The Americans with Disabilities Act website has been revamped with updated navigation tools to make it easier to find answers to common questions about everything from service animals to accessible polling places.
The federal government says it wants to empower people to understand their rights and those of others, and to help workplaces, local governments and other agencies comply with the law.
The new website uses voice software to make it even more accessible.
Connor McGarvey, chief operating officer of Easterseals Northern Ohio, said increasing use of assistive technology is improving the lives of people with disabilities, and devices are becoming increasingly sophisticated, including the use of facial recognition tools. I explained that it is.
“The possibilities of technology have definitely opened up the lives of individuals with disabilities,” McGarvey noted. “If they look at their caregivers or their parents, they know who they are looking at. It’s a huge thing.”
According to the latest census data, an estimated 10% of Ohioans under the age of 65 live with some form of disability. The number of people worldwide requiring assistive technology could reach over 3 billion by 2050, largely due to an aging population.
Visit the new site at ada.gov or call the Department of Justice’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 1-800-514-0301.
McGarvey added that many disability services run by county commissions in Ohio and funded by Medicaid are made possible by ADA legislation.
“If you’re getting job coaching, if you’re getting community outreach and help finding jobs in the community, it’s all funded through Medicaid,” McGarvey pointed out.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that Ohio spends $35 billion each year, more than a third of the state’s health care budget, on services for people with disabilities.
Disclosure: Easterseals contributes to our fund for reporting on disability, affordable wages/working families, mental health, and senior citizen issues. ,Please click here.
Receive articles like this by email
The Medicaid “buy-in” is seen as an important health insurance tool for workers with disabilities. However, a new report shows that the penetration of these programs is sluggish and could push these individuals out of the workforce. Minnesota is one of the few states that does not have income limits for people with disabilities to work as much as possible while still maintaining Medicaid coverage.
But the Center for Bipartisan Policy reports that many states are doing so, lacking the information and resources to make this option widely available.
Lisa Harootunian, associate director of health programs at the Center for Bipartisan Policy, said she’s making recommendations to make it easier for these workers to qualify so they don’t lose the community health services they need. said.
“By addressing the challenges to Medicaid buy-in availability, people with disabilities will no longer have to choose between health insurance and employment,” Harootunian said.
The report suggested that states provide more funding for outreach activities to raise awareness. Congress is being asked to force the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to give states more guidance on how to optimize their “buy-in” programs.
Harutonian said lawmakers from both parties were behind the idea, but acknowledged other funding priorities could get in the way.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics said last year that 19% of people with disabilities are employed in the United States. Hartunian said states should be motivated not to drop out of the labor force or maintain limited employment.
“These programs help individuals contribute more to the country through their tax dollars,” she said.
She noted that the Kansas program saw a 41% drop in per capita monthly spending between 2007 and 2011, and linked eligibility expansion to reduced Medicaid costs. Added. Quality of life of program participants.
Disclosure: The Center for Bipartisan Policy contributes to our fund for alcohol and substance abuse prevention, health issues, hunger/food/nutrition, and mental health reporting. Supporting news for the public good If you want, please click here.
Receive articles like this by email
A new federal grant will give schools in three Missouri counties and the city of St. Louis a fresh look at the challenges of students of color living with disabilities.
Students of color with disabilities in Missouri face tougher school disciplinary practices than white students and are more likely to enter the juvenile justice system. Disrupting this path is the goal of her SToPP project for the Missouri Juvenile Justice Association and her $275,000 grant from the Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council.
Miranda Fredrick, the council’s communications coordinator, said the research and the “lived experiences” of some members point to disparities.
“Once students experience the harsh and unbalanced discipline that goes on in the school system, they are on the path to interacting with the criminal justice system,” Fredrick explained. Known as the ‘pipeline’, these outages could have long-term consequences.”
The grant targets adult teams in Boone County, Cape Girardeau County, Greene County, and the City of St. Louis for training in a more constructive approach to discipline.
A study by the Missouri ACLU found that black students with disabilities were three times more likely to be suspended than white students.
With the help of “restorative justice” experts, they train teams in non-punitive ways to discipline students, said Liz Ballard, racial and ethnic disparity coordinator for the Missouri Juvenile Justice Association. Ideally, each team includes a school representative, law enforcement or school resource officer, local juvenile office representative, community or family member, or someone with a developmental disability. will be
She added that they will be certified as trainers so they can share what they have learned.
“There’s this thing called a healing circle where everyone sits down and works through a problem,” Ballard noted. Proven.”
Suspended or expelled students who may be victims of poverty, abuse or neglect are three times more likely to encounter the juvenile justice system within a year. Ballard said he hopes the team’s success will turn the trajectory and increase interest across the state.
“We will have four counties that treat children fairly regardless of their developmental disabilities and have reduced suspension and dropout rates,” Ballard said. Start reaching out.”
Receive articles like this by email
Iowa people with disabilities said the state could do more to make public places more accessible and inclusive.
In the new legislative session, the Iowa Council on Developmental Disabilities also hopes to make more funding available to legislators to address a dramatic staffing shortage. Lack of accessibility is an ongoing problem for %.
Brooke Lovelace, executive director of the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council, said the state could increase access to affordable, reliable, and convenient transportation, helping people live and work better in the communities where they live and work. He said it makes it easier to move around and removes physical barriers in public spaces.
Lovelace argued that it starts with making more public restrooms accessible.
“This is the case where restaurants, some high schools, and some community event centers are not yet accessible,” Lovelace noted. “We still hear parks are inaccessible. Sidewalks are inaccessible. Downtown Des Moines continues to struggle with this where sidewalks are inaccessible.”
In addition to accessibility issues, Lovelace said there are currently 17,000 people with disabilities waiting for service in Iowa, making it difficult to find qualified staff. Congress will convene in the second week of his January.
Lovelace allocates more funds from the state to hiring caregivers, helps train the professionals who apply, and does most of the home care because there are so few professionals available in the workforce. We want you to think creatively about compensating people.
“If a child’s parent is forced to provide support beyond normal care, pay the parent,” urged Lovelace. “We should do something about the workforce crisis.” We’ll be in this mess if we don’t start evaluating these direct support professionals who do this work every day and show them what they’re worth. for years.”
Lovelace also hopes more Iowans will support businesses that employ people with disabilities and encourage the state to integrate their lives into more manageable ways for their communities.
Disclosure: The Iowa Council on Developmental Disabilities donates to our fund for reporting on disability, education, health issues, and mental health. Please click.
Receive articles like this by email
