Curtain Call
When I approached ARIEL Theatrical with the idea of developing an inclusive-style theatre program in the summer of 2014, it was a dream I had whose foundation was based on two things. First, I had read compelling stories of how live theatre was being used, in other communities, to break down barriers that tend to exist between people who first appear to be "different" from themselves. In addition, my own personal experiences with ARIEL Theatrical had been that, for three decades, this non-profit had stayed true to its mission of giving children the tools they need to live principle-centered lives. ARIEL's vision is simple, but powerful: ARIEL seeks to equip children to go out into the world to make it a better place.
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Photos courtesy of Bruce Haase Photography
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The theatre vision I presented to ARIEL was not only accepted, it was wholeheartedly embraced. Within a few weeks, ARIEL had a new individual hired to accept the challenge of making this dream a reality. Her name was
Diane Caldwell-Demmon.
Our sixth REACH Theatre production on May 13, 2017 was a bittersweet one for those of us involved with this program. It was Diane's final REACH Theatre performance. Diane is moving to Canada this August to be with her parents. To say that she will be sorely missed is an understatement.
Here is a sampling of sentiments shared by a few of our REACH participants:
Diane is the model of optimism. She sees problems as things to solve, not to dwell on. She meets every challenge with a smile and a kind
 word before addressing it with her truly endless patience. REACH Theatre with Diane's inherent influence has changed the lives of participants, parents, and volunteers. It has changed me. I am assured in knowing that all subsequent productions will still have ingrained in them traces of her kindness and gentle encouragement.
It has truly been a treasure having the opportunity to participate in REACH productions with Diane. Diane has been a supportive and encouraging leader, who kept an optimistic attitude through all circumstances. To see her leave will not be easy for us. However, we know she will bless those who are around her just as she has blessed us.
REACH Theatre has been an incredible growth experience for my son. He has been in special education all his life and had minimal opportunities to engage with typical peers. The theatre experience has fostered his desire to participate. Being with young adults has motivated him to bring forth an engaging, funny, and charismatic side of him that had not been available before. Thank you, Diane, for fostering cooperation, fun, and connection. You truly changed my child's life.
My son has grown tremendously in the many years he has been participating in REACH Theatre. We have seen an increase in confidence, communication, initiation, and the ability to enjoy new challenges. He has also made many important friendships with the ARIEL veterans. Diane is a mastermind who has successfully managed an inclusion program that stands as a model for other organizations who want to begin or improve their inclusion program. Her patience, effort and commitment are amazing.
Special Kids Crusade honored Diane at the start of the May 13 REACH performance with its
STAR Teacher Award, given to those in our community who "teach the practices of acceptance and understanding that lead to inclusion." I can think of no person who is more deserving of this award than Diane.
It is a testament to Diane's work that REACH Theatre will find a way to go on without her. And, true to ARIEL fashion, Diane Caldwell-Demmon is leaving the world of ARIEL Theatrical this summer, to embark upon new adventures and to continue, no doubt, to make the world a better place.
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Mark your calendars!
CLICK on the links, below, for event details.
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DHHSC: Support and Advocacy for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Wayne Johnson, Coordinator of Client Services DHHSC-CCO
Deaf & Hard of Hearing Service Center, Inc. (DHHSC) is a private, non-profit community benefit organization designated by the California Department of Social Services-Office of Deaf Access to serve individuals who are
deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind and late-deafened, their families, friends and community service providers in eight Central California counties. The Central Coast Outreach Office (DHHSC-CCO) in Salinas serves individuals and families in Monterey and San Benito Counties. While clients range in age from infants to those with over 100 years of life experience, children and families are a large part of our focus.
The importance of communication early in a child's life is emphasized heavily in books and classes for parents, yet many parents do not communicate effectively with their deaf or hard-of-hearing child. Ninety to ninety-five percent of
deaf and hard-of-hearing children are born to hearing parents, which means many of these children are receiving very little communication in the home. That is why we started our
Reaching Out and Communicating with our Kids (ROCK) Program.
ROCK provides weekly in-home instruction for the family and child in American Sign Language (ASL), free of charge. Krystal Rios, our Client Services Specialist, not only provides ROCK services, but is also a mentor, supporter, and advocate for these families. In addition, she is often the first successful deaf adult the children and their parents have ever met. This mentorship brings realization of educational and career goals previously not considered.
Wh y is ASL so important? Families, teachers, and service providers often do not consider how they learned their native language. They heard their family, friends, and teachers using their spoken language. When you cannot hear language, you need a visual language. For the important parent-child bond and effective communication, parents need to learn the child's visual language so they can explain their native language and support their child's education. How do you help with homework or issues at school if you cannot communicate with your child? We see a sharp line between the educational and career goal achievement of adult clients who grew up with and without communication in the home.
Parents often have questions about their child's differences in hearing and are looking for answers. DHHSC is here to inform, educate and assist parents and children by providing a large number of services such as communication instruction, communication assistance, advocacy at school IEP meetings, mentorship, self-advocacy instruction, an understanding of their right to effective communication, independent living skills instruction and technology available to assist their child with everyday life. For example there is a lot of technology available to boost independence such as doorbells, telephones, alarm clocks and smoke detectors that use audible, tactile and visual methods to alert the user. The volume of your smoke detector does not matter if you do not hear the tone of its alarm and it does not awaken you when you are sleeping. Videophones (VP) are available free to individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and use American Sign Language (ASL). A VP allows phone calls to be made using ASL, directly to others who are deaf and hard-of-hearing and calls to individuals, business and service providers who are hearing and do not know ASL through a Video Relay Service interpreter.
The
California Telephone Access Program (CTAP) has a service center at DHHSC-CCO the second Friday of each month. CTAP phones and accessories are available free to California residents with differences in hearing, vision, mobility, speech and remembering (there is no financial limit on this program). CTAP has phones with volume and tone controls, or provide the ability to read what the other person is saying to you if you are
deaf or hard-of-hearing. They also have equipment for cell phones.
If you are a parent who is deaf or hard-of-hearing, DHHSC provides support and advocacy so you can receive communication access regarding your child's medical services, education plan and classes. Assistance is also available in getting visual alerting devices to let you know when your baby is crying.
DHHSC raises awareness of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
Differences in hearing are not visible to others; they are often overlooked and/or misunderstood. When someone says to a DHHSC speaker, "Before you came, we never gave any consideration to the deaf and hard-of-hearing," it's clear our important work is never done.
DHHSC also offers ASL classes that are open to the general public. Eight week classes both in beginning and intermediate ASL are offered and meet weekly for an hour and a half at the DHHSC office. The classes are $40.00 for eight weeks. DHHSC also now is offering DMV handbook instruction in ASL and practice DMV tests for the
deaf and hard-of-hearing preparing to take driver's license exam.
If you have questions, please contact DHHSC at (831) 753-6540 V or
831-240-4020 VP. Please visit our
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Dealing with Wait Lists for ABA Therapy
Jennifer Lucas, Advocate with the California State Council on
Developmental Disabilities, Central Coast Office
Dear Advocate:
My son has an autism diagnosis and needs ABA services. When I've called the Medi-Cal managed care providers, I found out they have long waitlists. My son is also a client of San Andreas Regional Center and I'm wondering if they can help me get ABA services or what else I should do.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in our country. Behavioral health treatment, such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), is recognized as the single most effective form of healthcare therapy for individuals with ASD. Back in 2012, a United States District Court Judge ruled withholding ABA from children (0-21) with autism causes irreparable harm. Soon after, health insurance plans and policies were required to provide coverage for behavioral health treatment to individuals with ASD. Unfortunately, agreeing to provide coverage doesn't always equate to the service actually being provided ~ at least, in a timely manner! You are one of many parents who are faced with a lack of available ABA providers. This is known as
network insufficiency.
As
 frustrating as this is, there is a process you should follow in order to access services. First, document everything - your phone calls to potential providers and how long their waitlists are as well as phone calls with your insurance and tracking numbers to reference. Second, if the waitlists are long, as you say there are, file a
written grievance (send by certified mail and save a copy) with your health plan and include a request for a
"single case agreement" with a provider who is available. This could be a private provider who is not in the network. If you do not file a grievance, there is no evidence you are dissatisfied.
You are more likely to get your child the treatment he needs if you file a complaint. Third, call the
Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) at 888-466-2219 and register your complaint.
Per the
DMHC website, "If you can't get a timely appointment in your area because there are not enough providers, your health plan must help you get an appointment with an appropriate provider." Additionally, for non-urgent concerns the acceptable wait times per DMHC range from 10-15 business days (basically no more than a month). Because autism is a crisis and early intervention is critical, there is greater urgency when individuals are confronted with long waitlists.
You also asked about regional center and how they may be able to help. First, it's very important to ensure your child's needs are clearly documented in the Individual Program Plan (IPP) or Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). Second, the Lanterman Act outlines a couple of ways regional centers may be of assistance.
First, §4659 (a) states: "
Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (b) or (e), the regional center shall identify and pursue all possible sources of funding for consumers receiving regional center services. These sources shall include, but not be limited to, both of the following: (1) Governmental or other entities or programs required to provide or pay the cost of providing services, including Medi-Cal, Medicare, the Civilian Health and Medical Program for Uniform Services, school districts, and federal supplemental security income and the state supplementary program
." In other words, you can ask your service coordinator to help you with navigating your insurance and overcoming the barriers to obtaining ABA services for your son. You will likely need to provide the regional center with consent to exchange i
nformation with your health insurance plan.
 Second, per §4659 d(A): "
Regional centers may pay for medical or dental services during the following periods:
(A) While coverage is being pursued, but before a denial is made.
(B) Pending a final administrative decision on the administrative appeal if the
family has provided to the regional center a verification that an administrative
appeal is being pursued.
(C) Until the commencement of services by Medi-Cal, private insurance, or a
health care service plan."
If your child's needs are clearly documented on the IPP/IFSP and there are lengthy delays in accessing ABA services through your insurance, the regional center may be able to fund ABA services temporarily. However, many of their providers also have limited capacity so they end up having to prioritize based on health and safety concerns. Ultimately, the insurance provider is responsible for maintaining an adequate network to enable your son to receive the medically necessary services. So taking the necessary steps to file a grievance and holding them accountable is critical.
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