Hello everyone, what a beautiful spring we had. Now it is time for summer and hot weather. In this edition we will be discussing the meeting with Service Coordination, community options conference among other issues.
First, I would like to update you on our co-leader of CDRC, and our GOOD friend John Sorensen. (Little John) As many of you know, John was in a car accident on May 22nd. He has 2 broken legs, along with 3 broken ribs. John had surgery on both of his legs and is on his way to recovery. John will be recovering in Kernan Rehabilitation Hospital in Baltimore.
Bill Signing
We did it again, CDRC got another photo opportunity with the Governor, when Governor Ehrlich sign into law SB 771/HB 1330 – Maryland Medicaid Advisory Committee. (MAC Bill) This bill calls for at least 5 members of the Maryland Medicaid Advisory Committee to be people who are on Medicaid so that people who have Medicaid get more of a say in what happens with the Medicaid program. It also asks that some money be made available to help with transportation, childcare, and other expenses that might keep someone from being able to participate. We are very excited to have another bill pass in the legislature. We would like to thank everybody who worked on this piece of legislation to get it passed.
Service Coordination
CDRC members Gayle, Sarah and Kenny had a meeting with Service Coordination in early May to try to find the problems in getting folks out of nursing facilities that have Service Coordinators. Gayle presented the Service Coordinators with a powerpoint presentation. The presentation had information such as the different types of waivers that are available for people, along with information on Medicaid and Medicare. After the presentation the Service Coordinators would give a brief description of 1 or 2 people that they were or had work with to try to get out of a nursing facility that had a developmental disability.
Option Counseling
While other advocates may have taken the weekend off, CDRC
took it on. Friday May 26 was a wonderful day of accountability and obtaining
new advocates. CDRC had been working for over a year to get the administration
to understand why we said that the DelMarva nurses doing the "Options
Counseling" was not meeting our mutual goals. CDRC, in collaboration with
other advocates, had been questioning the data reports, the low numbers of
actual nursing facility transitions resulting from so-called counseling, the
total lack of referals to the DD waivers. and the high numbers of people who
changed their minds about transitioning after having the "Options
Counseling." We supported people with their own real life stories of not
getting information about being able to leave the Nursing Facility, and the lack
of help for those individuals to apply for waivers.
It was not easy or cheap, but with the help of the Sun Shine Folk, we got 25 NF
survivors/prisoners together from different parts of the state, with different
stories, and very similar struggles to get correct information and enough
assistance. Current residents included people working to transition onto the
Community Pathways Waiver, Older Adult waiver, and the Living At Home Waiver.
Those participants who had transitioned were really empowering to those who are
still struggling. Two state Medicaid, one MDOD, and one service coordination
representative said they were amazed by the turn-out and learned a great deal
from the stories. CDRC and MDLC will follow-up. After the state officials left,
the group continued to work while waiting for rides and several decided they
wanted to work with CDRC and the Sunshine Folks to learn more and help get more
people out. THIS was very exciting.
Personal Care
Then on Monday Memorial Day afternoon, we had eleven CDRC members participate in
training at MCIL - Making Choices for Independent Living- for finding, training
keeping and firing Personal Care Attendants. Participants represented each of the Medicaid programs that
pay for direct services, such as Community Pathways Waive, Living At Home
Waiver, Older Adult Waiver. The
training worked for everyone, no matter how their supports were paid. One Living
At Home Waive provider was there with the person she supports and she helped
near the end with her perspective on training and information from the agency.
Everyone spoke up and asked great questions. Everyone said they learned a lot
and wanted to do the training again for a larger group with enough time for
practice on the communication skills and practice writing ads. We learned that
one participant was being intimidated by his agency when they learned he was
planning to change agencies so he could have more self-determination. Also, one
person on the Living At Home Waiver decided she needed a "circle of
support" to help her manage her staff training and sensitivity for issues
specific to people who are blind.
Internship
Kenny had his final evaluation with Senator Grosfeld regarding his internship for the 2006 legislative session. It was an emotional last meeting because as many of you know, Senator Grosfeld won’t be running again in November. Senator Grosfeld was very pleased with Kenny’s 2 years of work on disability issues. The Senator also feels that Kenny, among other self-advocates are doing a GREAT job of educating the legislators. We are going to miss a champion in Senator Grosfeld.
Movie Night
CDRC hosted a
movie day at the Holly Center. The Holly Center is one of four remaining
State Residential Centers that are still opened in Maryland. This was
CDRC's first time to host an event at a State Residential Center.
Most of the CDRC members that attended this event were once a
resident of a State Residential Center. They were anxious to talk to the
residents of the Holly Center. CDRC members and the residents of Holly
Center interacted well. We had 11 residents of the Holly Center that attended
the movie. We showed the movie Chicken Run. We feel it was
a successful event for being CDRC's first time in hosting an event at a State
Residential Center. We are excited that we were able to host an event at
Holly Center. We are planning to host an event at the remaining three
State Residential Centers.
Website
The website has been updated a couple of times since the last newsletter.
So, be sure to check the Photos, Resources, and Newsletters sections of the
site. www.thecdrc.org. Also you can find your Senator and Delegates in the
Resources Section and links to lots of interesting events.
Our next CDRC meeting is
June 25, 2006
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Maryland City at Russett Library
3501 Russett Common
Laurel, MD 20724