#31 SB 507 Update and Lots of Additional Information

[Guest guest]

Dearest Advocates:

I just got confirmation that Governor Perdue did sign SB 507! To see the entire bill go to the following website: http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/sum/sb507.htm

Please take a moment to thank Senator Moody of the 56th, of the 13th, of the 1st, Brown of the 26th, and of the 55th for drafting and working with the Governor to have this bill signed into law!

There email addresses are as follows:

dan.moody@..., joseph.carter@..., eric.johnson@..., robert.brown@..., gloria.butler@...

Thanks again for everyone’s advocacy efforts regarding this bill. Lets just hope this helps our children receive the necessary services prescribed for them under Medicaid system, as well as, make the prior authorization process easier for our providers.

In addition, please find below additional information that I thought might interest you.

Have a great day,

United-We Will Make A Difference!

Heidi

New group for children with disabilities:

I just wanted to let you know that I have started a corporation for special needs children here in LaGrange GA (1 hour south of Atlanta, GA). We are going to have a "family day" to let the community know who we are, what are vision is for the future, and also to get to know who and what the needs are for those with special needs.

Details: "Family Fun Day" -

Hosted by "'s Place-Where Hope Blooms".

Saturday, June 21st

10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Lafayette Christian School Gym

Hwy 27 Troup County GA - (beside Troup County High School)

's Place is a non-profit Christian organization with a desire to support families with special needs children. Website: www.emilysplace.org

Contact: Esther McClendon

emcclen8@...

Parent to Parent of Georgia- Needs Input.

As we move into summer and planning for next year, we at Parent to Parent of Georgia are looking to get feedback on training topics. If you have a few free minutes, please complete the survey (link below) with your thoughts and ideas. It is a very short survey, and really shouldn’t take any more than 3-5 minutes in general. Feel free to pass this on to any other families and/or professionals in the field. Thanks!

Parent to Parent of Georgia, as Georgia's Parent Training and Information Center for families of children with disabilities from birth to 26 years of age, wants your input!

Parent to Parent has provided training on a variety of topics for families across the state for several months and participant feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. However, as we work to continually enhance the quality of services we provide, we want to expand the variety of topics and trainings that we have available. Please complete the following brief 5 question survey to help us prioritize topics for training and the development of training materials. Your input will help us determine what content and curricula are the most important for us to develop over the next several months in order to meet the needs of families throughout Georgia. The survey is designed to allow respondents to rank topics in first that are applicable for families raising children with disabilities of any age. That question is followed by questions that address topics for three age ranges (birth through five years of age, six to sixteen years of age, and sixteen to 26 years of age). You will also have an opportunity to suggest additional topics for each question if you feel that an important topic has not been included. Thank you for your input and assistance. This survey will remain open for responses through May 19th. Please feel free to forward this survey to others (parents and professionals) who might be interested in sharing their feedback with us.http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=_2bMBoEcVzZd0aTyF1NPua0A_3d_3d _,___

Moss, PTI Director

Navigation to Connections (N2C)

Parent to Parent of Georgia

Protecting Your Rights to Medical Equipment:

RADICAL change is occurring in the medical industry and it will directly

affect YOU! However, there is something YOU can do about it!

Learn about Competitive Bidding and how it will impact your

relationship with your provider and access to quality equipment

Learn how to navigate Medicare's new service delivery model

Learn about the ripple effect to all payors (Medicaid and Private

Insurance)

Learn what advocates (YOU) can do to stop these changes, effective

July 1st

PLEASE forward this email to your network requesting they register and

participate in these 2 events. The goal is to generate 1000 plus calls

asking Congress to exempt complex rehab (refer to HR.2231 and S.2931) from

Competitive Bidding.

#1. Tuesday, May 20th Kick-Off, 11:00am EDT. Register at

http://recp.rm05.net/ctt?kn=2 & m=1072605 & r=NzI0MjYwNDE2MgS2 & b=0 & j=MTA3ODM3NDMyS0 &

mt=1

#2. Thursday, May 22nd – Nationwide Consumer and Clinical Legislative

Call-in Detailed Call-in Day instructions at

http://recp.rm05.net/ctt?kn=1 & m=1072605 & r=NzI0MjYwNDE2MgS2 & b=0 & j=MTA3ODM3NDMyS0 &

mt=1

You will find who your members of Congress are, how to contact them

and talking points.

Hosted by:

Sunrise Medical

Sponsored by:

ADAPT

American Association of People with Disabilities

America Paraplegia Society

Boston Medical Center

and Dana Reeve Foundation

Cody Unser First Steps Foundation

Frazier Rehab and Neuroscience Center

Kennedy-Krieger Institute

Miami Project to Cure Paralysis

National Council on Independent Living

National Spinal Cord Injury Association

New Mobility Magazine

Ohio Governors Council on People with Disabilities

Paralyzed Veterans Association

Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana

Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation

Self Advocates Becoming Empowered

Shepherd Center

The Rehabilitation Center at University of Utah Healthcare

United Spinal Association

Vote to Change the World! The 2008 People First of Georgia One Day ConferenceDate: Saturday June 7, 2008

Time: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Where: Decatur Recreation Center231 Sycamore St.Decatur, Ga 30030This is less than 1/2 block from the Decatur Martatrain Station.You come out the Church St side of the train station.It is 3 buildings down sycamore which is the streetthat dead-ends in front of the train station on the

Church St side of the station.

Cost: Free to People First members! Lunch is included$25 non People first membersFor more information contact Cheri (678)755-6015Or email p1stofga@...

MHDDAD Training available to families:

The Division of MHDDAD Office of Developmental Disabilities is providing important training on the topic of Orientation to Residential Site Reviews for Persons with Developmental Disabilities, Family Members, Self-Advocates & Other DD Advocates. This training is designed for persons with developmental disabilities and their families/representatives as well as self-advocates, and other DD advocates. Support Coordinators and Planning List Administrators may also benefit from this training.It is paramount that persons diagnosed with developmental disabilities receive the highest quality residential care available. A measurement tool, “My Place,” has been developed for use by persons with developmental disabilities, family members, and advocates to assess the quality and effectiveness of services delivered in residential sites. The “My Place” instrument can be completed in 45 to 90 minutes. The results indicate areas of exceptional service as well as potential problems, which can guide persons receiving services in choosing quality residential care. This training will explain the use of this instrument.Attached is the announcement with details about the twelve sessions (one half-day each) that will take place between June 10 and June 19, 2008 throughout Georgia. Please share this information with all those who may be interested in attending!Registration is quick & easy online at www.cviog.uga.edu/training/dhr. The announcement will be posted on the Division’s training website

at http://mhddad.dhr.georgia.gov/training where it can be downloaded and printed. There is also a registration form attached to the announcement for those unable to access the internet to register online.Note to Regional Offices regarding distribution: Please distribute to DD Providers asking them to distribute to persons with DD, families, self-advocates and other advocates. Also, please forward to Support Coordination Agencies and Planning List Administrators.Joetta Prost, Ph.D.Director, Policy & TrainingDHR Division of MHDDADjprost@...Email address for training questions: RegistrationMHDDAD@...Website for training announcements: http://mhddad.dhr.georgia.gov/training

GCDD: Conference- Against All Odds Conference

June 1-3, 2008University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education, Athens, Ga

The Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities would like to once again remind everyone about the upcoming annual conference sponsored by the GCDD and DHR. This year's event, titled Against All Odds will take place June 1-3, 2008 in Athens.

People with developmental disabilities and their families want good support so they can have what other citizens expect: a secure home, friends, places to belong, freedom to make choices, chances to learn, and opportunities to contribute. In the past, they have had to struggle with an under-funded service system that is too often inflexible and controlling and too frequently enforces exclusion based on low expectations. They have had far better lives when they have met allies among service workers who have joined them in creating good supports against all odds. Working together, with passion, hope, faith and courage, these leaders have invented effective supports for real lives.

This conference brings together people with developmental disabilities, family members, service providers, support coordinators, and policy makers to explore what is possible now as Georgia increases investment of public funds in individualized, person-directed supports. Leaders from across the country who provide and coordinate person-centered supports will share what they are learning and leaders from Georgia will reflect on our own learning, the assets we have to build with, and the challenges we face. We will together envision what’s possible for the future as we work together with passion, hope, faith and courage.

To view the full program, open the attached pdf document or go to: http://www.georgiacenter.uga.edu/conferences/2008/Jun/01/complete_program.pdfTo register go to: http://www.georgiacenter.uga.edu/conferences/2008/Jun/01/against_odds.phtmlThe program as well as the link to registration will be posted on the GCDD website at: http://www.gcdd.org

--Heidi J. (Proud Mother to - 8 years old with Down syndrome & - 6 years old) For more information about how Heidi can help you maximize your child's potential, please go to www.heidijmoore.com "Help The Children Now, So They Can Help Themselves Later!" The material contained in this e-mail is for general information only. It is not intended in any way to provide or offer legal advice. To obtain legal advice, please consult with your attorney or a qualified legal representative.