DD Council Minutes - 10/11/18 - Manhattan DD Council

Posted October 31, 2018

I. Introductions were completed.

III. Minutes from the last meeting were approved; if you would like to refer to past minutes, they are always available on the DD Council website: (www.manhattanddcouncil.org).

III. Announcements

–Please remember to pay your dues which help support our events throughout the year. You can reap many benefits when paying your dues.

-NYC FAIR- Family Advocacy Information Resource October 25^th 6PM- 8PM

Come meet Kerry Delany, Acting Commissioner OPWDD, Roger Bearden, Acting Deputy Exec. Commissioner, OPWDD and Gregg Roberts, Dir of Legislative & Government Affairs OPWDD

See attached flyer for details

-Birch Family Services

See attached flyer for openings and Autism programs

–ADAPT Community Network – formerly UCP of New York City

See attached flyers for all upcoming programs as well as program vacancies

For the new day hab in Harlem there is an Open house every Wednesday

–Mercy Drive

See attached flyers for all upcoming programs as well as program vacancies

–NY Lawyers for the Public Interest

See attached flyer for upcoming events

-for parents only who have children in the school system-know your rights trainings in October

-Planning for the future guardianship workshops are back. They have new PowerPoint and new information.

-Eprine Community service

See attached flyer for Day Hab and community habilitation options

-QSAC

See attached flyer for program vacancies

openings in the after school programs

-Ohel Bais Ezra

Family reimbursement funds available Manhattan and Queens see attached flyer

-The New York Foundling

-see attached flyer for available services

Rising Tree tops at Oakhurst

-see attached flyers for availability.

Goodwill Day Services

-see attached flyer for details

-YAI

Information is attached for service vacancies. For information about any YAI programs, please call 212-273-6182, or email link@yai.org.

-Lifespire

Openings in Day Habilitation programs

-NY START

212-273-6300

Accepting referrals. Provide help with conflict and behavior needs.

Crisis intervention. Coordinators on call 24/7. Crisis line available

-GHO

Openings in Dayhab without walls located in LI City. People from Manhattan can attend

Openings in ETP pathways and SEMP

Staff can help with eligibility process, and Korean, Chinese and Russian speaking staff available. 718-307-6563 for more information

Non Medicaid services- reimbursement for goods and services.

State News – Ellen Bleckman

There is a very good power point on the OPWDD website explaining the Draft Specialized IDD Plan- Provider Led managed care plans.
Comment are welcome until October 17th
Roger Bearden is now the Acting Deputy Executive Commissioner
Jackie Best previously of Long Island-service operations director state wide for the Reginal office

All of the Regional Directors will be answering to her

City News – no replacement for the city

No report.

We have contacted DOH to see if anyone can come and attend the meetings

VI-Guest Speaker-NY ABLE ACCOUNTS-Anne Del Plato
general information (see attached PowerPoint)

NY legislation was passed in late 2015. Program launched October 2017
Earn income free from state and federal taxes
Supplements SSI Medicaid SSDI
Able accounts are not subject to the $2,000 resource cap
Who is eligible?
A disability must have been present before age 26.
Automatically qualify if have SSI SSDI
have a written diagnosis from a physician documenting a medically determinable physical or mental impairment which results in marked and severe functional limitations that can be expected to last for at least a year or can cause death; OR
are classified as blind, as defined in Social Security Act; OR
have a disability that is included on the Social Security Administration’s List of Compassionate Allowances Conditions. (A link to this list is provided on the NY ABLE website.)
Who is the beneficiary?
The account owner is also the beneficiary
Eligible individuals can open the account themselves or an authorized individual can open an account on their behalf
Eligible individuals can have one account. Anyone can contribute to an NY ABLE Account.
How much can you contribute?
Contribute up to $15,000 annually.
Income earners may contribute an additional amount up to $12,060 in 2018, or their annual income, whichever is less.*
Maximum Contribution Limit: $100,000
How do you enroll in an ABLE account?

Gather information including:
- Name, Date of Birth, Address, Social Security Number or Tax Identification Number, and Phone Number of the eligible individual
- Basis of eligibility
- Category of disability
  - Must be a NY Resident or Alien

Choose investments

Details provided on website’s Investment tab and Disclosure Booklet

Get started with as little as $25 ($15 with payroll deduction)

What are the program fees?
Program maintenance fee $11.25 per quarter. If you choose paper it’s $13.75
An investment fee of .04% per year.
Can only change the investments choice 3 times a year.
Most people do checking combined with aggressive contributions
Questions from the audience
What happens when a person passes away?
If individual had Medicaid and Medicaid benefits are used. They can take back benefits used for Medicaid after final expenses.
If not receiving Medicaid goes back to estate
If family member has a disability it can roll over to the other family member
Is something you would do in addition to a special needs supplemental trust?
Able is a financial tool which compliments and can exits with other trusts. There are still issues with working with the trusts and Able account but they are working on the issues
ABLE accounts the Individual has access with Trusts Individual does not have access. There are also different fees for trusts
If I want service in Self Direction can I use the money from the ABLE account to go towards the Able account?
Does not seems to be an issue
IF there are not enough ABLE accounts would the program close?
For a program to sustain itself its needs volume but that does not mean that ABLE is closing
How Many ABLE accounts are there?
550 ABLE accounts 2.2 million dollars invested.

IAC – Chris Treiber

Pre-schools had a meeting 3 weeks ago with all the executive directors.
Vacancy rates for teachers is 28%. It has increased in 2 years at 75%
Biggest issue is not having certified special Ed. Teachers to run the class room
Teacher assistant vacancies rates are over 30%
Sent letter from COPA to all of the Regions alerting to the fact that the programs are in jeopardy. We want to put the burden on NY State.
Preschool The teachers are also getting fines Department of Mental health and hygiene is coming and doing surveys if you don’t have certified teacher we don’t care we are closing the classroom in 30 days even if there are special needs kids.
There is no sense of urgency from the state.
There will be lobbying and testifying day for this.
Trying to identify families who have IEP’s but no services. They want families to talk to reporters if you know of 212-645-6360 Chris@IACNY.orgorg
Transportation is a hot topic. There is a hearing on October 16^th at 1PM city council chambers in city hall. All parents are encouraged to come. The more parents that show up the more power there will be for school transportation issues. Busses take 4 hours to come home kids have unexplained injuries. Buses are not air conditioned
New flu shot requirement. EI and 6 months – 5 years kids must have flu shot for any Article 43 program. Unless medical documented from Dr. or religious exemption
If kids don’t have shot them the schools will be fine $200.00 per day .including district 75 reports.
The report is up on AFC it should be read.
Advocates for children released a report that a significant amount of schools are not accessible.

**Correction from last month’s minutes

Be Fair to Direct Care campaign continues as this is a multi-year effort. Contact Wini at Wini@IACNY.org to have a DSP who you would like to spotlight in the publication

VII. Committees

Family & Provider Information Committee: Co-Chairs: Carol Lincoln and Jackie Ceonzo

–September 25^th Linda Schellenberg came to speak about self determination.

60 people attended. It was standing room only.

The next meetings are as followed:

October 24^h FIDA and Managed care.

November 27^th-new front door procedures

December 11^th is the FAIR!!

Legislative Committee: The legislative breakfast has been confirmed for March 8^th. It’s the 31^st legislative breakfast! Hope to see you all there

As this year is an election year the “Be Fair to Direct Care” campaign will be in full swing. The Governor has been invited to several agencies to recognize DSPs.

Manhattan FSS Advisory Council: Co Chairs Jackie Goldberg and Mary McGuire-Weafer

The October 4th meeting on sibling relationships through the ages was a great success. They talked about the relationship from ages 10, 21, 50- the life span of sibling relationships,
The next meeting is on November 15^th. The topic is family reimbursement programs. If your agency can send a representative to the meeting it would be very helpful.

VIII. New Business – Kathy Kelly

No new business