The Pass It On Center

The Pass It On Center is creating national and state resources to foster the appropriate reuse of AT so that people with disabilities can get the affordable AT they need in order to live, learn, work and play more independently.
http://passitoncenter.org/ 

Parent Centers

I encourage parents, guardians, and teachers of special needs children to view this informative site.  There are plenty of sites and information on benefits for children with a disability.  Please check back for updates or visit Children's Disability Resource for updated information.

Parent Centers - Parent Centers provide training, information and assistance to families of children with all disabilities ages birth to 26 years and the professionals who work with them. 

http://www.parentcenternetwork.org/

Returning Troops & the Transition Back to School

It stands to reason that the ones set to return over the next year will likely consider higher education an appealing option as well, filling programs offered both online and off. And with the Post-9/11 GI Bill now providing living stipends for students opting for Internet-based courses and degree programs, colleges and universities are even more accessible to veterans than they ever were before.

http://www.onlinedegrees.org/returning-troops-the-transition-back-to-school/
Here's a great article for vets and their families to read concerning going back to school.

 

The Family Center on Technology and Disability

The Family Center on Technology and Disability - Knowing where to begin and how to proceed can be daunting though. We're here to help. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs, the Family Center on Technology and Disability provides a wide range of resources on assistive technology, from introductory fact sheets and training materials to in-depth discussion of best practices and emerging research. Try setting aside 30 minutes a day to review an FCTD resource. 

http://www.fctd.info/ 

Self-Help Group Awareness

This guide has been developed to act as your starting point for finding every type of national, international, model and online self-help support group that is available. The self-help groups, contained in the database that you can access by keyword in the box at the bottom, can help you find and/or start a support group in your community.

http://www.mentalhelp.net/selfhelp/

New site for children's disability support, benefits, resources.

I know everyone has been chomping at the bit for this site to go active.  I'm excited for everyone to see it and post comments, questions, and tell me how good it looks...lol.

ChildrensDisability.org

A lot has been added to my main site since Jan 2012.  New site template plus more info on disability benefits and resources.  Hope you'll find the site informative.

disabilityhelpsite.com

I'd like to make mention of the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving.

Here's the mission statement for the RCI:
The Rosalynn Carter Institute establishes local, state and national partnerships committed to building quality long-term, home and community- based services. We believe this begins with providing caregivers with effective supports and making investments that promote caregiver health, skills and resilience. We also believe strongly in the need to provide greater recognition and support for professional and family caregivers. Our focus includes supporting individuals and caregivers coping with chronic illness and disability across the lifespan as well as limitations due to aging.

The following link will take you to the caregiver resource page.
http://www.rosalynncarter.org/caregiver_resources

Someone correct me if I'm wrong here. I personally feel that "most" disabled folks have a lesser sense of self-esteem then most non-disabled people. Am I right?

Anyway, when it come to starting your own business self-esteem plays a huge part in the start up and relative success of the venture. I believe as a vital segment of society, we are needed to invest our time and effort toward contributing to the business community. We have much to offer.

Here is an article on starting your own biz and the help which is available. I have researched the grant money possibilities but apparently they exist.

If you think the job market is tough for the able-bodied, consider the case for those with disabilities.

In Florida, estimates of the jobless rate among disabled, working-age adults — including large numbers of young, severely injured soldiers returning to civilian life — run as high as 50 percent.

To address the problem, nonprofit organizations and government agencies recently have begun pushing an option that many with disabilities may have once thought unlikely: becoming entrepreneurs.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-11-12/business/os-disabled-jobs-20111112_1_disabilities-business-incubator-business-plans

US Labor Department awards more than $21 million in Disability Employment Initiative funding to 7 states.

The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $21,166,560 for seven states under the Disability Employment Initiative to improve education, training, and employment opportunities and outcomes for youth and adults who are unemployed, underemployed and/or receiving Social Security disability benefits. The initiative is jointly funded and administered by the department's Employment and Training Administration and its Office of Disability Employment Policy.

"During these difficult economic times, it is important to ensure that all workers, including those with disabilities – who as a group face employment barriers even during times of prosperity – are able to benefit from the Labor Department's employment and retraining services," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "These federal grants will help to provide services and support to individuals with disabilities in seven additional states, and put them on the path to permanent and secure jobs."

Ya know, It's wonderful to see the disabled receiving well needed financial support toward securing better job opportunities. I do hope that this money is not being spread too thin by extending it into sectors such as "Medicaid Infrastructure Grant-supported activities, independent living centers, business leadership networks, and other community and nonprofit organizations". Make sure to put the money to use for the disabled and not "collaborations"

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/27/3942316/us-labor-department-awards-more.html#ixzz1ZMW7Lrfj

I post an article (and comments of course) on "Navigating Growth Attenuation in Children with Profound Disabilities" on my forum awhile back and thought it would be a great idea to post it here as well for those who missed it.

So, here we go. The process of growth attenuation involves stunting the growth of an individual (adolescent) with profound disabilities. Here's the article snip:

Our working group sought to engage the underlying ethical and policy considerations of growth attenuation—that is, administration of short-term, high-dose estrogen to close growth plates, thereby permanently limiting height. We hoped to move beyond staking out positions with divisive and polarizing rhetoric about growth attenuation in order to find common ground and better identify and understand the areas of deep disagreement. In this paper, we offer sympathetic accounts of differing views so that those who hold a particular view can better understand others’ concerns. We also reach for a middle ground—a moral compromise based on respect for sustained disagreement rather than on consensus. Most of our group agreed to the compromise that growth attenuation can be morally permissible under specific conditions and after thorough consideration.

http://www.thehastingscenter.org/Publications/HCR/Detail.aspx?id=4961

Article about a 9 year old girl they performed this on.

GROWTH ATTENUATION, PARENTAL CHOICE, AND THE RIGHTS OF DISABLED CHILDREN:
LESSONS FROM THE ASHLEY X CASE.

Most medical cases involving parental choice on behalf of a child proceed with no public oversight. Parental choice is, by design, a private matter. A parent makes medical decisions for a child behind the closed doors of the family doctor or pediatrician’s office after evaluating the risks, benefits, and alternatives of a proposed course of treatment. The choices are generally implemented without note in the media or in law. Only the exceptional parental choice, such as a decision to forgo potentially life-saving treatment for a child, may be deemed so risky to the child’s future well-being that it triggers court intervention. Other parental choices, such as those to use elective cosmetic surgery on children, occasionally generate media attention, but those decisions are not legally regulated. With few exceptions, the general rule is that unless a particular decision can be characterized as medical neglect, parental decisions about children’s health care are subject to virtually no attention or legal limitation.

http://www.law.uh.edu/hjhlp/Issues/Vol_82/Ouellette.pdf

My forum thread: http://www.disabilityhelpsite.com/forum/index.php?topic=160.0"

What do you think of this growth stunting process?

I was reading an article today concerning a study done by a pediatric group. The study concluded that children who are disabled are bullied more often than children who are not disabled. It also stated that special health needs children also fall into that category. They pondered what could be done to to stop the bullying of these children.

It all starts at home. Those who are doing the bullying need to be taught empathy and respect for others. This can only be done through example and encouragement.

Oh man, it's been 4 years since I posted on the blog? A lot has been happening that's kept me busy. 2008 I had a kidney/pancreas transplant. It was pretty dicey for a while. In ICU a couple of times, re-admitted at least twice and a follow-up operation for a incision hernia (ouch). I'm doing well right now, no more insulin shots and the kidney is working well. I have side effects going on and BP probs but I won't complain.

My two sons both got married and I'm a g-daddy now. WoW, she is a great little girl.

I'm on facebook now with alot of new info. Plus, a whole new look to the main website and forum.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Disability-Help-Site
http://www.disabilityhelpsite.com
http://www.disabilityhelpsite.com/forum

Hope you'll stop by and if you do take a look at a sponsor's info. There maybe something of interest for you.

Dave

This may not be directly affecting the disabled community (yet) but I thought it deserved mentioning. In this day of identification thievery and our information scattered from here to Timbuktu, we are now faced with having medical information implanted under our skin for the medical industry to "accurately and reliably access necessary vital information". I'm not buying that rational when compared to my information being readily available to insurance companies, possibly before an employment opportunity. Wouldn't it make sense (correct me if I'm wrong) that the very first individual REQUIRED to have these EHR implants would be the disabled, seniors, and the poor. All of which receive federal medical aid.

Oops, did I leave the cat out of the bag. Yes folks we are talking about Electronic Health Records. These little implants are placed under your skin to allow anyone (doctors, pharmaceuticals, insurance companies) to access your info. This info would be available on computer software.

Here is more info for you to read:

Background information on EHR
http://www.hoise.com/vmw/07/articles/vmw/LV-VM-06-07-5.html

Current plans
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/87290.php

Hi folks, I've been away for a bit but all is well now and I'm ready to talk about disability news. One of the most frustrating elements that goes along with being disabled, is the helplessness of being financially dependent on the government for your income. The possibility for you to work, receive SSDI, and Medicare is real. I'm not 100% on the formula they use to determine how much of your earnings will be deducted from your SSDI payment (don't worry I'm going to investigate this further). I believe it's @ $500 per month can be earned w/o a reduction in benefits.
Our ability to work outside the home may also be hindered, so home based businesses tend to look more favorable. The article I have included is a good starting point to the subject of working from home.

A Real Home Based Business

A real home based Internet business has to comply with the same legal regulations as an Internet business from any other location. Here are the basic legal issues with which a real home based Internet business owner must be familiar.

The first issue and a real concern for any home based Internet business is the restriction based on age. The regulations spelled out in COPPA, the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, and requires that children under the age of 13 cannot disclose their personal information unless a parent consents to it. Children under the age of 18 cannot be allowed to view adult content on the Internet, nor can they enter into any contract.

Real time occurrences on the Web, such as chats, must be controlled by the home based Internet business owner. Bulletin boards would have the same control issues. The rules of using each should solicit and retain the consent of each online user to refrain from posting pornography, defamatory material or anything that infringes on others' rights. Your company should also clearly state on its site that you are not liable for other users that commit to following your policies and guidelines but subsequently violating them.

To make real your ownership of all property and content on your home based business Internet site you'll need a copyright notice on the site's footer. The notice should have the date and your name and the statement. All rights reserved. A real copy of your home based business Internet site should be field with the U.S. copyright office. This will effectively record ownership of the contents of the site, as well as its look and its feel.

Your site's domain name is an important part of the branding and marketing for your Internet business. It is best to tie that domain name as closely as possible to your logo, your brand and your business name. Carefully choose a domain name that clearly conveys the products or services of your real home based Internet business. Register your domain name as a trademark and you can retain ownership should it be challenged by another business.

If your site is on the World Wide Web then you must comply with export regulations. If you sell goods over the Internet to these global consumers then you are exporting items for sale and entering into international countries. If your site is encrypted then you are exporting to other countries U.S. Department of Commerce and Defense technology. There are many U.S. federal agencies that have regulations in force for doing business with other countries, and the times and circumstances that require a firm to get an export license to send information, technology or goods abroad.

There are countries with whom business transactions are limited severely for U.S. firms. These countries are Cuba, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Syria and Yugoslavia. The best decision about the real problems you might encounter for your home based Internet business doing business with these countries and/ or its residents should be made with your attorney.

Article Source: http://www.disabilityarticles.com

Thomas Syvertsen is an Internet Marketer. Involved with network marketing and marketing since 2000. Education: Bachelor Degree in Marketing. To find the best home based business ideas and opportunities so you can work at home visit: homebizstartup.googlepages.com

http://www.disabilityhelpsite.com


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Cuts proposed in Medicare and Medicaid

I am by no means a number cruncher nor am I someone that can help determine the best course of action on money dilemmas. Here comes the BUT. But I do know that the President is proposing cuts in Medicare and Medicaid over the next 5 years.

Snippet:
The $701 billion budget (for health and human services) that Bush sent to Congress today includes $66 billion in cuts over five years from Medicare, which provides health insurance for 43 million Americans. Bush also would cut $12 billion from Medicaid for the poor and from a program that provides health insurance for low-income children.

I'm also not an advocate of universal health care. On that subject, I {believe} that most everyone is covered by a level of health care if they choose to apply. The uninsured in the middle class maybe the only exceptions to this. Now before everyone starts taking pot shots at yours truly, I'm disabled and required to depend on Uncle Sam for my health care (it's not an enjoyable feeling). The subject of universal health care is a whole discussion in itself, and one I won't get into now.

Back to budget cuts. I have tried to give President Bush every inch of rope necessary to prove the need to be in Iraq (and spend huge amounts of our tax dollars), BUT now with the notion of cutting services to the disabled, seniors and children for their health care needs, enough is enough. Here's the rest of the story. Feel free to write your Congreesman and let them know how you feel.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/bloomberg/20070205/pl_bloomberg/a7z5efc4yvos

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I found this article to be interesting (and somewhat of a relief). Let's hope that not only the money will be there for future generations which find the need to be on Medicaid. Let's also hope that people use good judgement when exploring the possibility of seeking federal aid, as it pertains to SSDI, Medicare, & Medicaid. Save it for those in need. Here is a snipet of the article. A link to the complete article follows.

Dated Feb 23, 2007

WASHINGTON, DC – "As Congress prepares to debate the President’s budget and looks ahead to address the growing federal deficit and the future sustainability of Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, a new study of future funding requirements for Medicaid by the Kaiser Family Foundation’s Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured (KCMU) projects a less dire situation than suggested by conventional wisdom. The study, authored by Richard Kronick of the University of California, San Diego and David Rousseau of KCMU and published by the journal Health Affairs today, concludes that expected growth in government revenues is likely to be large enough to sustain Medicaid spending increases over the next 40 years, while also allowing substantial real growth in spending for other public services".

http://www.kff.org/medicaid/kcmu022307nr.cfm?RenderForPrint=1


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In addtion to my web site that contains information pertainent to disability, there is also a forum and NOW a chat area. Please feel free to stop by and post.

http://www.disabilityhelpsite.com



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Alliance for Technology Access (ATA)

The mission of the Alliance for Technology Access (ATA) is to increase the use of technology by children and adults with disabilities and functional limitations.

The ATA is a growing national network of technology resource centers, organizations, individuals and companies. ATA encourages and facilitates the empowerment of people with disabilities to participate fully in their communities.

Through public education, information and referral, capacity building in community organizations, and advocacy/policy efforts, the ATA enables millions of people to live, learn, work, define their futures, and achieve their dreams.

“ATA … connecting children and adults with disabilities and functional limitations to technology.”

Check out their services here: http://www.ataccess.org/default.html

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Here is a contact list of pharmaceutical companies that have programs to assist the elderly and the disabled with prescription drugs. These companies offer discount cards. Call and ask for information but make sure you understand how participating in one of these programs will affect other prescription assistance programs you are enrolled in.

* GlaxoSmithKline's The Orange Card: (888) 672-6436

* Eli Lilly's LillyAnswers Card: (877) 795-4559

* Novartis' The CareCard: (866) 974-2273

* Pfizer's The Share Card: (800) 459-4156

* Abbott Laboratories
AstraZeneca
Aventis Pharmaceuticals
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
GlaxoSmithKline
Janssen
Johnson & Johnson
Ortho-McNeil's TogetherRx Card:
(800) 865-7211 (to contact the companies listed above in bold font)

Check my web site for more prescription medicine programs


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