Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Medicaid Waiver for People with Special Needs

Medicaid Waiver Waiting List Triggers Federal Lawsuit

I have been working with special needs children with a variety of disabilities for 14 years.  Over the past 14 years I have assisted families of special needs children to obtain adaptive equipment, wheelchairs, lifts, orthotics anything they need.

In the beginning if a family needed something like a wheelchair lift for a van or special services to take care of the child in the home the family could apply for a Medicaid waiver to assist with funding.  Of course with the state of Michigan going broke that funding got more difficult to secure, as of 8 years ago I haven't seen anyone receive any funding from a Medicaid waiver.   I do still hear professionals recommend applying for these waivers but they are usually people new to the field.

Recently I read in Disability Scoop, about a class action suit in Florida regarding lack of Medicaid waivers.


Click on this link to read more.



Friday, March 25, 2011

Special Needs: Sensory Integration Disorders

The concept of sensory integration was developed based on research by an occupational therapist named Jane Ayres, PhD. OTR in Southern California in the late 50’s.

What are sensory integration disorders?

Sensory integration disorder or dysfunction is considered a neurological disorder in which the brain does not effectively integrate information received from the body’s five basic sensory systems. 

Basically when someone has a sensory integration disorder order their central nervous system or brain is unable to process the information their senses are delivering, so their responses to their environment are not appropriate. 

When someone is hypersensitive to stimuli from the senses they tend to overreact to their environment, someone who is sensitive to noise and has to cover their ears when things get noisy.  When someone is hyposensitive to stimuli they tend to under react to their environment, someone who is not sensitive to pain.


Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Fund Raising Event for Horseback Riding for Children with Special Needs in Cass, Berrien and Van Buren Counties


 
TEC is having a FUN raiser to raise money for their Spring/Summer riding season!!  

Come join the fun or go to the website to make a donation to support special needs kids and therapeutic horseback riding!!

The Therapeutic Equestrian Center (TEC) is a non profit organization that provides therapeutic horseback riding for special needs kids in Cass, Berrien and Van Buren Counties.


Where:  Getaway Cubbie Bar
              9489 Red Arrow Hwy
              Bridgman, MI
When:  Saturday March 26th, 2011
Time: 6pm-close

Thursday, March 17, 2011

ADA Guidelines Revised for the First Time Since 1990

For the first time in 20 years the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 has been revised, big news.

What is ADA? 

The American with Disabilities Act of 1990 was made into law to assist in regulating and providing guidelines to make public buildings accessible to people with disabilities. The ADA regulations are basically guidelines of turn radius' for wheelchairs, wheelchair ramp configurations, where to hang handrails etc.

The specific nature of the 1990 ADA regulations have not changed in the 2010 revisions as stated in  -2010Section 35.151 (a). Section 35.151(a), which provided that those facilities that are constructed or altered by, on behalf of, or for the use of a public entity shall be designed, constructed, or altered to be readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, is unchanged in the final rule, but has been redesignated as Sec. 35.151(a)(1). ADA Guidelines


ADA: How to Choose a Freestanding Patient Lift for a Person with a Disability



How do you know when you need a patient lift? You need a lift when the person you are caring for can no longer perform assisted transfers safely and/or is becoming too big to lift safely.

How do freestanding patient lifts work?


Monday, March 14, 2011

FEMA To Include Disability Advocates In Emergency Planning

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is joining forces with a disability rights group in an effort to better serve people with special needs during disasters.

In a White House meeting Friday afternoon, FEMA is expected to sign a memorandum of agreement with the National Disability Rights Network, an umbrella group for the protection and advocacy organizations in each state. The agreement will ensure the advocates a seat at the table as FEMA plans for and responds to emergencies.

Click here to read more at Disability Scoop.

Friday, March 11, 2011

ADA: Patient Lifts: Transferring a Special Needs Child with a Physical Disability Safely


How do you know when you need a patient lift?  You need a lift when the person you are caring for can no longer perform assisted transfers safely and/or is becoming too big to lift safely.
How do freestanding patient lifts work?

Friday, March 4, 2011

Assistive Technology for Special Needs: Intro

Hi, my name is Cara, and I’m an Assistive Technology (AT) Addict.

What is Assisitive Technology and what does it have to do with a blog dedicated to accessible and universal home design? Everything! Assistive Technology is focused on enabling people with traumatic injuries, disabilities, or diseases to be more independent with the “technology” in their lives.




Thursday, March 3, 2011

Autism: Bullying Fears No Factor In School Placement Decision



By
Concerns about potential bullying are not enough to prove that a proposed school placement is inappropriate for a student with special needs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, a federal judge has ruled.

Click here for the rest of the story at Disability Scoop.

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