Disabilities Rights Center
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Developmental Disabilities
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- Abuse/Neglect/ Restraint/Seclusion
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The Disabilities Rights Center is committed to ensuring access to appropriate services for individuals with developmental disabilities. Through representation at Administrative Appeals and in state and federal courts, the DRC assists individuals who have been inappropriately denied eligibility for services or have been found eligible for services but are not receiving the services to which they are entitled.
Access to Medicaid Entitlements and Services:
DRC has a
priority of assuring that federal and
state
Medicaid
services, especially those designed to meet the needs of long-term impairments,
are available to all eligible individuals. Services, when made
available and delivered appropriately, not only prevent deterioration
and dependence,
but promote enhanced independence and productivity and overall quality
of life.
March 28, 2009 powerpoint presentation: Right To Prompt and Quality Services for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Presented by Richard A. Cohen at the Advanced Leadership Series of ABLE NH.
The Braddock Report 2008, the State of the States in Developmental Disabilities, is available from the Coleman Institute. See the New Hampshire data here.
Roberta Gallant's Memories of Laconia State School
Governor's Study Commission on Area Agencies
Brochures:
- You Can Choose Your Service Coordinator
- Clients of Mental Health Centers and Area Agencies: Your Rights and How to Protect Them
page last updated: June 14, 2010
- RSA 171-A: Services for the Developmentally Disabled
- The DD Waiver: New Hampshire's Section 1915(c) Medicaid Waiver for Developmental Services. October 2002
- RSA 126-G, Family Support Services
- He-M Rules for Services for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities
- Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000
DRC Cases:
- April 2009: NH Supreme Court AFFIRMS the Rights of Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
- April 2004: DD Waitlist Case NH Supreme Court decision: Nonsuit without Prejudice
- 11-24-03: Supreme Court Case: Eligibility for DD Services The NH Supreme Court ruled that an individual with a specific learning disability is eligible for area agency services when his ability to function is substantially impaired. The court stated that such a person was eligible even when other non-developmental disabilities such as mental health or alcohol problems may also be contributing to his functional impairments.
Developmental Disabilities Resources
- Administration on Developmental Disabilities, US Department of Health and Human Services
- Alliance for Full Participation
- American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
- The Arc
- Area Agencies for Developmental Services contact information
- Autism and Asperger's resources
- College: Think you can't go? Think again! Think College!
- Community Support Network, Inc. (CSNI)
- TheDesk.Info, information about Medicaid for people with cognitive disabilities. All the information is available in audio and video clips.
- Early Education and Intervention Network of New Hampshire
- Epilepsy Foundation
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Legal Issues Resource Center
- Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental
Disabilities: This
site has lots of resources on self advocacy, independence, etc.
- See especially Making Your Case,a self-study course designed to help people with developmental disabilities and their families create positive change through advocacy.
- National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disability Services
- National Center on Severe and Sensory Disabilities
- National Down Syndrome Congress
- National Down Syndrome Society
- NH
Department of Health and Human Services
- Bureau of Developmental Services
- Developmental Services Quality Council (In 2009, a state law established the Developmental Services Quality Council to provide leadership for consistent, systemic review and improvement of the quality of the developmental disability and acquired brain disorder services provided within New Hampshire's developmental services system.
The Quality Council is made up of a diverse group of stakeholders, including individuals with disabilities, family members, providers, representatives from Area Agency and the direct support workforce, and advocates. Richard Cohen is DRC's representative on the Council.
- Northern New England Down Syndrome Congress
- Peer Support: People First of NH
- TASH: Equity, Opportunity, and Inclusion for People With Disabilities Since 1975.
- UCP (United Cerebral Palsy)
