WEEKLY NEWS DIGEST
                         December 10, 2015
Stay up to date on news stories, upcoming training opportunities events and resources by continuing to receive our Weekly News Digest. 
News and Coming Events!
Public Notice of the Adult Autism Waiver Renewal: Public Comment Period Open
  
 The Office of Developmental Programs, Bureau of Autism Services is making available for public review and comment from December 5, 2015 through January 11, 2016, the proposed renewal to the Adult Autism Waiver.
Home and Community-Based Waivers permitted under Section 1915(c) of the Social Security Act are approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for a 5-year renewal period. The current Adult Autism Waiver expires on June 30, 2016; therefore, the proposed waiver renewal is to be submitted to CMS no later than March 15, 2016.
For more a nnouncement click here
For info graph click here
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Congress is currently working on H.R. 2646, the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act. This bill would severely weaken the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) program.
I'm asking you to contact Congress and tell them to #ProtectPAIMI by fixing this bill.
PAIMI provides support to children and adults living with psychiatric disabilities, including legal advice for navigating our complicated mental health system, defense against discrimination and, most importantly, monitors and investigates instances of abuse and neglect so that people who do seek help are safe.
If H.R. 2646 passes, our network would no longer be able to assist individuals with mental illness who are being discriminated against in employment, education, housing and could even put them at greater risk for abuse and neglect.
Sincerely,
National Disability Rights Network
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Coping with Caregiving

Take Care of Yourself While Caring for Others
It can be a labor of love, and sometimes a job of necessity.
A total of about 43 million U.S. adults provide unpaid care for someone with a serious health condition each year.These often-unsung heroes provide hours of assistance to others. Yet the stress and strain of caregiving can take a toll on their own health. NIH-funded researchers are working to understand the risks these caregivers face. And scientists are seeking better ways to protect caregivers' health.cancer, diabetes, arthritis, and excess weight. Caregivers are also at risk for depression or anxiety. And they're more likely to have problems with memory and paying attention.
"Caregivers may even suffer from physical health problems related to caregiving tasks, such as back or muscle injuries from lifting patients," Kent adds.   
To read full article click here
  
  
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TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
The AAPD Summer Internship Program places college students, graduate students, law students, and recent graduates with all types of disabilities in paid 10-week summer internships in Congressional offices, federal agencies, non-profits, and for-profit organizations in the Washington, DC area. Each intern is matched with a mentor who will assist them their career goals. AAPD provides the interns with a stipend, transportation to and from Washington, DC, and fully-accessible housing.

Please submit all documents to internship@aapd.com
by Friday, January 15th at 5:00pm Eastern Standard Time
  
At the beginning of the summer, interns participate in a 1-week orientation session to learn about AAPD as well as the disability rights movement, meet the other interns, and participate in a variety of engaging workshops and events. As part of the AAPD network, interns also receive opportunities to attend events on Capitol Hill, conferences, community events, happy hours, and more.
  
Please disseminate this call for applications far and wide among your networks. For more information and to apply please visit AAPD's website.
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  RESOURCES
 
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The Annual Physical Examination Form.  This includes a Memo from PCHC's Director and the ID Directors from our region, the Annual Physical Examination Form (in both Word and pdf formats), and the document entitled "Explanation of Intermediate Care Facility/Intellectual Disability (ICF/ID) Level of Care Certification".
 
Please use these documents as they contain the most current terminology.
Click here for document 1
Click here for document 2
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Pennsylvania Health Law Project Newsletter
 
David Beats Goliath-PHLP Wins Final Decision Requiring Insurers To Pay for Autism Services In School 
  
John and Suzanne Burke knew how important it was for their seven-year-old son to receive applied behavioral analysis therapy, which medical professionals say is vital to social acclimation and development. When Independence Blue Cross (IBC) refused to pay for Anthony's therapy in school, the Burkes called PHLP. We won!
 CLICK here to read the Newsletter 
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Dear Readers:
 
I am excited to announce that DHS' new and improved website (www.dhs.pa.gov) launched today.
 
We hope you find the new site to be user friendly, and that you are able to navigate this site to easily find DHS information and materials.
 
Website features will be in new locations, so we anticipate questions about where to access materials. Our hope is that finding your way around the new site will be easier. However, if you can't find something, please email us at RA-PWDHSPRESSOFFICE@pa.gov
 
We will continue to make improvements to the website after its launch, and will keep striving to make it the best possible resource for you and the people we serve.
 
Sincerely,
 
Ted Dallas
Secretary
Department of Human Services
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LIHEAP program Is now open

As colder weather moves in, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, known as LIHEAP, opens Monday. LIHEAP helps low-income families pay their heating bills and deal with such heating emergencies as a broken furnace, fuel shortage or utility service shutoff.

If you're living in a family of four and have a household income less than $36,375, you qualify for LIHEAP. To find out if your household is eligible, please view these requirements.

To get an application, please visit this site. 

Heating your home can be expensive, but there are things you can do to help reduce those costs. Visit this site to learn more about ways you can save money on heating expenses by making your home more energy-efficient.
  
Click here for more information

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10 Short Films by Dan Habib Featured in 
SWIFT's Free Guide for Inclusive Practices 
 
SWIFT (Schoolwide Integrated Framework for Transformation) is a national K-8 technical assistance center that promotes the inclusive academic and social achievement of ALL students, including students with disabilities and those with the most extensive needs. 
 
Dan Habib of the Institute on Disability at UNH has worked with SWIFT to develop ten "SWIFT in 60" films. These films are now included in the SWIFT Field Guide , a tool to support the implementation of inclusive educational practices. 

  
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The Tech Toolbox
The Arc's Tech Toolbox is a place to find, share, rate and review technology for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD).
  
The need for a service that helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) access technology has long been apparent and The Arc decided to step in to help centralize resources in this field. Through a partnership with the Comcast Foundation, The Arc was able to create the TechToolbox. Staff from across The Arc's chapter network came together to design a one-stop-shop, peer- reviewed directory of technology products that are effective for people with I/DD. Through this directory, chapter staff, people with I/DD, and the general public can find, review, and post examples of technology tools that work well for them. There are already over 500 apps and devices in Tech Toolbox, and the list will continue to grow with your input! Tech Toolbox is supported by a grant from the Comcast Foundation
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Pennsylvania Health Law Project (PHLP) Releases
Medical Assistance Eligibility Manual
PHLP has expanded and updated its Medical Assistance Eligibility Manual. Intended for health care advocates and the general public, this manual describes eligibility for Pennsylvania's Medicaid Assistance (or Medicaid) program in plain language. Readers will learn Medicaid coverage "categories" as well as the program's income and resource counting rules.

The updated Medical Assistance Eligibility Manual can be found here.
  
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Get $50 in groceries for $20 and community service. Fresh produce packages available for $15. Accepts SNAP (food stamps) and farmers' market vouchers
 
For 25 years SHARE has worked to create stronger, healthier communities through its mission of providing good, affordable food to all. Over the years, the needs of its communities have evolved. Opportunities to expand its reach to more individuals and families has led SHARE from its beginnings as the SHARE Food Package program to a leader in the food relief system providing an array of services. At its core, the SHARE Food Package program is larger than ever, but is now accompanied by emergency relief programs, fresh food packages, dinner and nutrition programs, and urban agriculture.
  
For more information CLICK HERE 
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   College Resources for Students with Disabilities
  
Prospective college students with disabilities will find that many campuses are equipped with offices and services that address accessibility, accommodation, and assistive technology for a diverse range of needs. Student services offices and disability coordinators at many colleges work to make campuses inclusive environments through specialized advocacy, support, and academic services.
  
CLICK HERE for more information
  
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CAP4KIDS Programs
  
We all know the importance of quality after school/weekend programs for kids through sports and other positive recreational activities, but sometime finding the right fit isn't so easy.
 website, under After School Programs (click here), you will find dozens of great programs including: tennis; lacrosse; golf; rowing; running; horse back riding; squash; and more, all focused on serving lower income youth. 
Also on this site you can find specific programs by zip code using the Department of Recreation's site (click here ) or the wonderful After School Activities Partnership site (click here). 
Check these search functions out!!! Also, to sign up for Cap4Kids hint, please have your friends and coworkers sign up here. Thanks.
 
Daniel R. Taylor, D.O., FAAP, FACOP
Associate Professor Drexel University College of Medicine
Director Community Pediatrics and Child Advocacy
St. Christopher's Hospital for Children
Developer of Cap4Kids www.cap4kids.org/philadelphia
Articles on being a Philly Pediatrician
  
  
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Philadelphia Infant Toddler Early Intervention Intake Referral Unit -
Call 215-685-4646
 
Philadelphia Intellectual disAbility Services (IDS) coordinates the Infant Toddler Early Invention Program in Philadelphia!
  
The Infant Toddler Early Intervention program serves children from birth to three years of age who have a developmental delay. This Program is a state and federal entitlement for eligible children and is provided at no cost to families in Pennsylvania.
  
Referrals come directly from parents or family members, and from hospitals, doctors' offices and clinics, and other agencies serving children. Once a child is referred, an IDS Early Intervention Intake Coordinator contacts the family to complete the intake application. The Coordinator then assigns the child and family to service coordination. ChildLink, the service coordination organization, works closely with the family and the Early Intervention Provider Agencies to identify and deliver the needed services.
  
See Sections II-D and V of the 2014 IDS Directory of Services and Supports for more detailed information.
  
Vision for Equality, Inc.
lbrown@visionforequality.org
718 Arch Street, 6N
Philadelphia, PA 19106

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