Here’s a startling statistic: 4 in 10 people who rely on SSI live in poverty, according to The Arc. Four in 10. It’s why Patrice: The Movie — recently released, it follows a couple who want to marry but, you guessed it, risk losing their disability benefits — and anything else that breaks through the media clutter is so important.
And this week, about eight individuals in Brooklyn allegedly siphoned off Medicaid Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) funds through a network of social adult day cares and a home health care fiscal intermediary (FI). (To catch up on CDPAP news, read NYS Contracts with Georgia Company to Run CDPAP and a Vulnerable Population Is Left Reeling.) The Finding Common Ground podcast, while not addressing the alleged fraud specifically, put such schemes in perspective by pointing out one of the reasons the CDPAP change is so controversial:
Perhaps CDPAP “needed a review of its policies and finances. But shouldn’t the 250,000 individuals who depend upon CDPAP, saving NY State the higher expense of nursing home care, who understand how this home care system works, have been included in the decision making process and choice of what organization would best manage CDPAP?”
In lighter news, if you missed The Boost’s Best Podcasts for Learning, Venting and Sharing, posted last week, check it out now!
And an ask: The Boost’s “Rec & Entertainment, Webinars and More” section needs more one-off rec events and activities from around NYS! It’s Westchester County heavy at the moment, and it would be great to expand. Please contact The Boost if you have one to share.
As always, pick your sweet spots below and thanks for subscribing. — Roberta Bernstein, Founder/Editor, The BoostAs always, pick your sweet spots below and thanks for subscribing. — Roberta Bernstein, Founder/Editor, The Boost
NEWS FROM THE BOOST
Changes to Loosen SSI Barriers Go Into Effect Informal food assistance will no longer be part of the calculations, plus two other adjustments.
Is Help on the Way? New Report Shares Status of National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers
NYS EVENTS & WEBINARS FOR WEEK STARTING OCT. 11, 2024
Sensory-friendly movies, a free lacrosse clinic in Westchester County, a webinar on navigating OPWDD, a summit for Black autistic girls and women, and much, much more.
MORE NEWS TO KNOW: THE BOOST’S CURATED ROUNDUP
The NYS Comptroller’s alarming school statistic, how to prepare for a disaster when caring for a person with disabilities, and more developmental disability news for the week ending Oct. 11, 2024.
Spotlight
Report: Almost All Disabled Students Lack Access to College Readiness Programs
This report from the Center for Learning Equity is an analysis of charter and district school enrollment of students with disabilities. It finds a “devastating lack of access” to the opportunities that make college possible. Some highlights:
- Just 2.6% of charter school special ed students and 3.4% of those in district-run schools took dual-enrollment college and university courses, versus 11.5% and 8% of their general ed classmates.
- The number of youth with disabilities taking college admissions tests was less than 10% in district-run schools — half the rate of general ed students.
Interestingly, research shows that 85% of students in special education are capable of achieving on grade level. “There’s no barrier that’s stopping them if their needs are met.” (The74million.org)
New York
Eight Individuals Charged in $68 Million Social Adult Day Care and Home Health Care CDPAP Scheme (Brooklyn Eagle)
NYS schools get renewed Special Olympic status 13 schools have been named new National Banner Unified Champion Schools, and nine more renewed their status for another four-year term. (Finger Lakes Times)
Biden DOJ weighs in on NYC lawsuit aimed at keeping NYPD from mental health responses It alleges NYC discriminates by typically sending police — rather than mental health specialists — to respond to 911 calls where someone is reported to be having a mental health crisis. (Gothamist)
Sen. Pete Harckham Honors Four Self-Advocates in Hudson Valley (Sen. Harckham)
Three Northwell Health GoHealth Urgent Care centers receive ‘Autism Friendly Designation’ (Huntington Now)
These two articles, for some reason, are sending the newsletter to spam, so just google if you’d like to see them in full:
One in three NYS students missed 10% of the 2022-2023 school year, per Comptroller In the Large City high schools, the 2022-2023 absenteeism rate was an alarming 71.2%. (News10.com)
School Absences Rise as Special Ed Fails Students A class-action lawsuit argues that the NYC school system falls short in helping students with emotional disabilities. (New York Times)
Outside of New York
New law expands transportation options for NJ seniors and people with disabilities It expands on an existing pilot program that allows taxis, limos and ride-share services to replace NJ Transit’s oft-criticized Access Link vans. (northjersey.com)
San Antonio has first-in-US program offering new approach for children with autism The PACT program is said to focus on how parents can identify skills, not deficits. (ksat.com)
Disaster Prep
Hurricane Milton: What to do if you or a family member has disabilities, special needs A good checklist for any emergency. (USA Today)
Autism
How parents and caregivers of children with autism can evaluate potential treatments and interventions (Los Angeles Times)
Understanding Pathological Demand Avoidance in Autism (Psychology Today)
Education
Charter schools have fewer students with disabilities but higher inclusion rates However, the data “can’t tell us is the quality of that instruction and their ability to still receive the appropriately individualized instruction that they need to be successful.” (k12dive.com)
‘Handcuffed and Pushed Out’: How Schools Fail Some Students With Disabilities What they really needed post-pandemic were supports. (Edweek.org)
AAP: Suspensions, expulsions harm students’ mental and physical health The pediatric org weighs in how students with disabilities are among those disproportionately impacted by exclusionary school discipline policies. (K12dive.com)
Dept. of Labor launches tool to provide workers with disabilities, employers ideas for workplace accommodations (Dept. of Labor)
5 Ways to Support Neurodivergent Students (Edutopia)
Domestic Violence
Federal Investigation: Disabled People Are Five Times More Likely to Experience Domestic Violence They may worry that if they seek domestic violence services that law enforcement or other authorities will be notified and move them from their preferred living situations into institutions. (Mother Jones)
You Love to See It
‘My disability is the least interesting thing about me’: Actor Adam Pearson on fame, film and his sibling rivalry Pearson, born with a genetic condition that produces benign skin tumors on his face, says disfigurement onscreen is often presented as a problem. He sees it differently. (The Guardian)
A young autistic man’s symphonic odyssey A non-verbal young man with autism composed an entire six-movement symphony in his head. (CBS News)
