Indiana Family to Family

  From  Social Security Administration Reasonable Accommodations and the  Path to Employment Wednesday, July 28, 2021 3 – 4:30 p.m. ET   Our next Work Incentive Seminar Event (WISE) webinar is on July 28! The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects the rights of people with disabilities in many aspects of their lives, including their rights in the workplace. This month, our guest presenter from the Northeast ADA Center will talk about the ADA and how reasonable accommodations may help you at work. We hope you’ll join us! Register Now Online:  choosework.ssa.gov/wise By Phone:  1-866-968-7842  or  1-866-833- 2967 (TTY) You will receive a registration confirmation message with instructions on how to log in to the webinar. Please be sure to check your spam folder. Questions?  Contact us .

Allysa Ware, Family Voices Associate Director, is conducting a survey exploring African American parents’ views and opinions on parenting a child with autism. The purpose of the survey is to find out African American or Black parents’ views on different areas of parenting a child with autism, or ASD. The survey takes about 15-20 minutes to complete. To qualify a parent much be 18 years of age or older, identify as Black or African American, and be the parent or parenting caregiver of an African American child with autism or ASD (17 years old or younger). All responses are completely anonymous and completely confidential. Participation is entirely voluntary. As an incentive for completing the survey, you will receive a $20 Amazon gift card for a completed survey. At the end of the survey, you will be provided with a new link to enter your information in another form. Upon clicking the new, one-time use link, you will be taken to a separate form where you will enter your information. T

Individuals and families have asked for changes to case management therefore as part of the waiver redesign efforts, the Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services and Bureau of Developmental Disabilities Services is focusing efforts on Case Management Innovation. Case management is the foundation upon which all other home-and community-based services and supports are coordinated and is a federally required service for everyone receiving waiver services. With this in mind, BDDS is compelled to ensure all individuals with disabilities and their families supported through BDDS HCBS waivers experience high quality, consistent case management support.  BDDS has received questions from individuals and families about Case Management Innovation. In an effort to provide more information, a “Case Management Innovation companion for individuals and families” has been developed. The companion is available by visiting the  Case Management Innovation webpage . Individual and Family CMI C

As part of the American Rescue Plan Act, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is again lowering the cost of health insurance and opening more pathways for Americans to obtain affordable and comprehensive health coverage. Starting July 1, 2021, consumers who received or are approved to receive unemployment compensation for any week beginning in 2021 may be able to find even lower cost plans and save extra money on out-of-pocket expenses through   www.healthcare.gov . Additionally, as a result of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Special Enrollment Period for the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, consumers can continue to apply for coverage, compare plan offerings, or learn if they qualify for more affordable premiums by visiting  www.healthcare.gov  or  www.CuidadoDeSalud.gov  through August 15, 2021.

As the nation recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination rates of vulnerable populations are low, while misinformation about COVID-19 and vaccines is prevalent. Because people with disabilities are at greater risk for COVID-19 than people without disabilities, it is especially important that they receive the vaccine. A webinar on July 26, 2021, will feature a state official and advocates with disabilities discussing COVID-19 vaccinations for the disability community. Indiana Department of Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Lindsay Weaver will provide information about COVID-19 and vaccines. People with disabilities and caregivers can have questions answered by Dr. Weaver during the webinar. Additionally, the webinar will include two disability advocates sharing their personal experiences with vaccination. The webinar on July 26, the 31st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, is scheduled from 2 to 3 p.m. EDT. It is sponsored by the Center for Health Equity at the Indi

 

Do you struggle to navigate and understand your health insurance benefits for a child with special health care needs?  Would you like an expert who could work with your insurance company to get to solutions faster so you don’t have to?  Would you like help preparing for medical appointments, selectin g your benefits, or connecting to community supports and services for your family?  A Personal Care Advisor can help reduce your administrative burden, stress, and out-of-pocket costs. An anonymous funder is partnering with Family Voices to get consumer feedback about a Personal Care Advisor service that can help reduce family administrative burden, out-of-pocket costs, and stress. Please use the link below to take a survey about Personal Care Advisor Services.  https://www.surveymonkey.com/ r/PersonalAdvisor Thank you in advance for your input.

Fact sheet about the SSI Restoration Act from  Justice in Aging SSI FAQs Updated 2021 by Family Voices Indiana on Scribd