Ed's Newsletter - NEW DDD DIRECTOR - PLAN TO IMPROVE SAFETY AT CHOATE - DISABILITY GROUP CRITICIZES ABORTION RULING
McMANUS CONSULTING
DISABILITY SERVICES
847.256.0456, mcmanus006@gmail.com, Facebook, LinkedIn
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?Ed’s Newsletter
No. 237 – June 27, 2022
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?WELCOME TO SARAH MYERSCOUGH-MUELLER . . .
?Sarah Myerscough-Mueller, who has worked for 11 years in state government and for IARF, has been appointed interim director of the Division of DD, replacing Allison Stark, who resigned to take a job as the CEO of Albertina Kerr, a Portland, OR, provider agency.
?Myerscough-Mueller served as Director of Policy for Developmental Disabilities at IARF from 2016 to 2019.?For the past year she has been chief of staff and assistant director of DDD.?For the previous 2 years she was a Senior Policy Advisor to DHS Secretary Grace Hou.?Prior to working with IARF, she was Chief of Intergovernmental Affairs at the Department of Juvenile Justice and Assistant Chief of Staff in Gov. Pat Quinn’s Office of Legislative Affairs.
?Myerscough-Mueller earned a bachelor's degree in Psychology from the U of I in 2006.?She is a Springfield native who now lives in Chicago with her husband Bryan Bylica and 2 young daughters.?
?Welcome, Director!
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SECY. HOU ADDRESSES CHOATE ABUSE . . .
?DHS leadership acknowledged June 15 that the abuse situation at Choate Developmental Center is serious, and they laid out a detailed plan to try to improve safety and quality care there.
?And I’m impressed.
?This newsletter, as you know, has been reporting on the multiple cases of abuse at Choate for the past 15 months.?A total of 14 employees have been arrested in 2? years in connection with the violence against residents, including Center Director Bryant Davis, indicted for felony official misconduct.
?I wish DHS had acted sooner, but nevertheless it’s great that they are now embarking on steps to improve things at Choate.?Secretary Grace Hou outlined the plan in a letter to stakeholders, co-signed by outgoing DDD Director Allison Stark and Deputy Director Tiffany Bailey.?The plan includes:
?--Contracting with Equip for Equality to conduct independent monitoring of the quality of care and safety of residents.?
?--Contracting with the IL Crisis Prevention Network to provide clinical staff for observations and support for residents and staff.
?--Establishing an environmental plan to update living areas.
?--Increasing the security staff by 4 positions.
?--Increasing management presence in living areas.
?--Assigning a social worker to aid with training.
?--Adding 10 surveillance cameras to public areas.?(I hope they add more.)
?Hou also announced that the Division of DD has implemented several policy changes to help individuals move out of Choate and the state’s 6 other institutions and into the community.
?Bravo, Secretary Hou!
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HOW THE SUPREME COURT’S RULING AFFECTS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES . . .
?The Supreme Court’s decision killing Roe v. Wade is a huge blow to the cause of human rights.
?The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) has issued a statement about the impact the decision will have on the disability community.?DREDF is a national cross-disability civil rights law and policy center operated by people with disabilities and families of people with disabilities.
?DREDF says people with disabilities have the right to self-determination and bodily autonomy. They have the right to make their own decisions. Their human rights include reproductive rights. Abortion rights are disability rights.
?Read the full statement at https://dredf.org/
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STUDY OF HOME-BASED RATES PROPOSED . . .
?Did you know that the Guidehouse Rate Study, which is resulting in major funding increases for the CILA program, did not cover the Home-Based Services program?
?Sen. Laura Fine, at the request of The Arc of IL, has introduced legislation calling for a Home-Based rate study.?Amie Lulinski, CEO of The Arc, reports:?“A couple weeks ago I met with my state representative and discussed a number of issues including the importance of the Home-Based Services Waiver to people with IDD and their families. I shared with her that the HBS program had not been included in the Guidehouse study though this Waiver serves over half of all adults with IDD who are in an IL DD waiver program.
?“Learn more about The Arc’s efforts by checking out our fact sheet on SB 3859 calling for a study of the HBS similar to what was done for Guidehouse. The bill did not make it out of committee in the spring session but we are hopeful it will gain traction in the months ahead.”?See https://www.thearcofil.org, “Take Action”.
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IN OUR INBOX . . .
?On the abuse scandal at Choate Center . . .
?FROM RODNEY PATTERSON, former director, Institute on Public Policy for People with Disabilities, on Choate worker copping a plea after alleged attack on resident:?“So, the victim of the choking will get no justice.?A slap on the wrist for not telling the truth, and the physical abuse is swept under the rug.?Apparently the ‘powers that be’ down there have little or no regard for the people stuck in that institution.”?
?FROM DIANE STONE, Naperville parent:?“The Choate case needs to be shared with the nationwide news media.?Public eyes outside of our community would put on the pressure.?Enough!”
?FROM MARY ANN DYRDA, Glen Ellyn parent:?“Thank you for not allowing the State to bury the Choate story.”
?FROM ARLENE BANDSTRA, Palos Park parent:?“What a mess!?It’s very discouraging.?It seems that no one is protecting our most vulnerable.”
领英推荐
?FROM SHAWNA EGAN, Cary parent:?“Ed, you are the advocate extraordinaire.?I can't thank you enough for all you do.?Your letter to the Union County state’s attorney was spot on.”
?FROM ERIN DROZD, QIDP:?“Watching the State say they are going to implement something is like watching paint dry.?Those poor folks at Choate.?Breaks my heart.”
?FROM SHANNON LESLIE:?“This country needs more Ed McManuses to fight for our vulnerable citizens.”
?FROM BRUCE SEITZER, Wilmette, retired mental health professional:?“Thanks for asking the state’s attorney all the questions everyone that follows this story must be asking as well.?The unraveling of events and continued lack of accountability at Choate are nothing short of horrific.”
?FROM FRANK AND CINDY CREIGHTON, Mahomet parents:?“We fully support the recommendation for the installation of closed circuit television monitoring in any environment where a disabled individual is under the care of staff.”
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?FROM ELLEN GARBER BRONFELD, Skokie parent, on the CEO criticizing the federal rule giving CILA residents a choice of what to eat:?“Staff need to be familiar with residents' food preferences.?If someone doesn't like fish, it should be no problem to put some chicken in the oven.??My son has a long list of things he doesn't like.?I would be appalled if he were forced to eat something he didn't like.?This poses a danger for choking for him as he would likely cram the food in his mouth to try to be compliant.?This would also illustrate a blatant disregard for choice and an equally unacceptable disrespect for him as a person.?
?“Meal planning can and should be done as a group whenever possible, and when someone is having an off day and doesn't want what is being served, even if it is something he/she usually eats, there should always be an easy back up--peanut butter and jelly, eggs, grilled cheese, canned soup--all quick and easy.?But it must be the person's choice.”
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COMMENTS . . .
?Send me your opinions, tips, suggestions, criticisms, or responses to articles.?I like feedback.
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PEOPLE . . .
?STEPHANIE BROWN of Carbondale has been appointed chair of the IL Council on DD, succeeding Bill Bogdan, who stepped down after many years leading the council.?Stephanie, a Southern Illinois native, is the mother of three children. She has worked professionally with children and families for over 20 years and currently is President of the Autism Society of Southern Illinois.
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ANGEL MILES has accepted a position in Washington as a Rehabilitation Program Specialist at the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research.?Angel currently is a Healthcare/Home and Community Based Services Policy Analyst at Access Living.
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COMING UP . . .
?AUG. 9: Arc Life Span Webinar on Supported Decision Making, noon to 1.?Presenters:?Teresa Parks, Krescene Beck, and Adam Wiser.?https://www.thearcofil.org/
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OCT. 19-21:?Speak Up and Speak Out Summit in Springfield (hybrid).?Speaker proposals due by July 8 to [email protected].
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NOV. 1: The Arc will be holding a Conference on IDD and Mental Health (virtual), focusing on the mental health of individuals with I/DD and the resources and programs available to those with a dual diagnosis.
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OTHER STUFF . . .
?PEOPLE WITH SIGNIFICANT NEEDS: The UIC Department of Disability and Human Development has issued a report assessing the Illinois DD system's capacity to serve individuals with significant or specific support needs. DDD says the intent of this work was to understand who is offering these supports in the system, identify providers who could serve as models on specific support needs, and identify ways to expand the capacity of the State to provide these supports to people with I/DD.?DDD will be holding a webinar where Dr. Caitlin Crabb will discuss the report and recommendations on June 29 from 1-2 pm. Registration is required.?
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RESPITE: The Division has announced the agencies that have received respite funding for FY23.?Group, Voucher and In-Home Respite are available to individuals who are not enrolled in Home-Based Services, CILA, CDS or DRS Home Services.
?For the capacity report and webinar registration info, and for information on respite, go to:
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ICFDD CLOSURE: Brother James Court, an ICFDD in Springfield serving 68 men, has announced it is closing its doors.?Central IL Service Access (CISA) is arranging for new placements for the men.
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KIDS’ PUNS: For the first time in many years, the Legislature has appropriated funds for 100 youth to be selected through PUNS to receive Home Based Services. DDD says Individuals who are currently in the “seeking services” category will be selected based on their total time waiting since their first date on PUNS. The Division says their initial review indicates that the pull will be for persons 14 and over. Selected individuals will receive a letter in mid-July.
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THE CONSULTING PRACTICE . . .
?WELCOME: Ada S. McKinley Community Services has signed up as an affiliate of McManus Consulting.?We now have 61 organizations on the list below.?Ada S. McKinley’s founder and namesake was a schoolteacher and social reformer who started the agency in 1919 as a settlement house to assist Black World War I veterans.?The agency’s website says it currently serves more than 7,000 people annually at over 70 program sites in the Chicago area, Wisconsin and Indiana.?Programs include CILA, CDS, Home-Based Services and Supported Employment.?Jamal Malone is the CEO, and the agency’s headquarters are on the Near West Side of Chicago.?https://www.adasmckinley.org/
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THE WAIVER: 16 Illinois providers and provider associations, including McManus Consulting, sent a letter to the Senate urging adoption of the House-passed bill increasing Medicaid Waiver funding by $150 billion.?Altogether, 462 organizations nationwide signed the letter, organized by ANCOR.?The letter and the list of signers is at: https://www.ancor.org/advocacy/ancor-capitol-correspondence
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?McManus Consulting was founded in 2011 by Ed McManus.?Ed worked for the IL Div. of Developmental Disabilities for 18 years, as facilitator of the North Suburban Network and state coordinator of the Home-Based Services program.?Before that he was a Chicago Tribune editor/reporter and an assistant state’s attorney in Cook County.?The practice has consultation contracts with the organizations listed below and consults pro bono with families by phone.
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Ed's Newsletter is published approximately once a month, made possible by the support of the following affiliates who are on retainer: A New Age Human Services, A+ Autism Solutions, Abequa Home Care, Access Living, Active Visions, Ada S. McKinley, Arts of Life, Aspire, At Home Mission, Autism Care Therapy, Avenues to Independence, CCAR Industries, Center for Enriched Living, Center for Independent Futures, Champaign County DD Board, Clearbrook, Community Link, Douglas Center, Encompass/Jewish United Fund, Friendship House, Garden Center, Gateway Services, Gateway to Learning, Glenkirk, Good Shepherd Manor, Helping Hand, Individual Advocacy Group, KCCDD/Knox County, Land of Lincoln Goodwill Industries, Lambs Farm, LARC/Lansing, Leeda, Little City, McHenry County MH Board, Malcolm Eaton Enterprises, Misericordia, Mulford Homes/Diane Home Care, Oak-Leyden Developmental Services, Ohana Community Services, Opportunity Knocks, Orchard Village, Pioneer Center, Progressive Careers & Housing, Rimland, Riverside, Royal Living Center, St. Coletta WI, Sheltered Village, Trinity, UCP Seguin, Warren Achievement, The Workshop/Galena.?
Independent Service Coordinators: Central IL Service Access, Community Alternatives Unlimited, Southern IL Case Coordination Services.?
Disability-related law firms: Cahill & Associates, Chamberlin Law Group, Clancy & Associates, Matt Cohen & Associates, Monahan Law Group, Rubin Law.?