Monday Morning Update

Your Monday Morning Update:

Are you afraid to pick up your phone in the evening due to the possibility of having to listen to one more robocall? Are you tired of answering the door to view a well-meaning neighbor standing on your porch, anxious to provide you with a flyer about the merits of their candidate? Are you weary of seeing television ads about the dreadful or swell things that political contenders have been up to?

Well, the days of having to put up with all of this is almost over because General Election Day is just around the corner! Even through all the confusion and mixed messages, I hope you listened, read, learned and studied, because your vote will help to determine who will represent you and advocate for individuals with disabilities during the coming years.

· Advanced voting in person starts Oct. 19 through Oct. 30th. Go to www.jocoelection.org to find the location nearest you.

· Advanced voting by mail is an easy option for many. Applications must be received by 5:00 pm Oct. 29th. Obtain an application at www.jocoelection.org/advapp.pdf.

· Vote in person at your assigned location on Nov. 2nd (election day). Voting hours are 7am – 7pm. To find your polling location, go to www.jocopolo.com and put your address in the box labeled “address lookup”. Your location magically appears! Now how easy is that?


Please take the opportunity to vote because your vote DOES make a difference!

Kansas City Ability Day

http://www.kansascity.com/2010/10/17/2323057/ability-day-is-all-about-potential.html



Lately it seems that every time I pick up a newspaper, I see an article about disablities. Sometimes it's heartwarming news, sometimes sad news, sometimes it makes me angry and sometimes it motivates me. Regardless, it confirms that individuals with disabilities are part of our community. Here to stay. They are part of us. We are part of them! Progress begins with tiny steps.

National Disability Employment Awareness Month

http://www.fox4kc.com/news/wdaf-story-disabled-workers-olathe-100610,0,6843571.story


October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Thanks to WDAF TV (Fox 4), I'm please to share this story about a wonderful gentleman with a disability who is employed by the Olathe Residence Inn by Marriot. I hope you enjoy the story of their partnership!

King for a Day

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2010/oct/02/crowning-achievement-fshs-homecoming-opens-new-doo/

Sometimes I get the crazy notion that "all's good in the world" then I sit back and realize that I'm being a wee bit delusional! As I read the attached article, I think I'm justified in thinking "all's good at Free State High School". What do you think?

Fox 4 news story about a local family on the DD waiting list

This story aired on 8.17.10. Thank you, Fox 4 for bringing this important story to the airwaves! Click HERE to view.

I'm not a crier...well that is, I'm not usually a crier, but last night I shed a tear or two. I happened to sit down for a few minutes of television after a day of work and play, and watched an episode from the TV series "Glee". Thought I'd share so you might shed a tear or two also.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_ufTvuGGBU

Legislative Update

It is officially NOT Monday but I wanted to provide you a quick update on primary election results from yesterday. Those results can be viewed on the attached link. Be sure to click on the “unofficial final results” link and it will let you in on both winners and losers.

Statewide, there were 10 Republicans that had voted to support enhanced DD funding AND had primary races. There was quite an effort to replace those representatives with candidates that were more fiscally conservative.

Of those ten races, only one lost their primary bid. Jill Quigley from Johnson County (Lenexa area) was defeated by Kelly Meigs.

Regardless of one’s belief system; moderate/conservative, Republican/Democrat, Jill was a staunch supporter of individuals with developmental disabilities in Topeka. Her voice advocating for persons with DD will be deeply missed.

LATE BREAKING NEWS:
This morning, the U.S. Senate passed H.R. 1586 which contains $16.1 billion in FMAP (Federal Medical Assistance Percentage). If you remember, these are the matching funds that the Feds put towards certain State medical and social service programs.

The Governor used these enhanced FMAP dollars to balance this FY’11 budget and if not extended, would place Kansas in a financial heap of trouble!

Passage of this bill will maintain the Federal match at 70%. This bill’s next stop will be the U.S. House and is expected to pass without much effort.

November elections will be upon us soon. Start studying!

Warm Regards,
Lurena Mead