Oregon Ranks 26th in UCP’s Annual Case for Inclusion Report
Vermont offers the best Medicaid services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities while Mississippi provides the worst, according to United Cerebral Palsy’s 2011 report “The Case for Inclusion.” Oregon comes in at 26.1. Vermont
2. Arizona
3. Michigan
4. New Hampshire
5. California
6. Washington
7. Delaware
8. Nevada
9. Massachusetts
10. Connecticut
11. New Mexico
12. Colorado
13. Hawaii
14. Minnesota
15. Pennsylvania
16. South Carolina
17. New York
18. Idaho
19. West Virginia
20. Wisconsin
21. Wyoming
22. Georgia
23. South Dakota
24. Montana
25. Kansas
26. Oregon
27. Florida
28. Missouri
29. Maine
30. Alaska
31. Maryland
32. Alabama
33. Kentucky
34. Rhode Island
35. Iowa
36. North Dakota
37. Louisiana
38. Virginia
39. Ohio
40. New Jersey
41. Tennessee
42. Indiana
43. North Carolina
44. Utah
45. Oklahoma
46. Nebraska
47. District of Columbia
48. Illinois
49. Texas
50. Arkansas
51. Mississippi
Meet Your Legislators and Share Your Concerns – Washington and Clackamas County Meetings Scheduled!
Alright Clackamas, Lane and Washington, it’s your turn to advocate for services as we near deep cuts to brokerage services in the very near future.The House Democrats are sponsoring three additional public meetings in Washington, Lane and Clackamas counties to give folks more opportunities to speak with their state representatives and continue the budget discussion as we lead up to the revenue forecast. Rep. Buckley has agreed to make a budget presentation at all of these events.
Beaverton
Monday, May 2nd, 7:00pm
Beaverton City Hall
City Council Chambers
(4755 SW Griffith Dr. Beaverton, OR 97005)
Eugene
Thursday, May 5th, 7:00pm
Lane Community College
Forum (Building 17) in Rooms 308 and 309.
(4000 East 30th Avenue. Eugene, OR 97405)
Clackamas
Wednesday, May 11th, 6:30pm
Rex Putnam High School auditorium
(4950 SE Roethe Rd., Milwaukie, OR 97267-5798)
Take a couple of hours out of your day to advocate for services that matter to you, your family and your community.
JULY 25 – 29: Join Emerging Leaders Northwest for the Dream It Do It Academy for Youth
You are invited to attend the Emerging Leaders Northwest Dream It Do It Academy for Youth With Disabilities & Chronic Illness Ages 18 –25 on July 25 – 29th, 2011 at Shriners Hospital in Portland.
At the Dream It Do It Academy, you will learn to:
Live a Healthy Lifestyle!
Be More Independent!
Eat Right!
Develop Your Own Exercise Plan!
Take Charge of Your Healthcare!
Make Friends!
Become a leader!
For application and registration information:
Chuck Davis: 503.494.3281, davichar@ohsu.edu
Sponsored by: Emerging Leaders Northwest
http://www.emergingleadersnw.org
Support Worker Unionization Discussion
The Oregon Support Services Association (OSSA) was recently formed with representatives from all thirteen Oregon support services brokerages.
Check out the current discussion on their Facebook page regarding current moves to unionize support services providers statewide. Log on and join the conversation.
To learn more about House Bill 3618 and unionization efforts, check out INW’s HB3618 page here.
Access to Recovery – Free Addiction Services
Access to Recovery is a program that connects people to addictions services. Participants must be: 18 or older, have a history of alcohol/drug dependence and live in Multnomah County.
Priority populations include: Veterans, Child Welfare involvement or Criminal Justice involvement. This program allows you to CHOOSE what services you want and where you will receive them. All services are free to the participant.
Contact: Impact Northwest Recovery Management Center
10055 E. Burnside St. Portland, OR 97216
(503)988-6000 ext. 254
- Acupuncture
- Transportation for recovery-related activities
- Family and marital Counseling
- Spiritual and faith-based support
- Education/GED support
- Parent education/child development
- Substance abuse outpatient treatment
- Pastoral family/marital counseling
- Employment services and job training
- Child care
- Housing assistance
- Peer recovery coaching
- Life skills training
National Council on Disability – Town Hall on May 6th in Portland
Please join the National Council on Disability at a Town Hall on Community Living
Friday, May 6
1:00 – 2:30 PM
Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront
1404 SW Naito Parkway, Portland, OR 97201
About NCD The National Council on Disability (NCD) is a small, independent federal agency charged with advising the President, Congress, and other federal agencies regarding policies, programs, practices, and procedures that affect people with disabilities. NCD is comprised of a team of fifteen Senate-confirmed Presidential appointees, an Executive Director appointed by the Chairman, and eleven, full-time professional staff.
More about the Town Hall In order to be effective in its capacity as an advisor to the President, Congress, and other federal agencies, NCD relies upon frequent and timely input from its diverse stakeholders, including people with disabilities, parents or guardians of people with disabilities, groups and organizations representing a broad range of people with disabilities, and providers and administrators of services to people with disabilities. NCD welcomes its stakeholders to participate in the town hall as an opportunity to provide public consultation to the agency to help inform the work it does. Specifically, NCD will take the testimony given at the town hall and use it as it writes its annual mandated “Progress Report,” which is a big picture assessment of the “state of the disability community” and the effectiveness or inadequacy of the policies affecting it. NCD’s “Progress Report” is a report to the President of the United States and the U.S. Congress.
If you are interested in participating in the town hall, please limit your comments to the topic of community living for people with disabilities. The following issues are specific topics on which the Council would appreciate receiving testimony:
- Effects of budget cuts on community living for people with disabilities
- Availability of affordable, accessible, integrated housing
- Availability and adequacy of community supports for people with disabilities
- Transition experiences of people with disabilities joining or rejoining the community
General Guidelines
- Sign In: Those who plan to provide testimony will be asked to provide their name and contact information for possible follow-up. Please be sure to sign-in when you arrive.
- Introduce Yourself: Tell us who you are. Say whether you are commenting as a private citizen, representing other people, or on behalf of an organization.
- 5 Minutes: Individuals providing testimony will be limited to five minutes. Gentle reminders will be given as an individual’s time is nearing an end.
Additional Suggestions
- Successes, problems and solutions: Testimony can involve identification of successes, problems, and/or proposed solutions. Ideas from the community help inform the recommendations NCD makes to the President and Congress.
- Provide evidence: Testimony supported by evidence or information is especially helpful to the Council as it prepares its Progress Report.
- Focus on what is most important to you: Consider beginning your comments with a statement about what is of the greatest concern to you regarding the topic, to ensure your most important point(s) aren’t lost because time is up.
TODAY: Community Meeting with Legislators – PCC Sylvania
On April 19th from 5 – 7pm, you have an opportunity to make a short statement to legislators about your concerns over proposed budget cuts.
Get there early, sign up and inform lawmakers about what these cuts really mean to you and your community.
PCC Sylvania is located at 12000 SW 49th Avenue in Portland. Bus lines 44 and 78. Parking pass on campus is three bucks.
Washington County Planning Meeting to Discuss Transitional Programs after High School
Planning Meeting to Discuss Transitional Programs after High School
Please join us for a meeting to discuss ideas and options for our special need students that are transitioning from high school to adult life.
When: April 21, 2011 5:00pm-6:30pm
Where: Tigard High School Library
Topics for Discussion:
- Day Programs
- Respite Care
- Employment
- Alternatives to Employment
- Housing/Group Homes
- Transportation
Representatives from The Edwards Center, Washington County ARC and Quiet Waters are planning on being there to give a presentation about their programs. Please contact Ed Casuga at 503-314-7089 or Danielle Johnson at 503-431-4580 with any questions.
The Faces of Independence Northwest: Katy
Shelby Brakken’s beautiful images keep coming as part of the Faces of Independence Northwest project. Check out the latest photo shoot with INW’s very first customer, Katy Kitchen.
Rethinking Psychiatry Two-Day Symposium
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Rethinking Psychiatry Two-Day SymposiumNew Self Advocacy Group Forming in Portland
Join Self-Advocates Taking Action, a NEW self-advocacy group in Portland for people with developmental disabilities who want to speak up.
What: April meeting (we meet the 4th Friday of every month)
Agenda: Talk about the vision and mission of our group
When: Friday April 22nd from 4:00-6:00pm
Where: 1511 SW Park Ave, Portland (in courtyard near McMenamins)
Call Jaime at 503-319-6630 for help with directions
Why: Meet new friends, share ideas, learn new things, and have fun
Transportation: Near stops for the Portland Streetcar and TriMet bus 6, 38, 43, 45, 55, 58, 68, 92, and 96
Refreshments provided
For more information, contact Gayle (503-222-5287) or Hannah (503-725-9609)
The Faces of Independence Northwest: Lucrecia and Mike
We’re pleased to post more stunning photographs from Shelby Brakken. Husband and wife team Mike and Lucrecia and their pets are the subjects of the third Faces of Independence Northwest photo session. Keep an eye out for more images from this beautiful session soon!
The Dear Legislator Project – Let Your Voice Be Heard!
INW has just begun a new advocacy initiave, The Dear Legislator Project. Check it out here and join us!
Background
Oregonians with developmental disabilities face serious service cuts in the coming year including, but not limited to:
- Complete loss of Brokerage services for people not on Medicaid
- Complete loss of Day Program services statewide for people in comprehensive services; agencies providing these services may no longer be able to provide services to brokerage customers as a result
- An 80% reduction in total Brokerage support dollars for customers between the ages of 18 and 21 (reduction to just $300 per month in services.)
About the Project
The goal of the Dear Legislator Project is to connect people with developmental disabilities and their advocates with their local legislators via video postcards.
We all know getting to Salem and talking to legislators can be a tall order. Our hope is that this will prove to be a more accessible way of getting you and your concerns heard by your local legislator. Dear Legislator is a website that will host videos of Oregonians with disabilities, their families and their support providers. Video postcards will be available on the website, on Facebook and will be mailed directly to your local legislator!
How You Can Participate
You have a couple of options:
- You can come to Independence Northwest on one of our scheduled video days and we’ll record your video and upload/distribute it for you.
- You can upload your own video and submit it for the site and distribution.
Once your video is up, share it with everyone you know and spread the word! The more participants, the louder our voice!
Who Can Participate?
- People with developmental disabilities
- Family members of people with developmental disabilities
- Support staff
- Professionals (case managers, personal agents, teachers, administrators, independent contractors)
- Advocates
- Anyone who is concerned about Oregonians with developmental disabilities and their services!
Questions?
Email Larry Deal at Independence Northwest at larry.deal(at)independencenw.org. You can send your video links to that email address as well. Thanks for participating. Your efforts will make a big difference!
The Faces of Independence Northwest: David
Independence Northwest celebrated its fourth year as an Oregon nonprofit just this past December. We’ll celebrate our fourth year as a support services brokerage this summer. In recognition, we recently contracted with Shelby Brakken, an extraordinarily talented PDX photographer, to create portraits of some of our customers for use on our office walls, our website and promotional materials.
Our second subject was David. He and his Personal Agent headed out into the city with Shelby and here are the great images they came back with.
APRIL 20: Project Employ Mini-Conference & Information Fair
From Project Employ:
We are delighted to invite you as well as students and their families to the PROJECT EMPLOY Transition to Employment Resource Fair! This FREE event is designed to assist students with intellectual and developmental disabilities age 16-21 years of age and their families learn about the resources and services available to assist them in their pursuit to successful employment and/or higher education.
We will feature a variety of workshops, speakers, and exhibitors providing information about transition and employment services. There will be representation from Support Service Brokerages, Developmental Disability Services, Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Benefits Counseling and much, much more!
Project Employ Mini-Conference & Information Fair
Wednesday – April 20, 2011 – 3:30 to 8:00pm
Westview High School
4200 NW 185th Avenue – Portland, OR 97229
Clackamas County Housing Resource Fair
Free Clackamas County Housing Resource FairDate: March 3rd, 2011
Time: 10:00am-2:30pm
Location: Clackamas Community College, 19600 Molalla Ave. Oregon City, Oregon
This free event will cover topics such as tenant/landlord law, affordable housing options, and housing discrimination. All are welcome. Landlords, tenants, home owners assoc, and buyers are encouraged to attend. Everyone’s welcome to come! Sessions include:
- Housing Discrimination: Your Housing Rights and Responsibilities
- Landlord/Tenant Law: What you need to Know
- Affordable Housing: Local Housing Resources, What’s Available
If you have any housing questions, questions about the housing fair, call Clackamas County’s free Housing Rights and Resources line: 503-650-5750
House Bill 3618 and What it Means to You
The Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 3618 during the February 2010 special session. This bill was signed into law. HB 3618 is directed to “Personal Support Workers” who are defined as persons who are hired by the client or the client’s family or guardian and paid by public funds. We have historically referred to these workers as Domestic Employees in the brokerage system. For reference purposes, this bill can be viewed at: http://www.leg.state.or.us/10ss1/measpdf/hb3600.dir/hb3618.en.pdf
The bill changed the employee designation so that they became eligible for workers’ compensation as of January 1, 2011. The Oregon Home Care Commission (OHCC) has arranged for Workers’ Compensation insurance coverage and will facilitate the processing of Workers’ Compensation claims on behalf of the client/employer. SAIF Corporation is the workers’ compensation insurance carrier.
The OHCC and SAIF have developed a “What to do If You are Injured on the Job” handout to help inform employees of their rights and responsibilities with regard to to workers’ compensation insurance coverage. You may view that document here: http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/spd/adv/hcc/docs/pswhcw.pdf?ga=t
Because of House Bill 3618, Independence Northwest and other brokerages became legally mandated to give a list of all the domestic employees working with our customers to the State of Oregon Department of Human Services, who in turn were mandated to give this list to anyone interested in organizing this group of workers into a union. This occurred in October of 2010 and SEIU has legitimately acquired domestic employee names, phone numbers and addresses. We informed customers of this happening about the same time.
Presently, domestic employees should not be surprised when individuals or groups of individuals from SEIU knock on your door. You have every right to sit down with the representatives of SEIU and discuss the benefits of unionization. You also have the right to refuse to talk to them.
When representatives from SEIU visit with you, you may be asked to sign a union card. If enough domestic employees working with brokerage customers sign a card (30% of the total number of workers) then there will be a vote in which all domestic employees working with brokerage customers will get to decide if they want a union or not. The choice is yours and yours alone.
Independence Northwest has chosen to hold a public neutral stance on organizing efforts. We cannot advise you on whether or not to sign a union card.
APRIL 11th: Washington County Community Forum to Address Budget Issues
Join Washington County advocates as they look for innovative ways to “Keep the Boat Afloat” during difficult economic times.
Please reserve the evening of Monday, April 11th for a county wide community forum to discuss creative ways to address Oregon’s budget plight, and seek proactive solutions in our com-munity to address the housing and service needs of individuals with developmental disabilities. Washington County is known for bringing parents, local and state officials, brokerages, schools and service providers together to build innovative models that support community inclusion. Working together we can stay afloat.
When: Monday April 11th, 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. at Beaverton City Hall.
Participating agencies include:
Families for Independent Living
Daytime Enrichment and Recreation
Washington Developmental Disabilities Council
Housing Independence
Self Determination Resources Inc.
The Edward Center
Independence Northwest
Mentor Oregon
The Faces of Independence Northwest
Another great shot of customer April by photographer Shelby Brakken. More faces coming soon.
Focus Group and Study: Individuals with Disabilities from Underserved Racial or Ethnic Groups
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OHSU is looking at health care for people with disabilities who are from underserved racial or ethnic groups, focusing on people with physical, sensory and/or intellectual disabilities. They will study problems with getting health care, and look for ways to help solve these issues. This project will take three years to finish.
One part of this project is to conduct national focus groups to learn about problems people of color with disabilities have when trying to get the health care they need. They are conducting the first focus group here in Portland with African Americans, Asians, and Latinos with disabilities so they can share their experiences with accessing health care.
Focus Group Participants Needed
Are you a Person of Color with a Disability?
Who: Persons of color with a disability – Age 22 to 65 (vision, hearing, physical, or cognitive)
What: Focus group about your experiences with trying to get the health care you need.
When: You will attend on one of the following days: Thursday, February 17th from 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM or Friday, February 18th from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Where: Independent Living Resources 1838 NE Couch Street Portland, OR 97232 (Light refreshments will be offered)
You will receive a $40.00 Fred Meyer gift card for your time
Accommodations will be provided with at least 1 week advance notice
To see if you qualify for the focus group or to ask questions:
Please call Danielle Bailey at 503-494-4858 or
email at baileyd@ohsu.edu
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The Faces of Independence Northwest
Independence Northwest celebrated its fourth year as an Oregon nonprofit just this past December. We’ll celebrate our fourth year as a support services brokerage this summer. In recognition, we recently contracted with Shelby Brakken, an extraordinarily talented PDX photographer, to create portraits of some of our customers for use on our office walls, our website and promotional materials.
The first subject was April, pictured above. She has been a brokerage recipient since 2003 and an INW customer since the time we opened our doors. She, her INW Personal Agent Hilary and Shelby took to the town for a series of beautiful images that perfectly capture April.
In the coming weeks, we’ll be overhauling our website and will continue to post more portraits as they’re created. If you’d like to see more photos of April out and about Portland, check out Shelby’s blog here.
Stay tuned.
MUSIC FOR ALL PROGRAM: $5 Concert Tickets for Oregon Trail Recipients
Twelve of Portland’s classical music groups are offering $5.00 concert tickets for select performances, subject to availability, now through July 2011 to anyone who receives food stamps (SNAP) and has the Oregon Trail Card.
The Details
Q. Who can buy $5 Tickets?
A. Anyone who receives food stamps (SNAP) and has the Oregon Trail Card.
Q. How many tickets can I buy for $5 each?
A. Two per Oregon Trail Card, but ask the performing group if you can buy more.
Q. Where do I get $5 tickets?
A. Contact the group. They will tell you where and when you can buy them. (Some groups will sell $5 tickets only in advance and some will sell them at the door.)
Q. How do I buy the tickets?
A. You must show your Oregon Trail Card at the time of purchase and pay with cash or credit card. SNAP credit on the Oregon Trail Card cannot be used for purchasing concert tickets.
Q. Which concerts have $5 tickets?
A. Check with the individual group (below) to find out when their concert are and if $5 tickets are available.
Participating groups to contact for concert information:
- Oregon Symphony
- Portland Opera
- Oregon Ballet Theatre
- Chamber Music Northwest
- Friends of Chamber Music
- Portland Piano International
- Portland Baroque Orchestra
- Portland Youth Philharmonic
- Portland Chamber Orchestra
- Portland Symphonic Choir
- Cappella Romana
- Portland Vocal Consort
Thanks to Jennifer Bickett for the tip.
DRO: THREE WAYS YOU CAN HELP THE LEGISLATURE MAKE GOOD PUBLIC POLICY
From Disability Rights Oregon:
THREE WAYS YOU CAN HELP THE LEGISLATURE MAKE GOOD PUBLIC POLICY
- BE INFORMED: Follow the updates by reading Disability Rights Oregon’s newsletter each week and checking DRO’s Executive Director, Bob Joondeph’s blog at http://www.disabilityrightsoregon.org/the-dro-blog. You can also follow DRO on Facebook and Twitter. Visit www.disabilityrightsoregon.org for links to both. You can follow significant pieces of legislation’s progress here: http://gov.oregonlive.com/bill/
- BE HEARD: Write your legislator about a bill that matters to you. A short handwritten note to your State Representative and State Senator can make a very big difference. Phone calls are also effective. An email to your legislator is another way to get in touch. Be sure to refer to the “bill number” at the beginning of your note. DRO can help get you more information about a particular issue or bill. Find out who your legislative representatives are and how to contact them here: http://www.leg.state.or.us/findlegsltr/
- BE VISIBLE: Attend an event at the Capitol in Salem. Organizations meet frequently on a variety of issues important to the disability community. There are citizen lobby days and gatherings at the Capitol. Keep an eye on DRO news for updates about events. You can also attend legislative hearings for bills you are interested in. Hearings are open to the public and are also streamed online.
MEET OREGON’S NEW LEGISLATORS
New Oregon House Members:
– Rep. Wally Hicks, House District (HD) 3, Grants Pass, has worked as a Deputy District Attorney.
– Rep. Katie Eyre Brewer, HD 29, Hillsboro, is a Certified Public Accountant.
– Rep. Shawn Lindsay, HD 30, Hillsboro, is an intellectual property, e-commerce and business lawyer.
– Rep. Julie Parrish, HD 37, Tualatin and West Linn, is a small business owner.
– Rep. Matt Wand, HD 49, Troutdale, is an attorney in Gresham.
– Rep. Patrick Sheehan, HD 51, Clackamas, owns an advertising agency.
– Rep. Mark Johnson, HD 52, Hood River, owns a general contracting business.
– Rep. Jason Conger, HD 54, Bend, is a lawyer.
New Oregon Senate members:
– Sen. Chuck Thompson, Senate District (SD) 26, Hood River, is an orchardist and county commissioner.
– Sen. Alan Olsen, SD 20, Canby, owns a general contracting business.
– Sen. Lee Beyer, SD 6, Springfield, is a former legislator who served in the Oregon House and Senate from 1991 to 2001. He also served as Chair of the Oregon Public Utility Commission.
SAAL Seeking Self Advocates for Capitol Connections
From SAAL (Self Advocates as Leaders): SAAL Capitol Connections 2011
Do you want to make a difference at the legislature next January? Would you like to make a difference about important things like to…
- Keep more of the money you make working
- Get better health care for everyone
- Help people get jobs
- Help direct care staff have the wages and benefits they need to keep on helping you to live a good life
- Are you interested in telling legislators “No more budget cuts!”
SAAL is looking for 12 self-advocates who are available and ready to work in Salem. WE NEED YOU to help our legislators understand the issues that are important to self-advocates across Oregon.
If you are excited about doing something about these issues then please fill out an application and send it to SAAL.
We will provide you with training and information to get ready for the 2011 legislative session
You will learn how to…
- Talk to legislators
- Attend hearings
- Track bills
- Testify on issues and work with other advocates
- Build relationships with your local legislators
- Help other self-advocates get active in the issues that affect their lives
If this is interesting to you then we want to hear from you! Please fill out an application and send it to SAAL and we will get in touch with you about what happens next. If you have questions, please call Marcie at 503-725-8129 or 1-866-835-0659, or email alvarezm@pdx.edu.
DRO: Is Your Child Receiving Less Than a Full School Day of Services?
ViaParents of Special Education Students Ages 18 and 19: Is Your Child Receiving Less Than a Full School Day of Services?
If you are the parent of a special education student under 20 years of age whose services were cut from a full school day to less than a full school day after he or she turned 18, we would like to hear from you. DRO’s special education attorneys are concerned that a new state policy may allow districts to ignore their legal responsibilities by providing less than a full school day of services for special education students who are 18 and 19 years old.
If you believe that your child is being affected by this policy, please call 503-243-2081 to discuss the details of your situation or fill out an on-line intake form.
DRO is committed to taking appropriate action if student rights are being violated.