Governor's Office of Disability Affairs Newsletter

The Governor's Office of Disability Affairs Newsletter

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2018 Governor's Outstanding Leadership in Disability (GOLD) Awards Ceremony

The Governor’s Office of Disability Affairs hosted the GOLD Awards ceremony on November 28, 2018 at the Old State Capitol. The GOLD Awards ceremony was created to recognize the extraordinary efforts of individuals who greatly benefit the lives of persons with disabilities. Individuals, organizations, and service animals representing 14 award categories were presented with award prisms from the Executive Director of Disability Affairs, Bambi Polotzola. Governor Edwards served as the keynote speaker at the ceremony. Governor Edwards took pictures with each award recipient and congratulated them on their achievement.

The Recipients of the 2018 GOLD Awards are:

The Governor’s Office of Disability Affairs also recognized award recipients of the Inclusive Art Show Competition during the ceremony. Twenty-six (26) award recipients of the Inclusive Art Show Contest were presented with award medals for submitting winning artwork that embodied this year’s theme: “Working Together.” GACDA Chairperson Lynette Fontenot was the keynote speaker of the Inclusive Art Show Contest. Lynette presented the “Lynette Fontenot Excellence in Inclusion Award” to the recipient earning best overall honors, Ms. Patrice Parks.

The recipients of the Inclusive Art Contest are:

Advocacy Center of Louisiana: Election Hotline

The Advocacy Center of Louisiana has provided a toll-free hotline for Louisiana voters to register concerns relative to inaccessible poling precincts, disability-related concerns, and voting questions. On Election Day, December 8, 2018, the Advocacy Center of Louisiana will be available to answer your questions or concerns about voting. Voters who may have these concerns on Election Day are encouraged to call 1-800-960-7705 from 6:00am to 8:00pm.

Election Day Information: December 8, 2018

On December 8, 2018 Louisiana citizens will be casting votes at polling precincts across the state to fill the vacancy for statewide offices in Louisiana and to vote on special primary and proposition elections. Louisiana Law requires that all polling places be accessible in the following manner: (1) the doors should be wide enough for a wheelchair; (2) there should be ramps or elevators if there are steps; and (3) there must be reserved accessible parking and all walkways must be accessible and free of obstacles. If your polling place is not accessible, please inform the commissioner at the polling place or call your parish clerk of court’s office so that they can correct the accessibility problem immediately on Election Day. Also, there are several accommodations available for disabled and elderly persons on Election Day. For instance, individuals may bring personal earplugs or headset to use with the audio voting keypad, individuals may bring a personal flashlight if additional lighting is needed, and individuals may request a 2X magnifier to use in the voting booth. Furthermore, voters who are unable to read or who have a disability, including physical or visual impairment, are able to vote with assistance. Voters may file a complaint regarding elections by calling the secretary of state’s office at 1-800-722-5305. For information please visit the: Secretary of State Webpage .

EarlySteps Region 8

Brief Positive Family Story

EarlySteps is Louisiana’s early intervention program that provides supports and services to infants and toddlers, birth to age three, who have a developmental delay or a medical condition that may cause a developmental delay. EarlySteps Region 8 covers the 12 parishes in Northeast Louisiana. The parishes include Caldwell, East Carroll, Franklin, Jackson, Lincoln, Madison, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, Tensas, Union and West Carroll.

An Intake Coordinator is one of the many personal contacts that a family has with the EarlySteps program. They are employees of a SPOE, Single Point of Entry , and specialize in the intake activities that occur once a referral is received at the SPOE.

The Intake Coordinator is the team leader for all the activities that occur from referral to screening, to eligibility determination, through the development of the initial Individualized Family Service Plan, IFSP.

In Region 8, Kelli Kern is an Intake Coordinator, as well as a foster parent and an EarlySteps parent. She became a foster mother to a little girl on 1/8/17. When “Beckie” was placed in the Kern home, she was 9 months old and weighed 9 pounds. At the time, she had trouble eating and was dependent upon a G-Tube for oral feedings. “Beckie” would not reach or grasp for toys nor would she make sounds.

When asked her thoughts about EarlySteps as a parent, not as an Intake Coordinator, Mrs. Kern shared the following:

“ EarlySteps has made a positive impact on our lives. To have a therapist and a FSC who has our baby’s best interests at heart is wonderful. It is great that the therapist comes to the home, uses items we have in our home, and teaches techniques to help our baby.”

“Beckie” is now 18 months old and weighs 22 pounds. She is no longer G-Tube dependent for her oral feedings! She says, “Dadadad, Ah, Oh, Hey and gagagag”!

To make a referral to EarlySteps Region 8, please call (318) 322-4788. Referrals can also be faxed to (318) 322-1549. The Region 8 SPOE Office is located at 1863 Avenue of America, Monroe 71201.

The Louisiana Mental Health Coalition

The Mental Health Coalition is a collective organizations and individuals across Louisiana who support the following principals:

To advocate that individuals with mental health needs should have access to high quality mental health service and treatment.

To advocate that individuals with mental health needs should have access to sufficient community-based services and treatment such that they can live an integrated and independent life.

To bring greater awareness of individuals with mental health needs and their rights to participate in treatment decisions and their care.

The priorities of the Louisiana Mental Health Coalition include building a unified message for mental health advocacy across the state, promoting public education and awareness of the benefits of mental health services, facilitating partnerships across sectors, and elevating the voices of individuals with lived experiences of mental illness.

Members of the Coalition has met with the Governor’s Office of Disability Affairs and Policy Advisors of Governor John Bel Edwards to further the objectives of The Louisiana Mental Health Coalition.

The Coalition will kick off activities with a series of at least four regional convening’s to engage partners and exchange ideas for promoting mental health awareness and advocacy. Dates and Locations TBD in January and February 2019.

The Louisiana Mental Health Coalition Founding Partners include:

The Advocacy Center of Louisiana

Baptist Community Ministries

Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans

Institute of Mental Hygiene

Kingsley House

Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights

Louisiana Public Health Institute

Mental Health Association for Greater Baton Rouge

NAMI Louisiana

NAMI St. Tammany

New Pathways New Orleans

St. Tammany Parish Safe Haven

Start Corporation

The Extra Mile

Volunteers of America

If your organization would like to participate or become a member of The Louisiana Mental Health Coalition please contact Jeanne Abadie of The Advocacy Center of Louisiana at: jabadie@advocacyla.org