Declaration for Independence

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



Part II – Beyond NDEAM: Employment and People with Disabilities as a National Priority

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Lisa Mills is a 26-year disability advocate, employment subject matter expert, a former Public Policy Chair for TASH, a former Ruderman Fellow and Senior Technical Advisor for the Coalition to Promote Self-Determination. Dr. Mills’ focus on advancing integrated employment dates back to 1999 when she became involved with the Wisconsin self-advocacy movement and assisted a [...]

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Part I – Beyond NDEAM: Employment and People with Disabilities as a National Priority

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Lisa Mills is a 26-year disability advocate, employment subject matter expert, a former Public Policy Chair for TASH, a former Ruderman Fellow and Senior Technical Advisor for the Coalition to Promote Self-Determination (CPSD). Dr. Mills’ focus on advancing integrated employment dates back to 1999 when she became involved with the Wisconsin self-advocacy movement and assisted [...]

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The Grand Insight of We: Participation is Vital Because It Involves Others

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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

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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

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“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!

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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

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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

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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

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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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