VOR's Weekly Newsletter
Past issues of the VOR Weekly Newsletter are available here
WEEK OF: THIS ISSUE INCLUDES ARTICES ON:
October 2, 2020 VOR remembers Feda Almaliti, Homelessness and People with IDD, Fed. Autism Council Goes Dark, FL drops Covid testing, .NY-CT-NJ Class action suit, CA, NY Group Homes in Crisis, Murray Parents Assn. Video 2
September 26, 2020 VOR remembers Ruth Bader Ginsburg, CMS adds $165M in funding for MFP, Living Wage for DSPs?, TX, CT, OR, FL, NJ Murray Parents Assn. Video 1
September 18, 2020 COVID-19 Relief Needed, The movement to close Work Centers and eliminate 14(c) wage certificates, TX, AR, NY, SD
September 11, 2020 COVID Vaccine for people with IDD, TX, SC, MD, ME, Police and the autism, IDD population.
September 4, 2020 Nat'l Law Review on Guardianship & SDM, Ending Census early could hurt IDD population, NJ, OK, CT, GA, AZ, AR, NY
August 28, 2020 COVID-19 may shut programs for good, State actions to sustain Medicaid LTSS programs, DSPs: More people of color & immigrants lost to COVID, Disability leaders decry Cancel Culture at NY Times, Delays in Autism Dx among African American Kids, KY, CT, MN, OR, MA, NY
August 21, 2020 COVID-19 Seven Months Later, PPE shortages, Racial Disparities in IDD community, "Disabiliity Bias", NJ to pay DSPs more, CA Intentional Community, FL mulls vists without testing
August 14, 2020 "If positive, but asypmtomatic, keep working", Community Spread and new spike in COVID0 Cases, COVID-19 and DSPs, PA: 41 Kids with IDD reported sex assaults at Philly non-profit, Arkansas HDC sees spike in COVID cases, VA, NY, RI, State Medicaid Programs
August 7, 2020 Coronavirus Relief Funding Bill, Stop Canceling Options, Telemedicine, Health Care Workers of Color more likely to get COVID-19, AZ, NY, FL, MA
July 31, 2020 Coronavirus Funding Bill, Autism not covered in ADA, Medicaid pushe to the brink in CO, IA providers not happy with privatized Managed Care, Arizona inequities.
July 24, 2020 30th Anniv. of ADA, What an increase in FMAP will mean to you, FEMA sends faulty PPE, CT, MA, SC.
July 17, 2020 CMS delays Settings Rule, Coronavirus in AK HDCs & TX SSLCs, FL, MO, OR, Puerto Rico
July 10, 2020 VOR Response to ACLU=/SEIU Petition, CMS FAQ for ppl w disabilities during pandemic, States fail to implement IDEA, Amy Lutz: "Dear NYT Madeline", ME, FL, GA, SC, NY,
July 2, 2020 Hollowed-Out Public Health System Faces More Cuts Amid Virus, Post-COVID State Budgets Cut IDD Funding: KS, GA, TN, NY, NH, NC; No COVID Test Kits for FL Group Homes; MA, PA, OK, IL, DE
June 26. 2020 Thse w. IDD in group homes more likely to die from COVID; Florida Gov. opens budget to New ICFs & orders increased testing in group homes, NJ Assembly Hearings on COVID in Dev. Ctrs & group homes; Minnesota Disability Service Providers on the brink of collapse from COVID-19; Amy Lutz on "Partial Advocacy", OH "No group homes in our back yard"
June 19, 2020 VOR Board of Directors - New Members and Officers; CDC New COVID Testing Recommendations; Family Caregivers; CT, VA, PA, OR, OK, NY
June 12, 2020 (Mislabeled as June 5) Hospitals allow visitors for patients w IDD; Higher Infection rates for people w IDD; HHS releases $15B COVID Relief funds to Disability Providers; NY, OH, GA, PA, IA, CA
June 5, 2020 Biden Campaign IDD Policy; Need for COVID Tracking, MA - IDD COVID Rates Higher than Gen. Pop.; ME - Group Homes Have Higher Infection Rates, MO Need More DSPs; CA
May 29, 2020 Study: People w. IDD more likely to die from COVID-19, Coronavirus threatens autiistic people in group homes, Texas to expand testing to all ICFs - not group homes, Ohio to re-open June 8,
May 22, 2020 VOR Submits Testimony, Language to Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor HHS on MFP, IDD Hospital Admissions Form; D.C., Illinois, NY. NJ, ME, DSP Heroes
May 15, 2020 COVID-19: Information resources, Lack of tracking of cases of Coronavirus; Lfe with an Autistic Child, PA, AZ, NY, NJ, MA,
May 8, 2020 COVID-19: High toll on people w. IDD, Hospital No-Visotors Policies Endanger people w. IDD, Private Providers Struggle to Stay Afloat; NJ, SC, MA
May 1, 2020 Ohio - Settlement of Ball v. Kasich Class Action Suit, New Jersey - COVID Saliva Tests for State ICFs, Hospital Visits for People with I/DD, Iowa - Further Staff Changes at Glenwood
April 24, 2020 Why some people get sicker with COVID-19, Higher Death Rates from COVID-19 for People with IDD, CT, NY, FL, CA, CARES Act Funding
April 17, 2020 Aging Parents Haven't Finalized Plans for Disabled Children, New York - People with Disabilities in Group Homes Contracting Coronavirus at Five Times the City Rate, D.C, NJ, VS, CT, TX, FL, CO
April 10, 2020 Providers, "We need more PPE & Testing, States Depend on Medicaid in COVID Fight, NEw York - Homes for the Disabled See A Surge of Covid-19, IL, CT, NJ, CA, MA, MI, Medical Ethics
April 3, 2020 Stimulus Plan Falls Short For People With Disabilities, Disability No Reason To Deny COVID-19 Care, Telehealth, New York Group Homes & COVID-19 Crisis, Texas - Denton Center, CT, AZ, OK, MA
March 27, 2020 People With IDD Denied Lifesaving Care \as Coronavirus Spreads, Members of Congress Seek Protections for People w IDD, Allocating Ventilators, Autism among 8-year olds measures 1 in 54, TX - Covid at Denton SSLC, CO Outbreaks
March 20, 2020 Coronavirus Updates, TeleHealth, Special Ed at home, SC, NE
March 13, 2020 Coronavirus Updates, In Memoriam: Bill Sherman, Autism Parents at risk for PTSD, MN, NJ, WV, OH, GA
March 6, 2020 Hassan Bill to Help Recruit More Professionals to Care for Disabled, FDA Bans Shcok Devices, AR , GA MN, NJ, NY
February 28, 2020 Screening for Autism, Evaluating Persons with I/DD, Bill to Expand Respite Care, OR. NJ, NY, WV, IA
February 21, 2020 CMS Preadmission Rules Change, CDC: I/DD more Prevalent in Rural Areas, Opinion: Trump Support for Mentally Ill, New York After Willowbrook, ME, PA, NC, MD, CA
February 14, 2020 Trump, Sanders Platforms for DD Services, PA Gov. Vetoes Bill to Prevent Closing Polk & White Haven, AZ, NC ,OR, NJ, TN, CA
February 7, 2020 National Waitlists for Waiver Services Growing, Prevalence of I/DD in Children Rising, PA Families File Lawsuit, NY, CO, VA, TX, Medicaid Cuts
January 31, 2020 Medicaid Block Grants, Bills to provide for DSPs during Hospitalization, Imprisonment of persons with I/DD, PA, AK, NY, ME, CA, Ireland
January 24, 2020 Special Edition - Pennsylvania
January 24, 2020 Genes linked to Autism, Work Centers & 14(c), Opinion - Amy Lutz, IL, ME, OH, AZ, FL, IA, LA, NY
January 17, 2020 Chemicals may cause I/DD, 1/4 of Children w Autism undiagnosed, Changes to Social Security, Seclusion, and Disability Hiring. PA, MA "Nicky's Law" passed, AZ, NJ, RI
January 10, 2020 Saliva Test For Autism, Congress Increass Funding for Special Ed, 5 month extension for MFP, CMS crackdown on Medicaid Payments, FL, IA, MA, TX
January 3, 2020 Projections for Disabilities in 2030, Autism Symptoms Vary Greatly Among Identical Twins, Illinois Waitlists, NC - ‘What Happens When We Die?', WI, IA, MO, Australia
December 27, 2019 Florida Dental Program Draws Concerns for People with Disabilities, New Mexico, Georgia
December 20, 2019 Ohio - Judge rejects DRO Settlement, PA Bill for moratorium on closure of Polk & White Haven passes House, Maine Waitlists, GA, NC, W.VA, WA
December 13, 2019 Managed Long-Term Services & Supports Falling Short for Adults w I/DD, Shortage Of Autism Therapists, Fact Sheet on Subminimum Wages for People with Disabilities, NY, MN, OH, VA, TN, PA
November 29, 2019 Update on Money Follows the Person, Ob-Gyn services fall short for women w.I/DD, MO, KA, MA, OH
November 22, 2019 Olmstead & Choice; NY Audits on Abuse & Neglect; Illinois Isolating Students w I/DD & Autism; Medicaid changes cut care in MN, WA & NC; PA Moratorium passes Senate; Behavioral Interventions decrease need for drugs.
November 15, 2019 VOR & Together For Choice in D.C., NJ Group Homes v. ICFs, NJ DSP's, Iowa Work opportunities disappear, LA Lawsuit, NC, NY
November 8, 2019 First Responders, Disability Housing, MI, ME, MA, FL, TN
November 1, 2019 Acetominephen in pregnancy leads to Autism? Down Syndrome & Aging with Dementia, ME Man's Death shows crack in Safety Net, FL, CA NY, TX Dentist
October 25, 2019 PA Hearings, Shortcomings In Autism Screening, MI, TN, CA, MO, PA, Ruth Bader Ginsburg
October 18, 2019 Improving Data on People with I/DD, Special Ed Chief Johnny Collette quits, Increase in foreign-born caregivers, PA Sen. Call for Probe of DHS Decision to Close State Centers, VT, WI, MA
October 11, 2019 Editorial: Institutions are Bad? Abuse & Neglect update, Gaps In Medicaid Waivers, AR Judge Holmes
October 4, 2019 Adults with I/DD 'Invisible' in National Data, Autism Insurance in 50 states, Down Syndrome research funding down, PA Closure Moratorium Bill, NY $6M Settlement at "Bronx Zoo", FL, MI, MO, CA
September 27, 2019 CDC sees spike in DD, Erasure of Severe Autism, PA Closures,. TN Block Grants, MO waitlist, SC vacancies, AK, AR. WI
September 20, 2019 PA Closures. Autism CARES bill, VT overhauls DD services, NE, NJ, NY. GA
September 13, 2019 Direct Support Professionals, Disability Advocates Sue to Stop Charge Rule, PA Protests, SC PSA, WA, NM, NY. IL
September 6, 2019 Medicaid Managed Care, MA, AR, Living in "The Community", Dental Students Train for Special Needs Patients
August 30, 2019 Georgia-Deaths & Lack of Housing Continue, Autism Perspecitives, National Background Checks, TX. CA, Sister Rosemary
August 23, 2019 Public Charge Rule affects families of people with I/DD, PA Closures, GA, TX, CA, FL, MA, Ohio DSPs
August 16, 2019 Pennsylvania Governor to close two state ICFs, ACL failed to monitor its programs, Abuse and neglect in WA & OR, problems in NY, MA, NE
August 9, 2019 Managed Care, Missouri's 50% DSP turnover rate, AZ, OR, MA
August 2, 2019 DOJ failure to enact Autism Wandering Laws, Puerto Rico loses funding from ACL, Utah's Medically Fragile, Ilinois' 911 Notification Law, NY Justice Center Fail, Abuse cases in Indiana and Missouri
July 26, 2019 Sue Jennings speaks at IACC meeting, House passes Autism CARES Act, Senators Slam Abuse in Nursing Homes, NY, VA, D.C.
July 19, 2019 House votes to end 14c wage certificates, EPA won't ban Chlorpyrifos (Pesticide Tied to Children’s Health Problems), SC, MD, ME, MA
July 12, 2019 Medicaid changing reporting requirements, Schools unprepared for student IEP's, NY, TN, AZ residents forced to leave Hacienda
July 5, 2019 VOR's New YouTube Page, Washington, D.C. Texas, CA, AZ, IA, KY, Alaska cuts dental benefits
June 28, 2019 Olmstead, Ireland, CA, KY, TX-Lubbock SSLC 50th Anniversary, Critique of the Disability Integration Act
June 21, 2019 20th Anniversary of Olmstead, MFP, Overuse of restraint & seclusion, CA, WV, AZ, PA, OH managed care
June 14, 2019 VOR Conference Report! I/DD training for MD's meets resistance, NCD anti-guardianship for most people with I/DD, NY Times - Abuse in Bronx IRA, MO Parents want to record IEP meetings
June 7, 2019 Autism insurance after 21, PA, VA, AR, DE, CA
May 31, 2019 Labor Dept. Seeks Input on 14(c), Disability Integration Act, OH, TX, NC, MA, NJ
May 24, 2109 Autism w. I/DD neglected in studies, WA man awarded $8M in abuse settlement, NJ-Bellwether license revoked, NC closure in PeeDee, Texas' 10-year wait list, MI, MA.
May 17, 2019 Gaps in autism employment, Hearings on Transition Age Gaps, Safety Net Hospitals, OR, AR, CA, MA, MI
May 10, 2019 HEADs UP Act, Autism, Managed Care Denying Services?, TN, NM, IL, Jean Vanier passes.
May 3, 2019 Pennsylvania Legislature Hearing on Opening Doors in ICFs, Medicaid changes, OH, AK, TN, MA
April 26, 2019 CMS: States need better Background Checks, CA - Abuse unchecked, WA, AZ, TX
April 19, 2019 Medicaid distribution unfair to people w I/DD, CDC numbers on Autism rising, Safety Net Hospitals (Disproportionate Share Hospitals - DSH) in danger, LA, NM, TENN, FL, ILL.
April 12, 2019April 12, 2019 Anti-ICF in Iowa & Utah, PA group home death, Texas hining DSPs, Ohio DSP shortage, Minnesota, Tennessee, Nevada
Apr 5, 2019 Medicaid Wait Lists; US Senate Investigation Of Group Home Provider; GA asks DOJ to end oversight; NC Wait List; FL Medicaid Cuts;
Mar 29, 2019 Special Olympics Funding; The New R-Word; Jobs Bill would exclude many with I/DD, Austism; NJ - Escaped Group Home Residents; KY; CA; NY;
Mar 22, 2019 Severe Autism Overlooked; Proposed Cuts to State Medicaid Budgets in NY, VA, KY & AK; Iowa Evacuates in Flood; TN; MD
Mar 15, 2019 Fed budget proposes severe cuts to Medicaid & Disability programs; NJ; WA; ID; TN
Mar 8, 2019 Getting rid of the R-Word, Expanding ABLE, Aging with I/DD, NJ, VA, AZ, Bill Watch
Mar 1, 2019 VOR Conference Info, Capped Medicaid Risks, When Safety Net Fails, Dentists must treat people w. IDD, MI, TX, RI, NY
Feb 22, 2019 Crisis: Kids w. Autism Grow Up, Equine Therapy, AZ, MA, W. VA, WA, DE
Feb 15, 2019 Lack of ABA Therapy, CT - Southbury Training School, COFAR Legislative Agenda, DSP Crisis, ME - Impact of conversion from work centers to integrated employment
Feb 8, 2019 Work Center closures, Bills to Watch in 116th Congress, AZ updates on Hacienda, VA, OR, CA
Feb 1, 2019 VOR's Letter to 116th Congress, Remembering Mary McTernan VOR's past President, AZ followup, VA, ND
Jan 25, 2019 Disability Integration Act reintroduced, Govt. Shutdown affects services for IDD community, AZ Hacienda DSP arrested, CA, NJ
Jan 18, 2019 Nat'l Council on Severe Autism, Medicaid Block Grants, Girls on the Spectrum, Sheltered Workshops
Jan 11, 2019 UN Convention, ANCOR campaign against ICF, AZ Hacienda Facility: IDD Woman in Coma gives birth, KY ASD Student dragged, NY DSP's
Jan 4, 2019 116th Congress Sworn in, CA Sonoma Ctr. Closes, NJ Missing man w IDD found dead, WA Man w. IDD left in ER
Dec 28, 2019 Money Follows the Person, Fundraisining Appeal
Dec 21, 2018 Money Follows the Person, Shock Device Ban, AZ Coolidge Ctr., OK, CT, NY
Dec. 14, 2018 Ball v. Kasich update, Stop MFP Action Alert, NY Justice Center, CA Failing, MD, AR, WA, OR, TX
Dec. 7, 2018 George H W Bush Remembered, NY fails the mentally ill, MA - Judge Tauro passes, IA, TX, TN
Nov. 30, 2018 New Congress - new concerns, 1 in 40 births have autism, SC Mom Charged, TN Families devastated
Nov. 23, 2018 VA In-home care for people displaced from ICFs?, MI fails on Special Ed., IL, IA, MA, CT
Nov. 16, 2018 Increase ABA Therapy,. Test for Autism, 500,000 w Autism enter workforce?, DSP wages, AR Holiday Train, MA, SC, KY.
Nov. 9, 2018 Editorial: The 'R' Word & the 'I' Word, Medicaid cutting Transport Funding, NY-Non-fatal Strangulations, DSP's, Special Ed, Music Therapy
Nov. 2, 2018 Brothers with I/DD killed in Pittsburgh Synagogue shooting, Notes on Misericordia/Together for Choice Conference, NY Sex offenders in Group Homes, MA Rotenberg Ctr. and Abuse
Oct. 26, 2018 Housing for Sr's with I/DD Children, Reaching Minorities, WI Noncompliance OIG Report, IA, NJ, MD, MT lawsuit settlement
Oct. 20, 2018 Amy Lutz' DSP's are our Friends, CMS hires Mary Mayhew, TX, KY, KS
Oct.12, 2018 DSP Crisis, Aging with Down Syndrome, NJ-Kominos Law, IL, FL TN
Oct. 4, 2018 NY State Putting Sex Offenders in Group Homes, MO, AR, Special Ed
Sept. 28, 2018 CMS, I/DD & Immigration, GA's Separate & Unequal Special Ed, NJ, AR, OH
Sept. 21, 2018 Ohio Families file countersuit, Puerto Rico, NH, IA, OK, MA, Australia
Sept. 14, 2018 H.R. 6786, Forensic I/DD Population, Iowa, WA, ME, TX, SD, Military Families
September 7, 2018 Action Alert on MFP, Delaware, Maine, Kentucky, W. Virginia, Autism Blood Test
Aug 31, 2018 Report on IDD among childrenunder 5 in 195 countries 1990-2016, TX, FL, Iowa, Montana, PA
August 24, 2018 Indiana Disability Task Force, Arkansas, W. Virginia, Illinois, Texas, New Jersey
August 17, 2018 Treatment Incentives, Diplomats' families, PA Hamburg Ctr. Closed, Montana, Maryland, TX Water Park
August 10, 2018 Press contacts needed, NJ Group Home Provider, Texas, Iowa, New York
August 3, 2018 Reminder- The Importance of Medicaid, Federal Disability Policy Office, EVV Delayed, NJ, OH, Abuse in LA
July 28, 2018 ACL Controversy, Delaware DD Council Misconduct, Behavioral Health, Direct Support Professionals
July 20, 2018 Illinois Auditor General report on DHS Oversight, ACL's Mary Lazare's comments cause stir, OH, SC, MI, CA
July 13, 2018 Congregate Care Facilities reports: MT, TX, CA, PA, NY. DOE sued over delay of Special Ed Rule. ME, MA, NJ
July 6, 2018 AR 4th of July, Sesame Place Autism Certified, DOE delays IDEA Equity Compliance, Ohio DSP Turnover Rate
June 29, 2018 Feds to Make Group Homes Safer, Preventing Sexual Abuse, CA Tragedy, NJ Budget, MA Shock Therapy
June 22, 2018 Autism Blood Test, PA Hamburg Ctr., MT Budget Cuts, Sheltered Workshops (MA, IN), DSP Crisis (NJ, OH)
June 15, 2018 News from VOR's 2018 Conference, CMSLTSS Expenditures, Low Medicaid Rates, NE, OH, MN
June 8, 2018 Texas (Preventable Tragedy), Autism Seizures, HI (ARC $7M Theft), NY, OH, MA, GA (Marijuana)
June 1, 2018 MO man died in 'Fight Club' buried in concrete, VA, OH, CA, OK, NJ, In Memorium Virginia Carraway
May 25, 2018 WY new buildings at WLRC, RI restores IDD funding. MD DSP rate increase, MN, DE McNesby Act, MA.
May 18, 2018 Device Predicts Autism Aggression, Electronic Visit Verification, HR 5658, Ohio-Abuser Registry, DE, MA
May 11, 2018 Crisis in Louisiana, Govt urged to improve I/DD system, Med Care for Autisitic Adults, NJ, OK, CT, DEL
May 4, 2018 CBD Research, Autism Testing, Alaska ARC overbilled $2.4 Million, DSP Crisis in Ohio, WI employment rights
April 27, 2018 Iowa's Managed Care Problems, Special Ed Funding Problems, Autism on the Rise, GA, CT, MA, TX, MO
April 20, 2018 Amy Lutz' Letter to HHS, Curbing DR Iowa, FL Abuse & Neglect, VA-Save CVTC, NJ, CA
April 13, 2018 NJ - $1.4M Settlement, Budget Problems in AZ, CA, LA, AZ, CA, CT, MA Sealed Investigation
Apr 6, 2018 HR620, OH, GA, MA, NM, Sheltered Workshops, Intentional Communities
Mar 30, 2018 HR4547, PA (Hamburg Closing), CT, CA, RI, Dental Care
Mar 23, 2018 Money Follows the Person, Guardianship & SDM, AK, MN, VA, TX, Dental, Barber
Mar 16, 2018 CA (Sonoma PHA), Medical Research, Dental, NJ, ME, NJ
Mar 9, 2018 VOR-House Judiciary Hearings, HHS Strategic Plan, VA, CT (Op-Ed), MA, TX, SC, AHCA
Mar 2, 2018 Autism Coordinator, IDEA Delayed, IL, NC, ME, MN Sheltered Workshops
Feb 23, 2018 IL, Money Follows the Person, MIlitary Behav. Therapy, ME, AR, CA, GA, KY, PA, OR
Feb 16, 2018 ADA, Fed Report on DSP's, HI, OH (Safety), CT (Safe Relationships, NY (DSP's)
Feb 9, 2018 Opinion: Lee Wachtel, VA, NJ, OH, FL, MI, NM, WA, Gerber's Down Syndrome Baby
Feb 2, 2018 Medicaid Transportation at risk, HCBS Expenditures Down, TX, ME, IN, DE, D. Vitkus
Jan 26, 2018 RAISE Act, HCBS Report, I/DD Preschool Suspensions, VA, NC, ID, NY, UT, Dental Svcs
Jan 19, 2018 Joint Statement by ACL, HHS warns of Group Home Dangers, Abuse & Neglect, Utah Class Action Lawsuit, TX, CO, OR, OK, MA, Opinion: 2014 Final Rule a Barrier To Appropriate Care
Jan 12, 2018 I/DD & Sexual Assault, Tax Law & ABLE Accounts, TX, SC, TX, ME, NJ, MA, KA, NE
Jan 5, 2018 CT - Autistic Man Abandoned to ER; PA, NJ, Canada's Shelltered Workshops
Dec 26, 2017 CT - Autistic Man Abandoned to Emergency Room for 5 Months; CO, NJ, WI
Dec 1, 2017
Nov 24, 2017
