Physical Disabilities

What areas of quality are important to individuals with disabilities, families and stakeholders in Ohio? The framework illustrates the areas of quality to be addressed by a functioning quality information management system. Organized by Domains, each section is accompanied by an Outcome. Next, the Core Indicators express how the system will know if the Outcome is present. Performance Measures establish the criteria for measurement and calculation. Review this outline of performance criteria.

The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) are two of the nation’s most important federal laws relating to the education of children. Lately, these two laws have taken on new importance to parents of students with disabilities. Because it’s important that parents understand the requirements of NCLB, The National Center on Educational Outcomes has developed a guide for families which resources centers might find useful to disseminate.

HHS announced on September 15, 2006, the award of $20 million in grants to states to develop programs for people with disabilities or long term illnesses. The eight states receiving a 2006 award are California, Virginia, Michigan, North Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Kansas. The award will help states and territories “rebalance” their long-term support programs to help people with chronic illness or disabilities to reside in their homes and participate fully in community life.

As part of the 2004 Real Choice grants, New Hampshire and Wisconsin proposed to complete a feasibility study and then develop LIFE Account programs. With no federal legislation creating a savings program, grantees are restricted to modified program that works under existing law. This paper considers six options: Section 1115 Demonstrations, Waivers under Section 1915(c) & 1915(b), Section 1915(i) & 1915(j) State Plan programs, and Section 1937 Benchmark programs and suggests some next steps.

The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) Conference was held in August 2006 in Chicago. A one day session focused on Aging and Disability Resource Centers. The day was broken into three sections: an AoA/CMS Overview, State Profiles from Ohio, Indiana, Iowa and Illinois and an audience consultation session. Review the overview slides and the state summaries which explore Single Point of Entry and navigating the long-term care systems maze.

The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) conducted an end-of-grant de-briefing for its stakeholders. The purpose was to give the grant’s pilot participants (Heart of Texas Council of Governments; Central Texas Council of Governments; Texoma Council of Governments) an opportunity to discuss their 3-year projects and articulate lessons learned. The intent of the system navigator grant was to help all persons in their community navigate the maze of long-term services.

This guide describes Medicaid services that are designed to help individuals who are at risk of institutionalization remain in their homes. It describes the range of home and community-based services available through Medicaid and can help consumers, families, and health care professionals make informed decisions about long-term care services. This brochure was developed as part of their Real Choice grant in 2005 where over 7.500 copies were distributed. Review their latest 2006 version.

This tool is designed to equip consumers with the tools necessary to develop a job description, to screen and interview potential employers (personal assistants), and to train new personal assistants as well as address consumers physical needs, leisure and community needs. There are over 30 checklist forms to help determine need. This publication was produced by the Tennessee Personal Assistance Supports and Services (PASS) program.

The Tennessee Personal Assistance Supports and Services program developed this comprehensive guide to assist individuals in self-direction. The guide provides people with disabilities the information and tools needed to hire and manage a Personal Assistant. The guide discusses the differences between hiring individually or through an agency, how to process a self-assessment, offers job descriptions and performance expectations, and other checklists.

Through the Tennessee Personal Assistance Supports and Services (PASS) Program, people with disabilities will have the opportunity to self-direct the care and assistance they receive in order to live full, productive lives in their own homes and communities. This guide is designed as a handbook for agencies and mentors and offers practical information about the benefits of the mentoring process, describes roles, and offers training guidelines.