[Nfbf-l] {Disarmed} Fw: UCP Washington Wire -- Week of March 5, 2012

Wed Mar 7 10:54:30 UTC 2012

UCP Washington Wire -- Week of March 5, 2012
----- Original Message ----- 
From: United Cerebral Palsy 
To: carlos.montas at gmail.com 
Sent: Tuesday, March 06, 2012 10:00 AM
Subject: UCP Washington Wire -- Week of March 5, 2012

  UCP Washington Wire

  March 6, 2012

  UCP PREPARING FOR ANNUAL DISABILITY POLICY SEMINAR

  Need Help Getting to the Disability Policy Seminar This Year?
  It’s almost time again for the annual Disability Policy Seminar, where you can learn more about and discuss the hottest topics in disability public policy with other advocates, policy experts and professionals in the field in Washington, DC, April 23-25. But if you’re are someone with a disability or you are planning on coming to the Seminar with someone who may need some extra support when they travel, we know that getting to Washington, DC may be a challenge.

  Travel Arrangements
  This year’s Disability Policy Seminar sponsor, Hammer Travel, provides unique and customized travel arrangements specifically for people with disabilities. You can check out the types of services they offer at www.hammertravel.org. No matter how you get here, you can take advantage of special room and early registration rates before March 20. This year’s seminar is at the Grand Hyatt in downtown Washington just steps from public transportation and in the heart of a vibrant neighborhood filled with restaurants, shops and convenient access to Capitol Hill.

  The Disability Policy Seminar is Hosted by: The Arc, American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD), Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NADD), Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE) and United Cerebral Palsy (UCP)

  CURRENT NEWS and UPDATES

  States Holding Off on Implementation of Health Insurance Exchanges
  More and more states are in the  midst of deciding whether or not to hold off on the creation of their health exchanges. Some reasons for the wait include November's election results as well results from the much anticipated Affordable Care Act (ACA) case that the U.S. Supreme Court will hear in the coming month. Learn more on health exchanges from The New York Times.

  New Approach to School Vouchers May Help Students with Disabilities
  A new approach on school vouchers from the American Federation for Children has created a controversial new route for students with disabilities to get what they need in school. In an article released by Education Week, it is noted that "creating private school vouchers for special education students can be the perfect way to clear a path for other students to get school options." Private school vouchers may also cause challenges with the implementation of the Individuals with Special Education Act (IDEA). Read on at Edweek.org.

  STATE CHECK-UP

  Idaho State Budget Committee Readies Money to Integrate Medicaid into Health Exchange
  Early last week, the Idaho state Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee approved funding in the amount of $4 million to begin readying Idaho's Medicaid system for integration with the new Health Exchange. Idaho will pay ten percent of the costs associated with the funding, or about $400,000. The rest of the funding has come from a federal government matching program. Read more from the Idaho Reporter. 

  ON THE HORIZON

  Center for Studying Disability Policy to Hold Forum
  The Center for Studying Disability Policy will be holding a forum that will discuss employment for people with disabilities. The forum, titled "Causes of the Chasm: Factors That Impact Employment Among Persons with Disabilities" will be held on Thursday, March 15, 2012 from 12-1:30pm EST in Washington, DC. Participants can attend the forum in person or via the web. Read more information from Disability Policy Research.  

  U.S. Department of Education Releases Notice of Training and Information for Parents of Children with Disabilities
  Last week, the U.S. Department of Education released a notice in the Federal Register for applicants of new awards related to the Training and Information for Parents of Children with Disabilities. The purpose of the program is to ensure that parents of children with disabilities receive training and information to help improve results for their children.  View more information from the Federal Register.  

  National Federation of the Blind Publicizes 2012 Scholarship Program
  The National Federation of the Blind has released its eligibility requirements for applications for the 2012 scholarship program. Through this program, blind college students are given the opportunity to apply to win one of thirty national scholarships. All scholarship applications and documents for the fiscal year 2012 are due on March 31, 2012. Read more information on how to apply from the National Federation of the Blind.  

  For more information on this UCP Washington Wire contact: Connie Garner, CGarner at ucp.org.
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