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NASUAD Announces Call for Sessions for 30th Annual HCBS Conference
The National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD) announced the Call For Sessions for the 30th Annual National Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Conference on September 15-18, 2014 in Arlington, VA. The conference offers a blend of policy, program and practice issues for professionals interested in home and community-based waivers and services for all ages and abilities. Last year's conference had a strong presence from the agencies of the US Department of Health and Human Services including Administration for Community Living (ACL) and Administration on Aging (AoA). Proposals are currently being accepted for workshops and the due date is March 31, 2014.
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National Information and Referral Support Center
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Call for Proposals Due March 1: Aging and Disability Symposium at the AIRS Conference
The 2014 AIRS Conference will be held in Atlanta, GA from June 1-4. NASUAD's National I&R Support Center is coordinating the 2014 Aging and Disability Symposium, including a full-day, pre-conference intensive on Sunday, June 1, and 16 Aging and Disability Track workshop sessions. The Support Center is actively seeking presenters on topics such as Disability 101, Aging with lifelong disability, Military and Veteran culture, and mental health with aging/disability populations. We also expect to host sessions on LGBT resources for older adults and people with disabilities, Centers for Independent Living, Options Counseling, and Care Transitions.
Proposals are due by March 1, 2014.
Click here to contact Support Center Director, Sara Tribe, with questions or ideas about possible presentation topics.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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CDC Releases New Publications on Promoting Healthy Weight for Persons with Disabilities
The Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC) released a set of five publications on promoting healthy weight for persons with disabilities. The publications describe considerations that people and organizations can do to help combat obesity among people with disabilities and assist them in achieving healthy weight and an improved quality of life.
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Revised ADA Requirements Released
The Disability Rights Section of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice recently released two documents focusing on the 2010 revised requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The documents provide overviews, information, and staff training resources.
Click here to view the first document is intended to help entities understand new rules for wheelchairs, mobility aids, and other power-driven mobility devices.
Click here to view the second document that assists entities in effective communication between those with disabilities and those without.
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Government Accountability Office
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GAO Releases Report on Medicare Special Needs Plans
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report entitled, Medicare Special Needs Plans (SNPs): GAO Examines Profits and Spending. The report states that special needs plans were more profitable, on average, than Medicare Advantage plans available to all beneficiaries in 2011.
Medicare payments to SNPs tend to be higher than payments to other MA plans, in part, because the beneficiaries enrolled in SNPs are generally in poorer health and are expected to use more health services relative to enrollees in other MA plans. However, even after accounting for differences in relative health status, Medicare payments to SNPs were higher in 2011, on average, than payments to the average MA plan.
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National Institute on Aging
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NIA Publishes New Spanish Resources
The National Institute on Aging (NIA) has released new Spanish resources. These free translated materials are for older adults, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. A few examples include:
Health and aging:
- La fatiga: más que estar cansado (Fatigue: More Than Being Tired)
- Ponga sus asuntos en orden (Getting Your Affairs in Order)
- Suplementos dietéticos (Dietary Supplements)
Memory loss and Alzheimer's disease:
- Entendiendo la pérdida de memoria (Understanding Memory Loss, available online only)
- Entendiendo la enfermedad de Alzheimer (Understanding Alzheimer's Disease, available online only)
Click here to visit NIA's Spanish website for more aging-related Spanish resources.
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| Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration |
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SAMHSA Creates Mayors Guide to Behavioral Health Issues
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has released a publication entitled, Mayors Guide to Behavioral Health Issues. This publication is targeted to mayors of cities and towns to increase their understanding of behavioral health needs within their communities. The guide includes resources and trainings as well a list of national awareness recognition events.
Click here to view the publication.
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Congress Extends Debt Limit into 2015
On Wednesday, the Senate cleared legislation (67-31) to suspend the debt limit until March 15, 2015. 12 Republicans joined all Democrats and Independents to advance the bill. The House passed the measure (221-201) on Tuesday.
The bill is a "clean" extension, meaning it does not have any additional policy changes attached to it. This represents a change of course for House leadership, who originally considered coupling the vote with legislation to advance their priorities - a strategy they hoped would allow them to pass the package with GOP votes alone. However, enough Republicans remained opposed to the debt limit hike even under such a scenario that the Majority leadership decided to pursue a clean extension, relying heavily on House Democrats to pass the bill. All but two Democrats supported the measure, and only 28 Republicans voted for it.
Though the most recent suspension of the debt limit (PL 113-46) expired on February 7, Treasury officials have been able to maintain US borrowing authority in the interim through a series of "extraordinary measures," which they projected would be exhausted by late February. This deadline, along with a Congressional recess through President's Day week and Member's early departures due to a snowstorm in the Washington, DC area, expedited this week's votes.
President Obama is expected to sign the bill in the coming days.
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House Hearing on the Older Americans Act
On Tuesday, February 11, the House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training formally began its process of examining the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act (OAA) by holding a hearing entitled, "Serving Seniors Through the Older Americans Act."
During the hearing, Subcommittee members heard from leading national aging policy experts, as well as from individuals responsible for planning and delivering OAA services and programs at the local level. Witnesses included Ms. Carol O'Shaughnessy, Principal Policy Analyst with the National Health Policy Forum; Ms. Lynn Kellogg, Chief Executive Officer for the Region IV Area Agency on Aging in St. Joseph, Michigan; Dr. Yanira Cruz, President and CEO of the National Hispanic Council on Aging; and Ms. Denise Niese, Executive Director of the Wood County Committee on Aging in Bowling Green, Ohio.
The panelists gave their perspectives on the importance and operability of the OAA, and offered their visions for a reauthorization that both strengthens and protects the Act. The National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD) appreciates the efforts of the House Education and Workforce Committee to consider the presented testimony, and looks forward to working together to advance a timely and effective reauthorization process.
Click here for more information about the hearing, including witness testimony and an archived webcast.
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Health Affairs Releases Study on Positive Results for Value-Based Insurance Design Plans
Health Affairs released a new study entitled, Five Features Of
Value-Based Insurance Design (VIBD) Plans Were Associated With Higher Rates Of Medication Adherence. The study evaluated seventy-six VBID plans introduced by CVS Caremark during 2007-2010. The researchers found that after adjusting for the other features and baseline trends, VBID plans that were more generous, targeted high-risk patients, offered wellness programs, did not offer disease management programs, and made the benefit available only for the medication ordered by mail had a significantly greater impact on adherence than plans without these features.
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| International Association of Chiefs of Police |
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Alzheimer's Initiatives Training Program
The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) is holding a series of trainings entitled, Responding to Alzheimer's Disease: Techniques for Law Enforcement and First Responders throughout the spring and summer in various states. The first training will be Monroe, Louisiana on April 8th. The free training program is dedicated to providing public safety executives, law enforcement, firefighters, EMS and others from the first responder community with the most current Alzheimer's and dementia training available. As a result of this training, participants will be able to:
- Better understand Alzheimer's disease.
- Distinguish symptoms of Alzheimer's disease from other conditions.
- Learn techniques to effectively question and interview a person with Alzheimer's disease.
- Communicate and collaborate with caregivers.
- Establish protocols for search-and-rescue specific to this population.
There will be opportunities for networking and information sharing during the program. Resources and handouts will be available to participants.
Click here to register for the training program and view more training programs.
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| National Council on Aging |
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Webinar: Sustainability in a Changing Healthcare Landscape
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is holding a webinar titled: Sustainability in a Changing Healthcare Landscape
on February 18, 2014, 3:00 p.m to 4:30 p.m. ET. The webinar will focus on on the current healthcare setting including information on Medicare Fee-For-Service, Managed Care, Management Services Organizations, and sustainability strategies.
Click here to register in advance for the webinar.
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| National Council on Independent Living |
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NCIL's Annual Congressional Briefing and Reception
On February 26, 2014, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET, the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) is holding a Congressional Briefing and Reception in Washington, DC. The annual briefing will educate members of Congress on a number of relevant policy initiatives that aim to advance disability rights and the ability of Americans to live more independently. The reception will include a short presentation on the state of the Independent Living Program in America and brief remarks by members of the NCIL Board of Directors. Members of the House and Senate will be invited to provide brief remarks. Materials will be available throughout the reception.
Click here for more information on contacting state Representatives and Senators.
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| National Youth Leadership Network |
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NYLN Releases Training Guide for People with Disabilities in Rural Areas
The National Youth Leadership Network (NYLN) has released a training guide for people with disabilities who live in rural areas entitled, Disability and Rural Communities: Making a Difference in Small Towns. The training guide provides an overview of the importance of advocacy, inclusion, interdependence, networking and community involvement, supportive relationships, leadership, and other relevant topics. |
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Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders
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LGBT Trainings for Aging Network
SAGE's (Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders) National Resource Center on LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) Aging has announced the launch of their expanded training program for providers. The project is the country's first and only technical assistance resource center aimed at improving the quality of services and supports offered to LGBT older adults. Several in-person and online free training options are available to the ACL Aging Network including a new webinar entitled, Introduction to LGBT Aging, an interactive hour-long presentation addressing the culture and needs of LGBT older adults. All agencies who receive trainings will be added to the publicly available Trained Agencies Database.
Click here to learn more and request trainings.
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3rd World Congress on Adult Guardianship
The National Legal Resource Center is holding their 3rd World Congress on Adult Guardianship from May 28-30, 2014 in Arlington, VA. The theme of this event is "Promising Practices to Ensure Excellence in Guardianship Around the World." The event includes workshops and speakers with lessons in guardianship from around the world.
Click here to view the full conference brochure.
Click here to the schedules, FAQs, online registration and other information.
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Disability Rights Leadership Institute on Bioethics
On April 25-26, 2014, 8:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET, the Independent Learning Research Utilization (ILRU) is holding a groundbreaking event for disability rights advocates to advance the disability rights perspective on bioethics issues. These issues include:
- Withholding Medical Treatment
- Assisted Suicide Laws
- Reproductive Technologies
Speakers will include:
- Liz Carr, Not Dead Yet (NDY) activist from the United Kingdom
- Diane Coleman, President, Not Dead Yet (NDY)
- Marcy Darnovsky, PhD, Executive Director, Center for Genetics and Society (CGS)
- Dr. Kevin Fitzpatrick, Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, Europe (EPC Europe)
- Marilyn Golden, Senior Policy Analyst, Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF)
- Ari Ne'eman, President and Co-Founder, Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN)
Participants will receive written materials in advance and be expected to read the materials before the Institute. The Institute registration deadline is March 28, 2014 and the deadline for hotel registration at the Crystal City Marriott in Washington, DC is April 3, 2014.
Click here to register early as space is limited.
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New York Fashion Week Features First Model in a Wheelchair
On February 6th, designer Carrie Hammer featured Danielle Sheypuk, the first-ever model in a wheelchair to "walk" during her fashion show at New York Fashion Week. Read the full story here.
Go Baby Go: Vehicles for Children with Mobility Issues
Cole Galloway, at the University of Delaware, developed a modified children's car to help children with disabilities become mobile. Learn more about Go Baby Go and watch it in action, here.
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ARA: Field Mobilization Director
The Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA) is seeking a highly skilled, experienced Field Mobilization Director to lead its efforts to build and sustain a national network of state and local chapters and implement national Alliance programs and campaigns. The Field Mobilization Director will be a mature leader who has significant grassroots campaign implementation experience, significant staff management experience, significant experience working for nonprofit advocacy or labor organizations, and an understanding of retirement security issues.
Click here for more information.
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NCOA: Program Manager/Specialist
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is seeking a Program Manager/Specialist for the Center for Benefits Access. The Program Manager/Specialist will play a central role in the development and coordination of new initiatives related to the Center for Benefits Access. In this role, the Program Manager/Specialist will have a wide range of responsibilities, as well as significant opportunities to shape the future of NCOA's work in this field.
Click here for more information.
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