Watertown Commission on Disability

Disability Policy Consortium Weekly Update
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Our Day – February 23, 2010 – Please RSVP by TODAY!!!

Our Day, for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf-Blind is being held at the State House on February 23rd. Please attend! Additional information on this exciting event is available at http://www.dpcma.org/News/tabid/716/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/95/Deaf-Hard-of-Hearing-and-DeafBlind-Day.aspx.

An Invitation to an Informational Session on the Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Waivers for Hutchinson Class Members

Please join us at an informational session if you want to learn more about the ABI Home and Community-based Waivers for ResHab and Non ResHab services.

March 23, 2010 – Tuesday
Informational Session for Professionals
2 – 4 pm
One Ashburton Place
Boston, MA
Ashburton Café

March 25, 2010 – Thursday
5:30 – 7:30 pm
BIA of MA
30 Lyman Street, Suite 10
Westborough, MA 01581

April 1, 2010 – Thursday
Middleboro Skilled Care Center
5:30 – 7:30 pm
23 Isaac Street
Middleboro, MA 02346

April 7, 2010 – Wednesday
10 – 12:00 pm
Wingate at Wilbraham
9 Maple Street
Wilbraham, MA 01095

April 8, 2010 – Thursday
10 – 12:00 pm
Tewksbury State Hospital
365 East Street
Tewksbury, MA 01876

April 15, 2010 – Thursday
Rehabilitation Hospital for the Cape and Islands
311 Service Road
East Sandwich, MA 02537

Two documents from EOHSS have been added to The Olmstead Initiative page on the DPC web site.

Draft Diversion Sub-Committee Report 1/25/2010
Activities are organized according to the goals of the Community First Olmstead Plan. Some recommendations have been added or edited based on recommendations from other relevant documents released in the past five years.

Intersecting Activities and Initiatives Related to Financing of Long-term Services and Supports
The Long-term Care Financing Advisory Committee (Advisory Committee) is tasked with identifying strategic options for financing long term services and supports (LTS) for people with disabilities and elders in Massachusetts. The Advisory Committee is one of a number of activities outlined in Massachusetts’ Community First Olmstead Plan, which provides a vision and action plan reflecting the Governor’s commitment to ensuring that people with disabilities and elders have access to community living opportunities and LTS that address each individual’s diverse needs, abilities and background.

While discussing financing options, the Advisory Committee concluded that there are many interconnected issues outside the scope of the Committee’s work that affect an individual’s ability to choose community living. Other Olmstead plan activities and initiatives that address these issues are in process across the Commonwealth. Activities in the following issue areas are described below: affordable and accessible housing; employment; workforce capacity and development; transportation; integrated financing and care delivery; administrative activities; public awareness and access to information; and consumer choice. The Advisory Committee endorses these activities and further work in these areas, and recognizes the importance of their success to the realization of a reformed financing system for LTS that furthers the Commonwealth’s Community First goals.

SENATE PREZ VOWS TO RESTORE PATRICK’S CUTS TO MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET:

Senate President Therese Murray issued a flat rejection Tuesday of Gov. Deval Patrick’s proposed cuts to Department of Mental Health in-patient facilities, telling a group of mental health activists that she would lead a restoration of the funds. “I can assure you that no matter how difficult what we’re fighting will be, I won’t do those cuts,” Murray said. “I won’t do it.” Murray acknowledged the Senate budget would contain reductions elsewhere, but said she had warned Patrick administration officials to stop closing facilities and eliminating beds. “We have worked too long and we have come too far,” Murray said during Great Hall remarks, adding, “We can’t put people on the street that are going to decline.” Patrick’s budget cuts the primary inpatient facilities and community-based mental health services line item from $169.3 million to just below $134 million.

ODEP Listening Session and Peer Employment Network Event

The Office of Disability Employment Policy of the U.S. Department of Labor is holding a listening session on Wednesday, March 3rd from 9:00am to 5:00pm at the Sheraton Hotel, Boston. The goal of the session is to hear from people with disabilities, service providers, advocates and employers about barriers and best practices regarding the employment of people with disabilities. Information on how to sign up and testify will be forthcoming.

The Peer Employment Network is meeting on Wednesday, March 1st at 6:00 p.m. at the Boston Public Library. The network’s goal is to reconnect and/or make new contacts and learn more about career advancement, reasonable accommodations and other issues relevant to individuals with disabilities who are interested in maximizing their employment opportunities.

Please visit www.employmentnowcoalition.org for further information.

Five Fundamental Rights/Fresh Air bill reported out of committee with major revisions

Greetings fellow advocates,

Today, the Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse reported House Bill #1945/Senate Bill #743 – the “Five Fundamental Rights/Fresh Air bill – out of committee, with major changes.

The version passed eliminates a proposed method to fairly appeal violations of the Five Fundamental Rights [5FRs], which was the central focus of the bill this year. However, it did, for the first time, keep language making access to fresh air and the outdoors a sixth fundamental right – although, in my opinion, it still allows an uncomfortable amount of leeway for hospitals to get around the requirement. Still, it is something.

The revised bill will head to the Health Care Finance Committee, where (like all bills), it faces an uncertain future.

Although I am glad to see stronger ‘fresh air’ language, I am utterly convinced that without the “teeth” of the appeals language, all six rights will continue to be violated constantly, as we see now.

Even though the ‘5FRs appeal’ part of the bill has been eliminated, our work regarding this issue must continue. There’s a huge groundswell of interest and momentum around this effort. I believe it is up to US to educate, publicize, and advocate around the issue. The legislature, DMH, the public, and our peers (many of whom aren’t made aware of their rights under law) – all must be aware of the problem, and not misled by the hospitals and lobbyists who allow these violations to occur.

Despite my disappointment, I am more committed than ever that we will prevail. The strength, dedication, and resilience I see in EVERY peer I meet is all the proof I need. Together, we’ll stop being looked at as second-class citizens, in emergency rooms, inpatient units, and in the community. No human being is any less deserving of civil rights than any other, and they can never be compromised.

Please stay tuned – I plan on restarting the workgroup for this effort soon, and my sincerest thanks to all who called the Committee Chairs!!!

Onward,
Jonathan Dosick
Coordinator, “Five Fundamental Rights/Fresh Air” effort
West Boylston, MA
ambient871@hotmail.com