Give Your Insight into what Makes Attendant Care Effective

 

Hearing directly from people who receive long-term care is the most important part of our work (and possibly yours too!).  

In 1985, NCCNHR released the seminal report, "A Consumer Perspective on Quality Care: The Residents' Point of View," which spurred many important policy initiatives and serves as an important reference for what consumers want and need from their long-term care experience.  We are proud to announce that later this year, in conjunction with the National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD) HCBS Conference, we'll release a new report, assessing what home care consumers want, need and how they define quality care.  

But we cannot complete this project without YOUR help.  Be a part of Consumer Voice (and advocacy) history and contribute to the report.  

And...if you submit a consumer name or conduct an interview, we'll enter your name into a drawing to receive a free registration for our September 10th Advocacy in Action Training in DC!

If you are a home care consumer (accessing services from a paid caregiver), know of any home care consumers willing to be interviewed and/or are willing to interview consumers yourself, please email us as soon as possible at info@theconsumervoice.org.

Interviews will be conducted by volunteers via telephone or by online survey (for those with internet access) and will take no more than 30-minutes. More information about sharing consumer experiences or becoming a volunteer to conduct consumer interviews is available on our website.

Thank you!

TSA Helpline for Travelers with Disabilities

Please see the below links and press release regarding a new service from the TSA for travel.

http://www.tsa.gov/press/releases/2011/1222.shtm

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/disabilityandmedicalneeds/tsa_cares.shtm

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced the launch of TSA Cares today, a new helpline number designed to assist travelers with disabilities and medical
conditions, prior to getting to the airport. Travelers may call TSA Cares toll free at 1-855-787 2227 prior to traveling with questions about screening policies, procedures and what to expect at the security checkpoint.

“TSA Cares provides passengers with disabilities and medical needs another resource to use before they fly, so they know what to expect when going through the screening process,” said TSA Administrator John Pistole. “This additional level of personal communication helps ensure that even those who do not travel often are aware of our screening policies before they arrive at the airport.”

Since its inception, TSA has provided information to all travelers through its TSA Contact Center and Customer Service Managers in airports nationwide. TSA Cares will serve as an additional, dedicated resource for passengers with disabilities, medical conditions or other circumstances or their loved ones who want to prepare for the screening process prior to flying.

When a passenger with a disability or medical condition calls TSA Cares, a representative will provide assistance, either with information about screening that is relevant to the passenger’s specific disability or medical condition, or the passenger may be referred to disability experts at TSA. TSA recommends that passengers call approximately 72 hours ahead of travel so that TSA Cares has the opportunity to coordinate checkpoint support with a TSA Customer Service Manager located at the airport when necessary.

Every person and item must be screened before entering the secure area of an airport and the manner in which the screening is conducted will depend on the passenger’s abilities and any specific equipment brought to the security checkpoint.

TSA strives to provide the highest level of security while ensuring that all passengers are treated with dignity and respect. The agency works regularly with a broad coalition of disability and medical condition advocacy groups to help understand their needs and adapt screening procedures accordingly. TSA holds quarterly meetings with this coalition to inform them about current training and screening procedures used in airports. TSA recently hosted a teleconference with members of these groups to announce the long-standing plans to implement TSA Cares for travelers and inform them of the upcoming launch.

All travelers may ask to speak to a TSA supervisor if questions about screening procedures arise while at the security checkpoint. The hours of operation for the TSA Cares helpline are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. EST, excluding federal holidays. After hours, travelers can find information about traveling with disabilities and medical needs on TSA’s website.

All travelers can contact TSA using Talk To TSA, a web-based tool that allows passengers to reach out to an airport Customer Service Manager directly, and the TSA Contact Center, 1 866-289-9673 and TSA-ContactCenter@dhs.gov, where travelers can ask questions, provide suggestions and file complaints. Travelers who are deaf or hard of hearing can use a relay service to contact TSA Cares or can e-mail TSA-ContactCenter@dhs.gov



What can YOU do? Video Contest

Contest Seeks Creative Videos That Challenge Perceptions about Disability & Employment

The Campaign for Disability Employment has announced the launch of its second nationwide video contest to promote the talent and skills that people with disabilities bring to America’s workforce and economy. A follow-up to a similar contest held in 2009, this year’s competition seeks videos in several categories to supplement the CDE’s award-winning “What can YOU do?” public education efforts. Submit your entry by March 30, 2012.

This information was recently added to Disability.gov. To learn more visit https://www.disability.gov/employment/news_%26_events.

New Website Teaches Californians About Long-Term Care Insurance

State officials are urging Californians to visit a new website designed to educate people about buying long-term care plans to assist with the cost of health services they may need in the future, HealthyCal<http://www.healthycal.org/archives/7272> reports.

The five-month-old website, RUReadyCA.org<http://rureadyca.org/>, is managed by the California Partnership for Long-Term Care, a joint venture of the state Department of Health Care Services and several health plans that sell long-term care insurance.

According to HealthyCal, most adults do not consider purchasing long-term care insurance because of the cost or because they think they will not need coverage in the near future.

Brenda Bufford, program director at the partnership, said that it has proved challenging to educate state residents about the complexities of long-term care.

Website Details

The website features:

 *   Descriptions and pricing for the different policies available;
 *   Details on where the policies can be purchased; and
 *   Calculators to estimate premiums and how much money individuals should save to prepare for long-term care expenses if they choose not to buy a policy (Sample, HealthyCal, 1/31).


Read more: http://www.californiahealthline.org/articles/2012/2/1/state-officials-seek-to-educate-residents-with-long-term-care-website.aspx#ixzz1lAKZFTlO

Vita Tax - Get Free Help Preparing Taxes

Guess what? It’s that time of the year again…Tax Season, when April 15^th looms just around the corner. Are you feeling daunted by the prospect of preparing your own taxes? Do all of those pesky W-2 forms and miscellaneous receipts send you into a panic? Do you want to make sure you get a tax refund so that you can buy that snazzy new laptop for school?

Then be sure to get fast, free, and confidential help from one of Vita Tax’s friendly, trained Tax Preparers. They have over 200 Bay Area locations, so you will be sure to find one that is convenient for you. One of their sites just happens to be at the Center for Independent Living in Berkeley. Come visit us at 3075 Adeline St #100 (over Ashby BART) for free help. Vita Tax staff will be happy to assist you during the following days and times:

Tuesdays 4-8pm

Saturday Feb 25^th 10am-4pm

Saturday March 31^st 10am-4pm

We recommend that you call CIL ahead of time to make an appointment, but walk-in’s are always welcome during hours that Vita Tax staff are here in the office. Also, be sure to let us know if you need an ASL Interpreter or other reasonable accommodation. CIL’s phone number is 510-841-4776.

To learn more about Vita Tax services check them out on the web at www.earnitkeepitsaveit.org or call 211.

If you need accommodations such as Sign Language interpretation, assistive listening devices, printed matter in alternative format, please call (510) 841-4776 or (510) 356-2662 (video phone) or TTY (510) 848-3101.  We will try to accommodate all requests, but need at least 3 business days notice.