OAAS Home- and Community-based Services Settings Transition Plan

The Louisiana Statewide Transition Plan (STP) for Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) is out for public comment until March 16th. 

The Louisiana Department of Health submitted this transition plan to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services {CMS) to explain how the state will bring its HCBS waivers into compliance with their new regulations that define the settings in which it is permissible for states to pay for Medicaid HCBS. The purpose of these regulations is to ensure that individuals receive Medicaid HCBS in settings that are integrated into and support full access to the greater community. The Office of Aging and Adult Services (OAAS) has developed this transition plan for the purpose of ensuring that HCBS settings within the Adult Day Health Care (ADHC) and Community Choices Waivers (CCW) meet the requirements of the rule and to allow the public an opportunity to provide input on the transition.

For more information, see the Louisiana Department of Health article on the Statewide Transition Plan.

Braille Rocks!

Please see attached for information on Louisiana’s NFB BELL Academy—geared for students ages 4-12. Wishing each of you a great afternoon!

Third Annual NOLA Public Schools Transitions Fair

Does your student have an IEP or receive 504 accommodations?

Has your student made plans for life after high school?

Do you know what citywide supports exist?

JOIN US!

Upcoming Classes Offered by the National Cued Speech Association

The National Cued Speech Association is offering upcoming classes in the New Orleans area. Additional classes and information available at cuedspeech.org

Governor’s Tour at Clara’s Little Lambs

One of the stops on the Governor’s statewide tour will be at Clara’s Little Lambs at Federal City, a Community Childcare Partner with the Human Development Center.  The Governor’s statewide tour will bring local business leaders, early education advocates, and families together to make their voices heard about the importance of early childhood education.

Louisiana Department of Education Survey for Parents of Children with Disabilities

The Louisiana Department of Education is conducting a survey to better understand the types of assistance families of students with disabilities need to support the educational experience of their child/children. Share your input by 2/14/20.

If you are a parent of a school age child attending public school in the state of Louisiana, please take 5 minutes to complete the following survey.

Please be sure to hit the submit button at the end.Also, please share with other families as appropriate.

30 Years of the ADA

HDC joins the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) in celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This landmark civil rights legislation impacts the lives of millions of Americans with disabilities and protects against discrimination and ensures and improves access to opportunities afforded to all. 

“The ADA cemented in federal law the civil rights of Americans living with disabilities. These expectations have served as a new foundation of inclusion for more than a generation. We hope you’ll join us in sharing your stories and celebrating three decades of its success during 2020.” said John Tschida, Acting Executive Director of AUCD.

For more information on ADA, see the official press release from AUCD.

Critical Access Studies: Public Talk and Q&A at Tulane

Aimi Hamraie, PhD

Assistant Professor of Medicine, Health, and Society, and American Studies, Vanderbilt University

Most research and writing about accessibility seeks to convince the unconvinced of the value of inclusion. The field of Critical Access Studies goes deeper, however, to question the “how” and “why” of accessibility. In this talk, Aimi Hamraie, PhD, will situate Critical Access Studies within the broader history of accessibility, showing how inclusive design focused on disability as an issue separate from race, gender, and class, and how frameworks such as intersectionality and disability justice have come to better inform what counts as disability.

For more information about this event, please e-mail kcleary@tulane.edu.

This event is fragrance-free. Please do not wear perfumes or essential oils so that chemically injured members of our community can attend.

New Course Offered at Helen Keller National Center

Free Dental Screenings

The LSU School of Dentistry will be screening patients who are willing to participate in clinical board exams for graduating seniors. All applicants will be eligible for free dental x-rays and free treatment planning required to complete the examination. For more info, please refer to the flyer.