Plan for the Elimination
of Waiting Lists for Medicaid ID and DD Support Waivers
Virginia Governor’s Response to 2009 General Assembly Directive
During its 2009 session, the Virginia General Assembly expressed its intent to eliminate the waiting lists for the Medicaid Intellectual Disabilities (formerly “Mental Retardation”) Waiver and the Individual and Family Developmental Disabilities Supports Waiver. In doing so, it required the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) to collaborate with the Department of Planning and Budget to increase the number of funded waiver slots at a minimum of 67 slots for the Individual and Family Developmental Disabilities Supports waiver and 400 slots for the Intellectual Disabilities waiver per year, until the waiting lists are eliminated and directed the Governor to develop a plan to eliminate the waiting lists for these waivers by the 2018-2020 Biennium.
An Executive Summary as well as a link to the full report can be accessed at http://leg2.state.va.us/DLS/h&sdocs.nsf/5c7ff392dd0ce64d85256ec400674ecb/7d136ee2fc9c0dc8852575c5005dafb9?OpenDocument&Highlight=0,list.
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To view the full DBHDS announcement, go to http://www.dbhds.virginia.gov/PressReleases/091103WebAccountability.htm.
DBHDS Announces New
Accountability Effort
Statewide information on services system posted to its public website
The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) has announced the initial posting of web-based accountability measures on its public website. Part of a multi-year project, the data includes performance and outcome data about the publicly funded behavioral health and developmental services system, including the forty locally-run community services boards (CSBs) and the sixteen department-operated mental health hospitals and intellectual disability training centers. The data can be found at www.dbhds.virginia.gov/WAM.htm.
DBHDS contact information can be found at www.dbhds.virginia.gov/ContactUs.htm
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United Cerebral Palsy’s A
Case for Inclusion
2009 Virginia Performance Data and Rankings Now Available
The Case for Inclusion 2009 ranks all 50 States and the District of Columbia on how well they are providing community-based supports to Americans with intellectual and developmental disabilities being served by Medicaid. The report uses methodology first implemented in 2007 and shows annual changes and trends both nationally and state by state since then.
For 2009, with first being the best, Virginia ranks overall as 41st in the nation. (47th in 2008, 45th in 2007, and 49th in 2006.)
Details are available at www.ucp.org/medicaid/state_report.cfm?thisState=VA&thisYear=2009.
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Thanks for our sibling DD
Planning Council in Oregon for sharing the following important news!
Oregon Closes Its Last
Institution for People with Developmental Disabilities
State Also No Longer Has Any Out-of-State Placements
The state of Oregon has just announced a significant achievement. With the closing of that state’s last publicly operated training center, it no longer has any institutions, public or private, for individuals with developmental disabilities, and it does not place any of its citizens in out-of-state institutions. It is the only state to have reached this milestone. All of its citizens with developmental disabilities, regardless of their type or severity, now receive services in supportive community settings.
For more information, go to www.dhs.state.or.us/tools/news/dir_msg/message.html.
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Feedback Results
2010 Goals, Focus Areas,
And Objectives
Virginia Office for Protection and Advocacy (VOPA)
Earlier this year, NEWS@VBPD recipients were encouraged to provide their input to VOPA for development of its goals, focus areas, and objectives for the 2010 fiscal year.
The results of that feedback are now available at www.vopa.virginia.gov/Programs%20and%20Goals/2010%20GFOs.htm.
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Feedback Opportunity
United We Ride National
Online Dialogue thru November 13th
Do you or anyone you know have a suggestion or an idea about how to increase access to affordable and reliable transportation services for people with disabilities, older adults, and people with limited incomes? The Federal Interagency Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (CCAM) is currently conducting an online dialogue to collect input from the community.
For more information or to participate, go to www.UWRdialogue.org.
To make this conversation as diverse, inclusive, and informative, you are strongly encouraged to share this announcement with others!
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Feedback Opportunity
EEOC Approves Proposed ADA
Regulations for Public Comment
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is proposing to revise its Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations and guidance in order to implement the ADA Amendments Act of 2008. EEOC is responsible for enforcement of Title I of the ADA, as amended, which prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of disability. The ADA Amendments Act keeps the basic definition of “disability” as an impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a record of such an impairment, or being regarded as having such an impairment. However, it changes the way these statutory terms should be interpreted in several ways, therefore requiring a revision of the existing regulations and interpretive guidance.
The EEOC is conducting a series of “town hall” meetings across the country, but written comments on this rulemaking may also be submitted on or before November 23, 2009.
For more information and a link to the online form for submitting comments, go to www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/events/adaaa-townhall.cfm.
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Future Quest 2009
A College and Career Forum
for Students with Disabilities
Saturday, November 21, 2009,
8:30am-2:40pm
Johnson Center, George Mason University
Students with disabilities and their parents can learn about educational and career opportunities for life after high school. Speakers, workshops and displays will cover all aspects of transition from school to the real world, including the college application process, financial aid, strategies for success, career planning, and career opportunities.
All Future Quest activities are free and open to students with disabilities and their parents.
For more information, visit www.VaCollegeQuest.org or contact:
Karen
Sherman and Deborah Hammer, Co-Chairs
Arlington Public Schools
703-228-2545
karen.sherman@acps.k12.va.us or dhammer@autismsupports.org.
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Improving the Health and
Wellness of People with Disabilities
Featured Webpage and Video from the National Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
CDC has posted a new feature article, “People with Disabilities Can Lead Long, Healthy Lives," on its website in English at www.cdc.gov/Features/Disabilities/ and Spanish at www.cdc.gov/spanish/especialesCDC/DisparidadesSalud/. This feature provides information on improving the health and wellness of people with disabilities, tips on leading a healthy life, and for getting physically fit.
An accompanying new video tells the story of Mark and his role as a person helping future health care providers improve their care of people with disabilities. The intent of this video is not to endorse specific activities, but to share one man's story, experience, and hope.
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Information Specialist Job
Opportunity
Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC)
PEATC is currently seeking a part-time Information Specialist with experience in communicating special education information to families. PEATC is the federally funded parent training and information center of Virginia supporting parent involvement in education. The position is located in Falls Church and requires some ability to travel across the Commonwealth.
For more information, including a complete job description and contact information, go to www.peatc.org/newsmanager/news_article.cgi?news_id=124.
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If you received this news digest
from a friend or colleague and would like to receive NEWS@VBPD directly
in the future, please send us an e-mail at Info@VBPD.virginia.gov, and we
would be happy to add you to our contact list. If you would also like to
receive messages sent to the Virginia Special Education Network (www.vaboard.org/vsenform.htm)
that the Board jointly administers with the State Special Education Advisory
Committee, please note that as well. Keeping Virginians informed about
disability services and issues is one of our most important
responsibilities!
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For more information
about the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities, please visit our website
at www.vaboard.org or contact:
Tom Driscoll
Strategic Planning & Marketing Manager
Virginia Board for People with
Disabilities
Washington Building, Capitol Square
1100 Bank Street, 7th Floor
Richmond, Virginia 23219
804-786-9380 (voice & TTY)
800-846-4464 (toll-free, voice & TTY)
804-786-1118 (fax)
thomas.driscoll@vbpd.virginia.gov
www.vaboard.org