Declaration for Independence

A Call to Transform Health and Long Term Services for Seniors and People with Disabilities





Autism Acceptance in April

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During Autism Acceptance Month, we remember that Autism is a natural part of the life experience, and we can do our part to design and promote spaces, both physical and otherwise, that don’t exclude individuals with different sensory experiences or who process things differently, but instead find ways to better engage and support people in
multiple ways

In 2019, Let’s Make Poor Access to Healthcare for Women, History

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We, as a society, must seriously re-evaluate how we treat marginalized women’s healthcare needs, especially disabled women and women of color. Reproductive healthcare, and healthcare in general, should provide adequate treatment to all women in an accessible manner without inherent bias.

Old Age Isn’t for Sissies – Thoughts on National Senior Independence Month

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by Dr. William H. Graves, Ed.D February is National Senior Independence Month. As we think about how to live an independent lifestyle as we age, we must remember that independence is also about making honest and deliberate choices about where we wish to be and how we will stay engaged in our communities. In this [...]

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The Importance of Family Caregivers

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Kathy Brill, an individual and family services industry expert The Importance of Family Caregivers: A Discussion with Kathy Brill, Yanira Cruz and Sandy Markwood As a new generation of Americans move into the 60 and over Age group, we as a society are beginning to re-think how we perceive aging. The idea of maintaining personal [...]

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Supporting Victims of the 2018 California Wildfires

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The Camp, Woolsey and Hill wildfires have quickly devastated large parts of Butte, Ventura and Los Angeles Counties, leaving countless people without their homes and belongings in Southern California, in addition to creating poor air quality for our families and friends in the Northern part of the State. If you are in California, our friends [...]

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Recollections on Olmstead 2018

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On June 22 we recognize the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Olmstead v LC. & E.W. which established that individuals with disabilities that are in institutions have the right to received community based care instead of being institutionalized. Still not yet 20 years old, the Olmstead decision is considered by some to [...]

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America’s Other Social Nemesis: Ageism and Elder Abuse

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On June 15, the United National recognizes World Elder Abuse Day. In a time where even older celebrities such as Stan Lee can be a victim of elder abuse, this day is a reminder of the importance of paying attention to the problem of physical, emotional, and financial abuse of older adults. In the beginning of [...]

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What We’re Reading: May 29, 2018

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The disability system is blocking people like Jaki from their benefits – literally | The Guardian (UK) If you want a symbol of Britain’s benefit system, Jaki would be it. The 36-year-old spent her 20s in Essex grafting – taking on any job to provide for her four children, even shelf-stacking for 60 hours a [...]

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What We’re Reading: May 21, 2018

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‘A Dangerous Son’ Trailer: Liz Garbus Chronicles Children Struggling With Mental Illness in a Chaotic World | Indie Wire Prolific documentary filmmaker Liz Garbus is currently preparing to debut her new series “The Fourth Estate” at this month’s Tribeca Film Festival, but she’s already got another brand-new feature ready to go. Her latest film, “A [...]

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Beyond Awareness: A Rallying Cry for Acceptance and Inclusion

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"Intersectionality, as coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw and rooted in a longer history of black feminism, helps us understand that discrimination against autistic people who experience more than one kind of marginalization will look different than it does for autistic people who don't. This Autism Acceptance Month, we join our community members in recognizing the voices [...]

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