WEEKLY NEWS DIGEST
                         January 20, 2016
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!
Department of Human Services
 
On September 16, 2015, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a letter regarding the statewide transition plan submitted by the Department on April 1, 2015.  The Department has revised the statewide transition plan to address the recommendations contained in the CMS letter and provide updated information on the progress the Department has made in implementing the plan.  The proposed statewide transition plan for all nine 1915(c) Medicaid HCBS waivers is available at http://www.dhs.pa.gov/citizens/hcbswaiver.  The CMS letter is available at https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid-chip-program-information/by-topics/long-term-services-and-supports/home-and-community-based-services/downloads/pa/pa-cmia.pdf. 
 
The Department will hold two webinars to receive verbal comments on the revised proposed transition plan.  Dates and times to participate in the webinars:
  •          Friday, January 22, 2016 at 9am - 11am.
  •          Monday, February 1, 2016 at 2pm - 4pm.
 
Dial-in information for the webinars is available by visiting www.dhs.pa.gov/citizens/hcbswaiver or by contacting the Department at 717-783-2203.
 
The Department will also accept written comments submitted to one of the following addresses:
  • Mail - Caitlin Palmer, Department of Human Services, Office of the Secretary, P.O. Box 2675, Harrisburg, PA  17105-2675.
  • Email - ra-pwhcbsfinalrulepl@pa.gov
Comments must be submitted by February 16, 2016.  Comments received by this date will be used to formulate the Statewide Transition Plan that will be submitted to CMS in March 2016. 
If you have questions regarding this email, or would like to receive a hard copy of the statewide transition plan or a copy of the statewide transition plan in an alternate format, please contact 717-783-2203. 
Persons with a disability who require an auxiliary aid or service may submit comments using the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at (800) 654-5984 (TDD users) or (800) 654-5988 (voice users).
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Judge Approves Shift Away From Sheltered Workshops
  
A settlement in a first-of-its-kind lawsuit is set to reshape a state-run employment program for people with disabilities that has been heavily dependent on sheltered workshops.
  
Under an agreement finalized just before the new year, 1,115 Oregon residents with disabilities who are employed in sheltered workshops will receive jobs in the community that pay at least minimum wage over the next seven years.
  
An additional 7,000 individuals with disabilities in the state - including 4,900 between the ages of 14 and 24 - will receive employment services so that they will have an opportunity to obtain traditional jobs.
Click here for full article
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In This Issue
SAVE THE DATE
  
  
  
Stay Connected
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
 
PDE Annual Conference
Making a Difference: Educational Practices That Work!
February 10-12, 2016
  
Conference registration is open!  
Register now at
http://tinyurl.com/2016pde
The Bureau of Special Education and PaTTAN are pleased to offer a limited number of parent scholarships to Pennsylvania residents who are not employed in a professional capacity by any of the following: school, district, charter school, preschool program, IU,PTI, CPRC, or other funded educational or advocacy organization. Parents of school-age (Kindergarten and up) students with a current IEP may apply. Preference will be given to parents who have never attended the conference. A partial scholarship includes the conference registration. A full scholarship includes the conference registration and lodging for those who live 50 miles or farther from Hershey.
  
All scholarship applications must be emailed or postmarked on or before December 31, 2015.
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Join us for a series of sibling storytelling workshops
For people with disabilities who are siblings, or siblings of people with disabilities
Storytellers from First Person Arts will help you craft a personal story about our first friends and enemies: our siblings!
Through guided writing exercises and other techniques, we'll uncover true tales about how disability affects family.
  • Connect with other siblings through your shared and unique experiences.
  • All participants will be invited to perform at the culminating Sib Slam storytelling performance on April 13, directed by Jen Cleary, at Christ Church Neighborhood House in Philadelphia.
  • Come alone or with a sibling.
  • Open to storytellers of all levels.
Join us for one or more Saturday workshops:
  • February 6
  • February 20
  • March 5
  • March 19
  • April 2
  • April 9
All workshops: 10 AM to Noon
 
Workshops are FREE. Registration is required. Participants must be 18 years or older. Accommodations available upon request.
 
These workshops are part of A Fierce Kind of Love, a year-long project that tells the story of Pennsylvania's Intellectual Disability Rights Movement.
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ACRE Certificate: Supported Employment 101
 
Networks for Training and Development, Inc. is excited to offer our ACRE Certificate: Supported Employment 101 course for Employment Professionals!  ACRE, (Association of Community Rehabilitation Educators), promotes best practices in employment supports through competency-based training with a focus on contemporary practices in employment supports. These competencies align with the APSE CESP (Certified Employment Support Professional) certification exam. 
When 
Wednesday March 2 2016 10:00 am-4:00 pm
Where Giant Community Center at the Linglestown Giant
 2300 Linglestown Road Harrisburg, PA 17110
This 44-hour, in-person, eight-session ACRE Certificate Course is offered as an introduction to the basic concepts of employment of individuals with disabilities with an emphasis on current best practices. Attendance at all eight sessions is required. Certificates will only be issued when all Course requirements are met.  To find out more, click on "Get more information".
 
If you have any questions contact Julie Sozio at julies@networksfortraining.org.
Click here  to  Register Now!  
 
  

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40th ANNUAL
  
                               Philadelphia Regional Conference on Developmental Disabilities
                                        Healthy Relationships - Romantic or Otherwise
    
Friday, May 13, 2016 
  
 
 
The Developmental Disabilities Conference Planning Committee is actively seeking proposals for workshops and poster sessions from parents, individuals with developmental disabilities, professionals and family members.
 
The Conference will be held at 3535 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA, 16th, Floor. The site is wheelchair accessible and convenient to public transportation and street parking.
 
This conference provides a forum to highlight practices in the field of developmental disabilities, as well as techniques and models of service for individuals with developmental disabilities from birth to senior citizens and their families.
Developmental disabilities may include: autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disability, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, cerebral palsy, and other cognitive or physical disabilities.
 
Our keynote speakers this year are Megan and Barton Cutter, an inter-ability couple and authors of the book Ink in the Wheels: Stories to Make Love Roll. The conference planning committee encourages you to submit a workshop/poster session proposal that relates to our keynote address topic and theme for this year: "Healthy Relationships - Romantic or Otherwise."
 
 
WORKSHOP TOPICS / POSTER SESSIONS COULD INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:
 
 
Greater consideration will be given to proposals that include individuals with developmental disabilities, parents, or family members as part of the presentation team.
 
 
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION IS Friday, January 22, 2016
 
PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES WHO MIGHT WANT TO PRESENT IN 2016
 
You must use the attached format to send your proposal.
 
 
40th ANNUAL
Philadelphia Regional Conference on Developmental Disabilities
 
Friday, May 13, 2016
  
Click here for submission sheet
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Need a roommate?
 
  25 year old male with Asperger's Syndrome lost his lease and is looking for some sort of housing in Chester County.  Need a roommate? Want to be a roommate? (We would look for a 2 bedroom apartment). High functioning. Works full time at Rite Aid in Lionville. Preferable locations would be Downingtown, Exton, Thorndale, or West Chester. He does not drive but is taking driving lessons and hopes to get his license in the next couple months. Until then, takes Rover to work. Housing is needed the end of January or February, however could wait another month or two if necessary. His interests include bowling, watching sports, especially baseball and football as well as professional wrestling; watching TV shows like American Idol and The Voice; searching on the internet, video games. Calmer, quieter, non aggressive roommate would work best.
 
Please email or call Cheryl at ckorn@zakback.com or cell: 484-614-1776


Vision for Equality, Inc.
lbrown@visionforequality.org
718 Arch Street, 6N
Philadelphia, PA 19106

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