News

Many parents who have adult children with disabilities often worry about the future.  What's going to happen to the individual when they no longer care for him/her?  A group of parents in Milwaukee meet monthly to discuss these fears and brainstorm solutions together.  

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• Is at least 18 years old
• Has a neurological diagnosis (such as but not limited to post-polio syndrome, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis) for at least 6 months.
• Use a wheelchair (manual or power) at least 75% of your mobility time inside your home and 100% of the time outside your home.
• Has a computer with internet access.
• Is able to read and understand English.

T-Mobile is  developing a new television service and has begun to implement accessibility features for the individuals with visual disabilities.   They are interested in understanding how people with a visual impairment access television.  The questions relate to finding out what this population likes and dislikes about currently available accessibility features.  What features are most critical to them while accessing television?  What improvements would they like to see?  What features are perfect as is?

They are in search of respondents who are over 18 and have a visual disability such as low vision, or are blind, regardless of if they currently watch television or use accessibility features.

Those who complete the 15 min survey will receive an electronic $15 Amazon Gift Card for their time.

This is a test link to the survey.  This link is the exact survey but you can play around on it all you like without the results being recorded as a true respondent.

https://layer3tv.getfeedback.com/preview/aYik1VlQ

If you would like your opinions on the matter recorded and become eligible for the Amazon Gift Card, this is the true survey link:

https://layer3tv.getfeedback.com/r/aYik1VlQ

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) conducted a two-part evaluation of the Older Americans Act Title III-E National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP), and released the Process Evaluation Report in 2016 and the Outcome Evaluation Report in 2018.

ACL is now releasing a supplementary report based on a small, retrospective study of caregivers in the Outcome Evaluation: From Caregiver to Caregiver: The Wisdom and Insights of Former NFCSP Caregivers. The small group of caregivers in this retrospective study experienced a change in their caregiving experience during the evaluation because their care recipient passed away.

The report highlights caregivers’ experiences in providing care and accessing services, and it provides “advice from caregivers to caregivers.” A fact sheet is also available that summarizes key themes and insights from this group of caregivers.

SeaWorld in Orlando has put staff through training and added more resources for visitors to become an official certified autism center.  Guests will be provided with specific information about attractions and experiences along with in-park accommodations to help them plan their day and make informed choices best suited to their individual needs.  Visitors can also use a quiet room inside the park with adjustable lighting to take a break.

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According to a new report, more people are on waiting lists, fewer are competitively employed and access to services remains uneven.  There are a wide range geographical disparities that exist when it comes to opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live and work in their communities.  

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The Administration for Community Living and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announce the launch of the National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems (NCAPPS).

During the past 30 years, systems for people with disabilities and older adults with long-term service and support needs have generally shifted to embrace person-centered principles, premised on the belief that people should have the authority to define and pursue their own vision of a good life. Yet, the degree to which these systems have fully adopted person-centered practices varies, and many continue to grapple with how to effectively implement them.

The goal of NCAPPS is to promote systems change that makes person-centered principles not just an aspiration, but a reality in the lives of people who require services and supports across the lifespan. NCAPPS will assist states, tribes, and territories to transform their long-term care service and support systems to implement U.S. Department of Health and Human Services policy on person-centered thinking, planning, and practices. It will support a range of person-centered thinking, planning, and practices, regardless of funding source. Activities will include providing technical assistance to states, tribes, and territories; establishing communities of practice to promote best practices; hosting educational webinars; and creating a national clearinghouse of resources to support person-centered practice.

NCAPPS is funded by the Administration for Community Living and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and administered by the Human Services Research Institute (HSRI). Engagement of people with lived experience will be at the heart of all NCAPPS activities. A Person-Centered Advisory and Leadership Group composed of national experts with lived experience receiving long-term services and supports will oversee and contribute to all aspects of NCAPPS. HSRI will be partnering with national organizations to ensure the work is relevant and effective, including:

• National Association of State Head Injury Administrators (NASHIA)
• National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD)
• National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disability Services (NASDDDS)
• National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD)
• National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Directors (NACBHDD)
• National Association of Medicaid Directors (NAMD)

Technical assistance applications are available now.

States, tribes, and territories can apply for technical assistance through an application available online.  

The deadline for technical assistance applications is February 12, 2019. Completed applications should be submitted to NCAPPS@acl.hhs.gov.

For more information:

Additional information about NCAPPS is in this NCAPPS overview document.

Join the NCAPPS launch webinar on January 29 at 3:00 - 4:30 pm EST to learn more about NCAPPS and to have your questions answered regarding technical assistance opportunities. Register for the webinar.

To learn more, contact NCAPPS@acl.hhs.gov.

In a letter to state Medicaid directors, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has outlined 10 new and existing opportunities – none of which require complex demonstrations or Medicare waivers – to serve individuals dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid.

One in five Medicare recipients, more than 12 million people, are also concurrently enrolled in Medicaid and about half of this population use long-term services and supports. 

The opportunities touch on new developments in managed care, using Medicare data to inform care coordination and program integrity initiatives, and reducing administrative burden for dually eligible individuals and the providers who serve them.

Read the letter (PDF).

With a change taking effect this year, individuals with disabilities can save more money than ever before without losing out on Social Security, Medicaid and other government benefits.  People with  disabilities can  now  put up to $27,140 in an ABLE account per year.  In addition, the IRS indicated that workers with disabilities who have ABLE accounts can now qualify for a Saver’s Credit.

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If you would like keep up with what your friends at Adaptive Community Approach Program are doing, feel free to keep a watch on the ACAP Ink Newsletter.....

http://www.acap-waukesha.org/acap-ink-newsletter/

http://www.acap-waukesha.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Scanned-Documents.pdf