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This report focuses the development of increased access to community transportation services for individuals with disabilities as part of the Access to Services project in Maine. The report includes a summary of grant activity, lessons learned throughout the project, and recommendations for next steps to sustain the work of this grant. The specific project goal was as follows: To make transportation more available and responsive to persons with disabilities.

This report brings together the research, analysis, and conclusions of the work completed under Maine’s Quality Choices grant concerning flexible funding systems for youth with developmental disabilities as they establish themselves in ‘adult’ communities on their road to independent living. The report includes a review of the project history and implementation, research findings Strategies and Recommendations, and a Fiscal Roadmap.

This report is a final list of recommended “dashboard” indicators for use in assessing the quality of HCBS Waiver services. The indicators are organized according to the HCBS Quality Framework to provide a common frame of reference. The report includes recommendations for implementing the “dashboard” indicators, lessons learned throughout the project and a plan for sustaining the work of this grant.

On 2/1/05, HUD issued new guidelines to public housing authorities on using the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program to assist people with disabilities. These new guidelines are part of the President’s New Freedom Initiation and Executive Order ton Community-Based Alternatives for Individuals with Disabilities. The new guidelines clarify issues related to issuance and preservation of certain types of special purpose vouchers for disabled families

On 3/4/05, HUD issued the estimated Median Family Incomes for FY2005. Changes were made in response to 283 public comments received during the second comment period and 26 random digit-dialing surveys conducted from September to November. These estimates have been calculated for 356 metropolitan and 2,302 non-metropolitan areas across the nation. Utilizing the Fair Market Rents (FMR) area definitions applied in the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program the estimates incomes were calculated.

Colorado’s interest in performance measures reflects the recognition that the first step in improving service system performance is to measure it. As part of its implementation of the Systems Change Project, Developmental Disabilities Services has tracked system performance against specified “key” performance indicators. The Accountability Focus Series includes: Key Indicators of Performance; Outcomes Of Services and Supports. The third report is Gauging How Well Colorado Supports Its Citizens.

The Compendium contains basic information about each of the Real Choice Systems Change Grantees. The Compendium will help you learn more about how these grants will be used to allow more people of all ages with a disability or long term illness to live and participate in their communities. Real Choice Systems Change Grantees will also find the Compendium useful to identify other Grantees with similar goals and activities. The fourth edition of the Compendium replaces all previous editions.

A Sharing of Ideas on Community Inclusion for People with Disabilities. Thie report caputures discussion from 9 participating towns who were represented by a range of elected and disability services officials. Several participants were individuals with disabilities or family members of people with disabilities. All present shared a desire to bring back their towns back ideas for enhancing local awareness of the barriers faced by people in becoming fully included and integrated into community.

The Real Choice Systems Change grant was awarded in 2002 to the Connecticut Department of Social Services. The project has two primary goals: 1) To build the capacity within the state of Connecticut to support informed decision making, independent living, and a meaningful quality of life for persons with disabilities across the life span. 2) To assist three communities in Connecticut to become models of support for opportunities and choices for persons with disabilities across the lifespan. 

As part of an on-going effort to share information on quality, CMS has offered a series of letters and progress reports. This eighth letter discusses and a new resource: <i>Risk Management and Quality in HCBS: Individual Risk Planning and Prevention, System-Wide Quality Improvement</i>. The letter address the interrelated steps for Successful risk management for individuals in HCBS waivers.