Report on proposed changes to Medicaid

A report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities examines how proposed changes would affect children and people with disabilities

Read the report

Update on restraint and seclusion

Feds To Offer Schools Guidance On Restraint, Seclusion
By Michelle Diament, Disability Scoop, May 19. 2011

The U.S. Department Of Education plans to offer school districts guidance on restraint and seclusion before the next school year begins.

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SSI to Study Program Flaws

SSI program is flawed, chief says by Patricia Wen, Globe Staff May 24, 2011

The commissioner of the Social Security Administration for the first time publicly acknowledged yesterday that there are major flaws with the $10 billion children's disability program his agency oversees and said he was aggressively seeking congressional approval to conduct an independent scientific study of the program's weaknesses.

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Article on special education funding

Special education to feel $44 million pinch by: Michelle Diament, Disability Scoop, May 20, 2011

Special education programs in the U.S. will be cut by $44 million in 2011, but experts say it could have been much worse. With the final federal budget emerging, it is not clear how the cuts will impact classrooms but according to this article no program will be left untouched due to the $1.3 billion budget reduction for the U.S. Department of Education.

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Privacy Rights

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is proposing changes to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule. This proposed rule would give people the right to get a report on who has electronically accessed their protected health information. Comment deadline is August 1, 2011. For more information visit https://www.disability.gov/civil_rights/laws_%26_regulations/health.

Comment period on rule change

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) has a proposed rule change about the definition of Home and Community Based Services - from which the majority of DD services in Arizona and most other states receive funding. The proposed changes would limit where services could be provided and not allow a residential program to be built based on the person's disability. The federal register can be found at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-04-15/pdf/2011-9116.pdf. Comments are due by June 14, 2011. A sample letter from Agricultural Communities for Adults with Autism outlining some objections is available for reference at http://www.azautism.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/HCBS-Waiver-Comment-Letter.doc .

Contact Your Senator

on the HELP Committee on Monday, Wednesday and Friday this week!

Arizona' s Family Health Information Project

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that $4.9 million in new and continuing funding has been awarded to support the Family-to-Family Health Information Centers (F2F HIC). Funding for the centers was extended under the new federal health reform law and will support 51 centers across the U.S., including Arizona's center, Raising Special Kids. The centers were created in 2005 and are family-run to help provide information, education, training, outreach and peer support to families of CSHCN and providers. More than 900,000 families of CSHCN have been served by the Centers in the past year. The program is overseen by the department's Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). For more information on F2F HICs, visit the Family Voices website

AHCCCS Proposed Reductions

A proposal for AHCCCS includes a reduction in the amount of respite hours covered for Long Term Care members and enrollees receiving Behavioral Health Servicesfrom 720 to 360 hours annually per individual. AHCCCS will hold a number of community forums over the next few months to provide updates on various aspects of Arizona's Medicaid Reform Plan.

On June 23, 2011, AHCCCS will hold a public meeting to discuss the agency's specific proposal regarding reduction of respite hours. Following the public meeting, AHCCCS changes will include a Notice of Proposed Exempt Rule Making and a change in the AMPM. See page 4 in Arizona's Medicaid Reform Plan.

The meeting will be held on June 23, 2011 from 2:00-4:00 PM at the Disability Empowerment Center, located at 5025 E. Washington Street in Phoenix. Please note that you must RSVP to Alma Torres to attend this meeting. Also, please be sure to comment on the AHCCCS website and go on the public record about how this reduction will impact you and your family.

Arizona Eligible to Reapply for Race to the Top

The U.S. Department of Education announced today that nine finalist states that did not win grants in the first two rounds of Race to the Top (RTTT) will be eligible to compete for $200 million in additional funds this year.

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CRS online information moved

Information about Children's Rehabilitative Services has been moved to the website of Arizona Physicians IPA, also known as APIPA-CRS. Visit the website.

Legal Options to Guardianship Trainings

The Arizona Center for Disability Law will be holding four workshops with information on less costly and less restrictive options than guardianship. The trainings are designed for families and caregivers of persons with disabilities.

Workshops:

• July 13, 2011 - 10 AM to Noon Blue Water Resort & Casino 11300 Resort Drive Parker, AZ
• July 21, 2011 - 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM Hilton Garden Inn 310 N. Madison Ave., Yuma, AZ 85364
• July 27, 2011 - 10 AM to Noon City of Winslow, Chamber of Commerce 523 W. Second St. Winslow, AZ 86047
• August 3, 2011 - 10 AM to Noon Quality Inn & Suites 420 W. Highway 70 Safford, AZ 85546

To register for any of the trainings, contact the Arizona Center for Disability Law toll free at 1-800-927-2260 (Voice or TTY). You may also register by e-mail to kvanhorne@azdisabilitylaw.org . Please notify ACDL if you need any special accommodations or are unable to keep your reservations for the training.

En Español

Es su Hijo Blanco de Burlas? - June 09, 2011 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Estrategias de Intervención para Padres de Niños con Discapacidades. Una forma de abuso en la escuela a través de la intimidación, tiranía y aislamiento.

Dirección: 5025 E. Washington St., Ste. 204, Phoenix, AZ 85034

Northern Arizona 

Positive Behavior Support - Flagstaff - June 08, 2011 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Training on effective techniques for behavior management.  

Location: Family Resource Center, 4000 N. Cummings, Flagstaff, AZ 86004

• Tracheostomy Education and Vendor Fair - Thursday, June 9, 2011 anytime between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm.: Assistance needed in hosting an information table at Phoenix Children's Hospital
• Parent Leaders with children that have utilized behavioral health services needed to participate in:
  - Focus groups
  - Monthly workgroups
  - Presenting parent perspective to groups 

Call 602-242-4366

""Thanks for the follow up, my son is still recovering, every time I contact Raising Special Kids, I find that they are a great resource. Thank you."