Latest Disability-related News
This section lists information and links to disability-related news articles, press releases, and reports that have been published within the past two months. This information is provided as a public service by the Ohio Legal Rights Service (OLRS). OLRS attempts to verify that the information provided is helpful for people with disabilities. However, OLRS does not guarantee that the information provided is accurate or right for the particular needs of the person.
- Public comment requested for proposed changes to regulations for Title I under No Child Left Behind, May 2, 2008
- Social Security Administration must accommodate beneficiaries who are blind or visually impaired, May 1, 2008
- Read the Spring 2008 issue of the DD Quarterly newsletter, May 1, 2008
- Grants available for families unable to pay for child health-related expenses, April 28, 2008
- Research study seeks parents with intellectual disabilities, April 28, 2008
- Proposed rule gives states option to provide home-and-community based services to Medicaid beneficiaries without applying for a waiver, April 7, 2008
- Children's Buy-In program will offer health insurance benefits to children with special needs, posted April 3, 2008
- Proposed changes to FERPA would allow permissible disclosure of student information in certain situations, posted April 3, 2008
- ORSC announces availability of $2,000 awards for college students, posted March 27, 2008
- Report recommends improvements to foster care system to help youth with disabilities, posted March 26, 2008
- Organization releases results of study on Ohio's autism voucher, posted March 21, 2008
- NCD report: Inclusive livable communities for people with psychiatric disabilities, posted March 17, 2008
- Data will be collected on foster children in special education, posted March 17, 2008
- Individuals with developmental disabilities and family members encouraged to participate in the South Central Ohio Partners in Policymaking Project, posted March 12, 2008
- New guidance on "reasonable modifications" under the Fair Housing Act, posted March 6, 2008
- RSC accepting disability advocate and service award nominations, posted March 3, 2008
Some links in this section are to documents created in Adobe® Portable Document Format (PDF). To view and print PDF documents, you need to have Adobe® Reader®, a free software program, installed on your computer. Download Adobe® Reader®.
The U.S. Department of Education is seeking comments about proposed changes to regulations for Title I under No Child Left Behind. According to the Department's April 29 press release, "the purpose of these proposed regulations is to build on the advancements states have made in accountability and assessment systems under No Child Left Behind in the past six years, while incorporating key feedback from the field into a more clear vision of what it takes to educate each and every student. Issuing regulations that strengthen Title I implementation will help bring about higher-quality assessments and stronger accountability for results, as well as provide parents with the information they need to make informed decisions about public school choice and Supplemental Educational Services." Public comments will be accepted through June 23, 2008. Public meetings are also being held throughout the United States, but none are in Ohio.
Read more about the proposed regulations, including how to submit comments: Proposed Regulations for Title I
[posted May 2, 2008]
Return to more disability-related news
On April 23, 2008, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruled that the Social Security Administration (SSA) is required under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the due process clause to provide communications in formats that are accessible to people with visual impairments who receive benefits from SSA. The ruling came after SSA sought to dismiss a class action filed in federal court by the American Council of the Blind and a group of individuals who are blind or have visual impairments. The class action alleged that SSA fails to provide the most basic accommodations, such as Braille, audio, large font or electronic text, to applicants and beneficiaries who are blind and visually impaired.
Read the press release: Judge Rules Social Security Administration Must Accommodate Blind Beneficiaries (PDF file)
[posted May 1, 2008]
Return to more disability-related news
The Spring issue of the DD Quarterly newsletter is now available on-line. The newsletter provides information about latest news and topics of interest to Ohioans with disabilities. The Ohio Legal Rights Service produces the newsletter through a grant from the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council.
Read the newsletter: DD Quarterly - Spring 2008
[posted May 1, 2008]
Return to more disability-related news
UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation offers grants up to $5,000 to help children who need critical health care treatment, services, or equipment not covered or not fully covered by their parents' health benefit plans. The grants may help pay for services such as speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, prescriptions, and medical equipment such as wheelchairs, orthotics and eyeglasses. To be eligible, children must be 16 years of age or younger. Families must meet economic guidelines, reside in the United States, and be covered by a commercial health benefit plan.
For more information: UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation
[posted April 28, 2008]
Return to more disability-related news
Iris Media, Inc. is seeking participants for a study it is conducting. The participants must be parents with an intellectual disability and who have a child aged 3-6. The results of the study will help evaluate a program that is being developed for parents
who have intellectual disabilities and their mentors. Participants will receive free training materials and $150. The study lasts for 10 weeks and involves reviewing parenting materials (CD, mentor workbook, and DVD) and completing online questionnaires. Read more about the study in the Parent Education for Parents Who Have Intellectual Disabilities (PDF file) brochure.
For more information: Parent Education - A Program for Parents Who Have Intellectual Disabilities or call Lisa at 1-877-343-4747, ext. 204
[posted April 28, 2008]
Return to more disability-related news
Proposed rules by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) would allow states to give institutionalized Medicaid beneficiaries the option to receive care in their homes and communities. The rule stems from the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA), which gave states a new option to provide home-and-community based services (HCBS) to Medicaid beneficiaries without applying for a demonstration waiver. The proposed rule provides guidance to states on how to implement this provision of the DRA.
Under this option, states can set their own eligibility or needs-based criteria for providing HCBS. Previously, to qualify for assistance with personal care, home health care or other services in the home or community setting, beneficiaries were required to be at imminent risk of institutionalization. The DRA provision eliminates this requirement and allows states to cover Medicaid recipients who have incomes no greater than 150 percent of the federal poverty level, or $15,600 per individual in 2008, and who satisfy the needs-based criteria.
The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on April 4, 2008, and will have a public comment period through June 3, 2008.
Read the CMS press release: Thousands More Medicaid Enrollees Could Get Home and Community-Based Care Under New Rule
Read the proposed rule: 42 CFR Parts 431, 440, and 441, Medicaid Program: Home and Community-Based State Plan Services; Proposed Rule
[posted April 7, 2008]
Return to more disability-related news
Children with special medical needs can apply for the Children's Buy-In (CBI) program, a program that offers health insurance benefits to children. An executive order signed on April 2, 2008 created the program for children under the age of 19 in families with incomes up to 300% of the federal poverty level, who have not had any insurance for at least six months, and are not eligible for Medicaid. The child must also meet one of the following: (1) unable to obtain insurance due to a pre-existing condition; (2) lost coverage due to a lifetime benefit limit; (3) only available insurance is at least double the state premium; or (4) is enrolled in a state program for the medically handicapped (Ohio Department of Health - Bureau of Children with Medical Handicaps). Families pay an insurance premium to receive CBI services. The amount of the premium depends on the family's household size and household annual income. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services administers the program.
For more information: Children's Buy-In Program
[posted April 3, 2008]
Return to more disability-related news
The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Evaluation, and Policy Development published proposed amendments to the regulations governing education records maintained by educational agencies and institutions under section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act, which is also known as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (FERPA). The proposed changes would clarify permissible disclosures in certain situations, such as during school health and safety emergencies or when using student identifiers as directory information (a complete list of permissible disclosure situations is included in the Department's notice). These proposed regulations will implement amendments to FERPA contained in the USA Patriot Act and the Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act. The changes also implement two U.S. Supreme Court decisions interpreting FERPA. Comments must be received on or before May 8, 2008.
For more information: Family Educational Rights and Privacy; Proposed Rule
[posted April 3, 2008]
Return to more disability-related news
The Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission (ORSC) announces the availability of the TG Public Benefit Award for college students. ORSC will distribute a minimum of 25 $2,000 awards to college students attending during the 2008-09 academic year. The awards are designed to promote the retention of students with disabilities at institutions of higher education in Ohio. Applications are due by May 1, 2008.
Students must meet the following eligibility requirements to be considered for an award:
- Have an open post-secondary training case with ORSC,
- Be currently enrolled in any class status at a post-secondary institution and will be pursuing a post-secondary education in the next 12 months,
- Be attending a post-secondary institution in Ohio. This includes a proprietary school, vocational school, technical school, community college, or four year college or university, and
- Have a minimum 2.8 grade cumulative grade point average.
For more information about the TG Public Benefit Award, contact Mike Kinney, ORSC by phone at 614-781-8717 or by e-mail at Michael.Kinney@rsc.state.oh.us .
Contact OLRS about your experiences
The Ohio Legal Rights Service (OLRS) will be analyzing this program and would like to hear from student's about their experiences. Contact OLRS Intake at 1-800-282-9181 or 614-466-7264; TTY 1-800-858-3542 or 614-728-2553.
Download an application: 2008 Application and Instructions (TG Public Benefit Award) (PDF file)
[posted March 27, 2008]
Return to more disability-related news
A report from the National Council on Disabilities (NCD) examines older youth with disabilities who are involved in the foster care system. The report states that experts often overlook the idea that foster care is not only a child welfare issue, but also a disability issue, due to the high numbers of foster youth with mental, developmental, emotional, learning, and physical disabilities. The report's purpose is to educate on the importance of understanding the prevalence of disability among foster youth and to determine who should be held accountable for this "uniquely challenged and often underserved population." Recommendations are included in the report.
Read the report: Youth with Disabilities in the Foster Care System: Barriers to Success and Proposed Policy Solutions
[posted March 26, 2008]
Return to more disability-related news
Policy Matters Ohio, a non-profit, non-partisan Ohio-based research institute, released results on its review of Ohio's autism voucher system. According to the organization's March 19 press release, Policy Matters found that Ohio's autism voucher excludes children based on ability, wealth, and religious belief. Furthermore, vouchers are mainly used in metropolitan areas while rural areas continue to be unserved. Policy Matters conducted this research to better understand who is using the voucher, what kind of services are provided to children with autism, who is providing the services, and how the program affects school districts. Recommendations to policymakers are included in the report.
Read the report: Analyzing autism vouchers in Ohio
[posted March 21, 2008]
Return to more disability-related news
The National Council on Disabilities (NCD) recently issued a report that looks at barriers and solutions relating to people with psychiatric disabilities fully participating in their communities. The report includes a summary of findings linking elements of the livable community framework to mental health recovery, such as housing and employment. The summary includes a discussion about stigma and discrimination as a major barrier to full participation in society for people with psychiatric disabilities. The report includes five recommendations for changes that need to be made at the federal level so that livable communities can become a reality.
Read the report: Inclusive Livable Communities for People with Psychiatric Disabilities
[posted March 17, 2008]
Return to more disability-related news
Special Ed Connection, a Web site that provides information about special education issues, reported on March 11, 2008 that the Administration for Children and Families at the Department of Health and Human Services will begin collecting data on foster children in special education. Currently, data is collected separately; the connection between the two areas is not reported. The report states that in September, "the National Working Group on Foster Care in Education said estimates of the proportion of children in foster care who receive special education at some point range from 23 percent to 47 percent" and that most of the data is local, state or regional — not at the national level. The report continues to say that it is estimated that as of September 30, 2006, 134,664 of the more than 500,000 children in foster care had a diagnosed disability.
On February 26, the Administration for Children and Families issued a final rule creating the National Youth in Transition Database. In additional to collecting data on all foster children, information will also be collected on whether children receiving services under the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program receive special education. The data collected for this program will focus on older youths, since it is a program designed to help children aging out of the foster care system.
For more information: Special Ed Connection (you must be a member of Special Ed Connection to view the article)
[posted March 17, 2008]
Return to more disability-related news
Partners in Policymaking is a leadership-training program designed for individuals with developmental disabilities and family members of individuals with disabilities. The program teaches leadership skills, and the process of developing positive partnerships with elected officials, school personnel, and other individuals who make the policy decisions about services used by people with disabilities and their families. The South Central Ohio Partners in Policymaking is recruiting diverse participants from its area, and who represent many different types of developmental disabilities. Individuals with developmental disabilities and family members who have not held a leadership position in support groups or disability organizations are encouraged to apply. The deadline to apply has been extended to March 18.
For more information: Information Sheet about the South Central Ohio Partners in Policymaking (PDF file) or contact South Central Ohio Partners in Policymaking, 1112 Gallia Street, Portsmouth, OH 45662, Phone: 740-353-3039, extension 205.
Application form (deadline has been extended to March 18): South Central Ohio Partners in Policymaking application form (PDF file)
[posted March 13, 2008]
Return to more disability-related news
New guidance released this week by the Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Justice (DOJ) reinforced the right of persons with disabilities to make "reasonable modifications" to their dwellings. The guidance applies if a structural change to a person's dwelling or to a common area of the building or complex in which the person lives is needed so he or she can fully enjoy the premises. According to the press release, the guidance is designed to help housing providers and homeowners' associations better understand their obligations and help persons with disabilities better understand their rights regarding the reasonable modifications provision of the federal Fair Housing Act (FHA).
Read the press release: Departments of Housing and Urban Development and Justice Release New Guidance on "Reasonable Modifications" under the Fair Housing Act
[posted March 3, 2008]
Return to more disability-related news
The Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission (RSC) is accepting disability advocate and service award nominations through March 13, 2008. The awards are named the Denise Joanne Weisenborn Service Award and the Ben Bonanno Disability Advocate Award. The following are details about each award, provided by RSC.
The Denise Joanne Weisenborn Service Award honors Ohioans who provide outstanding services to people with disabilities to make their participation in society more meaningful. The late Denise Weisenborn was an attorney and an exemplary disability advocate. The Parma resident, who was a commissioner with the RSC, devoted the last years of her life to promoting the state's adoption of a Medicaid Buy-In program so that people with disabilities could become employed without fear of losing health coverage. She also served as a member of both the Ohio Governor's Council on People with Disabilities and the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council. Ms. Weisenborn, who had a severe disability, used the services of personal care assistants on a daily basis.
The Ben Bonanno Disability Advocate Award honors outstanding disability advocacy accomplishments. It recognizes a person whose advocacy efforts have significantly improved the employment possibilities of Ohioans with disabilities in a manner consistent with RSC's mission to help Ohioans with disabilities get jobs and achieve independence. Former RSC Commission Chair Ben M. Bonanno has devoted his life's work to advocacy on behalf of people with all types of disabilities, especially, those with intellectual disabilities. He is the Executive Director Emeritus of Cleveland's Center for Mental Retardation (The Arc of Cuyahoga County).
Nomination forms are available on the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission Web site. The application deadline for both awards is March 13, 2008. Awards will be presented at the June 2, 2008 RSC Meeting.
For more information: Contact Shirley Marchi by e-mail at shirley.marchi@rsc.state.oh.us or by phone at 614-438-1214.
[posted March 3, 2008]
Return to more disability-related news
Related Topics:
