One in Five, (Screen readable version)
Summer 2004 - Volume 3 Issue 3
One in five Americans has a disability.
(Note to reader: each article begins with the words BEGIN ARTICLE followed by the number of the article and ends with the words END ARTICLE followed by the number for easier movement within the publication. A table of contents has been included below. Any suggestions about how to make One in Five more user friendly for screen readers, please email to )
Publisher - Steven Tremblay
Editor - Karen Farber
Contributing Writers - Matt Peterson, Karen Crouser
Photography - John Nunan,
Layout - Interface Media Group
Advertising -
Subscriptions - , 800-640-7200 (v), 866-906-5375 (tty)
An Alpha One Publication — One in Five is published quarterly by Alpha One Enterprises in association with Interface Media Group, Inc. www.alphaonenow.com . Copyright ©2004 Alpha One Enterprises. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any part of One in Five without the expressed permission of the publisher is prohibited
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE 1: Merging Maine’s two largest agencies
ARTICLE 2: Medicare launches prescription drug cards
ARTICLE 3: Vantage Point: A not so silly season
ARTICLE 4: Beach lovers will find new access at OOB
ARTICLE 5: Book review: Struggling in that exotic place “just north of the neck”
ARTICLE 6: North Country Peer support group gets started
ARTICLE 7: News: There is no excuse not to vote
ARTICLE 8: Math + science + engineering + disability - A potent equation
ARTICLE 9: Cultural Arts: Silver screen Deaf stories often ironic
ARTICLE 10: Advocacy: Brain injury group to capitalize on budget win
ARTICLE 11: Opinion: Bridge observatory aims to break new ground in accessibility
ARTICLE 12: Opinion 2: Equal access an obligation for bridge observation deck
ARTICLE 13: Briefs: Gardening advice for those with disabilities
ARTICLE 14: Briefs: Engineer designs new wheelchair to be more user-friendly
ARTICLE 15: Briefs: Local speech therapist and illustrator create childrens’ book
ARTICLE 16: Briefs: Rights booklet includes disability information
ARTICLE 17: Briefs: Microtel sponsors Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality ARTICLE 18: Briefs: ALLTech offers Web access services to businesses
ARTICLE 19: Local scholarships send students to school
ARTICLE 20: Food stamp delivery now entirely electronic
ARTICLE 21: Courthouse access committee established
ARTICLE 22: Arts exhibit on display throughout state
ARTICLE 23: Organizations this issue
ARTICLE 24: Advertisers in this issue
BEGIN ARTICLE 1
Merging Maine’s two largest agencies
AUGUSTA — In early May, Governor John Baldacci signed into law LD 1913, “An Act to Establish the Department of Health and Human Services.” The bill creates the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), a partnership of the state’s two largest agencies — the Department of Human Services and the Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services.
Supporters of the legislation believe that since the two departments serve similar clients and often overlap in services to individuals, merging the two will create a more seamless, streamlined method of operation for social services in Maine.
The new department will be headed by former Maine Budget Director John “Jack” Nicholas, who is currently heading DHS. Vermont’s current welfare commissioner, John Michael Hall, will take the number two position. According to news sources, Hall will be responsible for policy, strategic planning, and performance in the department of more than 4,000 employees and an annual budget of $4 billion.
A planning year
Asked what DHHS developments Mainers can expect to see during the coming year, political consultant Betsy Sweet of Moose Ridge Associates said, “I think this will be a planning year. We were all surprised that the final legislation emerged with a timeline longer than many expected. They (the legislature) won’t be coming back with plans for awhile.”
Although it may be a planning year, Sweet does believe there are “flashpoints,” which will be crucial to determining what the final form of DHHS will be.
Consumer involvement
Sweet expects there will be numerous opportunities for consumer involvement, “Jack (Nicholas) knows what he doesn’t know and he’ll reach out for consumer involvement. Also, with (legislative) committee involvement, there will be committee meetings open to the public.”
Carol Carothers, executive director of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) in Maine, said, “I’m not sure how they intend to involve consumers but any system change will need a lot of consumer involvement. If not provided for, then it will be very short sighted.”
The budgeting process will be another flashpoint that citizens should keep an eye out for, Sweet added. Finances are one of the reasons for the merger. Although a rational payment and budgeting system would be great, it will come at a time of budget cuts and this will make the process more difficult, she said.
Both Sweet and Carothers expect the leadership behind the process to be key. “Who Nicholas hires around him and who the people are who offer input and are willing to step up and serve will be important,” Sweet said. Carothers concurs, much will depend on the leadership, “It’s not how the department is structured but how leadership leads and with what vision,” she concluded.
END ARTICLE 1
BEGIN ARTICLE 2
Medicare launches prescription drug cards
WASHINGTON/AUGUSTA — Medicare beneficiaries began acquiring a Medicare-approved prescription drug discount card on May 3. Use of the cards began on June 1. This is a temporary plan until other Medicare drug benefits, which will provide broader drug coverage, start in 2006.
The federal government projects that 7.3 million of Medicare’s 41 million participants will sign up for this new, optional drug discount card. However, users of the MaineCare (Medicaid) drug benefits are not eligible for the Medicare card.
There are a number of discount cards from which to choose (25-plus in Maine). The Medicare-approved drug discount cards will provide discounts on prescription drugs between 10 and 15 percent off of the retail price of drugs covered by the card. The card must be presented at the pharmacy. The cost of the card will be no more than $30 per year.
Low income could mean credit
Low cost drug program members (DEL) should contact Maine’s Bureau of Elder and Adult Services for more information. Those with low income may receive a $600 credit on the card in 2004 and 2005 and may not have to pay $30 to get a card. Applications for the credit can only be made during the 2004-2005 year.
Go to www.medicare.gov for up-to-date information about the Medicare-approved drug discount cards. Medicare also has a new Prescription Drug and Other Assistance Programs (PDAP) page. This page has been created to help users make informed choices about the Medicare-approved drug discount card. By entering the names of the drugs taken, the tool will compare monthly costs of different plans. Cost comparisons can be conducted for one to 25 drugs, with prices available for various dosages. Cards can also be compared by limiting the choice of participating pharmacies within a certain distance from one’s home.
The Maine State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) will help Maine residents sign up for a card. Call SHIP at Area Agency on Aging 877-353-3771, Legal Services for the Elderly 800-750-5353, or Bureau of Elder and Adult Services 800-262-2232.
CMS monitors prices
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) announced that it will conduct weekly updates on the covered drugs and drug prices provided by the card sponsors to ensure there is no “bait and switch.” CMS will monitor changes in overall drug prices and identify programs that stray from the expected changes in the prices the card sponsors themselves pay, which are based on the average wholesale prices. If drug prices do change, card sponsors are expected to notify CMS of these changes.
CMS announced that Medicare does not allow legitimate drug cards to be marketed through unsolicited calls or unsolicited visits to homes. Also, Medicare-approved companies are required to display a special logo that states “Medicare X Approved” on all materials. (See photo at right.)
Beware of fraud
CMS cautions: never share personal information such as bank account numbers, social security number, health insurance card number (or Medicare number) with any individual who calls or comes to the door claiming to sell any Medicare related product.
Those suspecting they are victims of fraud should call 800-MEDICARE, the Fraud Hotline of the HHS Office of the Inspector General at 800-447-8477, or their local police department.
More information on the Medicare drug discount card can be found by calling 800-MEDICARE. Information is also available by visiting www.medicare.gov or www.maine.gov/dhs/beas .
END ARTICLE 2
BEGIN ARTICLE 3
Vantage Point By Steven Tremblay
A not so silly season
One pundit started calling the annual election process in our country “the silly season” because of the claims and counterclaims made by candidates and parties during this time of the year. The fall election is rapidly approaching — but it is far from a silly season — it is deadly serious.
Decisions impact lives
For many citizens with a disability, the decisions made by elected officials — in Augusta and in Washington — have a direct influence on lives and independence. Policy decisions, budget priorities and personnel appointments can and do have a direct impact on the lives of individuals with a disability. The discussions surrounding these decisions seem to be distant policy debates in the halls of the Maine Legislature or Congress — but they are life or death matters for people with a disability whose independence is threatened by changes in policy.
Two years ago, One in Five featured an article on Maine’s gubernatorial candidates — giving each an opportunity to respond to three questions about disability policy. When asked, “ ... what state legislation will you propose to strengthen and restore the rights of individuals with disabilities?” then candidate John Baldacci responded, “... I believe it is even more important for the state to focus on legislation that will help the disability community.”
Unfortunately, Governor Baldacci’s actions in the last legislative session did not square with his rhetoric during the campaign. The Governor proposed a cut to consumer directed services of over $4 million. These services have been vital to some Maine citizens with a disability for decades.
For twenty-five years — through three different eight-year long administrations, one Democrat, one Republican, and one Independent — these consumer directed programs grew steadily and incrementally, until now. As a result, many Maine consumers of these programs will be facing difficult choices — some of which involve losing independence and the ability to live in the community.
While it is easy to point the finger at one person — Governor Baldacci — the issue really goes much deeper. These decisions, proposed by the Governor, were accepted by the legislature. Consumers worked tirelessly contacting legislators, trying to educate them about the impacts of the budget changes. Unfortunately, some of these voices were lost in the confusion that surrounds any legislative session. Competing budget priorities, a variety of tax reform proposals and a deepening budget crisis all contributed to these efforts falling short in their ability to restore budget cuts and program changes.
Term limits mean continual education
One less obvious contributing factor here is legislative term limits. For many years, Alpha One’s programs enjoyed strong support from a number of veteran legislators who worked with consumers in their districts to develop, refine and strengthen these programs. Now most of those legislators are gone — having been term-limited. Newly elected legislators are overwhelmed by prominent issues such as increasing aid for education, property tax relief, budget crises, and emerging initiatives like the Dirigo Health program. Programs like consumer directed personal assistance that impact fewer citizens and are somewhat more complicated are too easily lost in the shuffle.
Time to educate
People concerned about independent living must not allow these issues to be sidetracked. The time to educate policy makers is not in the middle of the legislative session when attention is pulled in many directions at once but during this campaign season. Now is the time to engage legislative candidates — educate them on disability and independent living issues, develop support for vital initiatives, and support their election if they are on board with the agenda.
During this “not so silly season,” it is important for those of us committed to independent living and consumer direction to take the fight forward. We need to sharpen our message, attend candidate forums, inform candidates about independent living and disability issues, ask for support on legislative initiatives before the session begins, vote in the general election, and hold the candidates accountable once they are elected.
This is not a job for someone else. This is a job for each of us, as citizens. We must participate in the process to make this happen; we cannot expect someone else to do it for us. That is the essence of our independence.
The summer and fall will be a busy time for us as we move this agenda forward, together. Get involved. Make your voice heard — vote. Together, we will continue to promote independence.
On a personal note: We all know that living with disability means coping with health ups and downs. I have recently been on that ride. I want to thank family and friends, especially my mother, sister, and children for their support, as well as the encouragement of all my friends and colleagues at Alpha One. I look forward to returning to my active role at Alpha One after Labor Day.
END ARTICLE 3
BEGIN ARTICLE 4
Beach lovers will find new access at OOB
OLD ORCHARD BEACH — New ramp access to a stretch of seashore at Old Orchard Beach (OOB) may be a boon to summer tourists and visitors there.
Completed in June, two ramps connecting paved pedestrian ways, across the dune grasses, to the open sand are currentnly available for use. Additionally, the two ramps are connected to each other and to the wet sand via a non-permanent decking material. Correct Building Products of Biddeford donated the materials.
Recognizing the need for ramp access to its beaches, OOB set out about two years ago to identify a location where it would be relatively simple to build low-cost access with nearby accessible parking. The town center fit the bill.
New ramps to Old Orchard beach
OOB Town Councilor Joe Kline hopes that those in wheelchairs will take advantage of the town’s center streets and the beach by utilizing the ramps and the adjacent newly designated accessible parking along the Staple Street Extension.
Eventually, Kline said, there will be five ramps — each with decking to the wet sand and/or to the side, where one can sit and enjoy the surroundings. The other three ramps, said Kline, will take more time due to grading requirements and will be located at other points in town.