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The LEAD Center will host a webinar entitled “How Blended, Braided, or Sequenced Funding Can Help Drive Employment, Equity, and Inclusion” on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 from 3:00 pm–4:30 pm ET. This federal interagency webinar will feature state practitioners across the workforce system discussing how they successfully applied innovative and collaborative resource sharing to benefit both businesses and jobseekers with disabilities.
Register here for the webinar.
From Institutions to Community
Learning From Our Past: Improvements in Disability Supports Through the 20th Century Webinar
In honor of March being National Disabilities Awareness Month, Partners for Quality has invited all members of the IDD Community to attend a free webinar on Tuesday, March 8, from 3:00 pm–4:00 pm. For decades, persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities were institutionalized, with little regard for their dignity, their right to choose, or their potential for growth and independence. Conditions were often overcrowded and even inhumane.
The Pennhurst State School and Hospital, in operation from 1903–1987, is a chilling example of an institution that holds vital lessons from our past. This free webinar will explore the mistakes made during the first half of the 20th century, the transitions from seclusion to self-advocacy, and the long overdue respect for persons with disabilities.
Introduction will be by Maggie Rothenberger, President & CEO of Partners For Quality. Dr. James Conroy, Co-President of Pennhurst Memorial and Preservation Alliance, will present some important and historical information on the Pennhurst State Institution to help us remember why we do what we do in the community!
Join via Zoom.
Meeting ID: 875 0777 8886 Passcode: 632925
This webinar will be presented by Partners for Quality in cooperation with Pennhurst Memorial and Preservation Alliance. RCPA wishes to thank them for this opportunity.
A Financial Management Services (FMS) stakeholder meeting has been scheduled for March 4, 2022, from 1:00 pm–2:30 pm. This public meeting will include a discussion on the upcoming changes for the administration of FMS under the Community HealthChoices (CHC), OBRA Waiver, and Act 150 Programs. Representatives from both the CHC Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) and the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) will be in attendance to discuss the upcoming changes.
Registration is required to participate. Once registered, participants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
If you choose to use your phone to call in, please use the numbers below:
Dial in: (562) 247-8321
Access Code: 625418280#
Audio PIN: shown after joining the webinar
The Department of Human Services (DHS) is providing final notice of the Fee Schedule Rates and Department-Established Fees for services funded through the Consolidated, Community Living, and Person/Family Directed Support (P/FDS) Waivers as well as the Community Intellectual Disability Base-Funded Program.
The Fee Schedule Rates are effective January 1, 2022, with the exception of the rates for Agency With Choice Financial Management Services (AWC FMS) and direct Community Participation Support services. The Fee Schedule Rates for AWC-FMS will be effective on March 1, 2022. The Fee Schedule Rates for direct Community Participation Support services will be effective six months after the expiration of the federal novel coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency, and the temporary increases to the Fee Schedule Rates that are currently in place will end. The Department-Established Fees are effective July 1, 2022.
The full announcement with the specific rates can be found here.
These rates will be in effect for the next three years. Providers have the right to appeal these rates to the Bureau of Hearings and Appeals. Any provider who wishes to appeal must do so within 30 days of the notice, and those who do not appeal within that period will lose the right to challenge rates before the Bureau.
RCPA is hosting a “How to File a Rate Appeal” webinar on March 7, 2022, from 1:00 pm–2:00 pm. Otherwise, you should consult an attorney with experience filing such appeals.
Contact Carol Ferenz with any questions.
We are always looking for better ways to support someone to achieve the quality of life they desire. This requires a social, behavioral, and biological understanding of that person. Positive Behavioral Support (PBS) is an empirically documented, person-centered approach that can be used in day-to-day supports for all people across all systems. For those of you who are not familiar with PBS, ODP will provide an overview of this framework, sharing examples and ways that this has been implemented. For those of you who have a general understanding of the essential elements of PBS, ODP will provide you with tools and ways to infuse PBS into your programs and supports to strengthen your focus on supporting a positive quality of life.
Please join ODP on one of the following dates and times:
Registration information will be released in the near future.
When: March 3, 2022 12:00 pm Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic: Real-Life Stories: Using Smart Home Technology For Independence.
Register in advance for this webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Webinar Speakers
Michael Anderson (Legislative Advocate @The ARC of Philadelphia)
Michael Anderson has been a legislative advocate for The ARC of Philadelphia since 2015. He meets with lawmakers from the Philadelphia area at local, state, and federal levels to make the case for legislative changes that will improve the lives of people with disabilities. Mr. Anderson is also a member of Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation’s (PATF’s) Smart Home advisory committee. In a previous life, Mr. Anderson worked for three years as a statistician for the Philadelphia 76ers. He has also worked on a number of political campaigns. Mr. Anderson is a proud graduate of Lower Merion High School and received an associate’s degree with a concentration in journalism from Edinboro University. Currently, he is co-owner of a home in Merion Station, PA. Mr. Anderson has cerebral palsy and is a wheelchair user.
Alexa Brill (Social Media and Website Manager @The Arc of Pennsylvania)
Alexa Brill graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania in 2013. She has worked for The Arc of Pennsylvania since 2014 as their Social Media and Website Manager. Alexa also serves as the President on the Board of Self Advocates United As 1 (SAU1). She also serves on the Smart Home Advisory Committee through the Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF). Alexa is very passionate about advocating for the rights of people with disabilities, as well as helping to make sure they have access to the right technology. She wants to help as many people learn about and access the technology they need to be as independent as possible.
George Russo (Assistive Technology Assistant @Easterseals)
I’m George Russo. I’ve been working as an assistive technology assistant at Easterseals for fifteen years. Easterseal has been a part of my adult life since 1996 as a client, a volunteer, an ambassador for PRC, and now as an employee. I have an Associate Degree in Computer Science from Miami Dade Community College. I’ve been a member of the Smart home Committee for about a year.
Laura Slotkoff (Occupational Therapist and Assistive Technology Specialist @Easterseals of Southern Pennsylvania)
Laura Slotkoff, MS, OTR/L, ATP is an Occupational Therapist and Assistive Technology Specialist for Easterseals of Southeastern Pennsylvania. Through her role as AT Specialist on an interdisciplinary AT team, Laura works to provide innovative solutions to individuals with disabilities across the lifespan. Over the past 2 years, she has worked collaboratively with teachers, therapists and the AT team to design 3D printed assistive technology and utilize the tools within maker spaces to benefit students with special needs. Laura is excited about the ever-evolving potential of Smart Home Technology to improve her clients’ independence and quality of life.