March 2019

AUCD “Celebrating Leadership in Civil Rights”

For AUCD centers and programs across the country, the core civil rights vision of the ADA and other disability rights laws informs the approach we take to improving the lives of children and adults with disabilities and their families.

AUCD highlighted HDC in their “Celebrating Leadership in Civil Rights” Article found here: https://www.aucd.org/template/page.cfm?id=1095

HDC’s example includes expanding their ‘diverse by design’ model of service delivery by intentionally developing policies to promote socioeconomic and racial integration in early childhood settings and inclusion of children with disabilities (e.g., increased quality, mixed funding and effective inclusion). Additional information on HDC’s efforts can be found here: https://www.aucd.org/template/page.cfm?id=1095#LA

Employment First Trainings Available

HDC in collaboration with Louisiana APSE has upcoming training classes on Employment First for the 40-Hour Core & 5-Hour Continuing Education Credits for LRS and Medicaid Employment Providers. (There is a reduced fee for LA APSE members.)

See the LSU HDC Employment Initiatives Website for more information and to register

40 Hour Employment Core Training Certificate for LRS and Medicaid Employment Providers

• Baton Rouge – March 26-28, 2019
• New Orleans – April 16-18, 2019
• Lafayette- May 21-23, 2019
• Additional 5.0-hour classes available, see website for dates and topics

LRS Opens Order of Selection Category 4

Effective February 14, 2019m Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS) opened Order of Selection (OOS) Category 4 and has begun serving those currently on the Category 4 waiting list, in addition to serving new referrals and applicants determined eligible in OOS Categories 1, 2, 3, and 4. See the following letter available in different accessible formats from LRS Director Melissa Bayham:

• PDF format .pdf: Opening OOS 4 – February 2019
• Word document .docx: Accessible Format Opening OOS 4 – Feb2019

ABLE Age Adjustment Act

Sen. Casey together with Sens. Moran, Van Hollen, and Roberts, reintroduced the ABLE Age Adjustment Act(S. 651). The bill makes ABLE accounts available to anyone who has acquired a disability prior to their 46^th birthday. ABLE savings accounts allow people with disabilities to save for disability expenses and long-term needs without risking many of their federal disability benefits, and are currently available only to those who acquire their disability prior to their 26^th birthday, leaving out millions – including veterans – who would otherwise qualify.

Learn more:

• Review information shared during Aging Committee hearing entitled, Supporting Economic Stability and Self-Sufficiency as Americans with Disabilities and their Families Age
• Visit the ABLE National Resource Center (ANRC)
• Watch a TWL about age expansion.

If you feel strongly one way or another:

• Call your Senators: Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 or (202) 224-3091 (TTY) and ask to be connected to your Senators to educate them about this bill.