On June 10th, Richard Rebisz, Hurricane Sandy Regional Director, Office of the Governor, met with ACI staff, including Executive Director Carole Tonks. Mr. Rebisz wanted to know more about the Alliance and our efforts to assist people with disabilities during the hurricane and its aftermath. We shared some of the barriers faced by many people disabilities receiving hurricane-related services as well as the issue of isolation people experienced after the storm.
LAKEVIEW SCHOOL'S WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY CELEBRATION
ACI had the privilege to attend the Working in the Community Celebration with our very own Ashley Gomez. Ashley has been volunteering with the Alliance since October 2012 as part of her SLE program at the Lakeview School. The celebration showcased all of the local community business who took part in the program. We are looking forward to partnering with the Lakeview School in the Working in the Community Program.
Middlesex County Public Hearing - Transportation
On June 6th, 2013, the Middlesex County Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing on the Senior Citizens Disabled Residents Transportation Assistance Program's FY 2014 budget. This is an opportunity for the public to give their input and express their concerns this program, which funds the county's Middlesex County Area Transit (MCAT) service.
WHEN: June 6th, 2013 at 7:00 PM.
WHERE: Middlesex County Administration Building 1 JFK Square, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities
A message from the New American Movement for People with Disabilities
In a global effort to improve the quality of life and human rights for over 650 million people with disabilities in all countries; the United Nations has called on the international community to join in ratifying its’ universal treaty the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Joining 153 other countries in the agreement to ensure that human rights are protected for all disabled persons, the Obama Administration; signed the treaty in 2009. Across the nation, disability advocates and lobbyists have called for the administration to urge the U.S. government to grant final approval of the treaty’s ratification.
Initially, their efforts proved to be a success because the treaty was officially submitted by the President to be ratified by the US Senate in May 2011. However, their work was temporarily thwarted after the Senate failed to ratify the treaty on December 4th, 2012. It was a huge disappointment for disability advocates across the globe and for many in the Senate. Although it gained substantial bipartisanship support leading up to floor vote, many rescinded their endorsement at the last minute. The New American Movement continues to advocate for the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by following its updates and encouraging our supporters to take action with us.
The UN’s disability treaty, seeks to protect the basic rights and human dignities of people with disabilities. The treaty also calls for all to be treated fairly; to not be discriminated against, and have to access to the same privileges as everyone else in society. The guiding principles of the Convention, establishes individual autonomy, protecting integrity, non-discrimination; equal opportunity, accessibility, gender equality, voting rights, and respect for children with disabilities.
The importance of this treaty’s ratification signifies the progression in defending citizens’ rights to fair treatment, opportunity, and freedom in a global community regardless of individual differences. If passed by the Senate, the United States will show its support and concern for disabled persons by reinforcing the rights that all people in society are entitled. To learn more about the UN’s Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, you can read about the treaty’s established Rights’ here.
Please help the New American Movement, and contact your Senators by utilizing our action alert! You can also receive updates regarding the status of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by clicking here. Additionally, the New American Movement team encourages our supporters to use social media to contact Senators!
Let us know what you think by sending an email to nampwd@caunj.org.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Thank you for your support!
Voters with Disabilities
On Primary Election Day, June 4, 2013 from 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM, Disability Rights New Jersey will have attorneys available by telephone to answer your questions concerning any disability-related voting problem you might experience.
PHONE: 1-800-922-7233 or 609-633-7106 (TTY)
EMAIL: mciccone@drnj.org
DARE TO DREAM CONFERENCE 2013
The Alliance attended the Dare to Dream Conference at Middlesex County College. Dare to Dream is a Student Leadership Conference that highlights the importance of college and career readiness for students with disabilities and is one of seven regional conferences sponsored by the NJ Department of Education, Office of Special Education.
Affordable Care Act Program
On May 16th, ACI, along with the US Department of Health and Human Services, Region II, hosted a lively and informative presentation on the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA). Barry Klitsberg, Administration on Community Living and Frank Winter, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, spoke about how the new federal health care insurance program will affect those currently receiving Medicare and Medicaid.
Colleen Roche, ACI’s Board of Trustees Chair, attended the program and had this to say about it:
Obamacare, PPACA, ACA, universal healthcare-no matter what you call it, everyone knows there will be some fairly significant changes in the way we access healthcare services and the insurance we use to pay for them headed our way in the near future. Passed in 2010, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is slowly being implemented throughout the nation. Health insurance “marketplaces,” (mechanisms to allow uninsured individuals, and those who may be unhappy with their current coverage, to purchase their insurance at more affordable rates based on their healthcare needs) will be introduced this fall and become operational beginning in 2014. On May 16, The Alliance Center for Independence (ACI), known for its diverse health and wellness programming, hosted an ACA question and answer session with guest speakers Frank Winter (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) and Barry Klitsberg (Administration on Community Living)
The session opened with a brief overview of the Affordable Care Act with an emphasis on how implementation of the Act will impact people with disabilities highlighting the following:
- What is the Affordable Care Act?
- What an insurance marketplace IS.
- What an insurance marketplace IS NOT.
- How will this insurance differ from private plans, Medicaid and Medicare.
- Who is eligible to enroll for coverage under these plans.
- Steps un/underinsured individuals can take now to get ready for the insurance marketplace.
- What is the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies Competitive Bidding Program, and how will affect suppliers and consumers in New Jersey.
- How the ACA affects preventative care, prescription drugs, insurance caps, long-term care supports and services and pre-existing conditions.
The audience was not at a loss for words when the floor was opened for questions. How, if at all, will the ACA affect my benefits and the-who, what, where, when and how of signing up for health insurance emerged as the two most common concerns raised. Colleen Roche, a healthcare advocate, was pleased ACI hosted the event and said, "The United States is the only industrialized nation that doesn’t provide some sort of universal healthcare to its citizens, about 20% of us are uninsured and, as nation, we rank just 37th in overall health outcomes despite spending more per person on healthcare than most other nations. Something has to change. It was great to hear from CMS and ACL representatives today on this important issue as it relates to the disabled community. As the ACA is implemented, it will impact everyone differently, and I think it’s important for us to have our questions answered “live” by people who know the ACA inside and out. As someone who pays a high monthly premium for my current health insurance, these changes can’t come soon enough.
More information on health insurance marketplaces can be found at healthcare.gov. If you would like copies of handouts from the workshop, please contact the ACI.
