THE UNSETTLED DUST:
When I started this blog, it was with the intention of establishing a forum for peace, and mutual understanding and support among parents, guardians and people with developmental disabilities.
However, our Wa. legislative session that just ended, yesterday, has proven to me that there must be some very uncomfortable truth telling before we ever will get to the lofty point that originally I envisioned. The air is thick with dirty residue due to false representations made to legislators and people who need or use services, alike. It needs to be cleared.
Please write your thoughts, reference websites and other material and help inform everyone of what you know and consider important. It might not be pretty, but lets keep it civil, please.
Contact me if you wish to have a guest editorial.
Saskia
Friday, May 27, 2011
DEMOCRATIC PROCESS BITES THE DUST
2-SSB 5459
The 2011 legislative session is officially over, but the Governor has not signed the budget, nor all of the legislation. 2-SSB 5459 passed. It does much more damage than it's closure of Frances Haddon Morgan Center and the freezing of admissions at Yakima Valley School (Both residential habilitation centers (RHCs) and "institutions" by Federal standards) See my next post for a breakdown..
In large part, passage resulted from misinformation that was sold to legislislators as truth, but also in part because of what I consider to be gaming on the part of it's prime sponsor, Senator Adam Kline. From the point of view of slimey politics, his move was brilliant, but from the point of view of democracy by the people for the people, it was just slimey politics.
Originally, when the bill was introduced during the first part of the session, there was a huge onslaught of fact-based objection to it. The response of the sponsors was to remove most of the most objectionable parts and then return it to be passed onto the next committee, where it sat through the entire session+far into the extended session with no further hearing. Within the last few days of the extended session, it was resurrected. With only 20 minutes notice, a public hearing was called & language, similar to the original language, was passed as amendment. A visit to TVW archives will show you that committee members had little more notice of the amendments than the public, but with inaccurate portrayal by the sponsorship and staff, it was passed out of the Senate to the House where it was amended slightly, but due to continued misrepresentation, it again was passed. The amendment caused it to be returned to the Senate where it was again passed. If this is democracy, what is trickery?
Even if this bill had been one I could support, I would still be mightily upset at the manner in which democracy was abused by this Senator and his supporting cast. I hope his constituents will remember his brand of politics when next at the voting booth. Perhaps by then, they will have found someone more democratically inclined.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Because We Care - Beyond Inclusion
HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN?
The scenario below is true. The client was 14 at the time. He has a rare genetic syndrome which causes a global developmental delay, early onset pediatric dementia (his brain is shrinking), behavior problems coupled with manic and psychotic episodes. This was after his 5th hospital admission in 1 - 1/2 years.
He was on a Home and Community Based Service Waiver at the time.
12/2008 - Admitted to Seattle Children’s - 2 week admission (4th Admission for this child to Inpatient Psychiatric Unit)
12/2008 - Admitted to Seattle Children’s - 2 week admission (4th Admission for this child to Inpatient Psychiatric Unit)
12/2008 - readmit (5th Admission) - Psychiatrist recommended out-of-home placement for safety and health of child and his family. RSN stated “would not approve” readmission again
1/2009 - DDD Region 4 Children’s Manager told client’s DDD caseworker - “Do not offer them anything”
1/2009 - Discharge meeting at Seattle Children’s, DDD Psychologist, DDD caseworker, MD, Teacher, Nurse and discharge planner present. No availability in DDD residential system. Mental Health Residential placement would not be appropriate for him.
When asked about next crisis due to readmission being denied, only solution offered to parents by this group was to
“CALL THE POLICE”
It got worse before it got better:
He now lives at Fircrest, an RHC, he’s safe, happy, well cared for and healthy – a CHOICE that was denied to him for over a year.
Why does DDD want to deny a safe and healthy life to those they are supposed to help?
Monday, January 24, 2011
FORREST SARGENT: TALENTED PHOTOGRAPHER
FORREST SPEAKS!
Celebrate with Forrest and his family.Autism claimed his voice.
Voiceless, he acted out.
Reader board, camera, loving, patient, and persistent parents and Fircrest School have helped set his voice free!
Forrest's photography show has been so successful that he has already sold 16 photos!
Now through Feb 10, Forrest's photos can be seen in person at Childhoods End Gallery in Olympia Washington.
Watch the news broadcasts and see his photos. See if they make your heart happy! They do mine!
For the KOMO broadcast, click on the title of this post. For the King 5 broadcast, click here: http://www.king5.com/news/local/Photographer-with-autism-sees-world-through-the-lens-114399899.html
Saskia
Sunday, January 16, 2011
RHC CLOSURES = COST INCREASE + REDUCTION IN SERVICES
RHC CLOSURES = INCREASE COSTS + REDUCTION OF SERVICES
In these lean times of budget crisis and harmful cuts I do not understand why anyone would even consider closing the RHCs. Ideological differences aside, just based on economics, this decision would be a BUDGET DISASTER!
•Yes, these high needs residents are more expensive to care for: no matter where they live they will be more expensive – moving them will only INCREASE their cost of care.
•Economy of scale – it is much more cost effective to care for these residents in the RHC - this is ECONOMY OF SCALE – think of a family who experiences a divorce. The living costs increase when they go from 1 household to 2 households.
•Reduction in services – Not only will the cost of care increase but there will be a drastic reduction in services with the moves that are being suggested.
•Cost shifting – maybe one budget would look better but the cost will still be there, actually increased due to not using the ECONOMY OF SCALE model.
•911 calls are 4-6 times higher in "community" group homes than at an RHC
•increased catastrophic care – increased medical expenses
The moves that are being suggested are immoral. I see a disaster waiting to happen and this process needs to be stopped and studies completed prior to these decisions being made and acted on. If RHCS are closed there is no going back – there is no other safety net and the providers will find that they are neither equipped nor capable of caring for these residents in a safe, healthy and humane manner.
Please do not consider the RHC closures as a cost-saving measure. It is exactly the opposite.
Cheryl Felak, RN
Disability Advocate
In these lean times of budget crisis and harmful cuts I do not understand why anyone would even consider closing the RHCs. Ideological differences aside, just based on economics, this decision would be a BUDGET DISASTER!
•Yes, these high needs residents are more expensive to care for: no matter where they live they will be more expensive – moving them will only INCREASE their cost of care.
•Economy of scale – it is much more cost effective to care for these residents in the RHC - this is ECONOMY OF SCALE – think of a family who experiences a divorce. The living costs increase when they go from 1 household to 2 households.
•Reduction in services – Not only will the cost of care increase but there will be a drastic reduction in services with the moves that are being suggested.
•Cost shifting – maybe one budget would look better but the cost will still be there, actually increased due to not using the ECONOMY OF SCALE model.
•911 calls are 4-6 times higher in "community" group homes than at an RHC
•increased catastrophic care – increased medical expenses
The moves that are being suggested are immoral. I see a disaster waiting to happen and this process needs to be stopped and studies completed prior to these decisions being made and acted on. If RHCS are closed there is no going back – there is no other safety net and the providers will find that they are neither equipped nor capable of caring for these residents in a safe, healthy and humane manner.
Please do not consider the RHC closures as a cost-saving measure. It is exactly the opposite.
Cheryl Felak, RN
Disability Advocate
Monday, January 10, 2011
Medicaid Program Cuts -HOW THE ACCESS FUND CAN HELP
Here is a resource for Wa. State residents who are disabled. It is an excerpt from the Washington Access Fund Newsletter.
Access Fund News
January, 2011
Medicaid Program Cuts - How the Access Fund can Help
The WA State Medicaid program began notifying clients in December of a revised list of 2011 program cuts. Some immediate cuts (effective January 1st, 2011) include adult eyeglasses and contacts, adult hearing aids and adult dental services (except for emergency treatments) as well as school-based services such as occupational, speech and physical therapy for special education students. The announcement states that 2,400 clients will be affected by the loss in coverage for adult hearing (at a savings of $300,000) and 67,000 clients will be impacted by the loss of coverage for adult vision (at a savings of $500,000). Governor Gregoire proposes to restore the cuts in the next biennial budget starting in July contingent upon legislative approval. We've heard via the grapevine that some DSHS clients have already had their audiology appointments cancelled because they have no way to pay for the hearing aids or related services. In response, the Access Fund has modified its loan polices to allow "pre-approvals" for hearing aid loans. This means that customers can apply for a loan prior to making an appointment with their audiologist. If approved, the customer can let the audiologist know that they have funding to cover the cost of both the appointment and the hearing aids up to the approval amount. If arranged in advance, the appointment can be paid for prior to or at the time of service. If hearing aids are prescribed, the customer would submit the prescription and invoice to the Access Fund. Once all of the loan documents are signed, the Fund will pay the vendor. The approval amount will depend upon the customer's budget. Pre-approvals are available for any potential customer - not just Medicaid clients. We realize that hearing aids can be expensive and many DSHS clients may not be able to afford to repay a large loan. In that situation, customers may want to contact Leann in our office to learn more about the Access Fund's Matched Savings Accounts. Other hearing aid funding sources are listed on our website at: Funding Resources for Hearing. Access Fund loans cannot be used for eye glasses or regular dental care but we do cover dentures and, of course, many other types of assistive technology. The interest rate is 5% and loan terms of up to five years are available. To read the announcement and for more updated information, please visit the WA State DSHS website. (The Access Fund website can be accessed by clicking on the title of this post.)
info@washingtonaccessfund.org
Access Fund News
January, 2011
Medicaid Program Cuts - How the Access Fund can Help
The WA State Medicaid program began notifying clients in December of a revised list of 2011 program cuts. Some immediate cuts (effective January 1st, 2011) include adult eyeglasses and contacts, adult hearing aids and adult dental services (except for emergency treatments) as well as school-based services such as occupational, speech and physical therapy for special education students. The announcement states that 2,400 clients will be affected by the loss in coverage for adult hearing (at a savings of $300,000) and 67,000 clients will be impacted by the loss of coverage for adult vision (at a savings of $500,000). Governor Gregoire proposes to restore the cuts in the next biennial budget starting in July contingent upon legislative approval. We've heard via the grapevine that some DSHS clients have already had their audiology appointments cancelled because they have no way to pay for the hearing aids or related services. In response, the Access Fund has modified its loan polices to allow "pre-approvals" for hearing aid loans. This means that customers can apply for a loan prior to making an appointment with their audiologist. If approved, the customer can let the audiologist know that they have funding to cover the cost of both the appointment and the hearing aids up to the approval amount. If arranged in advance, the appointment can be paid for prior to or at the time of service. If hearing aids are prescribed, the customer would submit the prescription and invoice to the Access Fund. Once all of the loan documents are signed, the Fund will pay the vendor. The approval amount will depend upon the customer's budget. Pre-approvals are available for any potential customer - not just Medicaid clients. We realize that hearing aids can be expensive and many DSHS clients may not be able to afford to repay a large loan. In that situation, customers may want to contact Leann in our office to learn more about the Access Fund's Matched Savings Accounts. Other hearing aid funding sources are listed on our website at: Funding Resources for Hearing. Access Fund loans cannot be used for eye glasses or regular dental care but we do cover dentures and, of course, many other types of assistive technology. The interest rate is 5% and loan terms of up to five years are available. To read the announcement and for more updated information, please visit the WA State DSHS website. (The Access Fund website can be accessed by clicking on the title of this post.)
info@washingtonaccessfund.org
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Tom Anderson of Shoreline Wa. Is Missing.
seattletimes.nwsource.com Click to read the full Times article with description of Tom, .)
Tom Anderson, 62, was last seen at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 27 at his home near North 160th Street and Evanston Avenue North, said Brenda Burns, who works for Ambitions, which provides services to disabled adults in King County. ( Click title of this post to read the full Times article with description of Tom .)
Thank you to Cheryl Felak for having posted this on Facebook.
Thank you to Cheryl Felak for having posted this on Facebook.
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