All States/Territories

Sponsored by the Community Living Exchange Collaborative at ILRU this teleconference featured Real Choice Systems Change grantees describing their efforts to create inclusive communities in West Virginia. Presenters described how they engaged diverse stakeholders in a process of visioning & group action planning with the services of a graphic facilitator. The teleconference took place on Tuesday 06/29/04.

This website is part of a national initiative funded by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to increase opportunities for older consumers to direct their own care. Consumer Direction describes programs and services where people are given maximum choice and control over their care. When people say they want to be \"independent\" or they want \"autonomy\" or \"self-direction,\" they are talking about consumer direction. Access to the Consumer Direction newletter, \"Consumer Choice\" is available here.

Assistive technology often makes a critical difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities and chronic illnesses, yet it remains underutilized and poorly understood. This paper discusses the concept of assistive technology and offers suggestions for finding resources to assist individuals to make better use of assistive technology to achieve independence.

99-page detailed notebook for consumers on consumer directed care. Includes roles and responsibilities, budgetting, hiring, et. Created for consumers in Florida, but applicable to all states.

In June ‘03, Maine Gov. Baldacci signed into law the Dirigo Health Reform Act. A major premise behind the law is that successful health care reform must address cost, quality, & access simultaneously & with equal vigor. Named for Maine's motto: To Lead-the program is designed to guarantee health coverage by ‘09 to those who cannot afford insurance. The ME Governor’s Office of Health Policy & Finance (GOHPF) has partnered with NASHP to develop issue briefs keeping states abreast of the reform.

Complete ruling from the 10th Circuit Court for the Olmstead Case. On June 22, 1999, the United States Supreme Court held in Olmstead vs. L.C. that the unnecessary segregation of individuals with disabilities in institutions may constitute discrimination based on disability. The court ruled that the Americans with Disabilities Act may require states to provide community-based services rather than institutional placements for individuals with disabilities.

The attached presentation entitled \"Long-Term Care: Workforce Issues for States in a Changing Society\" which was given by Robyn I. Stone, Dr.P.H. during the annual NASHP conference in Philadelphia from August 4-6. The presentation looks at who the long term care workers are and implications for the field.

The Quality Mall is \"a place where you can find lots of free information about person-centered supports for people with developmental disabilities. Each of the Mall stores has departments you can look through to learn about positive practices that help people with developmental disabilities live, work and participate in our communities and improve the quality of their supports.\"

On August 13, 2002, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a letter to State Medicaid Directors highlighting promising state practices. It complements the letter Tommy Thompson sent to Governors.

CMS letter allowing coverage of transition costs under 1915 (c) waivers. This letter clarifies some methods by which HCBS waivers under section 1915(c) may aid in the transitioning of individuals from institutional settings to their own home in the community through coverage of one-time transitional expenses. This clarification was promised in the HHS New Freedom Report to the President.