Happy February,

 The Cross Disability Rights Coalition (CDRC) would like to welcome you to our new update letter.  This month we will be discussing what CDRC is about, what our goals are, and what CDRC is working on so far this year.

 The Cross Disability Rights Coalition (CDRC) is a group of persons with disabilities, from Maryland ADAPT and People On the Go of Maryland. The CDRC is funded by a three-year grant from the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council

 We have two main goals: 1) to get people out of nursing facilities or state residential centers and into the community, with full funding for community services; and 2) to end the Medicaid institutional funding bias. Currently there is a 70/30 funding bias in Maryland that favors institutionalization and segregation of people with disabilities.  We are working to correct this outdated idea. 

  • CDRC is proposing legislation this session entitled, “The Right To Be Informed.”  This legislation is an amendment to the health general code that will be inserted in the rights of people with developmental disabilities in community programs and State Residential Centers.  The amendment makes it a right for people to learn about less restrictive services options, like new waivers and new community options.  Believe it or not, SRC residents and DDA supported persons in the community do not currently have the right to information.  It is important for everyone with developmental disabilities to know about these options so they can make informed choices about the services they receive. Senator Sharon Grosfeld is sponsor for this legislation.

 

  • We have been updating and improving CDRC’s web page.  The  website will be up and running by February 15th.  We would like everyone to check it out at www.thecdrc.org 

 Now that the Legislative session has begun things are pretty hectic. I hope your calendars aren’t full for February yet. We’ve got lots of big doin’s going on. Let me, Kenny or Jessica know what you’re interested in A.S.A.P.

Here’s the list:

            1.     ADAPT Tex’s Chili Dinner Movie Night Fundraiser - on Saturday the 5th, come watch a movie, eat some good chow, remember our friend Tex, and help ADAPT raise $$$ for the upcoming action. Starts at 5:30. A donation of $15.00 is requested. The movie wiil be Chicken Run. C U there.

2.    Nursing Home Training - On Monday the 7th, MDLC will be hosting a training from 10:00—3:00 on how to help people get the hell out of Nursing Homes and back home where they belong. This is a 3 part training and is only for 10 invited participants. The first group (guinea pigs) have been invited already but don’t fret, if this training is successful we’ll do it again

3.    Housing Day - On Tuesday the 8th, MCCD will be hosting “Housing Day” here in Annapolis from 8:30—1:00. There will be discussions on Affordable Accessible Housing, Housing Policies, The Housing Market, Legislative issues, etc. Housing Issue Experts have been invited already but if others are interested, please let me know ASAP!

4.    Medicaid Budget Hearings - On the 15th & 16th the Legislators will decide the fates of all of us who receive Medicaid by deciding how much $$$ to put in the Medicaid Budget. THESE HEARINGS ARE R-E-A-L-L-Y IMPORTANT!! PLEASE TRY TO BE THERE!!

5.    SWOT Training/CDRC Meeting - on Monday the 21st, SWOT (Seeking Ways Out Together) will give CDRC members a training on how to get information on Community Living to SRC (State Residential Center/Institution) Residents. Immediately following the training from 2:00—4:00 we will have a special CDRC meeting to develop our “Media Message”. Margie Elsberg, (she worked with us at the Skills/Pride Training on talking to the media) will help us develop a message that we can easily remember and tell the legislators and press so that they clearly understand what we want. We’ll also do some more work on interviews. THIS IS A VERY BUSY, L-O-N-G, IMPORTANT DAY. PLEASE TRY TO COME!! WE WILL FEED YOU!!

6.    DD Day at the Legislature—February 25th is DD Day. This is a day devoted to disability issues here in Annapolis. There will be briefings on hot issues this legislative session and meetings with legislators. It costs   $18.00.  ALL are strongly urged to participate. Please let us know if you can make it.               

 

      We will be sending out our newsletter monthly with our calendar of  

      activities.