If someone you love has been diagnosed with a disability or serious medical condition their mental state can be somewhat affected. Learning what to expect in the time following a serious and life-altering diagnosis can help you feel more prepared and may put you in a better position to assist them to work through this process. Simply knowing what to expect, can help you better aide the person in their time of need.

Remember that receiving a diagnosis of a disability is a life-altering event. In some cases, such as with a stroke or a disability that follows an accident, that change may be incredibly sudden. There may be other reactions if a disease causes a slow, steady decline in physical ability.

At first, a person may seem almost as if they are in mourning and in some ways, they are. They are mourning the loss of their old life. Depending on what causes the disability, they may also be worrying that their condition will change suddenly and that they may lose what level of ability they have left. They may also be angry and asking why they were affected instead of someone else. Allowing these feelings to work their way out can help a person come to terms with what is going on in their life and help them face the future in a more positive and productive way. If, however, it seems as though these feelings have become self-destructive then counseling may be necessary.

Both caregivers and those with disabilities may be afraid of what the future has to offer with this new disability. There may be concerns about financial stability. Some medical conditions may be expensive to treat and if the person is unable to work there may be concerns about money for treatment. They may also be worried about what will happen if they lose their primary caregiver if they can’t provide their own care. This can be especially true if a person needs to move or alter their existing home in order to accommodate a wheel chair or other medical equipment.

One of the best ways to help quell worries about the future is to speak to the primary care physician and any specialists in order to find out what is likely to happen down the road. Finding ways to retrofit a home to make it more accessible and does not have to cost a massive amount of money. By being proactive, it can also give an individual with a disability a feeling of hope for the future.

As a caregiver, it is important to realize that you may be experiencing many of the same thoughts and emotions that your loved one is feeling. By acknowledging these worries, you can keep working towards a better home situation for both you and your loved one.

Cole writes on behalf of AmeriGlide, a recognized leader in stair lifts, vertical lifts, and wheelchair lifts on the Internet. Based in Raleigh North Carolina, AmeriGlide is dedicated to providing top quality medical equipment, while serving the needs of their customers.

If you, or someone in your family received a recent disability diagnosis and want to get back into your community, please contact The Ability Center’s Home Accessibility Program.

To learn about the platforms of Ohio’s key candidates, ODVC sent a questionnaire to each candidate for Governor, U.S. Senate and Secretary of State. We received the following responses. As we receive additional responses, we will post them to the ODVC website.

Governor Candidate

Responses from Governor Ted Strickland, Democrat

1. Will you include people with disabilities as part of your political team and as advisors on relevant issues?

Yes.

2. Do you believe that people with disabilities should be the primary decision makers in their own lives?

Yes.

3. Would you support Visitability legislation (single-family, new construction with one no-step entrance, accessible bathroom on first floor level, 32″ doorways and aisles maneuverable by a person in a wheelchair)?

I would support working with the General Assembly, the Residential Construction Advisory Committee, and the Board of Building Standards to move toward increased visitability.

Fact: People with disabilities often face barriers to polling places and to voting equipment as well as attitudinal barriers to the election process. While absentee voting is an option, every citizen has the right to go to their polling location to cast their vote with privacy.

4. What would you do to ensure equal access to the voting process by people with disabilities?

I will work with the Secretary of State to make sure that physical barriers are eliminated and poll worker training addresses attitudinal barriers.

Fact: Approximately twenty-seven percent of non-institutionalized people with disabilities aged 18 to 64 live in families with incomes below the poverty line, compared to 8.8% of men and women without disabilities. The median income for this disabled population is $27,200 as opposed to an average of $57,800 of citizens who do not have a disability. Housing that is affordable and accessible is not readily available.

5. What would your policies do to increase the availability of affordable, accessible and safe housing for Ohioans with disabilities?

I would like to build on the success of the following initiatives from my first term:

Creation of the Homestead Exemption for permanently disabled Ohioans to exempt $25,000 of home value from property taxation. This resulted in an average savings to homeowners of $400 year.

Launching of a rental housing database to assist seniors and people with disabilities. Ohio Housing Locator now provides over 1,600 rental unit listings, serving over 21,000 site visitors to date.

Fact: According to 2008 statistics from the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services, Ohio ranked in the bottom ten states with regard to long term care living arrangements (institutional placements versus community based placements with supports and services). In 1999 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that confinement in an institution is a violation of civil rights, when life in an integrated, community setting with supports and services is possible.

6. What policies do you support to facilitate Ohioans with disabilities to live in their own homes and communities versus in institutions, nursing homes, developmental centers, and ICF/MRs?

I believe that Ohioans with disabilities should be able to chose the setting in which they live. To this end, during my first term I have:

Established a unified long-term care budget and enrolled more than 5,500 Ohioans in home and community based services.

Implemented the Money Follows the Person Program, which enables Ohioans to return home, invests in long-term services, and supports system change.

As of March 19, 2010, the transition program assisted 494 Ohioans transition home with targeted outreach to Ohioans with mental illness and children in residential treatment facilities.

Provided over 1,252 residents of nursing facilities immediate access to PASSPORT, Assisted Living, PACE, and the Residential State Supplement Program through the Home First provision in Ohio law.

Eliminated the 1,800 participant limit for the Assisted Living Waiver in Ohio law.

Established the Aging and Disability Resource Center.

Fact: Medicaid waivers allow people to live in their communities and “waive” institutional placement driven by Medicaid rules. Waivers exist for people with developmental disabilities under the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities, and for individuals with physical disabilities under the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Currently in Ohio there are waiting lists for most of these waivers.

7. What would you do to eliminate waiting lists for waivers?

I believe that we should do our best to support older Ohioans and people with disabilities who prefer to live independently in their homes. Therefore, during my first term I have:

Eliminated the waiting list for the PASSPORT program for FY 2010, as well as the Assisted Living and PACE programs at the Ohio Department of Aging, as of the end of March 2010. As of February 2010, 592 people who need and are eligible for home and community-based services are on a waiting list for these three services.

Increased the budget for developmental disabilities waivers. There has been a steady increase in the percentage of total dollars committed to Medicaid

Waivers: a 10.72% increase from 2007-2008, a 12.28% increase from 2008-2009, and despite a reduction of 8.85% in state GRF for FY 2010, waiver expenditures increased by 18.51%.

Increased the number of Individual Options waivers by 3,418 participants or 29.4% and Level One waivers by 3,033 or 90.7%.

Fact: It is estimated that 75% of people with disabilities are unemployed or underemployed-far below the rate of people without disabilities.

8. What steps would you take to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities in Ohio?

I believe that people with disabilities have talents and skills to contribute as members of Ohio’s workforce. For this reason we have taken the following steps during my first term:

Established a Medicaid Buy-in program for people with disabilities to gain access to health care, even when they work outside the home. Since its inception in April 2008, the program has proven highly successful, serving nearly 4,600 working Ohioans with disabilities.

Established a work group in early 2008 to explore opportunities to improve employment services for people with disabilities. This work group has focused on the following specific employment-related issues for individuals with disabilities:

Improvements in the Transition Plan process (focused on transition from school to work);

Improvements in the understanding of Medicaid buy-in;

Improvements in the process of serving people with disabilities through One Stops;

Improvements in the integration of Vocational Rehabilitation counselors in Mental Health facilities;

Increased access to the Rehabilitation Services Commission’s services for people with chronic disabilities, particularly people with developmental disabilities.

The Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission awarded $7.3 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus projects in September and will soon invest another $7.5 million to create jobs and increase independence for Ohioans with disabilities. These projects give Ohioans with severe disabilities opportunities to re-enter the workforce or maintain their employment. The projects provide more intensive services, valuable work experiences, and opportunities for self-employment to help Ohioans get better jobs faster.

Fact: Federal and state law requires that students with disabilities are educated in the least restrictive environment (in buildings and classrooms alongside their peers who do not have disabilities), and that appropriate supports and accommodations are provided in those settings to ensure success. Further, these laws expect that students with disabilities are educated within the regular education curriculum.

9. How will you ensure that these laws are enforced in Ohio and that students with disabilities are educated in the regular education environment with the regular education curriculum?

During my time as Governor, I have focused on the importance of education and have implemented education reform. The foundation of this reform has been my strong belief that we must offer student-centered educational opportunities focusing on the whole child and meeting individual students’ needs. In fact, we have changed the operating standards for Ohio’s schools to require this student-centered education for all children.

Additionally, we implemented the Medicaid in the Schools program. Over 500 school districts and community schools have enrolled. Almost 300 schools are submitting and receiving Medicaid reimbursement for services delivered to over 26,000 children.

Fact: Many Ohioans with disabilities rely on public transportation to go to work, to medical appointments, to shop, and to do simple daily activities. Ohio’s transportation systems are often cumbersome, and in many areas of the state, non-existent. Without it people with disabilities must rely on family or be confined to their homes.

10. What would you do to expand access to affordable transportation for people with disabilities, especially in rural areas?

While there is still progress to make in this area, I am pleased that we were able to direct federal stimulus dollars for rural transit to enable 18 counties and local governments to purchase ADA-accessible mini-vans and full-size vans.

Governor Candidate
Responses from John Kasich, Republican

In lieu of survey we are sending the statement below on behalf of the Kasich Taylor Campaign:

Ohioans who have disabilities and their families are a vital part of the fabric of our state. The respect and support we show them is a reflection of who we are. As governor, one of my priorities will be to ensure that we provide the best services possible to those in need. Across a wide variety of issues we will come together to marshall our resources and ideas to create common sense solutions. Fundamentally, I believe these solutions are about expanding choices and opportunities. Currently, Ohio’s system to help those with disabilities is inefficient and fragmented. We will scour the country for examples of the best ways to provide these services in a comprehensive and integrated fashion.
–Michael Hartley, Deputy Campaign Manager, Kasich/Taylor for Ohio

Governor Candidate
Responses from Dennis Spisak, Green Party

1. Will you include people with disabilities as part of your political team and as advisors on relevant issues?

Yes

2. Do you believe that people with disabilities should be the primary decision makers in their own lives?

Yes

3. Would you support Visitability legislation (single-family, new construction with one no-step entrance, accessible bathroom on first floor level, 32″ doorways and aisles maneuverable by a person in a wheelchair)?

Yes

Fact: People with disabilities often face barriers to polling places and to voting equipment as well as attitudinal barriers to the election process. While absentee voting is an option, every citizen has the right to go to their polling location to cast their vote with privacy.

4. What would you do to ensure equal access to the voting process by people with disabilities?

I would work with the Secretary of State to see that all polling places be accessible to all persons with disabilities.

Fact: Approximately twenty-seven percent of non-institutionalized people with disabilities aged 18 to 64 live in families with incomes below the poverty line, compared to 8.8% of men and women without disabilities. The median income for this disabled population is $27,200 as opposed to an average of $57,800 of citizens who do not have a disability. Housing that is affordable and accessible is not readily available.

5. What would your policies do to increase the availability of affordable, accessible and safe housing for Ohioans with disabilities?

I believe in bringing in jobs to Ohio that pay a “living wage”, so that all people can have affordable, accessible, and safe housing.

Fact: According to 2008 statistics from the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services, Ohio ranked in the bottom ten states with regard to long term care living arrangements (institutional placements versus community based placements with supports and services). In 1999 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that confinement in an institution is a violation of civil rights, when life in an integrated, community setting with supports and services is possible.

6. What policies do you support to facilitate Ohioans with disabilities to live in their own homes and communities versus in institutions, nursing homes, developmental centers, and ICF/MRs?

Support a Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act to create a voluntary, budget-neutral national insurance program to help adults who have or develop functional disabilities to remain independent and in their communities. Employees would have the option of enrolling through monthly $30 payroll deductions. Individuals over 18 who had contributed premiums for five or more years would then be eligible for benefits if they are unable to perform two or more activities of daily living (e.g., eating, bathing, dressing). Those benefits could be used for housing modifications, assistive technologies, personal assistance services, transportation or other supports to increase the ability of those with disabilities to find and keep jobs, and remain in their homes and communities.

Fact: Medicaid waivers allow people to live in their communities and “waive” institutional placement driven by Medicaid rules. Waivers exist for people with developmental disabilities under the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities, and for individuals with physical disabilities under the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Currently in Ohio there are waiting lists for most of these waivers.

7. What would you do to eliminate waiting lists for waivers?

Be committed to streamlining the current application and appeals procedures to reduce the confusion that surrounds these important programs. Hire more staff and to invest in technology to expedite final decisions.

Fact: It is estimated that 75% of people with disabilities are unemployed or underemployed-far below the rate of people without disabilities.

8. What steps would you take to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities in Ohio?

I believe the state government must recruit, hire, retain and advance workers with disabilities.

I believe in providing private-sector employers with resources to employ workers with disabilities and encourage private sector employers to use existing tax benefits to hire more workers with disabilities.

Fact: Federal and state law requires that students with disabilities are educated in the least restrictive environment (in buildings and classrooms alongside their peers who do not have disabilities), and that appropriate supports and accommodations are provided in those settings to ensure success. Further, these laws expect that students with disabilities are educated within the regular education curriculum.

9. How will you ensure that these laws are enforced in Ohio and that students with disabilities are educated in the regular education environment with the regular education curriculum?

Work with the Ohio Department of Education to see that Ohio follows all Federal and State Laws that pertain to students with disabilities. As the father of two sons with autism, this already a main focus and goal of mine.

Fact: Many Ohioans with disabilities rely on public transportation to go to work, to medical appointments, to shop, and to do simple daily activities. Ohio’s transportation systems are often cumbersome, and in many areas of the state, non-existent. Without it people with disabilities must rely on family or be confined to their homes.

10. What would you do to expand access to affordable transportation for people with disabilities, especially in rural areas?

Some options that can increase transit options for people with disabilities include flexroutes, which allow for fixed transit routes to add on additional stops as needed, and voucher programs, which allow riders to decide who drives them, where and when.

By combining transportation services to different special populations as well as the general public, people can be served by routes that are close to where they live rather than routes funded by the agency that serves them. Communities may want to explore the use of vehicles, such as school buses, that are only used part time to provide services for people with disabilities. Strategies that partner transit providers with volunteer or paid individual drivers to provide needed transit are another option to consider.

Secretary Of State Candidate
Responses from Maryellen O’Shaughnessy, Democrat

1. Will you include people with disabilities as part of your political team and as advisors on relevant issues?

Yes. I just recently advocated for a blind friend to become a part of my city’s transportation and pedestrian advisory body. Access to polling places is a relevant and pressing issue for Ohio’s disabled. I received many calls in previous years as a Columbus City Council member fro people who have had difficulty with access to polling places. I advocated to the Board of Elections to work to eliminate the problems.

2. Do you believe that people with disabilities should be the primary decision makers in their own lives?

Yes.

Fact: People with disabilities often face barriers to polling places and to voting equipment as well as attitudinal barriers to the election process. While absentee voting is an option, every citizen has the right to go to their polling location to cast their vote with privacy.

3. What would you do to ensure equal access to the voting process by people with disabilities?

I will work with all 88 County Boards of Election to make every polling place accessible for all. As Chief Elections Officer, my staff must provide information and assistance to the Boards in complying with federal law. I would consider employing a disabled access expert to advise Boards on how to comply with the law without overly impacting their already stressed budgets.

U.S. Senate Candidate
Responses from Eric Deaton, Constitution Party of Ohio

1. Will you include people with disabilities as part of your political team and as advisors on relevant issues?

I will choose the best people available to me each time I pick somebody. There will be no discrimination since I’m looking for the best fit to make my team successful. I know that there are many well qualified individuals that have some sort of disability and they will be given equal chances based on the criteria for each position.

2. Do you believe that people with disabilities should be the primary decision makers in their own lives?

Yes-when the disabilities are of a physical nature only, but those with mental disabilities do require the guidance of family, POA or another responsible party.

3. Would you support Visitability legislation (single-family, new construction with one no-step entrance, accessible bathroom on first floor level, 32″ doorways and aisles maneuverable by a person in a wheelchair)?

Homes are built for the people buying them and can be built anyway they want within reasonable building codes meant to ensure public safety. Our society shouldn’t force private owners to build items into their homes that they don’t want or require. Public access laws already apply to public places.

Fact: People with disabilities often face barriers to polling places and to voting equipment as well as attitudinal barriers to the election process. While absentee voting is an option, every citizen has the right to go to their polling location to cast their vote with privacy.

4. What would you do to ensure equal access to the voting process by people with disabilities?

Polling places should be selected that provide for this access up front. There should be no need for special construction if this is put into the planning process from the beginning. For exceptions there should be provisions made for the disabled voters to vote at the site in an adjacent location that is accessible.

Fact: Approximately twenty-seven percent of non-institutionalized people with disabilities aged 18 to 64 live in families with incomes below the poverty line, compared to 8.8% of men and women without disabilities. The median income for this disabled population is $27,200 as opposed to an average of $57,800 of citizens who do not have a disability. Housing that is affordable and accessible is not readily available.

5. What would your policies do to increase the availability of affordable, accessible and safe housing for Ohioans with disabilities?

I am running for Federal office and do not find this to be a Federal issue. This is a state issue and at that level I do support some basic systems to help those born with physical handicaps. Handicaps in themselves do not mean that the individuals require public help. Public help is not something that should be guaranteed and should be based on needs. Those that can work should be helped to get jobs in fields that they can contribute to society in a meaningful way.

Fact: According to 2008 statistics from the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services, Ohio ranked in the bottom ten states with regard to long term care living arrangements (institutional placements versus community based placements with supports and services). In 1999 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that confinement in an institution is a violation of civil rights, when life in an integrated, community setting with supports and services is possible.

6. What policies do you support to facilitate Ohioans with disabilities to live in their own homes and communities versus in institutions, nursing homes, developmental centers, and ICF/MRs?

When public funding is used to help those with disabilities it needs to be efficient and well spent. Facilities with staff on site and built to accommodate these individuals makes a lot of sense. Where the cost is no different to help one live in a private home, then that should be a personal choice. When the cost is much better to be in a special facility, then that should be the public offering. These public facilities should offer some means of providing for interaction with the public at large.

Fact: Medicaid waivers allow people to live in their communities and “waive” institutional placement driven by Medicaid rules. Waivers exist for people with developmental disabilities under the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities, and for individuals with physical disabilities under the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Currently in Ohio there are waiting lists for most of these waivers.

7. What would you do to eliminate waiting lists for waivers?

Those already receiving this assistance should be periodically checked for compliance and there continued needs for it. Waivers in themselves are special conditions and there is limited funding available for them. With increased debts at all levels of government this will probably not improve much. Those who are financially able to provide for themselves should be doing so on their own.

Fact: It is estimated that 75% of people with disabilities are unemployed or underemployed-far below the rate of people without disabilities.

8. What steps would you take to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities in Ohio?

Training and a service to match their skills to jobs they can perform would be a great start. The cost of these programs would be more than off set by getting these citizens working and contributing to society instead of being entirely dependent on it.

Fact: Federal and state law requires that students with disabilities are educated in the least restrictive environment (in buildings and classrooms alongside their peers who do not have disabilities), and that appropriate supports and accommodations are provided in those settings to ensure success. Further, these laws expect that students with disabilities are educated within the regular education curriculum.

9. How will you ensure that these laws are enforced in Ohio and that students with disabilities are educated in the regular education environment with the regular education curriculum?

This is once again a state issue and not a federal one. Some disabilities will not interfere with learning in a regular classroom environment, but some do. When there is a negative effect on the normal student population at large, then special facilities and rooms will continue to be required. We can’t afford to negatively affect the majority of the student’s education for the minority of special student’s benefits. We can offer the same educational level opportunities, but in a specialized manner that caters to the specific circumstances.

Fact: Many Ohioans with disabilities rely on public transportation to go to work, to medical appointments, to shop, and to do simple daily activities. Ohio’s transportation systems are often cumbersome, and in many areas of the state, non-existent. Without it people with disabilities must rely on family or be confined to their homes.

10. What would you do to expand access to affordable transportation for people with disabilities, especially in rural areas?

These are really state and local issues and hat is who typically provides regional transit authorities. These systems, when available, do cater to those with disabilities. Overall, lower tax burdens for the people of our nation would help with increasing charitably to organizations that provide services such as this.

Those with disabilities will never find life fair and neither will their families. Extra effort and hard work in day to day life will always be required of these families, but remember that our rewards for a just and faithful life are in heaven and not on Earth.

Zoo Day 2010

See more photos on Facebook

While the numbers aren’t in yet, anyone standing in the main plaza at the Toledo Zoo looking in any direction would say it was packed!

“Always a good day and a great collaboration.” said Jennifer Brassil, Events Coordinator for the Zoo, as she was coordinating getting three news teams to the Ability Center booth.

The weather was great, a mix of sun and clouds, no rain. Perfect day to bring 100 community partners together to share their products, wisdom and energy. What a day to honor the 20th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. And what a day to celebrate the 90th birthday of the Ability Center.

Zoo Day 2010

“Collaboration is the key.” explained Dan Wilkins, Director of Public Relations and Community Partnerships, “When an accessible environment is provided, like this beautiful Zoo, we create an opportunity for a large number of us to come together, share what we know so far, and send so many fellow community members away enlightened; knowing more than they did when they came. It can’t be done singularly. It truly takes a village.

Zoo Day 2010

Thank you to the 101.1, the River for broadcasting live, Suzanne Carroll, for her passion and dedication to the cause, TARTA for their advertising support, Buckeye Cable for the commercial, and the Blade and Free Press for the phenomenal ad placement. Thank you to all of our community partners who manned a booth, to the staff of the Toledo Zoo for making it seamless again this year, and, a special thank you to the Ability Center staff for their energy and support to the participants throughout the day, especially Barb Manning, who has literally spent months coordinating everything.

Zoo Day 2010

Lastly, and most importantly, thank you to the community members, with and without disabilities, their families and friends. This was a true success because you all came out today. Kudos to you from all of us. Without you, The Ability Center would be just a building.

Happy Anniversary ADA!! Happy Birthday ACT!! We hope to see you all next year in late July. Have a great year and call us when you need us.

Zoo Day 2010

Goon Squad and Act Staff at ACT

Amazing what can happen when you bring together a bunch of young people with good hearts, strong backs and some summer free-time with a few old guys who really know what they’re doing. Throw in a project or two that will literally change the lives of others for the better and you have another Ability Center Ramp Build.

Just “another day at the office” for ACT’s Home Accessibility Manager, Charlie Martin, and his crew, can mean so many things but it usually means something good for someone in our service area. And it can be almost anywhere and with almost anyone.

Working Together:

This time, (our 4^th year working together) it was with the self-proclaimed “Goon Squad”, a group of 11 young folks from the Catholic Heart Work Camp, a national organization that gathers kids from all over the country to do work projects needing to be done by area non-profits. The campers, totaling around 300, called Cardinal Stritch High School home for four days. Our group, from as far away as Wisconsin, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Pennsylvania & Cleveland, OH, were very ambitious and came ready to work.

and Getting It Done!

“These kids were industrious. They came in and, over the span of four days, helped us build and install two ramps and construct a third.” Charlie recalls, “They then helped us tear down a few old sheds that were ready to go, do some home repairs and painting, and some weeding in our wildflower garden.  They waterproofed our picnic tables and still had energy to do a bit of landscaping. We now have a beautiful mulch heart around a copse of trees in our picnic area. Very cool.”

And on to Ramp Two

Also very cool: one of the ramp recipients came with his wife to the CHWC closing night festivities to tell the kids how thankful they were for the ramp they could never have afforded. This family had also provided lunch for the crew as their ramp was being built.

Using grant dollars from various agencies and public programs, the Ability Center completes, on average, around 60 ramp and home modifications a year. Including those we outsource to our building partners it is closer to 100. “We can certainly build and install these ramps by ourselves,” says Charlie, “but we can stretch our ramping dollars so much farther with help from volunteers like these compassionate and energetic young people. And while it makes the work a lot more interesting and fun for us, it is empowering, educational and rewarding for those who pitch in. It’s a powerful and meaningful opportunity for all involved.”

Making a Difference! Always Fun

The Ability Center does its very best work when it works together with its many Community Partners. If you or your organization would like to become a Partner; to be a part of our Volunteer efforts, please call Amy Kerchevall, our Adaptive Equipment and Events Coordinator at the number above or by email: akerchevall@abilitycenter.org

Kids Create A Heart at ACT

This year’s theme for the Catholic Heart Work Camp was “Cadence: Life With A New Rhythm.”

All we here at The Ability Center can say is, “Thank you, CHWC, for your energy, laughter, love and support. It was music for our soul.” Please visit CHWC’s website to find out more about their mission and efforts: www.heartworkcamp.com

ACT's New Heart and the Kids who gave it to us

Water, Cars, Friends and fun

Okay, here’s a recipe for FUN!: a really warm day, a bunch of teens, a couple of hoses, buckets, sponges and soap. Throw in a long line of cars and vans and “BAM!”, you’ve got yourself a fun time AND a car wash rolled into one. You also have a recipe for making a little dough for the Youth and Transition Department, money that will be used to host this year’s Youth events.

Those who waited for their vehicles to come out all sparkly clean and looking good had an opportunity to buy Brownies, Rice Krispie treats, etc. Yum!

Kids washing cars

Kids washing cars

All in all, members of the Camp Cricket Independent Living Program raised $210.17! Woo-hoo! Money well earned.

HRC Director, Ash Lemons, explains ramp program

Unprecedented. At least, in the memories of those of us long a part of the Center. Never has a Director of the Rehabilitation Services Commission visited the Ability Center, especially not with the same intent as that of Michael Rench, current Director. As part of his goal to personally visit and dialogue with every Independent Living Center and Deaf Services Center in the state, Director Rench spent a few hours, Monday, with the staff of ACT.

After an orientation of the Center’s philosophy, goals and successes with Center Executive Director, Tim Harrington, he toured the building and grounds, including the Housing Resource Center, where HRC Director, Ash Lemons, explained the workings of it’s Ramp and Nursing Home Transition programs. He then enjoyed observing the first day of Camp Cricket with Director of Youth and Transition, Dawn Petersen, and Camp Director, Shannon Twiggs.

Camp Director, Shannon Twiggs, and Director of Youth/Transition, Dawn Petersen share Camp stories

He ended his morning with a long, open and honest dialogue with staff, ultimately asking two questions: what can RSC do differently to better meet the needs of the Center and its consumers and, what has the Center to offer RSC to help it better accomplish its goal of making lives better for people living with significant disabilities in Ohio?

“It was a pleasant experience listening to Ash talk about the Center, the good people that work here and the phenomenal work being done.” recalled Mr. Rench to the staff, “What I was hearing reflected the passion and soul of the organization. It’s what I listen for; what gets and keeps me going.”

He went on to lament the many agencies he’s experienced over the course of his professional career that have lost touch with their ‘soul’. He then pointed to the noise coming from the dozens of young campers and counselors in the gym. “There lies the real heart and soul of this agency: the people you serve, the people you help to ‘get a life.’”

Director Rench talks philosophy with ACT staff

Michael Rench has a vision. And, it is a vision very much like ours. He knows the importance of seeing the whole person, in the context of their whole lives … not just where they work, but where and how they play, who and how many people they know and interact with, where they live and how they get around. After all, it’s hard to stay employed, to keep enthusiastic about a job, if your world is full of obstacles and out of balance.

He finds many of the answers in creating viable partnerships. Working together, he feels, Centers for Independent Living, RSC and other human service agencies can work to create rich, fulfilling lives and bright futures for people living with disabilities. “It won’t happen overnight,” he is quick to remind us, “It will take time … but it can happen.”

We believe you, Director Rench, and we’re beside you. Now, where do we begin?

Director Rench has a few truly innovative initiatives underway. Stay tuned and we’ll keep you posted as they unfold.

Two important provision of the insurance market reforms that go into effect immediately. These include prohibition of denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions in children and imposition of lifetime caps is prohibited.

As of 2014 when many permanent provisions go into effect, states must have health insurance exchanges (or alternatives) through which people and some employers may purchase health insurance. In addition, most people will be required to have health insurance unless they are eligible for health care through government programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, Department of Veterans Affairs and military service. There will be refundable tax credits for some people based on income and tax credits for some small businesses that provide health insurance to their employees.

Below is a summary of some of the provisions that have an impact on individuals with disabilities and dates in which they go into effect.

Insurance Market Reforms

1.    No Discrimination Based on Pre-Existing Conditions

As of 2014, the law prohibits insurance companies from refusing to insure an individual because of a pre-existing condition. Therefore, an individual could not be refused because of a developmental disability or any condition associated with it, such as a heart defect.

In addition to the prohibition against denying coverage because of a pre-existing condition, insurers will no longer be allowed to charge higher premiums based on a disabling condition, withdraw coverage after someone is injured or acquires a new condition, or impose annual caps on benefits. Most of these provisions go into effect for children in September 2010.

2.    Lifetime and Annual Benefits Caps

Lifetime caps on benefits are prohibited immediately. Between now and 2014, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) may restrict annual caps on benefits. As of 2014, both lifetime and annual caps on benefits are prohibited.

3.    Temporary High-Risk Pools

Between now and 2014, many people with pre-existing conditions are eligible to purchase coverage through high risk pools. Unfortunately, to be eligible to purchase this insurance, people must have been without any health coverage for at least six months.

Home & Community-Based Services

1.    Community Living Assistance Services and Supports -CLASS

Beginning in 2011, the CLASS provisions, which establish a national voluntary, insurance program, will take effect. In this program, people with functional limitations can receive benefits of not less than an average of $50 per day to pay for services and supports of their choice that help them with activities of daily living. To qualify, people will have had to pay premiums, by means of a voluntary payroll deduction plan, for at least five years. Additionally, they need to have worked for at least three years and earned at least one quarter of credit towards social security.

Individuals do not have to “spend-down” or exhaust their resources to qualify for this program. The Department of Health and Human Services is required to develop an actuarially sound benefit plan so that the program is self-sustaining.

2.    Community First Choice Option

This option allows states to provide home and community-based services and supports as the mandatory program for individuals with disabilities with incomes up to 150% of the Federal Poverty Level, who would otherwise require institutional care. To encourage states to choose this option, states that chose to implement this program will receive an additional six percent in the federal government’s share of Medicaid costs (referred to as the Federal Matching Assistance Percentage or FMAP) for five years.

3.    Money Follows the Person

Extends the popular Money Follows the Person demonstration grants until September 2016. These grants help state Medicaid programs defray the cost of moving eligible Medicaid recipients who have resided in an in-patient facility for a minimum number of consecutive days into community-based settings.

4.    Home and Community Based Services in Medicaid

Makes it easier for state Medicaid programs to offer home and community based services by allowing states to do so by amending their state plan, rather than having to apply for a Medicaid waiver, which can be a lengthy process.

Essential Benefits

For some health insurance plans, including those offered in the exchanges, and individual and small group plans, the law mandates coverage of at least the following essential benefits: ambulatory patient services, emergency services, hospitalization, maternity and newborn care, mental health and substance use disorder services (including behavioral health treatment), prescription drugs, rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices, laboratory services, preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management, and pediatric services including oral and vision care.

HHS has the authority to further define essential benefits consistent with these required elements and is expected to do so. If HHS adds essential benefits, the law requires HHS to take into account the health care needs of people with disabilities and other diverse groups. We will continue to make our voices heard as HHS goes through the process of defining essential benefits.

Additional Important Changes
Substantial Expansion of People Eligible for Medicaid

As of 2014, health care reform expands Medicaid to cover non-elderly, childless adults for the first time and adults with incomes up to 133% of the Federal Poverty Level. It also expands Medicaid to cover children in families with incomes up to 133% of the Federal Poverty level, and it extends Early, Periodic, Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) mandates to all children on Medicaid including those in managed care. EPSDT services address developmental disabilities and delays. States will receive an increased Federal matching share for the first few years. In 2009, 133% of the Federal Poverty Level for individuals was $14,404 and for families of four was $29,327.

Between now and 2014, states have the option of extending Medicaid coverage to these groups.
In addition, states are required to maintain their current services under Medicaid and have incentives to cover preventive services and immunizations without cost-sharing to adults under Medicaid.

Some changes were made regarding the Medicare 2-year waiting period. Under existing law, people found eligible to receive disability benefits under Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) must wait two years before they can receive Medicare benefits. This causes great hardship and often death for individuals who must go without insurance.

Now, some individuals in the two year waiting period may be able to obtain health coverage through the temporary high risk pool or through the health insurance exchanges once they go into effect (which cannot discriminate on the basis of pre-existing conditions) or they may qualify for Medicaid under its extended eligibility standards.

Training of Future Health Practitioners

Requires that medical professionals receive disability awareness training to help reduce the health disparities that exist for people with disabilities. Grants and other incentives are available to develop programs and model curricula to train health professionals and increase the number of health professionals (including dentists) trained to meet the health care needs of individuals with disabilities.

Data Collection and Analysis to Understand and Address Health Disparities

Requires the federal government to collect health survey data from people with disabilities to enable better understanding of the health of people with disabilities compared to other minority groups.

Also requires the government to collect survey data from health care providers in order to learn where people with disabilities receive their care, the number of providers with accessible facilities and equipment, and the number of health care professionals trained in meeting the health care needs of patients with disabilities. Additionally, the law requires the development of recommendations for quality measures to improve the quality of health care for individuals with disabilities.

Post via Sue Hetrick, Director of Public Policy
National Down Syndrome Congress

Another Quality Ramp Going in

With Spring comes a “full-speed ahead” attitude in the Ability Center’s Housing Resource Center.

“When adding up the projects completed, we typically count from the beginning of our Fiscal Year, which is October 1st”, states Ash Lemons, ACT’s Director of the Housing Resource Center (HRC), “but, once the snow is gone and the ground has thawed, we kick it into high gear. While the office and Coordinators are busy plotting throughout the Winter months, planning out the year’s heavy schedule, the Ramp and Home Modification guys start chomping at the bit in mid-March. There’s nothing like showing up at someone’s house in the morning knowing that your efforts over that day and maybe the next are going to transform their world … literally change their life for the better.”

Since Oct. 1, 2009, the HRC team has completed 40 Home Accessibility Projects. Along with physical support of volunteer organizations and financial support from various grants and agencies, they are projecting to complete an additional 74 projects prior to Christmas. 114 projects … in one year! 114 lives (plus families) changed. Powerful.

Providing new found independence and opportunity is always a rewarding experience. Removing barriers is just a small part of the process. To explore more about the agencies involved or how you or your group can get involved, please visit the HRC page listed down the left side of this post, or contact Amy Kerchevall, Adaptive Equipment and Events Coordinator at the number above, ext. 253, or by email: akerchevall@abilitycenter.org.

Think elections aren’t worth your time and effort? Think again.

According to an article in the Columbus Dispatch on Saturday, January 30, 2010 both Republicans and Democrats raised record campaign gifts in 2009.

Representative Jay Goyal, D-Mansfield, the Democrat’s caucus campaign chairman, said that the amount they have raised “represents the outpouring of support for our caucus’ accomplishments and priorities in fighting for middle-class Ohioans”.

House Minority Leader William G. Batchelder, R-Medina, commenting on the record contributions raised by House Republicans, said that “Ohioans are fed up with the quagmire of the current leadership and are looking for representation in Columbus from people who share their values and truly understand the districts”.

The article states that Armond Budish, Speaker of the House and fundraising leader for the Democratic Caucus, accepted contributions of $10,000 or more from nine unions, FirstEnergy, the Acedemy of Nursing Homes and the Dental Association. His biggest individual donors include the family of Cincinnati nursing home operator Barry Bortz (($22,500), Parma nursing-home operator Bruce Daskal ($10,000) and the family of Lyndhust real-estate developer Mitchell Schneider ($24,500).

In the Senate Democrats are in a deep 21-12 minority and continue to struggle to build financial support. Senate Republicans have more than $2.7 million in the bank, nine times as much as democrats.

Senate President Bill M. Harris, a term-limited Ashland Republican and his No.2, Senator Tom Neihaus, R-New Richmond, have accepted $10,000 or more from a variety of sources, including Akron-based charter school operator David Brennan ($24,150), the Wholesale Beer and Wine Association ($12,000), legal/lobbying firm Calfee Halter ($15,000), and American Electric Power ($13,895).

Follow the money…Elected officials are alligned with those who get and keep them elected, and legislative agendas and priorities are influenced accordingly.

Jim Dickson, Vice-President of the American Association Of People With Disabilities, states that only two factors have power in elections…organized people and organized money. We obviously don’t have money but we could have organized people if only it were a priority.

Can we really afford NOT to make voting a priority?

Because Jim will be in town the day before the conference, ODVC is taking this opportunity to discuss with him Ohio’s activities around the May Primary and the November General Election. We look forward to as many ODVC members, and other interested parties, as possible in joining us for this important discussion/planning session. We must become more proactive and organized in order to become a powerful voting block in Ohio.

The meeting will be:
Wednesday, January 20 at 3:00 pm.
Ohio SILC Office
670 Morrison Rd, Suite 200
Gahanna, OH 43230

You may participate “live” or you may phone in via conference call. Please RSVP to Sue Hetrick if you will be calling in and she will provide you with the phone number.

shetrick@abilitycenter.org
(866) 575-8055
(614) 892-0390

The mission of the Ohio Disability Vote Coalition is to maximize the political power of Ohioans with disabilities through nonpartisan voter education, registration and participation of all people with disabilities at all levels of the election process.