CSD-Childrens Advocacy Project

12/08/2024

As you may know, COPAA is partnering with Vanderbilt University to conduct three related studies that are consistent with the Rehabilitation Act and NIDILRR mission. Across these studies, we aim to: (1) identify disparities in access to Section 504, (2) explore the lived experiences of individuals with disabilities and their families in accessing Section 504, and (3) develop and test an intervention based on our findings.

We are now working on the second study that involves a national survey of individuals with disabilities and their parents or caregivers to identify disparities in: accessing Section 504, the quality of the 504 plan, services and accommodations per Section 504, and barriers in accessing Section 504. By identifying disparities, we can learn more about populations in need of targeted interventions.

https://redcap.vumc.org/surveys/?s=F8LXF3FLPTDMKJRT

12/03/2024

A Bill was introduced to Congress to abolish the Department of Education.

Text for H.R.938 - 118th Congress (2023-2024): To abolish the Department of Education and to provide funding directly to States for elementary and secondary education, and for other purposes.

12/03/2024

This is the Virtual Gathering in Memory of Diane Coleman founder of Not Dead Yet. Please note that the captions are slightly delayed because they were typed in real-time at the gathering.

Please note: subtitles were generated from a live captioner, and will appear delayed because they were typed in real time at the live event.Hundreds of frien...

11/20/2024

Washoe Schools are gearing up to further restrict student cellphone use

Washoe County may be the next school district in Nevada to adopt new rules to curb cellphone distractions during class.

11/20/2024

Battling Infectious Diseases in the 20th Century: The Impact of Vaccines. The number of infected people, measured over 70-some years and across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, generally declined after vaccines were introduced. The heat maps below show number of cases per 100,000 people.

11/15/2024

Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights

This Bill of Rights describes the fundamental rights of air travelers with disabilities under the Air Carrier Access Act and its implementing regulation, 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 382.

11/15/2024

Research Study at Vanderbilt University for parents of a child with autism. Survey here: https://redcap.vumc.org/surveys/?s=NDJ4E7PW889Y4TDJ

11/09/2024

11/09/2024

"It is critical that VR agencies, advocacy groups, and individuals with disabilities are co-creators of policies, plans, and products that impact them... However, this will only happen if we all work together to ensure that these emerging technologies are
developed and used in a safe and inclusive manner... I look forward to championing the inclusion of individuals with disabilities at the
forefront of the AI revolution." Please see attached "Dear Colleague letter" to help guide your conversations with the VR program and other stakeholders.

11/06/2024

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has been very busy recently, making changes to improve the programs they operate and to improve customer service for the 70 million people who receive benefits administered by SSA, as well as the millions of people who are in the process of applying for benefits.

As part of a series of short videos on topics in SSI, Justice in Aging created a short video on disability-related changes, with Jennifer Cronenberg from the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR). This video and future short videos in the series give advocates practical information and insight into the changes that SSA has been making in short segments that are easy to incorporate into their day.

Also check out our earlier 15-minute video on changes to SSI In-Kind Support and Maintenance & Overpayment Policies, which includes newly updated links to related resources.

11/06/2024

Senate Finance Chair Asks DOJ to Investigate Civil Rights Abuses of Children

Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, (D-OR) has asked the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate whether four major youth residential treatment facilities (RTFs) are committing Medicaid fraud by failing to provide needed care that they are required to provide to Medicaid beneficiaries. Wyden also asked the DOJ to investigate whether states are violating the civil rights of children and youth under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act by placing them in segregated facilities rather than providing access to community-based care. With a focus on children involved in juvenile justice, child welfare and/or state foster care systems, Wyden noted that “…vulnerable children are being used as pawns to maximize profits of these facilities – and taxpayers are footing the bill. More often than not, these kids aren’t even getting the basic care they need, and instead are…experiencing serious neglect and abuse.” The letters follow an investigation spearheaded by Sen. Wyden last spring which culminated in a June 2024 Finance Committee hearing and a staff report titled Warehouses of Neglect: How Taxpayers are Funding Systemic Abuse in Youth Residential Treatment Facilities which synthesizes new information about the abuse, neglect, and substandard care experienced by youth in the identified congregate settings paid to provide their behavioral health care. The report also finds a causal connection between these harms and providers’ profit models.