Topeka Independent Living Resource Center
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U.S. Department of Education Issues Resource Document that Discourages Restraint and Seclusion
Today, the U.S. Department of Education issued a publication that outlines principles for educators, parents and other stakeholders to consider when developing or refining policies and procedures to support positive behavioral interventions and avoid the use of restraint and seclusion.
The goal of this resource document is to help ensure that schools are safe and healthy environments where all students can learn, develop and participate in instructional programs that promote high levels of academic achievement.
“As education leaders, our first responsibility must be to make sure that schools foster learning in a safe environment for all of our children and teachers,” U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said. “I believe this document is an important step toward this goal. I also want to salute leaders in Congress for their vigilance on this issue.” ...
To access this document, click here.
Read the full story on our Education News page
HUD makes available $85 million to fund housing for extremely low-income persons with disabilities
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development makes $85 million available to state housing agencies to provide affordable supportive housing for extremely low-income persons with disabilities. This is the first time in the history of HUD’s Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities Program that funding will be offered to state housing agencies that meet new eligibility criteria, including having a partnership with a state health and human services and Medicaid agency to provide essential support and services. The Notice of Funding for the Section 811 Project Rental Assistance was posted on Grants.gov today here.
Entities have until July 31, 2012 to apply for funding, which is expected to provide housing for 2,800 extremely low-income persons with disabilities.
“The reforms the Obama Administration has made to the Section 811 program will strengthen HUD's efforts to provide affordable, supportive housing to thousands of the most vulnerable low-income persons with disabilities," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. “HUD and the Department of Health and Human Services are also seizing the opportunity to support innovative state-level strategies to transform and increase the availability of affordable housing, matched with needed services and supports, that will help keep people with disabilities out of institutions and integrated into the community.”
Read the full story on our Housing News page
Obama Administration: A Plan To Prevent Alzheimer’s By 2025
The Obama administration is moving forward with an ambitious, fast-moving agenda to improve the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and unlock a method to prevent it by 2025. The final draft of the plan, released today, also sets up a wide-ranging effort to improve the care that Alzheimer’s patients receive and support families.
As many as 5.1 million Americans are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and that number could more than double in the next few decades, said Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius when she unveiled the plan at a National Institutes of Health summit on Alzheimer’s-related research.
The majority of the plan’s expected funding – $130 million over the next two years – will go toward NIH research, but another $26 million will go toward Alzheimer’s care and public awareness.
Chief among those is a government website, alzheimers.gov, also launched Tuesday. The site serves as a “one-stop shop,” Sebelius said, for patients and their families. It features information on Alzheimer’s diagnosis, caregiver support, insurance coverage and clinical trials for new treatments. A radio, TV and print campaign will promote the site beginning this summer and encourage families to plan ahead for the care of their loved ones. ...
Read the full story on our Health/Long-term Services News page
ACTIVITY CODES FOR PERSONAL ASSISTANT SERVICES (T1019) IN THE MR/DD WAIVER AND PERSONAL SERVICES (S5126) IN THE PD AND TBI WAIVERS, (PDF Format) (Word Format)
ACTIVITY CODES FOR ATTENDANT CARE SERVICES LEVEL I, LEVEL II, AND SELF-DIRECTED IN THE FRAIL ELDERLY WAIVER, (PDF Format) (Word Format)
TILRC is currently accepting applications for the
George Wolf Youth Internship Program
June 25 - August 03, 2012
Applications will be accepted until May 25, 2012. For more information contact Kim at 233-4572
Are you ready to get hooked on fishing?
Join us for a morning of fishing fun
at the Gage Park Pond (on SW Westlake Court)
Friday, May 25th, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
TILRC will provide the group fishing license, poles, tackle, bait and beverages. Transportation not included (LIFT riders be sure to tell the scheduler that you need to go to Gage Park & be picked up & dropped off at the Pond)
Please RSVP for this event by May 22nd; call Evan at 233-4572.
Topeka Metro FREE “HOW TO RIDE” Clinic
Saturday, May 19th, 2012, 10am – Noon,
Quincy Street Station, 820 SE Quincy St.
Learn all about how to use the bus system and the “Rules of the Road”.
Call 783-7000 for more information.
LET US HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR INDEPENDENT LIVING GOALS!
If you are a TILRC consumer you may already know how we help people who want to transition from an institution, like a nursing facility, back into the community or how we help folks get the attendant care services they need through the Medicaid Home and Community Based Waiver Programs, but you may not be aware of all the other ways we help people with disabilities maintain or increase their independence. Learn more about how our advocates can help you be more independent in many aspects of daily living.
New to the TILRC Website:
Restraint and Seclusion: Resource Document - This publication from the U.S. Department of Education outlines principles for educators, parents and other stakeholders to consider when developing or refining policies and procedures to support positive behavioral interventions and avoid the use of restraint and seclusion.
Equity in Transportation for People with Disabilities - as Congress debates reauthorization of the surface transportation bill, this report offers recommendations on how to address the current inequity in affordable, reliable, accessible transportation for people with disabilities.
The Cost of Untreated Mental Illness in Greater Kansas City, Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City, February 2012 - Approximately one in every 10 adults in the Greater Kansas City area has a serious mental illness (SMI).Without treatment, SMI can lead to unemployment, increased hospital and emergency room use, incarceration, suicide, and early death due to chronic medical conditions. An economic model was developed by The HSM Group, Ltd. to quantify the costs of untreated SMI among adults. (Cost of Untreated Mental Illness in Kansas Factsheet)
Job Openings
- Independent Living Peer Guide, Independent Living Center of the North Shore and Cape Ann Inc., MA
- Vocational Program Manager, Sothern California Rehabilitation Services, Inc. (SCRS)
- Healthcare Policy Organizer, The Boston Center for Independent Living
- RN Care Coordinator, IndependenceFirst, Milwaukee, WI
- Research Associate, University of Montana Rural Institute; Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities, Missoula, MT, Screening begins December 5, 2011 and will continue until position is filled
- Operations and Human Resources Specialist, Independent Living Center of the North Shore and Cape Ann Inc., MA
- Director of Human Resources, The Whole Person in Kansas City, MO
- Disabilty Scoop Jobs Listings
Internships:
- NCIL Policy Internship, Washington, D.C.
- FamiliesUSA Spring 2012 Internships
ONLINE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
EASI Webinars
Better Communication With Plain English, May 22, 2012, 1pm CDT
The Cutting Edge of E-book Accessibility, June 15, 2012, 1pm CDT
Dick Banks Memorial Scholarship for EASI Webinars and Courses - This scholarship provides people who are unable to procure other financing, with registrations to either the fee-based Webinar series or to the EASI online courses.
AccessibilityOnline Webinar Series
The next in the series of webcasts will be:
Accessible Miniature Golf Courses, June 07, 2012, 1:30 - 3pm CT
Accessible Technology On-line Webinar Series
The next in the series of webcasts will be:
21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act, June 12, 2012, 1 - 2:30pm CT
ADA Audio Conference Series
No Parking Here: Accessible parking requirements and enforcement, June 19, 2012, 1 - 2:30pm
Easter Seals Project ACTION Webinars
Customer Service for People with Disabilities: Take Your Training to the Next Level, June 20 & 27, 2012: 1 - 2:30pm CT (Registration deadline May 14)
ADA Legal Issues Webinar Series
Pregnancy discrimination, disability, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), July 18, 2012, 1 - 2:30pm
POLICYMAKERS/RESEARCHERS NEED YOUR INPUT:
The 2012 National Survey on Abuse of People with Disabilities - The Disability and Abuse Project of Spectrum Institute is conducting this anonymous survey in order to increase awareness and hopefully improve those areas of life where abuse and disability intersect. The survey results will be posted once a representative number of responses have been compiled, at www.disabilityandabuse.org.
DREDF Public Transit Choices by People With Disabilities Survey - The Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF) is disseminating a short web survey on ADA transportation as part of our current research, funded by the US Department of Transportation. The survey focuses on what factors are most important to riders with disabilities when deciding which transit mode to use.
AFB Travel Website Accessibility Survey - Have you had any difficulties accessing online travel services? Or have you found a great site that is fully accessible? We want to hear from you. Please take a moment to complete AFB's 17-question survey to help us understand more about the experiences of blind and visually impaired customers of online travel services.
SABE Self Determination Survey - Tell SABE if your local or statewide self advocacy organization's activities help its members to be more self-determined.
Autism Study Participants Needed! - The Neurocognitive Development of Autism Lab at KU is looking for families with boys between the ages of 2 and 5 with Autism to participate in research at their lab in Lawrence. If you are interested please contact the Neurocognitive Development of Autism Lab at 785.513.5345 or autismlab@ku.edu.
Access to 9-1-1 for People with Disabilities Survey
PECS Survey for Parents of Children with Autism - This survey askes asks parents to describe their children's Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) training, their children's PECS use, and their own attitudes towards PECS.
The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) for Wireless Technologies Survey on Accessibility and Usability of Wireless Technology
Topeka ADA Advisory Council Members Needed!
SPREAD THE WORD TO END THE WORD! - Help eliminate the use of the R-word in everyday speech.