* Join PEAK Parent Center as we present a series of webinars for parents and educators.

* Join us for all or just the ones that interested you the most.

* Space is limited, so please register online and you will receive a confirmation email with directions for the webinar.

Lunchtime Training Series (Noon-1pm):

Advocacy 101-Wednesday, January 18, 2012

El IEP: Un Instrumento para Realizar las Posibilidades-Monday, March 5, 2012

Transitions: Grade-to-Grade-Thursday, May 3, 2012

Evening IEP Training Series (6:30-7:30pm)

Preparing for the IEP Thursday, February 16, 2012

Content of the IEP Thursday, March 1, 2012

Implementation & Follow up of the IEP Thursday, March 15, 2012

To sign up or learn more go online  to: www.peakparent.org/workshopsTranings.asp or call PEAK Parent Center 719.531.9400 or 800.284.0251

RTD is forced to make service cuts–it is our responsibility to help make the cuts in the way least damaging to the low income community. RTD has a TON of public meetings where people can give input. These meetings begin within the next week. Their website also lists the proposed changes in detail.

PLEASE read this RTD Proposed Cuts and Hearing Info <http://www.rtd-denver.com/proposedservicechanges-jan2012.shtml>

Also, we recently heard that RTD had determined that over 100 Access A Ride users were no longer eligible. The reason is that they got new mapping software that is more accurate. RTD does not have to provide para-transit
to people who live more than 3/4 of a mile from a fixed route stop. There are some people who were deemed eligible for years and made decisions about things like buying a home, accepting a job, etc., because they thought they would be able to get transportation. There is a current proposal in front of the RTD board that would grandfather the current Access a Ride customers. CCDC supports that approach. We will be sending letters to the RTD Board Members. We encourage you to do the same. The board is at RTD Board

<http://www.rtd-denver.com/BoardDirectors.shtml>.

Transportation is essential to us so our involvement is imperative.

The Colorado Health Care Affordability Act is generating new revenue to expand public health insurance coverage to more Coloradans. Among the health care programs included in the Act is expanded coverage to working adults with disabilities through a Medicaid Buy-In Program.

The 2010 Medicaid Infrastructure Grant to Support the Competitive Employment of People with Disabilities (MIG)- awarded to Colorado by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services­ supports State efforts to build Medicaid infrastructure and enhance employment options for people with disabilities.

How much total funding did we receive?
• Colorado received $L5 million in MIG funding for 2010 and 2011. How will the funds be used?
• Outreach: To help clients, employers, advocates, families, direct service workers, educators and community partners across the state understand the Medicaid Buy-In Program for Working Adults with Disabilities as well as available employment suppmts. During the next year, we will host public meetings, employer events, local visits to service providers and regional training conferences.

• Training: To develop customized program trainings for target populations that include persons with disabilities, e1nployers and service providers. Trainings will range from basic to advanced and will be delivered in various formats. Example formats may include training in person, via webinar or on DVD.

• Needs Assessment: To ensure that the Medicaid Buy-In is best suited to Colorado’s needs, the MIG has- and will continue to- fund effmts to gather input from stakeholders statewide through conferences, interviews and surveys. The MIG is also funding a review of the strengths, challenges, and lessons learned in other Buy-In states. The Department will compile, analyze and repmt on all relevant data.

• Steering Committee and Work groups: A steering conunittee and multiple work groups have been established, made up of diverse stakeholders. Together, these groups will advise the Department on MIG effmts to address the development of the Medicaid Buy-In Program for Working Adults with Disabilities, employment supports, training, outreach and communication.

• Employment Infrastructure Change for Workers with Disabilities: The MIG will help fund employment systems change and education with the goal of a complete, inclusive and coordinated employment system- including informed benefits planners and robust employment supports information- for people with disabilities.

How can I provide input, join a work group or attend a forum as announced?
• Please contact Kimberley Smith.

CONTACT: Kimberley Smith
303-866-3991
800-659-2656 (TTY/TDD)

Medicaid Infrastructure Grant.pdf

HILLS is looking for a CNA or RN that specifically has experience with g-tube feedings and I was wondering if you would be able to help us spread the word about this work opportunity?

HILLS is a nonprofit that runs vacation trips for people with developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injury and we have 2 specific trips coming up soon that a young man has expressed interest in participating in.

Trip #1 is to Cheyenne Frontier Days July 28-30. This is an overnight trip and we are staying at a hotel in Fort Collins. The nurse is required to stay with us throughout the entirety of the trip.

Trip #2 is to YMCA of the Rockies from August 29-September 1. This is an overnight trip and we will be staying at a cabin at YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park. Again, the nurse is required to stay with us throughout the entirety of the trip.

The client is male, age 48, with Cerebral Palsy, uses a walker, speech is slightly altered but can communicate. Is fairly independent with personal care needs but just needs help in and out of the shower. He uses a chair in the shower, but if that is not available, he can stand and hold onto shower bar, or take a bath. In the latter two cases he would need more assistance with bathing. He needs roughly 1 hour to get ready in the AM and needs encouragement not to watch TV too late at night. He is g-tube fed 4 times a day, at 7, 12, 4, 8. Three of those times he gets medication through his g-tube as well. No behavior issues, he has traveled with us before and is a pleasure to have. Nurse would be responsible helping with this client and minor assistance with other clients on the trip.

Staff are considered independent contractors and are paid $150/day. If interested, please reply to info@hills-inc.org or call (303)875-9149.

The disability community has lost one of our most valuable members-Laura Hershey
www.laurahershey.com  passed away last night.
Laura is the woman who invented the concept of DISABILITY PRIDE.
For those of you not lucky enough to have known Laura her poetry, writing
and other work will live on forever. In addition to her website listed
here she also has www.cripcommentary.com I first met Laura when I was still on the East coast. She interviewed me
for an article she was doing for MS Magazine on feminism and reproductive
rights. I got to meet her in person before I even moved here on one of my
visits. Laura’s partner Robin had also moved here from the East Coast, and
like me met her partner at an ADAPT action.

NO ONE-and I mean no one, disabled or not, lived life more fully than Laura
Hershey. If I tried to list all of her accomplishments here it would become
a novel sized piece. Laura’s invention of DISABILITY PRIDE likely came
from her role as a leader in the anti Jerry Lewis telethon movement. She
eloquently explained and emphasized why we want parity not charity and why
pity is more “handicapping” than anything that can be thrown at us
biologically. Those who get the concept of disability pride do so much
better at managing disability-regardless of the severity of one’s
disability.

If you want to look to anything good that has happened for people with
disabilities in the Denver area (and all over the world) you will see
Laura’s wheel tracks (as opposed to a foot print) all over it. Laura has
been an instrumental part of CCDC. It was on her recommendation that I
chose to involve myself with CCDC after moving here in 1994. Laura was a
staunch supporter of Consumer Directed Services, one of the first to use it
and promote it in Colorado and actually one who was using it for many years
before we even had a program. Her story Confessions of a Cash Cow
http://www.raggededgemagazine.com/1101/1101covcashcow.htm was used to force
the state to implement CDASS. Many years ago foundations would not touch
disability advocacy-until Laura was hired by the Denver Foundation to
produce the first real needs assessment ever of the Denver metro area
disability community -the report Varied Voices made it clear that advocacy
was and is an essential service for the health and welfare and integration
of people with disabilities. The Denver Foundation has funded organizations
including but not limited to CCDC ever since. That led many other
foundations to start funding disability advocacy. Laura worked tirelessly
for health care for attendants and even had a few jaunts inside the
system-she worked for a period for Medicaid when they had grants to promote
consumer control and made more of an inroad there than anyone could. She
put up with mistreatment during and after and handled it with such amazing
dignity. She worked for the union for a period promoting disability pride
and a model of attendant care that benefits both workers and the disabled
who need the services. Laura never missed a good protest and loved the
radical work outside of the system. Laura was a strong advocate with Not
Dead Yet and believed fiercely that we all have quality and are all
valuable- that fit in with her strong belief in DISABILITY PRIDE. Laura’s
writing and poetry have touched millions and will continue to do so.

Laura traveled all over the world including going to China with Robin for
the fourth international conference on woman. Most of us with much lesser
levels of disability have never dared to do the travelling that she did.
Her most recent accomplishment and her pride and joy was the adoption of a
14 year old young lady -who clearly caught the pride bug and who will now be
raised by her other mother, Robin. I was lucky enough to go to their
“forever family” celebration at their home this summer. Robin, Laura and
Shannon -their new daughter—wore matching shirts and all had purple nail
polish. All three of them were beaming and the love between all of them
permeated the air. Even for the short time she had Laura as a mother I am
sure her influence will follow Shannon forever. Even before the adoption
was final Laura became an instant strong parent advocate, filing appeals and
fighting for Shannon to get the services to which she is entitled.

Laura has mentored hundreds if not thousands of women with disabilities,
including me. She always had a pride and credibility factor that just
exuded itself into any discussion or even confrontation. She was always
logical and appeared calm, even when she was angry. If anyone is a model
for ALWAYS doing what is right and always focusing on the plight of all
oppressed people including every single one of our brothers and sisters in
the disability community—it is Laura Hershey. The last time I saw her
was at a party for a mutual friend-just a few weeks ago. We spent the time
talking about the latest screw up by Medicaid (they were trying to deny her
ventilator care) and how important system advocacy is to prevent the need
for each individual to require an advocate. The best way to honor her
memory is to put your energy into doing the work of the movement by
promoting social justice and creation of systems change. Do your part to
carry forward her amazing voice.

I will let you know about arrangements and wishes of the family as soon as I
know.

Laura will be sorely missed but never forgotten
Julie Reiskin

Executive Director

Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition

303-839-1775 voice

303-567-6582 fax

jreiskin@ccdconline.org

www.ccdconline.org

The MLK rec center is on a list of seven Denver community centers a citizen task force recommended be “partnered” with outside groups that would run day-to-day operations as a way to save money. To the folks who come here, that sounds a lot like code for shutting the center down. Read Full Article.

KUSA – On Sunday, August 22nd, the inaugural Pedal 4 Your Cause kicks off in Longmont in an effort to get more kids and families on bikes, especially those with disabilities. Read full article.

DENVER — Fifty developmentally disabled adults in Colorado are being told they are on their own. The way of life some have known for a decade is over because of budget cuts in the state. Read full article.

Janet Kay Zaborek doesn’t mind in the least sitting up close in a movie theater. At a recent screening of “Despicable Me,” the bubbly 13-year-old’s neck was craned upward. Her eyes were fixed on the zippy action, and there was a sweet smile on her lips as she watched an anti-social villain become a surprisingly loving dad. Read the complete article

By Michelle Diament
April 13, 2010

Disability Scoop

Arizona offers the best Medicaid services for people with developmental disabilities while Mississippi comes in dead last in an annual ranking of the states released Tuesday.

In addition to Arizona, the states coming out on top in the analysis from United Cerebral Palsy are Vermont, New Hampshire, Washington and California. Meanwhile, the lowest performing jurisdictions are Washington, DC, Illinois, Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi. (Find out where your state stands >>)

Much like in previous years, the best performing states included those of all population sizes, varying levels of wealth and those with differing tax structures. Further, successful states exhibited differing levels of per person spending on Medicaid home and community-based services waivers.

Notably, Washington state jumped from a rank of 25 in 2009to a fourth place ranking this year, largely due to better reporting. Meanwhile, Alaska declined from third place to rank 27 after state estimates of the number of people living in the community were replaced with actual numbers.

Success in the ranking known as the “Case for Inclusion” is largely based on a state’s strides toward serving individuals in the community. On that front, the report finds that the number of states where over 80 percent of individuals are supported in home-like settings continues to rise, reaching 22.

Nonetheless, waiting lists continue to grow – they increased 56 percent between 2005 to 2008 – and the 2010 report finds that state spending on housing people in large institutions remains steady.

The analysis is culled from the most recently available data, much of which is from 2008. With that in mind, the report authors note that the landscape could presently be altered due to the recession and subsequent stimulus dollars states received.