|
Legislative
Updates
District
of Columbia
State
Federal
Links
District
of Columbia
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.
Health Care Decisions
On September 26, 2007, Tommy Wells, Chairperson of the DC Council’s Human Services Committee, sent forward a “Notice of Intent to Move the Health-Care Decisions for Persons with Developmental Disabilities Amendment Act of 2007 Emergency Declaration” and its companion Emergency and Temporary Legislation. The purpose of the legislation is to provide decision-making support for District residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are unable to make healthcare decisions on their own behalf. This legislation is the result of nearly two years of collaborative work involving community stakeholders, the City Council, the Department on Disability Services and the Mayor's office. For more information, contact Adam Maier at 202-724-8072.
Public Oversight Hearings on Integrated Case Management
On June 22, 2007 and September 28, 2007, Council member Tommy Wells, Chair of the Committee on Human Services, held public oversight hearings on Integrated Case Management. The hearings focused on the integration and coordination of case management services across the human service delivery system in the District of Columbia. People linked to the Department on Disability Services testified at both hearings, as did people from other DC agencies that provide case management services. To learn more about this topic, go to http://dccouncil.us, click on the link to “Past Hearings,” find the hearing for the Committee on Human Services on those two dates, and you can view the hearings on your computer.
Calling All Young People
On October 13, 2007, City Council Chairperson, Vincent C. Gray, held a hearing for “Youth Only” at the Wilson Building. This was an opportunity for young people to testify at the City Council on the issues that affect their lives. Young people were encourages to testify about the DC Schools, Libraries, Employment Opportunities, Youth Violence, etc. To hear what the young people said, go to http://dccouncil.us, click on the link to “Past Hearings,” find the hearing held by Chairperson Gray on this date so that you can view the hearing on your computer.
Hearings on Special Needs Housing
The DC Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is holding a series of public hearings on “Housing and Community Development Needs in the District of Columbia.” The hearings will provide information for DHCD as they develop their “Draft Consolidated Annual Action Plan for DC for Fiscal Year 2009” and their spending priorities. DHCD encourages people to participate in the development of programs and policies in the areas of (1) affordable housing, (2) special needs housing, (3) homelessness, (4) homeownership, and (5) community development and public service activities. To testify, contact Pamela Hillsman at 202-442-7251 or Pamela Hillsman@dc.gov. There are 7 hearings at different locations in DC. The dates are 10/10, 10/18, 10/22. 10/29, 11/7, 11/14 and 11/29. All of the hearings are scheduled for 6:30 p.m except for the 10/10/07 hearing.For complete information about the upcoming hearings, go to http://app.calendar.rrc.dc.gov/eventDetail.aspx?eventId=7031&eo=11452&thisDate=10.10.2007&cdlCalendars=51 for the full hearing announcement with locations.
Fiscal Year 2008 Housing Action Plan Released The DHCD Fiscal Year 2008 action plan was released in August and is available at http://newsroom.dc.gov/show.aspx/agency/dhcd/section/2/release/11704 .
The DC Council
The full Council listing includes
| Council Members |
Vincent C. Gray |
Council Chair |
Jack Evans |
Chair Pro Tempore/Ward Two |
Carol Schwartz |
At-Large |
David Catania |
At-Large |
Phil Mendelson |
At-Large |
Kwame R. Brown |
At-Large |
Jim Graham |
Ward One |
Mary M. Cheh |
Ward Three |
Muriel Bowser |
Ward Four |
Harry Thomas Jr. |
Ward Five |
Tommy Wells |
Ward Six |
Yvette Alexander |
Ward Seven |
Marion Barry |
Ward Eight |
How do I contact Council members?
Go to http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/contact.html for complete information about e-mail, phone and fax numbers for each of the Council members. There also is a link to allow you to send a single e-mail to all of the council members at once.
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
Effective Advocacy Efforts Establish an Office of Disability Rights
A broad-based task force worked for almost a year to create the momentum for an Office of Disability Rights (ODR) in DC. The Disability Rights Protection Act of 2006 created a new cabinet-level Office of Disability Rights and a new citywide program to help the DC government comply with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the disability rights provision of the DC Human Rights Act, and other laws that protect the rights of people with disabilities of all ages. This act took effect on May 8, 2007. This act was the result of a collaboration between disability advocates, community organizations and the DC Council. Efforts are currently underway to recruit a director for this new office. For more information, go to http://dchr.dc.gov/dcop/cwp/view,A,1222,Q,637493.asp.
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
Judith E. Heumann Confirmed at First DDS Director
On July 10, 2007, the DC City Council confirmed Judith E. Heumann as Director of the Department on Disability Services. Ms. Heumann brings over 30 years of local, national and international experience in advancing the human and economic rights of disabled people. In addition to serving as Assistant Secretary of Education in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services in the Clinton Administration, she has worked at the World Bank on Disability and Development issues, and was the Director of the Center for Independent Living in Berkeley, California.
State
Children's
Health Insurance: State Experiences in Implementing SCHIP and
Considerations
for Reauthorization
New GAO report
examines trends in the enrollment and current composition of
the State Children's
Health Insurance Program
(SCHIP) across
states, states' spending
experiences under SCHIP, and considerations
for SCHIP reauthorization.
Full report:
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-447T.
Report highlights:
http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d07447thigh.pdf.
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.
http://www.gucchdgeorgetown.net/ucedd/documents/medicaid%20waiver%20with%20RAB%20edits.pdf
Federal
Bill Introduced to Increase Home and Community-Based Services for Adults with Disabilities and Older Americans
On March 7, 2007, Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) introduced the Community Choices Act (S. 799). The purposes of the act are to:
(1) To reform the Medicaid to provide services in the most integrated setting appropriate to the individual's needs, and to provide equal access to community-based services and supports in order to assist individuals in achieving equal opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency and
(2) To provide financial assistance to States as they reform their long-term care systems to provide comprehensive statewide long-term services and supports, including community-based attendant services and supports that provide consumer choice and direction, in the most integrated setting appropriate.
This bill would help states develop their long-term care and home and community-based services. The bill would also create a demonstration project to evaluate service coordination and cost sharing approaches for those eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare. For more information, visit: http://thomas.loc.gov. or issue of Caregiving Policy Digest March 14, 2007 at http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=467
Family Caregiver Tax Credit Legislation Introduced
On March 15, 2007, Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) introduced the Alzheimer's Family Assistance Act (S. 897) which would provide a federal income tax credit for family caregivers providing care to a relative with a chronic condition. This would help families who were providing to support to any individual with long-term care needsand there are provisions for children 2-6 years of age, 6-18 years of age, and adults over the age of 18. The tax credit, which starts at $1000 in 2007 and increases each year until it reaches $3000 in 2011, is intended to help offset caregiving expenses, including home health care, adult day services, respite care and prescription drugs. The bill also makes long-term care (LTC) insurance premiums deductible for all tax payers and improves consumer protections for LTC insurance policy-holders. For more information, visit: http://thomas.loc.gov. or see the Caregiving Policy Digest March 28, 2007 at http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=467
Combating
Autism Act of 2006 P.L. 109-416 (S. 843)
Impact of
Public LawP.L. 109-416, the Combating Autism Act of
2006, requires
the Director
of the National
Institutes of Health
(NIH)
to expand, intensify,
and coordinate autism spectrum
disorders (ASD)-related
research. Specifically, the Act sets
forth a nonexhaustive list
of research
areas
to be included
in NIH’s
ASD initiatives, including
research into possible
environmental causes of
autism. It expands
the scope of autism research
under NIH and the Centers
of Excellence
in such research to address
the entire scope of ASD,
rather than only autism.
The new law
will also allow the Director
to consolidate
program activities to
improve efficiencies and
outcomes. For more information
visit
the Office of Legislative
Policy and Analysis (OLPA)
at http://olpa.od.nih.gov/legislation/109/publiclaws/autism.asp.
Estimates of 2007 Housing Voucher Funding
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates and other policies related to housing are contained in this Information Bulletin put out by disability advocate Steve Gold. The bulletin can be found at the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) website. http://www.aapd.com/News/housing/indexhousing.php
Life
Span Respite Care Act
This
bill would authorize
funds and require states grantees
to develop and enhance
lifespan respite programs
for families
caring for children
and adult members with disabilities,
provide
planned and emergency
respite programs for family caregivers,
train and recruit respite
workers
and volunteers, provide
information to caregivers
about available
respite and support
services, and assist caregivers
in accessing respite services.
For more
information on this
bill visit the National Respite
Coalition
at http://www.archrespite.org/nrc.htm
Older
Americans Act:FY2006 Funding, FY2007
Proposals,
and FY2008 Budget
Request
The impartial
Congressional Research Service
(CRS) released
a report
on February 15,
2007 on funding
for the Older
Americans Act,
including the
National Family
Caregiver Support
Program. The
report compares
the FY 2006 Congressional
appropriations
levels to President
Bush's
budget request
for FY
2008, highlighting
Title III - Grants
for State
and Community
Programs on Aging,
Title IV - Activities
for Health,
Independence
and Longevity, Title
V - Community
Services
Senior Opportunities
Act, Title VII
- Vulnerable
Elder Rights Protection
Activities, and
Alzheimer's
Disease Demonstration
Grants. For more
information go
to http://www.opencrs.com/document/RL33880/
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.
|