Participation is more than simply engaging in a life activity. It is an important aspect of social involvement that influences self-esteem, identity and well-being. Charles Christiansen; Sep. 29, 2015 Years ago, I was motivated by the desire to make the world a better place by helping others. As a young occupational therapist, I focused mostly [...]
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There Are Faces I Remember
Lillie Brannon, an 80-year old former cotton picker in Arkansas, tells of how she escaped from a nursing home four times. In describing why she chose to manage her own personal care supports and services (also called self-direction, participant direction or consumer direction) she quickly answered: “I’m the boss. If I want to hang my [...]
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Wrap-up, Response to the 2015 White House Conference on Aging
“We have to ensure that every older American has the resources and the support they need to strive.” President Barack Obama, July 13 Dr. Yanira Cruz; Aug. 13, 2015 The White House Conference on Aging, which took place July 13, was inspiring for us at the National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA) and for all those working on [...]
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Happy Anniversary, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, ADA and the ACA!
Americans love anniversaries, whether it is the birth of our nation on July 4, our parents’ 50th, Pearl Harbor or 9/11. The year 2015 has a number of significant anniversaries of laws that have changed our country. Leonard Kirschner; July 30, 2015 On Aug. 14, 1935, in the height of the Great Depression, President Franklin [...]
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25 Years after the Vision, Fulfilling the Americans with Disabilities Act’s Promise
Hailed as the Bill of Rights for people with disabilities, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 has fulfilled much of its promise since its enactment 25 years ago. To realize the landmark federal law’s promise – ensuring citizens can be full participants in society throughout their lives – we must redouble our efforts to [...]
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Olmstead at 16
The most historic legal decision affecting the civil rights of people with disabilities celebrates its 16th anniversary today, June 22nd. In 1999, the U.S. Supreme Court rendered its landmark decision in Olmstead v. L.C., cementing the Americans with Disabilities Act’s integration mandate. The groundbreaking decision has helped thousands of people with disabilities leave institutions to [...]
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Converging Paths, Equal Ground: The Promise of Mental Health Parity
Physical and mental health services have long been unequal, both in the delivery of care and in the public conversation. Mental health parity carries with it the promise of resolving this disconnect, of realizing (through scope of services, provider access, formularies, co-insurance, etc.) the potential for whole health. Yet the true promise of parity means [...]
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Setting the Strategic Table: 4 Priorities for the Conference on Aging and the Decade to Come
Convened each decade since the 1960s, the White House Conference on Aging (WHCOA) is the leading forum for identifying and advancing actions to improve the quality of life for older Americans. In advance of Older Americans Month this May, we sat down with Dr. Yanira Cruz, president and CEO of the National Hispanic Council on [...]
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Get Involved in Developmental Disabilities Awareness – This Month and All Year Long
Berthy De La Rosa-Aponte is a 30-plus-year south Florida disability advocate and former chair of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Advisory Panel, but she prefers to be known as Lucy’s mom. She is known for her advocacy of the principles of self-determination as a way to get beyond the stigma associated with developmental [...]
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Medicaid Expansion and the Tale of Don Quixote
Next month, all eyes will be on the U.S. Supreme Court when it takes up the issue of whether the Affordable Care Act (ACA), commonly referred to as Obamacare, allows people in states without their own insurance market exchanges to receive federal tax credits that help them afford the health insurance they purchase through the [...]
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