LSA Disability Network

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.

On Monday and Tuesday, June 13-14, 10 members of LSA-DN's Policy & Advocacy Team (PAT) held several meetings on Capitol Hill with key Congressional offices. PAT strategized with Karen Summar in Sen. Chuck Grassley's (R-IA) office on furthering the Transition to Independence Act to increase integrated employment for people with disabilities. We then met with David Hoppe, Chief of Staff for Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI), and Ted McCann, Policy Advisor to the Speaker, on the recently released GOP Poverty Plan, its possible impact on people with disabilities, and future partnership opportunities with the network and the Speaker.

Lutheran Services in America Disability Network (LSA-DN) is pleased to welcome Timothy Shriver, Chairman of the Special Olympics, to speak at the Interfaith Disability Advocacy Coalition (IDAC) fall meeting in Washington, D.C. on October 26.

On October 7, Lutheran Services in America Disability Network (LSA-DN) presented Senator Robert Casey, Jr. (D-PA) with a plaque in recognition of his work on behalf of the disability community and his efforts to pass the historic ABLE legislation, an important step to providing more financial independence for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Forty representatives from 20+ LSA-DN member organizations gathered in Chicago at the ELCA headquarters for the Summer 2015 meeting on August 6 & 7. Network members learned from each other and several expert speakers about emerging trends in supports for people with disabilities. The network also celebrated the upcoming retirements of both Cindy Schroeder from Mosaic and Bill Nolan from KenCrest. Bill and Cindy have been the backbone of LSA-DN for many years and will be truly missed!