1.5 million law abiding, non-violent and wonderful individuals who live with autism each day.”

Those who knew Lanza described him to The New York Times as shy and socially awkward. While those traits are characteristic of autism, self-advocates caution that having the condition does not suggest whether a person will do good or bad things in life.

“While the majority of statistics prove that we are infinitely more prone to be the victims of violence than the perpetrators of violence, we are not immune from becoming people capable of making terrible, horrible choices. No one is,” said Michael John Carley, executive director of the Global and Regional Asperger Syndrome Partnership.

Nonetheless, experts at the Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law said the tragedy calls attention to the lack of mental health services currently available.

“The real problem is that community based services — including mobile crisis services, assertive community treatment, peer supports and supportive housing — are in short supply, delaying hospital discharges and resulting in mental health crises that could otherwise be prevented,” the organization said in a statement. “A stronger commitment to vital community mental health services is long overdue and must be paired with improved gun laws in order to prevent future tragedies.”

Great article from Disability Scoop (...though not a surprise to those of us who live it every day!)

[ view original article here ]

Disability Caregiving Can Be Health Hazard, Study Finds

By SHAUN HEASLEY

December 17, 2012

Parents of children with developmental disabilities are experiencing health consequences stemming from their caregiving responsibilities, a first-of-its-kind study suggests.

Researchers found that parents of those with developmental disabilities have higher blood pressure than those with typically developing children. Given the risk of cardiovascular disease facing such parents, the finding “reinforces the notion that caregiving is hazardous to one’s health,” researchers report in the study published this month in the journal Research in Developmental Disabilities.

For the study, researchers followed a group of 35 parents of children with developmental disabilities and a control group of 30 other moms and dads. All of the parents wore a blood pressure monitor for 24 hours and each responded to questions about themselves, their stress level, the types of behaviors their child displays and the extent of support they receive from others.

Overall parents of kids with developmental disabilities reported a higher level of perceived stress, more challenging behaviors and less social support. What’s more, the parents of kids with special needs had higher blood pressure on average at all points during the 24-hour period, the study indicates.

Significantly, when researchers controlled for various factors, they found that challenging behaviors and stress level were not associated with the blood pressure level recorded, but the amount of social support was.

“We found these parents, who were mostly caring for children with autism and Down’s syndrome, were more stressed and had less social support had higher blood pressure than other parents,” said Stephen Gallagher of the University of Limerick in Ireland who led the study. “More importantly it was reporting of lower social support that seemed to explain the higher blood pressure in these caring parents.”

The study is the first to directly measure and compare the blood pressure of these two groups of parents, researchers said.

Gallagher and his colleagues said the findings highlight the need for better supports for caregivers.

WRAL (SpED) Teacher of the Week

WRAL Teacher of the Week: 'I'm trying to give them hope'

Kudos and congrats to WCPSS Martin Middle School's Coach and Special Education Teacher, Mr. Stuart Vickery for being recognized as WRAL's Teacher of the Week! - and much well-deserved I might add (last year he also received an award for Teacher of the Year).

Mr. Vickery is without a doubt, an outstanding example of community spirit. I know this because he is my daughter's beloved teacher this year. --You'll recognize Isabel as she is the only girl in the class, a status which she thoroughly enjoys - and none to my surprise, WRAL caught her on camera swatting at one of the assistants during this piece. That's my girl.

My only beef with this feature is the media reframing as denoted in the headline, "I'm trying to give them hope" - a partial exert from Mr. Vickery's explanation of why he does what he does... But he says oh so much more... He says, "Their whole lives they've been taught what they can't do, and I'm all about what they can do... I'm trying to build their self esteem, trying to make them feel better, and I'm trying to give them hope too." Vickery goes on to explain that the reach goes beyond the students and the importance of a positive impact on everyone in their lives... 

Everyone needs hope in life, but these kids are hardly hopeless... These kids ARE HOPE. And that is what community is all about; that is what Stuart Vickery brings to the table - focusing on what they CAN do... and what they CAN do is LOVE. 

We can all take a lesson from these kids and teachers like Stuart Vickery.

Important Info. re: SIS

Forwarded to me by a provider / mother...

*Note attachments below.

-----------

The Supports Intensity Scale—SIS—is the new tool used to determine the level of services and supports needed for people on the Innovations Waiver. I have attached a copy of the child version and the adult form (age 16 and up).  Currently, DDTI is scheduling these interviews for about 5,000 people.  If you have not been selected yet, the SIS will be completed before the 2014 plan of care is developed.  

I have participated in one child and one adult interview. It is very different from the NC-SNAP in that the person and his/her family and staff are asked to identify what types of supports are needed in order to accomplish a variety of activities. Specifically, you will be asked to rate the frequency, time and type of support needed for your family member. A same aged, non-disabled person is the point of reference. There are 57 questions in the adult version with more than that for children. Remember that each question has the three component parts.   The first question is presented below as  a sample.

Please pay attention to this interview tool. It  is critical because the budget for your family member’s services will eventually be tied to the SIS outcomes. While you can appeal the results of the interview, it is important that you be prepared for the two to three hour session.  Print the form down and review it. The child form is longer and the document has more description of the instrument, but review it.  Make certain that you take with you the staff person (or two!) who know your child’s needs best. I completed the form in anticipation of my adult son’s interview. He was unhappy with having to talk about himself and he did not make it through even half of the interview before he left. That didn’t bother the interviewer. I also took a list of his diagnoses and medications with me as well and had examples and illustrations.

EXAMPLE:  Using the toilet. 

Compared to a same aged, non-disabled person, what is the frequency of support needed?

O = none or less than monthly

1 = at least one a month, but not once a week

2 = at least one a week, but not once a day

3 = at least once a day, but not once an hour

4 = hourly or more frequently

Compared to a same aged, non-disabled person, what is the daily support time needed?

0 = none

1 = less than 30 minutes

2 = 30 minutes to less than 2 hours

3 = 2 hours to less than 4 hours

4 = 4 hours or more

Compared to a same aged, non-disabled person, what is the type of support needed?

0 = none

1 = monitoring

2 = verbal/gestural prompting

3 = partial physical assistance

4 = full physical assistance

SIS Form Example for Adults

SIS Child Version

Arc NC Action Alert!

There are three important federal matters that require your immediate advocacy!

Don't Go Over the Fiscal Cliff!

What's the Issue? If the deficit negotiations are not complete by January 2nd, the country faces steep automatic budget cuts ("sequestration") on everything from Defense to IDEA and Head Start, Vocational Rehabilitation, Section 811 housing among others. It would hurt all Americans, including those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Click here to learn more...

What can I do? Send a letter to Senators and Representative telling them that sequestration is not an option. It's easy, just click below, enter your zip code, and our system will automatically generate a message that's ready to send. We encourage  you to personalize the pre-generated message.

Click Here to Send a Message to Your Senators and Representative!

Ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities!

What's the Issue? The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) empowers individuals with disabilities across the globe to be independent and productive citizens while treated with respect and dignity by outlining rights of citizens and responsibilities of their home countries.   Based largely on US law, the CRPD would not change our laws or cost any money.  Instead, ratifying the CRPD would give the U.S. the opportunity to provide technical assistance and guidance to over 125 countries in a meaningful way. Click here to learn more...

The Senate may take up the CRPD as early as TODAY.  Senators Burr and Hagan need to hear from you now.

What Can I do? Sen Hagan has said she supports ratifying the CRPD, but Sen. Burr's position is unknown. Send a letter to Sen. Burr urging him to vote in favor of ratification of the CRPD. It's easy, just click below, enter your zip code, and our system will automatically generate a message that's ready to send. We encourage  you to personalize the pre-generated message.

Click Here to Send a Message to Sen. Richard Burr!

Stop H.R. 2032!

 What's the Issue? H.R. 2032 is a bill that would place restrictions on the ability of state Protection and Advocacy Agencies (such as Disability Rights NC) to bring class action lawsuits on behalf of individuals with disabilities in intermediate care facilities, effictively creating a seperate type of 'justice' for people with I/DD. This bill is opposed by The Arc, Disability Rights, The American Bar Association, and many more. It's primary supporter outside of Congress is a group called Voice of the Retarded. Click here to learn more...

What  Can I do? Contact Rep. Howard Coble (R-NC), a co-sponsor of the bill, and let him know that this bill is NOT in the best interest of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It's easy, just click below, enter your zip code, and our system will automatically generate a message that's ready to send. We encourage  you to personalize the pre-generated message.

Click Here to Send a Message to Rep. Coble!

NCGA DHHS-JLOC Meeting, 12/11

NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY Raleigh, North Carolina 27601

November 30, 2012

MEMORANDUM

TO: Members, Joint Legislative Oversight Committee- Health and Human Services FROM: Senator Louis Pate Representative Nelson Dollar, Co-Chair Representative Justin Burr, Co-Chair SUBJECT: Meeting Notice DAY DATE TIME ROOM Tuesday December 11, 2012 10:00 am 3:00   pm 643

If you are unable to attend or have any questions concerning this meeting, please contact Candace Slate at (919) 715-0795, Dina Long  (919) 733-5908, or Joey Stansbury (919) 733-7659.    cc:  Committee Record  _X_        Interested Parties    _X_

Tillis Requests Special Session To Address PCS/Group Home Crisis

From The Arc of North Carolina

Tillis Requests Special Session To Address PCS/Group Home Crisis

Special Session first step to solve crisis before Holiday break   Speaker of the NC House Thom Tillis has formally requested that Governor Perdue convene a Special Session of the General Assembly in order to address the looming Personal Care Services (PCS) crisis that threatens the housing of thousands of people with disabilities living in group homes. The Arc of North Carolina is thrilled by this development and appreciates the Speaker's leadership on this issue and his continued dedication to North Carolinians with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Arc will continue to keep you updated on the PCS/Group Home Crisis as it develops. Please check www.ArcNC.org for information as it happens. The Arc's advocacy staff is evaluating it's next steps in terms of advocacy. Look for an action alert next week. The letter from the Speaker's office is below. See a copy of the original here. --- Governor Perdue, As you know, the General Assembly appropriated $39.7 million in this year's budget to provide for temporary, short-term assistance to residents who would no longer be eligible to receive Medicaid State Plan Personal Care Services under the new eligibility criteria, effective January 1, 2013. The budget provision was drafted as a short-term measure to ensure the funds went to those affected residents who would be potentially discharged from their facility, but would not immediately have a safe community placement. This budget provision was intended to prevent the Department of Health & Human Services from using funds for administrative expenses, appeals, rent deposits, or other items, as requested by the Department during budget negotiations. The Blue Ribbon Commission was summarily tasked with developing long-term solutions to ensure Medicaid beneficiaries receive the services they need. The General Assembly has been working diligently over the last several weeks and months to determine solutions that would prevent the potential unintended closure of mental health and IDD group homes at the conclusion of this calendar year. It is now incumbent upon all of us to do what is necessary to solve this problem. In order to ensure that our state's most vulnerable citizens are protected and allowed to remain in their homes, it is my opinion that legislative action by the General Assembly is needed. Therefore, I respectfully request that you convene a Special Session of the General Assembly under the authority granted to you by Article Ill, Section 5(7) of the North Carolina Constitution. The North Carolina House of Representatives stands ready to take immediate action to resolve this impending problem. If you should decide to convene a Special Session, you have my word that no additional matters will be taken up by the House of Representatives. We will act quickly and decisively to protect the residents of mental health and IDD group homes, and the session will end when that action is concluded. I look forward to your prompt reply. Thank you for your time and attention concerning this very important matter. Sincerely, Thom Tillis   cc: Senator Phil Berger

Weekly Update from Alliance BHC

Here is the link for this week's Alliance newsletter - http://www.alliancebhc.org/wp-content/uploads/November-30-2012.pdf

...and here are a few highlights to note:

1. Alliance Announces MCO Delay
Alliance has submitted a request to NC DHHS for a 30-day delay in its start date as a managed care organization responsible for the implementation of the Medicaid 1915 (b)/(c) waivers. The new start date will be February 1, 2013. To access a press release, click:  http://www.alliancebhc.org/news/alliance-announces-delay-in-managed-care-implementation

Cumberland and Johnston Timetable
Alliance will initiate management of IPRS and locally-funded services for Cumberland County on December 17. The start date for Johnston County has been shifted to January 1.

2.  NC Innovations Individual and Family Guide
The Alliance NC Innovations Individual and Family Guide 2013 is available in English and Spanish on the Alliance website. To access these and other NC Innovations information and resources, click:

http://www.alliancebhc.org/consumers-families/idd-resources/nc-innovations-1915-c-waiver

3. Innovations Plus Community Forum

Alliance Behavioral Healthcare is working with the NC Department of Health and Human Services to improve the system of services offered to people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities who have CAP-I/DD now and will transition to the NC Innovations 1915(c) waiver in early 2013. The goal of this program is to create a fairer system and to ensure that people get the right amount of supports for their needs.

Thursday, December 13, 2012, 6:00-7:30pm
Alliance Corporate Office, 4600 Emperor Boulevard Room 105, Durham

To learn more about Innovations Plus, please join us at this meeting.  Alliance and DHHS staff will make presentations along with guest speakers from the Human Services Research Institute, which is assisting us with the program. For additional information, contact your I/DD Care Coordinator or Suzanne Goerger at (919) 651-8474.

4. ...and as always, check out the newsletter for calendar dates of Alliance CFAC meetings and are listed below for your convenience, too:

Alliance CFAC Meetings
    Alliance Corporate Office 4600 Emperor Boulevard Durham
    First Monday in February, April, June, August, October and December at 5:30pm

Alliance Durham CFAC Subcommittee Meetings
TROSA 1820 James Street Durham
First Monday in January, March, May, July, September and November at 5:30pm

Alliance Wake CFAC Subcommittee Meetings
401 E. Whitaker Mill Road Raleigh
Second Tuesday in January, March, May, July, September and November at 5:30pm

Hope to see you THIS Monday at Alliance CFAC meeting at 6400 Emperor Blvd in Durham at 5:30pm!

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Ann Akland
To: arhams@yahoo.com
Sent: Saturday, November 17, 2012 1:29 PM
Subject: Group Home Emergency, WRAL TV, On the Record, 7pm Tonight


NAMI Wake County
PO Box 12562
Raleigh, NC 27605-2562
(919) 848 4490
www.nami-wake.org

November 17, 2012
We Care, We Act
Thank you for supporting our Rally and Press Conference.
About 200 people came down to the NC Legislature, overflowing the meeting room of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Transitions to Community Housing. All local press outlets covered the event. Clips and stories are on our website: Click here for details.

TONIGHT
Watch WRAL TV's "On the Record" with David Crabtree
this evening at 7pm (Sat., Nov 17)
Guests are Rep. Nelson Dollar, Co-Chair of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Trainsitions to Community Housing and Ann Akland, Past President and Advocacy Chair, NAMI Wake County. The show will also include a video response from the Governor.

What Next?
1) Contact Sen. Phil Berger, President, Pro Tempore of the NC Senate. The NC Senate needs to take a leadership role in solving the Group Home crisis. Calls are most effective, followed by personal letters to his home address, followed by emails.Telephone: 336 623 5210, Home Address: Sen. Phil Berger, President, Pro Tempore of the NC Senate. P.O. Box 1309, Eden, NC 27289-1309, email: Phil.Berger@ncleg.net Message: Quickly do whatever is necessary to provide emergency funding to keep group homes open until the General Assembly can meet next session and approve a long term solution.This means providing sufficient bridge funding for the first 6 months of next year (Jan.-June). Work with the Governor and House Leadership.

1) Contact Governor Perdue and ask her to call the General Assembly back to Raleigh for an emergency session to appropriate replacement funding for the revenue that Group Homes will lose as a result of the personal care services (PCS) changes made in the last session of the Legislature. Let her know how this is likely to affect you or your family member if this funding is not restored Contact information for the Governor: 116 West Jones Street, Raleigh, North Carolina 27603, Phone: (800) 662-7952 or (919) 733-2391, email: governor.office@nc.gov .

You can make a real difference by joining our grassroots advocacy efforts. Go to our website: http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=26945662&msgid=286609&act=6T7L&c=442285&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nami-wake.org%2FAdvocacy.html and learn more about this issue. You will find videos with more information issues as well as specific things you can do to help.

Please...we cannot do this alone. Everyone with severe mental illness deserves a decent and safe place to live. The state is offering no replacment housing or services for group home residents. They will be in shelters or on the streets...in hospital Emergency Rooms...in jails...or dead.

Don't let that happen. We need to work together.


Are you a member of NAMI Wake? If not, you can join by clicking here.http://www.nami-wake.org/Members.htm Questions? Email aakland@nami-wake.org.


©2012 NAMI Wake County All Rights Reserved.


This message was sent to arhams@yahoo.com from:
NAMI Wake County | PO Box 12562 | Raleigh, NC 27605-2561
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What's New in October

October 2012 news, events, and updates.

• An Open Letter to Ann Coulter and then some...
• CAP I/DD... this is NOT NC Innovations, from Parent Advocate Mary K. Short.
• Federal Medicaid Block Grants and the Impact to I/DD Populations and Families from The Arc of the United States.
• Voting Information for Adults with Disabilities - Make Your Voice Heard, from The Arc of North Carolina.
• Crisis in Personal Care Services in NC, and How to Address It from The Arc of North Carolina.
• NCGA JLOC on HHS Meeting Notice for 10/16.
• added to Google Events Calendar.
• A Day in the Life... [personal note]

[ What's New Main ]

Trick or Treat? ....That is the Question...

Hi, All!

I know, to paraphrase Shakespeare in this post's title in such a common way seems unfair, but this past month of playing “Whack-a-Mole” between understanding ‘what is meant’ and ‘what is’ has been a confusing adventure… and I know I am not alone.  Since my daughter’s birthday is coming soon and I am in an area that is not yet under NC Innovations, I was thrown into the usual yearly planning frenzy in a gear that I try to rarely pull out… 

Yes, we are talking the gear of 2^nd-3^rd Overdrive…;)!!  I wasn’t even sure I had that in me anymore to be honest… and leaving me with the definite knowledge that at some not too distant future point I will for sure sputter out.

My arms flailing as I turn page after page of info, fingers tapping on the keyboard hunting latest answers… hoping I have addressed all the foreseeable concerns to make it through the transition and beyond… and bless my daughter’s team, they hung in there with me… altogether we worked for that one wonderful, elusive main goal… yes, irony to be sure, as all that kinetic energy poured into helping my daughter be as stable and to have as much potential energy as possible during the transition and hopefully beyond… for her to be able to navigate as best she can so she can continue work towards her life goals.  

I wonder how many of you out there feel similarly… we work so hard to scan the horizon, plan long-term, put appropriate goals into place, support the team effort to pull together, follow-up with needed pieces that multiply by the hour, phone calls, emails, be the 24/7 back-up, ever the while the long-term becomes more and more short-term, etc… all to help our loved ones & others have lives in the community with opportunity to develop friendships, support the causes important to them in their own ways, work on their own life goals, and yes, even to dream, to take reasonable risks, to achieve, to fail, to learn, to grow, to build that elusive something special even… resilience, community bonds of true interdependence, etc.  Okay, so I dream, too… and I know I am not alone in that either…;).  Without that vision of opportunity to work towards, how will we know how far we as a society can go?

So, with that said, my travels this past month have highlighted a similar “Whack-a-Mole” pathway tumbled with the importance of the election.  I followed the trail of various statements by those aspiring for our votes and sharing his/her vision of what NC could be… and the state and others sharing ‘what we believe in’ for the NC System of Care for people with disabilities, which truly ring of heart toward greater purposes… these belief statements that I do feel oftentimes are heartfelt and reflect what ‘we want to be.’

 

Of course, what we see on the ground is where our great visions have failed along “implementation way.”  This leaves us in the land of “reality check” and represents ‘what we actually are.’  In the recent national UCP ranking for Medicaid services for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities reveals, NC ranked 44^th, meaning only 7 states rank worse than NC in helping people with intellectual / developmental disabilities to be included in community living.  (Note: my math is not off…they included the District of Columbia as a separate area making the total of 50 states and DC = 51…for the quick list & full report link go to:  www.disabilityscoop.com/2012-state-medicaid-rankings/ )

How does this happen?  Great intentions, wanting to believe the best in ourselves, mixed with practicalities of program needs, staffing issues, clinical oversights, liabilities, funding, and throw in one of the biggest wild cards of all… politics.  Decision-makers, at the stroke of a pen, can cause havoc through unintended consequences or worse, with intent, in an overly complicated system. 

Now, what is the requirement of such important decision-makers, you ask?  Certainly, they must be well-versed in understanding people with disabilities, their needs, their lives, especially the roughly 2% who have intellectual / developmental disabilities to the extent that they are solely dependent on the state to receive services, surely EVERYONE knows they are served first at the table, we would NEVER leave them out, etc… No?!.  Then, it comes as such a shock when reality hits and waiting lists, penetration rates, and other such indicators are revealed, and we are faced with the hard, sad truth that what we want to be is not what is.

  

When the only true requirement of these decision-makers is popularity from the masses, it stands to reason our issues will continue.  It is hoped by many that popularity represents the confidence of the people in the elected person that she/he can and will do a good job overall for every voter need in NC during her/his term of office…. And generally, this elected person wants to earn your vote again in the next term… so exactly how are our most vulnerable population with long-term needs represented in this short-term-minded machine on either side of the aisle?

 

So, as they say, to change is easy, but to improve is hard…  

To truly improve system of care in NC, improvements not only come from within the system but also have to come from those outside the world of disability… from our public, our politicians… elected officials charged with the care of our collective population… they become the top decision-makers in our state as elected by we, the people of the state, through our votes.  When they make recommendations, they should also have to look in the mirror to see if they are holding true to the values they want to uphold in their own recommendations to others, meaning they should be sure to include and genuinely listen/heed the advice of the same cross-section of expertise they know is needed when making decisions affecting people with disabilities in the state at the more local management levels. 

And improvements need to come from we, the people of our state, who need to hold accountable our decision-makers by being informed, voting, and participating as fully as we can.  Are we going to go for the funniest ad, the most popular opinion, the best looking, the this, the that… or are we going to get to the soul & heart of what needs to be done for long-term success, and can we make that the real conversation that holds overall attention for longer than 8 seconds, the new average attention span time of Americans online? (ref:  http://www.statisticbrain.com/attention-span-statistics/)

In summary, I put these thoughts out there during this election season and on Trick or Treat day in hopes of making tomorrow better.  As we cast our ballots for our champions at the decision-making tables of our nation, our state, & our communities, I suggest we might ask three questions not only of those seeking our vote but also of ourselves:

 

1.      Who will demonstrate ‘level of care’ by actively doing their best to participate and help others participate in finding quality solutions?

2.     Who will be present at the table when input is needed and key decisions are being made?, and

3.     Who will follow our state motto, ‘to be rather than to seem’ on key issues to move us forward from where we are?

Treat (to be) or Trick (to seem/not to be), now that is the question… and one I will be pondering as I cast my vote and as I look in the mirror working to become the person I always want to be...

Anna…

p.s.  also, thinking of friends, family, all those near and far, who are dealing with the effects of Hurricane Sandy during this difficult time... 

An Open Letter to Ann Coulter & then some...

Personally, I take no issue with conservatives, generally speaking, nor do I take issue with liberal thinking - everything in moderation as they say. Most of us have sound wisdom and skills worthy of contribution to the world... Just think what we could all accomplish together if we stopped the ridiculous power-plays and political tangos we engage ourselves in tirelessly - time, energy, and resources that, if spent wisely and consciously, could ease the suffering of so many on this earth and in this very country - in our own communities - if we'd just stop trying to force our own ideals, beliefs, and way of life upon others... Though apparently, being self-righteous is a slippery slope - and a long fall off the proverbial turnip truck.

I am rarely a soul of few words and yes I have much I would like to say in response to Ann Coulter's vile remark, "I highly approve of Romney's decision to be kind and gentle to the retard."

Really Ann? You had to go there? Could you think of no sharper dagger to poke into the gentlest hearts of mankind? And you think this strengthens your platform or lends credibility to your cause? I'm pretty sure even your beloved Republicans are sickened by your cruel thoughtlessness too, at least they should be. Because, regardless of what side of the political fence you ride, there is absolutely NO EXCUSE for your hateful comment. It's not the President you hurt with your idiocy. You just spat in the face of millions... Millions who are much stronger than you. 

Millions who love and know love like you only dream of.

Shame, shame on you Ann Coulter.

I could go on... But I could not say anything any better than Mr. John Franklin Stephens.

Thank you Mr. Stephens. You do us proud.

-----------

From The World of Special Olympics

An Open Letter to Ann Coulter

Posted on October 23, 2012 by Tim Shriver

[ view original posting ]

The following is a guest post in the form of an open letter from Special Olympics athlete and global messenger John Franklin Stephens to Ann Coulter after this tweet during last night’s Presidential debate.

Dear Ann Coulter,

Come on Ms. Coulter, you aren’t dumb and you aren’t shallow. So why are you continually using a word like the R-word as an insult?

I’m a 30 year old man with Down syndrome who has struggled with the public’s perception that an intellectual disability means that I am dumb and shallow. I am not either of those things, but I do process information more slowly than the rest of you. In fact it has taken me all day to figure out how to respond to your use of the R-word last night.

I thought first of asking whether you meant to describe the President as someone who was bullied as a child by people like you, but rose above it to find a way to succeed in life as many of my fellow Special Olympians have.

Then I wondered if you meant to describe him as someone who has to struggle to be thoughtful about everything he says, as everyone else races from one snarkey sound bite to the next.

Finally, I wondered if you meant to degrade him as someone who is likely to receive bad health care, live in low grade housing with very little income and still manages to see life as a wonderful gift.

Because, Ms. Coulter, that is who we are – and much, much more.

After I saw your tweet, I realized you just wanted to belittle the President by linking him to people like me. You assumed that people would understand and accept that being linked to someone like me is an insult and you assumed you could get away with it and still appear on TV.

I have to wonder if you considered other hateful words but recoiled from the backlash.

Well, Ms. Coulter, you, and society, need to learn that being compared to people like me should be considered a badge of honor.

No one overcomes more than we do and still loves life so much.

Come join us someday at Special Olympics. See if you can walk away with your heart unchanged.

A friend you haven’t made yet, John Franklin Stephens

Global Messenger

Special Olympics Virginia

EDITOR’S NOTE: John has previously written powerful opinion pieces on the R-word. Read one here.

CAP-IDD ... this is NOT NC Innovations

From Mary K. Short:

The links to the announcements and guidance are below.  The changes from CAP-MR/DD to CAP-IDD are approved by CMS on 10/1/2012 BUT are not implemented until 1/1/2013.  If you are in an LME that is supposed to convert to an MCO before or on 1/1/2013 THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO YOU (or if you are already on the NC Innovations waiver) because you should be working on the transition to the NC Innovations waiver for your LME/MCO "go live" date prior to or on 1/1/2013.  The Special Medicaid Bulletin is specific about timelines and who is and who is not impacted.

Additionally, this is part of what Doug Sea sent out to providers/case managers.  I know he works with DRNC (Disability Rights North Carolina www.disabilityrightsnc.org) and you should probably contact them if you have questions.  If you are in Legal Services of the Southern Piedmont area (Mecklenburg & surrounding), then contact LSSP at www.lssp.org.

The instructions do not include the right to request continuation of current services as a reasonable accommodation under the ADA. Nor do the instructions provide for the right to a notice with appeal rights if such a request is made and denied. It will be up to advocates and providers to let families know they have the right to submit such a plan and to appeal to OAH if denied if they are at serious risk of institutionalization without continuation of their current services. Please make families aware of this.  

Essentially the same issue will occur for families transitioning to the Innovations waiver on January 1 .  Those 36 counties are also listed in this bulletin.

Here are some other possible specific issues to look for as CAP-DD families transition to the new CAP-IDD waiver (for a short time) and to the Innovations waiver:

A.      if LME doesn’t have adequate provider network, can family continue to be paid to provide home support services?

B.      If rate paid to provider is changing (eg no more enhanced personal care services or enhanced respite) and new rate is inadequate to attract qualified provider for this recipient, can recipient appeal rate reduction/loss of enhanced service?

C.      Does the requirement that  Intensive In home support have a fading plan and the 6 month limit for intensive night services violate the ADA or EPSDT?

D.      Does the restriction on services during school hours violate EPSDT if the child requests personal care (not hab serv) in excess of that limit?

E.       Does child recipient have right to case management in addition to care coordination under epsdt if medically necessary in that case because the LME staff are not adequately trained or don’t do medically necessary work the current case manager has been doing?

F.       Does the LME violate due process by “crosswalking” to new services without explaining right to request continued current service and to appeal if denied?

Mary K. Short
828-632-5888 or 704-451-4144 (cell)

Special Medicaid Bulletin:

http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dma/  (SCROLL down, it's the first bullet point on the left.)

OR direct link to the Bulletin:

http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dma/bulletin/pdfbulletin/1012_Special%20Bulletin_IDD_Waiver.pdf

CLINICAL POLICY 8M:

http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dma/mp/index.htm 

(Clinical Policy 8M ... this is the IDD 8M.  I do not have an answer for how it got approved and posted without an additional comment period!)