Noteworthy News + Waiver Reimagine Phase II


September 3, 2021: The Capitol Connector	View in browser

September 3, 2021

In This Issue:

The Arc Minnesota Blog Post: Waiver Reimagine Phase II
Mark your Calendars
Updates from Washington, D.C.
Noteworthy News & Resources

Blog Post: Waiver Reimagine Phase II

September 3, 2021

By Julia Burkstaller, The Arc Minnesota Public Policy Director

What is Waiver Reimagine?

Waiver Reimagine is ongoing work at the Department of Human Services (DHS) to make system-level changes to Minnesota’s four disability waivers. One of the main goals is to make Minnesota’s waiver system easier for people who have disabilities and their families to understand. This is a two-part project – called Phase I and Phase II. Phase I passed the legislature in 2019 and was completed this year. Phase II was passed during the special session in June 2021.

What is part of Phase II?

Reshaping the 4 disability waiver programs in a two-waiver structure

Individual supports waiver, for people who live in homes of their own, or with family
Residential supports, for people who live in group homes and other provider-controlled places

Individualized budgets so people can see how much money they have to purchase different services
Increased access to self-directed options
Online support planning tool. This will help people track their budget, services they can get, and services they have used before

What passed during special session?

Read the full blog now.

Mark Your Calendars

Back to School Community Conversations

A law was passed this year that can help students who have disabilities make up for learning lost during the pandemic.

Join us to learn about the law and tell us if it is working for your student.

Check out the Facebook event

Saturday, September 18

11:30 AM to 12:45 PM
Register here

Tuesday September 21

11:30 AM to 12:45 PM
Register here

6:30 PM to 7:45 PM
Register Here

Auto-transcription will be on for each event, and ASL will be provided.

For accessibility requests or accommodations, please contact Gene Martinez at least one week in advanced. He can be reached at genemartinez@arcminnesota.org or 952-915-3615 or 1-833-450-1494 (toll free).

Regreso a Clases: Conversaciones Comunitarias

Este año se aprobó una ley para ayudar a los estudiantes con discapacidades a recuperar el aprendizaje perdido durante la pandemia.

Ven para aprender sobre la ley y cuéntenos si está funcionando para su estudiante.

El miércoles, 22 de septiembre

Si Ud. usa una computadora, , únase con este link: https://bit.ly/37WHe5Z

El passcode (código de acceso) es 363076 si sea necesario.

Para unirse por teléfono, marque 1-877-853-5257 y luego marque el meeting ID (código de la reunión) 943 4482 1425 más # #.

Para preguntas o solicitudes de accesibilidad, contacte a Samuel Estes - samuelestes@arcminnesota.org o 1-833-450-1494

Virtual Forum: Local Elections, Voting Rights, & Accessibility for People With Disabilities

Tuesday, September 14th 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM

The presentation will focus on voting in local elections, who is eligible to vote, how to vote, voter accessibility, and Ranked Choice Voting for voters who live in Minneapolis and St. Paul. We hope you can join us for this timely and informative conversation on the importance of voting during the upcoming election.

CART Caption Services & ASL Sign Language interpreting are provided through the sponsorship of the Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, Deafblind & Hard of Hearing.

Check out the Facebook event

Register for the forum here

2021 Disability Vote Summit

Tuesday, September 14, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM

At the virtual Summit, we will explore:

The power of the disability vote
Lessons learned from 2020 turnout
How to use data to mobilize the disability vote

Register Here

If you have any questions, please contact Lilian Aluri at laluri@aapd.com or Jack Rosen at jack.rosen@ndrn.org.

American Sign Language interpreters and CART live-captioning services will be available for this event.

Updates from Washington, D.C.

From The Arc US:

Infrastructure Package and Budget Resolution

Last week, the House passed the bipartisan infrastructure package and the framework for the $3.5 trillion budget resolution. The Senate passed the infrastructure package earlier that day. The infrastructure package did not include The Arc US’s major priorities, but the $3.5 trillion package does (a $400 billion investment Home and Community Based Services (HCBS)).

August Recess Resources

New COVID-19 Recovery webpage which includes factsheets on key issues
Tell Congress that #CareCantWait!
Contact your members and tell them you support investments in disability services and a national paid leave program for ALL workers!
Share your story
Toolkit

From The Minnesota Housing Partnership:

Congressional committees are set to move forward in the crafting of the $3.5 trillion reconciliation package. There is currently a non-binding deadline of September 15 for the committees to report their proposals to the Budget Committee.

Urge your member of Congress to support these housing priorities:

Expand rental assistance by at least $180 billion to effectively end homelessness
$70 billion for public housing which would fulfill the estimated capital backlog needs
$45 billion for the National Housing Trust Fund to build and preserve homes affordable to people with the lowest incomes
Expand and improve the low income housing tax credit, including co-sponsoring the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act (S.1136/ H.R. 2573)

From Our Friends at the Association of People with Disabilities:

The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act passes the House on 8/24/21

The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) celebrates the passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R.4) in the U.S. House of Representatives. This action represents the first step in making this critical piece of legislation law and preventing further state-level attacks on voting rights — attacks that target disabled people, people of color, and disabled people of color.

This year, many states have restricted voting rights and limited access to the polls, further undercutting the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and showing the desperate need for the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. In Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Iowa, Arizona, Texas, and elsewhere, state legislators and governors have enacted policies to restrict access to drop boxes, curbside voting, vote-by-mail options, and more. These laws attempt to diminish our political power and restrict our right to have a say in the policies, people, and decisions that govern and shape our lives.

“As disabled people, we understand deeply how our well-being, our ability to work and live in our communities depends on the policies, people, and funding that our votes impact. Restricting our right to vote is tantamount to restricting our ability to self-direct our own lives,” said Maria Town, AAPD’s President and CEO. “Protecting our right to vote and advancing accessible voting methods could not be more important.”

AAPD urges the Senate to follow the House’s lead and pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Our access and right to vote must be protected.