[nfb-talk] News From Disability Groups:

Kenneth Chrane kenneth.chrane at verizon.net
Sun Apr 12 14:58:07 UTC 2009


Once again we have seen several requests for input, meeting announcements,
information and even an offer of a free stair lift that are all non
legislative. There is a TON going on at the legislature and they are of 
course
debating the budget now. I will be sending out several legislative alerts 
over
the weekend but this alert is all of the NON legislative stuff. I know there
is a lot so please read what you want and leave the rest but please look
through all of it.
_____


CCDC Members Alert:

Part One: Meetings, Events, Trainings over the next month

Part Two: Other opportunities to give input

Part Three: News about the stimulus payments and social security

Part Four: CCDC and miscellaneous including free stair glide



PART ONE: MEETINGS AND EVENTS

1) Monday April 13 we are having the HCPF
Disability Listening Tour in Fort Morgan. This is where people can give 
input
and get accurate information on Medicaid, Indigent Care and Children’s
Health programs. This will be from 11-4 at the Library and a light lunch is
included. If you have questions call Hope at 542-2254.

2) Aurora Public Schools Board of Education and
Superintendent John L. Barry are hosting a town hall meeting for parents and
community members. Please join us on Tuesday, April 14 at Side Creek
Elementary School. The school is located at 19191 East Iliff Place. The town
hall meeting begins at 6 p.m. Aurora parents and community members are
encouraged to ask questions and dialogue with the board and superintendent.
Spanish interpretation services will be available. If you are aware of a
forum like this in your community please let our educational advocacy
coordinator Donna Sablan know –you can email her at dsablan at comcast.net or
call her at 720-530-7736

3) NAMI of Denver is having a forum on Special
Needs Trusts on the 15th (Wednesday) at 7 pm at Mental Health Center of 
Denver
(MHCD) 4141 E. Dickenson Place, Denver. The presenter is Richard Hughes an
attorney who will address How to Leave an Inheritance to a Special Needs 
Child
of any Age Without Disqualifying Him or Her from Medicaid, SS, or other
Government Benefits. There is no charge for NAMI Denver education programs.
For more information, call 303-504-6545.

4) On Friday several mental health organizations
will hold the annual Mental Health Consumer Oriented Conference called
INNOVATIONS. For more information contact Jennifer Parrot at CHARG
303-830-8805.

5) Also on Friday the 17th is the CICP STAKEHOLDER
FORUM. This is VERY IMPORTANT as it will be the way that CICP clients can
have input into the way CICP is run and how to hold the providers more
accountable. PLEASE PARTICIPATE IN THIS: The Colorado Indigent Care Program
(CICP) Administration would like to thank you for your interest and
participation as a member of the quarterly CICP Stakeholder Forum. We would
like to remind you of the upcoming forum that will be held April 17, 2009 
from
1:30 to 5:00 p.m. The address is 225 East 16th Ave, 1st Floor conference
room, Denver Colorado. If you would like to teleconference the Stakeholder
forum, the conference access number is 1-866-427-0083, room 8451431. Please
note you must press the star key before and after the room number. Please
RSVP by April13, 2009, as to your ability to attend and to request items to
include on the agenda. The Agenda will be posted to the CICP website by 
April
16th, 2009. If you require any special accommodations, please contact Karen
Talley at (303) 866-2580 or cicpcorrespondence at state.co.us.

6) April 23 there are two fun events in the
evening—Family Voices of Colorado is having their first event as an
independent organization and they want to show off their cool new digs- NEW
ADDRESS!!!! 450 Lincoln Street Suite 100 and their phone is
303-733-3000—Open house is from 4-7.

7) Also CHARG, the best mental health provider
anywhere (in my unbiased opinion) is having an open house also to celebrate
20 years from 5:30-8:00 at 709 East 12th Avenue—free food AND book signing
by local author/poet Freddy Bosco.

8) April 28 is the quarterly meeting of the HCPF
Long Term Care Advisory Committee. This is from 1-4 at 225 East 16th in
Denver. For agenda or accommodations call Barb Prehmus at 303-866-2991.

9) MAY 5TH—CCDC JAZZ BENEFIT, YOU SHOULD HAVE
RECEIVED SEPARATE FLYERS ON THIS BUT IF NOT GO TO OUR WEB SITE
WWW.CCDCONLINE.ORG <http://www.ccdconline.org/> AND BUY YOUR TICKET NOW. It
is only $15 for a great night of fun and if you can’t attend buy a ticket
for us to give to someone who cannot afford one.

10) May 7th is the HCPF Eligibility Modernization Task
Force (formerly the centralized eligibility) group will meet from 9-12 am at
225 East 16th Ave. We need more client involvement here also.

11) MAY 11 is the STERLING HCPF disability listening
session—same idea as the Fort Collins event but in Sterling—for details
call Howdy at 520-0970.

PART TWO INPUT OPPORTUNITIES

The Colorado Department of Human Services and the Governor’s Behavioral
Health The State of Colorado is holding meetings with stakeholders across 
the
State focused on mental health and substance abuse prevention, intervention,
and treatment services. The forums are being led by consultants from two
organizations, TriWest Group and Advocates for Human Potential. Questions at
the forums will focus on:

 Unmet needs in your community related to mental health/substance abuse
services

 Ideas about how to better meet those needs through system changes

 Your priorities about which system changes are most important to pursue

In-Person Sites Address Date Time

Denver Colorado MH Institute-Ft. Logan Tuesday, April 14 12:00-1:00 pm 3520 
W.
Oxford Ave., Denver

Pueblo Colorado MH Institute-Pueblo Tuesday, April 21 9:30-10:30 am 1500 W
24th St., Pueblo

Fort Collins Hampton Inn Fort Collins Thursday, April 23 4:30-5:30 pm 1620
Oakridge Drive, Ft. Collins

If you cannot attend one of the in-person sites, please sign up to attend 
via
videoconference on Wednesday, April 15th, 10:00-11:00 am.

Videoconference Forum Sites

Craig Colorado NW Community College 50 College Drive

Durango La Plata County Fairgrounds 2500 Main Ave.

Lamar Prowers County Social Services 1001 South Main

Sterling Banner Health 615 Fairhurst Street

Trinidad Las Animas County Human Services 204 S. Chestnut St.

LIMITED SEATING AVAILABLE ~ RSVP REQUIRED BY APRIL 7TH. PLEASE CALL
1-800-208-0095 TO MAKE YOUR RESERVATION NOW! Please make any requests for
reasonable accommodations to facilitate participation when you RSVP. (I know
it is after April 7th but go ahead and RSVP anyway

If you use mental health services and want to learn how to be a peer
specialist Peer Specialist Training will be offered fall semester through 
the
Community College of Denver as part of the Human Services Certificate 
Program.
The training will be held at 10004 E. Colfax St in Aurora, Mon. & Weds.
3:00-5:00 starting in August 2009.Qualified candidates will be informed the
first week of July (classes start in August). Call Nate Rockitter 
303-577-9823
or e-mail (nate_rockitter at bhiinc.org) to set up an interview or for
information about the Behavioral Healthcare Inc. Peer Specialist Program.

OPPORTUNITY FROM THE STATE INDEPENDENT LIVING COUNCIL:

CCDC has been working on emergency preparedness issues and the state IL
council has also been working on these issues. They have decided (wisely) to
offer a training so that people interested can be on a level playing field 
to
participate. They are interested in finding 4-5 people in the metro area to
participate, they have funds to pay for related expenses. If you are
interested let me know.

The ICDR Seeks Your Recommendations on Emerging Disability Research Topics

Web site provides opportunity to vote and prioritize disability issues of
greatest concern

This year for the first time, the federally mandated Interagency Committee 
on
Disability Research (ICDR) is utilizing an innovative Web-based approach to
collect online disability research comments to assist in developing a 
federal
disability and rehabilitation 2010 research agenda. This technology-driven
approach gives the public a three-week timeframe from March 27th through 
April
17th to submit their recommendations. Additionally, registered participants
will be invited to review all comments submitted and vote on their top 10
concerns in each topic area during the one-week period from April 22nd 
through
April 29th. Public comments from stakeholders are the focal point of the
disability research recommendations in the ICDR Annual Report to the 
President
and Congress.

All disability-related research topics are welcomed, including discussion
about concerns important to the veteran and military communities. The ICDR 
is
seeking comments with special emphasis placed in the following areas:

* Collaboration and coordination among federal agencies;

* Health information technology and/or electronic health records;

* Health disparities;

* Health promotion in the workplace;

* Employment and health; and

* Other critical research issues.


Guidelines and Instructions:


* Access the ICDR Public Comment Web site:
<http://www.icdr.us/stakeholders> http://www.icdr.us/stakeholders for 
complete
instructions, guidelines, and registration.

* If you do not have access to a computer or the Internet, you may mail
your comments to ICDR c/o CESSI, 6858 Old Dominion Drive, Suite 250, McLean,
VA 22101 or fax to 703-442-9015. Please follow the following instructions 
for
written comments:

o No longer than 250 words or 1500 characters

o Single-spaced using 12-point font in Times New Roman


Key Dates:


* Web-based Public Comments: March 27 – April 17, 2009 (3:00 P.M.
EDT)

* Written Comments: March 27 – April 17, 2009 (Must be postmarked no
later than the deadline)

* Online Public Voting: April 22 – 29, 2009 (11:59 P.M. EDT)


About the ICDR


The ICDR is authorized by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended) to
promote overarching coordination and cooperation among federal departments 
and
agencies conducting rehabilitation research programs and activities. Major
roles of the ICDR are to identify research duplication and gaps, secure 
public
input and compile data to inform future research, promote communication and
coordination, and facilitate interagency collaboration. The ICDR brings
together agency representatives, policy makers, advocates and people with
disabilities through a Senior Oversight Committee (SOC) and subcommittees. 
The
SOC is the ICDR administrative body that spearheads interagency 
collaboration
and research coordination. The subcommittees represent specific areas of
disability research including education, disability statistics, employment,
medical rehabilitation, and technology. The ICDR facilitates the exchange of
information on disability and rehabilitation research programs, activities 
and
collaborative projects among ICDR member agencies and federal partners.

For more information about the ICDR, visit the Web site: http://www.icdr.us
<http://www.icdr.us/> .


Colorado Behavioral Health Transformation Transfer Initiative


The State of Colorado has asked two national consultant organizations –
TriWest Group and Advocates for Human Potential (AHP) – to work with
government officials and a range of stakeholders to improve behavioral 
health
services (i.e., alcohol and drug abuse and mental health) in Colorado. 
TriWest
and AHP are helping with this process and trying to develop a plan to 
improve
behavioral health services over the next several years. The planning process
will involve members of the Governor’s Cabinet, Judicial and Legislative
Branch representatives, consumers, families, providers, advocates and other
stakeholders.

To support this effort, Colorado was awarded a grant by the federal 
Substance
Abuse and Mental Heath Services Administration (SAMHSA). The grant is called
the Transformation Transfer Initiative. The goals of the grant include:

Developing a process to reduce gaps and fragmentation in Colorado’s
behavioral health systems (recommendations from a 2007-08 legislative task
force – HJR†1050 Task Force are to be used as a blueprint);

1. Including ongoing, meaningful input from consumers and stakeholders on
all planning, decisions, and system changes made; and

2. Securing ongoing funding (e.g. state, federal or local grant funding)
and other needed supports to ensure that the process continues until true
system transformation is achieved.

To help guide this process, TrIWest and AHP are talking with people whose
lives and work roles are affected by behavioral health needs. Forums are 
being
conducted across the State of Colorado in April. Those in larger cities are 
in
person and smaller towns are being linked in through video conferences.
Questions at the forums will focus on:

1. Unmet needs in each community related to mental health/substance abuse
services,

2. Ideas about how to better meet those needs through changes to how
government and private

3. Organizations work, and

4. The priorities of the people at the meetings regarding which changes
are most important.

Because behavioral health needs affect the lives of so many different kinds 
of
people, forums are being

conducted in each community with a wide range of different groups. We are
meeting with each group

separately so that we can focus on their unique needs. The groups include:

1. Adult Consumers of mental health and substance abuse services

2. Youth and Young Adults

3. Parents/Caregivers of Children Served

4. Family Members of Adult Consumers

5. Child Welfare/Juvenile Justice/Education system leaders

6. Criminal Justice system leaders

7. Community Leaders

8. Mental Health Providers

9. Substance Abuse Service and Prevention Providers

10. People interested in Early Childhood issues

11. People interested in Primary Care/Behavioral Health Integration

12. People interested in Private Insurance issues for behavioral health

If you have questions about these forums, please contact Erin Hall at
303.544.0509 x3 or by email at ehall at triwestgroup.net.



PART THREE : Vice President Biden Announces $250 Recovery Payments to Go to
Social Security and SSI Beneficiaries in May Payments will inject more than
$13 Billion into Economy

Vice President Joe Biden and Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social
Security, announced today that the federal government will send out $250
economic recovery payments to people who receive Social Security and
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits beginning in early May 2009 and
continuing throughout the month. No action is required to get the payment,
which will be sent separately from the person’s regular monthly payment.

“The Social Security Administration and Commissioner Astrue have been
working closely with other federal agencies to get these payments out the 
door
in record time and into the hands of folks who need it most,† said Vice
President Biden. “These are checks that will make a big difference in the
lives of older Americans and people with disabilities - many of whom have 
been
hit especially hard by the economic crisis that has swept across the
country.â€

“We have been working diligently to issue the $250 one-time recovery
payments as soon as possible,† Commissioner Astrue said. “The 
legislation
requires extensive coordination with other federal agencies and I’m 
pleased
we are on track to issue these recovery payments earlier than the statute
requires. Soon more than $13 billion will be in the hands of more than 50
million Americans.â€

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides for a one-time
payment of $250 to adult Social Security beneficiaries, and to SSI 
recipients,
except those receiving Medicaid in care facilities. To receive the payment
the individual must be eligible for Social Security or SSI during the months
of November 2008, December 2008 or January 2009.

The legislation also provides for a one-time payment to Veterans Affairs 
(VA)
and Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) beneficiaries. The VA and RRB will be
responsible for paying individuals under their respective programs. However,
if someone receives Social Security and SSI, VA or RRB benefits, he or she
will receive only one $250 payment. People getting Social Security or SSI
should not contact the agency unless a payment is not received by June 4,
2009.

For more detailed information about the $250 one-time economic recovery
payments, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/payment.

To learn more about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, go 
to
www.recovery.gov <http://www.recovery.gov/> .


PART FOUR: CCDC AND MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION


FREE STAIR LIFT: After we were seen on Channel 7 helping unit a wheelchair
with someone who needed a wheelchair we got an email asking us to find 
someone
who needed a stair lift. Here is the email, if you have this need please
contact Manuel directly and make sure you thank him. Once he makes the
donation let us know so that we can write him a letter of appreciation.

“ Hello My name is Manuel. I don’t know who I should be writing this
e-mail to.

Recently my wife and I saw a report on 7 news, about the lady that you 
helped
with the wheelchair. Kudos!! We have a stair lift with only enough track to 
go
up about 9 stairs. More track is very expensive. I was given to my
Mother-in-law by the son of her friend upon her passing. All he asked, is 
that
when the time comes, that we pay it forward. Well, sadly, the time has come.
The lift is in pretty good shape, although it could use a little cleaning. 
It
has controls for the top and bottom of the stairs as well as a control on 
the
seat. No need to hard wire to the electric as it just plugs into a standard
120 v outlet. We have no need for this and do not know anyone that does. We
are hoping you could help us find a home for this lift.

Please call either myself or my wife if you have any ideas, hopefully we can
help someone in need. Thank you so very much. Manuel 720-203-0620 OR EMAIL
Manyol69 at aol.comâ€



ARE YOU READY TO PLANT SOME FLOWERS OR VEGGIES? If so please remember to
purchase your seeds through Botanical Interests as they are donating 25% of
their profits to CCDC if you purchase on line at
www.botanticalinterests.com/store/shop-php. Please make sure that you check
CCDC as the charity you want to support. This is a locally owned company and
they provide high quality seed. This is a win-win for everyone! You can
support a local business, CCDC and have an amazing garden of any size or
variety you wish.



CCDC IS UNDERGOING A WEB SITE RE-DESIGN thanks to help from the Denver
Foundation. Our new site will be more interactive and will have a page for
each local group. We need each group to be thinking about who will be
assigned to get us their information, what kinds of stuff you want on your
site, and more. If people have other ideas about the web site email them to
Christina Worner cworner at ccdconline.org. We will also have the ability to
search past alerts and sort documents by key word so you can search for
various information.



OUR ANNUAL COMMUNITY AWARDS CELEBRATION will be on July 16 at the Colorado
History Museum. We are looking for sponsorships at all levels. We are going
to put together a slide show so if you have pictures to include of our work 
or
of good accessibility and inclusion please send them and we will try to
incorporate what we can. Also, it is not too early to submit nominations for
award winners. We generally have large business, small business, non-profit
or cultural venue, legislator or state employee as categories but submit any
individual or organization you find deserving. The criteria is someone or
some company that goes above and beyond legal requirements to implement not
only the letter of the law but the spirit of the ADA.

ALSO PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ARE HOOKED UP WITH YOUR LOCAL GROUP. We just
started a new advocacy class in Denver and have classes scheduled to start
soon in Colorado Springs and Pueblo. Our Denver area group is about to 
embark
on some very exciting organizing—If you need information about when and
where your local group meets call Dick Lodmell our lead organizer
970-261-3228.

DO YOU WANT TO SERVE ON A STATE LEVEL BOARD OR COMMISSION? Anyone can apply
independently through the Board and Commission process at the Governor’s 
web
site but we are working with the Governor’s office and DORA to help them
find good applicants. This will not guarantee you a spot but we are looking
for people that we can recommend as people that have adequate training 
(which
we can provide) and that will represent a cross disability perspective. If
you have an interest let me know—there are all sorts of opportunities out
there. We say nothing about us without us so now we have to act!!



As always we want to hear from you on any issue--Thanks for your ongoing
support and positive action you have been taking on all of these alerts

Respectfully Submitted

Julie Reiskin

Executive Director

655 Broadway Suite 775

Denver, CO 80203

303-839-1775

<http://www.ccdconline.org/> www.ccdconline.org



Please visit my website located at http://drleebert.tripod.com/

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