Oregon Helps is an online clearinghouse that takes you through a series of questions online to determine what services you or your loved one might be eligible for. The site’s services are available in multiple languages. Check it out here.
Services covered include:
Food and Nutrition
Housing and Utilities
Children and Family Resources
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Health Care
Veterans’ Services
Financial Benefits
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| Senior and Disabled Services | |
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OrPTI (Oregon Parent Training and Information Center) presents the 2009 Building Futures Conference this October.
Building Futures is for anyone who has an interest in supporting individuals with disabilities as they transition from school to life. This includes Secondary Educators, Post Secondary Educators, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors, Special Educators, therapists, counselors, service providers, job developers, and other rehabilitation specialists, and especially secondary students with disabilities and their families. Throughout the two-day event there will be presentations by regional and national experts on issues surrounding secondary transition and assistive technology. Check out the agenda here.
Scholarship information can be found here.
The University of Missouri has published Adult Autism & Employment: A Guide for Vocational Rehabilitation Professionals. According to their website, the document is a practical synthesis of existing literature and innovative promising practices. It includes previously unpublished insights and suggestions from a national expert on autism & employment.
To develop this resource, author Scott Standifer consulted closely with James Emmett, one of the few experts with real world experience about employment supports specifically for adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). It is a valuable tool for vocational rehabilitation professionals, employment service providers, and anyone interested in supporting the employment of adults with ASD.
The report includes:
– In-depth descriptions of the wide range of variability among people with ASD
– Accommodations & techniques to use during vocational rehabilitation services
– Traditional vocational rehabilitation techniques which should be avoided
– Possible career issues associated with ASD
– Possible workplace accommodations useful for people with ASD
Check it out here.
Thanks to Tim Kral at ORA for the tip.
United Cerebral Palsy released its 4th annual report on The Case for Inclusion yesterday. The report ranks all 50 States and the District of Columbia on how well they are providing community-based supports to Americans with intellectual and developmental disabilities being served by Medicaid.
Oregon ranks 20th. Our state-specific details are here.
State by state ranking:
1. Vermont
2. Arizona
3. Alaska
4. New Hampshire
5. Massachusetts
6. Michigan
7. California
8. Hawaii
9. Colorado
10. Connecticut
11. New Mexico
12. Delaware
13. Minnesota
14. New York
15. Idaho
16. Pennsylvania
17. South Carolina
18. Florida
19. Rhode Island
21. New Jersey
22. Wisconsin
23. West Virginia
24. Kansas
25. Washington
26. South Dakota
27. Montana
28. Wyoming
29. Missouri
30. Oklahoma
31. Georgia
32. Maryland
33. Alabama
34. Nevada
35. Maine
36. North Carolina
37. Utah
38. Kentucky
39. Iowa
40. North Dakota
41. Virginia
42. Indiana
43. Tennessee
44. Nebraska
45. Ohio
46. Louisiana
47. Illinois
48. District of Columbia
49. Texas
50. Arkansas
51. Mississippi
From the UCP website on the 2009 report:
- Positively, there are 1,536 fewer Americans living in large state institutions (more than 16 beds). This is a bigger drop than seen last year. However, there remain 169 large institutions (4 fewer) housing 36,175 Americans;
- Negatively, only nine states (down from 11) report more than 2,000 residents living in large public or private institutions – California, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania & Texas;
- Sustaining the 2008 level, 19 states, but up from 16 in 2007, have more than 80 percent of those served living in home-like settings;
- Positively, seven states – Alaska, Arizona, Michigan, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont- direct more than 95 percent of all related funds to those living in the community rather than in large institutions. Colorado directs a very close 94.6% of funds;
- Positively, five states – Idaho, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas – as well as the District of Columbia experienced at least a five percent increase in people served in the community (HCBS waiver).
- Negatively, Wisconsin reduced number of people served in the community (HCBS waiver) by more than five percent;
- Nationally, 29 states direct more than 80 percent of all related funding to those living in the community;
- Positively, 39 states, up from 33, report having a Medicaid Buy-In program supporting individuals as they go to work and increase their earnings; and
- In terms of rankings, in total, 15 states had a sizable change in rankings over last two years. Pennsylvania (to #16 from #29 in 2007, dropping one place from 2008) and Missouri (to #29 from #41, dropping one place from 2008) improved the most with Wyoming (to #28 from #17) and Maine (to #35 from #24) dropping the most in the rankings.
Via DAWG Oregon and UCP
The Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities has just published its latest issue of Oregon Perspectives. The summer edition focuses on Employment Opportunities for adults with disabilities in Oregon. Be sure to check it out.