  
Action Alert Pass the ABLE Act in the 113th Congress Major Events Last Week Housing – Department of Housing and Urban Development Issues Guidance on Olmstead On June 5, 2013, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued new guidance to HUD-assisted housing providers on how they can support state and local efforts to increase the integrated housing opportunities for individuals with disabilities who are transitioning from, or at serious risk of entering, institutions and other restrictive, segregated settings. The guidance provides background information about the integration mandate under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Supreme Court decision in Olmstead v. L.C. The guidance also includes a question and answer section addressing the definition of integrated setting and the role HUD agencies play in Olmstead implementation planning. Announcements Long Term Services and Supports – The President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities Releases its 2012 Report to President Obama The President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID) released its 2012 Report to The President that addresses the provision of long-term services and supports through managed care arrangements. It includes background information about the evolution of managed care and offers 15 recommendations for the federal government to pursue. The recommendations fall into four categories: disability stakeholder engagement, choice and self-determination, consumer protections and rights, and quality measurement, data collection and research. Health Care – Resources on Health Insurance Community Catalyst and Georgetown University’s Health Policy Institute created a Health Insurance 101 online guide on private health insurance. The guide is intended to help consumer advocates answer critical questions about private insurance: What is health insurance and how does it work? How do people get health insurance today? How will health insurance change under health care reform? Answers to questions about fully insured employer health plans, self-insured employer health plans, medical underwriting, and more are provided. Civil Rights – UNICEF Releases 2013 Edition of The State of The World’s Children Last week, the 2013 edition of UNICEF’s The State of the World’s Children was released. This year’s publication is entitled Children with Disabilities, and examines the discrimination and deprivations that these children and their families confront. The report describes the progress that is being made, albeit unevenly, in ensuring that children with disabilities have the fair access to services and opportunities that is their right. The report also urges governments, their international partners, civil society, and employers to take concrete steps to advance the cause of inclusion – as a matter of equity and for the benefit of all. Download the PDF version of the report. |
