Sprout Film Festival: Growing Awareness

by Ashley Miller from Boise Weekly:
Nicole Lang says she's isn't too picky about what kind of movies she sees, but she definitely has a type. Her favorite film is something she saw two years ago that you have probably never heard of.
"It was called Be My Brother," she told Boise Weekly. "We showed it the first or second year of the Sprout Film Festival. And we're screening it again this year. It's really touching. ... It's incredible."
Lang doesn't program film festivals for a living, not by a long shot. She's the program director of Boise-based nonprofit The Arc, which has provided therapy, care and training for thousands of individuals with disabilities since 1956. But for the past few weeks, much of Lang's energy has been focused on the Sprout Film Festival and movies--movies that she said will make just about any audience laugh a little, cry a little and most importantly, see the world differently.

Parents with developmentally disabled children fight new regulations

by Anna Meiler from News Channel 2 WKTV Utica:

UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) -- For many parents, their kids grow up, leave home and start their own lives. But, for parents with developmentally disabled children, their job never ends.

New regulations are forcing aging moms and dads to ask a painful question. Patricia Vilello wonders what will happen to her 38-year-old son with Down Syndrome if she isn't there to care for him.

"As a parent it causes a lot of sleepless nights," said Vilello.

Tommy used to be on a residential placement list through the ARC, but the state created a priority list six months ago that overrides it, which means Tommy could wait longer for a group home.

"The state does not want to open any more certified group homes. They're telling the parents to be creative, have your family and friends involved with taking care of them after we're gone. It's a 24/7 job. People aren't going to turn their lives upside down," said Villelo.

Cuts are also threatening structural workshops that Tommy attends three days a week at the ARC.

"It gives him a job, a place to go every day, mingle with peers, earn some money of his own. Everyone needs that to feel worthy," said Villelo.

ABLE Act Gets Majority Support

from the Autism Policy Blog by Pitney:

The ABLE Act (HR.647 and S.313) yesterday had majority support in both chambers as the 51st senator became cosponsor (counting prime sponsor Robert Casey (D-PA)). As of this morning, it had 310 in the House (including prime sponsor Ander Crenshaw R-FL)). A number of lawmakers agreed to cosponsor when they met with advocates during last week's Autism Speaks to Washington summit. Autism Speaks provides the full list here.

The Arc explains the bill:

Many families have been searching for a way to plan for the future of a child with severe disabilities. While they are able to save for the educational needs of their other children through “529” college tuition plans, they find those plans do not fit the needs of their child with severe disabilities, since their children may now, or in adulthood, need the long term services and supports of the Medicaid program and the income assistance of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. Some families have found it too expensive to establish a trust which meets the requirements of the Medicaid and SSI programs, yet they recognize that their loved ones may live for many decades beyond the ability of the parents to supplement the services they receive through Medicaid. Others want to ensure the financial security of family members who have the level of disability required for Medicaid eligibility, but for now, are managing to function without the use of those benefits. Still others want to ensure that their family member can exercise control over the funds in the account without endangering the Medicaid and SSI benefits on which they may rely. The ABLE Act (S.313 / H.R.647) would give individuals with disabilities and their families access to accounts that would allow individual choice and control while protecting eligibility for Medicaid, SSI, and other important federal benefits for people with disabilities.

From a Crenshaw press release:

Congressman Ander Crenshaw (R-FL), chairman of the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee, stated, “Support for tax-free savings accounts for individuals with disabilities stands at its highest level ever - testament to the tireless dedication of those who believe that ALL Americans deserve equality when it comes to financial planning tools. It’s time to pass this legislation and create a brighter future for those in need. ”

Senator Robert Casey (D-PA) stated, “The ABLE Act is commonsense bipartisan legislation that will help make it easier for those families to save for their children’s future care, and we should pass it immediately. Individuals with disabilities and their families face challenges many of us can’t even begin to imagine.

Myths and Facts: The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)

from the Arc:
For the last two years, The Arc has been working with numerous disability advocacy groups to garner support for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which will promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by persons with disabilities across the globe. There are many misconceptions about the CRPD, and we would like to clarify some of the most common myths and facts.

Myths and Facts About the CRPD:

Myth #1:  Sovereignty will be lost if the treaty is ratified
FACTS: Sovereignty means that the U.S. is protected as an independent governing body and no outside organization (like the UN) or another country can compel the U.S. to do anything. The same RUD (RUD = legal binding condition added to treaties) is attached to the Disability Treaty that is attached to all human rights treaties passed by the U.S. Senate in order to protect U.S. sovereignty ensuring that in no way can the treaty compel the U.S. to do anything and that any changes in law would have to go through our own traditional legislative procedures.

Myth #2: The treaty will require funding and support for abortion
FACTS: Abortion is not mentioned in the treaty but opponents of the treaty  lead folks to think it is.  There is nothing in this treaty that changes abortion rights in the U.S. It simply states that people with disabilities should have the same access to health care as people without disabilities. It is a statement of non-discrimination NOT a change in U.S. law or policy.

Myth #3: The treaty will take away homeschooling/parental rights
FACTS: The CRPD is a non-discrimination treaty that does NOT change our law but confirms our commitment to disability rights and allows us to impact disability rights globally. That means NO changes to U.S. laws covering parental rights laws or homeschooling.

Read this news article to learn more.

graduate with Down syndrome ready for future

by Phil Gerber from the Observer-Tribune:
Overcoming challenges is nothing new for Timothy Taverna and the 20-year-old Long Valley youth is now on the cusp of one of his biggest challenges.
Taverna, who has Down syndrome,  graduated on Thursday, June 13, from  ECLC, a private, non-profit school formed in 1970 in Chatham for children 5 to 21 with special needs including severe learning or language disabilities, autism spectrum or multiple disabilities.
“It’s been very positive for Tim and for us,” said his mother, Laura. “He cried at graduation. He was bawling his eyes out and it made all of us cry too.”
The graduates all had the chance to address their peers at graduation. The young Taverna spoke about his goal of one day being married and living in Long Valley.
Mrs. Taverna said her son made friends and that his potential was realized and appreciated during his years at ECLC. It wasn’t always that way.
In 2001, the youth was a fourth grader at the Old Farmers School and was preparing to attend the middle school. His years in elementary school were often difficult as there were no other children with whom he could relate.
He enrolled at ECLC in Chatham in 2001, one of 212 children ranging from 5 to 21-years-old and grouped by abilities. And he never looked back as he’s had opportunities that were formerly not possible. He ran for the ECLC student council two years ago, but though he lost, it was an important experience, his mother said.
And he has learned critical life skills like how to buy train tickets and take the train to Summit or to New York City. And there have been weekly experiences that typical children might take for granted, like bowling or going for lunch at Burger King.

Voting Resources for People with Disabilities

Voting with a Disability, resources from Nonprofit Vote .org:

Below you will find links to voting with disabilities from national organizations.

Disability Vote Project: American Association of People with Disabilities
The AAPD Disability Vote Project (DVP) addresses the fundamental inequalities faced by voters with disabilities, and works in a nonpartisan approach to ensure full accessibility to all polling places and voting equipment.
DVP’s work:

• Eliminating barriers to voting
• Promoting voter turnout in the disability community
• Ensuring that voting the voting machines in production are accurate, accessible, and secure
• Growing disability vote coalitions across the country
• Educating the disability community on the importance of voting
• Increasing the registration rate among voters with disabilities

Disability and Voter Turnout
Fact sheets and testimony:

•  “Fact sheet:  Disability and Voter Turnout in the 2010 Elections,” by Lisa Schur and Douglas Kruse, June 2011.
•  “Fact sheet:  Disability and Voter Turnout in the 2008 Elections,” by Lisa Schur and Douglas Kruse, July 2009.
• “Testimony before Election Assistance Commission,” October 8, 2009.  By Lisa Schur.  Webcast at http://www.yorkmedia.com/eac/webcasts2009.htm.
• Studies:
• “Sidelined or Mainstreamed?  Political Participation and Attitudes of People with Disabilities in the United States,” Presented at the American Political Science Association  conference, August 2008, and updated October 2009.  By Lisa Schur and Meera Adya.
• “Voting,” in Gary Albrecht, ed., Encyclopedia of Disability (Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2005).  By Lisa Schur, Todd Shields, and Kay Schriner.
• “Enabling Democracy: Disability and Voter Turnout,” Political Research Quarterly, Vol. 55, No. 1, March 2002, pp. 167-190.  By Lisa Schur, Todd Shields, Douglas Kruse, and Kay Schriner.
• “What Determines Voter Turnout?  Lessons from Citizens with Disabilities,” Social Science Quarterly, Vol. 81, No. 2, June 2000, pp. 571-587.   ByLisa Schur and Douglas Kruse.

The Arc: We've Got the Power Vote in 2012
Election Day 2012—it’s closer than you think! In this time of rapid change and challenges at all levels of government, the importance for action by people with intellectual & developmental disabilities (I/DD), their families, and everyone who cares about our issues, and to become engaged in the political process has never been more important.
The Arc is pleased to provide resources for advocates and community partners for the upcoming 2012 elections. As people who care about the dignity, civil rights and access for people with I/DD at all levels of society, it is our role to promote civic responsibility and participation in our democracy. The Arc is launching its “We’ve Got The Power!” campaign to amplify the voice of people with disabilities as active participants in the political process, and in their communities. Together with Nonprofit Vote, a nonpartisan organization focused on providing voter engagement tools and resources, The Arc is providing links to toolkits, checklists, and other important resources for those wishing to show our communities that “We’ve Got the Power!” It’s time to Make Our Mark in 2012!

Bazelon Center 2012 Voting Rights Guides

Highlighted Tools

• VOTE 2012—It’s Your Right! Addendum to the 2008 Voting Rights Guide for People with Mental Disabilities (8/30/12): Replaces the 2008 chart “State Laws Affecting the Voting Rights of People with Mental Disabilities” in
   
  • Guide to the Voting Rights of People with Mental Disabilities (73 pages; 5.5"x8.5" page size) (2008 with 2012 updated chart of state laws)
• Restoring the Voting Rights of People Under Guardianship (PDF) | Word Version (8/30/12): Includes model motions, affidavits and orders that people under guardianship—or their family members or advocates—can use to restore voting rights taken away because a person with a mental disability has a guardian.
• Model Letter to State Election Officials (PDF) | Word Version (8/30/12): Alerts state election officials to voting problems faced by people with mental disabilities, and describes federal laws that protect the voting rights of people with mental disabilities.
• Chart of State Laws Affecting the Voting Rights of People with Mental Disabilities (8/29/12)
• Chart of State Laws on Voter Challenges (8/29/12)
• Summary and Links to Guardianship and Conservatorship Forms Provided by State Courts (8/29/12)
• Absentee Ballot Requirements by State (8/29/12)

Handouts and Flyers for Posting in Facilities and at Polls

• For advocates, family members, poll workers and others, on providing help to voters with disabilities--who can, and how (2-page PDF)
• For voters with mental disabilities, explaining basic voting rights (1-page PDF)

Additional Resources

• Clearinghouse Review Article on Voting Rights of Older Adults with Cognitive Impairments (9/08)

  

Below you will find links to voting with disabilities information from each state.