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Georgia Independent Living Network News
Index of Older Articles
August, 2009
ADAPT - American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today - IS COMING!
October 10 - 15, 2009 Atlanta will be the site for ADAPT's Fall event. As you know, ADAPT is a highly focused group that aims to change the institutional bias in long term services. The Georgia IL Network is working hard to assure a successful event. Barabaraann Bongiovanni, SILC Secretary and Shelly Simmons, SILC chair are working on the media team for this event. PLEASE HELP THEM IDENTIFY PEOPLE WHO HAVE 'DONE TIME' IN AN NURSING HOME OR WHO ARE AT RISK OF SUCH! People who can tell their story will make the issue come alive! Call or email Barbaraann at 678.392.2770 or advocacy@bellsouth.net.
For more information about the October event or to find out how you can help, visit www.disabilitylink.org and click on ADAPT. OUR HOMES - NOT NURSING HOMES!! FREE OUR PEOPLE!!!!
At the national level, ADAPT is working hard to include long term care in any health reform package. For more information, see www.adapt.org If you want to know more about the details of health reform proposals, you will find the side by side comparison at the Kaiser Family Foundation web site: www.kff.org
August, 2009
CAN YOU GET THE EQUIPMENT YOU NEED?
Providers of Durable Medical Equipment recently approached the SILC with a concern that Medicaid recipients may be having (more than usual) difficulty securing necessary DME. This may be especially a problem for those who require "complex rehabilitation technology": specifically configured manual or power wheelchairs, positioning systems (such as seat cushion, back support, head rest, postural support, etc.), standing systems (standing frame, gait trainer) and alternative or augmentative communication devices.
If you know of consumers with medicaid that are not receiveing needed rehabilitation technology services, will you ask them to download and complete (or assist them in completing) this short survey? 
July, 2009
Obama Administration Regional and State Executive Level Positions Still Open - People With Disabilities Needed!
The White House Office of Personnel has just informed the Committee on Disability Power and Pride that they are looking now to fill multiple political and other appointments within the Administration’s state and regional offices around the country. They are reaching out to the disability community to obtain the names and resumes of people for consideration for such appointments. This is a great opportunity to expand the number of people with disabilities serving at senior levels within the Administration.
Specifically, the Administration still has approximately 47 positions left to fill within the state offices of the US Department of Agriculture. The positions are for State Directors under Rural Development/Housing Service division and under the Farm and Foreign Agriculture Service division. In addition, the Administration has about 100 executive level positions open throughout the ten (10) regional offices of the following agencies:
Environmental Protection Agency
Small Business Administration
Health and Human Services
Department of Interior
Federal Emergency Management Administration
Department of Commerce
General Services Administration
Commerce – Fisheries positions
Housing and Urban Development
Department of Labor
The regional offices for these agencies are located in the following cities: Region 1 – Boston, MA; Region 2 - New York, NY ; Region 3 – Philadelphia, PA; Region 4 –Atlanta, GA; Region 5 – Chicago, IL Region 6 – Dallas, TX; Region 7 – Kansas City, KS; Region 8– Denver, CO; Region 9 – San Francisco, CA; and Region 10 – Seattle, WA. Each regional office serves several nearby states, and candidates are responsible for the entire region.
Because all of these state and regional positions are highly visible, public roles where appointees will be serving as the representative of the Administration, candidates need to be comfortable with public speaking, capable of working with media, able to travel within their region, have significant management experience and overall be able to serve as reputable public spokespersons for the Administration. The Administration will be obtaining suggestions from elected officials for these political appointments within their regions, but the input from the disability community has also been specifically sought and encouraged. Interested candidates may want to contact their local representative or Senator or Governor in addition to supplying information to the CDPP, given the importance of those elected officials’ support in obtaining these appointments.
Please send in names and resumes, along with talking points about why a particular candidate would be ideal for any of these positions, the name of the specific positions for which the applicant is qualified, to personnel@disabilitypowerandpride.org. Please feel free to include any questions in the e-mail message to that address, and they will be answered as soon as possible.