Family to Family Classes Winter-Spring 2011!!!

Does someone in your life has mental illness?



A FREE 12 - week course offering support & education to family members and friends of individuals with serious mental illness.


Taught by trained NAMI-CT family members.



FAMILY TO FAMILY CLASSES Winter-Spring 2011:

DANIELSON

Date: Begins Wednesday, January 19th 2011
Contact & Registration: Bill & Terri at 860.928.5947 or pearsallw@sbcglobal.net

NORWALK

Date: Begins Monday, January 24th 2011
Contact & Registration: Claudia at 203.869.1018 or Ned at 203.972.3410

NAUGATUCK

Date: Begins Thursday, February 10th 2011
Contact & Registration: Terrilynn at 203.881.2707

GUILFORD

Date: Begins Monday, February 28th 2011
Contact & Registration: Dan & Jeanne at 203.453.2530 or d.proctor@sbcglobal.net

UNIONVILLE ( Part of Farmington)

Date: Begins Thursday, March 10th 2011
Contact & Registration: Janet at 860.620.7717 or janetb1954@comcast.net


For more information about the Family - to - Family educational course,

please contact Paloma B. Dee at NAMI-CT office ( 1.800.215.3021)

or by email at familyeducation@namict.org

Good news about housing opportunities for people with disabilities.

HUD, HHS ANNOUNCE JOINT EFFORT TO ASSIST NEARLY 1,000 NON-ELDERLY PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES TO MOVE FROM INSTITUTIONS
TO INDEPENDENCE�

In June of 2009, in recognition of the 10th anniversary of the Supreme Court�s Olmstead decision, President Obama announced the �Year of Community Living�, a year-long effort dedicated to his vigorous commitment to enforcement of civil rights for Americans with disabilities and to ensuring the fullest inclusion of all people in the life of our Nation.

The Olmstead decision, issued in July 1999, requires states to administer services, programs, and activities "in the most integrated setting appropriate to the needs of qualified individuals with disabilities."��

In support of the president�s efforts, Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) and Shaun Donovan, Secretary of the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) jointly announced that they would support and encourage their agencies to begin to work more closely on policies and programs that would increase community living opportunities for persons with disabilities.
Also participating in the announcement was Kelly Buckland of the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL).� Many of NCIL�s members work closely with Medicaid agencies and public housing authorities to make community living possible for thousands of Americans with disabilities.
Continuing the work of the �Year of Community Living� under the �Community Living Initiative�, on October first of this year HUD awarded forty three hundred (Category I) vouchers, totaling more than $33.5 million dollars, to 20 States and the District of Columbia to help support individuals with disabilities that are at risk of institutionalization to remain in the community.
Today, we are pleased to announce the award of nearly one thousand additional (Category II) vouchers to 15 States to support individuals who are currently institutionalized in long term care settings such as nursing homes and other institutions, to return to the community and receive the necessary supports to live as independently as possible.�
��The Obama administration is committed to helping Americans with disabilities live independent lives. Housing is a critical piece of the equation when it comes to transitioning out of institutions,� said Donovan. �Coordinating this effort with the Department of Health and Human Services is an important step in ensuring that more Americans with disabilities will have the housing and support they need to fully participate in community life.��
As part of the continuing efforts to collaborate to increase community living options for persons with disabilities these awards are tied to states with Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration (MFP) programs that have demonstrated relationships with housing authorities. HUD and CMS facilitated these partnerships by conducting an extensive outreach and training program to MFP grantees and PHAs to help each understand the other�s programs and respective needs.

The MFP Demonstration is designed to support States in the identification and reformation of legal, budgetary or other barriers to increase the availability of community services, �balance� their long-term care systems, and help Medicaid enrollees transition from institutions to the community. Now in its fourth year, the MFP program has made it possible for almost 12,000 individuals to live more independent lives by providing necessary supports and services in the community. Twenty-nine States and the District of Columbia are currently participating in the MFP program.
�
�This is the first time two federal agencies are offering a combination of rental assistance, health care and other supportive services targeted to this population.� �Through our collaboration with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, I know that we will be able to dramatically change peoples� lives�. �Individuals with disabilities can have a life in the community that serves their needs and supports them in leading productive, meaningful lives� said Sebelius.
HUD & HHS are excited about this first collaborative effort and look forward to its success as well as other opportunities for collaboration that will increase an individual�s ability to live in the community and receive the supports they need to lead full, independent lives.
Here is a link to the press release: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/press/press_releases_media_advisories/2011/HUDNo.11-003
Here is a link to the awardees: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=rane2_pr2.pdf ��


Regards,

Janet Miller, MPA
Office of External Affairs
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
7500 Security Boulevard, S1-05-17
Baltimore, Maryland 21244
410-786-2157
Janet.miller2@cms.hhs.gov


Please forward and post. Cathy
--- On wrote:

From: NCIL
Subject: Good news about housing opportunities for people with
disabilities.
To: "NCIL"
Date: Friday, January 7, 2011, 1:09 PM

Good afternoon.

Please feel free to share the following with your colleagues and
partners:

In June of 2009, in recognition of the 10th anniversary of the Supreme
Court's Olmstead decision, President Obama announced the "Year of
Community Living", a year-long effort dedicated to his vigorous
commitment to enforcement of civil rights for Americans with
disabilities and to ensuring the fullest inclusion of all people in the
life of our Nation.

The Olmstead decision, issued in July 1999, requires states to
administer services, programs, and activities "in the most integrated
setting appropriate to the needs of qualified individuals with
disabilities."

In support of the president's efforts, Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary
of the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) and Shaun Donovan,
Secretary of the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD)
jointly
announced that they would support and encourage their agencies to begin
to work more closely on policies and programs that would increase
community living opportunities for persons with disabilities.

Also participating in the announcement was Kelly Buckland of the
National Council on Independent Living (NCIL). Many of NCIL's members
work closely with Medicaid agencies and public housing authorities to
make community living possible for thousands of Americans with
disabilities.

Continuing the work of the "Year of Community Living" under the
"Community Living Initiative", on October first of this year HUD
awarded forty three hundred (Category I) vouchers, totaling more than
$33.5 million dollars, to 20 States and the District of Columbia to
help
support individuals with disabilities that are at risk of
institutionalization to remain in the community.

Today, we are pleased to announce the award of nearly one thousand
additional (Category II) vouchers to 15 States to support individuals
who are currently institutionalized in long term care settings such as
nursing homes and other institutions, to return to the community and
receive the necessary supports to live as independently as possible.

"The Obama administration is committed to helping Americans with
disabilities live independent lives. Housing is a critical piece of the
equation when it comes to transitioning out of institutions," said
Donovan. "Coordinating this effort with the Department of Health and
Human Services is an important step in ensuring that more Americans
with
disabilities will have the housing and support they need to fully
participate in community life."

As part of the continuing efforts to collaborate to increase community
living options for persons with disabilities these awards are tied to
states with Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration (MFP)
programs that have demonstrated relationships with housing authorities.
HUD and CMS facilitated these partnerships by conducting an extensive
outreach and training program to MFP grantees and PHAs to help each
understand the other's programs and respective needs.

The MFP Demonstration is designed to support States in the
identification and reformation of legal, budgetary or other barriers to
increase the availability of community services, "balance" their
long-term care systems, and help Medicaid enrollees transition from
institutions to the community. Now in its fourth year, the MFP program
has made it possible for almost 12,000 individuals to live more
independent lives by providing necessary supports and services in the
community. Twenty-nine States and the District of Columbia are
currently
participating in the MFP program.

"This is the first time two federal agencies are offering a
combination of rental assistance, health care and other supportive
services targeted to this population. "Through our collaboration with
the Department of Housing and Urban Development, I know that we will be
able to dramatically change peoples' lives". "Individuals with
disabilities can have a life in the community that serves their needs
and supports them in leading productive, meaningful lives" said
Sebelius.

HUD & HHS are excited about this first collaborative effort and look
forward to its success as well as other opportunities for collaboration
that will increase an individual's ability to live in the community
and receive the supports they need to lead full, independent lives.

Here is a link to the press release:

Here is a link to the awardees:

Regards,

Janet Miller, MPA

Office of External Affairs

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

7500 Security Boulevard , S1-05-17

Baltimore , Maryland 21244

410-786-2157

CT Wheelchair Accessible Taxi Service Initiative

Metro Taxi and The Yellow Cab Company will provide on-demand wheelchair
accessible taxi service for the person with a disability who lives
and/or works in the respective company's geographical territory. Both
companies are currently licensed to provide traditional taxi service,
but plan to expand their territories to include portions of Greater
Hartford, New Haven, and Bridgeport where Metro Taxi and The Yellow Cab
Company are not currently licensed.

The companies will purchase 140 wheelchair accessible taxis, featuring the recently introduced paratransit vehicle, the MV-1. This vehicle,manufactured in the USA, is fueled by compressed natural gas (CNG)
which will improve upon local air quality and reduce our dependency on
foreign oil. Its spacious interior is large enough to accommodate two
wheelchairs.

To better serve the disability community, Metro Taxi ("Metro
Access") and The Yellow Cab Company ("Green Access Taxi") have
asked the Department of Transportation (DOT) for an additional 140 taxi
permits. DOT hearings have been scheduled and the companies must
demonstrate why the proposed expanded territories are essential to
public need. This is the most difficult part of the initiative, as we
require testifiers from each territory applied for to produce
compelling testimony as to why the proposed service is essential in fulfilling
everyday transportation needs.

There are two Connecticut Department of Transportation hearings scheduled:

If you would like to attend one of the hearings and/or testify, please contact us to obtain a time slot ASAP: . Also, if you need assistance with transportation, please let us know.

The hearing location is The Connecticut Department of Transportation, 2800 Berlin Turnpike, Newington, CT 06131. There will be signage directing attendees to the hearing room.

The following are questions that have been raised over the past few months. It is our hope that we are able to answer any question you may have regarding the initiative.

Green Access Taxi is headquartered in Bloomfield and is applying for permits to serve Avon, Barkhamsted, Berlin, Bloomfield, East Granby, East Hartford, East Windsor, Enfield, Farmington, Glastonbury, Granby, Hartford, Hartland, Manchester, Newington, New Britain, Rocky Hill,
Simsbury, Somers, Southington, South Windsor, Stafford, Suffield, Vernon, Wethersfield, Windsor and Windsor Locks.

Metro Access is headquartered in West Haven and is applying for permits to serve Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Branford, Bridgeport,
Cheshire, Clinton, Derby, Durham, East Haven, Fairfield, Guilford, Hamden,
Madison, Meriden, Middlefield, Milford, Monroe, Naugatuck, New Haven, North Branford, North Haven, Orange, Oxford, Prospect, Seymour, Shelton, Stratford, Trumbull, Wallingford, West Haven and Woodbridge.

Most of the selected towns are already serviced by our respective companies. All wheelchair accessible vehicles will be purchased as new CNG taxis and will be fueled at our individual headquarters. Since
there are few alternative fueling stations in Connecticut, the territories
selected must be reasonably close to our own fueling stations. With the
anticipated success of the CNG initiative, a future goal would be to
expand wheelchair accessible taxi service to additional areas of the
state.

Both taxi companies will provide demand-response wheelchair accessible
taxi transportation. This means that there are no requirements to book
your transportation in advance. Our service will be available 24 hours
per day, 7 days per week. Metro Taxi and The Yellow Cab Company offer
the latest in computer dispatch technology with GPS tracking, allowing
us to provide the most effective and efficient service to all our
customers. For the utmost convenience, we will offer advanced
reservations.

All taxi passengers traveling in the wheelchair accessible taxi pay
exactly the same as all other taxi passengers; there is no additional
charge for wheelchair service. Up to four passengers may travel
together for the same price, and the taxicab will accommodate two wheelchairs.
Also, DOT regulations state that all taxicab companies operating in the
same area must charge all passengers the same metered rate.

Yes. Beginning early in 2011, Metro Taxi, in a partnership with the Greater New Haven Transit District, will be participating in a Connecticut first, the New Freedom Taxi Voucher Program. The program
will provide the Greater New Haven (disability) community with a 50%
reduction on taxi fares. This is a new funding project for Connecticut
and should be available by Feb 1st.

We plan to provide wheelchair accessible taxi service with approximately the same response time as our current taxi service
(typically within 15 minutes). The combined proposed territory is
extensive, stretching from Enfield to Fairfield. It is densely
populated and contains most of the state's medical facilities. Should we be
successful in adding 140 accessible taxicabs to the proposed area, the
resulting ratio of accessible taxicabs would only be approximately 15%.
We're hoping we've requested enough permits.

Yes, all drivers will be trained to assist in boarding. In addition, drivers will be instructed using the _Easter Seals Project Action Taxicab Pocket Guide_, which provides guidance in transporting people with disabilities.

Metro Access and Green Access are participating in a U.S. Department of Energy grant program designed to convert fleet vehicles across the
nation to alternative fuels, improving upon our air quality and reducing
our dependence on foreign oil. The grant will support the additional
cost to convert a new vehicle to CNG fueling. Since we're already
committed to using CNG, we decided to go the extra distance and
purchase new MV-1 paratransit vehicles. The MV-1's are accessible, can
accommodate two (2) wheelchairs, and are available as CNG taxicabs.

Yes; and even safer. Currently, there are over 12 million such vehicles
worldwide. The vehicles have an excellent safety record for two primary
reasons: 1.) the property of the fuel itself and the integrity of the
natural gas vehicle; 2.) its fuel delivery system. New natural gas
vehicles are subjected to the same federal government safety standards
and crash tests as other vehicles. Based upon a survey of 8,331
natural gas utility, school, municipal, and business fleet vehicles that
traveled 178.3 million miles, the NGV fleet had an injury rate 37%
lower than that of the gasoline fleet vehicle rate. (Clean Vehicle Education
Foundation, revised 9-17-2010).

Metro Taxi,

The Yellow Cab Company,

MV-1 vehicles,

Clean Vehicle Education Foundation,

Connecticut Clean Cities,

National Council for Independent Living,

Connecticut State Independent Living Council,

_Fueling the Future_, Vol. 1, 2010/2011:

Americans with Disabilities Act Coalition of Connecticut Names Metro Taxi and Metropolitan Livery President and CEO Bill Scalzi to Board of Directors.

You may direct any and all questions or need for additional information to:

Daria Smith at or cell phone at (860) 681-7599 or Debbie Melaragno
at or office phone at (860) 523-0126.

Debbie Melaragno
Administrative Assistant
CT State Independent Living Council
151 New Park Avenue
Hartford, CT 06106
(860) 523-0126 (phone)
(860) 586-7024 (fax)

Connecticut Council on Developmental Disabilities - Eastern CT Focus Group

You're Invited...

Connecticut Council on Developmental Disabilities
5 Year 2012-2016 State Plan
Eastern CT Focus Group
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Disability Network of Eastern CT
238 West Town Street, Norwich

The Connecticut Council on Developmental Disabilities would like your help. The mission of the Council is to promote the full inclusion of all people with disabilities in community life. We do this by working to improve services and supports for people with developmental disabilities and their families through advocacy, building the capacity of systems, and changing the system.

We would like to hear from you about what you think the Council’s priorities should be. You can tell us about anything you like but here are some questions to think about.

Community: Have you been able to join clubs and organizations, participate in community associations and events, go to recreation and social programs, and go to religious services? If not, why not?

School: Have you been going to the same school as other students in your neighborhood? If not, why not? Have you been in the same classroom with people your age who do not have disabilities? If not, why not? Have you been given enough help in the classroom to keep up with everyone else? If not, why not?

Work: Do you have a job? If not, why not? Do you work for a real business or company? Is the pay good? Do you get health benefits and paid vacations? If you don’t work, what kind of work would you like to do? Are you being trained to get the kind of job you would like to do? If not, what kind of training are you getting?

Home: Is your house or apartment wheelchair accessible? If not, why not? Do people who do not have disabilities live in your neighborhood? Are you living with people you chose to live with and want to live with? If not, why not?

Advocacy: Do you belong to a self-advocacy group? If not, why not? Do your parents belong to a parents group? If not, why not? Have you ever gone to a meeting or written a letter to complain about something or to try to get something changed? If not, why not? Do you want to be a leader in the filed of disabilities? If not, why not? What would help you become a leader?

Transportation: Do you need transportation? If you need transportation, do you have wheelchair accessible public transportation in your community? If not, why not? Are your city buses wheelchair accessible? Are the accessible city buses available when you want them? Can you afford the city bus fare? Is there other wheelchair accessible transportation like dial-a-ride and taxis available in your community? Can you use this transportation? If not, why not? Can you afford this transportation?

Help In Your Home: Do you need help in your home or apartment? If you need help, do you or your family use in-home support like personal assistants, homemaker home health aides, visiting nurses or respite care? If not, why not? Do you get the help you need? If not, why not? Are the workers who come into your home or apartment properly trained?

Technology: What kind of technology do you use to help you with day to day activities? A wheelchair? Computer and computer programs? What else?

Day Care: Do you use day care? If you need to use day care, but do not use day care, why not?

Health: Do you have a doctor? How about a dentist? If you don’t, why not? Have you ever been to the emergency room? What was your experience like? If you are older, or care for someone who is older, have you prepared papers to tell people how you want to be treated if you become very sick? Do you have a “do not resuscitate” order? What do you think about physician assisted suicide?

Safety: Are you afraid of being abused? Are you afraid of being forgotten? Are you afraid someone might try to take advantage of you? Are you afraid of being assaulted?

Protection: Have you, or has your child, ever been sprayed with ammonia or shocked with electricity or a taser? Have you, or your child, ever been tied down or held down by staff people? Have you, or your child, ever been locked in a room? Have you ever heard of family focused positive behavioral interventions and supports?

Respect: Have you, or your child, ever experienced discrimination or prejudice? Do you feel that people who do not have disabilities believe that you belong in the community, in school, and that you can work and contribute to the community?