LSA Disability Network

Sen. Kamala Harris apologizes for praising a man who described President Donald Trump’s actions as “mentally retarded,” federal education officials ask for ideas as they work to strengthen transition services for students with disabilities, and Marca Bristo — influential advocate for the disabled — dies at 66.

Why Iowa should invest in its human services workforce, Lutheran Services in America's fall webinar series on accreditation continues Sept. 17, and all U.S. dental schools will train students to manage treatment of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities at NCD's recommendation.

Lutheran Services in America kicks off its fall webinar series on accreditation, federal officials continue to tweak the Medicaid waiver rule, and more states are requiring insurers to cover developmental disabilities.

Lutheran Services in America will host a webinar series on accreditation starting Aug. 27, disability advocates decry “public charge” rule limiting aid for immigrants, and CMS releases report on 10 states with the greatest change in long-term services and supports system balancing.

LSI's Bill Kallestad reflects on last week's LSA-DN Summer Meeting, Lutheran Services in America's fall webinar series on accreditation begins this month, and at a time of low unemployment, employers are tapping a new talent pool.

The House of Representatives votes to renew a popular Medicaid program that moves people with disabilities from institutions into the community, a decline in Medicaid and CHIP enrollment suggests the child uninsured rate may rise again, and another look at the legacy of the Olmstead case and how progress comes with costs.

In this week's update: The Department of Justice celebrates 20 years of the Olmstead Supreme Court decision, a new study's findings on how Arkansas' Medicaid work requirement is affecting those already employed, and a federal watchdog finds MCPS student seclusion incidents among the highest in America.

In this update: Registration for the LSA-DN Summer Meeting in Philadelphia is open; Ali Stroker makes history as the first wheelchair user to win a Tony; and turning rights into reality: How guardianship and alternatives impact the autonomy of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (and more).

Lutheran Services in America Disability Network (LSA-DN) together with the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR), Autism Speaks, the Autism Society, and United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) are proud to announce the introduction of the Disability Community Act (H.R. 5902) in the United States Congress. On July 14, 2016, Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY) led the introduction of this bipartisan legislation in the House of Representatives with Congressman Steve Stivers (R-OH). The bill is also supported by the leaders of the Congressional Bipartisan Disabilities Caucus, Congressman Gregg Harper (R-MS) and Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI).

Lutheran Services in America, Incorporated (LSA), is proud to collaborate with The Arc of the United States’ Center for Future Planning on an initiative to connect older caregivers who support a family member with intellectual and developmental disability to future planning resources. The Arc has engaged a number of national and state partners to participate in this project including The Arc of North Carolina, The Arc of Tennessee, The National Council on Aging, the Association of Jewish Family and Children’s Agencies, the University of Illinois in Chicago’s (UIC) Department of Disability and Human Development, and LSA. This one-year project is made possible through a grant to The Arc from The Retirement Research Foundation, a national foundation dedicated to improving the lives of our nation’s elders.