Congress is considering legislation to expand the availability of Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) by making additional resources available to states as part of a larger reconciliation bill. Although the reconciliation bill does not have bipartisan support, Democrats and Republicans have historically supported efforts to expand HCBS. This report focuses on streamlining and simplifying states’ HCBS waiver and state plan authorities into a single state plan amendment (SPA), with the goal of reducing complexity for states administering the programs and for beneficiaries navigating the system. Streamlining and simplifying the program would make services more uniform from state to state and across populations within a state. 

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The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced the availability of $3.5 million in Fiscal Year 2021 competitive grant funding for projects that improve access to vital services for older adults and people with disabilities, and in low-income communities. The main purpose of the Innovated Coordinated Access and Mobility (ICAM) Program is to improve access to public transportation by building partnerships among health, transportation, and other service providers. This program provides competitive funding to support innovative projects for the transportation disadvantaged that will improve the coordination of transportation services and non-emergency medical transportation services (NEMT). In the FY 2021 program, FTA intends to target funding for regional and statewide mobility management capital projects that support coordination and enable comprehensive community access, including access to NEMT, for underserved groups.

Eligible applicants are designated or direct recipients of FTA’s Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disability Formula Program, which provides formula funding to states for the purpose of assisting private nonprofit groups in meeting the transportation needs of older adults and people with disabilities when the transportation service provided is unavailable, insufficient, or inappropriate to meeting these needs.

In addition applicants must serve as the lead agency of a regional or statewide consortium that includes stakeholders from transportation, healthcare, human service, or other sectors. FTA requires that applicants demonstrate that the proposed project was planned through an inclusive process with the involvement of the transportation, healthcare, and human service sectors.

Applicants must submit a proposal electronically by December 6. A synopses and full announcement are posted on Grants.gov. 

President Biden is moving forward with his push for the biggest increase to home-and-community-based services in 40 years. The reconciliation package includes $150 billion for Medicaid home and community-based services to help get people with disabilities off of waiting lists and address issues regarding the workforce of direct support professionals. 

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The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) requests public comments on the Draft of Promoting Access to Voting: Recommendations for Addressing Barriers to Private and Independent Voting for People with Disabilities. Under Executive Order 14019 on Promoting Access to Voting, NIST is directed to identify barriers to private and independent voting for people with disabilities, make recommendations to remove these barriers, and evaluate the steps needed to ensure that the online Federal Voter Registration Form is accessible to people with disabilities. The Draft is available in the Federal Register.

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Meet Olivia. This determined self-advocate doesn’t let anything stop her from achieving her goals. As director of an advocacy program for high school students, she helps others learn leadership and advocacy skills. She has high hopes for herself including obtaining a driver’s license and possibly going to grad school. We’re so fortune to have her as a member of the Self-Determination Network.

What's your story? Tell us a little about yourself? 

 Olivia grew up in a tiny village called Brandon, but now lives in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin. Currently, she works at Fleet Farm’s Fuel Center. She has a Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Theology. Right now, she’s looking into grad school for family and marital counseling. She’s also the current director of the Wisconsin Youth Leadership Forum that is held every summer at Edgewood College in Madison, where they teach high school students with disabilities about leadership and self-advocacy skills.   

 How are you involved with self-determination?  

Olivia is a great self-advocate. “Although sometimes I do rely on close friends and family for assistance, but hey, everyone needs a little help every now and then,” she tells us.  She’s living independently in her own apartment and has a part-time job. She’s also working toward getting her driver's license.  

 Tell us some good news - what's the most exciting thing happening for you (or in Wisconsin) in terms of self-determination? 

  Oliva is part of the Wisconsin Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) and she’s really excited that to have started a #WednesdayWisdom and other live chats on Facebook through the Wisconsin YLF page. This gave her the opportunity to talk to previous YLF staff and delegate members about their experience through the program and what they are up to these days. “It's been really hard to see each other and sometimes people just kind of get lost in life with what they are doing and don't really have time to meet up. It was nice to reconnect with them and hear about their memories of the program,” she says. About eight years ago, she informed the previous director that when the time was right that she would like to try being the new director. Olivia spent a lot of time talking with the previous director, and she spent two years being her assistant and learning everything that she could. She finally became director in 2016.

What tip or resource would you like to share with people who want to be more self-determined?

Olivia would like to share two resources: The YLF Facebook page and the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities website. Both provide lots of great information.

She encourages people to never give up. “Everything that you want will come to you if you work hard,” she says. 

What are some of your hobbies? 

 In response to this question, Olivia says, “Oh, boy, this is a tough but fun question to answer.” She loves to read. She explains that it's a great escape from reality and to enter a world that can fill your head with so much imagination. Another good thing about reading is that you can learn about life, learn lessons and even read to learn something new.  She enjoys watching TV and movies. A few of her favorites are “Heartland,” “Boy Meets World,” and definitely the Fall Hallmark movies!  She also loves to run. She ran cross country and track all through middle, high school, and college—she enjoys the fact that it's your own pace and you can just run for fun!  She enjoys connecting with friends--even though the last few years, it's mostly been through different apps or phone calls.  

***We love hearing the views and opinions of Network members. We need to mention that the views and opinions expressed on this site are those of the person who is sharing them. They do not necessarily reflect InControl Wisconsin or any of our supporters and funders.

Older people and people with disabilities often need assistance with things like going shopping, getting dressed and other things. Solving these problems often is the difference between being able to stay at home or having to go to a nursing home. In recent years, Medicaid expanded coverage of home-based services, but it's optional in some states. Recently, the federal Department of Health and Human Services unveiled every state's plan for how they'll use the funds. An estimated $12.7 billion dollars in federal matching funds are available to "encourage states to expand home and community-based services and strengthen their programs." 

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Due to the nature of the job, home care workers are at increased risk for experiencing workplace violence. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is cracking down on agencies that don't have protocols in-place for workers to report problems. 

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The U.S. Access Board has released technical bulletins on accessibility to lavatories and sinks, washing machines and clothes dryers, and saunas and steam rooms. This material addresses specifications for clear floor space, knee and toe space, forward and side reach, operable parts, height, turning space, benches, and doors in the ADA and ABA Accessibility Standards. Each bulletin clarifies common sources of confusion, answers frequently asked questions, and offers recommendations for best practice. Examples of compliant lavatories, sinks, washing machines, clothes dryer, saunas, and steam rooms are included to illustrate how various requirements can be met.

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