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Disability Policy Consortium Weekly Update
Dear william,
I'm opening our email this week with an invitation to join the members of the DPC at our annual meeting on January 5, 2011. We will be holding the event at 1199SEIU offices at 150 Mt. Vernon Street, Dorches
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| Tis the Season - photo by Bill Henning |
ter MA. If you MCDHH, you know where we are. The event starts at six. Please RSVP by email us so we can get a head count to plan food.
I have to apologize to Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Maura Healey. She called me this week to say that she had made phone calls to people responsible for the MWRA water crisis with the Deval Patrick Administration. Thanks for doing that, Maura.
Our Advocates column this week is from an energetic volunteer we met during the Census Work. Ruth Unger is concerned that SSDI restrictions keep people with disabilities in poverty and thwart ambitions to work. We are beginning to map out a strategy to approach our Congressional delegation. If you'd like to help us, please email us at SSDI@dpcma.org.
The Calendar is full as organizations try to get everything in before the holidays. The DPC will be meeting with Commissions on Disability in Chatham on Tuesday, November 30. The Employment Now Coalition is meeting on December 10 at the Cambridge Senior Center on Mass Ave.
The week we're featuring both ends of the age spectrum in Learning to Fish. Sped Watch is an increasing active voice for special education. Mass Home Care covers the elderly population and represents a frequent ally of the disability community on policy issues.
Bill Allan
Disability Policy Consortium
wfallan@dpcma.org| 617-542-3522 |
Editorial: All About You
This week I'm going to lead with one of my favorite quotes:
"People with disabilities are too damn nice."
In case you are wondering who said that, I have to confess it my favorite quote of something I said.
We opened the DPC Update on October 4, 2010 with an Editorial from John Winske "Are you a Complainer, An Advocate or a Hero".
I have to say from the response that no one within the reach of the DPC Update has a problem with the health care system. No complainers, not advocates, no heros!
Everyone must be being seen by their doctor quickly, there's always an accessible examining table and scale ready, Deaf individuals don't have to rely on family and friends for interpreters because one is always available, people's ailments are not
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playing a secondary role to their disabilities in the examining room, etc. Life in the health care setting must be good.
Why do I say this: because there wasn't a single response to being a hero. If the paragraph above doesn't represent what you find happening with your health care, then...
Be a hero here.
The DPC legal team is meeting on November 29 to discuss our next steps regarding health and well being within the Massachusetts health care system. It's not too late to be represented.
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Advocates Corner: SSDI Income
Ruth Unger, DPC Volunteer
"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." Dr. Seuss
I am trying to increase the amount that persons who are considered "able disabled" can earn in the workplace while maintaining their SSDI and health benefits without additional cost to the government and will actually raise revenue.
This proposal is intended to generate support for the Benefit Offset Program. The amounts we are currently allowed to earn are insufficient and calculated nationally without regard to an areas cost of living.
I. THE PROBLEM:
A Benefit Offset program was originally proposed in 2005. It is a Social Security proposal intended to provide incentives to persons with a disability to work and to encourage employers to hire. Currently this program is still being studied.
The amount of money a person with a disability is allowed to earn, while on SSDI, is insufficient to enable self sufficiency and allow people to continue to contribute their skills to the economy in a meaningful way. This is also tied into the fact that businesses and organizations are often not providing health care and other needed benefits.
This causes persons with a disability to apply for food stamps, energy subsidies, and require subsidized housing. What I am proposing is a revenue generator.
III. ADVOCACY AND TEAM BUILDING:
I would like consumers experiencing these issues to join together, families of people with disabilities, non profits working with this population, people from Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC), Disability Policy Consortium (DPC) and others who think this makes sense as well as lawyers and advocates for the disabled.
Social Security Administration (SSA) employees working on this problem need to be informed and involved. As we further develop a list we would contact and work with these various groups.
Politicians should understand that although there would be huge benefits in allowing working people with a disability to reach their full earning potential, there may be people needed to administer the program, just as there currently are in Social Security's $2 for $1 program. People working as job coaches and speaking to corporations will be needed to enable people with disabilities to become productive quickly and eliminate initial training time. This is an added value to employers.
This is a call to attract the appropriate "able disabled" workers by letting them know of the new possibilities, via TV, internet, papers, radio, and mail. If you are interested in working on this and sharing your story, please contact me via e-mail at runger@dpcma.org.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not represent the views of MRC or its staff. The programs and work incentives, which SSA has, are very complex. Should anyone have questions regarding the effect that earnings would have on their SSI or SSDI benefits, they are encouraged to contact the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance program in their area....
Read the Rest
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Learning to Fish: SPED Watch
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"Impediments to learning vary greatly among those classified as disabled from those whose reading ability has been slowed by dyslexia . . . to those with severe autism that may not be amenable to treatment. In those profound cases where an incurable mental disease or defect is diagnosed, the condition does not present an educational issue it is a mental problem and must be treated as such and not charge the taxpayers in an attempt to alleviate the condition by disguising it as a special needs matter."
Bernard Manning, Hingham, November 25, 2010
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Unless we respond to counter Mr. Manning's bias, his opinion will stand unchallenged and everyone who reads this commentary will have heard no opposing view. SPEDWatch is the only group that is organized to address this type of press - press that reinforces the social devaluation of children with special needs and allows schools to continue violating special education laws with impunity.
One sure way to influence people's views about students with special needs and their educational rights is to engage in public dialogue. Television, radio, and print media have tremendous power to shape the public's perception of these issues. We have an opportunity to influence public perception now by posting responses to this commentary.
Educate the public. Don't let the opinions of people like Mr. Manning stand unchallenged. You don't have to write a long comment, just a few words will do. But it is absolutely critical that you speak up. Don't leave it to others to fight for these students. There is no one else.
IMPORTANT: Please read the entire commentary before posting your remarks so that you are speaking in context. Please also review the SPEDWatch Discussion Guidelines before posting to be sure your words have the desired effect.
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SPEDWatch is a 501(c)3 non-profit special education watchdog group functioning as an activist movement for students' special education rights. Our mission is simple: to secure the educational rights of Massachusetts students with disabilities, ages 3-21. All we're asking is that these students be given the education to which they are legally and morally entitled.
"The ultimate tragedy of Birmingham
was not the brutality of the bad people,
but the silence of the good people."
Martin Luther King, Jr.
To learn more:
Phone (978) 433-5983
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Learning to Fish: Mass Home Care
21 Pages of Light Holiday Reading?
No way. This is the December issue of Mass Home Care's AT HOME newsletter, and
its full of stories that are disturbing and provocative. Including
. A $500,000 cut to a state program that saves $12 million
· Poll shows seniors are confused by what the media calls "Obamacare"
· Older Americans Act swims upstream in Lame Duck Congress
· Mass. Wastes $96 Million on Medicare Hospital Readmissions
· GAO Report: Guardians Are Abusing Their Clients
· Kaiser Foundation: Unnecessary Spending on Elders in Nursing Homes
· Lawsuits Say Medicare Must Pay for "Maintenance" Care
· Tax Breaks for the wealthy "least effective" to stimulate economy
· New Report: 105,200 Grandparents Taking Care on Grandchildren
· Deficit Commission Recommends Social Security Shockers
· Snoopy Drops Long Term Care Insurance
Email info@masshomecare.org to subscribe to AT Home
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On the Calendar: DPC Cape COD meeting
The DPC will be meeting with representative of Cape Cod disability commissions on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 at
Chatham Comm. Center 702 Main St Chatham.
This meeting is open to all. Please join us for a discussion of DPC work and issues germane to the Cape.
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On the Calendar: Payment Reform
State's Health Care Quality and Cost Council
to hold Public Forum on Payment Reform
Members of the Massachusetts Health Care Quality and Cost Council (HCQCC) and its Committee on the Status of Payment Reform Legislation (the Committee) will host a public forum in Shrewsbury on Thursday, December 2nd. Members of the public, including but not limited to, advocates, consumers, providers, employers, health plans and the press, are encouraged to attend.
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WHAT:
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Public Forum on Health Care Payment System Delivery Reform
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WHO:
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Massachusetts Health Care Quality and Cost Council
Health care industry stakeholders
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WHEN:
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Thursday, December 2, 2010
12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
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WHERE:
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UMASS Medical School -- Hoagland Pincus Conference Center
222 Maple Avenue
Shrewsbury, MA
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* RSVP:
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Forum Registration Page
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On the Calendar: Emergency Prep
Emergency Readiness for Parents/Guardians of Children
with Disabilities and Special Health Care Needs (ages 0-21)
Free Parent/Guardian Training
Emergencies like floods, fire, storms or pandemic flu can happen to lots of people at once. Emergencies can disrupt daily life.
Be prepared so you know what to do.
Come to a free emergency planning training for parents/guardians of children with disabilities/special health care needs.
Learn about planning for and coping with emergencies. Build an emergency plan for your child. Take home a resource notebook, planning tools and emergency readiness items to begin a supply kit. Refreshments will be served. Participants will be asked to complete a brief survey before and after the training.
Date: Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Time: Registration: 6:00-6:30
Training: 6:30-9:45
Place: Cotting School, 453 Concord Avenue, Lexington
Space is Limited. RSVP is required. RSVP to Mary Castro Summers (781-774-6736 or mcsummers@fcsn.org). She will send you directions and other important information about the training and parking at this location.
Questions? Contact Sue Wolf-Fordham, Project Director, at (781) 642-0275 or susan.wolf-fordham@umassmed.edu
This training is made possible by a grant from the Deborah Munroe Noonan Memorial Research Fund, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee.
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On the Calendar: Employment Now Coalition
Date: Friday, December 10, 2010
Time: Registration: 1:30-3:00
Place: Cambridge Senior Center,
806 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge
Kathy Petkauskos, Senior Program Director at Work Without Limits, who will present the recent report to the Governor entitled, "Recommendations from
Massachusetts Businesses: Increasing Employment Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities."
There will also be briefing on the meeting with Sandra
Borders on the Model Employer program.
This event will be online at www.livestream.com/webshare
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On the Calendar: Health &Wellness
"Uniting Together for Healthy Communities"
Join us on
December 10, 2010
8:15 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Springfield College Brennan Center
(45 Island Pond Road, Springfield, MA 01109)
Keynote Speaker:
Elizabeth Szewczyk
NBC Connecticut's 2010 "Biggest Loser"
Talking about her success in weight loss.
The Arc's health and wellness conference sessions will cover a variety of topics, including:
- Physical health and activities
- Sexuality
- Aging
- Nutrition
- Working with health care professionals
To read details about the conference, click on "Read the Conference Brochure". Use this link to Register.
This conference is FREE for individuals who live or work in the Pioneer Valley (Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden Counties). A $35 fee applies to those who live or work outside the Pioneer Valley. All registrees receive a light breakfast, afternoon refreshments, all speeches and presentations, as well as participation in three breakout sessions.
Come learn valuable information and network with others.
Sincerely,
Amanda D. Nichols
Healthcare Policy Director
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From the Net: Employment
This report describes how people with disabilities fared worse in the Great Recession than the general population. Data from the Current Population Survey (CPS) indicate that between October 2008 and June 2010, job losses among workers with disabilities far exceeded those of workers without disabilities. This resulted in the proportion of employed U.S. workers identified as having disabilities declining by 9 percent.
You are subscribed to Employment Research & Statistics for Disability.gov. For more information visit this link: http://www.disability.gov/employment/research_%26_statistics
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News from the Net: 2010 ADA
The Department of Justice Department has assembled an official online version of the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design (2010 Standards) to bring together the information in one easy-to-access location. It is available in HTML and PDF.
www.ada.gov/2010ADAstandards_index.htm
At this time either the original 1991 ADA Standards for Accessible Design or the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design may be used.
Starting March 15, 2012 only the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design may be used.
Please call or email if you have questions.
New England ADA Center
800-949-4232 voice/tty (New England only)
617-695-0085 voice/tty
adainfo@newenglandada.org |
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![MoreSSDI]( "MoreSSDI") SSDI Income (con't):
The way the benefits are calculated now says that if a person with a disability goes over their SSDI allotment on a monthly basis, they lose their total SSDI which includes health care. I have spoken to employers and because of "difficult scheduling" and lack of flexibility this is a hindrance to hiring people with a disability.
We need to remove impediments to employers willing to hire people with a disability, while allowing people with a disability to work. This situation, as it stands now, discourages both. What follows are some examples:
If I were a teacher with a disability and the salary offer for teaching an individual course or substituting is over the monthly SSDI allotment by as little as $20 I would lose all my benefits or in the latter case have to give up the work. This has actually happened to me.
An accountant could not work extra during tax season. A retail clerk could not work extra for the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holiday season. Monthly income can and does fluctuate for many jobs.
II. WHAT I WANT TO DO:
I want to see movement on this Benefit Offset Program. It has been in the pipeline since 2005 and stalled.
It is a revenue generator, not an additional cost and will bring in needed tax revenue. My proposal follows the $1 payback to the government for every $2 earned guideline that is already in place with Social Security. Let me be clear: keeping benefits should be set to a reasonable amount. President Obama has stated that citizens may be eligible for college scholarships/grants if they are earning under $49,000. That would seem to be a reasonable cut-off point, particularly for those who have worked 30 to 40 years before they were disabled.
People with a disability, able and willing to work, should be allowed to use their skills and training and not have to live in poverty. The software for the offset program is already written since it is the same basic formula used for Social Security recipients.
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