Nation Association of Physically Handicapped

FIFTH VICE PRESIDENT REPORT

For those of you who didn’t know, about a month before convention, my dear friend, Fred, was hospitalized. He was in ICU for ten days and in the hospital for a total of three weeks. I then had to stay with him at home for another ten days. I got home just in time to get ready for my trip.

I was so happy to be with all of you. I missed you during the MI Area Convention and thought of all of you often that week end. Again, I want to thank the Saginaw chapter for helping me with my expenses to convention. It is greatly appreciated.   Well, I’m back down towards the bottom of the ladder, but want to thank you for making me Fifth V.P., a safe place to be.

I checked the web page. I noticed even though we have not updated the page since January, we are still getting many hits. I would like to encourage those of you who have access to the internet to send me any information concerning the disabled community. I have noticed the public is most interested in issues such as legislative news, where to get help in different areas, and who can provide services for their needs.

I want to thank Albert and Brenda for helping me this year with the web page. I regret to report that due to illness in my nephew’s family, he was unable to assist us lately. He spent the last few months at his daughter’s bed side while she fought a losing battle with cancer.

Once again I want to thank the Saginaw Chapter for helping me come to convention. Without their help, I couldn’t have made the trip. I look forward to seeing you all at the fiftieth. I hear it is going to be one you won’t want to miss.

Bernadette Travis

EMPLOY THE HANDICAPPED

I was reading an article the other day which stated that for 1000 employers who tapped into Job Accommodations Network----49% of the cases required little or no changes in equipment used by the disabled workers. Some small changes were made like putting the copier in their room, replacing the telephone with a headset, electric pencil sharpeners, and staplers etc. These changes at small costs allow the disabled person to return to their old job and enable the employer to keep a valued employee. In addition, it would save time and keep production up by not having to train a new employee.

More information can be had on Job Accommodation Network or jan.wvu.edu

Donna Brotzman

ACCESS TEAM CHECKING OUT THE PARKS

The Access Team has been very busy performing facility assessments for the City of Muskegon. The team accomplished the assessment of 33 parks and recreation facilities. The city will be determining if funds are available to make these sites more accessible to persons with disabilities.

The Access Team will do more assessments in the near future. The team is becoming very popular and needs to recruit more members.

This Access Team is part of the Disability Connection CIL. Karen Wynne is the Accessibility Specialist of the CIL and is the chairperson of this committee. I am a member of this team and also on the Board of Directors of the Disability Connection CIL.

Mary Kolbe

COMMUNITY CHOICE ACT (H.R. 1621 AND S 799)

Our most important legislation this year has been and continues to be the Community Choice Act of 2007. Below I have summarized both the House bill (H.R.1621) and the Senate bill (S799). Please write to your representatives and senators and the subcommittees to which the bills have been referred. Even if you have written before, please do so again. If you have read your NNN you know how important these bills are to all of us to keep us out of nursing homes and in our own homes and also to help individuals who want to get out of nursing homes. For more information on this topic visit: www.adapt.org. ADAPT sponsored a Forum on Disability Rights in Housing in Chicago on Sept. 9, 2007 so they will probably have updates on their web site about this topic shortly.

H.R.1621
Title: To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide individuals with disabilities and older Americans with equal access to community-based attendant services and supports, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Davis, Danny K. [IL-7] (introduced 3/21/2007) Cosponsors (32)
Related Bills: S.799
Latest Major Action: 3/22/2007 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

SUMMARY AS OF:
3/21/2007--Introduced.
Community Choice Act of 2007 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to require state Medicaid plan coverage of community-based attendant services and supports for certain Medicaid-eligible individuals.
Outlines requirements for: (1) an enhanced federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) for ongoing activities of early coverage states that enhance and promote the use of community-based attendant services and supports; and (2) increased federal financial participation for certain expenditures incurred by the state for the provision of such services and supports.
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) award grants to eligible states which have established a Consumer Task Force to assist the state in its development of real choice systems change initiatives; and (2) conduct a demonstration project for the purpose of evaluating service coordination and cost-sharing approaches with respect to the provision of community-based services and supports to dually eligible individuals.
Community Choice Act (S. 799): A Summary
The Community Choice Act gives people real choice in long term care options by reforming Title XIX of the Social Security Act (Medicaid) by ending the institutional bias. The Community Choice Act allows individuals eligible for Nursing Facility Services or Intermediate Care Facility Services for the Mentally Retarded (ICF-MR) the opportunity to choose instead a new alternative, "Community-based Attendant Services and Supports". The money follows the individual! In addition, by providing an enhanced match and grants for the transition to Real Choice before October 2011 when the benefit becomes permanent, the Community Choice Act offers states financial assistance to reform their long term service and support system to provide services in the most integrated setting.

S.799
Title: A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide individuals with disabilities and older Americans with equal access to community-based attendant services and supports, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Harkin, Tom [IA] (introduced 3/7/2007) Cosponsors (16)
Related Bills: H.R.1621
Latest Major Action: 7/10/2007 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held.
SUMMARY:
3/7/2007--Introduced.

Community Choice Act of 2007 (wording is the same as H.R.1621 above).

Submitted by Brenda Smith, Legislation Chairperson
A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide individuals with disabilities and older Americans with equal access to community-based attendant services and supports, and for other purposes. [IA] (introduced 3/7/2007) (16) 7/10/2007 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held. 3/7/2007--Introduced.

NAPH NATIONAL PRESIDENT REPORT

          I would like to thank everyone who helped put this convention together. Without the help of many, this may not have happened. This is a very good example of the motto, Strength Working Together. There are so many of you that came forward to make this convention a success with the only reward being a thank you. So please accept my thank you for your help and support.
        The past year has been very exciting for me. I have visited all chapters at least once and some more than that. I may not have been to all in the last 12 months, but have visited them in the course of my travels for NAPH during several months before and after my election to lead us this last year.
        This past year has been very hard for a lot of us in many respects. At the last convention we lost a very dedicated long time NAPH member and past president, Jim Truman. I might add that he has visited me several times in the past year in my sleep. My home chapter in Akron also lost our dear Gloria Payne and that was very hard for Greg and myself, I hate losing a friend. NAPH also lost a great advocate from Columbus, Ohio, Ray Jones and then Mid-Michigan lost Sue Knapp. These are all great people whose shoes may never be refilled. I hope they will be in our memories and prayers for a long time.
        I ask you all to examine the reason you are here. Is it to promote our future and select members that will work toward reshaping and directing NAPH toward a productive future? Or is it to just meet old friends and have a good time? I hope it is a bunch of the first and a little of the second but only you in your hearts can answer that. By the time this convention is over that will be answered by the people you put into office. Will they be old buddies or a worker that get things done without the pat on the back? Please remember that your organization is only as good as you make it. Most of the people we elected last year pulled together and worked hard but there is still room for improvement. You all know that our future lies with those that put their best efforts forward and work for the good of all.
         Last year you elected me your President, the highest office in NAPH, and as such, I have tried to execute those duties with fairness and honesty. If you choose me to be your President for another term you can expect the same.
Thank you,

Albert Ost
NAPH President

FIRST VICE PRESIDENT REPORT

To all NAPH members, I really enjoyed serving this year as your First Vice President.

The future of NAPH is really in serious danger of dying out with members quitting or made to feel they are not wanted any more. This is not what NAPH is all about to me. All the time all we talk about is getting people to join, but this is not happening.

Albert has done a great job as National President. He has been extremely active visiting every chapter which is what being our National President is all about.

I would like everyone to rethink about what NAPH means to them personally. What they could do for NAPH. Apparently it means something to Kay and Paula since they are here even after all the controversy these past few months.

Hopefully we can get NAPH headed in the right direction to maintain this worthwhile organization to be around for another fifty years.

Respectfully submitted,
Kenneth W. Gillette

REPORT FROM MICHIGAN AREA PRESIDENT

Hello to all of you,

I will start this report by saying I would like to thank everyone who helped host this National Convention, Midland Chapter, President Ost, and all of the Officers, Directors and whoever worked and will be working to make this convention the best National Convention ever.

I do know we all have worked hard with President Ost and all the officers this year. The time has flown by fast in some ways and other ways slow. We have had ups and downs but together we got through them. After all this is what NAPH is about. Right folks?

At the State Convention I missed Jim Truman zipping through as I am sure we all did. But he did his work for NAPH as did our other past Presidents such as Bernie who could not be there with her smile and comments. But we all had fun after we took care of work.
I just could not believe that council meeting in Grand Rapids. So many people came to it. Then when we were on our way to Muskegon in that snow storm, I said to forget that one when we went in a ditch. But I do hope we can have both this year.

I would like to thank all Michigan chapters for sending in their By-Laws to me.

As you know, I am always at meetings trying to keep myself informed and get the word out about NAPH.

In closing I would like to say I have enjoyed being National Second V.P. and also MI Area President for the second year. I appreciate all officers at all levels. Brenda, thank you for sending out my letters and reports. Thanks to all of you. Let us carry on with this National Convention now. Think about who might be able to keep NAPH rolling along best when nominations and voting for all officers come up.

Now have fun but let’s try to keep it clean.

Gerri Meadows - Franklin
State MI NAPH President

NATIONAL SECOND VICE PRESIDENT REPORT

Hello Fellow NAPH Members and Friends,

Well can you believe it is the National Convention already. Just doesn’t seem possible, does it? Last year we lost a past National NAPH President and a good friend, James Truman, during that Convention. We were all stunned. But yet we must remember he was where he wanted to be when God said, “Your work is done here on earth, Jim”. As Jim would have said, “Carry on folks with the convention. NAPH is what we are here for. Carry it on.”

I am glad to say we did. How about you?

With a President like Albert Ost and all officers, directors and members, how could we fail?

We have worked together and that is why we are here today, to work and have fun to keep NAPH rolling along together. In strength and numbers we can do it.

Gerri Meadows – Franklin,
National Second Vice President

WEST MICHIGAN SHORELINE CHAPTER REPORT

Our chapter is small with only 11 members but we still get a good turn out at our dinner meetings at various locations. We all love to go out to eat.

In April we started a project of filling zip lock bags with personal items for the homeless using "Sacred Suds". Sacred Suds is a place where the homeless can go to take a bath and/or wash their clothes. After several months where items were brought to our meetings 100 bags of personal items were filled plus 6 big jugs of laundry soap were delivered to Sacred Suds.

Several of our members helped the Disability Connections CIL with their Big Yard Sale they held in June.

Starting at our September meeting we will be collecting items for LOVE, Inc. We called them and found out that they are in dire need of personal items such as: toilet paper, bar soap, paper towels, toothbrushes, tooth paste, deodorant and shampoo. We will be bringing items to our September and October meetings.

Mary Kolbe

NATIONAL DIRECTOR REPORT

I have done a few excursions to check on accessibility in our state as well as others. We showed the manager of one hotel that although it said handicapped accessible, saying is not being accessible. We had him sit on a seat in the shower, and reach for the hand shower and controls without the use of his legs. He was really amazed at his inability to function from the shower chair. One hotel in Elizabethtown, KY had 4 doors to get through in the space of 20 ft. and a ramp. You had to shift your weight in order to keep from tipping yourself over while getting in the third door. Handicapped parking was put back by the door at the back because the handicapped rooms were there, and after we showed the manager how difficult it was to get in, they moved the handicapped parking to the front of the building until they could get the entry ways changed.

I have made phone calls regarding H.R. 1621, and S.799, and ask everyone I know to make calls and send letters, explaining why this is very important to everyone, not just handicapped people.

Richard Gillette