Institute for Disability Studies
Family Health Notes
July 2013
Inside this issue:
1) Mississippi Partnerships for Employment Awareness Sessions – July 9, 16, 23
2) Journey Skyward – July 20, Jackson
3) Webinar: Health Insurance Marketplace 101 Training – July 9-31
4) Health Insurance Marketplace Educational Tools
5) Free National Park Passes Available for People with Disabilities
1) Mississippi Partnerships for Employment Awareness Sessions – July 9, 16, 23
Employment First is a philosophy that having employment in the community should be the expected goal for working-age adults with developmental disabilities. This goal should be the first priority of agencies providing employment services for adults with developmental disabilities. The Mississippi Partnerships for Employment (MSPE) for Young Adults with Developmental Disabilities project is holding awareness sessions across the state during July to review MSPE activities and provide information about Employment First.
Awareness sessions will be held in the following locations:
· Greenville - July 9 - William Alexander Percy Memorial Library, 341 Main Street - 5:30–6:30 p.m.,
· Long Beach - July 16 - Technology Learning Center on The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Park campus, 730 East Beach Boulevard – 5:30-6:30 p.m., and
· Starkville - July 23 - Greater Starkville Development Partnership offices, 203 East Main Street – 5:30-6:30 p.m.
For more information about the awareness sessions and Employment First, email Dr. Jerry R. Alliston at jerry.alliston@usm.edu.
2) Journey Skyward – July 20, Jackson
Is there a better way to celebrate the 23rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act than soaring? Join The Arc of Mississippi and LIFE on Mississippi as they team up with Push America’s Journey of Hope and the John Bell Williams Airport once again to take flight. Welcome the Journey cyclist and then take to the skies in a small plane. The event will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Sign up to save your personal spot in the wild blue yonder by calling Matt Nalker at The Arc of Mississippi at 601.982.1180 or Christy Dunaway at LIFE at 601.969.4009. Download the flyer by visiting http://lifeofms.org/images/user_files/files/Journey_Skyward_Flyer_2013.pdf.
3) Webinar: Health Insurance Marketplace 101 Training – July 9-31
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is hosting webinars about the Health Insurance Marketplaces which will open for enrollment on Oct. 1. Webinar participants can hear an overview of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), learn about eligibility for Marketplace coverage and learn how to enroll. Register for the webinars early. Although there is a 500-person limit, some sessions are at capacity. To see the dates available and register, visit http://marketplace.cms.gov/NewsEvents/Webinars/Spring-Summer-2013-Health-Insurance-Marketplace-Training-Schedule.pdf.
4) Health Insurance Marketplace Educational Tools
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has redesigned the HealthCare.gov website. Individuals, families, and small businesses can use this consumer-friendly site to learn about health coverage options and the Health Insurance Marketplaces. There are links to the state-based Marketplaces, and you can sign up to receive news and additional updates. The site is available in English and Spanish and includes a live chat feature. In addition, the Health Insurance Marketplace call center at 1-800-318-2596 will provide information in more than 150 languages. Callers with hearing impairments can dial 1-855-889-4325 for assistance. Start by visiting the HealthCare website at https://www.healthcare.gov/.
5) Free National Park Passes Available for People with Disabilities
Ready for vacation? National parks and recreation sites are popular summer destinations. U.S. residents with disabilities can receive a free “Access Pass” that offers lifetime admission for the passholder and three other adults. To receive the pass, individuals with disabilities are asked to present official documentation of disability status to the National Parks Service, either in person or by mail. A physician’s statement or a document issued by a state or federal agency (e.g. Veteran’s Administration, Social Security Disability Income, Supplemental Security Income) is acceptable. Learn more about the Access Pass program and locate recreation sites by visiting http://www.nps.gov/findapark/passes.htm.
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Family Health Notes~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Family Health Notes is sponsored by the Institute for Disability Studies (IDS), Mississippi’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) at The University of Southern Mississippi. IDS provides university training, community service activities, research and information that promote the independence, productivity, and community inclusion of individuals with disabilities and their families. For more information about IDS, visit www.usm/edu/ids or call 1.888.671.0051 (TTY). To make a tax-deductible gift to IDS, visit www.usm.edu/ids/supportus.html.
The Family-to-Family Health Information and Education Center (F2F) is a family-focused, family managed resource center that empowers families of Mississippi children with special health care needs to be partners in the decisions made concerning the health of their children. F2F is funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (GR#H84MC07948).
The Mississippi Integrated Community Systems (MICS) for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs project is working to create a seamless system of family-centered, community-based, culturally competent services and supports for children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN). MICS is funded by the Maternal and Child Bureau of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (GR#D70MC12841).
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