LSA-DN News
LSA-DN Winter Meeting in Atlantic Beach January 29-31, 2020
The LSA-DN Winter Meeting will take place in Atlantic Beach, Florida from January 29-January 31, 2020. Our winter meeting will focus on data, outcomes, and building and sustaining a direct service workforce in a challenging Medicaid landscape. We will be welcoming dynamic speakers including Kezia Scales of PHI and Joe Macbeth of the National Association of Direct Service Providers. We look forward to seeing you all in Florida soon!
National
Amtrak To Drop $25,000 Ticket Price For 2 Wheelchair Users After Complaints
Amtrak has reversed course — at least partly — on its plan to charge two wheelchair users $25,000 for a short train ride, after hearing criticism, including from a U.S. senator.
On Friday, NPR reported that two riders, who use power wheelchairs, were told they'd have to pay at least $25,000 for a two-hour train ride from Chicago to the station in Bloomington-Normal, Ill. It's a ticket that usually costs $16.
More from NPR
FDA Misses Deadline To Ban Devices Used To Shock Those With Special Needs
The Food and Drug Administration missed its own deadline to finalize a ban on devices used to administer electric shocks on people with developmental disabilities.
The agency said in late 2018 that it intended to finalize a 2016 proposal to disallow so-called electrical stimulation devices. At the time, the FDA said regulations would be issued by the end of 2019, but to date, no action has been taken.
More from Disability Scoop
State
Georgia caregivers earning less than $10 an hour pushing state leaders for higher pay
Hundreds will head to the state Capitol, Thursday, to advocate for higher pay for Georgia caregivers.
According to They Deserve More Georgia, a statewide coalition of supporters of people with developmental disabilities, caregivers make less than fast-food employees in the state.
“$9.47," said Erin Zauner. "$9.47 is not a lot."
Zauner is the community relations manager for In Community, a disability service organization. She said the organization's direct service professionals (DSPs), provide care and services for people with disabilities and their families.
More from 11 ALIVE
Research & Reports
White Paper on Outcomes and Metrics to Support States’ Implementation of the HCBS Settings Rule
The HCBS Advocacy Coalition, with support from the Community Living Policy Center, released a white paper meant to assist states and stakeholders in tracking progress and outcomes from implementation of the Medicaid Home and Community Based (HCBS) Settings Rule. Issued in 2014, the Rule was designed to ensure that all people receiving HCBS have the full benefits of community living, including access to the broader community, choice and control over their daily lives, and opportunities for employment. States have until March 2022 to comply with the Rule, which if implemented well, has the potential to improve the quality of Medicaid-funded HCBS systems at all levels: individual participants, providers, and state systems.
More from the HCBS Advocacy Coalition
Resources, Opinions & Opportunities
Emotional support animals could be banned from planes under DOT rule
Snakes on a plane? Probably not —at least in the cabin.
The U.S. Department of Transportation Wednesday released a proposed rule that would let airlines ban most "emotional support" animals in airplane cabins and board only specially trained service dogs to assist people with disabilities.
Directed as part of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, the draft rule would replace one that requires airlines to allow the boarding of sometimes unusual creatures to provide emotional support for a passenger.
More from Roll Call
Upcoming Events
LSA-DN 2020 Winter Meeting
January 26-29, 2020
Atlantic Beach, Florida
LSA-DN 2020 Spring Meeting
April 22-24, 2020
Washington, D.C.
LSA-DN 2020 Summer Meeting
August 5-7, 2020
Cincinnati, Ohio
Groups
For more information on our topic specific work groups, please email Dania Douglas at ddouglas@lutheranservices.org.
- Policy & Advocacy Team
- Culture and Engagement Workgroup
- Administrative Cost Survey Working Group
Keep in Touch
Bill Kallestad
Convener
Lisa Morgan
Treasurer
Dania Douglas
Director of Public Policy
LSA Disability Network
Lutheran Services in America