The Arc of the United States’ Post

I watched this and I saw myself a very long time ago when I first worked as a case manager. Everyone in the "group home" pitched in. Everyone. Who needed help lifting someone to the bath, or bathroom, who needed to be fed correctly to prevent choking, the driver would help cook, I would do the mopping. It is family. It is difficult and it is a job that will live with you forever. I still have in my heart, everyone who touched my soul. It is not only the money. It is the benefits, the pride, the feeling of being a true professional. Why, when one cares for another who needs the assistance, the professional factor goes down. Why? But seeing that AHRC New York City ADAPT Community Network and other excellent organizations are providing just that- a professional edge with credentialing, with workforce initiatives and trainings like Ben Drew's Open Future Learning, there is a wider awareness of what Direct Support Professionals (DSP) do. Nobody knew. Never knew. In this situation, social media is doing a good thing. Opening the hearts and minds of the average person to see what DSP do, what it is like for the individual who needs the assistance, and what could happen to these individuals who cannot find the help. This is why this Disability Reframed series is great. https://lnkd.in/e8ncpPMu I know the organizations I spoke of are already doing the partnerships, but for anyone else reading this--Share this with your politicians, community organizers. Remember, most of us will face disability at some point in our lives; whether it comes sooner or later varies depending upon one’s circumstances. Thanks for reading. #advocacy #workforce #awareness

Voting in this election is so important, especially considering the issues currently faced by people with learning disabilities- housing, social care, health inequalities… Link in comments to my video offering practical tips to support individuals to vote Empower them to use their vote and make their voice heard 🗳️ #LearningDisability #RealiseAchieveInspire #GeneralElection24

Driving Disability Change (with data) There is a lot of excellent (or at least pretty good) disability data that we are not using as effectively as we could to drive change...more is better..but the gaps are more obvious you look at what we know already. * only just over half of US states are in full compliance with IDEA...after 49 years. * over half of the disabled people on waiting lists for Home and Community Based Services are in Texas.. With Florida a very distant second.. * the poverty rate for disabled people in Puerto Rico is around 50%...almost certainly because it is the only place on Earth a US citizen isn't eligible for SSI! * 1.7% of the disabled people in the US that are eligible for ABLE accounts have one after 10 years. * very sparse data on Self-determination...with Minnesota at 100 percent but the next state at 20% or some such...i need to double check this so don't quote this one..

This week, as I saw patients, I was reminded of how the fastest way to stabilize someone's health is by increasing their income. For many patients, this means applying for disability income (i.e. SSI/SSDI). In 2011, Marcia Angell, former Editor of the New England Journal of Medicine, wrote "as low-income families experience growing economic hardship, many are finding that applying for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments on the basis of mental disability is the only way to survive.” Given that the Social Security Administration relies on medical records to assess eligibility for disability income, healthcare professionals hold a significant role in either supporting or undermining a patient's chance to obtain financial assistance through their documentation practices. Clinical documentation serves numerous purposes -- one that is often overlooked is a very direct role in determining a human being's income. Attaching a brief guide on documenting disability in the medical record for interested health professionals. And sharing a paper that provides a useful theoretical framework: https://lnkd.in/eRVQVrFG #socialdeterminantsofhealth #healthadvocacy #healthequity #disabilityrights #healthjustice #documentationmatters

>> Neurodiversity << There’s an all-time high in the number of people wanting support on the NHS for neurodiversity services. Through our Care Planning and Social Care Advice and Neurodiversity and Disability Advice services, our members have access to care advisors who can provide information and guidance on: 👍 Adult care issues 👍 Adult neurodiversity and disability needs  👍 Support for parents and guardians of children with these needs We can help our members to make the right choices by talking them through how to navigate information and signposting for support strategies, funding, rights of parents, carers or employees and care options including: 👉 How to navigate the available information 👉 Understanding what services are available 👉 Understanding and knowing the duties and responsibilities of schools, GPs and local authorities, including the SEND process 👉 Picking the right services 👉 Knowing how to challenge decisions and make appeals 👉 Understanding your own employment rights as a parent of a child needing care Have any clients in mind? #Neurodiversity #CarePlanning #SocialCareAdvice

Are you getting the support you need? Many people put off applying for support services because they feel that they don't need the support, that there are others who are more deserving, or that support services won't change their lives in any meaningful way. We've pulled together a guide that will break down barriers that often prevent people from applying for the support they need and highlight the key benefits of getting access to disability services in Australia. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gk4JQ2ZT

Every person deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential. For individuals with developmental disabilities, financial security and future planning are crucial for a fulfilling life. At The Autonomy Group, we believe in supporting families in creating a bright future for their loved ones. Our Special Needs Planning services can help ensure your loved one with a disability has the resources and care they need, regardless of your circumstances. Here's how we can families: • Special Needs Trusts: Safeguard assets while ensuring eligibility for vital government benefits. • Guardianship & Conservatorship: Designate trusted individuals to make informed decisions regarding care and finances. • Comprehensive Estate Planning: Integrate special needs considerations into your overall Estate Plan for a seamless transition. Empower your loved one to reach their full potential! Contact The Autonomy Group today for a consultation and learn how our Special Needs Planning services can help your family navigate the legal landscape. At The Autonomy Group, PC our mission is to help seniors, individuals, and those with special needs, protect themselves and their loved ones and preserve their autonomy while leaving a legacy for future generations. 📞 Call us at 803-262-0442 🖥️ Visit our website www.taglegacyplanning.com #TheAutonomyGroup #TAG #AttorneySoraya #NC #SC #EstatePlanning #LegacyPlanning #PeaceOfMind #DisabilityAwareness #InclusionMatters #DisabilityRights #DifferentlyAbled #SpecialNeeds #SpecialNeedsPlanning

Here is my 411 for the start of a new year: 2024. January should be a time of reflecting on years past filled with accomplishments little or huge, people met or have gone, opportunities seized or missed… yet, something that will continue expanding is the NUMBER LINE that is called Medicaid Waiver services Interest list! The unprecedented growth of this list is for long term care services as found within Home and Community Services (HCS) — is considered about a 15 YEAR wait list. You read that correct. Or even Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS) list - albeit shorter list in comparison to HCS. I urge you to call your zoned Local Intellectual Developmental Disabilities Authority Services (LIDDA) such as Harris Center or Bluebonnet Trails Community Services to place disabled person(s) name on the waitlist for (various) Medicaid Services. (Find yours in link below). It is your responsibility to keep up with specified interest list number and contact info annually! Here’s a list of all Texas’ LIDDAs: https://lnkd.in/gkrUa_gC

“Disabled young people are drowning under the rising cost of living,” one young person told us for our recent submission to the government. “We’re struggling to find accessible housing, access timely medical treatments, and afford basic necessities in a world where so much is stacked against us.” “Something’s got to give”. Children and young people with disability – and their families and caregivers – are feeling the pinch of today’s cost of living crisis, and must be better supported. We’re calling on government to do more. A multi-step solution needs to address: 🏥 Access to quality healthcare 💼 Employment opportunities and income support 🏠 Housing affordability 🎓 Inclusive education Want to know how we can make things better? Check out our full submission here: https://lnkd.in/gpAZqztd #CostOfLivingCrisis #DisabilityAdvocacy [ID: Text reads: “’Disabled young people are drowning under the rising cost of living… something’s got to give.’ Young person with disability quoted in CYDA’s submission to the Select Committee on the Cost of Living (2024).” A graphic in the lower right corner shows a cross section of a house and a large gold coin. The CYDA logo sits below this.’]

Ticket to Work connects social security disability beneficiaries who want to work with free employment services to help them decide if working is right for them, prepare for work, find a job or maintain success while you they are working. Share this information with the ESRD patients you serve so they can learn how the program works, if they qualify and how to get started: https://bit.ly/3ugc7kS #TickettoWork #VocationalRehabilitation #ESRD #KidneyDisease