';
CLOSE
Authors Posts by Carol Ferenz

Carol Ferenz

3101 POSTS 0 COMMENTS

0 1164

From ACCSES:

The U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy has prepared a helpful fact sheet on Recent Funding Opportunities to Expand Access to Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) for Individuals with Disabilities. As the Introduction notes, “This fact sheet highlights exciting new funding and flexibilities under the Biden-Harris Administration that provide significant opportunities to increase access to competitive integrated employment (CIE) for youth and adults with disabilities in support of their desire to live and work in the most integrated setting in their communities. The increased funding and flexibilities are provided under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES); the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP); the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA); the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020 (FCAA); and through the work of multiple federal agencies providing services to individuals with disabilities. These include the Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Administration for Community Living (ACL), and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); the Department of Education’s Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) and Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP); and the Social Security Administration.” You will find the multi-page fact sheet here.

0 1074

August 11, 2021 from 1:30 pm–3:00 pm ET

This training will explore the Direct Support Professional’s (DSP) experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through information gathered through the National Core Indicators (NCI) Staff Stability Survey, the presentation will highlight current research on the DSP workforce gathered before and during the pandemic. Information will be presented regarding the DSP workforce nationally and its growth and importance to those needing long-term services and supports. Results from two national surveys conducted with DSPs during the pandemic will be shared, reflecting the impacts the pandemic has had on individual DSPs. Finally, the training will share the personal stories of six DSPs as they navigated the pandemic.

Following the presentation, webinar participants will have the opportunity to take part in a question and answer session, receiving feedback from CMS and the presenters.

Register here. Contact HCBS-Learning with any questions.

0 861

FEMA/CDC have emergency planning videos with ASL interpretation available for public use:
FEMA CDC Accessible: Flood Waters During and After a Disaster
FEMA Accessible: CDC Helping Adults Cope During an Emergency
FEMA Accessible: CDC Helping Children With Disabilities During an Emergency

FEMA Social Stories:
FEMA’s Flood Insurance Advocate Explains Flood Claims
FEMA’s Flood Insurance Advocate Explains When Flood Insurance is Required

0 1100

A free webinar is being sponsored by the PA Department of Health Bureau of Emergency Preparedness and Response, PA Department of Human Services Division of Emergency Planning and Safety Operations, and the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

DATE: Monday, August 9, 2021
TIME: 10:00 am–11:30am
Register through TRAINPA
LOCATION: Zoom

For more information, see the flier.

0 1505

Did you know that StationMD provides Behavioral Health services through scheduled Psychiatry and Psychology telemedicine appointments?

And just like our medical doctors, our staff psychiatrists have specialized training and years of experience working with individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD). They are experts in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health and behavioral illnesses effecting people with disabilities.

According to the CDC, a recent study showed that adults with disabilities report experiencing mental distress more frequently than those without disabilities. Due to the high prevalence of mental health issues in those with I/DD, the ability to offer this service is critical in taking care of the whole individual. And because we offer our service via telemedicine the individual can be seen and treated without ever leaving the comfort and safety of their home.

Contact us to learn more.

StationMD is a healthcare solution that delivers sophisticated medical care through telemedicine, offering immediate access at any time to high-quality, board-certified doctors who are specially trained in the care of individuals with IDD. Through HIPAA compliant two-way video technology, and with the use of Bluetooth medical tools, StationMD physicians can assess individuals in their home setting. They can provide treatment plan recommendations and quality medical care to keep patients safe, healthy and in place whenever possible. Learn more at StationMD.com and follow along via Twitter (@StationMD) and on Facebook and LinkedIn (StationMD).

0 2181
Microscope, laboratory, monitor, quarantined, virus COVID-19

We’re learning more about COVID-19 all the time. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) looks at the latest available evidence to make the best science-based public health recommendations. Because of new information on the Delta variant currently circulating in the United States, CDC has updated the information for fully vaccinated people.

More About the Delta Variant

Viruses constantly change through mutation. Slightly different forms of a virus are called variants.

Delta is one such variant, and it’s caused more than 80% of recent COVID-19 cases in the United States – according to estimates – and will likely cause more. Delta spreads more easily than other variants. In fact, COVID-19 cases have increased over 300% nationally from June 19 to July 23, 2021, driven by Delta variant.

The best way to stop the spread of Delta is to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccines are preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death, and are effective against the Delta variant. High vaccination coverage will reduce spread of the virus in your community and elsewhere – and help prevent new variants from emerging.

What Has Been Updated?

CDC is constantly reviewing new data and evidence on the Delta variant. This update is based on recent evidence both here in the United States and in other countries. It shows a small number of fully vaccinated people may be infected with Delta and may infect others.

The highest spread of cases and severe outcomes is happening in places with low vaccination rates. Most vaccinated people are protected from the virus. However, the evidence shows that vaccinated people can get Delta in a breakthrough infection and may be contagious. Even so, breakthrough cases are being seen in a small number of vaccinated people and the vast majority are avoiding serious illness, hospitalization, or death. Virtually all hospitalizations and deaths continue to be in those who are not vaccinated.

The Delta variant is much more contagious than previous versions of the virus. Therefore, CDC now recommends the following for people who are fully vaccinated (more than 2 weeks from the last dose of the vaccine):

  • To reduce the risk of being infected with the Delta variant and possibly spreading it to others, wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission.
  • Fully vaccinated people might choose to wear a mask regardless of the level of transmission, especially if you have a weakened immune system or if, because of your age or an underlying medical condition, you are at increased risk for severe disease, or if a member of your household has a weakened immune system, is at increased risk for severe disease, or is not vaccinated.
  • If you’ve been around someone who has COVID-19, you should get tested 3-5 days after your exposure, even if you don’t have symptoms. You should also wear a mask indoors in public for 14 days following exposure or until your test result is negative. You should isolate for 10 days if your test result is positive.

CDC recommends universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status. Children should return to full-time in-person learning in the fall with layered prevention strategies in place.

Learn more about these updates. At this time, recommendations for travel have not changed.

How to Protect Yourself and Your Community

Getting vaccinated is the most important thing you can do to end the COVID-19 pandemic. But some people may still need to take steps to protect themselves against COVID-19, such as children too young to get vaccinated or people with weakened immune systems.

In addition to wearing masks indoors in public, consider the following:

  • Choose safer activities, like those outdoors
  • Stay 6 feet apart from people not in your household
  • Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces
  • Wash your hands often
  • Cover coughs and sneezes
  • Clean and disinfect surfaces
  • Monitor your health daily

Find a Vaccine Near You. With the Delta variant, getting vaccinated is more urgent than ever. Please send this information to your colleagues, networks, friends, and family.

Additional Resources

Contact Us

Email: EPIC@cdc.gov
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Rd
Atlanta, GA 30333

Questions?
Contact CDC-INFO
800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) TTY: 888-232-6348

0 932

Pennsylvania Autism (Virtual) Training Conference
Conference Dates: October 5–7, 2021

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is requesting proposals that focus on the lived experience of professionals who provide support for individuals with autism. As a provider, you probably experienced many challenges and adversity in the past months, both related and unrelated to the COVID-19 pandemic. How can we take the hardships, learn from them, and integrate that knowledge as we move into the future?

During PATC 2021, we will be highlighting the concept of post-traumatic growth that from difficult experiences comes opportunity and the chance for progress. We want to give you the opportunity to share your experience, your stories of ordeals and difficulties, and of recovery and resilience.

Further instructions, including how to submit your story, can be found here. Submissions are due by August 6, 2021. 

0 1143

Join us for a webinar on “The Better Care Better Jobs Act: What Activists Need to Know.”
How the Better Care Better Jobs Act (BCBJA) Addresses the Unmet Needs of Aging Adults, People with Disabilities, Family Caregivers, and Direct Care Workers

Wednesday, July 28 6:00 pm–7:00 pm (Eastern)

Register here.

Come and learn the basics about the Better Care Better Jobs Act and how it would transform Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS). This proposed $400 billion in funding will increase access to services as well as make a long-overdue investment in the direct care workforce that delivers these services to people with disabilities and aging adults all over the country.

You will hear from lawmakers about what we can expect in Congress and from consumers about the importance of Medicaid-funded HCBS and policy priorities that enable people with disabilities and older adults to live in their homes and communities. CART and ASL will be provided.

Speakers:

  • U.S. Senator Robert Casey (Pennsylvania) (invited)
  • U.S. Representative Jamaal Bowman (NY-16) (invited)
  • Andraea LaVant, President and Chief Inclusion Specialist, LaVant Consulting
  • Alene Shaheed, Older Adult HCBS recipient and Self-Advocate
  • Moderator: Ai-jen Poo, Director, Caring Across Generations and the National Domestic Workers Alliance

Organized By: The Arc of the United States, ACLU, AAPD, ANCOR, ASAN, Justice in Aging, Caring Across Generations, and National Domestic Workers Alliance
Co-Sponsored By: Care Can’t Wait (pending), Disability and Aging Collaborative, and the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities

0 1552

From ANCOR:

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (“OSHA”) COVID-19 Health Emergency Temporary Standard (“ETS”) became effective for healthcare settings when published in the Federal Register on June 21, 2021.

Since publication, we’ve received questions, comments, and concerns from ANCOR membership concerning whether the ETS applies to home and community-based services. Unfortunately, the new regulations are not industry specific making it difficult to apply universal standards for whether a service falls within the scope of the ETS. As service delivery differs by state and provider, each provider will need to conduct an individual analysis of both the service provided and setting delivered to determine appropriate compliance under the ETS.

Attached, please find a brief scope summary with questions for consideration to support your individual analysis of whether the services you provide fall within the scope of the ETS. Also attached as a companion piece, please find Guide Consulting’s breakdown of the ETS with key requirements shared last month on the ACC. For further reference, OSHA also posted a webinar breaking down the scope and requirements here.

ANCOR will be submitting written comment requesting additional guidance on applicability to home and community-based services. Written comments on the ETS are due by August 20, 2021 and can be submitted electronically for Docket No. OSHA-2020-0004 via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov.

Thanks and please do not hesitate to reach out with questions or concerns.

——————————
Lydia Dawson, J.D.
ANCOR | Director of Policy, Regulatory and Legal Analysis
571.932.5375 |
——————————

Prev1...157158159...311Next Page 158 of 311
© 2021 - Rehabilitation & Community Providers Association