for pa residents--nontech
Visit us at http://trfn.clpgh.org/nfbpgh/
The NFB is changing what it means to be blind
- in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and
everywhere in cyber-space!
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 17 May 1997 00:06:10 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Mark J. Senk trfn_volunteer" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Governor announces agenda for people with disabilities
As a member of the BVS SRAC, I was pleased to attend Friday's ceremony at
which this document and its initiatives were presented.
--------
The Governor's Disability Agenda
New Ideas
Unlocking Opportunities for Persons With Disabilities
Governor Tom Ridge
The Governor's Disability Agenda
May 1997
Dear Friends:
The federal Americans with Disabilities Act estimates that
approximately 19 percent of Americans have a disability. That's
roughly 48 million persons.
Here in Pennsylvania, census estimates suggest that as many
as one in four people have difficulty performing everyday
functions such as carrying groceries or hearing conversations.
And half of them say their disability is severe enough to
completely prevent them from performing at least one function of
daily living on their own.
Physical obstacles and attitudinal barriers deny people with
disabilities the opportunity to be as productive as possible and
to fully participate in society.
This is why I directed a policy team within my
administration to comprehensively examine the issues facing
persons with disabilities -- from transportation, health care and
housing to long-term supports, education and employment. This
document is the result of many months of listening to persons
with disabilities and thinking creatively about ways to address
the issues. It outlines new initiatives that the Ridge
Administration will undertake to assist people with disabilities,
as well as the many existing commitments that we will continue.
May this agenda serve as a foundation on which state
government and the disability community can continue to build.
And may its implementation ensure all Pennsylvanians the
opportunity to be as productive as possible and to participate
fully in society.
Sincerely,
Tom Ridge
Governor
The Governor's Disability Agenda
Policy Goal
To eliminate barriers and mitigate obstacles so all persons
with disabilities are afforded the opportunity to be as
productive as possible and fully participate in society.
Contents
1. New and innovative initiatives.
2. Increasing awareness and studying important issues.
3. Continuing Ridge Administration commitments.
1. New and Innovative Initiatives
Issue - Assistive Technology Lending Library
Description - Develop a statewide Assistive Technology Lending
Library to make assistive technology available to persons with
disabilities on a trial basis, allowing them to try equipment
before purchasing it. Public funds will be used to challenge the
private sector to offer matching resources.
Issue - TDD/TTY Pay Telephones
Description - Purchase and install pay telephones with TDD/TTY
capability at all 44 rest stops along Pennsylvania interstates.
Issue - Curb Cuts
Description - Expand PennDot's 1-800-FIX-ROAD phone service to
include curb cut complaints. Like many road repairs, the
responsibility for cutting curbs often falls on local government.
In such cases, PennDot will forward complaints to the appropriate
municipality for corrective action.
Issue - License Plates
Description - Eliminate the "H.P." on Pennsylvania license plates
for persons with disabilities ("H" stands for handicapped which
is no longer current terminology for describing persons with
disabilities--the wheelchair, by itself, is generally accepted
and effectively communicates the information).
Issue - Parking Signs
Description - Revise state-manufactured parking signs which
reserve parking for persons with disabilities--eliminate the word
"handicapped."
Issue - CSPPPD Waiver
Description - Change policy within the Community Services Program
for Persons with Physical Disabilities (CSPPPD) and secure a new
waiver to enable adults ages 22 to 59--who need long-term care
services and are nearing the point of entering a nursing home--to
be served in a home or community-based setting without first
having to enter a nursing home.
Issue - Newborn Screenings
Description - Increase the number of mandatory newborn screens
from four to five by requiring a screen for galactosemia, thus
preventing some forms of developmental disabilities.
Issue - State Parks and Forests
Description - 1. Develop a "Guide to Pennsylvania Parks" for
persons with disabilities which indicates accessible parks and
outlines accessible features (i.e., beaches, fishing piers, etc).
Work with external stakeholders. 2. Prepare a facility "Needs
Plan" to identify projects and establish priorities for bringing
state park and state forest facilities into compliance with ADA
requirements. An informal steering committee made up of persons
with disabilities from external stakeholder groups will be
created to assist agency staff to identify project needs and
priorities. A multi-year implementation schedule will be
prepared to address these priorities. 3. Educate staff on best
practices by participating in a "National Center for
Accessibility" workshop, enabling staff to learn more about
making interpretive programs accessible.
Issue - Technology Research and Development
Description - As part of the Governor's Technology 21
Initiative, increase development and deployment of new assistive
technologies by identifying ways to increase economic
opportunities to those companies that will research and develop
such products.
Issue - Local Government Training
Description - Insert a component on "disability and
accessibility" into training programs for newly elected and
appointed local officials to increase awareness on disability-related issues. (The Center for Local Government, within the
Department of Community and Economic Development, currently
provides training to newly-elected officials at the local level
on various issues.)
Issue - Workforce Development
Description - Develop and implement focused effort to involve
stakeholder organizations representing persons with disabilities
in the process of developing a "Workforce Development" strategy
for the Commonwealth.
Issue - State Employment
Description - Have revised Management Directive signed by the
Secretary of Administration outlining updated standards and
practices with respect to non-discriminatory hiring practices.
Develop guidelines to proactively recruit qualified persons with
disabilities.
Issue - Governor's Executive Order on Disability-Related Policy
Description - Implement new Executive Order on Disability-Related Policy signed by Governor Ridge; the order outlines
updated standards and practices with respect to compliance with
the Americans with Disabilities Act and other disability-related
laws, and identifies responsibilities for compliance among
members of the Governor's staff and cabinet. (Personnel:
Secretary of Administration; Access to Programs and Services:
Secretary of Administration; Structural Issues: Secretary of
General Services; Legal Matters: Governor's General Counsel).
Includes a new role for the Governor's Policy Office, charging it
with the responsibility for coordinating disability policy among
the several agencies.
2. Increasing Awareness and Studying Important Issues
Increasing Awareness
Issue - Barrier Awareness Day
Description - Increasing Awareness - Governor Ridge proclaims
May 16, 1997 as "Barrier Awareness Day," encouraging public
officials and community leaders across the Commonwealth to assume
a disability for the day to experience the challenges faced daily
by persons with disabilities.
Issue - Public Service Announcements by the Governor and/or First
Lady (both radio and television to accommodate persons with sight
or hearing disabilities)
Description - 1. Encourage business owners to make their
establishments accessible to all persons with disabilities,
recognizing their potential as consumers and advancing the
principle of inclusion into the community - "Accessibility, It's
Everyone's Business." 2. Educate general public on mental
illness to a) reduce the stigma, and b) make people aware that
treatment exists. 3. Increase awareness of rural Cooperative
Extension Offices whose mission is to a)assist farmers in safety
and prevention, and b) operate "Agri-Ability" programs which
assist farmers who need equipment modifications and/or assistance
to continue farming due to a disability.
Issue - Governor's Cabinet Conference on Disability Policy
Description - Hold a conference for the Governor's cabinet to
attend a day-long event and interact with persons with
disabilities and their families, improving communication between
the parties and improving the cabinet members' understanding of
how their agencies impact persons with disabilities.
Studying Important Issues
Issue - Organization of State Government
Description - Studying Important Issues - Bureau of Management
Consulting within the Governor's Office of Administration will
study the organization of state government regarding programs
serving persons with disabilities, the scope of which will be to
1) inventory existing programs, funding streams, and populations
served; 2) examine other states' organizational structures as
they relate to disability programs; and 3) develop
recommendations on program consolidations, eliminations,
separations, or creations with an eye toward improving
coordination, efficiency, and customer satisfaction. Work with
independent consultant to facilitate consensus-building with
external stakeholders and assist in the development of feasible
recommendations.
Issue - Literacy for Children with Visual Impairments
Description - Provide a forum for discussion and investigation
into the following issues regarding literacy for children who are
blind or visually impaired: 1) determining current status of the
ability of MDE teams to assess the learning media and literacy
needs and make appropriate recommendations; 2) determining
current status of the ability of IEP teams to determine the most
appropriate learning medium; 3) determining impact of assistive
technology on the learning medium needs; 4) reviewing efforts in
other states; and 5) developing recommendations as appropriate.
Issue - Quality of Interpreters
Description - Engage external stakeholder groups to examine the
issue of interpreter qualifications. The effort seeks to 1)
identify issues regarding quality or interpreter standards; and
2) develop recommendations if appropriate.
Issue - Housing
Description - Engage external stakeholder groups to examine the
issue of housing. The effort seeks to 1) inventory studies
conducted on affordable housing options for people with
disabilities to identify housing needs; 2) outline programs in
Pennsylvania and other states which are successful; 3) identify
problems associated with accessing affordable capital which may
prevent persons with disabilities from purchasing their own homes
or accessing affordable rental housing; and 4) develop
recommendations if appropriate.
Issue - Rural Transportation
Description - Engage external stakeholder groups to examine the
issue of rural transportation. The effort seeks to 1) identify
problems faced by persons with disabilities when lack of
transportation exists; 2) inventory existing transportation
systems in rural areas; and 3) develop recommendations if
appropriate.
Issue - Attendant Care Consumer Satisfaction
Description - Engage external stakeholder groups to examine the
issue of improving consumer satisfaction within the state's
attendant care programs. The effort seeks to 1) inventory types
and frequency of complaints voiced by consumers; 2) collaborate
with relevant state advisory councils to solicit input; and 3)
develop recommendations if appropriate.
3. Continuing Ridge Administration Commitments
Issue - Senior Management Appointments
Description - Continue efforts to recruit and hire qualified
persons with disabilities to positions of leadership within the
Ridge Administration.
Issue - Special Kids Network
Description - Continue operation of the "Special Kids Network"
which provides a toll-free number so parents who have children
with special needs can call and ask questions about available
supports and services for their children.
Issue - Behavioral Health Care
Description - Continue policy of procuring behavioral health
services separately from physical health services and expanding
behavioral health managed care statewide, improving access to a
coordinated array of mental health and substance abuse services.
Issue - Multi-Year Planning Process
Description - Continue commitment to work with external
stakeholders to develop a thoughtful and well-planned to 1)
improve service quality and strengthen accountability; 2) improve
cost-effectiveness so that more persons can receive needed
services; and 3) offer more choices to consumers and their
families regarding where their needed supports and services are
provided.
Issue - Entrepreneur Assistance
Description - Continue policy to include persons with
disabilities in definition of minority for purposes of providing
entrepreneur assistance and facilitating business ownership
through the DCED's Office of Entrepreneur Assistance. Develop an
aggressive strategy to promote the effort, such as special
conferences and outreach, and ensure all Small Business
Development Centers statewide are capable of serving the needs of
business owners with disabilities.
Issue - Attendant Care (DPW)
Description - Continue reducing waiting lists by maximizing
federal financial participation through the movement of Act 150
consumers into the federal statewide Medicaid waiver.
Issue - Attendant Care (PDA)
Description - Continue policy to provide seamless, uninterrupted
services to persons transitioning from the Department of Public
Welfare's Attendant Care Program (age 18-59) into the Department
of Aging's (age 60 and older) Attendant Care Program.
Issue - Intra-Governmental Council on Long-Term Care
Description - Continue commitment to work with the Intra-Governmental Council on Long-Term Care to 1) improve the quality
of long-term care; 2) control the growth of program costs to
ensure adequate access to a full array of long-term care services
in the future; and 3) end the institutional bias within the
publicly-funded system.
Issue - Preventive Health Care
Description - Continue efforts to implement HealthChoices and
expand Medicaid managed care statewide to vastly improve access
to preventive and high quality primary care.
Issue - Specialized Health Services
Description - Continue commitment to ensure access to specialized
services within the HealthChoices program for persons with
disabilities, and continue the policy of allowing specialists to
serve as primary care providers.
Issue - Early Intervention
Description - Continue support for the Early Intervention
Program, working with stakeholders to preserve the program's
integrity and future viability by implementing many of the needed
changes recommended by the General Assembly's Legislative Budget
and Finance Committee.
Issue - Special Education Supplement
Description - Continue support for special education for
students with disabilities by implementing the Governor's
Advisory Commission on Public School Finance's recommendation to
create a new supplemental funding component directed to assist
school districts with high costs, high numbers of students from
families living in poverty, below average district wealth, and
above average local tax effort.
Issue - Instructional Support System
Description - Continue efforts to improve the Instructional
Support System of Pennsylvania which provides assistance and
support in assistive technology, developmentally appropriate
practices, inclusive practices, positive behavior support,
instructional support, procedural safeguards, and transition.
Issue - Future of the Hiram G. Andrews Center
Description - Continue the public-private partnership created to
assess the existing vocational rehabilitation services and
functions at the Hiram G. Andrews Center and to develop a
strategic plan for its future, including components on best
practices, state-of-the-art assistive technology research and
development, and relationship with Commonwealth employers and
colleges.
Issue - Job Training
Description - Continue efforts to expand job training for persons
with disabilities by awarding points on Customized Job Training
Program applications to businesses that train and hire persons
with disabilities. Develop an aggressive strategy to promote
such efforts.
Governor's Disability Policy Team
Stephen H. Suroviec, Team Leader
Department of Public Welfare, Office of Policy
323 Health and Welfare Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120 717-772-8318/fax: 787-1229
Melia Belonus
Governor's Policy Office (for Human Services)
506 Finance Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120 717-787-1954/fax: 787-8614
Mary Bender
Department of Agriculture, Office of Policy
209 Agriculture Building, 2301 N. Cameron Street
Harrisburg, PA 17110 717-783-2058/fax: 772-2780
Rick Carlson
Dept. of Conservation and Natural Res., Policy Office
400 Market Street, 15th Floor, Rachel Carson Building
Harrisburg, PA 17101 717-772-9087/fax: 772-9087
Lisa Yaffe
Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency
2101 North Front Street
Harrisburg, PA 17105 717-780-3874
Tim McNulty
Dept. of Community and Econ. Dev., Policy Office
471 Forum Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120 717-720-1368/fax: 787-6866
Lucia Roberto
Governor's Budget Office
7th Floor, Bell Tower, Strawberry Square
Harrisburg, PA 17128 717-787-7340/fax: 783-3368
Greg White
Department of Education, Office of Policy
333 Market Street, 10th Floor, Harrisburg 2
Harrisburg, PA 17126 717-783-9783/fax: 787- 7222
Shawn Skelly
Department of Health, Office of Policy
808 Health and Welfare Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120 717-787-4525/fax: 772-6959
Nevin Mindlin
Dept. of Labor and Industry, Office of Policy Planning
1721 Labor and Industry Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120 717-783-1446/fax: 783-5225
Bob Keaton
Governor's Policy Office (for Insurance, Banking)
506 Finance Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120 717-787-1954
Vito Gallo
Department of Revenue, Office of Policy
1133 Strawberry Square
Harrisburg, PA 17128 717-772-1732/fax: 787-3900
Ruth Weber
Department of Transportation, Office of Policy
1221 Transportation Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120 717-787-0787/fax: 772-8443
Joe Dudick
Pennsylvania Rural Development Council
506 Finance Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120 717-787-1954/fax: 787-8614
Donetta D'Innocenzo
Department of General Services
502 North Office Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120 717-783-3119
Mike Veshecco
Governor's Office of General Counsel
333 Market Street, 17th Floor, Harrisburg 2
Harrisburg, PA 17101 717-787-9348
Debra Facciolo
Office of Administration, Bureau of Personnel
513 Finance Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120 717-787-8575
Randy Undercoffler
Governor's Policy Office (for Corrections)
506 Finance Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120 717-772-1954/fax: 787-8614
Glen Dunbar
Department of Aging, Office of Policy
7th Floor, 400 Market Street, Rachel Carson Building
Harrisburg, PA 17101 717-783-1550/fax: 772-3382
This is a product of the Governor's Disability Policy Team.
For additional information please call (717) 772-8318 or (717)
787-1954.
Tom Ridge, Governor
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
|
