Volume 14 / Number 3 /
EDITOR: Randy Alexander
MCIL is a community based non-profit organization whose primary mission is to facilitate the full integration of persons with disabilities into all aspects of civic life.
There are a handful of Tennesseans about to face cuts to the services that support their decision to live in their home instead of an institutional setting. Some of these services include private duty nursing and extended personal assistance hours. These are people with disabilities with support needs that may range from several hours a day to having someone around 24 hours a day.
TennCare and the state contracted Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) are cutting these support services to those with the greatest needs, in what amounts to a death sentence for them. The state seems to have adopted social Darwinism as its official policy. It appears officials are thinking it is cheaper to cut services and expedite these individuals’ deaths than to provide appropriate support services.
So why is this a death sentence? Many of these individuals will have to cut corners so severely they may have to risk their very lives on a daily basis to remain free from institutionalization. Some people will go to great lengths to stay out of an institution, including going without the very service that keeps them alive. For example, a person on a vent needs someone around 24 hours a day in case the machine stops working, the tubes get kinked, etc., but to stay out of a nursing home they may go without having someone around all the time. Other folks may have to rely on family, even family members that have neglected them in the past.
What about those that don’t have a family, a family that they can trust, a family that is safe or a family that can afford to quit their jobs to support them? These individuals will be forced by the state into nursing homes, which is surely a death sentence. Nursing homes do NOT provide the level of supports these individuals need and in so many cases are not available when needed. I know of several individuals in nursing homes who have died due to the lack of supports.
There are many ways to provide the services people need and save the state money. Many of these services are currently only provided by nurses. Most of these support services could be provided by non-nurses; most other states already do this. TennCare could allow consumers to hire whom they want. Consumer directed services was just passed into law but is not implemented yet.
If this was about saving some dollars, there are ways to make that happen, but this is not about saving money. It’s about making the MCOs more money and eliminating services and supports to fellow Tennesseans. You see, the MCOs are about to come under “capitation.” Currently MCOs are reimbursed for each service plus administrative fees. In November they all will be paid a set fee per person regardless of how much or how little service each person receives. The more services the MCOs cut, the more profit they make. So, if they can eliminate those with the greatest amount of support needs prior to November 1st, the more money they stand to make.
If you believe that we should provide the supports people need in a way that also allows the freedoms we all have, write us at MCIL. Tell us why you support providing these services; write condemning these cuts. Just put it in your words and send it to:
MCIL
Stop the Cuts
1633 Madison Ave
Memphis, TN 38104
Or email randy@mcil.org
We will be using these letters in our campaign to stop the cuts by faxing them to the governor and other state administrators.
Over 20 Tennesseans about to be forced from their homes into nursing homes because of cuts to their support services have filed an Olmstead type lawsuit against the Bureau of TennCare.
These cuts in support services would force many Tennesseans out of their homes and into nursing homes. In effect this would be state sanctioned segregation of people with disabilities. The basic argument is that the ADA states that services must be provided in the least segregated setting.
Lorri, one of the many filing the suit said, “I think TennCare wants to put us in a nursing home because it looks cheaper on paper, but I can't do my volunteer work from a nursing home. TennCare doesn’t understand we have lives, and they are interrupting our lives.”
We don’t have much information on the suit at this time, but don’t forget to check on-line for updates and/or watch for more in the next Declaration.
By Lynda Von Maurer
I attended Shrine school from age 3 to 17. Shrine is a segregated school. It is part of the Memphis City School system, but all the students that attend Shrine have disabilities. At this school I was treated badly and everyone just saw my disability and not my potential. They did not try to
teach us; most of the time we watched T.V. shows.
If I had stayed at that school I would not have had a chance to get a high school diploma. I only would have received a certificate of high school completion. This would have just been a piece of paper! It would have been useless. This is because at Shrine, they do not take exams; they do not complete regular state mandatory studies or even have grades.
I now attend Overton high school; this is my local school. Overton is a better school for me because I am treated the same as the rest of the students. I have just completed the ninth grade and passed Algebra 1 with a B, Keyboarding with a C, Physical Science with a C, Art with an A and English 1 with a B. I have never taken any of these subjects before. I had never taken any kind of Algebra classes at all. My GPA is 2.83.
In the fall I will be entering the tenth grade. I will be taking Spanish 1, World History, English 2 and Biology. I hope to pass Gateway in English and Biology. The next year I will take Gateway in Algebra 1. I will then receive my regular high school diploma.
I would like to thank the Memphis Center for Independent Living for helping to get me out of Shrine school and into Overton. I now have the opportunity to get my high school diploma.
The short answer is yes, but there is more. Build our community, multi task AND raise money for MCIL all at the same time. If you sign up through Freelanthropy.com every search increases the donation to MCIL. And the best thing is it doesn’t cost you a penny! Just sign up and every time you do a search, cha-ching, MCIL gets a donation. Have you ever thought fundraising was so easy? Just go to www.freelanthropy.com now and sign up.
Two other sites that give donations to MCIL are www.goodsearch.com and www.goodshop.com.
By Anthony Sledge (Hammer)
Washington D.C.
I went on my first ADAPT action in April to Washington D. C. The flight was good except the airline almost dropped my Executive Director. After that I became the official transfer person; she did not want anyone to move her but me and her personal assistant.
As I got there, I had to help move the luggage and make sure that no one was left behind or had any difficulties. We all looked out for each other. When I reached the hotel, I never saw so many wheelchairs in my life; there were all types. I dodged more wheelchairs than you could imagine, but that was okay, even though I felt like I was a minority as an able-bodied person trying to maneuver my way through the crowds for the entire week.
It was an humbling experience to take part in a non-violent civil disobedience protest, especially since I am a minority. As an African-American the opportunity to share what Dr. King and other pioneers went through at sit-ins and other demonstrations was a very emotional breakthrough for me. I could have only imagined that in those times of Dr. King that the actions by the police inflicted much worse repercussions than those in ADAPT.
In order for me to really get full understanding of ADAPT, I took it upon myself to interview those individuals who were ADAPT members. I wanted to know what and why they were there and about their passion they expressed toward the cause and movement of ADAPT.
I realized that it was not about them at all. It was about “I am my brother’s keeper.” There was no pity but there was power as the chants were sung. The long lines of walking and riding through the rain did not seem to dampen the spirits of those who were “down for the cause.” I look forward to going back in September and playing an even larger role since I have gotten my first action under my feet.
In the famous Latin words VENI VEDI VICI, I came, I saw, I conquered!
I’m one week into my position as Youth Coordinator for the Memphis Center for Independent Living, and I’m trying to catch up with a movement that has been going on for more than a century. While I’m doing a lot of reading on history, philosophy, and procedure, ideas are beginning to occur to me.
I am an idea guy, if nothing else.
I come to MCIL from a recent history of working with runaway and street youth and a more distant history of assisting adults with developmental disabilities. The people I will be working alongside through MCIL have a little in common with the latter and a great deal in common with the former.
Although each young person is an individual, there are some consistent issues that come with growing up. Beyond those universal challenges, many youths’ struggles are amplified by additional baggage. My job, as I see it, is to help remove those other challenges so that the young person can deal with the standard ups and downs of growing into an adult.
My initial approach to those added challenges faced by youth with disabilities will be integration. I don’t expect this to be easy for anyone. Integration requires the community to make some changes, but some individuals with disabilities will also have to attempt brave new ventures. I expect as much from one group as the other.
Of course, this will mean a lot of work for me. But I am all about delegating. I want to tap into the existing resources of the community as much as possible. I would like to create independent living outposts in small groups throughout Memphis. I cannot reach the entire city with our philosophy, but with enough allies we may be able to communicate it to a sizable portion of the metropolitan population. It will require networking and organizing. So don’t be surprised if I come to you for help. Or, better still, you might just offer it before I can get to you.
The Lifeline Program, reduced cost phone service for individuals with low income, and Trac phone are working together to provide a new free cell phone program in Tennessee. You can qualify for a free phone and 68 minutes talk time a month FREE.
You qualify for Lifeline Service in Tennessee if you already participate in one of the following assistance programs:
Federal Public Housing Assistance/Section 8, Food Stamps, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), National School Lunch (free program only), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), TennCare/Medicaid or your total household income is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG).
So the income limit per household is:
1 Person, $14,040 a year
2 Person $18,900 a year
3 Person $23,760 a year
4 Person $28,620 a year
The list does continue so call or go online for more information.
There are other qualifications and information you may need to see if you qualify and if you want to use this service.
IMPORTANT: you cannot have Lifeline and Safelink in the same household. If you already have Lifeline, the reduced cost landline, you would have to get rid of that phone line in order to have the cell phone. Additional minutes on the cell phone can be costly whereas all local calls on the land line are free. There may also be some access and user issues that could be easier with a land line.
You can call us at MCIL for more information, ideas or discussion regarding which phone could be best for you. You can also call SafeLink directly at 800-977-3768 or go online at www.safelinkwireless.com
If you answered yes, this may be for you. Earlier this summer the Federal Government began providing SSI/SSDI recipients that do not have or cannot open a checking or savings account an alternative to having to pay check cashing fees. It is the Direct Express® Debit MasterCard® which provides another option for SSI/SSDI recipients who do not have a bank account.
If you are looking for a no-cost or low-cost alternative to using check cashing facilities and carrying large amounts of cash, this card may be for you. If you are familiar with the Tennessee Food Stamp card, it works like that except it is cash that you can withdraw in order to pay your bills.
There may be some fees, so to see if this card is for you, go to www.fms.treas.gov and read up on the program, or contact MCIL for more information. Or, if you already know you want to sign up for the Direct Express® Debit MasterCard®, call the enrollment center toll free at 1 (877) 212-9991 (TTY 1 (866) 569-0447), or visit
www.USDirectExpress.com.
Sign up to bake a whole pie, cake, pan of brownies etc for the:
ADAPT of Tennessee
Thanksgiving Bake Sale
Monday Nov 24 all day
At Piggly Wiggly
Contact Renee for info or to sign up as a baker renee@mcil.org, or 726-6404
Nada Sobre Nosotros, Sin Nosotros! Nothing about us without us!
Whether in Spanish or English, those are the words that the Memphis Center for Independent Living lives by. We work with people with disabilities to help them find--and use--their own voices.
Memphis now has a large and growing Hispanic/Latino community. The Memphis Center would like to begin helping our Hispanic/Latino brothers and sisters with disabilities. But we need your help in order to do so.
We know that we need help in at least two areas. First, we need volunteers who can translate for us when we are contacted by individuals in the Hispanic/Latino community who need help.
Second, we need volunteers to help us plan our outreach efforts to the Hispanic/Latino community. Nada sobre nosotros, sin nosotros. It would be foolish indeed for us to think we're smart enough to find people in the community who need our help without our getting help from the community.
We know that we need to hire bi-lingual staff; there's no substitute for that. However, we don't have funds to be able to do so at present. But we don't feel we can wait until we have funds to hire additional staff to begin reaching out to the Hispanic/Latino community.
We hope you will join our efforts to make America open and accessible to everyone! Volunteer with the Memphis Center for independent living, today!
Sincerely,
MCIL
Help MCIL reach more people.
If you can contribute to MCIL’s outreach efforts to include all in this ever increasing diverse city, please contact Marian for more information, marian@mcil.org or 726-6404
¡Hola, amigos!
¡Nada Sobre Nosotros, Sin Nosotros! (Nothing about us without us!)
Ya sea en Español o Inglés, ese es el principal propósito del Centro para Vida Independiente de Memphis. Trabajamos con personas con discapacidades y los ayudamos para que sus voces sean escuchadas.
La comunidad hispana de Memphis es muy grande y está creciendo. El Centro de Memphis quiere empezar a ayudar a nuestros hermanos y hermanas hispanos con discapacidades.
Pero necesitamos su apoyo para hacerlo. Sabemos que necesitamos ayuda por lo menos en dos áreas. Primero, necesitamos voluntarios que puedan ayudarnos a traducir (de Ingles a Español y viceversa) cuando alguien hispano nos pide información y ayuda.
Segundo, necesitamos voluntarios para que ayuden en nuestros esfuerzos para dar a conocer nuestros servicios. Nada Sobre Nosotros, Sin Nosotros! Nothing about us without us!
Tenemos que informar a la comunidad hispana que queremos ayudarla. Sabemos que necesitamos contratar personal bilingüe; no hay substituto para eso. Sin embargo, en estos momentos no tenemos los fondos para poder hacerlo.
No podemos esperar hasta tenerlos para contratar al personal que nos hace falta para empezar.
¡Vamos a llegar a la comunidad hispana! ¡Únase a nosotros y ayúdenos con nuestros esfuerzos para hacer un país abierto y accesible para todos! ¡Ofrézcase como voluntario en el Centro de Memphis para ayudar a que muchos hispanos con discapacidad logren tener una vida más independiente!
¡Hoy por Ellos, Mañana por Nosotros!
Atentamente,
MCIL
Sponsors are individuals or companies who have donated at least $100.00, Benefactors have donated $500.00 or more. A great big thank you to all these generous donors! If you would like to make a donation to MCIL please contact Renee at 726-6404. Although Sponsors and Benefactors are recognized in the Declaration any, donation can help MCIL do the vital work needed for the civil rights of people with disabilities.
Louis Patrick
George Edwards
Benefactors:
David McMahan
Beth Weinstead
November 13th, 10:00-12:00
At MCIL, 1633 Madison Ave
What is Assistive Technology and how do we set up a system to recycle it. Contact Christina for info, Christina@mcil.org or 726-6404
4:30 to 7:30 MCIL Fall Fest
Costume Contest * Pumpkin Carving * Chicken Wings and Salad Bar
December 5, 4 to 8:pm
Silent Auction * Holicay Gift Shoppe * Live Music
Throughout the year there is a vast amount of work that is accomplished by a generous group of volunteers ranging from our volunteer Board of Directors, fundraisers, event planners, help at events and so much more.
There really are way too many jobs done by volunteers to list them all. However we do want to try to list all the volunteers. Please if we miss a name, forgive our oversight.
Melissa Allen
Teresa Anderson
Martha Bartozkiewics
Bobby Brooks
Marie Brough
Katie Burris
Lonnie Collins
Suzanne Colsey
Juanita Cross
Donna DeMay-Medlin
Belinda Tate Hardy
Carolyn Head
Hope Johnson
Sophia King
Paula LaVell
Kevin Lofton
Megan Long
Liz Love
Oliver McBee
Robert Morris
Richard Owen
Nick Parrott
Louis Patrick
Margie Petrowski
Laurel Ryan
Birtha Street
Jan Tobias
Angela Von Maurer
Lynda Von Maurer
Carole Whitehead
TVA-BBQ Fundraiser
International Paper-Day of Caring
MPACT-Servathon
Brandon Construction
Jay C Construction
Temple Israel
Handicapped Unlimited
Project W.I.T.
If you are going to attend a MCIL event and you need any of our materials in an alternative format or interpreter services please notify us at least five working days in advance of the event.
This project is funded in part by the U.S. Department of Education & United Way of the Mid-South