Legislative/Advocacy Updates
NILP heads to D.C. to fight cuts to Medicaid
10 members of the Northeast Independent Living Program, Inc. (NILP) staff embarked on a trip to Washington D.C. recently to show their opposition to proposed cuts to Medicaid, through their participation in the “My Medicaid Matters Rally” held on September 21st on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. The rally was sponsored by ADAPT and over 90 other disability organizations, including NILP, gathered to send a strong message to Congress and the Whitehouse in an effort to prevent the over $73 billion decrease in funding for Medicaid. These cuts would have devastating effects on millions of low income individuals and persons with disabilities that depend on Medicaid, thousands of which reside in the greater Merrimack Valley.
Approximately 1,000 other advocates joined the NILP staff on the Capital Lawn, where they listened to speeches, music, and testimonials about the effects these cuts would have on individuals. NILP staff also took time to meet with individual members of the House and Senate, to discuss the proposed cuts, including Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown.
ADAPT, the main sponsor of the rally “has identified proposals that would contain Medicaid spending while supporting [the rights of people with disabilities] to live in the most integrated setting and control [their] lives.” Among those proposals are; the expansion of community based services, which studies have shown are more effective at containing costs than the current over-reliance on institutions and nursing facilities, and expanding consumer directed service options that empower consumers to manage their services and reduce the need for administrative overhead, amongst other suggestions.
NILP is a non-profit organization based in Lawrence, that for over 30 years has served persons with disabilities through a variety of services including advocacy, skills training, peer counseling, and information and referral. If you would like more information on NILP and the services they provide please go their website www.nilp.org or call 978-687-4288.
Support the PCA program!
The threat of cuts to the PCA program loom large as the state considers ways to cut significantly. These medically-necessary services could be eliminated for people receiving less than 15 hours of services a week. People would lose assistance with crucial tasks such as bathing, dressing, and toileting that allow them to live in their own homes instead of in a nursing home.
NILP Along with other groups from across Massachusetts attended a rally at The State House on Wednesday, January 19. We gathered on the third floor of the State House. And visited Governor Patrick's office and wrote
Letters.
Who will get hurt by cuts to PCAs?
Below are profiles of people receiving less than 15 hours of PCA service a week. People at this level of service are potentially targeted for elimination from the program.
- A 37-year-old man with Down's Syndrome who lives with his elderly mother who recently had a heart attack and may need services herself.
- A 55-year-old woman who had a stroke and has COPD and HIV.
- A 37-year-old woman with MS who lives independently with her 2-year-old child.
- 12-year-old boy with autism; described by his mother as a gentle giant. She indicates that PCA services "are not luxuries... this support is critical for him to remain in our home with our family... This financial investment is modest in comparison to the incremental cost (an additional $100,000 to $200,000) of a placement in a residential school."
Every day over 25,000 PCAs provide assistance - and they are mostly lower-income workers - including many single mothers, disabled persons, and households with a disabled member - who cannot afford to lose income if PCA services are cut and they're then out of work.
Advancing Careers through Connection: The Peer Employment Network
Spread The Word About The Peer Employment Network
Advance in your line of work or start a new career.
Expand your network of business contacts.
We invite you to come to the third meeting of the Peer Employment Network to reconnect and/or make new contacts and learn more about career advancement, reasonable accommodations and other issues relevant to individuals with disabilities who are interested in maximizing their employment opportunities.
If you are a working person with a disability or, you are actively seeking employment and would like to connect to people with similar interests, you owe it to yourself not to miss this opportunity. To register using the form on the back of this page fax to the attention of Drew Glazier at 617.287.4352 or e-mail the electronic version to Andrew.Glazier@umb.edu. To register by phone contact Marie Hennessy at 781.321.1071.
If you have any questions or need any accommodations, please contact Rick Kugler: at rick.kugler@umb.edu
Download Reservation Form Here
Advancing Careers through Connection: The Peer Employment Network
Spread The Word About The Peer Employment Network
Advance in your line of work or start a new career.
Expand your network of business contacts.
We invite you to come to the third meeting of the Peer Employment Network to reconnect and/or make new contacts and learn more about career advancement, reasonable accommodations and other issues relevant to individuals with disabilities who are interested in maximizing their employment opportunities.
If you are a working person with a disability or, you are actively seeking employment and would like to connect to people with similar interests, you owe it to yourself not to miss this opportunity. Space is limited. Please RSVP by 2/22/10. To register using the form on the back of this page fax to the attention of Drew Glazier at 617.287.4352 or e-mail the electronic version to Andrew.Glazier@umb.edu. To register by phone contact Marie Hennessy at 781.321.1071.
If you have any questions or need any accommodations, please contact Rick Kugler: at rick.kugler@umb.edu
Download Reservation Form Here
Affordable Homeownership Opportunity
Bread & Roses Housing (BRH) is pleased to announce the opening of its application process for affordable home ownership. Please help us to get the word out by posting, publishing or announcing the following information:
Interested in buying an affordable home?
BRH is currently accepting applications for 3-bedroom homes to be built (duplex style) in Lawrence, MA. Each 3-bedroom, 1.5 bath home will be sold for $75,000 to a low income first time homebuyer. The homes will remain owner-occupied and affordable through all future sales and re-sales.
To receive information and to learn about how you can apply:
You must attend a BRH seminar. Applications are only available by attending a BRH seminar. See below for more information.
¿Esta interesado en comprar una casa económica?
BRH esta aceptando aplicaciones para comprar casas de 3-dormitorios que estarán en construcción en Lawrence, MA. Cada unídad (la mitad del duplex) tiene un coste de $75,000 y serán vendidas a propietarios de bajos ingresos y ser primeros compradores. Las casas deben permanecer ocupadas y mantenerse a bajos precios en ventas futuras.
Para recibir más información y una aplicación
Tiene que asistir a una.
Maximum Household Income / Ingreso Máximo de su Familia
2 persons - $33,900, 3 persons - $38,150, 4 persons - $42,400, 5 persons - $45, 800
Minimum Household Income/ Ingreso Mínimo: $20,000
For more information, contact:
Lidia Rivera-Garcia
Bread & Roses Housing
PO Box 7 Lawrence, MA 01842
(978) 685-1823 x 1
infoatbrh@aol.com
NILP is pleased to announce that we have been awarded a grant from The City of Lawrence
The Northeast Independent Living Program, Inc. (NILP) is pleased to announce that we have received a grant from The City of Lawrence as part of a Public Services funding from The U.S. Department of HUD, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).
The NILP's Access in Motion (AIM) project is providing Accessibility Education and Advocacy training to Consumers with disabilities as part of this year's CDBG services, and ADA planning support to CDBG funded Title II entities that is resulting in greater inclusion for all residents with disabilities.
The ADA Self-Advocacy Training includes topics such as:
- How to provide a reasonable accommodation?
- How to acquire a Sign Language Interpreter?
- What is the Maximum Extent Feasible standard?
- How to promote disability awareness and education about the need for all organizations to adopt appropriate ADA Policies, procedures and diversity practices. Strategy discussions about situations where People have found places that have steps that are barriers? Consumers have encountered program staffwho do not know how to acquire Sign Language Interpreters, and when consumers have visited organizations that do not have disability awareness and education about ADA Policies, procedures and diversity practices?
WE THANK ALL Lawrence RESIDENTS who came to the January 20th training- you have helped make this project a great success!
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