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 Welcome to Connecting Point Mailing List Archives Vol. 3 |
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The Connecting Point Volume 3 Issue 9 August 8th, 2005 In This ISSUE:
NEW Featured Essay: This will be a new feature in many upcoming Connection Points. There are many new essays, editorials or written opinions that address the issues facing young people with disabilities, their families and providers of education and other services. As these become available, you will find a copy with the available contact information at the end of the Connecting Point. If you plan further distribution you will need to contact the author to obtain permission. Our first feature is: The Buzz On the Movie 'Murderball' by Dave Reynolds , Inclusion Daily Express The Featured Essay and contact Information will be available at the end of the other regular features of the Connecting Point. 1) Legislative Cuts to Require Job Reductions at Institutions for people with disabilities in Washington State – Carrying out legislative direction to reduce mid management positions and reduce operating costs at five residential institutions for people with developmental disabilities, the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) has notified employees and interested members of the public of 55 staff positions planned for reduction over the next two years. The staff reduction will save $3.7 million over the next two years, as directed by the Legislature in the new budget for state government. At the same time, the Legislature increased the DSHS budget to provide more support to people with developmental disabilities in their communities. All together, DSHS employs 2,572 people and has annual operating costs of $319 million at the five RHCs – Rainier School in Buckley, Fircrest School in Shoreline, Lakeland Village in Medical Lake, the Yakima Valley School in Selah and Frances Haddon Morgan School in Bremerton. Linda Johnson , office chief in the DSHS Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD), explained the budget cuts can only be achieved by reducing the number of employees at the institutions, which are known as Residential Habitation Centers (RHCs). “Staff costs represent from 80 to 90 percent of the budgets of the RHCs which means we will have to distribute the residents more efficiently at two of the institutions—Rainier and Fircrest.” Johnson said. “Fircrest and Rainier are the two largest RHCs and they will have to take the largest staff cuts,” Johnson explained. She also noted that the Legislature in 2003 directed DSHS to downsize Fircrest School and consolidate vacancies at all the RHCs. As a result, four Fircrest cottages closed and the resident population dropped from approximately 250 people to 194. The former Fircrest residents moved to the other RHCs, community-based housing or to nursing facilities. Johnson said that most of the vacant positions at the institutions were eliminated in the last biennium to reduce their workforces by 118 positions during the downsizing and consolidation process. She emphasized any vacant positions will be eliminated before reductions in force go into effect in upcoming months. Here's a breakdown of the new staff reductions at the five RHCs that will occur on or before Oct. 1:
While directing DSHS to reduce funding for the RHCs, the Legislature also provided funding for community residential placements and support services for up to 80 clients. Funding also was provided to expand employment and day services for 600 more people with developmental disabilities and increased the personal needs allowance for clients from $41.62 per month to $51.62. At their peak in 1967, 4,145 people with developmental disabilities lived in the state's six RHCs operating then. Now fewer than 1,000 of the state's 33,000 clients with developmental disabilities live in the five institutions. Ninety-seven percent of all people in the state served by DDD live in their communities. Last year, $319 million or about 33 percent of the DDD budget was spent on the 1,000 residents who reside in the RHCs. Forty-three percent, or $399 million, went to community-based services and 24 percent, or $234 million, went to people receiving services in their homes. The population of people living in the RHCs has been dropping steadily for several reasons. The civil rights movement has inspired people with developmental disabilities, supported by families and guardians, to seek housing, jobs, and activities in their own communities rather than going to institutions. In addition, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Olmstead v L.C . that states must place people with disabilities in community settings rather than institutions when it is appropriate. Currently, 75 percent of people with diagnoses of severe or profound mental retardation live in the community, as do an even higher percentage of people who are less profoundly disabled. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Linda Johnson, Division of Developmental Disabilities, 360-725-3400 2) FannieMae Homeownership Guide - Owning a home has always been and continues to be the American dream. For people with disabilities and others who have been denied the opportunity to choose where and with whom they live, the dream of owning a home is either rarely considered or typically discouraged. This guide reflects a new vision for people with disabilities, as well as the housing industry that has begun to serve them. In this new vision, people with disabilities are, from all perspectives, valued customers and potential home buyers. http://alliance.unh.edu/aauntitled.folder.1/TC.html 3) Envisioning My Future: A Young Person's Guide to Health Care Transition - The Promising Practices in Health Care Transition Project is a research and training activity of the Institute for Child Health Policy at the University of Florida. We also developed a set of three health care transition workbooks for youth &families; and tailored the workbooks for use by those served through CMS 4) NCCAM: New Online Continuing Education Series on Complementary and Alternative Medicine
The Buzz On the Movie 'Murderball' By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express - UNITED STATES--I wish I could give you a review of the new documentary "Murderball". The film follows the U.S. quadriplegic rugby team's from the 2002 World Championships to the Paralympic Games in Athens last summer. Unfortunately for me and thousands of other Spokanites, while it opened in the nation's largest cities early this month, and then spread to smaller venues last Friday, it doesn't look like it's scheduled for Spokane any time soon. So I'll have to rely on the words of others who have seen it -- even the ones who have seen it three or more times. The 'word on the street' is that this movie is simply phenomenal. Popular movie critics like Roger Ebert have rated it very high. More importantly, folks who use wheelchairs and have seen "Murderball" say it is by far the best film on disability . . . ever. "Murderball doesn't dispel myths and stereotypes," wrote quad rugby veteran Ed Hooper for the Ragged Edge Magazine. "It takes big fat bites out of those sugary sweet, pathetic images and stereotypes, chews 'em up and spits 'em out." The action and the language is as rough as the players, earning the movie an R-rating.And it's cool: MTV is hosting the weblog for one of the featured players, Mark Zupan. Here is a list of several reviews. Take your pick. Then go see it . . . if you can. Related: To Find if the Movie Murderball is playing at a theater near you go to: http://movies.msn.com/movies/movie.aspx?m=580186 For more information on Inclusion News and subscription information contact: Dave Reynolds, Editor ____ |
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