Volume 4, Number 3, June 2018 Governor’s Council on Disability GCD: Governor’s Council on Disability Newsletter Inside this Issue Page 1: . GCD Update Page 2: . Consumer Directed Services Program Page 3: . Meet MO-YLF alum Ray Atty . Meet Council Member Elijah Mayfield Page 4: . Travel Tips for Accessible Tourism . Upcoming Events Governor's Council on Disability logo GCD Update by Claudia Browner As we are getting closer to summer, our focus has been to prepare for the upcoming annual Missouri Youth Leadership Forum (MO-YLF) for students with disabilities. The 16th annual MO-YLF will be held next month, July 10-14, 2018 on the MU campus in Columbia. This year, 22 youth delegates are coming to MO-YLF to learn about leadership, legislative and self-advocacy, disability history and awareness, independent living, assistive technology, career options and much more. In addition to the incoming youth delegates, 18 returning alumni will participate in the event in various roles from MO-YLF alumni chair to group facilitators, team members, logistics staff, and mentors. Along with delegates and alumni, MO-YLF requires a team of dedicated volunteer staff members to make this event possible and successful. We would like to thank our partners at Paraquad, Inc., Camden County DD Resources, MU Hook Center (Pre-Employment Transition Services), Vocational Rehabilitation and The Whole Person, Inc. for their tireless support and dedication to MO-YLF. MO-YLF is a program funded solely from sponsorships and donations. We rely on the generous support of our sponsors to provide this annual leadership forum at no cost to the student delegates and would like to recognize the 2018 sponsors of the MO-YLF: Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Edward Jones, Missouri Statewide Independent Living Council, Missouri Mental Health Foundation, Integrity Home Care, and all of the organizations who provided in-kind donations. Over the next few weeks, we will finalize our preparations for MO-YLF and are excited to meet this year’s new group of young leaders! Missouri Youth Leadership Forum logo - our youth lead In May, Laura Mueth provided two Disability Awareness presentations at the Missouri Association for Workforce Development Conference in Lake Ozark and at the Access Ability Business Summit in Jefferson City. The presentations provide information on how to engage with individuals with disabilities, disability awareness and etiquette, employment of people with disabilities, and service animals. If your agency or organization is interested in providing this training to your employees or HR staff, please contact our office at 573-751-2600 or gcd@oa.mo.gov. Last but not least, the Governor’s Council on Disability is in the process of hiring two new staff members—a Disability Program Specialist and an Administrative Office Support Assistant—to complete the team. Page 2 Consumer Directed Services Program by Claudia Browner Consumer Directed Services (CDS) is a Home and Community Based Service (HCBS) program that provides personal care attendant (PCA) services to people with physical disabilities, to enable them to live independently in home settings in their communities instead of an institutional settings such as a nursing home. This Medicaid-based program is funded by MO HealthNet and administered by the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS). The Missouri Centers for Independent Living and private providers contract with DHSS to provide program services to the participants. The program participants self-direct their care and hire their own attendants. The cost of CDS care is typically much lower than nursing home or institutional care. Because of last year’s budget cuts, the Level of Care (LOC) required to be eligible for Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) or nursing facility care was raised from 21 to 24*. The cost cap maximum for the Consumer Directed Services (CDS) program was reduced from 100% of the average cost of nursing facility care to 60% of the average cost of nursing facility care. HCBS provider reimbursement rates were reduced by 3%. During the 2018 legislative session, the HCBS provider reimbursement rate was increased by 1.5% and, if signed into law by the Governor, will reinstate 1.5% of last year’s rate reduction. The CDS cost cap was not restored and remains at 60%, and the LOC reduction was not restored and remains at 24 to be eligible for CDS. For an individual with a disability, this means that the threshold for eligibility to receive care has increased. People who currently receive HCBS services will have their eligibility reevaluated during their annual assessment. As a result, some individuals’ benefits may be terminated or reduced. More information about the CDS program can be found on DHSS’s website at: https://health.mo.gov/seniors/hcbs/info.php or https://health.mo.gov/seniors/homecomservices/?style=mobile1 You may also visit the website of your local center for independent living (CIL). To find the CIL closest to you, visit the Missouri Statewide Independent Living Council at www.mosilc.org graphic of a neighborhood of houses Photo: A CDS client receives assistance in her home *In order to determine eligibility for CDS services, an annual assessment of the individual is performed to determine the nursing facility Level of Care (LOC) score. A numeric score of 0, 3, 6, or 9 points is assigned to each of the nine LOC categories. This information documents the amount of assistance required and the participant’s complexity of care. An individual is determined to be qualified for nursing facility LOC with an assessed cumulative score of 24 points or higher. Page 3 Meet MO-YLF alum Ray Atty by Claudia Browner “Hello I'm Ray Atty. I've been a Quality Reviewer at the IRS for 11 years and a cashier at Big Lots for almost three years. I graduated from MO-YLF in 2004. I have volunteered as a staff member in 2005, and every year since 2013. My hobbies are playing video games & hanging out with friends. I enjoy volunteering for MO-YLF because it gives me a chance to give back to the program that helped me become a leader in my community. MO-YLF has impacted my life by helping me in becoming a leader in spite of my disability. I'm looking forward to volunteering again as a staff member for MO-YLF this summer.” In addition to serving as volunteer staff for six years, Ray has also been involved in fundraising efforts for the MO-YLF, participated in MYLIFE Alumni Association activities, and become a great friend to alumni and staff alike. Photo of Ray Atty Meet Council member Elijah Mayfield by Todd Mayfield One of the newest Council members of the Governor’s Council on Disability is Elijah Mayfield, 22, from Jefferson City, Missouri, who was appointed on March 14, 2018. Elijah has been serving as an intern in the Missouri Governor's Office since December 2014. Elijah works as a courier where he processes, sorts and delivers important documents for the Governor and his staff. Elijah says, “I love my job because I get to interact with a lot of different people throughout the capitol building and in various state office buildings. Every day is a great opportunity to show people that people with Down syndrome have a lot to offer and can serve in many different capacities. In June, 2015, I was a special guest of then Governor Nixon when he signed Senate Bill 174 -- the bill that authorized the Missouri version of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act to allow people with disabilities or their family members to open tax-exempt savings accounts to help pay their expenses. I was thrilled to get to be a part of the process of getting this very important piece of legislation passed in our state. I also work as a volunteer at SSM Health-St. Mary's Hospital. My favorite part about serving at the hospital is getting to work in a variety of positions where I am learning different job skills while also getting to help others. “ Elijah is an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan. He loves watching or listening to as many Cardinals games as he can. To quote Elijah, “One of my favorite things in the world is going to watch the Cardinals play live.” Elijah was selected by the National Down Syndrome Society as their 2016 Self Advocate of the Year. You can see Elijah’s media coverage here: http://elijah.net Photo of Elijah Mayfield Page 4 Travel Tips for Accessible Tourism By Claudia Browner This time of the year, many of us like to take time off to travel the great state of Missouri or explore other destinations in the U.S. and around the world. Travel can be fun and exciting, but it also requires some planning and preparation. Following are some links that might help you prepare for your next trip. If you like camping in Missouri State Parks, the Department of Natural Resources—Missouri State Parks Division has information online to plan your next trip. The website includes information about accessibility features in each state park. Visit https://mostateparks.com/page/61837/accessibility-information-park-or-historic-site If you like to go fishing, hunting, boating, or enjoy other outdoor activities, visit the Department of Conservation’s website for a listing of accessible conservation areas at https://nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/find-places-go-mo/accessible-outdoors Missouri Tourism website: https://www.visitmo.com/ National Park Accessibility: https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/accessibility.htm US Department of Transportation—Traveling with a Disability https://www.transportation.gov/individuals/aviation-consumer-protection/traveling-disability The ABC’s of Accessible Travel https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/docs/ABCs_of_Accessible_Travel-Digital_Brochure.pdf Air Travel with Service Animals https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/docs/AirTravel_with_ServiceAnimals-Digital_Brochure_0.pdf Enjoy your summer and safe travels!! Photo of child in a tent looking at mountain landscape Upcoming Events . July 10-14 Missouri Youth Leadership Forum, MU Campus, Columbia . July 24-26 APSE-MO Employment Summit, Courtyard by Marriott, Columbia . August 8 MO State Highway Patrol Drivers Examiners Disability 101 training, Jefferson City . August 21 MO Dept. of Corrections ADAA Title I training . August 24 GCD Quarterly Council Meeting, Runge Conservation Nature Center, Jefferson City Missouri Governor’s Council on Disability Members . Yvonne Wright, Chair, New Bloomfield . Joan Bergstrom, Ed. D, Lee’s Summit . Charles Comstock, Kirksville . Betty Davidson, Ph.D., St. Louis . Ronald Hack, St. Louis . Chip Hailey, Joplin . Mary Ann Harter, St. Louis . Rosemary Hendon, West Plains . Katie Jones, St. Charles . Elijah Mayfield, Jefferson City . Todd Mayfield, Jefferson City . DeAnna Noriega, Columbia . Susan Orton, Creve Coeur . Opeoluwa Sotonwa, Jefferson City . James Trout, St. Louis . Robert Wallace, St. Louis Missouri Governor’s Council on Disability Staff Members . Claudia Browner, Executive Director . Laura Mueth, Disability Program Specialist . Vacant, Disability Program Specialist . Vacant, Administrative Office Support Assistant