# 63 Advocacy, Disability Day, Seminars, Media and More

[Guest guest]

Dearest Advocates:

Many of you have asked questions regarding the upcoming Family / DHR-MHDDAD NOW/COMP disability waiver meetings in Atlanta and Macon. I have posted their flyers for December 8 (Atlanta) and 15 (Macon) on my website. Just go to www.heidijmoore.com and click on “Events”.

REMEMBER: Please vote on December 2nd!

Disability Day is scheduled for February 25, 2009 – please mark your calendars and see additional information below and how to RSVP!

In addition, below is information regarding the rescheduled and Beckett Meeting at the CDC that was canceled earlier this year. The new date is December 15 and you must pre-register on-line.

I just found out about a wonderful special education lecture series by Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation. I hope you find this information helpful.

Also included in this newsletter is a wonderful link to an ESPN sports story that ran a few weeks ago. We need to see more inspirational stories like this in the media!

There has also been a media inquiry for Kids on Wheels Magazine. See below for info.

As stated in my previous newsletter, please take a moment and post your personal transition stories regarding the NOW and COMP concerns and issues your family has faced since November 1st (which may include the following: Prior Authorization PA / budget issues, service category issues, lack of supports/services, rate cap and maximum issues, etc).

In order to have a better appreciation for how this transition is impacting the families of children and adults with disabilities in Georgia, we are going to be preparing a comprehensive “story” report to show those that have been involved in this transition the impact on services and families. It will also validate if there is truly a concern or not in the system.

If your family has been impacted by this transition, please go to the following website and tell your transition story:

www.lovingcareatlanta.com

The goal is to help all the families receive the necessary support and services they need per their Individual Support Plan (ISP). Only through education and awareness are we going to help the process and hopefully work towards a positive outcome.

The due date for submission of your transition stories is December 4 at noon. It only takes a few minutes….please help us advocate for our services!

“UNITED – WE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!”

Sincerely,

Heidi

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Disability Day at the Capitol – February 25, 2009:

For more information, please go to the following website to RSVP:

http://www.ciclt.net/ul/gcdd/Mark_Your_Calendar_Postcard_09_Capitol_Impact2.pdf

or www.gcdd.org

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Positive Sports Media Coverage:

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?videoId=3696478 (Great inspirational story for everyone to watch during this holiday season. This is what sports should be about!)

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Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation sponsors Special Education Lecture Series:

2008-2009

6TH ANNUAL SEMINAR SERIES

CRITICAL ISSUES FACING SPECIAL NEEDS AND

AT- RISK CHILDREN

The Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, The Marcus Autism Center at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, University of Georgia ative Extension, The Barton Child Law and Policy Clinic at Emory University School of Law and the Supreme Court of Georgia’s Committee on Justice for Children Present.

Have you ever attended these special education lecture series? They are provided free of charge in part through the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation. These lectures, offered monthly, are in their 6th year and cover a variety of critical issues facing children with special needs or at-risk children. Attached is the 2008-2009 special education lecture series schedule, provided by the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation. Feel free to share this information with anyone who may be interested. To view archived lectures, please follow the following link:

www.gaprofessionalseries.org .

Additionally, anyone interested in being placed on a reminder mailing list for future lectures can contact Kathleen Dumitrescu, Attorney at Law, Advocacy in Education Project with the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation. Kathleen's email address is KDumitrescu@... .

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and Beckett to speak at CDC on December 11, 2009:

Thank you for your interest in the Beckett Family Lecture. We are happy toannounce that a new date for the event has been set. Registration for thenew date is now open. Please see the invitation below to register. Weapologize for any inconvenience. CDC's National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental DisabilitiesPresents A Focus on DisabilitiesGuest Speakers Beckett and BeckettFrom Family VoicesThursday, December 11 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (EST) CDC, Roybal CampusTom Harkin Global Communications CenterBuilding 19, Auditorium A 1600 Clifton Road, NEAtlanta, GA 30333Join CDC's National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilitiesin welcoming a presentation from and Beckett. Beckettcurrently serves as Director of National Policy for Family Voices. Herdaughter is Beckett, in w

hose name a Medicaid home and community-basedwaiver program was developed-often called the Beckett Waiver program(read more about and Beckett below). The Becketts will sharedetails on bringing families and communities together to obtain services forchildren with special needs/disabilities. There is no fee, but registration<http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=HIjju9dqoGeJ0C4f856ExQ_3d_3d> isrequired. For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/ncbddd or contact Marcia atmfv9@... or Angie Colson at ftt7@.... More about and Beckett contracted viral encephalitis when she was 6 months old. The viruscaused severe damage to her body, including her ability to breathe. She wasplaced on a ventilator and spent three years at a pediatric intensive careunit. Created in 1982, the home and community-based waiver program oftencalled the Beckett Waiver program, allows children who would otherwisebe hospitalized or institutionalized to get treated at home and continue tomaintain Medicaid eligibility. was the first recipient of this waiver.Her mother, Beckett, worked with Congress to obtain this waiver. About Family VoicesFamily Voices <http://www.familyvoices.org/> , a national grassroots networkof families and friends, believes that people with special health needs facecommon problems caused by fundamental inadequacies in our health caresystem. Family Voices does not support any specific health care reform plan.Instead, Family Voices advocates for the inclusion of a set of basicprinciples in every health care reform proposal. Aud

io conferencing is available. Please click on the registration linkabove to register. HHS Logo CDC Logo <http://www.cdc.gov/> Presented in partnership with Autism Speaks and the Association ofUniversity Centers on Disability. Natasha SinghOffice of Planning, Policy and EvaluationNational Center on Birth Defects and Developmental DisabilitiesCenters for Disease Control and PreventionNorthrop Grumman CITS Contract faxnsingh1@...

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Media inquiry for Kids on Wheels Magazine:

For an article in Kids on Wheels magazine, I'm looking for kids with disabilities (especially wheelchair-users, ages 8-12) and their parents for a series of articles called "Children and the Online World."

My aim is to collect advice and anecdotes from parents and kids about the role the Internet plays in kids' lives today. What are its good and bad uses? How important is the online world for school and social life (making and communicating with friends)? How do parents monitor kids' online

behavior, if at all? How do they encourage their kids to use the Internet while ensuring kids' safety?

All I need is about 15 minutes on the phone. I need to wrap up interviews by Fri., Dec. 5th.

Feel free to pass this along to others who might be interested.

Many thanks, in advance.

Best,

Ben Mattlin

KIDS ON WHEELS

bmattlin@...

www.kidsonwheels.ccForwardSourceID:NT0034ABEA

--Heidi J. (Proud Mother to - 8 years old with Down syndrome & - 7 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.