Two Partners in Policymaking Graduates Meet with State Senator John Albers (R-56)

Today, two Georgia Partners in Policymaking graduates met with their State Senator, John Albers. The trio met at a local Roswell area Starbucks to discuss issues facing the DD community. Kylie (pictured on the right) said that “Senator Albers was very nice and the meeting was very informative for both parties.” Kylie met with Senator Albers ready to discuss the issues surrounding Medicaid Waivers and employment for individuals with disabilities. Both Tricia and Kylie are recent Partners graduates and were challenged to meet with their legislator before July 30^th.

McDonald's Manager Arrested for Punching Mom of Two Autistic Boys in the Face

 


MARIETTA, Ga. -- An arrest warrant has been issued for the manager of a Marietta McDonald's after she punched a mother of two autistic boys in the face, Marietta police said.

It happened at the McDonald's on Bells Ferry Road, police said.

The manager, Tiffany Denise Allen, told the woman that the twin boys’ service dog, Barkley, wasn't allowed inside, police said. Allen was off duty.

The law, however, states that the dog is allowed inside.

The boys’ mother, Jennifer Schwenker, said the incident took place on July 12 when she took the boys to the McDonald's to have lunch.

Channel 2’s Diana Davis got her hands on a surveillance tape showing one of the twins and Barkley enjoying the restaurant’s play area.

The family was about to leave when Allen told them there were no dogs allowed, police said.

Schwenker explained that Barkley is a service dog, allowed by federal law in all public places including restaurants. Schwenker offered to provide proof of the permit for the dog, Marietta police said.

It wasn’t enough for Allen, they said. The tape shows her following the family around the McDonald's, even down the hall to the restroom.

When Schwenker tried to leave, she lost track of one of the boys. In a panic, she threw her drink on the floor and it splashed on Allen, police said.

The tape shows Allen running after Schwenker in a rage, police said. Marietta police Detective Gwen Lewis told Davis that she has never seen anything like it.

Schwenker did not want to speak to Davis about the incident, but her husband said they are talking to a lawyer.

Allen is charged with battery assault and disorderly conduct.

JM and Jan Owens, who run the store where the incident occurred, released a statement:

“At our McDonald’s restaurant, we respect and value our customers. Their safety and well-being is always a top priority.

"We strive to comply with all applicable laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act. It is our policy to make our restaurants accessible to all customers, including those with disabilities and special needs, whether or not they need the assistance of service animals.

"We are fully cooperating with the police department in their investigation, and the individual involved is no longer employed by our company. ”

For Americans with Disabilities and their Families, Medicaid Matters

Good morning dear friends,

I just received this from Mark Johnson this morning. Please make sure you continue to inform yourself on how the Medicaid environment is a moving target at the Federal level.

Sincerely,
Rita Young

Medicaid, message from Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to President Obama

This week, my colleagues and I met with families from all over the country that are affiliated with the American Association of People with Disabilities, Easter Seals, and the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities.

Their stories sent the message that social safety net programs such as Medicaid are more than just numbers in a budget. I’m honored to share some of those stories with all of you.

Linda Guzman told us about her son Javi, who has both autism and a connective tissue disorder. Medicaid pays for medications, surgeries, and therapies to help him stay healthy, and for personal care services to help him stay productive. Without Medicaid, Linda would have to quit her job and go on public assistance to care for him full time.

Shannon Saunders, a 13 year-old from Columbus, Ohio, was another one of our guests at the White House. When Shannon was two, doctors diagnosed her with cerebral palsy, and thought she would never be able to walk or talk. But eleven years later, I watched as she stood from her wheelchair and proudly told me that Medicaid had helped prove her doctors wrong. Her mother was able to ensure that she received treatment in order to live up to her full potential. When she grows up, she intends to become a teacher, and live independently.

There’s no question that to tackle our nation’s debt, we will have to make some tough choices. But are there any Americans who really believe that we should ask Linda to quit her job when we need everyone contributing to our economy, or that we should ask Shannon to sacrifice her future just so that a millionaire can receive another tax cut?

Yet these are exactly the kind of sacrifices that the House Republican plan would demand from Linda, Shannon, and thousands of families like theirs. President Obama simply does not believe that this is fair.

Slashing Medicaid for Americans with disabilities and their families is also bad economics. If Linda is forced to leave the workforce, and Shannon doesn’t get the health care she needs in order to join the workforce when she grows up, they would both ultimately be receiving government benefits, rather than contributing to society. This would place a large cost on taxpayers over the long run.

In Washington, it’s easy to frame every debate in terms of political winners and losers. But stories such as Linda’s and Shannon’s are powerful reminders of what really is at stake.

As President Obama works toward a deal that allows our country to live within its means, he’ll remember the Americans who depend on programs such as Medicaid. We hope that courageous families like the ones I met this week will inspire all our elected officials to put partisanship aside, and do what is best for our country.
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By Valerie Jarrett, July 14, 2011, 12:40 PM EDT

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/14/americans-disabilities-and-their-families-medicaid-matters

Fulton County Board of Education Budget Cuts

We recently heard from a parent in Fulton County about an alarming issue regarding the county’s school budget cuts and how they will affect the education of students with disabilities. On May 10, 2011, an article in The Atlanta Journal- Constitution reported that “Fulton County schools will abolish 202 special education paraprofessional jobs and 40 teaching positions.”

This parent is considering filing a state complaint on behalf of her child and is looking for the names of other families that find this unacceptable and want to get involved in finding the solution. If your family has been notified that your student will no longer have the supports of a paraprofessional or other teaching staff, or if you simply find this an unacceptable way to balance a county’s budget, please email Donnie Kanter Winokur at thechancerchronicles@gmail.com

Protect the Services You or a Loved One Rely On to Survive! Take Action Now!

Right now, Congress is developing strategies to cut spending and bring down the federal deficit. As advocates for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who may bear the brunt of many of the proposed funding cuts and policy changes, our voices must be heard in these debates.

If we don’t speak up now, cuts to Medicaid and other programs critical to people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD) may take the brunt of the cuts. Members of Congress are very reluctant to cut Medicare, as the elderly community is a very reliable voting constituency and they are very vocal advocates. Historically, Social Security is considered the “third rail” in politics, and as such, not to be touched. That leaves Medicaid on the table as a prime target for cuts.

What Will Happen to People with Disabilities if Medicaid is Drastically Cut?

Fewer people will get care and people will get less care. For example, they could be denied:

‐ prescription drugs, medical treatments, and therapies they need to be healthy

‐ wheelchairs and prosthetic devices they need to be mobile

‐ home and community based services to live in the community instead of institutions

These losses could result in increased:

‐ Illness, injury, and death

‐ Increased stress of families unable to meet family member’s needs

‐Increased institutionalization or out‐of‐home services

‐ Uncompensated care for costly emergency rooms

‐ Shifted demands on other systems of care (e.g., Veterans Administration)

Call your Two Senators and Representative Wednesday July 13^th.

Here is a phone script that you may use.

“Hi my name is ___________, and I’m from _______________. I want my Senator/Representative to know that the budget cannot be balanced on the backs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Deep cuts in Medicaid cannot be tolerated.”

Then share your story! There is nothing more powerful than sharing your personal experience.

To find contact information for Georgia Senators and your Representative

Senators, click on your state at

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cf  

 To identify your Congressman/woman, go to http://www.house.gov/ and enter your zip code.  Some districts require a 9 digit zip code, which you can find at http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/welcome.jsp

Please email info@thearcofgeorgia.org with results from call.

Deirdre K. O'Brien

Executive Director

1-678-733-8969

www.thearcofgeorgia.org

GA Partners Grad Appointed to State Rehabilitation Council

Deal appoints 33 to boards

Friday, July 1, 2011

Dorothea D. Cadet, State Rehabilitation Council
Cadet is employed by Chick-fil-A Inc. She serves on the Public Policy Committee of All About Developmental Disabilities (AADD) and is the president of the South Fulton Coalition for Understanding Inc. Cadet earned a bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University and a master’s degree from Luther Rice University. She has one adult son and lives in Union City.

Teen With Aspergers Shot, and Killed by FL Police

18-year-old Nicholas Pesare was shot and killed by Largo, FL, police on Thursday after responding to a call about a domestic disturbance from his mother, Anne Polce. According to WTSP.com, Polce said she had called the police “hoping they would take him to a mental evaluation center for medication” but, while she was outside, two officers entered her apartment and three gunshots heard:

Largo Police are investigating the incident, but say their officers had no choice but to shoot the teen after they were attacked by Pesare, who they say was under the influence of drugs and was threatening suicide. His mother confirms she found her son snorting Xanax earlier in the day.

“They were confronted with a deadly force situation, one of the officers fired their service weapon and, as a result, we have a deceased adult male,” said Lt. Mike Loux of the Largo Police Department.

But Polce says she can’t understand why the officers found it necessary to kill her son, who she describes as 5’3″ tall, 118 pounds and armed with only a folding pocket knife. She says the officers were three times the size of her son. She’s also angry she was not allowed to enter the apartment herself to bring her son out peacefully.

“I could have diffused the whole situation because he would have never come after me,” said Anne Polce shortly after being questioned by investigators.

Noting that her son suffered from depression, Polce said they had been arguing about returning to Rhode Island, where they had moved from some years ago.

Pesare’s death sadly highlights the need for greater instruction and understanding about autism among first responders including police and EMTs. As a statement from the UK’s National Autistic Society (NAS) emphasizes,

The vast majority of individuals with autism are law abiding and respect the rules of society. On occasions when a person with autism comes to the attention of the police and other services it is normally a result of their social and communication difficulties being misunderstood and because they are not given appropriate support.

Here in New Jersey where we live, all police must undergo training about autism and how to approach individuals on the spectrum, who may not — I know my son very likely would not — respond to instructions and display unusual behaviors that may seem threatening. There have been a number reports of police shooting and restraining autistic adults (mostly autistic men) that have tragically been fatal, as in the case of Pesare.

We have unfortunately had to deal with our local police and EMT’s a few times when our son was extremely upset in our car or in a public place. Needless to say, these were difficult experiences, but the police were very respectful of us and our son, asking us what they would like us to do and what our assessment of the situation was. The resources for training first responders are out there ; Dennis Debbault, a parent of an autistic son, offers training for law enforcement and emergency officers and others. Alittle instruction can go a long way, and could have made a real difference for Nicholas Pesare and his mother.

Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/teen-with-aspergers-killed-by-fl-police.html#ixzz1RWbr5OC9

MARTA Pilot Study for people with Developmental Disabilities

MARTA is soliciting participants from persons with disabilities to participate in a pilot study. Individuals who use different assistive technology devices or Smartphone applications in improving and educating their travels are in demand!

General information:

MARTA is exploring the use of technology to estimate bus arrivals at stops using real-time data. The service would allow riders to determine, and track, in real-time where a specific bus is, on its route, and when it will be arriving at a predetermined bus stop using the web, short message service (SMS) text, or voice. Customers can then obtain continually updated arrival estimates in real time, using computers, wireless devices such as cell phones, and phone calls using either touchtone or voice service. Also, customers could be alerted when a bus is within a predetermined arrival window for a designated bus stop.

Potential Benefits:

• Reduce customer wait-time
• Increase perceived system on-time performance (OTP),
• Increase customer satisfaction
• Or/and attract new ridership

MARTA is soliciting your participation in assessing the utility and, functionality of this service and will benefit from the feedback and experience of all riders, including individuals with disabilities who use different assistive technology devices or Smartphone applications, including Mobile Speak, Screen Readers, BrailleNote, Talks, Electronic Hand-Held Magnifiers, Trekker Breeze Talking, etc…

To this end, we are requesting that each EDAAC Member and Resource Member solicit the participation of 4 to 5 Fixed Route or MARTA Mobility rider who use assistive technologies in improving and educating their travels.

Basic Information:

The pilot program will launch: To Be Announced

Please provide Luz Semeah, ADA Coordinator, with your list of participants by July 25^th. The list is attached. If you have any questions and concerns, please call Luz at the below contact information.

Individuals will obtain training prior to going into the field and riding the buses.  You will receive remuneration for participating (a Breeze card and a cash reward). 

Mentally disabled man beaten for saying, “Hey, I like your shirt”

Jacksonville, FL — 

A Publix employee was attacked after complimenting a man with a Georgia Bulldogs T-shirt.

26-year-old James Wall said, “Hey, I like your shirt,” and that’s all it took for Ryan Keys to beat Wall outside of a Northside Publix.

The attack happened Friday at the Publix on Duval Station Road, but the details were not made public until recently.

Our news partner Channel 4 says Wall, the mentally disabled man was punched in the face so hard it knocked his two front teeth out; the teeth were found 10-12 feet from where he was laying.

Police described Keys as 6’4, 275 lbs.

Keys fled the scene in his brother’s car.  Police later arrested the attacker at their home and was charged with aggravated battery and resisting arrest.

Dear friends,

As of July 1, 2011, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities has implemented  a new system of care for individuals with developmental disabilities who are experiencing a behavior related crisis. We encourage you to take the time to familiarize yourself with this new system and to pass this information within your networks. The link below will outline what caregivers should do in a crisis situation, the role of the mobile crisis team, and the support services that will be available for individuals in crisis.

For an overview of the Georgia Crisis Response system, click www.ddcrisis.com

Sincerely,

Rita Young

Director of Public Policy and Education

All About Developmental Disabilities