The Disability Vote

Posted on October 24, 2008

By Chris Hilderbrant, Director of Advocacy

Last night, CDR and RCIL hosted a “Candidate Forum on Disability Issues”.  It’s an event we do every year focusing on whichever races seem to be most pertinent to people with disabilities in the Greater Rochester Area.  This year we chose to focus on the Congressional and State Legislative races touching Monroe County.

We arranged the forum and invited all the candidates.  The response from candidates was great and the turnout of people with disabilities and our friends and families was awesome.  Nearly 100 people joined us at the Central Library to hear from the candidates.

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REFORMING LONG TERM CARE SERVICES IN NEW YORK STATE

Posted on October 23, 2008

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OCTOBER 22, 2008, VOL. 3

ADOPT AN INDEPENDENT LIVING APPROACH RATHER THAN MEDICAL MODEL OF LTC SERVICES.

By Leah Farrell, Policy Analyst

The traditional model of long term care services emphasizes a medical approach to meeting needs, often involving unnecessary high cost professionals.  The independent living (IL) approach to long term care services vests control of services in the consumer rather than the professional.  Many of the services that are widely perceived as “medical” are simply a part of daily life to a person with disabilities.  The independent living paradigm supports an integrated life in the community, with personal care workers providing needed assistance in tasks ranging from dressing and bathing to managing breathing devices, feeding tubes and catheters.  Tasks that hospitals routinely train family members to perform can also be done in a home setting by other laypersons under the direction of the individual or their family member.    Read more

CDR Advocacy Team Growing!

Posted on October 22, 2008

By Diane Coleman, Assistant Director of Advocacy

CDR’s Advocacy Team grew by leaps and bounds this summer.  Of course, CDR is well known and widely respected for its strong commitment to “systems advocacy” – the kind of advocacy that advances disability rights on a societal level.  While staff in all departments have opportunities to participate in systems advocacy, the Advocacy Team is at the core of CDR’s social change work, providing leadership, coordination and follow-through to make things happen.

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You’d Think They Would Have Learned!

Posted on October 14, 2008

By Anita Cameron, Systems Advocate

With the clamor and outrage over the movie, “Tropic Thunder” just dying down, you’d think that Hollywood would carefully scrutinize any movie that it wants to release, especially those depicting people with disabilities. I suppose Hollywood loves the controversy because right on the heels of “Tropic Thunder”, they bring out a movie called “Blindness”.

“Blindness” is about a mysterious epidemic of blindness that breaks out in an unnamed town. Fearing that this blindness is contagious, the government warehouses the newly blind folks into an old psychiatric hospital sporting armed guards outside the doors, with orders to shoot to kill anyone who tries to escape. Supplies and food are supposed to be delivered to the inmates, but because of the unpredictability of the deliveries, these soon become scarce. The people inside the facility then degenerate into animalistic behavior, soiling themselves, and being filthy because they can’t find the bathrooms. Read more

REFORMING LONG TERM CARE SERVICES IN NEW YORK STATE, CENTER FOR DISABILITY RIGHTS POSITION PAPER

Posted on October 13, 2008

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OCTOBER 13, 2008, VOL. 2

By Leah Farrell, Policy Analyst 

LIVING IN THE MOST INTEGRATED SETTING MUST BE THE NORM, NOT THE EXCEPTION.

People must be able to live and receive services in the most integrated setting desired.  In 1999, the US Supreme Court established in the Olmstead decision the civil right that people are to receive long term care services in the most integrated setting (MIS) appropriate to their needs.  Unfortunately, New York State government regulations too often continue to reinforce traditional and costly facility-based approaches when community-based services would be more effective, producing both higher consumer satisfaction and more cost-effective outcomes.  Read more

Making Our Voices Heard at the Most Integrated Setting Coordinating Council

Posted on October 10, 2008

by RCIL Systems Advocate, Terrie Lincoln

On Wednesday, October 8th, twenty one disability rights advocates headed from Rochester to Albany for the Most Integrated Setting Coordinating Council (MISCC) meeting. MISCC was established to develop a statewide plan to ensure that people with all disabilities and of all ages receive long term care services in the most integrated setting, rather than being forced into facilities.

We met in RCIL/CDR’s parking lot at 7:00 a.m. Our group was so excited to get there, that being pulled over by the police and receiving not one but two tickets could not stop us.  We pulled into the Empire State Plaza by 11:30 a.m.  After lunch and a pre-meeting, we filed into the meeting room, which was set up to accommodate over one hundred visitors as well as web-casting the entire proceeding. Read more

Easing your visit to the Emergency Room.

Posted on October 9, 2008

By Celia Brown, Outreach Coordinator for the Elderly

We have all had to go to the emergency room at some point, either ourselves or with a family member.  This stressful experience is only made worse by how long you have to wait and the situation is not getting better.  According to a study conducted by Harvard Medical School researchers, Emergency Room waits increased an average of 36 percent between 1997 and 2004.  There are too many patients and not enough beds.

The emergency department has a triage system in place to decide who really needs urgent care.  Except in obvious cases, you should always call your primary care doctor before heading to the emergency room to assure that your condition is urgent and warrants an ER visit.  And even in the obvious cases, you should also call your primary care physician while you are on your way to the emergency room.  Their input can be invaluable! Read more

Fairness in Access to Mental Health Care & Addiction Services

Posted on October 7, 2008

By Lara Kassel, Advocacy Coordinator, Medicaid Matters NY
October 6, 2008

In the midst of so much uncertainty and dismay over how Congress would handle the current economic crisis, a victory of no small proportion was achieved.  Both Houses of Congress passed a measure – the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 – that will provide mental health and substance abuse parity in private insurance coverage.  It was tacked on to the Wall Street bailout legislation.  The President has expressed his support and intent to sign it.  While this Act pertains exclusively to private insurance, we know that the insurance industry informs the way public insurance coverage is provided, and vice-versa. Read more

REFORMING LONG TERM CARE SERVICES IN NEW YORK STATE

Posted on October 4, 2008

CENTER FOR DISABILITY RIGHTS POSITION PAPER
SEPTEMBER 29, 2008, VOL. 1

By Leah Farrell, Policy Analyst

New York State’s long term care system needs reform.  The current system is complicated, inefficient and biased toward institutional placement for seniors and people with disabilities who need long term care services.  As the population ages, the need for long term care services in the community will continue to grow.  While the Center for Disability Rights (CDR) has a reputation for activism, CDR advocates an evolution rather than revolution in long term care services.  Below is a list of ten issues that must be addressed through the reform process.  CDR will issue position papers expanding on each of the issues outlined below.  Read more

Astounding Nursing Facility Survey Reports Over 90% Cited for Deficiencies

Posted on October 1, 2008

By Michael Volkmer, Community Information Specialist
When the phrase “long term care” is mentioned, the majority of the general public envisions a peaceful scenario in which an elderly person is relaxing and enjoying their time sipping coffee, socializing, and playing board games in their respective nursing home.  Little thought is given to the quality of care that the individual may be receiving because a particular image has been strategically crafted and ingrained into our psyches by certain special interest groups.  That image is a construct that portrays the notion that Nursing Facilities are the only alternative for seniors and individuals with disabilities.  The truth is that nursing facilities are but one option for people with disabilities, as are community-based services (provided in your own home) that offer alternatives to institutionalization.  These community-based services are viable options for many individuals because they specifically avoid the pitfalls inherent in facility based care.  Read more

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