More Developmental Disability News for Week Ending May 3, 2024

An autistic medical student talks about neurodiversity in medicine, feds finalize new rules for HCBS, a pool is built in Chicago for adaptive scuba diving and more developmental disability news for the week ending May 3, 2024.

Nationwide

‘Breaking a Promise’: California Deficit Could Halt Raises for Disability Workers (California Healthline)

DeSantis announces $2.2 billion in funding for Agency for Persons with Disabilities I have no context for this, except to say Florida badly needs to invest in its disability services. (NBC Miami)

Medicaid

Feds Finalize New Rules For Medicaid Home And Community-Based Services Under a final rule released this week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is establishing minimum payment thresholds for direct care providers, requiring that states regularly reevaluate the needs of those receiving home and community-based services and much more. (Disability Scoop)

Autism

Embracing neurodiversity in medicine: Insights from an autistic medical student A very interesting first-person essay by a medical student at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Expert tips for autism-friendly vacations: What to know before you go While the advice seems somewhat simplistic, you might find some useful ideas in here. (USA Today)

Employment

Overtime Mandate May Threaten Access To Disability Services Services for people with developmental disabilities across the nation could soon face additional cuts, an unintended consequence of a requirement that millions more workers qualify for overtime pay. (Disability Scoop)

Fitness & Sports

Deepest U.S. pool proposed for North Chicago would be a godsend for the disabled, planners say; ‘No one has ever done anything like this’ The pool is from Diveheart, a non-profit dedicated to building confidence, self-esteem and independence through adaptive scuba diving for people with physical and cognitive disabilities. (Chicago Tribune)

Adaptive adventures are making national parks more inclusive The focus here is on Great Smoky national park, which straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee, but it eventually tackles how an increasing number of national parks are more welcoming to outdoor enthusiasts with mobility issues. (Washington Post) And check out this article, Adaptive Hiking Program Comes to Westchester Parks, which The Boost posted a year ago.

Entertainment

Robert De Niro, Bobby Cannavale discuss new film about raising autistic child The movie Ezra depicts the relationship between a father and his autistic son amid co-parenting struggles. (NBC New York)