Introducing Embry Burrus, Author of Mama and Margaret

Hi, my name is Embry Burrus, and my big sister, Margaret is one of the funniest, coolest people I know. In fact, she is one of my most favorite people to hang out with. She loves to have fun, and is always ready for a new adventure – no matter what it is, Margaret’s up for it! She is also one of the most loving, kind and non-judgmental people I know, too. She shows me everyday what unconditional love truly is. She is the best sister anyone could hope for.

Oh, and by the way, she has Down syndrome.

That used to be the first thing I would tell people about Margaret, as if I needed to “temper” whatever I said about her with those words: She has Down syndrome.

But now, I realize that the fact that she has Down syndrome does not define her at all. People don’t like to meet Margaret and hang out with her because she is all of those things and she has Down syndrome; they like to meet her and hang out with her because she is all of those things, period.

What an awakening that has been for me—one of the many things I’ve learned from being Margaret’s sister.

I realized several years ago that there was a wonderful story in Margaret’s life, and in the journey that I have taken in being her sister, so I’ve written a book about her, and our now 90 year old mother. If you’d like to meet both of them, please visit my website .

I look forward to meeting everyone on this blog, and thank Terri for the opportunity to contribute my story!

Guest Blogger: Author, Gary Presley

Today we have a guest post from fellow blogger (bloggist?) Gary Presley. He has published a memoir, Seven Wheelchairs: Life Beyond Polio about his experiences with disability and has been so kind as to share some thoughts with us about writing and about disability--enjoy!

Gary writes:

Let's face it. You need to polish your ego a bit if you want to write a memoir. Frankly, I didn't have much of one. I was raised as an Army brat, which means the "children seen but not heard" school of thought. Oh, of course, a child was "heard" occasionally, but it was to say "Yes, sir" or "Yes, ma'am."

But I do have a bit of ego. In fact, I sometimes display an off-beat, twisted sense of pride that I'm one of the few people you'll ever meet who has used a wheelchair for nearly 50 years. Of course, that didn't come easy. For too long, I was something of a jerk – and an angry, bitter one at that. With that mindset, it took me several years after I begin to write before I understood that there was a story worth telling about that long, seat-of-the-pants journey.

It began when I wrote an essay entitled "A Pot to Pee in," a whimsical meditation on what it means to use that little plastic bottle called a urinal. I thought it was interesting enough, especially because it begin in the bad old days before there were accessible bathrooms.

I belong to a writer's critique group, and several members read the essay and said "You need to write a book."

And so I did. I thought maybe I could offer the world an opinion or two about what we call "disability" – about it being simply another aspect of the human condition, about the need to integrate people with disabilities fully into society, about the ugliness of institutional care, and about the absurdity of the so-called right-to-die movement.

The book – called Seven Wheelchairs: A Life beyond Polio – was a multi-year project, but it was published October 2008 by The University of Iowa Press. Many readers have responded with notes that they've begun to regard disability differently because of my book.

Now here's the odd part of this saga: In writing the book, I taught myself something too – about myself and about disability.

I learned – no, really remembered and understood – how significant a sacrifice my parents made for me after I begin to live on wheels. I learned how deeply held the guilt I feel about that – not guilt imposed by my parents but rather guilt generated by my dependence. No one ever told me what every parent should tell a child with a disability: there is no blame related to disability. Disability simply "Is" – and it is only one of the qualities that makes the child a person of value, a person worth loving, a person of promise.

And what did I learn about disability? Mostly that things are better now than in the bad old days when I became a polio quad. Better access to education and employment are the two most important. On the other hand, there's one element in the "living disabled" lifestyle that still restricts full integration. That's social integration – the idea that many of us with mobility impairments and other physical and mental conditions remain isolated. Barrier-free home construction would go a long way toward fixing that problem – as would a concerted effort by people with disabilities, and their supporters, to never hesitate to move proudly and confidently out into every community activity possible.



(The picture at the top is a photo of the author, Gary Presley. The one at the bottom is a picture of the cover of his book, Seven Wheelchairs: A Life Beyond Polio.)

Update: The New York Times gave this book a rave review!!!!

Autism Awareness Month:Guest Blogger Monica Moshenko

Since I do not have a connection with Autism myself I offered my friends who know more about Autism than I do the chance to guest-blog here. Monica is the parent of an awesome son with Autism and a fellow Partners in Policymaking grad (from my class, actually!) She is also the host of Disability News and Views Radio. This article of hers was originally published by Autism Today. PS: The house in this picture is for sale so if you are looking to move to Bufflo, NY leave a comment!

Finances an Added Burden for the Disabled and Their Families
By Monica S. Moshenko
Power Advocates, Inc.

For those of you who have a child with a disability, or are an adult with a disability, finances play an integral role in the services and supports that are needed. There were times in the last few years, when I made choices to pay for a therapy my son needed, instead of paying the phone bill or car payment because the health insurance company often limits the frequency or doesn't even cover it.

I have known far too many families who had to sacrifice so much to ensure that their child receives the interventions and attention they so desperately require. Some parents have had to refinance their homes and often go without the many "extras" that many others seem to have- the second car, vacations, and even going out to restaurants, to pay for ongoing medical costs which usually aren't covered by typical HMO's. For the parent or adult who doesn't have any health insurance, there are increased challenges and stresses accompanied by this problem, making life extremely difficult. There are resources that parents of disabled children and disabled adults can apply for in New York State, as well as national resources I want to provide for you.

One program called the "Medicaid HCB Waiver Program" which allows States to take Medicaid funds that were previously only available to institutions, and apply them to community and home-based programs.

According to the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, "Medicaid's home and community-based services waiver program affords States the flexibility to develop and implement creative alternatives to institutionalizing Medicaid-eligible individuals." Many individuals can be cared for in their homes and communities, preserving their independence and ties to family, and friends, at a cost no higher than that of institutional care. When these programs are provided, the individual also becomes a contributing member of the community, thereby enriching all of our lives.

Some of the services that maybe provided without prior approval of the Federal government through this program include: Case Management Services, Homemaker Services, Home Health Aide Services, Personal Care Services, Adult Day Health Habilitation and Respite Care Services.

Other services which maybe provided with prior approval include: Transportation, In-Home Support, Meal Services, Special Communication, Minor Home Modifications, and Adult Day Care.

To apply for the HCB Medicaid Waiver, you need to have documented information about the disability, along with information of how the disability affects the person's daily living. Your income is not a factor when applying for the HCB waiver.

Waiver services may be provided to the elderly and disabled, the physically disabled, the developmentally disabled and mentally ill. Waivers may also be targeted to individuals with a specific illness or condition, such as technology-dependent children or individuals with AIDS.

Under the waiver program, States can make home and community based services available to individuals who would otherwise qualify for Medicaid only if they were in an out of home setting.

Contact a Caseworker from an agency such as People Inc. or Heritage Centers (see the list of resources which follow) to begin the application process, which can take several months. Once the application is completed, it is submitted to a review committee at the WNY DDSO. When a decision is made, a letter is then sent to the applicant and the agency that you are working with. If you are denied, you can always apply again, perhaps submitting more specific information or you can request a Fair Hearing for further review of the application.

If you have an adult child with a disability, they may be eligible for either SSI (Supplemental Security Income), or SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) regardless of your income or assets. Both of these programs provide money to people with disabilities who aren't capable of "substantial gainful activity" or SGA. If a physical or mental impairment prevents your adult child from doing any job that will enable him or her to independently earn $500 or more per month, he or she may be eligible for either SSI or SSDI if other requirements of the program are also met.
§ SSI requires that in addition to being disabled and incapable of SGA a person must also be poor. SSI sets limits on the amount of money one can earn in a month (countable income) and on the value of money or property owned (countable resources). It is important to note that once a child reaches 18 years of age, his or her parents' income and resources are not counted for SSI eligibility.

SSDI is only available to people (including their dependents) who have paid into the Social Security system by working a required amount of time. Dependent adult children are eligible for benefits under their parents' work record. Dependent adult children are defined as becoming disabled prior to the age of 22, single, and incapable of substantial gainful activity. If the parent fulfilled the required SSDI work time and then dies, retires, or becomes disabled, a dependent adult child will receive cash benefits based on that parent's earnings. It is important to note that the child does not need to be poor to receive the cash benefits, nor does the child have to live at home. (Excerpted from "Adult Child Benefits: Social Security 101," by Theresa Varnet, Exceptional Parent, September 1997)

There are a variety of work incentive programs for individuals with disabilities who wish to work without immediately jeopardizing their SSI/SSDI benefits. The Work Incentives Improvement Act (WIIA), introduced in Congress on January 28, 1999, would allow beneficiaries of SSI and SSDI to work without losing their Medicaid or Medicare benefits. More information about the details of these programs, eligibility requirements and work incentives can be obtained from a variety of sources including the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 (TDD: 1-800-325-0778) and the NYS Dept. of Labor at (518) 485-6176 or email usacjv@labor.state.ny.us (New York Works: Self-Sufficiency through Employment Initiatives). This program is being offered in Buffalo.

I have listed local and national agencies that provide information, support and assistance. Local churches should be providing some assistance to the disabled as well (i.e. food, clothing, counseling, financial)


NATIONAL RESOURCES
The Brass Ring provides grants to fulfill the dreams of children who suffer from a life threatening or terminal illness. Phone 1-800-666-WISH Website: www.worldramp.net/brassring/

Disability Funding News is a national newsletter covering federal and private funding for people with disabilities. Phone 1-800-666-6380 Website: www.cdpublications.com/funding/dfn.htm

In His Name Ministries, an interfaith, non-profit charitable organization that addresses the news of the disabled, elderly and the struggling single.
Phone 1-405- 706-6295 Website: www.inhisname.org/ email dee@inhisname.org organization that addresses the financial needs of the disabled, elderly, and struggling single

The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants wishes to children under the age of twelve with life threatening illnesses. Phone 1-800-722-9474, Website: www.wish.org, email MAWFA@wish.org

(Correction: They actually grant wishes to children between the age of 2-1/2 and 18 with life-threatening medical conditions.)

National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC) provides referrals for persons with disabilities to organizations that may financially assist them in a variety of ways (i.e. education). Phone 1-800-346-2742 Website: www.naric.com

National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives (NOSSCR) is an association of attorneys and paralegals who represent Social Security and Supplemental Security Income claimants. Phone 1-800-431-2804, Website: www.nosscr.org. and email nosscr@worlnet.att.net

Physician's Disability Services, Inc. is a publishing company that helps people with disabilities prove their Social Security disabililty claims. Phone 1-410-431-5279 Website: www.disabilityfacts.com and email smith@disabilityfacts.com
The Sunshine Foundation grants wishes to chronically, and terminally ill, disabled and physically abused children ages 2 ½ to 22. Phone 1-941-424-4188 Website: www.sunshinefoundation.org, email sundv@gte.net

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March is Disability Awareness Month: Guest blogger Janice Fitzgerald

This was sent out by Jan Fitzgerald Director of Parent to Parent of NYS. Enjoy!

March is disabilities awareness month. It is a time to raise awareness that people with disabilities want the same things that everyone else wants. Those “things” are friends, peace of mind (including freedom from abuse), to be valued through employment and to have enough money to be able to live a quality life.



It is a month set aside to recognize the great strides in the care and treatment of people with disabilities moving from an understaffed institutional ward to independent and supported living.



During this month of March, be a friend to a person with a disability, consider hiring a person with a disability in your place of employment (there are supports available to train and coach) and recognize that people with disabilities are often the kindest and most compassionate people you will ever know. Including a person with a disability at any meeting changes the dynamics and changes the environment in positive ways. Welcome people with disabilities in to your business, your restaurant and your place of worship.



During this month of March, consider a career that includes working with people with developmental disabilities. There are opportunities in many fields and the gratification at the end of the day knowing you made a difference is tremendous.



During this month of March, there is one huge request. Help end the disrespect and cruelty targeted at people with disabilities by not tolerating the use of the word “retard” in any conversation you are a part of. Do not tolerate the derogatory use of the word “retard” by your children.



Janice Fitzgerald

Executive Director

Parent to Parent of NYS

www.parenttoparentnys.org

518-359-3006

To read other posts on this blog click here.