Services to Persons with Disabilities Threatened: State agencies face dramatic funding cuts
Numerous state agencies providing services to persons with disabilities face serious funding cuts. Even as of this late date, state agencies face proration for this fiscal year (FY12). In addition, those agencies face general fund cuts next year (FY13) to the tune of 25% or more. A recent editorial from the Birmingham News concludes: "... our political leaders have yet to offer anything remotely resembling a solution to a very real budget crisis. Click here, to read the full editorial.

How to contact ADAP
The Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program is making some changes in our phone menu on the primary ADAP office numbers. Those numbers are 205-348-4928 or 800-826-1675. Click here, for a complete list that allows you to call any ADAP staff member directly.

Partlow Closed
ADAP is pleased to announce the closing of Partlow Developmental Center in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. On December 28, 2011, the last remaining Partlow resident left for placement in a community residential home. Partlow was Alabama's lone institution for persons with developmental disabilities, specifically intellectual disabilities. With the closing of Partlow, Alabama becomes the only southern state without an institution for persons with developmental disabilities.
After Governor Bentley announced the closing of Partlow, staff from the Department of Mental Health, along with ADAP and community service providers, worked to ensure all Partlow residents were transferred to appropriate community placements with proper supports. ADAP has pledged to monitor each resident outplaced from Partlow in their respective community placements. The monitoring of former residents will include personal visits and interviews with service provider staff. ADAP wants to make sure each former Partlow resident is receiving appropriate services and supports so that he/she can successfully live in the community.

Special Ed Settlement with Montgomery County, AL
ADAP and Bazelon Center, with the assistance of the law firm Schulte, Roth & Zabel, have reached an interim settlement (attached) in their legal effort to secure a quality education in integrated settings for students with "emotional disturbance." Under the settlement, the Montgomery school system will retain Narel Joyner, a children's mental health expert who has been involved in the Willie M., R.C., J.K. and Rosie D. cases. For complete story, Click here. For a copy of the MPS Settlement Agreement, Click here

Alabama Community Transition Waiver
In April 2011, federal officials approved the Alabama Community Transition (ACT) waiver. The ACT waiver is a Medicaid waiver for persons wishing to leave a nursing home for a more appropriate, integrated community setting, such as an independent apartment or home. The waiver provides transition and community services for such individuals. Some services the waiver offer includs: Community case management, transitional assistance services, homemaker services, personal emergency response systems, medical equipment and supplies, personal care and skilled nursing.This waiver is operated by the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services. For more information on this waiver, please contact Karen Coffey, 1-800-441-7607.

Accessible Parking Bill
The Accessible Parking Coalition of Alabama plans to introduce a bill in the 2012 Alabama legislative session that will eliminate some loopholes in Alabama's current accessible parking law and make it easier to ticket violators. According to the Coalition, people without disabilities often illegally use a family member's or friend's accessible parking permit. The Coalition proposes to remedy this problem by having some designation on the permit or driver's license that indicates you are actually authorized to use the permit.
It is often difficult to persuade law enforcement officials to issue tickets to persons who illegally park in an accessible space due to deficient signage. Under Alabama's current accessible parking law, signs must display the potential fine for parking violations, but most signs do not contain this information. Under the Coalition's bill, this fine posting requirement would be eliminated. For more information about the proposed bill, please contact the Alabama Governor's Office on Disability, 1-888-879-3582

iPads and Autism
Do you consider the i-Pad to be a miracle device?  While the apple technology is changing the way people listen to music, watch movies, and search the web; it's also changing the way students with autism are able to participate and interact in the classroom.  Students at University Place Elementary school received over 30 i-Pad's last year, and while any student in the school can benefit from using the devices, some of the special needs classes have regular sessions with i-Pads and their teachers. Source: http://www.cbs42.com/content/localnews/story/iPads-and-Autism/XW4LTtFdzUCb5M8WvM_DsQ.cspx 

HUD points Out Olmstead Enforcement Options
HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity issued guidance in August 2011 to its regional and field offices regarding enforcement of the ADA and the U.S. Supreme Court's
Olmstead decision. It noted that HUD has "prioritized efforts to support the transition of people with disabilities out of institutions and into community-based settings." The guidance "highlights
civil rights related compliance and monitoring strategies to ensure that public housing programs operate in a manner that supports this important objective." Click here, courtesy of Steve Gold.

2012 Southeast Regional Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Conference
will be held on Thursday and Friday, January 26-27 at the Bryant Conference Center at the University of Alabama. A post-conference Symposium will be held Saturday, January 28. Parents and students can attend at a discounted rate of $118 for the Conference and $75 for the Symposium. The regular Conference registration is $235 (Symposium fee is $150). The Conference will bring together a multidisciplinary group of experts to share their ADHD research, interventions and best practices. To learn more about the Conference and to register, check out the website http://training.ua.edu/adhd or call (205) 348-3000. 

The University of Alabama

Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program

Box 870395 - Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487-0395

website: http://www.adap.net

e-mail:adap@adap.ua.edu

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