NC Disability Rights files suit to keep Community Support Services for Thomas S. clients
See the Charlotte Observer article here by the excellent mental health writer, Michael Biesecker:
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/local/story/1142468.html
"Feds: N.C. budget cuts violate civil rights of disabled
By Michael Bieseckermichael.biesecker@newsobserver.com
Posted: Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009
RALEIGH The federal government said in a legal filing Wednesday that state budget cuts to programs that help people with mental illness and developmental disabilities live on their own violate the individuals' civil rights.
The advocacy group Disability Rights North Carolina sued the state Department of Health and Human Services in federal court earlier this month over the cuts, which slashes state money that helps the disabled pay for home health care, rent and other expenses.
That lawsuit got a boost Wednesday when the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice filed a brief supporting the case, asking a federal judge to issue an injunction against the state.
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Here is a comment submitted re: this important matter:
'Quite possibly its wise for NC Disability Rights to (first?) go after reinstating the Community Support Services (CSS) for the Thomas S. clients---those w/ both intellectual disabilities (read: Mild MR, quite probably) and mental health challenges. However, there are many clients whom are disabled & live as independently as possible, rather than being in the family care homes where they have no access to medical care of their choice, are dependent on the beneficence (or not) of the administration of the family care home, and they have no spending money as per their disability checks being almost completely taken by the family care homes----in accord w/ NC Medicaid stipulations. This is really only a first step as associated with the hot potato of Community Support Services which is about to be almost completely defunded by NC DHHS for adults over the age of 21 starting 1.1.2010. Marsha V. Hammond, PhD, Licensed Psychologist, Asheville, NC:http://madame-defarge.blogspot.com/'
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/local/story/1142468.html
"Feds: N.C. budget cuts violate civil rights of disabled
By Michael Bieseckermichael.biesecker@newsobserver.com
Posted: Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009
RALEIGH The federal government said in a legal filing Wednesday that state budget cuts to programs that help people with mental illness and developmental disabilities live on their own violate the individuals' civil rights.
The advocacy group Disability Rights North Carolina sued the state Department of Health and Human Services in federal court earlier this month over the cuts, which slashes state money that helps the disabled pay for home health care, rent and other expenses.
That lawsuit got a boost Wednesday when the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice filed a brief supporting the case, asking a federal judge to issue an injunction against the state.
********************************************************
Here is a comment submitted re: this important matter:
'Quite possibly its wise for NC Disability Rights to (first?) go after reinstating the Community Support Services (CSS) for the Thomas S. clients---those w/ both intellectual disabilities (read: Mild MR, quite probably) and mental health challenges. However, there are many clients whom are disabled & live as independently as possible, rather than being in the family care homes where they have no access to medical care of their choice, are dependent on the beneficence (or not) of the administration of the family care home, and they have no spending money as per their disability checks being almost completely taken by the family care homes----in accord w/ NC Medicaid stipulations. This is really only a first step as associated with the hot potato of Community Support Services which is about to be almost completely defunded by NC DHHS for adults over the age of 21 starting 1.1.2010. Marsha V. Hammond, PhD, Licensed Psychologist, Asheville, NC:http://madame-defarge.blogspot.com/'
posted by Marsha V. Hammond, PhD at 9:32 PM
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