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The University of Maryland will continue its partnership with the Special Olympics for an inclusive intramural sports program designed for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Unified Sports program pairs students and their peers with disabilities to compete together on intramural sports teams, according to Julie Johnson, this university’s intramural sports and the Reckord Armory assistant director. It first launched at this university last year with bocce and basketball, Johnson said. This academic year, the program has expanded to include soccer and flag football. The program also has a relationship with this university’s TerpsEXCEED program, which enables people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to participate in campus activities, including the unified sports offerings. Johnson said she brought the unified sports initiative to College Park last year after starting a similar program at Towson University. Unified sports programs have become increasingly popular across the National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association, which includes this university, Johnson explained. “This is a perfect opportunity for [this university’s] students to grow through sports and they make friends with people who are participating in this program that they may never have met otherwise,” Johnson said. Johnson said she loved volunteering with the Special Olympics in middle and high school. As a result, she hoped to get involved with the Special Olympics in her professional career, she added. Johnson emphasized the valuable social connections and personal growth that unified sports foster for all participants. Reagan Wagner, a freshman criminology and criminal justice major said she became involved with the program after learning about its connection to the Special Olympics. Wagner’s mother is affiliated with the Special Olympics and encouraged her to join the unified sports program, she said. “I don’t have a disability myself, but I’m finding different communities on campus [and] trying to see where I have a group to hang out with,” Wagner said. Evan Miller, a graduate student, is a peer advocate for the TerpsEXCEED program. Evan said the Unified Sports program allows him to spread kindness in an athletic setting. “It brings kindness and happiness to many people,” Miller said. “It makes them feel more appreciated to be part of something they would really enjoy.” Moving forward, Johnson is optimistic about the program’s continued growth and impact. The unified flag football league kicked off this fall, Johnson said, and the program plans to add a volleyball league in the spring semester. For Johnson, her goal is for this university’s unified sports teams to compete with other schools at the regional and national levels. She hopes this university gains recognition from the Special Olympics, which celebrates schools for their work in unified sports and other unified activities on campus. “My goal is to get us to be a unified banner school and a unified champion banner school,” Johnson said. “I want us to get to banner status and have that national recognition and continue to grow the program.” Citations : [ORIGINAL ARTICLE] https://dbknews.com/2024/11/11/umd-unified-sports-program/

Hourly pay is on the rise for direct support professionals, but advocates say that doesn’t appear to be enough to forestall the barriers facing people with developmental disabilities seeking services. Across the nation, hourly wages for direct support professionals averaged $15.79 in 2022, exceeding $15 per hour for the first time ever. Despite the increase, however, the turnover rate in the field remained over 40%, leaving many service providers struggling to maintain enough staff to support people with developmental disabilities living in the community. The figures come from a report [02] issued by United Cerebral Palsy and the American Network of Community Options and Resources, or ANCOR, which represents disability service providers nationally. Traditionally, the advocacy groups have released an annual “Case for Inclusion” report [03] assessing how well states are supporting people with developmental disabilities in the community. The new brief is the first in a series of “data snapshots” released under that umbrella. In an ANCOR survey [04] late last year, 77% of providers said they were refusing or no longer accepting referrals and 44% had discontinued offerings. The majority indicated that they were considering additional service cuts. Providers got some help from the 2021 American Rescue Plan, [05] a pandemic relief package that included $26.3 billion to improve recruitment and retention of direct care providers, according to the report. But, that money — which the advocacy groups say is largely responsible for the increase in DSP wages — must be used up by March 31, 2025. “Increased hourly wages and reduced turnover and vacancy rates highlight providers’ desire to offer proper compensation and actively engage in strategies to help recruit, hire and retain direct support professionals. With increased resources due to state and federal action, including emergency funding from the American Rescue Plan, it’s clear that providers are eager and willing to address the ongoing workforce crisis — they just need the support to do so,” said Barbara Merrill, chief executive officer at ANCOR. As of 2022, average vacancy rates for full-time DSPs remained at over 15%, the report indicates. And, wages in some states like Louisiana and Alabama were still under $11 per hour. Meanwhile, more than half a million Americans with developmental disabilities were on state waiting lists for services last year, with waits averaging 50 months, data shows. “Decades of underinvestment in the Medicaid program, in which reimbursement rates are set by states and financed with federal matching funds, have effectively rendered providers powerless to raise wages to a competitive level,” said Armando Contreras, president and CEO at United Cerebral Palsy. “Without meaningful action to support the direct care workforce, and the indispensable services direct support professionals provide, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities will continue to spend years waiting for services, delaying their fundamental right to live in their communities and in the most integrated settings possible.” Citations : [ORIGINAL ARTICLE] https://tinyurl.com/bdxr95vd [DATA SNAPSHOT] https://caseforinclusion.org/publications/data-snapshot [ARTICLE] IT MAY BE EVEN HARDER TO ACCESS COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES FOR THOSE WITH IDD: https://tinyurl.com/4eh6m8sk [ARTICLE] SURVEY OF DISABILITY SERVICES PROVIDERS FINDS DEEPENING CRISIS: https://tinyurl.com/5fkkmd4z [ARTICLE] BIDEN SIGNS STIMULUS BILL SENDING FUNDS TO DISABILITY COMMUNITY: https://tinyurl.com/3dewudpp

Congress is one step closer to re-upping the nation’s primary autism law with little time remaining before it’s set to expire. The U.S. House of Representatives voted Wednesday 402-13 to pass the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education and Support, or Autism CARES, Act of 2024. The bipartisan bill, which represents an agreement between House and Senate lawmakers, would allocate more than $1.95 billion over the next five years for research, prevalence tracking, screening, professional training and other government activities related to autism. The law originated in 2006, but the current version is set to sunset Sept. 30. “While significant progress has been made in understanding and accepting autism, much work remains to ensure that all autistic individuals have access to services and supports tailored to their unique needs,” said Christopher Banks, president and CEO of The Autism Society of America. “The Autism CARES Act of 2024 addresses key areas such as research on autism and aging, services for those with more complex needs, communication challenges and the shortage of developmental pediatricians — all crucial steps toward improving the lives of autistic individuals.” The bill passed by the House this week would renew many existing autism-related programs and direct the National Institutes of Health to ensure that research reflects the full range of cognitive, communicative, behavioral and adaptive functioning needs of those on the spectrum. It would grow the number of NIH Centers of Excellence, require the NIH to produce an annual budget plan for autism research and it includes efforts to promote the adoption of assistive communication. The measure also mandates a government report on ways to increase the number of developmental behavioral pediatricians as well as one looking at youth aging out of school. Even with House passage, the legislation must still be approved by the Senate and signed by President Joe Biden in order to become law. “Since the Autism CARES Act’s landmark passage in 2006, families like mine have benefited enormously from the transformative impact of this law, which has increased our understanding of autism, expanded health care training on autism and led to the development of evidence-based services for individuals with autism across the spectrum and lifespan,” said Keith Wargo, president and CEO of Autism Speaks. “While we celebrate House passage, we urge the Senate to quickly take up and pass the Autism CARES Act and send it to the president’s desk prior to the Sept. 30th expiration.” Citations : [ORIGINAL NEWS ARTICLE] https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2024/09/19/house-votes-to-renew-autism-act-as-expiration-nears/31068/

The U.S. Department of Justice is finalizing a new rule aimed at dramatically increasing the availability of medical examination tables, weight scales and other diagnostic equipment that’s accessible to people with disabilities. Federal officials said late last week that they would implement a regulation under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act adopting technical standards that must be met by certain hospitals and health care clinics. The announcement coincided with the 34th anniversary of the disability rights law. “Thirty-four years after passage of the ADA, people with disabilities should not have to forgo needed medical care due to inaccessible medical diagnostic equipment,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This rule marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to ensure that people with disabilities can get the medical treatment they need.” The rule was first proposed [01] earlier this year in response to numerous complaints that the Justice Department said it received from people with disabilities who have been denied basic medical services because of a lack of accessible equipment. The agency cited cases where individuals were only given a cursory physical exam because they could not be moved from their wheelchair to an exam table as well as people who have gone without dental exams, mammograms and other preventive care services. The Justice Department said that Attorney General Merrick B. Garland signed the final rule on Friday, but the agency did not officially release it, saying instead that the rule and a fact sheet will be made available for review soon. The rule falls under Title II of the ADA, which requires state and local government services, programs and activities to be accessible to people with disabilities. As a result, the new requirements will apply to public hospitals, health clinics and other entities that state and local governments contract with to provide health care services. With the proposal, federal officials sought to adopt accessibility standards created in 2017 by the U.S. Access Board for exam tables, chairs used for eye and dental exams, weight scales, mammography equipment, x-ray machines and other diagnostic tools. The proposal included a prohibition on covered health care providers denying services to patients with disabilities because of a lack of accessible equipment and it said that people with disabilities could not be required to bring someone to help them with an exam. In addition, the plan stipulated that covered entities only buy accessible medical equipment going forward until an adequate number are acquired. The proposal also included a requirement that all providers who use exam tables, weight scales or both have at least one accessible version of the equipment within two years. And, staff would be required to operate accessible medical equipment and assist patients with transfers and positioning. Citations: [NEWS ARTICLE] https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2024/01/17/feds-move-to-enforce-accessibility-standards-for-medical-equipment/30697/

The Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administrations (DDA) aims to give those with developmental disabilities greater control over their lives by offering a self-direction model for the provision of support services. The recently announced solution is designed to help participants identify and access support services that best suits their needs. Community Health and Education Services works in both Montgomery and Prince George's County, and the new self-direction support services are now available to clients in those regions. The agency's trained professionals assist clients with a variety of developmental disabilities, including cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and those on the autism spectrum. "Our services are designed to help people with developmental disabilities thrive in their own setting," a company representative explained. "For those who have chosen to self-direct, we offer registered and licensed nurses who can assist is several ways, including comprehensive assessments, developing a care plans, training your own staff, and more." As the Maryland DDA explains, the core goal of the self-direction model is to give participants greater choice and control over how services are provided, as well as who is being paid for those services. Under the program, support brokers are certified assistants who help participants and their family develop a Personal Centered Plan and Budget (PCP), while also providing ongoing coaching and mentoring after the PCP has been approved. As part of the recent update, Community Health and Education Services offers registered nurses who have completed the mandatory DDA training programs required to become a support broker. The services can be tailored to individual needs, with visits at least every 45 days, or more frequently if required. About Community Health and Education Services Company director Dr. Leslie Phillips has over 30 years' experience in a clinical setting, including pediatrics, ambulatory care, critical care, home care, and wound management. For the past 15 years, Dr. Phillips has focused her efforts on caring for children and adults with both physical and intellectual disabilities, and now leads the team at Community Health and Education Services. "We employ caring, competent, and top-notch professionals to care for our clients," the agency continues. "Our mission is to provide affordable, unmatched care services to the vulnerable, so they can remain safe and comfortable in their homes and their communities." Interested parties can find more information by visiting: [WEBSITE] https://www.communityhes.org/ Community Health and Education Services, LLC contact@communityhes.org +12407555591 4500 Forbes Blvd Suite 200-E12 Lanham, Maryland 20706 United States Original Press Release: [WEBSITE] https://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/news/ampwire/maryland-development-disability.html

The Social Security Administration is making another update to how it calculates Supplemental Security Income benefits, this time to ensure its rules are applied more equitably across the country. The agency finalized a rule [01] this month adjusting how it handles so-called “in-kind support and maintenance” in the form of a rental subsidy. Under existing policies, individuals with disabilities can see their SSI benefits reduced if they pay rent or shelter expenses that are lower than the current market value. This often comes into play if a beneficiary is living with a family member who charges less than they would pay on the open market, for example. However, because of court rulings, there is a different standard in place in seven states — Connecticut, New York, Vermont, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Texas. For SSI beneficiaries in those states, monthly payments are not reduced if an individual is spending more than a third of their income on housing even in cases where their rent is less than the current market value. With the new rule, Social Security will apply the less stringent standard nationwide. As a result, the agency expects that about 41,000 people will see their SSI payments rise by an average of $132 per month. In addition, an estimated 14,000 more people are expected to qualify for SSI each year. “Our mission is to continue to help people access crucial benefits, including SSI,” said Martin O’Malley, commissioner of Social Security. “Simplifying and expanding our rental subsidy policy nationwide is another common-sense solution that will improve program equality and will reduce agency time spent calculating and administering rental subsidy.” The new policy is set to take effect Sept. 30. The rule change is part of a wide-ranging effort from the Social Security Administration to reconsider how it handles nuances of the SSI program. Last month, the agency said that it would stop counting food [02] as part of “in-kind support and maintenance” beginning this fall and a rule issued last week [03] changes how Social Security factors support from other public assistance programs when calculating SSI payments. Citations: [PDF] Expansion of the Rental Subsidy Policy for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Applicants and Recipients: https://tinyurl.com/mr356mj2 [Article] Social Security Finalizes Change To SSI Benefits: https://tinyurl.com/ycxwz5xd [PDF] Expand the Definition of a Public Assistance Household: https://tinyurl.com/2v6kyx85 Original Article: Social Security Tweaks Rules For SSI: https://tinyurl.com/2h86z68b

The Social Security Administration is moving forward with a major change to the way it calculates monthly Supplemental Security Income benefits for those with disabilities. The agency said that starting this fall it will no longer factor food when determining what’s known as “in-kind support and maintenance.” Under current rules, SSI benefits can be reduced — in many cases by about a third — if someone else routinely provides meals or groceries to a beneficiary. Now, that’s set to change. “A vital part of our mission is helping people access crucial benefits, including SSI,” said Martin O’Malley, commissioner of Social Security. “Simplifying our policies is a common-sense solution that reduces the burden on the public and agency staff and helps promote equity by removing barriers to accessing payments.” In a final rule published late last month, the Social Security Administration said it will stop considering food expenses in calculations of in-kind support and maintenance as of Sept. 30. The agency will continue to factor shelter expenses meaning that SSI benefits can be docked if a beneficiary does not contribute to rent, mortgage or utility costs for their residence. The change will limit the amount of information that SSI beneficiaries must report, ensure that rules are easier for everyone to understand and reduce variability in SSI payments from one month to the next, officials said. In addition, Social Security expects to see administrative savings since the agency will no longer have to spend time monitoring food provided in-kind. Even with the update, however, Social Security said that it will continue to ask beneficiaries who live in another person’s household if someone else in the home pays for or provides them with all of their meals. Disability advocates welcomed the new rule. “In-kind support and maintenance calculations are often ridiculous and cruel, causing SSI recipients to lose benefits over things like sleeping on someone’s couch or getting help paying for groceries,” said Zoe Gross, director of advocacy at the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. “No one should lose needed benefits because of things like this. By exempting food from ISM, the Social Security Administration will make it easier for people receiving SSI to get help with food and nutrition. This especially impacts people who live with friends and family, as many autistic people receiving SSI do.” The update could have broad implications, with the Social Security Administration saying that it reduced the benefits of 793,000 recipients as of January 2022 because they received help with food or shelter. The rule change is one of “several updates” that Social Security said are in the works for SSI regulations, all aimed at helping people receiving and applying for benefits under the program. About 7.5 million Americans receive SSI each month, with a maximum federal benefit of $943 for individuals and $1,415 for couples. Citations : Original Article, Social Security Finalizes Change To SSI Benefits , can be found here: [DISABILITY SCOOP] https://tinyurl.com/3w6ru3hs

47ABC – United Needs and Abilities (UNA) is gearing up for its annual Disc Golf Tournament in May and it’s Charlie Mac Open Charity Golf Tournament in September. UNA provides services to those with disabilities in all 9 counties on the Eastern Shore. Some of those services include residential support, drop-in service, personal support and a cash back program to help fund those in need. We sat down with representatives of the organization who shared more with us about the tournament and how it will benefit the community. They say the money raised from these events go to support those in need of help in the community. Money raised in the past has helped them install ramps to homes, purchase custom wheelchairs, and fund special needs summer camp programs. They also say the organization is always in need of an extra hand! There are plenty of volunteer opportunities, but becoming a sponsor can make all the difference. The 1st annual disc golf tournament will be May 16th and the Charlie Mac Open Charity Golf Tournament will be September 26th. To register and learn more visit https://una1.org Read original article & watch newscast here: [WMDT] http://tinyurl.com/4hebkvf2

New research estimates nearly 40,000 youth with autism and intellectual & developmental disabilities were in the U.S. foster care system in 2016.