News & Events

MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2010
REDDEMAN FARMS
CHELSEA, MI

The annual Golf Scramble was a huge success!

Our sincerest thanks to all who were able to come out and support WACA's annual fundraiser.

Snapshots from this years' Scramble

WACA Golf Scramble June 14, 2010 - Reddeman Farms

What a fairway!                                                                                           

Ok, boys! We know it's a Scramble,

             but you all can't hit the ball at the same time!

Our 'Vana White' of the Scramble!                                                                

'Guys and Dolls'

Did he do it?

Loyal Volunteers, and they have goodies too!

Just a handsome face in the crowd???

Please putt! No chipping allowed on the green!                                            

 Will he make it in for a "birdie?"                                                         

 What a smile! She must have gotten a 'hole-in-one.'

Hungry, Loyal Golfers

More of the same!

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WORKSHOPS

EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO KNOW LEARNING SERIES

A series of monthly workshops from September through June with the exception of December

are scheduled for the second Monday of each month from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the Mallet's

Creek Library, 3090 E. Eisenhower Parkway (east of Stone School Road), Ann Arbor, MI 48108.

To register, please contact ACA at 734.662.1256.

Topics will include:

• September 14, 2009                 Children's Health Waivers and Other Programs
• October 12, 2009           Individualized Education Plans and the Inclusive Classroom
• November 9, 2009                   Planning for Transition Starting in High School
• January 11, 2010                                      Self-Determination
• February 8, 2010                                  Person-Centered Planning
• March 8, 2010                                      Community Resources
• April 12, 2010                                    Teaching about Sexuality
• May 10, 2010                              Social Security and Other Benefits
• August 9, 2010                               Estate Planning, Wills and Trusts

       (NOTE: August 9, 2010 is a reschedule of date only. Time and place stay the same.)

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The "ADA in Your Community" Survey Results are in!

From May 2010 through June 2010, people with disabilities, family members, and advocates in Michigan had the

opportunity to report how well they felt their communities were doing in implementing the Americans with Disabilities

Act. They were asked to "grade" their communities and also to point out areas where there was need for more

progress in coming into compliance with the ADA.

Michigan Gets a C Grade

RESPONDENTS
457 individuals with disabilities, family members, and advocates participated in this survey.

These respondents covered 45 out of Michigan’s 83 counties. 30% of the respondents were from northern Michigan

counties,17% were from Metro Detroit, and 53% were from the southern counties of the State.

OVERALL COMMUNITY AVERAGE: C  GPA= 3.07

BREAKOUT OF GRADING SCORES
`
SUBJECT AREA GRADES:

Employment opportunities for people with disabilities
D+
Job accommodations
C-
Access to local government and community programs and services
C+
Removal of physical barriers in buildings
C+
Use of communication supports and alternative formats
C-
Access to accessible transportation
C
Educating people with disabilities about the ADA
C-
Educating business people and government officials about the ADA
D+
Accessibility requirements for new construction and renovation
C
Education about filing ADA complaints
D+
Website accessibility
C-

Respondent’s rating of OVERALL COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT over the past 5 years:

Michigan score - 3.07 out of a possible 5.0 (5=Very Good)

Top Priorities for Action:

?More employment opportunities for people with disabilities
?Accessible transportation
?Educating businesses and government officials about their rights and responsibilities under the ADA

Other Areas Needing Attention:

?Educating people with disabilities about their rights and responsibilitie

?Removal of physical barriers in buildings
?Providing accommodations for employment
?Access to local and county government programs

Where People Get Their ADA Information:

People are getting most of their information about the ADA from these sources:

• Internet
• Centers for Independent Living
• Service providers
• Michigan Protection and Advocacy Service

Respondents were quite informed about the ADA. 48% of Michigan respondents reported that they

have good to excellent knowledge of the law.

From Friday Mail News - Arc Michigan - 7.20.10

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State House passes bi-partisan bill

to strengthen nursing home alternatives

LANSING — Senior and disability rights groups today hailed the House passage of

legislation that would strengthen care for seniors and persons with disabilities who

receive daily living assistance in their own homes. The bill now moves on to the state Senate.

In a bi-partisan vote, the House passed House Bill 6195, co-sponsored by state Rep. Bert

Johnson (D-Highland Park) and state Rep. Tory Rocca (R-Sterling Heights), which aims to

strengthen the Michigan Quality Community Care Council (MQC3) by transforming it from

a pilot program into a permanent entity.

The cornerstone of the legislation is strengthening the MQC3’s cutting-edge registry program,

which conducts background checks on home care providers and allows patients to choose a

provider who fits their specific criteria and needs.

“Michigan seniors and persons with disabilities deserve peace of mind knowing that home care

providers in their area have been screened and trained,” said Mary Ablan, executive director of

the Area Agencies on Aging Association of Michigan. “Transparency, accountability and high

standards are all concepts that legislators from both parties can support. I applaud the House for

passing House Bill 6195 in a bi-partisan fashion, and I urge the Senate to follow suit to ensure

these critical consumer protections can continue.”

In addition to strengthening the quality of care, House Bill 6195 will also save taxpayers money.

It costs less than $5,000 in Medicaid funds per year to provide in-home care to seniors and persons

with disabilities, compared with nearly $52,000 per year for those in nursing homes, according to a

study by the Anderson Economic Group. That means it costs 10 times as much to place a loved one

in a nursing home as opposed to allowing them to stay in the comfort of their own home.

“Legislators from both parties understand that strengthening and making permanent the MQC3 will

save taxpayer dollars at a time when we need to conserve every dollar we can,” said Dohn Hoyle,

executive director of The Arc Michigan, a statewide disability rights organization. “Lots of people

talk about government reform and saving taxpayer money — the MQC3 actually does it. On behalf

of persons with disabilities throughout Michigan, I commend our state representatives for passing

House Bill 6195.”

From Friday Mail News – Arc Michigan 7.20.10.

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Scenes from ACA's 60th Anniversary Celebration

                 Cobblestone Farm, Ann Arbor, MI
            October 17, 2009

Gallery of WACA Cuties!

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 Many Kids Are Eligible for Free or Low Cost Health Insurance

Coverage and Their Families Don’t Even Know It

Most parents would do whatever it takes to help their child thrive and succeed in life,

but are Michigan’s children falling behind in the fight to stay healthy?

Each year, thousands of children in the Michigan go without health insurance. Families acrossthe state are eligible for

children’s health insurance programs, which provide low-cost health insurance for their kids, but many don’t even know it.

There are many reasons a child might not have health insurance – a parent or guardian lost a job,

they don't have health insurance at work or the cost of insurance is simply out of reach.

Whatever the reason, the Michigan Primary Care Association (MPCA) may be able to help by linking

your family with Michigan’s free and low-cost insurance programs- HealthyKids and MIChild. In

30 minutes or less our Community Outreach Specialists can tell you what programs your child qualifies

for, help you apply and give you the resources you need to locate a health care provider and other services

in your community.

Check… to see what low-cost health insurance is available for your child. Start by visiting us online at

www.mpca.net/enroll.html. Even if you’ve been turned down in the past, your child may be eligible now.
Protect… your children with regular check-ups, dental care, immunizations and prescription drugs,

which are all available to children enrolled in a children’s health insurance program. You’ll also gain

peace of mind knowing you have coverage when you need it. To find a health care provider in your

community visit www.mpca.net/locator.html.

Expect… to re-enroll every year. Keeping your coverage means keeping your child healthy,but you have to renew yearly.

Mark your calendar for the month you started coverage so you will be ready

to renew when your State office contacts you.

Research shows children with health insurance are more likely to get preventive care, receive treatment for

chronic illness and take prescription medications. Children with health insurance are less likely to miss

school because they are sick. It boosts their performance in the classroom and means fewer lost work days for

parents or guardians. Oftentimes, families think they cannot get health insurance coverage for their kids because they

make too much money. However, in Michigan a family of four making up to $44,000 may still be eligible!

MPCA can help you enroll online, in the mail or over the phone, without having to take time off work. It is easy

to see if your family is eligible, contact us today!

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Think College E-newsletter Offers Information to Students with Intellectual Disabilities

Boston University's Institute for Community Inclusion is publishing a monthly e-newsletter for students with intellectual disabilities who seek

access to higher education, and for their families and professionals in the field. Featured are student and program profiles, event announcements,

book reviews, and more. Think College e-newsletter could be a great resource for you or those you work with. Check out the April 2010 issue

and subscribe online.

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New Online Tool Furthers Equality in the Workplace for People with Disabilities

The U.S. Department of Labor recently unveiled a new tool to help America's employers ensure their employment policies and practices do not

discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities. The online Disability Nondiscrimination Law Advisor helps employers quickly and

simply determine which federal disability nondiscrimination laws apply to their business or organization, as well as their responsibilities under

them. Consider sharing this valuable resource with the businesses in your community.

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Helping People with Long-Term Health Care Needs:

Improving Access to Home- and Community- Based Services

in Medicaid From Families USA, April 2010

Most people who need long-term help with daily activities would prefer to receive the care they need in the community, rather than having to move to an

institution such as a nursing home. Medicaid, the major payer for long-term services in the U.S., is structured to favor institutional care over home and

community care.

What if states could provide more people with the care they need, in the setting that works best for them, and save money in the process? Expanding access

to home- and community-based services for people in Medicaid could do just that. The health reform gives states incentives to establish new programs that

will expand home- and community-based services in Medicaid.

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Volunteer in Michigan Today!

Are you looking for ways to give back to your community, support a cause you believe in, develop new skills, or make new friends? Whatever your reason,

you can put your time and talents to good use by volunteering.

On Monday June 22, 2009, a new summer service initiative launched at this past year's National Conference on Volunteering and Service. The initiative,

called United We Serve, aims to put volunteers on a path to sustained service.

The United We Serve effort focuses on four broad issues:
1.  Promoting clean energy, energy efficiency, and public land restoration
2.  Supporting education and literacy for all Americans
3.  Increasing health care access, public health awareness, and prevention
4.  Providing community renewal to areas hit hardest by the economic crisis
Come participate in an opportunity to share your thoughts on how to expand service and volunteerism to help address our state's biggest challenges

- such as hunger, homelessness, unemployment, illiteracy, high school dropouts, and the environment.

Learn more at www.michigan.gov/mscs

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Funding for Housing Choice Vouchers--A Win for Community Living

On April 7, 2010, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced the availability of approximately $40 million to public

housing authorities across the country to fund 5,300 Housing Choice Vouchers. These vouchers will provide housing support for non-elderly persons

with disabilities to live productive, independent lives in their communities rather than institutional settings. The support is part of President Obama's Year

of Community Living initiative.

HUD is offering approximately $40 million to public housing authorities across the country to fund approximately 5,300 Housing Choice Vouchers for

non-elderly persons with disabilities, allowing them to live independently. HHS will use its network of state Medicaid agencies and local human service

organizations to link eligible individuals and their families to local housing agencies who will administer voucher distribution.

"This number of vouchers to this community is a major milestone for HUD," said Donovan. "I am pleased that two federal agencies have combined

efforts to give these individuals the independence they so desperately want and deserve." "This commitmrnt by HHS and HUD to directly link housing

support to these individuals will be of immeasurable value not only to them, but to the communities in which they will be living," said Sebelius. "Individuals

with disabilities have so much to contribute to the quality of life in our communities when given the freedom and opportunity to do so."

Of the 5,300 vouchers set aside as part of this program, up to 1,000 will be specifically targeted for non-elderly individuals with disabilities currently living

in institutions but who could move into the community with assistance (Category II).

The remaining 4,300 (Category I) can be used for this purpose also, but are targeted for use by non-elderly indivuals with disabilities and their families in

the community to allow them to access affordable housing that adequately meets their needs.

In addition, HUD is encouraging housng authorities to establish a selection preference to make some or all of their Category I allocation available to

individuals institutionalization. Housing authorities have 90 days to submit their applications to HUD. HUD expects to have funding awards ready late

fall 2010.

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"ROSA'S LAW"

At the federal level, an exciting and long-overdue bipartisan bill called "Rosa's Law" was introduced by Senators Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and Michael

Enzi (R-WY). Rosa's Law seeks to substitute outdated, stigmatizing terms in federal health, education and labor laws. The terms "mental retardation" and

"mentally retarded" would be replaced with the terms "intellectual disability" and "individual with an intellectual disability."

The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Please contact Senator Levin and Senator Stabenow and let them

know that you support "Rosa's Law."

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Health Care Reform Provisions for People with Developmental Disabilities

The recently signed Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act contains numerous provisions of importance to people with intellectual and

developmental disabilities, including:

Coverage

• Prohibiting private health insurance exclusions for pre-existing conditions.
• Eliminating annual and lifetime caps in private insurance policies.
• Restricting the consideration of health status in setting premiums.
• Expanding Medicaid to cover individuals with incomes up to 133 percent of the federal poverty line (approximately $29,000 per year for a family
• of four). Benefits Ensuring that minimum covered benefits include products and services that enable people with disabilities to maintain and improve
• function, such as rehabilitation and habilitation services and devices.

Access to Quality Care

• Improving training of physicians, dentists and allied health professionals on how to treat persons with disabilities.
• Requiring the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to collect data on beneficiaries with disabilities, access to primary care services and the
• level to which primary care service providers have been trained on disability issues.
• Ensuring prevention programs include a focus on individuals with disabilities. Long-Term Services and Supports
• Increasing the federal share of Medicaid, known as the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (or FMAP), for home and community-based services
• (HCBS) and during periods of economic downturn.
• Allowing states to offer additional services under the 1915(i) Medicaid HCBS Waivers State Plan Option.
• Providing spousal impoverishment protections for HCBS beneficiaries.
• Strengthening long-term services and supports through a two-pronged approach:

1) Taking pressure off of the Medicaid program: The Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act would create a national long-term

services insurance program, which assists eligible individuals and their families to meet long-term needs with a cash benefit and without forcing them into

poverty to receive Medicaid benefits.

2) Improving the Medicaid program: The Community First Choice Option would help to eliminate the institutional bias by encouraging states to cover

personal attendant services under the state’s optional service plan instead of through the waiver system by offering a 6% increase in the federal share of

Medicaid for these services.

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IEP Checklist iPhone App Aims to Level Playing Field

From Disability Scoop

A new app for iPhone or iPod Touch organizes the individualized education plan, or IEP, meeting into categories such as “current performance” and

“annual goals.” When a category is selected, there is a brief description of the legal requirements and an opportunity for the user to insert a goal or notes.

The free app, known as IEP Checklist, was developed by the Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center, a Virginia center that’s part of a national

network of special education parent information and training centers funded by the Department of Education.

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UPDATE on Tax-Free Trusts for Persons with Disabilities

There are now 137 co-sponsors of HR 1205, a bill that would allow tax-free savings accounts for people with disabilities much like those already in existence for those saving for college. Among the co-sponsors are four US Representatives from Michigan: Ehlers, Kildee, McCotter and Schauer.

The bill sponsored by Rep. Ander Crenshaw, R-FL is called the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2009 or the ABLE Act of 2009 and would create accounts similar to the 529 plans that currently exist to save for college. Up to $500,000 could be invested in the accounts, which would be tax-free in many cases. HR 1205 would allow trusts to be created to pay for disability-related expenses such as education, housing, health care and personal support services. The funds in the trust would not count against the individual's maximum asset amounts to qualify for Medicaid and other government programs. The bill was referred to both the Ways and Means and the Energy and Commerce Committees where it remains.

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New Food Benefits for SSI Recipients

As many as 80,000 Michigan senior citizens and adults with disabilities could automatically get help with their food budgets this year under a new federal pilot project. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service granted Michigan a series of waivers allowing the state to implement the Michigan Combined Application Project (MiCAP).

Under the project, adults who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), no other income, and who live independently could receive at least $60 each month in food assistance. Currently, The State of Michigan is mailing outreach applications to those who pre-qualify by standard mail.

Read the application carefully and keep page 2 as it may answer most of the questions you may have about applying for food benefits from assistance with MiCAP.

MiCAP is different from traditional food stamps or Food Assistance Program (FAP). MiCAP benefits take up to 30 business days to process.

If you have questions you may call the MiCAP phone number 877.416.4227.

Phone hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:15 PM No holidays and weekends.