Pennsylvania legislators propose a moratorium on the closing of two state facilities for people with intellectual disabilities

Residents and families of two Pennsylvania state-operated ICFs/IID will get a reprieve from closure. See blog post on the decision to close White Haven and Polk Centers.

**********************************

House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

House of Representatives

Session of 2019 - 2020 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	September 25, 2019 11:22 AM
From:	Representative Gerald J. Mullery and Rep. Tarah Toohil, Rep. R. Lee James
To:	All House members
Subject:	Moratorium on Closing of White Haven and Polk State Centers

Fear of the unknown can be deeply debilitating and a feeling with which we are all familiar. Today, hundreds of families across this Commonwealth are grappling with the fear of their loved one being forced from the place they have called home for a large portion of their life. For others, they are struggling to find an alternative facility that will match the immense needs of their family member before time runs out. We support the integration of those living with intellectual disabilities into the community where they can thrive and become more independent. But for the residents of the White Haven and Polk State Centers, that is simply not a compassionate option. Many of these individuals require 24/7 attention and extensive medical care morning and night. Closing these facilities forces families to make excruciatingly difficult emotional and financial decisions for individuals whom we have vowed to protect. For some of these residents, the closure and forced exit could be incredibly damaging and traumatic. Before we uproot the lives of these vulnerable Pennsylvanians, we must truly understand the impact the decision may have on the remaining time they have and make readily available the resources to seamlessly continue care. That is why we are taking swift action to introduce legislation that would enact a moratorium on the closing of these facilities until we are better prepared as a state to respond to the impending result. Please join us in supporting this legislation and this critical decision to buy more time for the residents of White Haven and Polk and their families.

---

Abelone Kelley September 30, 2019 0

PA Governor announces final decision to close two of four state operated facilities for people with IID without consulting residents, families, or state legislators

Polly on hiatus

After a long hiatus from The DD News Blog, I am picking up where I left off with Susan Jennings' compelling testimony before the federal Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee on July 23, 2019. 

Susan Jennings' severely autistic son suffered for years in abusive community care, often in a toxic over-medicated state, until the Jennings went to court and gained admission for their son to an Intermediate Care Facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICF/IID). White Haven Center in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, has the right combination of services to control his maladaptive behaviors and a setting that provides close supervision and the safety he needs to thrive. [See "Joey's Journey" for a full account of the ordeal that led to White Haven Center]

Three weeks later,  according to an AP report on August 14, 2019, the Pennsylvania  Department of Human Services (DHS) announced plans to close two of the remaining four state centers for individuals with intellectual disabilities, including Joey's home at White Haven Center: 

"The Department of Human Services said Tuesday that public meetings will be held next month to gather comment on the plans to close the Polk State Center in Venango County in western Pennsylvania and the White Haven State Center in northeastern Pennsylvania's Luzerne County"

The DHS declared that the decision to close these two facilities is final, but also admitted at a legislative hearing on 9/24/19 that the decision was arrived at without consultation with residents, families, facility staff, or legislators. 

The Pennsylvania DHS, according to the AP account, "....promised to work with residents and families, meet with potential community service providers and come up with 'individualized transition plans.' Officials said every Hamburg center [which closed in 2018] staff member who expressed interest in continued work for the state was offered a job prior to closure or in the one-year contractual placement period afterward." 

Residents and families, however, have the option of choosing to continue to receive ICF care if they disagree with the decision to move residents to community placements. This is a holding of the 1999 Supreme Court Olmstead decision that states that a person in institutional care may be moved to community care as long as the affected individual does not oppose treatment in the community. This stipulation is largely ignored by state agencies and advocacy groups who ideologically oppose institutions and tout the overwhelming success of community placements for people with IID. 

According to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, 8/14/19, Peri Jude Radecic, CEO of Disability Rights Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania's Protection and Advocacy agency) approves of the facility closures and states that, “The Americans with Disabilities Act sought to end the isolation and segregation of persons with disabilities. Court decisions have affirmed the right to move and live in the community. For decades, our Commonwealth has demonstrated that state operated institutions can close and individuals can be moved into the community thoughtfully and safely.”  The Pennsylvania ARC has also expressed enthusiasm for these closures.

For a more accurate interpretation of the ADA according to the 1999 Olmstead decision, VOR has put together passages from Olmstead protecting choice with this introduction:

"...There is no inclusion mandate in Olmstead. Rather, the Court’s determination in Olmstead supports both the right to an inclusive environment and the right to institutional care, based on the need and desires of the individual. Olmstead guarantees choice for all
individuals, their parents, and guardians. Olmstead requires that those who are moved from institutional care to smaller, community-based group homes meet three distinct criteria to determine the appropriate residential setting. There is no mandate to deny access to institutions, to close institutions, nor to place at risk any individuals who need and choose institutional care."

The views of residents and families and others supporting Pennsylvania state facilities are expressed here, on the KIIDS website, ("Keeping Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities Safe...") and at a legislative hearing on "Open the Doors to Dignity" held on April 30, 2019.

The legislative hearing held on 9/24/19 included both support and opposition to the closing of state facilities. Highlights include testimony from John Hirschauer at 1:06 followed by Susan Jennings (White Haven), Irene McCabe (Polk Center), and Hugo Dwyer from VOR from 1:17 to 1:45.

Other interesting moments: 

There were numerous references in the DHS testimony to the amazing success of the closure of Hamburg Center last year. According to a report on the hearing from the Standard-Speaker, Hazelton, PA, 9/25/19, Celia Feinstein from the Institute on Disabilities at Temple University was one of only two witnesses from outside the DHS to testify in support of closure of the state facilities. She said Pennsylvania lags behind other states in moving people out of centers.

"She also said Temple followed people after they left the state Pennhurst Hospital that closed 32 years ago to find out if the move benefited them.

"'After many years of study, I can answer with a resounding 'yes,' Feinstein said. 'In every way we were able to measure it, people are better off.'"

Others were more concerned about the possibility of less than adequate care that residents might receive in community settings and were focused on the fact that of the 80 people moved from Hamburg Center that closed in 2018, 15 have died. 

One rationale given by DHS for not having consulted with residents, families, facility staff, or legislators before deciding to close two centers was that when the DHS floated the idea of closing Hamburg Center, it spooked workers into quitting and leaving residents insufficiently cared for. Apparently it has not dawned on the DHS that this could happen again, now that the centers that they want to close have been identified. To have care deteriorate as a center is closing is a familiar pattern that has been observed before. It has even been used as an impetus to families to move quickly in selecting a community provider, before all the "good ones" are taken.

There are 13,000 people on waiting lists in Pennsylvania for community services. Hugo Dwyer from VOR pointed out that people coming out of state facilities will be first in line to receive Medicaid Waivers to fund community services, thereby putting more strain on the system to serve people in community settings. According to the UCP Case for Inclusion 2019, page 9, although spending doubled on Home and Community based services from 2006 to 2016 and the number of people living in larger state institutions was cut in half, waiting lists for services tripled.

How have people with IID fared in other states when facilities closed?

Michigan closed its last state-operated ICF in 2009. The promise of appropriate care for everyone with a developmental disability in a community setting has not been fulfilled. "Michigan’s mental health system is failing many with severe autism" gives several examples of how people with severe autism who might have been better served in an ICF/IID are falling through the cracks and facing institutionalization in jails and psychiatric hospitals.

Georgia: The Augusta Chronicle has been following the tragic consequences of forcing people with developmental disabilities and mental illness out of institutions and into communities that are not prepared for them and are unable to meet their needs. "Report: Deaths, lack of housing plague Georgia system for disabled, mentally ill" by Tom Corwin, 8/26/19, relates how "An independent reviewer found that despite Georgia’s claims of compliance, a state health care system for the developmentally disabled and mentally ill is still inadequate." 

In 2010, Georgia reached a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice to move residents of state facilities to community settings. According to the article, 

"An Augusta Chronicle investigation in 2015 found nearly 1,000 deaths among those patients in community care in both 2013 and 2014, and the state has twice halted moving them from state hospitals into community care over the lack of adequate care among those providers. In its last Annual Mortality Review that covered fiscal year 2017, Jones [the independent reviewer] noted that the death rate has continued to climb each year, from 12.5 per 1,000 in fiscal year 2015 to 16.4 per 1,000 in 2017.

“'Perhaps most significantly,' Jones notes, the death rate for those the state has already identified as high risk is anywhere from twice to four times as high."

Washington State: from Because We Care -- Beyond Inclusion 

in a series of Blog posts - "Stuck in the Hospital"

California: "Falling Through Cracks: When The Safety Net for Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder Fails" by Eva Loeffler, 2/25/19

In Pennsylvania, there is bipartisan support from legislators, especially those from the affected counties, to have the state legislature review the decision by DHS to close two of its state-operated centers.

See also full coverage of the PA legislative hearing from the Standard-Speaker from Hazelton, PA:  "Advocates, Opponents Of White Haven Center Closing Head To Harrisburg For Hearing", 9/25/19.

Abelone Kelley September 30, 2019 0

Tomas Elias Gonzalez Venezuela and His Terrific Organization Along with Fantastic Business

Tomas elias gonzalez Venezuela and his terrific organization along with fantastic business

Tomas Elias Gonzales Benitez is actually a label which can not forget through anybody at all as there are lots of things put him to the spotlight. Regardless of whether you would certainly like to be actually a business owner or even if you are actually appearing to obtain success, it is quite significant to be actually stimulated so as to deal with tough along with all the intricacies and troubles you are actually encountering. One need to discover more regarding from the lifestyle of tomas elias Gonzalez, where he was staying an average lifestyle just before, today he is residing like a master considering that of his excellent hard work as well as brilliant job.

Presently, he has obtained wonderful apartment know Collins Avenue in Miami Beach, a Townhouse in Continuum building-- Miami as well as a Cessna Citation X, which is very pricey and also lovely, consequently residing a terrific lifestyle over there certainly. Tomas gonzalez Venezuela is linked with numerous providers, including-- Total internet solutions SA, which is actually the most effective site developing and promotion business helping the people and your business of throughout the globe properly. If anybody desires to bring in extremely pleasant, reactive and very awesome website as well as would love to advertise in a much better way, may easily move to the very same. Likewise, tomas elias gonzalez Venezuela is linked with other a variety of significant companies, including- AF Com Corp to Alox global LLC organization, Domar Trading SA, Latin capitalists SA, Oil gasoline innovation INC and various others.

All these business are actually operating quite possibly through the very best group of the specialists alongside great concepts and also suggestions provided through tomas elias Venezuela. He was also included in several conflicts, but absolutely nothing is proved however, and he is actually continually focusing in his service and also operating in a far better way.

Know More About Tomas Elias Gonzales Benitez

Do you know about tomas Elias Gonzales Benitez? He is incredibly popular in today times for some great as well as negative strategies. Currently, he is actually located as the risky member of the Madura's criminal group as well as understood to all. However, simultaneously he is extremely well-known business people as well as running a great deal of business all together, which are acquiring level of popularity day through time.

It is actually undoubtedly be actually stated that tomas elias Gonzalez is a component of the criminal group that has actually looted the repositories of the Venezuelan condition and also possessing an excellent exchange other Mafia. He is actually the one via his fantastic relationship along with the mafia has actually managed to scale as much as turn into one of the primary intermediators in couple of or even a lot more points. He is understood to offering a huge amount of products and also meals to the Maduro Regime along with its bureaucratic companies, consisting of- CASA, CORPOVEX as well as PDVAL. He was likewise detected to become finished with all the transactions with the totalitarianism of Venezuela have exhorbitant overpricing. Today, tomas gonzalez Venezuela is actually properly managing his thus supreme and also registered providers in a variety of portion of the world, and also they all received wonderful appeal. His one of the very best providers lies in the Dominican Republic, which is actually called Producer Panorama. Undoubtedly, the company is doing extremely well, but simultaneously it is actually claimed that they are actually all bag companies, breaking the rule that controls the Petrocaribe arrangement.

Today, tomas elias gonzalez Venezuela is recognized for running a variety of impressive firms, and also they are numerous and also pertaining to various domain names, consisting of- AF com corporation to the Alox international LLC organization, Oil gasoline modern technology INC, Total internet companies S An and numerous others.

High Hill Entertainment In Miami Florida Through Tomas Elias

We can easily find a great deal of providers around us, yet certainly not all are actually best-selling and also known to individuals. Listed here, our experts are actually going to discuss a person along with the greatest provider, which are actually recognized to all, and also it is not simply local, but received global popularity too.

Discussing tomas Elias Gonzales Benitez, he knows to run several companies entirely as well as take his A-Z organisation to the following amount. Among his primary providers is- High Hill Entertainment, which is popular due to several explanations and also delivering fantastic solutions to the people. This is the company contacted us to be very creative as well as usually job in the audiovisual as well as digital information manufacturing solutions, positioned in Miami. Along with the aid as well as direction of the tomas elias Gonzalez, the provider skyrocket the revenue as well as sales in a great method. The company is totally committed to using items that get in touch with the Hispanic market in the United States alongside the Latin America.

Tomas gonzalez Venezuela is actually very specific in his business design and also the provider appropriately going up offering the greatest companies. Specialists are concentrated on carrying out all types of work in all phases of product progression, ranging coming from concept of concepts to post-production of material. Along with the support of the tomas elias gonzalez Venezuela, the professionals listed below enlisted the most ideal staff or even can easily state the multidisciplinary staff of professionals, who are actually well in each the professions. Also, the professionals are recognized for using the most ideal innovation that assures an unique result, under a phenomenal tape of top quality, according to market criteria.

Know a lot more regarding tomas elias venezuela and the group as they all are actually the one offering excellent manufacturing solutions in the United States, Europe and Latin America.

Who Is Actually Tomas Elias Gonzalez Venezuela?

There are actually a variety of people around our team, but not all are actually extremely famous. Today, our experts will refer to tomas Elias Gonzales Benitez as well as if you are trying to understand more concerning the very same, this article will undoubtedly allow you understand more about him as well as what he carried out. Therefore, tomas elias Gonzalez is known for running great providers around the world and also his association along with lots of firms created him quite renowned. He is actually recognized for his new ideas and also fantastic work as well as put all the efforts, hardwork and funds to secure terrific earnings. Tomas gonzalez Venezuela was likewise an event of the criminal gang based on the report, where he has actually plundered the coffers of the Venezuelan condition. It was actually said that the Gonzalez through his mafia connects with has managed to scale around turn into one of the primary intermediators in numerous companies and also delivering a large variety of items and also food to the Maduro Regime and also its governmental entities including: CASA, CORPOVEX as well as PDVAL. Properly, it is actually not affirmed however,, yet still the attraction of this male is actually in the top amount.

Not just this, he was actually gotten in touch with as a common male and also was actually staying in El Paraíso, Caracas, a middle lesson general vicinity, however today he has gotten a ton of homes due to his wonderful brilliant and also tough work. Tomas elias gonzalez Venezuela has actually presently gotten the residential property in Collins Avenue in Miami Beach, a Townhouse in Continuum building-- Miami and also a Cessna Citation X and various others and also currently residing a luxurious lifestyle. Additionally, tomas elias Venezuela is actually understood for running numerous companies in the finest possible fashion and recognized for his intelligent suggestions as well as various other terrific factors which he has actually performed for the community.

Check Out Details On Tomas Elias Gonzalez

Do you understand just about anything about tomas Elias Gonzales Benitez, who was in the limelight as a result of numerous points? Effectively, he is the person recognized for operating different fantastic organisations altogether as well as together is recognized for his wonderful suggestions.

Lately, tomas elias Gonzalez is understood for associating with handful of or several unlawful activities and also mentioned that he was actually the aspect of the unlawful gang as well as swiped the repositories of the Venezuelan condition. He is actually the one having couple of or even a lot more registered firms in different component of the world, and also they are performing the best of all. A few of his wonderful firms are located in the Dominican Republic along with the name of the Producer scenery. Tomas gonzalez Venezuela is best-selling in terms along with his tips as well as actions, however it has been actually located that his all the firms are actually briefcase business and they are breaking the legislation that controls the Petrocaribe deal.

The tomas elias gonzalez Venezuela has likewise obtained a home in which he lies on Collins Avenue in Miami Beach, a Townhouse in Continuum property-- Miami and a Cessna Citation X, very attractive and greatest. He has actually got numerous residential properties, he is actually also referred to as the owner of High Hill Entertainment in Miami Florida. This is actually the incredibly famous medial business, which lies at 690 Lincoln Rd # 202. Miami Beach, FL 33139. Apart from this tomas elias Venezuela has various other a variety of business which are flourishing as well as all dispersed in different portion of the nation.

When Gonzalez was actually certainly not known to the social and also residing an average lifestyle, he resided in El Paraíso, Caracas, a mid training class neighborhood. There are different companies relate to the very same and also he is actually performing well along with each one of all of them.

Tomas Elias Gonzalez Venezuela And Latin Investors SA

Are you seeking to understand additional concerning the tomas Elias Gonzales Benitez? Effectively, this is actually the individual incredibly well-known and also managing great deals of providers at the same time. If you are actually wanting to obtain encouraged and just how to place all initiatives and effort, one have to have a look at the past history of the preferred people around us.

One may check out about the tomas Elias Gonzales Benitez, that was living a common life in the El Paraíso, Caracas, a mid training class general vicinity, now he is operating different business completely as well as bring in fantastic profit. Now, tomas elias Gonzalez has actually got terrific level of popularity and also has obtained an apartment or condo through which he lies on Collins Avenue in Miami Beach, a Townhouse in Continuum property-- Miami and also a Cessna Citation X as well as there are lots more various other buildings he owns. Speaking about his terrific business, including- Latin Investors SA, every business is actually operating so excellent and producing an excellent amount of profit.

Tomas gonzalez Venezuela was actually consistently picked up with his techniques and also whatever he carried out, he got the lime illumination. Extra on Latin Investors SA, the provider is proudly managing by the tomas elias gonzalez Venezuela and his wonderful crew of the specialists and also coping with various domain names, consisting of- wide range administration to quality economic consulting, tax obligation and lawful consulting, exclusive equity funds as well as several others. The group below is the most effective of all deal great examination to the general public to ensure that they may conveniently create a fantastic amount of monetize their tiny to significant financial investment.

Aside this, tomas elias Venezuela remained in the headlines considering that of his involvement along with the criminal gang, yet there is no such verification which mentions it is actually correct. Yet, when it involves the tough working as well as brilliant job, one take inspiration coming from him.

Abelone Kelley September 09, 2019 0

From the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee on Autism Housing Needs, 7/23/19

This is from an account of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee meeting on 7/23/19 by Jill Escher: 

Susan Jennings, founder of Keeping Individuals with Intellectual Disability Safe (KIIDS) shared an oral public comment that her son is one of those who kicks down doors and elopes into traffic. He has been discharged from six different group homes, as none could manage his challenging behaviors. She cited systemic shortcomings to community group home, including severe abuse and toxic over-medication. His salvation was an ICF, and she laughed at the idea of “forced institutionalization” since “You can’t force your way” into an ICF since “they are closed or closing.”

She said her son is far from an anomaly. About 40% of the autism population exhibits severe challenging behavior. Because of the lack of options, these adults often languish in psychiatric facilities, hospitals, or jails. The Olmstead Supreme Court decision recognizes that the ADA does not impel states to close institutions, and indeed that some individuals may need these setting for crisis periods or permanently. They must remain available, as they offer a superior form of care for a segment of the population, she said. There are very high costs to keep some adults “in the community” with too little assistance and supervision. “The state center is a bargain compared to the community,” and also provides her son a much greater degree of personal freedom. Also, unlike community settings, ICFs must meet rigorous standards to be certified. She drew attention to the direct service provider (DSP) shortage: “You are asking people to handle life-and-death emergencies at fast-food wages.” Finally she denounced the “cruel movement afoot” to defund out-of-home options. If parents do not have the ability to care for severely affected adults — who does? We must offer a full range of services.

Abelone Kelley July 27, 2019 0

Raise the Wage for some, Lose the Wage for others

This is from the VOR Weekly News Update, 7/19/19 on the recent passage of the Raise the Wage Act by the U.S. House of Representatives:

“On Thursday, July 18, the House of Representatives voted in favor of passing H.R. 582, the Raise the Wage Act. Tucked into this bill are provisions that would end Section 14(c) [of the Fair Labor Standards Act] wage certificates and re-structure wages paid by work centers, forcing tens of thousands of people with intellectual disabilities who are unlikely to participate in competitive employment, out of their existing opportunities to work at facility based employment.

“While some of our members may support raising the minimum wage while others may not, VOR members have come together to oppose this bill as written, in order to protect individuals who benefit from 14(c) and work centers that are designed to accommodate their specific needs and abilities.

“…most coverage of this bill has only mentioned the increase in the minimum wage, with no mention of the effect this would have on people who would be unhireable under competitive integrated employment. Once again, the most vulnerable Americans are suffering discrimination at the hands of agencies that are supposed to protect their interests, and by the work of advocates and self-advocates who focus only on one segment of the community of people with intellectual disabilities.” 

***********************

The controversy over sub-minimum wage certificates comes up again and again as a disability rights issue, framed as blatant discrimination against people with disabilities. The assumption among many advocates is that all people with disabilities are capable of integrated, competitive employment, as long as they have the supports they need to be successful. The fallacy here is that there are, indeed, people whose disabilities prevent them from working in competitive employment, because they are unable to tolerate a competitive work environment or to keep up with other workers.

This is a fact, not a reflection on people with disabilities in general or an assertion that they are somehow less worthy than people without disabilities. To the contrary, the right to appropriate services applies to all, even to those who need a specialized facility-based work program that pays less than minimum wage. For the most part, these workers receive additional government benefits in the form of living supports, Medicaid health insurance, Medicaid waiver services, and often additional social services offered by their employers or other agencies.

***********************

This is from a DD news blogpost from 2014:

"Workers with disabilities who are able to engage in competitive employment, with or without supports, should not be exploited in workplaces that profit off their labor but pay the workers sub minimum wages. The special wage certificates that are now issued, however, allow people with more severe cognitive and other disabilities to work at their own pace in skill development centers (sheltered workshops, usually in community settings) and receive pay adjusted to their abilities and how fast they work. To eliminate the special certificates would  in effect also eliminate this important option for people who can and want to work but would otherwise be unlikely to obtain employment in regular competitive workplaces. In the opinion of many who benefit from these programs, too little consideration has been given to what will happen to these people other than many more of them will sit at home with nothing to do.

"Efforts to increase competitive employment for people with DD in integrated settings should not be expected to offset the need for specialized employment services based on the severity and nature of an individual's disability. 'Robbing Peter to pay Paul' (or in this case, closing sheltered workshops to fund more supported employment), is never a good policy decision when it comes to people with needs as diverse as those with developmental disabilities."

***********************

ACCSES is an organization representing providers of employment services. This is an editorial from their July 22, 2019 newsletter: 

"The Raise the Wage Act (H.R. 582) passed the House last week 231-199. This bill if enacted, would kill jobs for people with disabilities by getting rid of the special wage certificate under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act, which will have a significant impact on opportunities for people with the most significant disabilities. On July 8, 2019, the Congressional Budget Office issued a report on the effects of an increase in the minimum wage on employment and family income, in which it found that the $15.00 federal minimum wage would benefit 17 million workers, and cut at least 1.3 million jobs. (The CBO estimates 125,000 people being served under 14(c) certificates.) Section 14(c) certificates are an important tool in the employment toolbox. Do not let Congress take away jobs for people with disabilities. Your Members of Congress are getting ready to head home for their August recess. Contact them today and invite them to tour your locations to see the devastating effect passing this bill into law would have on people with disabilities. It is vital that Members of Congress have a great understanding of the important role community rehabilitation programs play when setting disability policy. "

***********************

See also:

"House Votes To End Subminimum Wage" by Michelle Diament, July 19, 2019, Disability Scoop
“…many families have opposed such legislation arguing that subminimum wage employment gives people with more severe disabilities who may not be able to succeed in typical jobs a sense of purpose and an opportunity to contribute.”

"Supported Employment : Is it Cost Effective for People with Severe Disabilities?", The DD News Blog, 2/15/16 

"Information on Sub-minimum wages for people with disabilities and appeal rights..." , The DD News Blog, 3/30/16

Abelone Kelley July 26, 2019 0

Happy Times!

These were Happy Times fifty years ago, except for the Vietnam War, racial and political strife, drugs, dropouts, cults, and Richard Nixon. Listen to 18 minutes of pure bliss.

Abelone Kelley July 25, 2019 0

IACC Workshop: Addressing the Housing Needs of People with Autism, 7/23/19

The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) is holding a workshop to address the housing needs of people on the autism spectrum on 7/23/19:

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Hilton Washington DC/Rockville Hotel and Executive Meeting Center 

1750 Rockville Pike 

Plaza Ballroom 

Rockville, MD 20852 

9:30 to 4:30 pm

“The purpose of the 2019 IACC Workshop, Addressing the Housing Needs of People on the Autism Spectrum, is to convene a working group of the IACC that will focus on housing needs of people on the autism spectrum. The workshop will be open to the public, will include time for public comments, and will be accessible by live webcast and conference call. "

Remote Access:

Conference Call:
Dial: 888-946-9416
Access code: 1391703 (listen only)

Webcast: https://videocast.nih.gov/summary.asp?live=33279&bhcp=1 

It is too late to submit a request to make oral or written comments to the committee during the 7/23 meeting, but truth be told, any member of the public can submit comments in writing to the IACC at any time. You can also listen in by phone or webcast.

Contact information:

Ms. Angelice Mitrakas
Office of Autism Research Coordination
National Institute of Mental Health, NIH
6001 Executive Boulevard, NSC, Room 7218
Rockville, Maryland 20852
Phone: 301-435-9269
E-mail: IACCPublicInquiries@mail.nih.gov

Full Agenda for IACC Workshop, 7/23/19

Partial agenda that will include discussion of Intentional Community models:

Overview of Housing Issues

10:00 Status and Trends in Supports and Services from the Residential Information Systems Project
Heidi Eschenbacher, Ph.D.
Researcher, Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota

10:15  Trends and Insights from the Autism Housing Network
Desiree Kameka, M.T.S.
Director of Community Education & Advocacy, Madison House Autism Foundation 

10:30  Discussion of Public Comments

Susan Daniels, Ph.D.
Director, Office of Autism Research Coordination, NIMH, and Executive Secretary, IACC

Oni Celestin, Ph.D.
Science Policy Analyst, Office of Autism Research Coordination, NIMH

Intentional Community Models

1:00 Live. Learn. Lead. We’re the place for that…First Place AZ
Denise Resnik
CEO and Co-Founder, DRA Collective, Phoenix, Arizona

1:10 Benjamin’s Hope: a "Live, Learn, Play, Worship" Community Where People with Autism Enjoy Lives of Dignity and Purpose
Krista Mason
Executive Director, Benjamin’s Hope, Holland, Michigan


1:20  From House to Home: Thriving with Autism at The Center for Discovery
Terry Hamlin, Ed.D.
Associate Executive Director, Center for Discovery, Harris, New York


1:30 Organizing for Inclusive Community: Leveraging Partners and Policies to Make More Possible
Lindsay Johnson
Director of Policy and Partnerships, The Kelsey

******************************

"The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) is a Federal advisory committee that coordinates Federal efforts and provides advice to the Secretary of Health and Human Services on issues related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Through its inclusion of both Federal and public members, the IACC helps to ensure that a wide range of ideas and perspectives are represented and discussed in a public forum. The committee reconvened in November 2015 to begin a new session under the Autism CARES Act."

Abelone Kelley July 19, 2019 0