Developmental/Intellectual Disabilities

This issue paper explores how consumers can be involved in monitoring community services for people with disabilities. It explores the challenges of finding real roles for people with disabilities as well as other barries, but concludes that goal is worthy of the struggles.

This paper was developed to consider possible approaches to interpreting the concept of individual assessments as provided in the Olmstead Decision. While the process of carrying out an assessment raises basic issues that are integral to a public determination of whether an individual qualifies for a good, benefit, or status, there appear to be two types of assessments that states need to consider. This paper identifies the two classes of assessments issues for consideration in both cases.

These materials are from the national conference sponsored by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and held in Nashville on May 2-3, 2002. The goal of the conference was to provide an opportunity for information exchange among decision-makers in the design and implementation of quality management/improvement. This conference was designed to facilitate communication around quality management among state staff, federal agency staff, providers, and consumers/advocates.

These materials are from the national conference sponsored by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and held in Nashville on May 2-3, 2002. The goal of the conference was to provide an opportunity for information exchange among decision-makers in the design and implementation of quality management/improvement. This conference was designed to facilitate communication around quality management among state staff, federal agency staff, providers, and consumers/advocates.

This report describes the State of Pennsylvania’s Family Caregiver Support Program (FCSP), administered by the Department of Aging, that offers a comprehensive service package with specific funding and services for family caregivers. FCSP uses state & recently available federal funds to allow the caregiver to choose the services needed to help care for an older relative at home and provide financial assistance with out-of-pocket expenses. Early program evaluation found the services effective.

The Alabama Council for Developmental Disabilities oversees activities in advocacy, capacity building, and systems change. These initiatives contribute to a coordinated comprehensive system of community services that are directed by people with developmental disabilities and/or their families. The Council is a membership organization. Check out the website for more specific information.

The Promising Practices Bulletin highlights Independent Monitoring for Quality (IM4Q), one of Pennsylvania’s quality management strategies in its Developmental Disability programs. IM4Q consists of of an independent review team that is composed of individuals with disabilities, family members, and other concerned citizens who are independent of the services being reviewed.

Description of LTC system for elders and younger persons with disabilities in Alabama in 2001

This introduction to root cause analysis, and its adaptation to developmental disabilities systems, has been commissioned by the Human Services Research Institute (HSRI) in an effort to assist state DD program administrators enhance their risk management and quality improvement activities. It is designed to provide guidance on the use of root cause analysis to individuals charged with managing programs and larger systems that serve and support persons with developmental disabilities.

In Executive Order 13217, President Bush affirmed his commitment to eliminate barriersto equality for people with disabilities and ordered federal assistance to states to swiftly implement the Olmstead holding. This Policy Brief reflects on Olmstead and describes the New Freedom Initiative.