Disability Scoop: Obama Budget Brings Mixed Bag For People With Disabilities

[Guest guest]

----- Forwarded Message ----To: Undisclosed List Sent: Tue, February 15, 2011 3:44:01 PMSubject: Obama Budget Brings Mixed Bag For People With Disabilities

Obama Budget Brings Mixed Bag For People With Disabilities

By Diament February 14, 2011

[Guest guest]

I read with interest the part about Soc.Sec. - " were left largely untouched. " A

friend called today and told me at their annual review, they were told that

there was going to be a change in the evaluation of certain types of

disabilities. Since her child is autistic, she felt the woman at the Soc. Sec.

office meant people on the autism spectrum. She was also told that their are

changes coming with regard to what constitutes an asset, but the woman didn't go

into specifics. I am hoping that this doesn't mean our children who are on

S.S.D. will have to be re-evaluated to determine if they are still eligible to

receive benefits. As for the grants that are mentioned, I wonder how they will

determine who will get any of the grant money. What child is more worthy of help

than another with the same issues, and how far will $40 million dollars stretch?

I guess we will have to wait and see. We still have to find out how the Supreme

Ct. will rule on Mr. Obama's health care plan, and now this.

G.

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> ----- Forwarded Message ----

>

> To: Undisclosed List

> Sent: Tue, February 15, 2011 3:44:01 PM

> Subject: Obama Budget Brings Mixed Bag For People With Disabilities

>

>

> Obama Budget Brings Mixed Bag For People With Disabilities

> By Diament

> February 14, 2011

>

http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2011/02/14/obama-budget-2012/12282/?utm_medium=em\

ail & utm_campaign=February+15%2C+2011%3A+News+from+Disability+Scoop & utm_source=YM\

LP & utm_term=

>

> Special education appears to be a bright spot for Americans with disabilities

> in the president’s $3.73 trillion budget proposal released Monday.

> In a plan featuring flat or reduced spending for many programs, special

> education got a boost. President Barack Obama included $200 million in extra

> funds for state grants for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or

> IDEA, and added $50 million to help young children with disabilities.

> The increase is “modest†for an $11.5 billion program, says Deb Ziegler of

the

> Council for Exceptional Children, which lobbies on behalf of special

educators.

> But, she adds, “in this budget climate, we’re appreciative of anything we

get.â€

> Other programs for Americans with disabilities are likely to fare worse.

Under

> Obama’s proposal, funding to ensure voter access for people with

disabilities

> will be eliminated. And there will be $104 million less in federal money

> available to build new housing for those with disabilities.

> What’s more, a program that administers federal grants to promote the

inclusion

> of people with developmental disabilities in the community is slated to be

cut

> nearly in half.

> “There’s a lot of stuff that’s very concerning,†says Ari Ne’eman,

president of

> the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. “Everybody recognizes that these are

> difficult fiscal times but we need to make sure that we aren’t sacrificing

the

> long-term rights and opportunities for people with disabilities.â€

> Entitlement programs like Social Security were left largely untouched. But

> Obama is proposing a $40 million pilot project designed to wean children from

> the Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, program by providing grants to help

> improve children’s outcomes.

> Meanwhile, the budget maintains funding for ongoing research into autism

> spectrum disorders.

> The proposal presented Monday represents the president’s funding request for

> fiscal year 2012, which begins in October. At present, Congress is still

> considering spending for the current fiscal year, a more pressing concern for

> many disability advocates.

> Late last week, congressional Republicans proposed slashing special education

> by $557.7 million for 2011 alongside other cuts.

> “I think the threat is very real,†says the Council for Exceptional

Children’s

> Ziegler. “The quality of services for students is in jeopardy

>

[Guest guest]

I make sure my daughter who is now becoming an adult has no assets. Her accts for SS are listed as ITF (in trust for) as are any other accounting. So - she has no assets.

To: sList Sent: Tue, February 15, 2011 10:28:28 PMSubject: Re: Disability Scoop: Obama Budget Brings Mixed Bag For People With Disabilities

I read with interest the part about Soc.Sec. - "were left largely untouched." A friend called today and told me at their annual review, they were told that there was going to be a change in the evaluation of certain types of disabilities. Since her child is autistic, she felt the woman at the Soc. Sec. office meant people on the autism spectrum. She was also told that their are changes coming with regard to what constitutes an asset, but the woman didn't go into specifics. I am hoping that this doesn't mean our children who are on S.S.D. will have to be re-evaluated to determine if they are still eligible to receive benefits. As for the grants that are mentioned, I wonder how they will determine who will get any of the grant money. What child is more worthy of help than another with the same issues, and how far will $40 million dollars stretch? I guess we will have to wait and see. We still have to find out how the Supreme Ct. will rule on Mr. Obama's

health care plan, and now this.G.>> > > > > ----- Forwarded Message ----> > To: Undisclosed List > Sent: Tue, February 15, 2011 3:44:01 PM> Subject: Obama Budget Brings Mixed Bag For People With Disabilities> > > Obama Budget Brings Mixed Bag For People With Disabilities> By Diament > February 14, 2011> http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2011/02/14/obama-budget-2012/12282/?utm_medium=email & utm_campaign=February+15%2C+2011%3A+News+from+Disability+Scoop & utm_source=YMLP & utm_term=> > Special education appears to be a bright spot for Americans with

disabilities > in the president’s $3.73 trillion budget proposal released Monday.> In a plan featuring flat or reduced spending for many programs, special > education got a boost. President Barack Obama included $200 million in extra > funds for state grants for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or > IDEA, and added $50 million to help young children with disabilities.> The increase is “modest†for an $11.5 billion program, says Deb Ziegler of the > Council for Exceptional Children, which lobbies on behalf of special educators. > But, she adds, “in this budget climate, we’re appreciative of anything we get.â€> Other programs for Americans with disabilities are likely to fare worse. Under > Obama’s proposal, funding to ensure voter access for people with disabilities > will be eliminated. And there will be $104 million less in federal money >

available to build new housing for those with disabilities.> What’s more, a program that administers federal grants to promote the inclusion > of people with developmental disabilities in the community is slated to be cut > nearly in half.> “There’s a lot of stuff that’s very concerning,†says Ari Ne’eman, president of > the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. “Everybody recognizes that these are > difficult fiscal times but we need to make sure that we aren’t sacrificing the > long-term rights and opportunities for people with disabilities.â€> Entitlement programs like Social Security were left largely untouched. But > Obama is proposing a $40 million pilot project designed to wean children from > the Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, program by providing grants to help > improve children’s outcomes.> Meanwhile, the budget maintains funding for

ongoing research into autism > spectrum disorders.> The proposal presented Monday represents the president’s funding request for > fiscal year 2012, which begins in October. At present, Congress is still > considering spending for the current fiscal year, a more pressing concern for > many disability advocates.> Late last week, congressional Republicans proposed slashing special education > by $557.7 million for 2011 alongside other cuts.> “I think the threat is very real,†says the Council for Exceptional Children’s > Ziegler. “The quality of services for students is in jeopardy>