University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
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Legislative Updates

District of Columbia
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bullet District of Columbia


Proposed early intervention and early childhood regulations available for public comment
The proposed regulations for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part C, transition, complaint procedures and more are available to view on the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) web site under Special Education. Comment periods close soon. See the website for directions on how and where to submit comments.
Proposed Part C Regulations
http://www.osse.dc.gov/seo/cwp/view,a,1222,Q,563811,PM,1.asp
Comment period open until October 19, 2009

Special Education Page: Transition, Complaint Procedures, and more
http://www.osse.dc.gov/seo/cwp/view,a,1222,q,561151.asp
Various comment periods open until October 25, 2009

Medicaid Update: DHCF Raises Physician Rates
Effective April 1, 2009, rates for Medicaid reimbursable physician services have been increased for the District’s Medicaid fee-for-service program. For updated physician rates see http://newsroom.dc.gov/show.aspx/agency/dhcf/section/43/release/16771

The Office of Disability Rights
The mission of the DC Office of Disability Rights (ODR) is to ensure that the programs, services, benefits, activities and facilities operated or funded by the District of Columbia are fully accessible to, and useable by people with disabilities. They offer investigation and ADA training services and are responsible for overseeing ADA compliance within DC, community integration planning and making recommendations to make DC more accessible. The ODR staff encourages you to visit their website frequently at http://odr.dc.gov/odr/site/default.asp and contact their office at (202) 724-5055 with any ADA or disability-related questions.

The DC Government Guide on Accessible Meetings & Conferences provides DC government agencies and officials with practical tips and recommendations to ensure the full participation of individuals with disabilities in meetings and conferences. 
This guide was compiled and developed by the DC Office of Disability Rights (ODR).  The guide’s purpose is to assist in the planning process and reflects an optimal level of accessibility.  Some facilities may not meet all of the criteria outlined in this document. If the agency is in doubt about the level of accessibility at a potential venue, the agency officials should consult the DC Office of Disability Rights. 
The ODR staff hopes that this guide is helpful as agencies and organizations plan their future events.

The Council of the District of Columbia
The DC Council is the legislative branch of the DC Government. It creates and approves budgets and oversees DC government programs. There are 13 members elected to the council. If you have questions or concerns about DC government, contact your council member at http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/findmycouncilmember
DC Council website http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/

DC Register
The DC Council publishes the notices, proposals and contents of hearings in the DC Register which is available for viewing at: http://www.amlegal.com/nxt/gateway.dll?f=templates$fn=default.htm$vid=dcr:free

Revisions to the Medicaid Waiver or Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waiver
For information about this waiver, potential changes to this waiver and information about what families and advocates can do click here.

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty
100 Days and Beyond: 2007 Action Plan for the District of Columbia
This document covers the specific goals of the Fenty Administration  for the first 100 days in office.
http://dc.gov/mayor/100dayPlan/index.asp

bullet State

New Directions Medicaid Waiver- A Waiver That Works
Information and a personal story about how the Maryland New Directions Waiver for self directed services works. En Español

bullet Federal

Celebration of the Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The President of the United States celebrated the 19th anniversary of the landmark ADA legislation with a proclamation and an announcement of his intent to sign the United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Attorney General also made an official statement about the Justice Department's committment to actively enforcing this critical civil rights legislation. See the White House web site issue page on disability for more information. http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/disabilities/

Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
The health program for children with families with low income that do not qualify for Medicaid is called CHIP. CHIP, formerly SCHIP or the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, has gone through changes recently that increased funding to states. For information on CHIP go to http://www.ncsl.org/programs/health/chiphome.htm

President Barack Obama's Agenda
The President's agenda many items related to individuals with disabilities. See the White House for the description of the agenda related to education, employment, independent and community based living, funding for research, and participation of the United States in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/disabilities/

Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act
This act to increase volunteerism in America for all ages and abilities was signed into law by President Obama in April 2009. The law includes increased funding to include people with disabilities in volunteer initiatives. See the US House of Representatives, Committee on Education & Labor website for more information.
http://edlabor.house.gov/blog/2009/03/the-edward-m-kennedy-serve-ame.shtml

bullet Links

For more information about policy and legislation see the links below

Find out about current legislation in Congress
A website, named Thomas, after Thomas Jefferson, was created by Congress in 1995 to make federal legislation freely available to the public.  This website that allows you to look up current bills before the House of Representatives or the Senate, up-to-date activities in Congress, access to the Congressional Record, Committee information, schedules and calendars for current and upcoming legislation, government resources and more.  http://thomas.loc.gov

The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD)
This association promotes and supports the national network of university centers on disabilities, which includes University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UCEDD), Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) Programs and Developmental Disabilities Research Centers (DDRC). They also provide updates on policy and legislation that impact people with developmental disabilities and their families on their Public Policy page. http://www.aucd.org/template/page.cfm?id=27

Family Voices: Policy and Legislation http://www.familyvoices.org/policy.php
This webpage gives information and updates on pending, reauthorization and proposed legislation as well as court cases effecting health care policy and people with special health care needs and disabilities and their families.

Office of Legislative Policy and Analysis (OPLA): http://olpa.od.nih.gov/
This office serves as the principal office within the Office of the Director (OD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), for providing legislative analysis, policy development, and liaison with the Congress. OLPA facilitates and enhances the relationship between NIH and the Congress; advances NIH legislative priorities; and ensures that the NIH community receives essential information, advice, and guidance regarding developments in the Congress that affect NIH.

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