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OFFICE OF HANDICAPPED CONCERNS
WILL'S CORNER, OKLAHOMA
(Serving the Disability Community of Oklahoma)
Volume 3, Issue 4
November, 2002
OLMSTEAD
In the last year, we have had a couple of articles about the Ticket
to Work because this is a major new thrust in social services in
Oklahoma and across the country. The Social Security Administration
is sending out invitations to Oklahomans who receive Social
Security benefits who would like to return to the work force.
Social Security has designated employment networks across Oklahoma
to provide supports necessary for beneficiaries to return to work
if that is something they would like to do. We continue to receive
calls about the Ticket to Work because it takes awhile for all of
us to receive the information and then make an informed decision
based on that sound information.
That is the reason I would like to talk with you a little about
Olmstead right now. The Olmstead United States Supreme Court
decision of 1999 marks a shift in thinking about how we deliver
social services. It raises the question of where we choose to
deliver Medicaid social services. Do we choose an institutional
setting or do we choose a community setting? The court came out in
favor of a community setting and ruled that the Medicaid authority
in the state of Georgia must serve two women with mental challenges
in the community if they prefer that over receiving services in an
institution. Of course this U.S. Supreme Court decision has
implications for Medicaid programs in every state in the nation
including Oklahoma.
If I were to become severely disabled in Oklahoma and did not have
private insurance and my family could not care for me, I might have
to go into a nursing home to receive the care I needed. You could
be in that same boat as well. You do not necessarily have to be a
senior citizen to receive services from a nursing home. Younger
people with disabilities are in nursing homes today across our
state. Younger people with disabilities are also in state-run
institutions in Oklahoma. And many people have disabilities so
severe that they prefer to be served there. There is a place for
institutions in certain individual circumstances. But what about
those people who are currently in institutions who would prefer to
get their needs met in a community setting? What about those who
want to be more independent and have the ability to function in the
community? Olmstead says that Medicaid should offer a choice, and
that is what I would like to talk to you about.
Medicaid services for people with disabilities have been offered in
community settings since the 1980’s in Oklahoma. We have several
Waivers in Oklahoma for individuals with mental and physical
disabilities which offer services in the community. But so far,
that population being served is small in comparison with the total
number of people who are disabled in our state. Expanding the
option of community services to Medicaid-eligible persons with
disability all over Oklahoma is sort of like the Ticket to Work
program we mentioned earlier. It is a major new thrust in social
services which offers some choices to people with disabilities.
Ticket to Work offered the choice of returning to work and the
supports necessary to do that. Olmstead offers the choice of where
we receive services and should offer the supports necessary to do
that in a community setting if the person so chooses. But we
haven’t developed those supports quite yet in Oklahoma or most
other states either for that matter. That’s the reason that state
Senator Bernest Cain has convened an Olmstead committee of
directors of state agencies and major social service agencies and
individuals with disabilities across Oklahoma to work on how to
make the choice of community services available in Oklahoma. Sound
easy? It may sound easy, but it is by no means an easy task. We
have to change our thinking and change our attitudes at all levels
of Oklahoma society to make community services available. We have
to develop supports in the community like housing, transportation,
and attendant care. We have to provide public funds to community
providers to pay for services. We have to put in place a system of
quality assurance to make sure that people are receiving good
service in an appropriate manner. And finally, we have to begin to
do this in a time of economic downturn in Oklahoma when other
priorities sometimes take precedence. These are some of the
challenges which face state agencies, private social service
agencies, and ultimately the State Legislature as we implement the
Olmstead decision in Oklahoma.
So what can we do? I think there’s a lot you and I can do. We can
learn more about Olmstead like we are doing right now as we read
this page. We can begin to think about where we would like to
receive services if we were disabled. We can begin to consider
members of our family and friends who are disabled and where they
get their needs met now. We can start thinking about our attitudes
about living and working next to people with disabilities. If
people with disabilities who are Medicaid eligible chose to remain
in your community, where could they go to get their needs met? How
would they get to the grocery store? Where could they live? Would
there be someone to come in occasionally to assist them in daily
living? If we begin to think about these questions for ourselves,
our families, our friends, and our community, we are doing a lot.
But there is even more that we can do. We can talk to people at our
churches, civic groups, and our city council. We can challenge our
communities to be more accessible to people with disabilities.
There are many decisions to be made on the local and the individual
level if Olmstead is ever to be implemented. What are we willing to
support? Change is on the table here, but change requires time and
effort—human energy.
The Office of Handicapped Concerns and this newsletter want to keep
you informed about issues which affect people with disabilities and
Oklahoma as a whole. We believe that the Olmstead decision has the
potential to affect us all. We pledge to provide you more
information about Olmstead in future issues. We have only just
begun to consider the implications of this issue in Oklahoma, but
with 650,000 Oklahomans who have some level of physical or mental
disability, it is an issue of enormous dimensions.
Quotable quote:
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens
can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever does.”
Margaret Meade
Quality Daycare for Children with Disabilities
Those of you with young children have long been interested in
quality daycare services for your children. Quality daycare may be
difficult to find, but if your child has a disability, that care
may be almost impossible to locate. Many daycare providers feel
reluctant to accept children with special needs because of a lack
of knowledge in working with disabilities. Providers may have
concerns over liability and/or the amount of staff time required to
meet the needs of a child with special needs. Because of this lack
of providers, many parents feel they must stay home with their
children to assure their pre-school children receive the care they
need and deserve. Very slowly we are beginning to have daycare
providers who will accept our children, and we are beginning to
have some choices in care for our children. Easter Seals of
Oklahoma Child Development Center offers one such option. This
beautiful October afternoon, I am visiting with Sue Tabor who is
the Program Director for the Child Development Center at Easter
Seals of Oklahoma.
“Sue, I have your address in my address book as being up on
northwest 63rd Street in Oklahoma City. When did you come down here
to the medical complex area on northeast 13th?”
“We moved into these new facilities very recently. Would you like a
little tour of our child development center?”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
“Well, first let me show you our new playground facility. It’s just
outside these doors.”
“Wow. The view of the medical center is great.”
“What do you think about this impact surfacing around all the
equipment?”
“Feels like a rubberized pad.”
“This helps prevent and reduce outside play injuries.”
“So you can’t even get a skinned knee anymore. We didn’t have those
kinds of protection in my day.”
“Injuries to children with disabilities can be more dangerous than
to children without, and our goal is to have about 20% of our
enrollment to be children with special needs.”
“You accept children with special needs?”
“Easter Seals has always been about working with children with
special needs. We are moving more towards providing child care
across the country also.”
“Sue, how many children do you serve now?”
“We serve about seventy children now with our youngest six weeks
old and our oldest five years.”
“You don’t have an after-school program?”
“Not right now, but we are planning to have a kindergarten and
after-school program in the future. We also look to expand our
total enrollment. We have a license for 100 children now, and we
are moving to about 150.”
“Sue, I know very little about daycares, but I know if I were a
parent I would be wanting to know about the quality of care for my
child. Are there ratings in the business of daycare?”
“Yes. The NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young
Children) offers a three-star rating as its top quality daycare. We
presently have a two-star rating and have applied for three stars.”
“So, how are daycares rated?”
“They look at employee salaries, the education of employees, and
the turnover rate of employees. Obviously you want better
education, better salaries, and lower turnover.”
“Good luck in your application for that third star.”
“Thanks Will. Just one other thing. We do offer a special service
here for children with disabilities. Children may receive
occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy here on
site. We have therapists available.”
“Is that included in your daily rate?”
“The cost of therapy is in addition to the cost of daycare, but
there are programs which can pay for it. A sliding scale is
available depending on financial need.”
“One final question Sue. What kind of waiting list do you have for
services?”
“We don’t have a waiting list. We are ready to serve children and
their families right now.”
The Easter Seals Child Development Center is open from Monday to
Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. They are conveniently located at
701 N.E. 13th Street on the OU Health Sciences Center campus in
Oklahoma City. The telephone number is 405-239-2525. By the way,
they are a DHS approved child care center. Stop by and visit
anytime.
SOME TIPS ON VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION
(with information from James Sirmans at the Office of Handicapped
Concerns)
I am with James Sirmans this morning in his office at the Office of
Handicapped Concerns in Oklahoma City. The Office of Handicapped
Concerns is the federally-designated entity to be the watchdog of
the delivery of VR services in the state of Oklahoma. Serving as
the CAP (Client Assistance Program) Director for Oklahoma, James
works with Vocational Rehabilitation counselors across the state of
Oklahoma as an advocate for those who receive services but have
concerns which they have been unable to resolve on their own. James
has a copy of all policies of Vocational Rehabilitation and is in
frequent contact with VR programs all over Oklahoma including the
Indian tribal Vocational Rehabilitations.
“James, I consider you as the office point of contact on VR
services and an information source for our state. Do you have any
tips or interesting tidbits of information for Oklahomans who use
VR services or may use them in the future ?”
“One thing Oklahomans with disabilities who are returning to work
might like to know about is the closing of priority groups three
and four in the consideration of their application for VR
services.”
“What is priority group three and four?”
“Vocational Rehabilitation divides their applications for services
into four categories from one to four depending on the severity of
the disability of the person applying. Priority group one is
considered the most significant with the disability considered less
significant as you approach category four.”
“Can you give me an example?”
“Always remember that Vocational Rehabilitation considers each
application on a case-by-case basis. You are placed in one category
or another based on your ability to perform tasks of daily living
such as eating, dressing, and ability to be employed. Whatever the
disability, the more that disability affects activities of daily
living (ADL’s), the higher the priority in receiving VR services.
It is categories three and four which were closed for services
beginning July 31 of this year.”
“So who decides the rating of my application?”
“Your VR counselor makes that decision based on their State Plan
which is revised annually.”
“What if I have been placed in category four, and I feel that does
not accurately reflect my disability? What recourse do I have?”
“Your counselor can recommend that you undergo testing to determine
your level of disability. You can ask for this testing and ask that
VR pay for the testing.”
“What if I get the testing, and the results still come out that I
should be in category four?”
“If you still have a concern about this, you may call me here at
CAP (800-522-8224). I can serve as your advocate. I can investigate
the matter, and I can make sure that Vocational Rehabilitation is
abiding within their published policy.”
“You can’t tell me that I am going to be moved up on the priority
if I call you?”
“I can tell you that I will investigate your concern. I will call
your counselor if I need to, and I will confirm if the counselor
has acted within policy. If the counselor has acted within their
policy, your response at this point is to work towards getting a
change in policy if that is your wish.”
“How is the decision made on whether VR has enough money or not?”
“Keep in mind that VR operates on federal and state funds which
pays for all services, salaries, office rentals, everything. By
July of this year, VR expenditures were $65,000 per day and at this
rate they would be out of funds by April 2003. In order to maintain
existing services and in anticipation of future applications for
services, they chose to close categories three and four. Again, I
want to tell you that if you have been rated in categories three or
four, that does not mean that you are not eligible for services. It
does mean that your counselor cannot develop an Individual
Employment Plan (IEP) for you authorizing services. Rather, you
will be put on a waiting list and served when funding levels are up
again.”
“So James, help me understand here. Is this something like the
Medicaid cuts which were recently announced by the Oklahoma Health
Care Authority?”
“That’s a good way to understand what has happened.”
“You mentioned earlier that I have the right and responsibility as
a citizen of Oklahoma to seek change in the public policy if I feel
that it would better serve citizens and our state. What can I do if
I want to work on the level of changing VR policy?”
“Contact Melinda Freundt at the Oklahoma Rehabilitation Council
(800-845-8476) and ask to attend the public meetings which the
council conducts quarterly. If you want to address the council, you
may ask to get onto the agenda by identifying yourself and sharing
what you want to talk about.”
“What exactly is the Oklahoma Rehabilitation Council?”
“The council serves as an advisory body to the department. They
meet quarterly, generally in Oklahoma City. Vocational
Rehabilitation is not an entitlement program nor are they an
affirmative action agency. They are an employment program. Policy
is influenced by the availability of funds. In Oklahoma, the
federal government kicks in about $3.70 for every dollar
appropriated by the State Legislature. Don’t be discouraged to
apply for services if you are a person with a disability and want
to return to work. That’s what the program is all about.”
James Sirmans is the disability program specialist at the Office of
Handicapped Concerns for the Client Assistance Program (CAP). CAP
is the federally-funded program administered by the Office of
Handicapped Concerns to advocate for the client of Vocational
Rehabilitation after that client has made efforts to resolve their
concerns on their own. To contact James, call our toll-free number
800-522-8224 or 405-521-3756 in the Oklahoma City metro.
THE FORD CENTER
The day—Friday, November 8, 2002. It is late morning. I am alone. I
walk into the new Ford Center on the south edge of downtown
Oklahoma City. Today is open house for people with disabilities.
Would you like to come in with me?
“Hi Marilyn.” That’s Marilyn Burr, the disability program
specialist from our office specializing in the employment of people
with disabilities. “Fancy meeting you here.”
“Will, come over here. I want you to meet Robin Miller who is the
Guest Relations Manager of the Ford Center. She’ll be leading your
tour of the facility.” Oh, by the way, the Ford Center is the new
arena in Oklahoma City, and it will be hosting athletic and
entertainment events year round. It should attract people from all
over the state, and developers have considered that many of those
people may have disabilities and have made provisions for this.
Come take a look at this new facility.
“Will, this is Robin Miller. Robin, this is Will who would like to
invite a few of his friends to tour the Ford with you.”
“Are these your friends?”
“Yes, Robin, I’d like you to meet Bill and Rick. They’ve come along
to give me the perspective of maneuvering the Ford in a wheelchair.
Are you coming with us, Marilyn?”
“Not right now, but I do want to get with you after the tour to
share a few suggestions I have made to the developers which may
even further enhance the use of this arena by persons with
disabilities.”
“See ya after awhile.”
(Robin Miller, our tour guide)
“Now fellows, I would like to begin by telling you about parking
for people with disabilities who may be coming to the Ford Center.
We have about 500 parking places directly south of the arena and in
lots under the elevated surface of I-40. These lots are accessible
from S.W. 3rd Street. They have handicapped parking available for
cars and lift-equipped vans. Parking is also available across Reno
Avenue under the Cox Convention Center which is directly north of
the Ford Center. Many of you are already familiar with the
underground parking at the Cox Convention Center. Our facility
directly faces Cox which is just across the street.”
(Will)
“Oh, and Robin, I got another tip on parking for people with
disabilities. The lift-equipped Trolley runs all over downtown
Oklahoma City and clear out to the restaurants and hotels located
on Meridian Avenue six miles west of downtown. People may park in
any of the locations where the Trolley runs and ride right up to
the door. The Trolley will
be running late on nights when big events are scheduled, so it
looks like people with disabilities will be able to park their
vehicles.”
“Guys, come on over to this elevator and we’ll go up to one of the
levels. Now here you see wide walkways which help move people
around this level of the arena with a minimum of crowding. Each
level has a similar walkway outside the seating in that level. The
walkway extends completely around the arena at each level.”
(my friend Bill)
“Looks like you have signage available in Braille for people with
visual impairments.”
“We have most of the signs complete now but still have a little
signage to complete where you will be able to read every sign which
a sighted person enjoys.”
(Bill)
“Is that a bar over there?”
(Robin Miller)
“Yes, we have alcoholic beverages available, and we also have
available a 16,000 square foot kitchen for preparing a menu of
foods for our patrons to enjoy. Would any of you gentlemen like to
check out one of our handicapped-accessible bathrooms?”
(Rick)
“Will, come on in here with me, and I’ll give you some ideas about
the accessibility of this bathroom from the perspective of a person
in a wheelchair. Looks like this door is plenty wide at the
entrance. Oh, and I like this ample space inside the bathroom which
lets me maneuver easily.”
(I speak up while Rick is accessing the stall.)
“These sinks are open underneath, Rick, to let you roll right up.
Faucets are easily grabable to a person with limited hand use. And
look at this towel rack installed at a lower level to permit a
person in a chair to access it.”
(Rick)
“I see what you mean. Yes, and the stall has an extra wide door
with a raised seat on the toilet to permit easy transfer from my
chair.”
(Robin Miller)
“What did you fellows think of the restroom?”
(Rick)
“I found it quite accessible.”
(Robin)
“We also have unisex bathrooms to permit persons with disabilities
who have a caregiver who is of the opposite sex to enter the
bathroom together. Sometimes if a person needs assistance and their
caregiver is of the opposite sex, there is a problem. Looks like
your friend, Bill, has found the lift from the walkway up five feet
to the handicapped seating on this level.”
(Bill)
“Hey guys, look at this.”
(Robin)
“You can either take this short lift to an open area for seating
for persons in wheelchairs, or you can access directly from the
walkway back to an open area for wheelchairs. Now, you can see out
over the whole arena.”
(Will)
“What capacity crowd can the arena accommodate?”
(Robin)
“It depends on the kind of event. For ice hockey, we can seat about
15,000. For some stage set ups we can comfortably seat up to 21,000
people. Oh, and back to seating for persons in wheelchairs, we have
designated areas all around the arena on each level. You do not
have to purchase seating on a more expensive level just because you
need seating for a wheelchair. Purchase your seat at whatever level
you choose and let us know that you will need seating for your
wheelchair. We will even make sure that a seat is available in the
same area for someone who is not in a wheelchair which will be
accompanying you if that person has purchased a seat on that level.
And for persons who need a wheelchair to get from the entrance of
the Ford to their regular seat, we will assist you to your seat in
our wheelchair and pick you up at your seat. This is a helpful
service for elderly and disabled patrons who can transfer to a
regular seat which is not in designated handicapped seating.”
“I’m impressed.”
“One other thing I think would interest you. The Ford Center offers
interpreter services to our patrons who are deaf. Let us know three
weeks in advance of the event you are attending that you will need
an interpreter, and we will provide this service free of charge for
you. Another thing, we have TDD telephone service downstairs in the
box office area should you need to make a call while you are our
guest.”
“Robin, is this box seating for groups who pay a special rate?”
“Come on in. Now, Will, this has nothing specifically to do with
persons with disabilities, but we do offer special box seating for
a group who want to view their event in private and from a special
vantage point. Come on in guys.”
(Rick)
“This is a room complete with sofas, tables and chairs. You even
have a mini-refrigerator and sink here.”
(Robin)
“And we have a menu you can order from. I told you earlier about
our 16,000 sq. foot kitchen. We’ll prepare your food and serve it
in your box seating. And check out the double-wide patio doors
which lead out to separate seating for twelve in the arena proper.”
(Will)
“Are there places to eat for people who do not have box seating?”
(Robin)
“We have a Sunset Grill with a buffet which is available to persons
with club level seating. You saw one of our four bars earlier, and
there are two other restaurants available inside our facility. When
we were talking about the signs in Braille earlier, I forgot to
mention that we do allow service animals in our facility. When you
purchase your tickets, let the salesperson know that you will be
bringing your service animal. Will, it looks like we are back to
the main lobby. Again, if people need to contact me, I am Robin
Miller and I serve as the Guest Relations Manager here at the Ford
Center. My number is 405-602-8515.”
(Will)
“Thanks Robin.” Before we began our tour of the Ford Center, we met
Marilyn Burr who is also a Disability Program Specialist at the
Office of handicapped Concerns. Marilyn tells me that she has
offered a suggestion on how the Ford Center could be even more
accessible to persons with disabilities. She brought to the
attention of the management that the underground parking across the
street requires persons to get a ticket before the turnstile is
lifted permitting entry. Sometimes persons who are in a chair and
driving their own van either drop that ticket on the ground or find
it difficult to maneuver their van into the right position to grasp
the ticket. Marilyn suggested that they have an attendant on duty,
and reportedly the management is considering this suggestion.
Thanks for coming with me to the Ford Center. If you want to attend
an event here, it appears that the building is accessible, and the
Ford Center offers services to people with varying disabilities. It
is nice to know that people are considering the needs of other
people who have disabilities in designing new facilities and
providing special services. I feel welcome at the Ford Center. How
about you?
Quotable quote:
On Friendship:
A real friend is someone who walks in when the rest of the world
walks out.
I’ll lean on you and you lean on me and we’ll be OK.
Everyone hears what you say. Friends listen to what you say. Best
friends listen to what you don’t say.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Ongoing Arthritis Self-Help Courses at local county health
departments. Free of charge. Contact Marisa New
with the Oklahoma Arthritis Network 405-271-9444
ext. 56410.
December 4, 2002 Assistive Technology Equipment Exposition, 8 a.m.
to
4 p.m. Fulton Teaching and Learning Academy in
Tulsa, call 800-700-OATC for more information.
Jan. 10, 2003 The Oklahoma Developmental Disabilities Council is
Sponsoring “Sexuality and People With Develop-
mental Disabilities” seminar from 1-4 p.m. at the
National Guard Training Institute, rm. 102. Call
800-836-4470 or 405-521-4894 in the OKC metro.
Jan. 15, 2003 Oklahoma State Conference on Mental Illness and
the Criminal Justice System at the Univ. of Central
Oklahoma in Edmond, Okla. For more information
Contact Shannon Manning at the Okla. Dept. of Mental
Health 405-843-9900.
If you have an event coming up relating to disability, let us know
at 800-522-8224 and we’ll help you publicize.
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