Ronald Mace and His Impact on Universal Design

Posted on December 17, 2008

By Stephanie Woodward, Transportation Systems Advocate

Ronald Mace made a huge impact on not only the disability community, but the whole human population, yet very few people are aware of this. Born in 1940, Ronald was a healthy baby. However, when Ronald was nine years old he contracted polio leading him to use a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Ronald then began to see all of the barriers that people with disabilities face daily. Refusing to let barriers get in his way, Ronald continued to strive for success, attending North Carolina State. At the time Ronald attended North Carolina State his wheelchair did not fit through the bathroom door and he had to be carried up and down the stairs to attend class. Read more

Just Say Hi!

Posted on December 16, 2008

By Anita Cameron, Systems Advocate

“May I help you?” I have come to dread, indeed, almost to hate those four little words! They are, nearly always, the first words to come out of the mouth of anyone who sees me.

I think it’s the wheelchair, because I don’t otherwise look like one who needs help with anything. It’s sad that it changes how a person sees me. It speaks to the power of stereotypes.

Many people have told me that they don’t know what to say to someone with a disability. I tell them, “Just say hi!” Here are some tips for interacting with people with disabilities, or at the very least, some tips on interacting with me. If this sounds like common sense to you, great! If not, take note. Read more

Safeguard NY’s Mental Health Care

Posted on December 2, 2008

By Lara Kassel, Advocacy Coordinator, Medicaid Matters

I have posted items about mental health issues before, as we know that mental illness afflicts people with physical disabilities disproportionately.  In addition, the physical disabilities advocacy world often coincides with that of psychiatric disabilities community.

The following is an op-ed by Glenn Liebman, prominent mental health advocate and President and CEO of the Mental Health Association in NYS.  In addition to emphasizing the need for strong community-based mental health services (which help keep people out of residential facilities and emergency rooms), it highlights the need of the advocate community to help the state come up with ways to eliminate unnecessary and inappropriate use of state funds.  CDR and Medicaid Matters support efforts to spend public dollars in a more efficient and effective manner, especially when it is in the best interest of the people we represent and work with. Read more

Freedom Advocacy

Posted on December 1, 2008

By Chris Hilderbrant, Advocacy Director

Yesterday, CDR received notice that we finally had successfully enrolled a person in the Nursing Facility Transition and Diversion Waiver (some people may be more familiar with calling it the Nursing Home Transition and Diversion Waiver – I’ll get to that in a bit). After nearly a decade of advocacy and work, we have one person all set to begin receiving needed services and to escape institutional placement! This is the first person enrolled in the waiver in Monroe County. Many more will be following soon – just in time for the holidays. Read more

A Learning Adventure – Building Community through Partnerships

Posted on November 25, 2008

By Anita O’Brien,  Recreation Director

There is something to be said for not re-inventing the wheel.

This was very true for our Recreation Program when we decided it was past time that people with disabilities were able participate in rock climbing, kayaking, scuba diving, and horseback riding and to do so in an integrated setting!  The thought of building our own climbing wall, kayaking business, diving pool and riding arena came and went quickly.  What followed was the even more brilliant idea: let the community learn to become accessible.  And why not?!  The Rochester area already has businesses which provide these activities to the public – or at least to parts of the public.   It made great sense to act as the facilitators in this venture.  We would devise a program through which we could train the businesses to open their services to an untapped marketing niche – people with disabilities. Read more

ENTRY, ELIGIBILITY AND SERVICES SHOULD BE NEEDS-BASED

Posted on November 21, 2008

REFORMING LONG TERM CARE SERVICES IN NEW YORK STATE CENTER FOR DISABILITY RIGHTS POSITION PAPER VOL. 5

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NOVEMBER 19, 2008

By Leah Farrell, Policy Analyst

New York State should focus on functional needs of the individual, rather than age or diagnosis, in reforming long term care services. This applies to outreach and point of entry, eligibility, and service provision. The current system is fragmented based on classifications of diagnosis and age, stemming from social and political accidents of history, and now reflects an outmoded, confusing and impractical approach to meeting very real human needs. For example, cueing and supervision assistance should be available to anyone with cognitive impairment, such as a person with Alzheimer’s disease or a person with a Traumatic Brain Injury. However, the person with Alzheimer’s may be denied cueing and supervising assistance due to lack of funding in Alzheimer’s programs, while the latter receives the needed assistance through the Traumatic Brain Injury Waiver. A carefully planned shift toward services based on functional need is an important component of long term care services reform. Read more

EXPAND THE POOL OF PERSONAL ATTENDANTS

Posted on November 20, 2008

REFORMING LONG TERM CARE SERVICES IN NEW YORK STATE
CENTER FOR DISABILITY RIGHTS POSITION PAPER

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NOVEMBER 13, 2008

By Leah Farrell, Policy Analyst

In order for people with disabilities to receive services in consumer directed, community-based programs they require access to personal attendants.  The Center for Disability Rights (CDR) recommends two solutions for expanding the pool of personal attendants: (1) Amend NYS regulations regarding payment to family members for attendant services to be consistent with federal regulations, and (2) Develop a program to train people with certain disabilities to join the workforce as personal attendants. Read more

Prevention and Disability

Posted on November 10, 2008

By Michael Volkmer, Community Information Specialist

It’s no secret that people are living longer than they ever have before.  Many factors contribute to the increase in the number of the seniors, including access to better healthcare, family and religious involvement, and increased industrialization.  As the sheer volume of individuals increases over a particular age threshold, we can expect unprecedented strain placed on public health, aging services, and in general the entire health care system.  The combination of personality traits of today’s seniors and the projected shifting of the infrastructure of the Long Term Care system will effectively mandate seniors to age in place and receive supportive services in community-based settings.  Preventative measures are becoming increasingly critical for avoidance or delay of future health care needs. Read more

REFORMING LONG TERM CARE SERVICES IN NEW YORK STATE CENTER FOR DISABILITY RIGHTS POSITION PAPER

Posted on November 6, 2008

By Leah Farrell, Policy Analyst
NOVEMBER 5 2008, VOL. 4

MAKE CONSUMER DIRECTED SERVICES THE FIRST CHOICE.

The traditional model of agency controlled long term care services is outmoded, expensive, and paternalistic.  Consumers need to be empowered to control what services they get, when and by whom.  This kind of empowerment of the consumer will lead to better health outcomes and cost savings.

Previous volumes of Reforming Long Term Care Services in New York State established the historical policy framework that has made the long term care system institutionally biased and has resulted in excessive costs to NYS and lower satisfaction among consumers.  Read more

Reflections on the folks that got elected in the Greater Rochester Area

Posted on November 5, 2008

By Chris Hilderbrant, Director of Advocacy

We have some things to be excited about, nationally and locally and we have some things that continue to be cause for concern.

Nationally, we elected Barack Obama to be our next President.  During his victory speech, President-Elect Obama mentioned us, “disabled,” as one of the groups in this nation to come together to work for a better future.  It was brief, not at all elaborate or belabored and he didn’t use quite the right language (I would have said “people with and without disabilities.)  But still, it was a mention of people with disabilities in a Presidential acceptance speech!  This is unheard of and it is a sign that President-Elect Obama and his people are listening. Read more

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