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The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program provides cash assistance to the families of low-income children with disabilities. Program enrollment has risen faster than can be explained by changes in demographics, health, or income. More concerning is that SSI youth suffer low levels of educational attainment and low work rates, and trends are similar for adults who grew up on the program. Additional steps need to be taken to understand and curb these trends.

The health and well-being of people with disabilities rely on a number of factors, including access to health care, work opportunities, and social participation. People with disabilities tend to face special challenges in these areas. A better understanding of these challenges and their negative impact on well-being can help inform national and local efforts to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities.

The CMS National Training Program is hosting an Understanding Medicare webinar on Wednesday, December 3, 2014 from 1:00pm to 3:00pm ET. This webinar is designed for new partners who counsel people with Medicare, and for partners requiring a refresher. Participants will receive a high-level overview of Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance), Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance), Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage), and Medicare Part D (Medicare prescription drug coverage).
 

Sibling relationships and the quality of an older adult's care can be at risk due to unresolved family conflicts, but with the approaches outlined in this webinar, caregiving can make families stronger. Learn practical tips to open discussions between adult siblings to help them improve communication skills, develop teamwork, make decisions together and divide the workload involved in caring for aging parents. Part of the Family Caregiver Support series, this web seminar is free and open to everyone and includes complimentary CEUs.

The presentation will help you think about what questions a person with a disability needs to think about when they are considering their health care options in the ACA Marketplace.

NCOA's Center for Benefits Access is pleased to announce the availability of up to 10 grants for organizations to apply to become Benefits Enrollment Centers (BECs).

Key Dates:
Informational webinar for potential applicants (attendance optional): November 17, 2014 at 3 p.m. ET

Letter of intent to apply (optional) due: November 21, 2014 at 5 p.m. ET

Final proposal due: December 12, 2014 at 5 p.m. ET

Wings for Autism is coming to Baltimore–Washington International Airport!

The Arc Baltimore and Southwest Airlines are teaming up for a Wings for Autism event on December 6, 2014 at Baltimore–Washington International Airport.

Date: Saturday, December 6, 2014
Time: 10:30 am, boarding at 1:15 pm

Registration is full. If you have any questions, please contact Kelly Bell (KBell@thearcbaltimore.org or 410-296-2272).

Medical practices across the country are preparing to undergo transformations that will better enable them to provide evidence-based care, improve patient outcomes, and lower costs. New payment models and other incentive programs are encouraging practices to shift their health care from fee-for-service to value-based purchasing systems, such as accountable care organizations (ACOs), bundled payment models, and patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs).

The Institute of Disability at the University of New Hampshire will be hosting the 2014 Annual Compendium of Disability Statistics and Research-to-Policy Roundtable on Wednesday, December 3, 2014 in Washington, DC.

November 18, 2014 is National Memory Screening Day. This day provides free, confidential memory screenings to individuals concerned about memory loss with the objective of early detection and intervention. The event encourages Americans to participate by offering screenings at no charge and in convenient locations in communities across the nation. National Memory Screening Day also provides a valuable opportunity to learn more about healthy lifestyle choices for successful aging.

Click here to find a screening in your area.