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Every
time we meet with parent groups, we are asked a wide variety of
questions. So, we’ve decided to add a feature to our newsletter
to try to answer some of these questions. If you have a question
we can answer for you and other families too, please call us at
(800) 393-7290.
We
have heard from families that experiences applying for Katie
Beckett differ from region to region. Although that
shouldn’t be the case, it seems to happen. So, to discuss
specific circumstances about your family, contact your local
Health and Welfare office and ask for the Katie Beckett
coordinator. If you feel like your questions still aren’t
answered, give us a call and we’ll be happy to try to help!
In a
nutshell, Katie Beckett allows families who don’t qualify for
State funded medical assistance (what we call Medicaid) because
they make too much money, to be considered for help if they have
a minor child with a developmental disability. There are a
couple of key points to being |
eligible: a diagnosis, impact upon at
least three life areas (example: mobility, self-care,
communication), and the need for significant supports—or an
ICFMR level of care. This concept is important to know! ICFMR
level of care means that a child would qualify to be in an
Intermediate Care Facility for the Mentally Retarded. This is
like a group home or institution. This DOES NOT mean that your
child must live in a facility or group home, it just means he or
she meets that level of need.
Katie Beckett is a program based on an
actual person and what her family went through. The federal
government designed this program as an option a state can choose
to offer. Not all states have this program! Idaho is lucky to
have it. If eligible for this program, a child receives a
Medicaid card that provides medical, dental, pharmacy, and some
other services like Personal Care Services or in-home supports.
There are a couple of things you might want to know about this
program so you can ask how it might impact your family. |
First, whenever you are part of a
state funded program, you are going to be asked about your
income and resources. But, in Katie Beckett—it’s not the
parents’ income that is asked about. It is the child’s income
and resources that are an issue. If your child has a bank
account, stocks, bonds—whatever—you will have to share that
information as it could affect your child’s eligibility. Another
tidbit: as your child nears 18, he or she will need to be
assessed for what kinds of adult programs (called waivers) they
will be eligible for. Katie Beckett is a program for
children—it isn’t available to adults. Last tip: just because
you have a Medicaid card, it doesn't mean you can find a
provider. That can be tough, especially in our small towns.
We would love to hear from you and
share families’ experiences with Katie Beckett! Give us a call:
(800) 393-7290
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October in Idaho is now
Disability History Month.
Congratulations to everyone it took make this happen! The goal
of Disability History Month is to encourage both public and
private schools to provide instruction on disability history; as
well as to increase awareness and understanding about people
with disabilities and their right to live the lives they choose.
Last
year we told you about an idea to offer a
Family Directed Service System,
not unlike the Self Determination Waiver Option which is the
adult version. The 2007 Legislative session resulted in a joint
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effort to develop this type of service option for families who
have a minor child with a disability who qualifies for support
services (see above as an example). A work group of stakeholders
will come together over the next several months to
develop this option. We’ll keep you posted!
Voting by Mail
is something you may or may not have heard about this session.
In case it comes back again next year, you should know that
although some people think it increases accessibility to vote,
the |
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Training on Understanding Communication with Young Children:
Saturday June 9th—9 am-4pm in Idaho
Falls. For more info call Shelly at our FRC in Region 7 at (208)
528-5905.
Treasure Valley Resource Fair:
June 23rd—9 am-12pm at the
Adventure Island Playground in Meridian. For more info
call (208) 887-3531.
Race
Ya to the Playground:
Saturday July14th—8 am at
Tautphaus Park, Idaho’s 2nd Equal Access |
Playground in Idaho Falls. For more
info call (208) 542-0875.
Summer Activities in Boise:
Register for adapted summer
activities with AdVenture. Call (208) 384-4216 ext. 28 and ask
for Joe!
Adaptive Activities in Pocatello:
CW HOG offers a wide range of programs including rafting, day
camps and kids activities. Call (208) 282-3912 for details.
Adaptive Programs in Ketchum:
Sun Valley Adaptive Sports has
a ton of activities! Call them at (208) 726-9298 or
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