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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The disability community has an opportunity to share ideas that could be included in Governor-Elect Tony Evers’ proposed state budget at a series of open meetings. The statewide tour begins Tuesday, Dec. 11, in Green Bay and ends the following week in Milwaukee. Each session is open to the public and will give participants the ability to share their budget priorities directly with Governor-elect Evers, Lt. Governor-elect Barnes, and transition policy staff.

Wisconsin residents interested in attending any budget session may register online at the links listed below.

WHO: Governor-elect Tony Evers, Lt. Governor-elect Mandela Barnes, transition policy staff

WHAT: Building the People’s Budget tour. Members of the public are invited to participate and share their policy ideas with the Governor-elect and his staff.

WHEN and WHERE:

December 11, 4:30PM-6:00PM: Green Bay, University of Wisconsin Green Bay, Phoenix Room. 2420 Nicolet Dr, Green Bay, WI 54311. Register for Green Bay session at this Green Bay link.

December 12, 12:00PM-1:30PM: Wausau, Wausau Labor Temple. 318 South Third Avenue, Wausau, WI 54401. Register for the Wausau session at this Wausau link.

December 18, 12:00PM-1:30PM: La Crosse, American Legion Post 52. 711 6th St South, La Crosse, WI 54601. Register for the La Crosse session at this La Crosse link.

December 19, 4:30PM-6:00PM: Milwaukee, United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County Volunteer Center. 200 West Pleasant Street, Milwaukee, WI 53212. Register for the Milwaukee session at this Milwaukee link.

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) recently completed a two part evaluation of the Older Americans Act Title III-E National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP). The newest report, Outcome Evaluation of the National Family Caregiver Support Program, is now available.

The NFCSP Outcome Evaluation focused on the following questions:

• What types of organizational structures and/or approaches for NFCSP services are associated with the best participant-level outcomes?
• Are services reaching the groups targeted by the Older Americans Act (OAA), including caregivers serving older adults with greatest social or economic need?
• To what extent do NFCSP participants also receive other home- and community-based long-term support and services?
• To what extent do NFCSP caregivers’ outcomes differ from those of caregivers who do not receive support and services from the NFCSP?

The two-part NFCSP evaluation includes a final process evaluation report, as well as examples of assessment tools collected from State Units in Aging:

Community Assessment Materials (PDF, 14.3MB)

General Customer Satisfaction Survey Materials (PDF, 2.23MB)

Grandparent Assessment Materials (PDF, 1.05MB)

High-Level Administrative Materials (PDF, 3.00MB)

Monitoring Materials (PDF, 3.93MB)

State Caregiver Assessments (PDF, 5.87MB)

State Care Recipient Assessments (PDF, 8.40MB)

Task Force Materials (PDF, 31.1MB)

Uniform Satisfaction Materials (PDF, 3.0MB)

Other Materials (PDF, 9.59MB)

The Wisconsin Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) is a week-long leadership training and career awareness program for high school sophomores, juniors and seniors with disabilities.

Being selected to attend the YLF is a distinct honor that you can be very proud of. Please take the time to apply – you’ll have the time of your life!

YLF IS FOR:

• Students who show leadership potential by being active in their school and community
• Students who have a disability (physical, learning, cognitive, emotional, sensory, etc.)
• Wisconsin residents
• Students who are currently sophomores, juniors or seniors in high school 

WHY ATTEND THE YOUTH LEADERSHIP FORUM?

• To give you a place to meet other students your age who are experiencing similar issues and concerns
• To help you increase your leadership skills so you can further your future goals and reach them
• To assist you in becoming a leader in your school and community

To apply for the 2019 Youth Leadership Forum fill out the application and send to Jenny Neugart at  jenny.neugart@ wisconsin.gov or if you print out the application you can mail it to Jenny at 101 E Wilson St Rm 219 Madison, WI 53703.  

Electronic fillable form: Application

Print Version: Application