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The National Council on Disability (NCD) assesses the nation's response to the United States Supreme Court's decision in Olmstead v. L.C., 527 U.S. 581 (1999) that the unjustified institutionalization of people with disabilities is a form of discrimination.

The question “How do we know cultural competence when we see it?” prompted HRSA to sponsor a project to develop indicators of cultural competence in health care delivery organizations. The tool is intended to 1)develop an analytic framework for assessing cultural competence in health care delivery organizations; 2)identify specific indicators that can be used in connection with this framework; and 3) assess utility, feasibility and practical application of the framework and its indicators.

Presentation given by Steven Lutzky, PhD., former Director of Community Systems Improvement for the Disabled and Elderly Health Programs Group, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, at the AoA Conference in Orlando, Florida in September 2003.

Notice of invitation to participate in the Housing Work Group.The Housing Work Group will provide a means for grantees to network with peers and to engage in open a discussion on how to develop affordable, accessible, and integrated housing choices for persons with disabilities. Each monthly call will focus on a specific issue or challenge and may include an expert presenter.

Final report of the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health (issued July 22, 2003). The Commission is part of the \"President's New Freedom Initiative\" to eliminate inequalities for Americans with disabilities. The report outlines goals for mental health and recommendations for achieving them.

The Center for Housing and New Community Economics (CHANCE) mission is to improve and increase access to integrated, affordable, and accessible housing coordinated with, but separate from, personal assistance and supportive services. CHANCE's purpose is to offer alternatives to approaches that segregate, congregate, and control people with disabilities.

What exactly does “empowerment” mean and how do we translate that into practical action? This brief paper describes some possible ways to measure empowerment.

Workers are affected by chronic conditions in two critical ways — by their own conditions and by the need to care for family members with chronic conditions. Better health technology and disease management programs, as well as flexible work policies, are helping many people affected by chronic conditions function in the workplace. Changes in the workplace need not be expensive, and policies and programs that address the needs of workers are beneficial to employees and employers alike.

This CMS letter highlights the ways that states can include public input in the 1115 waiver, Home and Community-Based Service Waiver, and managed care waiver process. Some examples are provided including public forums and legislative hearings.

Community associations ranging from Bible study groups to block clubs may hold the key to social reform and revival in the 21st century, according to IPR's director of community studies, John McKnight . In this new report, McKnight unveils a revised \"social map\" that pushes large bureaucratic service systems to the fringes of the community and replaces them with newly empowered associations as the primary support for families.