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5/14 #CripTheVote chat on the Disability Integration Act

#CripTheVote Twitter Chat

Disability Integration Act of 2015

and Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS)

Guest Host: Stephanie Woodward, Center for Disability Rights

Saturday, May 14, 2016

5:00-6:15 pm EST

#DIAchat  

Hosted by Andrew Pulrang, Gregg Beratan, and Alice Wong, #CripTheVote explored various policy issues important to people with disabilities this spring. We are delighted to have guest host Stephanie Woodward, Director of Advocacy, Center for Disability Rights, for a conversation about the Disability Integration Act of 2015 and Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS) in general.

The Disability Integration Act of 2015 is a bill (S.2427) introduced by Senator Chuck Schumer. From his press release (1/7/16):

…the legislation ensures that any individual who is found eligible for institutional care must also be given the option to receive the same necessary services and supports at home, or in a setting of their choosing, that would have otherwise been provided in an institutional setting.

The federal government describes Community-Based Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS) as:

…sustainable, person-driven long-term support system in which people with disabilities and chronic conditions have choice, control and access to a full array of quality services that assure optimal outcomes, such as independence, health and quality of life.

More on Long-Term Services and Supports from the National Council on Aging:

https://www.ncoa.org/public-policy-action/long-term-services-and-supports/

Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Issues for People with Disabilities from The Arc:

http://www.thearc.org/what-we-do/public-policy/policy-issues/long-term

Overview of DIA:

http://www.disabilityintegrationact.org/

Full text of the bill:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/2427/text

Medicaid and Long-Term Services and Supports: A Primer (Kaiser Family Foundation, December 15, 2015): http://kff.org/medicaid/report/medicaid-and-long-term-services-and-supports-a-primer/

Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Programs: 2012 Data Update (Kaiser Family Foundation, November 3, 2015):

http://kff.org/medicaid/report/medicaid-home-and-community-based-services-programs-2012-data-update/

Community Living Policy Center

http://clpc.ucsf.edu

How to Participate

When the chat begins, check out the live-stream: http://twubs.com/CripTheVote or search #DIAchat on Twitter for the series live tweets.

Follow @AndrewPulrang @DisVisibility @GreggBeratan and @IStepFunny (Stephanie) on Twitter

Use the hashtags #CripTheVote and #DIAchat when you tweet

Check out this explanation of how to participate in a chat by Ruti Regan: https://storify.com/RutiRegan/examplechat

May 14: Twitter Chat Questions

The DIA will establish a fed law that will make states & insurance providers offer community-based LTSS #CripTheVote #DIAchat

Rather than the current situation where it’s optional for states & insurance companies to provide community-based LTSS #CripTheVote #DIAchat

For more on what’s required under Disability Integration Act of 2015, go to @NationalADAPT: http://www.adapt.org/main.diamain #CripTheVote #DIAchat

Q1 If you use LTSS for your daily activities, what are your experiences accessing those services? #CripTheVote #DIAchat

Q2 Why are community-based personal assistance services important to you compared to institutions?  #CripTheVote #DIAchat

Q3 Do you currently receive enough LTSS to live your life the way you want? If no, please explain #CripTheVote #DIAchat

Q4 For those who receive LTSS through private insurance or state programs, what are the challenges using them? #CripTheVote #DIAchat

Q5 How will DIA’s ban on service caps, waitlists impact the disability community & the all people? #CripTheVote #DIAchat

Q6 How would the DIA work in different states with different services already in place @IStepFunny? #CripTheVote #DIAchat

Q7 How would the additional community-based services be paid for @IStepFunny? #CripTheVote #DIAchat

Q8 In what ways is the right to adequate community-based LTSS a civil & human rights issue? #CripTheVote #DIAchat

There’s also a provision in the DIA requiring more accessible & affordable housing. #CripTheVote #DIAchat

Q9 How does availability of housing relate to access to community-based LTSS? What do you think of this provision? #CripTheVote #DIAchat

Q10 What can we do to support the DIA? How can we talk about this w/ people who don’t understand or use LTSS? #CripTheVote #DIAchat

The DIA was introduced in the Senate and sent to the Cmte on Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions #CripTheVote #DIAchat

Q11 If you support the DIA, how will you communicate w/ your Congressperson to get it passed? Ideas, @IStepFunny? #CripTheVote #DIAchat

Q12 What does ‘community integration’ mean to you as a person w/ a disability?  #CripTheVote #DIAchat

Q13 What is missing in the DIA? What do you want in a society that where disabled people can truly thrive? #CripTheVote #DIAchat

Q14 Any final questions to Stephanie about the Disability Integration Act of 2015? #CripTheVote

Additional Links

Resources on voting and people with disabilities:

http://disabilitythinking.com/election-2016-cripthevote

#CripTheVote Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/CripTheVote/

A note on language and why we use the term ‘crip’

http://disabilitythinking.com/disabilitythinking/2016/3/28/cripthevote-notes-on-crip

About

#CripTheVote is a nonpartisan campaign to engage both voters and politicians in a productive discussion about disability issues in the United States, with the hope that Disability takes on greater prominence within the American political landscape.

While #CripTheVote is a nonpartisan project, we understand that many people have already developed preferences for particular candidates. This is great–we only ask that everyone is respectful in their interactions with each other. Our primary focus here is on increasing engagement with disability issues as a part of American politics and on the need for that we are all in agreement!

Please note we do not represent the entire disability community nor would we ever claim to do so. There are many ways to create social change and engaging in conversation is one approach.

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