“Whenever the people are well informed, they can be trusted with their own government.”

–Thomas Jefferson

Thank you to our friends at the ARC for forwarding a list of legislative bills that they felt would be of interest to families of children, adolescents, and adults with disabilities.   The bold text is the bill, who introduced it, and an official description of the bill.  The italicized words are the thoughts and concerns presented by the ARC representative and shared with us.  We would like to encourage our community to use this list as a reference for which bills to investigate and we’d also ask you to please form your own opinions.

LB 821 – Health and Human Services Committee – To create the Nebraska Children’s Commission and require legislation to create the Department of Children’s Services.

This bill attempts to address the Foster Care Crisis. It could add some structure and organization where it is really needed as well as provide oversight to service deliver in places it is significantly lacking in.  It would also focus all Kids programs and issues in one place: the Department of Children’s Services which could be a good thing.

LB 825 – Dubas – Establish local offices for access to public benefit programs. This bill was written to address the issues Individuals are having when they attempt to use Access Nebraska (an online process where people sign up for public benefits)  This would establish local offices where individuals can now go to register for public benefit programs if they cannot get Access NE. online  to work.  This would be a good thing.

LB 826 – Dubas – Change provisions relating to legislative consideration of proposed rules and regulations under the Medical Assistance Act. My interpretation of this bill is that it attempts to address the proposed Medicaid cuts by saying that Health and Human Services Medicaid program cannot just propose and make cuts without legislative approval first.  It is a step in the right direction but this bill in its entirety may not change the more immediate situation of the cuts– it seems to be looking more towards stopping cuts in the future without legislative approval.  I would support this bill but give more  of my support to LB 952 (see below )which does a better job of addressing the Medicaid cuts right NOW.

LB 900 – Lathrop – Requires a report concerning individuals in need of multiple division services from the Department of Health and Human Services. When an individual is receiving more than one service for example Medicaid, Developmental Disabilities services AND behavioral health services  all the different entities involved with this individual would need to  report on why the individual  is eligibile to receive their services. What is happening is that one department is passing the individual off to another department saying they are better served there… and individuals are not being served appropriately when this happens especially if they need a variety of services.

LB 901 – Lathrop – Designate funds to be used for services for persons with developmental disabilities. This bill is to fund the Wait List in Nebraska.  Important bill that should be supported.—Call your senators.

LB 952 – Nordquist – Change appropriation provisions relating to the medical assistance. This bill is very important!!!! It addresses the proposed cuts to Medicaid. It speaks to eliminating each proposed cut and it includes an E-Clause (Emergency Clause) which means that when this bill is passed it becomes effective immediately.—Call  your Senators with support for this bill.

LB 1113 – Flood – Adopt the Nebraska Uniform Power of Attorney Act. This bill speaks to one of the options you have concerning substituted judgment. It is a Bill to monitor and get more information on before deciding what position to take– although it looks like it might be a good bill.

LB 1129 – Coash – Provide requirements for insurance coverage of Autism Spectrum Disorders. This bill is a bill to support on behalf of individuals with Autism.

LB 1144 – Ashford – Provide for Career Academy Schools. Seems like this bill is about establishing Career oriented schools for students (7^th through 12^th grades) that know they are not going to attend  college and want to have hands on experience with non-college related careers.  Could this be something students with disabilities who are not going to college might be interested in??—We might want to get more information and monitor this bill.

Have you been wondering what was going on with the process for insurance reform here in Nebraska?  Be sure and check out the new web site so you can stay informed of the latest updates!

http://nebraskainsurancereform.org/

An Update from the Nebraska Insurance Reform Steering Committee…

Hi Everyone.  As you may have heard, today Senator Colby Coash introduce a bill requiring insurance companies cover individuals with Autism up to age 21.  Most of you are involved in organizations that will have special interest in this, so please copy and paste the following and send out to your list servs or contacts.  Thanks to you all for the support over the last couple of (grueling) weeks!

Nebraska’s LB 1129–Insurance Coverage for Individuals with Autism!!

Today, Senator Colby Coash introduced LB 1129 that requires insurance companies to cover individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders up to age 21.  The bill covers screening, diagnosis/evaluation and treatments, including evidence based behavior therapies such as ABA.  This has been a long time coming in Nebraska, and we are so grateful to Senator Coash for standing up for Nebraska’s families who are affected by autism! (To read a copy of the bill, go to www.nebraska.gov and search for LB 1129).

Currently, the bill reads that children up to age 9 will be covered up to $70,000 per year, and those from age 10-21 have a financial cap of $20,000.  However, Senator Coash has already agreed to introduce an amendment that would cover individuals for the first three years of treatment, up to $70,000 per year, regardless of age (up to age 21). After the first three years of treatment, each individual will be covered for up to $20,000 per year. The financial cap ONLY applies to treatment, and not to diagnosis or screening.

As you probably know, introducing the bill is just the beginning. We have a lot of work to do!!  Many have asked how you can help.  The Banking and Insurance Committee will be holding a hearing to discuss the bill, and your efforts are needed!  We don’t have a date yet, but as soon as we do, we will pass it along, and ask for you to send an email to your Senator, and if possible, attend the hearing.  We want to have lots of people in the audience representing our families, and showing our State Senators that we are unified!

PLEASE Like our Facebook page, Autism Insurance Reform in Nebraska, and continue to check email and our website for more updates.  Our website will go live soon, hopefully on Friday, and there you can get additional information.  (www.nebraskainsurancereform.org) .  If you have questions, please feel free to contact me at chrissy@neinsurance.com.

Thanks to everyone for all your support and hard work!  Those letters you wrote a month ago were great, and your voices were heard!!

Best Regards,

Chrissy McNair

Congratulations to local artist, James Bray! 

His “Autism is a journey” design was selected by our community for the 2011 Autism Puzzle Walk!  James and his Mom wanted to thank his teacher, Linsey Stangl and the staff at Brook Valley School for helping James bring his creation to life! 

 We definitely agree that it captures the spirit of our community! 

Great job James!

Registration is happening right now for the State Autism Conference!  Click HERE to download a conference brochure.

 CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

Did you know that members of the Autism Society can get a 25% discount?  Email us today at autismsociety@autismnebraska.org to find out how to save 25% on your registration! 

Again this year the Autism Society has scholarship funds to assist family members and individuals with ASD to attend.   Learn more about our scholarship program and download an application HERE.  Scholarships are for registration costs only.  Completed scholarship forms must be postmarked on or before March 1st, 2011.

NEW this year!  The Autism Society is providing child care during the Thursday evening dinner and keynote!  This is first come first served and to ensure adequate staffing registration must be completed prior to April 1st.  Download a registration form HERE.

Every year the Autism Society of Nebraska awards an individual who shows outstanding commitment to the Autism Community. Anyone who touches the lives of individuals with ASD’s is eligible. This award will be presented at the State Autism Conference on April 7th in Omaha.

Nominations should be emailed to the Nomination Committee at autismsociety@autismnebraska.org prior to March 15th, 2010.

Please include the name of the person being nominated, contact information for yourself and the nominee, and a one page narrative on why you think this person should be awarded the Excellence in Autism Award from the Autism Society.  Please help us honor those who work so diligently to improve the lives of those affected by autism!

The Autism Society of Nebraska is seeking applications for the Dan Archwamety Post Secondary Education Scholarship.  A scholarship of up to $500 is available this year for an individual with a diagnosis of ASD.  The scholarship must be used toward completing an accredited post-secondary course of study (educational or vocational).  Applicant must be currently registered /admitted for the program.

The scholarship will be awarded at the Nebraska State ASD Conference on Thursday, April 7th in Omaha.  Persons who have already received this scholarship will not be eligible.

Download the scholarship form HERE.

The Dan Archwamety scholarship was created to give hope, affirmation, and some financial help to young people diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder who plan to continue their schooling after high school.   Dan died on June 1, 1997, as a result of a bike-truck accident, shortly after he completed his sophomore year at University of Nebraska-Kearney.   Dan’s family describes him as, ”an above average student who really had to study hard for the good grades he earned”.   Dan worked equally hard to learn how to socialize with other students, both his classmates and those who lived at his dorm.

The day after he died, two letters arrived from UNK, awarding him two different scholarships for his junior year. At his funeral service a fellow student confided that she had no idea that he had a disability.  She thought he was so much more mature than other college boys because he would offer to help her and other students in the computer lab at UNK.

Dan did not live to receive his scholarships, but he would be very happy to know that the memorials people gave to honor his life are helping other deserving young people with ASD to achieve their dreams.

Dreadful winter weather gets in the way again!  We are sorry to report that we will be having to cancel the planning meeting for tonight.  But it has been rescheduled for Thursday, February 3 at 7pm.  Thanks again to the Autism Center of Nebraska for hosting us on Thursday!

If you can’t make it just give us an email and we’ll get you on our list of volunteers!

Date:  Thursday, February 3rd, 2011

When:  7:00pm

Where:  Autism Center of Nebraska, 9012 Q Street

           NW Corner of 90th and Q Street (former church)

           Use main entrance from the upper parking lot