Developmental/Intellectual Disabilities

Medicaid exception trusts are generally exempt under federal law from the usual rules of counting trust income and resources. A Special Needs Trust (SNT) is a type of exception trust established by certain third parties for the benefit of a disabled individual under age 65. This report highlights examples of state laws, forms, eligibility rules, and operating practices states use to properly administer the statutory SNT provision and make recoveries.

Watch Danielle, Alexander, Valeska, and Santara share strategies they used as students with disabilities to successfully graduate from college and get jobs. They discuss their struggles with self-reporting their physical or mental disabilities and negotiating accommodations in school and at work. DVDs are available upon request.

The first of these two presentations is for volunteer partners who help persons with disabilities and their families integrate employment transition into individual education plans (IEP). It is broad in scope, touching on the rights of the individual and family, employment and training resources, and state supports available. The second training focuses on the policy level and describes the goals, participants, outcomes, and keys to success of a statewide youth transition program.

Find here preliminary findings of two demonstration projects aimed at improving employment outcomes of people with developmental disabilities by facilitating multi-sector partnerships. Two projects, one urban and one rural, specifically focused on coordination between supplemental staffing agencies and community rehabilitation programs. The authors conclude that services could be greatly improved via public/private partnerships and list ongoing programs that build on the model.

The authors identified trends regarding the use of 1915(c) waivers to buy assistive technology (AT). They examined participation and expenditures as well as differences in provision between elderly people and individuals with developmental disabilities. Results showed that the use of waivers to fund AT is growing, but more slowly than the overall waiver program. Also, there are significant differences in provision between people with disabilities and older adults as well as between states.

Centers for Independent Living (CILs) have been providing important services to individuals with disabilities since the 1970s. State Medicaid programs have contracted with CILs to provide Medicaid-funded services. This paper examines four important home and community-based services (HCBS) provided by CILs and funded by Medicaid: case management/support coordination; personal assistance services; nursing facility transition services; and equipment and home modification.

People with disabilities searching for jobs and employers looking for qualified workers can connect here for free. As with other employment sites, candidates can browse job listings and post their resumes. Likewise, employers can create recruitment profiles and post open positions. The site is national in scope but currently primarily shows listings in New Jersey.

These kits provide strategic guidance and tools such as checklists and worksheets to help people recruit and retain quality direct support professionals. One version is designed for individuals with disabilities and the other is for their families and support team members. A hard copy with interactive CD is available at the Illinois Direct Support Professional Workforce Initiative website.

This website, from the Institute for Community Inclusion, generates customized charts of state and national disability employment data. It currently includes data sets from state mental retardation/developmental disabilities agencies, the Rehabilitation Services Administration, Social Security Administration, and US Dept. of Labor. Users can compare up to three states variables or download raw data sets. Posted here is a Data Note detailing state expenditures for integrated employment services.

The MN Board on Aging, the agency with primary responsibility for MinnesotaHelp.info, issued this RFP with the goal of contracting an organization to maintain the database underpinning the website. The site is an online directory of services helping people in Minnesota find human services, information and referral, financial assistance, and other forms of help. Proposals must be submitted by Friday, May 30, 2008.