Click HERE to read more about the Think Beyond the Label campaign.
Many businesses that employ our workers here locally report that their workers with disabilities have become true assets to their organizations, actually setting an example for non-disabled workers through their dependability and strong work ethic. They also often help create a more caring and inclusive working environment. Bravo!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Johnson County Sun opinion column
Click HERE to read The Sun's opinion column regarding tax increases and Kansans with disabilities.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Legislative Update
From JCDS Community Relations Manager Lurena Mead:
Last week was an interesting week in Topeka. Here are some of the highlights:
1- Maury Thompson, Executive Director of JCDS, testified before the House Appropriations Committee. He shared how the 10% cut to Medicaid funding would negatively impact consumers, providers and the encumbered State. Since this committee’s main focus is money, committee members were interested in the loss of the $5.5 million in Federal dollars.
2- Scuttlebutt around the Capitol is that many legislators want to address this cut to Medicaid and may offer a bill early in the session to reverse that cut. Legislators understand that the cut hurts people, but is also fiscally imprudent. Leaving “free” money on the table is not a good idea during these trying times.
3- The Aging and Long Term Care Committee also had hearings about the effect of the cuts to Medicaid. There were some compelling testimonies presented. The committee members were very attentive and asked some good questions. These committee members were sympathetic to the impact on people not necessarily dollars.
4- Go to the website www.khi.org for a couple of articles about the waiting list. One article is entitled “Waiting lists for state services expected to grow” and another called “Family awaits help”. The family discussed in the last article are active advocates from Johnson County! I appreciate their willingness to share their story. There was also a great Letter to the Editor printed in the KC Star on Saturday submitted by a mother whose child is on the waiting list. Great job…keep ‘em coming!
5- Rep. Rob Olson from the Olathe area came to JCDS to tour and learn about DD services and our needs. Rob said that he has a stack of letters from his constituents advocating for DD. He said he “keeps every one” demonstrating that your letters do make a difference!
6- We met with the new representative from the Mission Hills area. Rep. Barbara Bollier seemed very sympathetic to our cause. She said that her very first job was working in a hospital for disabled children. I think she “gets” us! If you live in her district, please touch base with her. She has much to learn about many topics but we’d like to keep a focus on DD.
Your TO DO list for next week:
1- Just because legislators may introduce a bill to reverse the cuts to Medicaid, doesn’t mean that it will happen. Contact your legislators and ask them to support reversing the damaging cuts to Medicaid. If a bill is introduced, I’ll make sure you get the bill number.
2- If you belong to a community group, special interest group, church group or networking group, please feel free to forward this weekly email. The more individuals that read our message, understand our needs and act on our behalf, the more powerful we become. One mother sends this email to over 200 individuals! One, ten or twenty will help make a difference.
3- Send your www.invisiblekansans.org letter.
As Martin Luther King said “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
My plea is: Don’t be silent, our message matters!
Warm regards-
Lurena Mead
Last week was an interesting week in Topeka. Here are some of the highlights:
1- Maury Thompson, Executive Director of JCDS, testified before the House Appropriations Committee. He shared how the 10% cut to Medicaid funding would negatively impact consumers, providers and the encumbered State. Since this committee’s main focus is money, committee members were interested in the loss of the $5.5 million in Federal dollars.
2- Scuttlebutt around the Capitol is that many legislators want to address this cut to Medicaid and may offer a bill early in the session to reverse that cut. Legislators understand that the cut hurts people, but is also fiscally imprudent. Leaving “free” money on the table is not a good idea during these trying times.
3- The Aging and Long Term Care Committee also had hearings about the effect of the cuts to Medicaid. There were some compelling testimonies presented. The committee members were very attentive and asked some good questions. These committee members were sympathetic to the impact on people not necessarily dollars.
4- Go to the website www.khi.org for a couple of articles about the waiting list. One article is entitled “Waiting lists for state services expected to grow” and another called “Family awaits help”. The family discussed in the last article are active advocates from Johnson County! I appreciate their willingness to share their story. There was also a great Letter to the Editor printed in the KC Star on Saturday submitted by a mother whose child is on the waiting list. Great job…keep ‘em coming!
5- Rep. Rob Olson from the Olathe area came to JCDS to tour and learn about DD services and our needs. Rob said that he has a stack of letters from his constituents advocating for DD. He said he “keeps every one” demonstrating that your letters do make a difference!
6- We met with the new representative from the Mission Hills area. Rep. Barbara Bollier seemed very sympathetic to our cause. She said that her very first job was working in a hospital for disabled children. I think she “gets” us! If you live in her district, please touch base with her. She has much to learn about many topics but we’d like to keep a focus on DD.
Your TO DO list for next week:
1- Just because legislators may introduce a bill to reverse the cuts to Medicaid, doesn’t mean that it will happen. Contact your legislators and ask them to support reversing the damaging cuts to Medicaid. If a bill is introduced, I’ll make sure you get the bill number.
2- If you belong to a community group, special interest group, church group or networking group, please feel free to forward this weekly email. The more individuals that read our message, understand our needs and act on our behalf, the more powerful we become. One mother sends this email to over 200 individuals! One, ten or twenty will help make a difference.
3- Send your www.invisiblekansans.org letter.
As Martin Luther King said “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
My plea is: Don’t be silent, our message matters!
Warm regards-
Lurena Mead
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Time To Get Going! A message from John Holt, President of Friends of JCDS
January always marks a fresh start. We resolve to eat right, be more organized, act nicer, exercise, and, well, you know the drill.
I refuse to resolve to anything, lest I break the resolution six weeks in! But I do acknowledge January is a "fresh start," and that's true for Friends of JCDS!
We have much to do in the year ahead as we continue our work to improve the lives of our consumers and their families. In a cash-strapped economy, it's even more critical. We are excited about adding an 11th home to our portfolio, providing more quality, affordable housing to people with disabilities. Planning for Second Annual Restyle Runway is well underway after a smashing debut. There are deserving programs and opportunities we look forward to funding. And to guide us all, a new strategic plan is being developed following a board retreat.
We have a solid committee driven board, thanks to the vision and energy of our outgoing board President Jean Hughes. Thanks Jean, for leaving us in good shape with your leadership. Yours will be big shoes to fill!
We're also welcoming some new members who will add new energy to these efforts. A big hello to Mike Hughes, Jace McClasky, Scott Tschudy, and Joe Vader.
Last but not least, a strong and supportive staff at JCDS who make it all come together flawlessly!
I'm honored to be your new board President, and look forward to hearing your suggestions and ideas.
Time to get a start now, on our "fresh start". Here we go......
John Holt
President, Friends of JCDS
I refuse to resolve to anything, lest I break the resolution six weeks in! But I do acknowledge January is a "fresh start," and that's true for Friends of JCDS!
We have much to do in the year ahead as we continue our work to improve the lives of our consumers and their families. In a cash-strapped economy, it's even more critical. We are excited about adding an 11th home to our portfolio, providing more quality, affordable housing to people with disabilities. Planning for Second Annual Restyle Runway is well underway after a smashing debut. There are deserving programs and opportunities we look forward to funding. And to guide us all, a new strategic plan is being developed following a board retreat.
We have a solid committee driven board, thanks to the vision and energy of our outgoing board President Jean Hughes. Thanks Jean, for leaving us in good shape with your leadership. Yours will be big shoes to fill!
We're also welcoming some new members who will add new energy to these efforts. A big hello to Mike Hughes, Jace McClasky, Scott Tschudy, and Joe Vader.
Last but not least, a strong and supportive staff at JCDS who make it all come together flawlessly!
I'm honored to be your new board President, and look forward to hearing your suggestions and ideas.
Time to get a start now, on our "fresh start". Here we go......
John Holt
President, Friends of JCDS
Monday, January 11, 2010
KC Star article on autism therapy and cost-savings
Click on the link to read the article!
http://www.kansascity.com/340/story/1675589.html
http://www.kansascity.com/340/story/1675589.html
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