Disability Policies And Government Programs

Economic, medical, technological, and social changes have increased opportunities for persons with disabilities to live with greater independence and more fully participate in the workforce. Also, social and legal changes have promoted the goal of greater inclusion of persons with disabilities in the mainstream of society. However, fed. disability programs have not evolved in line with these larger societal changes and, therefore, are poorly positioned to provide meaningful and timely support for persons with disabilities. Program enrollment and costs for fed. disability programs have been growing and are poised to grow even more rapidly in the future. This forum addresses the issues related to modernizing fed. disability policy. Charts and tables.

The future of disability in America will depend on how well the U.S. prepares for and manages the demographic, fiscal, and technological developments that will unfold during the next two to three decades. Building upon two prior studies from the Institute of Medicine (the 1991 Institute of Medicine's report Disability in America and the 1997 report Enabling America), The Future of Disability in America examines both progress and concerns about continuing barriers that limit the independence, productivity, and participation in community life of people with disabilities. This book offers a comprehensive look at a wide range of issues, including the prevalence of disability across the lifespan; disability trends the role of assistive technology; barriers posed by health care and other facilities with inaccessible buildings, equipment, and information formats; the needs of young people moving from pediatric to adult health care and of adults experiencing premature aging and secondary health problems; selected issues in health care financing (e.g., risk adjusting payments to health plans, coverage of assistive technology); and the organizing and financing of disability-related research. The Future of Disability in America is an assessment of both principles and scientific evidence for disability policies and services. This book's recommendations propose steps to eliminate barriers and strengthen the evidence base for future public and private actions to reduce the impact of disability on individuals, families, and society.

Forging a Federal-State Partnership provides an insider's view of how the federal government assumed a dominant role in disability policy between the Kennedy and Obama eras. The book highlights the roles played by the federal government and the states in disability policy. Specifically, it focuses on the emergence of Medicaid as the primary funding source for intellectual and developmental disability services. The book offers a perspective on the evolution of public policy which is missing from most renditions of disability history. Features and Benefits Gain an insider's view of how the federal government assumed a predominant role in the disability policy arena between the Kennedy era and Obama era. Learn about the many ways in which the sometimes contentious interactions between the federal government and the states have influenced public policy outcomes. In particular, readers will learn about: Federal disability assistance programs in the pre-Medicaid era - including legislation enacted during the Kennedy administration - and how these programs influenced the direction of subsequent national disability policies; The influence of the Developmental Disabilities Act on federal-state policy over the past four decades; The emergence of the Medicaid program as the primary source of funding for public ID/DD services, from the creation of the ICF/MR coverage option, to the establishment of the home and community-based waiver authority, to Medicaid policy in the post-health reform era; The critical role litigation has played in shaping public policy toward persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The impact of Social Security and SSI payments on the availability of ID/DD services; and An insightful analysis of issues which are likely to shape the direction of future federal-state policy toward persons with lifelong disabilities This is a unique history of the revolutionary changes in public policy toward persons with

The purpose of this brief is to summarize the wide range of federal programs and government policies that influence the employment and program participation decisions of people with disabilities and current research initiatives related to these programs and policies. The brief is organized by the following types of programs, policies, and initiatives: ʼn federal programs that provide cash assistance, in-kind transfers (e.g., health insurance) and education, training, and rehabilitation support based on disability status and/or other characteristics (e.g., family structure); ʼn federal tax policies that provide credits either directly to individuals with disabilities or to employers as an incentive to hire a person with a disability; ʼn other employment-related programs and public policies that provide accommodation support and work incentives for people with disabilities; ʼn recent policy changes that affect people with disabilities; and ʼn some of the current research initiatives related to federal programs, tax policies, other employment programs and policies, and recent policy changes. We conclude with a summary of our program, policy, and research scan. This publication is based on The Economics of Policies and Programs Affecting the Employment of People with Disabilities, which provides a more comprehensive review of the policies and programs discussed here (as well as others) and analyzes the employment effects of these policies and programs within an economic framework.

This publication informs advocates & others in interested agencies & organizations about supplemental security income (SSI) eligibility requirements & processes. It will assist you in helping people apply for, establish eligibility for, & continue to receive SSI benefits for as long as they remain eligible. This publication can also be used as a training manual & as a reference tool. Discusses those who are blind or disabled, living arrangements, overpayments, the appeals process, application process, eligibility requirements, SSI resources, documents you will need when you apply, work incentives, & much more.

In recent years, the National Council on Disability (NCD) Progress Report has been a retrospective review and analysis of Federal programs for people with disabilities. For this Progress Report, NCD members have chosen to depart from a retrospective approach, and, instead, will focus on the current status of the quality of life of people with disabilities, and the emerging trends that warrant changes in the Federal Government's disability policies and programs. The report suggests ways to address identified issues that are consistent with a fiscal policy aimed at unlocking the potential of America and thereby improving the quality of life and opportunities for the American people. It emphasizes opportunities to improve the quality of life of the growing number of citizens with disabilities, the emerging trends warranting changes in the government's response, and recommendations for reviewing and modernizing the way the Federal Government approaches disability policy. Six appendixes are included: (1) Mission of the National Council on Disability; (2) Statistical Social Indicators; (3) Livable Community Discussion and Examples; (4) The Role of Government in the Pervasive Poverty of People with Disabilities; (5) Private Initiatives; and (6) Intergovernmental Review and Examples. (Contains 103 endnotes and 2 tables.) [For the 2008 Progress Report, see ED499799.].