Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Senator Calls For Expansion Of Community-Based Services

Senator Calls For Expansion Of Community-Based Services

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A new proposal in the U.S. Senate would eliminate a government bias toward placing people with disabilities in institutional rather than community-based settings.
U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, said Tuesday he is introducing a bill that would put an end to what’s known as the “institutional bias.”
Current law requires Medicaid to provide nursing home services to people with disabilities, but does not mandate that home and community-based options be offered. As a result, many states have long waiting lists for individuals wishing to obtain services in the community and a Senate report last year found that over 200,000 working-age Americans remain segregated in nursing homes.
Harkin’s proposal dubbed the Community Integration Act would change things by requiring that states deem all individuals who are considered eligible for institutional care to also be eligible for supports in home and community-based settings. What’s more, the bill would prohibit states from making people ineligible for services in the community based on their particular disability.

Read more at:  http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2014/06/24/senator-expansion-community/19470/ 

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

How do you motivate people with disabilities?

I believe in motivating people to be the best they can be.  Like others with disabilities, I oftentimes need extra motivation because I’m so used hearing words like “no”, “you can’t”, or “you won’t”.  These words are so demoralizing and heard so often that is easy to just  give up on things that we stand for.  Here’s a question for you though: How do you motivate people with disabilities?  Do you say a kind word?  Do you encourage individuals to do things that we think cannot do?  Do you argue?  Let me know your thoughts.