The Connecting Point Volume One,    Issue 13
Date: September 5, 2003

In this ISSUE:

1) Olmstead Report
2) Protection and Advocacy Report
3) WATF Adaptive Technology or Modification Loans
4) WA. State Medicaid Expenditure Review
5) National Mental Health Information Center Web-page

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1) Olmstead Report
On August 19, 2003, the National Council on Disability (NCD) released a comprehensive online analysis of Federal and state implementation of the Supreme Court's 1999 Olmstead decision. The report gives credit to Federal and state governments for their efforts in implementing the decision and concludes that community-based services continue to prove superior to institutional ones. The authors emphasize, however, that much more needs to be done. The report, "Olmstead: Reclaiming Institutionalized Lives," can be found at: http://www. ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/reclaimlives.wpd.

2) Protection and Advocacy Report
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently released a study of state Protection and Advocacy (P&A) systems for individuals with developmental disabilities. The OIG surveyed all 57 P & As, receiving 49 replies. Four site surveys were also conducted in California, Indiana, New York and Virginia, which studied the changing roles of P & As in light of the Bush Administration's New Freedom Initiative and the Supreme Court's Olmstead decision. The study lists the percentage of staff time spent on issues as follows:

• 39% - special education;
• 19% - community integration;
• 15% - institutional abuse and neglect;
• 10% - discrimination and access;
• 01% - employment;
• 02% - other.

The report found that most time is spent (14%) mediating and negotiating disputes, while a short amount of time is spent on individual litigation (3%) and class action lawsuits (2%).

3) WATF Adaptive Technology or Modification Loans
Now available for all types of adaptive technology & home and vehicle Accessibility Modifications: The Washington Assistive Technology Foundation Access Fund is now offering low interest loans to Washington residents with all types of disabilities for purchases of assistive technology (e.g., hearing aids, augmentative communication devices, computers with adaptive equipment) and home and vehicle accessibility modifications. Our loans also can be used for home and vehicle accessibility modifications. Eligible applicants include individuals with disabilities - including seniors with age-related vision, hearing or mobility loss - and their family members. Loan Applications are available on our website (http://www.watf.org) or by calling our office at (206) 826-1038 V/ (800) 214-8731V/TTY. There are no income restrictions and we work hard to help low income loan applicants qualify. In some cases, we also have been successful in helping clients obtain much needed technology from other sources. If you know of anyone who needs help paying for technology, please encourage them to call WATF.

4) WA. State Medicaid Expenditure Review -
A Collaboration Report (By ARC and UCP), available for each of the Fifty States that reviews each
stateís expenditures for Medicaid. It gives total numbers of state residents receiving Medicaid, where the live, amount expended per living location category and impact on local economy. It also reveals the federal reimbursement amounts. To view the Washington State 2 page Document go to: www.thearc.org/medicaid/washington.doc To view the homepage to select and review other state states reviews go to: http://www.thearc.org/medicaid/ Source: AAMR F.Y.I. Sept O3

5) National Mental Health Information Center Web-page
http://www.mentalhealth.org/newsroom/ The web site of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services And Mental Health Administration. It includes information such as Service Locators for each state, A newsroom with links to current news articles, Valuable links, and information about National Hotlines.

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