Information & Resources

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Hiring and Managing Personal Assistants This manual was developed by The Arc Michigan to promote self-determination through meaningful consumer direction and control. It is provided for information only and does not constitute legal, medical, planning or tax advice. For individualized help with your situation, consult with your allies, supports coordinator, or professional providers. (pdf file) (posted 11/9/07)

Consumer & Family Guide developed by The Arc Michigan through a grant from The United Way of Oakland County. 

Other Publications

Michigan Participation Project (MPP) is a new resource for Michigan's nonprofits on voting and voter participation. MPP is a non-partisan initiative to help nonprofits in Michigan encourage voting among their staff, members, clients, and the broader community. General Rules for 501(C)(3) nonprofits can be found in the Nonprofit Guide. Other information is available on their Web site at www.michparticipationproject.org

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The Michigan Alliance for Families, a program of The Arc Michigan, has an extensive and comprehensive Web site of education and disability resources. The Web site can be found at www.michiganallianceforfamilies.org. In addition, The Alliance lists local Arc chapters as resources for local supports.

We hope this Web site will be useful in your work at the local level serving people with disabilities and their families. If you have suggestions for improvement, please email Kay Moler at kmoler@arcmi.org. (posted 2/01/08)

Parent Friendly Tool Available On State Performance Plan # 8

The Michigan Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Early Intervention Services has made the following information available to parents whose children receive special education and related services. The information is about meaningful parent involvement, which is reflected in Indicator # 8 of the State Performance Plan (SPP). The SPP indicators are part of federal special education accountability.

The following three informational pieces are available:

PowerPoint, "Parent Involvement in Michigan Schools, What is Meaningful Parent Involvement?" (ppt)

SAMPLE survey for parents of school age children (students ages 6-21)  (posted 8/03/07)

Early On® Public Awareness is pleased to share the Early On® Michigan PSA on www.1800EarlyOn.org or www.michigan.gov/earlyon. (Versions available in English and Spanish.) 

This Public Service Announcement won a national Telly Award, which is one of the highest honors in television media. If you would like a copy of the PSA in a DVD format, contact Victoria Meeder email:vmeeder@edzone.net or (517)668-0185. (posted 8/03/07)

If you know of families who do not have Internet access and want to see a print copy of their local district's IDEA public report, please let them know that they can call the Center for Educational Networking (CEN) at 1 (800) 593-9146 to request a copy. (posted 7/06/07)

Information Underload: Florida's Flawed Special-Ed Voucher Program   Students with disabilities have long had the right, under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act(IDEA), to attend private schools at public expense if the public schools in their community are unable to provide them with appropriate special educational services. But less than 1 percent of students with disabilities have such private placements, in part because these placements can be costly, complicated, and time-consuming to obtain under the existing law.

Florida's popular McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program seeks to tilt the balance in these students’ favor. The program provides parents with an alternative to expensive legal proceedings and complicated bureaucracy—a voucher that they can use at a public or private school of their choice. Florida's legislature approved the program in 1999 and named it after a then-state senator, John McKay, who is also the father of a special-needs child. (posted 6/29/07)

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Dental Services:

Locate dental services in your area:  The Michigan Oral Health Program Directory produced by the Michigan Department of Community Health's (DCH) Division of Family and Community Health lists local oral health programs available, types of coverage and services provided. For more information, go to: http://www.michigan.gov/oralhealth.      

For dental services in your area contact Michigan Department of Human Services office at (888) 988-6300 or go to: http://www.michigan.gov/mdch/

Free Health Care Coverage Booklet  The Michigan Family-to-Family Health Information and Education Center (F2FHIEC) has produced a 20-page booklet) called "Free and Low Cost Health Care Coverage Available to Michigan Adults, Children, Pregnant Women and Families". This booklet provides information on numerous free and low cost health care coverage programs available in Michigan.

It can be viewed by clicking on the following link: http://bridges4kids.org/f2f/mdch.ins.booklet.pdf

If you are interested in ordering free copies, go to :
http://www.bridges4kids.org/f2f/cshcsorders.pdf

If you would like to learn more about F2FHIEC visit our website at: www.bridges4kids.org/f2f (posted 8/17/07)

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Home Help Services in Workplace Michigan's Medicaid State Plan has been revised to allow Home Help Services  in the workplace effective December1, 2007.  The Adult Services Manual policy change states:

"Home Help Services (HHS) may now be provided for the specific purpose of enabling the client to be employed.

The current assessment process for personal care services remains unchanged. A separate assessment for the workplace is not required.

The hours approved may be used either in the home or the workplace. Additional hours are not available as a result of employment.

The client determines where services are to be provided, whether in the home or the workplace." (2/29/08)

Medicaid Home and Community-Based Service Programs: Data Update Developing home and community-based service (HCBS) alternatives to institutional care has been a priority for many state Medicaid programs over the last two decades. While the majority of Medicaid long-term care dollars go toward institutional care, the national percentage of Medicaid spending on HCBS has more than doubled from 15 percent in 1992 to 36 percent in 2004.This Kaiser Family Foundation report presents a summary of the main trends to emerge from the latest (2004) expenditure and participant data for the three Medicaid HCBS programs:(1) optional 1915(c) HCBS waivers, (2) the mandatory home health benefit, and (3) the optional state plan personal care services benefit, as well as findings from a survey of policies, such as eligibility criteria and waiting lists, used on Medicaid HCBS programs in 2006. (posted 1/11/08)

Expanding The “Registry” Concept: Creating Access To Care For Consumers & Employment For Care Workers

As part of the January 2008 Monthly Aging and Disability Resource Center Technical Assistance Exchange call, Dorie Seavey and Hollis Turnham presented the idea of worker registries. Supporting materials offer an overview of the concept and state examples (including the Michigan Quality Community Care Council). Also included is a two-page hand out that lists worker registry websites and offers and example of the database potential functionalities.

• Presentation (593K, 25 pages)

• Registry Examples Word (71K, 3 pages)

• Registry Examples (193K, 3 pages) (posted 1/11/08)

Persons with Disabilities and Prescription Drug Coverage - Dual Eligibility  Contact information and answers to questions about prescription drug coverage for those who are dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare and those who receive Medicare. Click here: MS Word or pdf version.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services - Dual Eligibility  Overview,  Dual Eligibility Categories and Model Application for Medicare Savings Programs

State officials have created a new Web site that consumers now can search the prices of 150 prescription drugs. A new feature gives driving directions to the pharmacies on the site and lets users file complaints with the state when they believe pricing information is incorrect or price gouging may be occurring. The Web site is located at: www.michigandrugprices.com

Need Help Paying For Medicine? The Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) is a one-stop resource to apply to get your medicines free or nearly free if you do not have prescription drug coverage. The Web site is sponsored by major drug manufacturers, which all have programs that cover medicines for free or at low cost to people who qualify.  Each program is unique and working people, people without jobs, seniors, student, families and single people may all qualify.

To find out if you qualify, go to www.pparxmi.org or call 1 (888)477-2669. The toll-free number has operators who speak several different languages. If you go to the Web site, you can provide information once and then print out an application for each medicine you need.

For more information about the citizenship documentation requirement, go to: Medicaid Eligibility and Proof of Citizenship

Read Letter from CMS to State Medicaid Director

The Kaiser Family Foundation's Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured (KCMU) has released a Fact Sheet and Report examining New York's experience with requiring citizenship documentation from their Medicaid applicants.

Medicaid Hurdle for Immigrants May Hurt Others - New requirement that Medicare beneficiaries prove U.S. citizenship may hurt citizens who cannot produce records. NY Times, April 16, 2006

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UCP Medicare Part D Guide - "Navigating the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Coverage Program"

Persons with Disabilities and Prescription Drug Coverage - Dual Eligibility Contact information and answers to questions about prescription drug coverage for those who are dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare and those who receive Medicare. Click here: MS Word or pdf version.

Medicare Part D Appeals Manual The Medicare Rights Center has created a free, comprehensive, easy-to-understand Medicare Part D appeals manual for advocates who help people with Medicare get the drugs they need.

This 25-page manual offers a complete overview of the entire appeals process, real-life case examples from our Client Services department, a glossary of important Part D appeals terms, a sample appeals protocol for advocates, and links to important resources and documents. All in the consumer-friendly language you have come to expect from the Medicare Rights Center. (posted 2/15/2008)

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has established a Special Election Period (SEP) to address situations where an individual has enrolled in a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan based on misleading or incorrect information provided by plan employees, agents or brokers. Call 1 (800) 633-4227 or 1 (800)MEDICARE.  Click HERE (pdf file) (posted 7/20/07)

Michigan Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program at www.mymmap.org has an online learning course, "How to Enroll In Medicare's Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D) using Medicare's Online Tools"  

State officials have created a new Web site that consumers now can search the prices of 150 prescription drugs. A new feature gives driving directions to the pharmacies on the site and lets users file complaints with the state when they believe pricing information is incorrect or price gouging may be occurring. The Web site is located at: www.michigandrugprices.com

Need Help Paying For Medicine? The Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) is a one-stop resource to apply to get your medicines free or nearly free if you do not have prescription drug coverage. The Web site is sponsored by major drug manufacturers, which all have programs that cover medicines for free or at low cost to people who qualify.  Each program is unique and working people, people without jobs, seniors, student, families and single people may all qualify. 

To find out if you qualify, go to www.pparxmi.org or call 1 (888)477-2669. The toll-free number has operators who speak several different languages. If you go to the Web site, you can provide information once and then print out an application for each medicine you need.

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The Learning Disabilities Association of Michigan's Healthy Children Project issue of the Healthy Children's Project's Monthly e-News.

To subscribe send blank email to: healthychildrenproject-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Michigan Public Health Update - December 14, 2007 (pdf file) This monthly newsletter contains important information in following areas: preparedness and planning, exercises, pandemic preparedness, communications, surveillance, hospital preparedness, training and education, upcoming events, regional news and other news.

Perspectives - Serving the Nation's DD Community for 30 Years -  U.S. Senate Passes 2008 Budget Resolution, rejecting many of the steep cuts to domestic programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. Click HERE to read the May 2007 issue  (Vol 13, No. 5) (posted 6/8/07)

Perspectives, published by the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disability Services, covers national/state and local policy and program news concerning individuals with developmental disabilities. Perspectives is available by subscription at:  www.nasddds.org/Publications/index.shtml

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The Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities offers their newest online resource, "Parallels in Time, Part 2", which is packed with hundreds of photos, videos and documents associated with the important societal and legislative milestones from 1950 through 2005. Sections include A Place to Call Home, Definitions and Perspectives on Disability, A Place to Learn, Real Work and more.

"Partners in Living" - a free self-study course created to help people with developmental disabilities, their family and friends explore four important elements that, together, can help them create a meaningful life: Self-Determination, Family Support, Community Living and Assistive Technology. 

"Partners in Time" Is the history of people with developmental disabilities.

Other study courses include "Partners in Education", "Making Your Case", and "Partners in Employment" 

For more information go to www.partnersinpolicymaking.com/online.html

Michigan Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program at www.mymmap.org has an online learning course, "How to Enroll In Medicare's Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D) using Medicare's Online Tools"  

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One-Stop Toolkit - The Office of Disability Employment Policy has a number of new tools on its Web site to promote customized employment for people with disabilities. For more information or go to: www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/custom/index.htm

New Department of Labor Statistics - A new study, which found that the employment rate for people with disabilities has dropped below 20 percent, has attributed the drop to attitudinal barriers and to the misconception that accommodations are costly.

National Center on Workforce and Disability/Adult (NCWD/A) Archived Web conferences - Funding Customized Employment - online trainings on Customized Employment. 

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Hiring and Managing Personal Assistants This manual was developed by The Arc Michigan to promote self-determination through meaningful consumer direction and control. It is provided for information only and does not constitute legal, medical, planning or tax advice. For individualized help with your situation, consult with your allies, supports coordinator, or professional providers. (pdf file) (posted 11/9/07)

Visit Joel Smith's Web site about autism and advocacy - or, about a way of life that is a bit different but just as valuable as anyone else's.To read his response to prejudice,  "I am not...", go to:  thiswayoflife.org/iamnot.html 

Successful Funding Sources for Integrated, Affordable, and Accessible Community Housing Guide, "Funding Sources Successfully Used by States to Support Development of Integrated, Affordable, and Accessible Community Housing" from Independent Living Research Utilization offers a quick reference on housing resources that can be used to create integrated, affordable, and accessible housing and basic information on how to use these resources. Included are community strategies that increase the amount of integrated, affordable, and accessible housing units that usually fall into three general categories: development of housing units; access to existing housing units; and asset development. Click here for MS Word version. (posted 1/11/08)

Down Payment Assistance Available - The Community Housing Network, Inc. is currently seeking first time home buyers in Oakland county who have a household family member with a disability or special needs. Click for flyer and application (MS Word)  www.communityhousingnetwork.org

Priced Out in 2006 Report Underscores Housing Crisis Facing People with Disabilities  From 2004-2006, people with disabilities who relied on SSI as their source of income descended further into poverty. In 2006, the average annual income of a single individual receiving SSI payments was $7,584 - equal to only 18.2 % of the national median income.  State Arc chapters and affiliates are strongly encourage to use the report in their housing advocacy. (posted 6/15/07)

Fact Sheet: A Snapshot of Michigan Poverty, Income and Health Insurance, 2006  On Aug. 28, 2007 the Census Bureau released 2006 data regarding poverty, income, and health insurance coverage in the United States. Overall poverty is determined using the Current Population Survey while all other measures are determined using data from the American Community Survey -- Aug 2007 www.milhs.org  (posted 9/7/07)

Michigan League for Human Services Full Report: Holidays ringing hollow for more Michigan Families   Michigan's Changing Face of Poverty: More Families Slide Into Troubled Times, documents the growth in economic woes with a 21 percent jump in the state's family poverty rate since 2001. Click HERE for a summary. (posted 12/14/07)

Low-Income Workers Can't Meet Basic Needs  Even as Michigan’s minimum wage increased to $7.15 an hour in July 2007, many workers still will find it difficult to stretch their earnings to cover the basic needs of their families.

A new study by the Michigan League for Human Services finds that in order to meet the basic requirements of their families, lower-income workers must have help in the form of housing subsidies, food assistance, day care or tax relief. Click HERE to read the August 2007 release. (From Michigan League for Human Services - WWW.MILHS.ORG)

“Economic Self-Sufficiency in Michigan: A Benchmark for Ensuring Family Well-Being,’’ estimates the costs of seven major household expenses: housing, food, child care, health care, transportation, personal and household items, and taxes. “This is what it really takes to live, and it underscores the importance of programs such as day-care assistance,’’ said Ann Marston, president and CEO of the Michigan League for Human Services. “Lots of  folks are not able to find jobs paying self-sufficient wages.”

Click HERE to order copies of "Economic Self-Sufficiency in Michigan" at $5.00 each (6 or more, $4.00 each) plus shipping & handling.  (Contact: Sharon Parks or Ann Marston - (517) 487-5436) (posted 8/03/07)

Allies for Transportation 24/7 - Our Goal: Public Transportation is available 24/7 everywhere in Michigan. Through a grant from the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council, UCP Michigan is developing and compiling information to teach people about transportation issues and services. This is an effort to gain community support of common problems people with disabilities face while riding on public transportation.

Have you had problems getting to the bus because of snow drifts by the road? Is the path clear from the sidewalk or bus stop to the bus? Or the curb cut blocked because of snow piled in the way by the snow plow? Does your transportation system have holiday hours? When does it run? Click HERE to check out the site and post your comments.

Disabled People and Poverty in 2007, Information Bulletin # 197 A - Steve Gold, The Disability Odyssey continues. There are about 10 million people between 18 and 64 who are disabled and received either SSDI and/or SSI. It's important to break down these numbers to understand the extent of poverty these people face. Click HERE to read. (posted 3/2/07)

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2008 Social Security Administration (SSA) Red Book a general reference source about the employment-related provisions of Social Security Disability Insurance and the Supplemental Security Income Programs for educators, advocates, rehabilitation professionals and counselors who serve people with disabilities. 

SSI Payment Amounts (update October 2007)

Federal Poverty Levels for 2007  Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Poverty Levels for 2008 will be available soon. Click here: PDF version or MS Word version (posted 12/7/07)

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Michigan Free Tax Preparation Sites  52 page file of Tax Assistance Sites. The majority of the free tax preparation sites have an income limit of $38,000 per year. 

A Homebound Tax Program is available for seniors and those physically unable to visit a tax site. This is a mail-in service. Call the Accounting Aid Society at (313)647-9620 to see if you qualify and to request that a Homebound packet be mailed to you.

New Treasury Web site on Taxes The Michigan Department of Treasury has activated a new Web site devoted to the new taxes that have recently been enacted (Michigan Business Tax, personal income tax increase, and expansion of the sales tax to select services).

The Web site provides information, guidance, forms, instructions, withholding tables, filing dates, FAQs, and other forms and documents to help business taxpayers with these new taxes.

The Web site, and its subject pages on each of these taxes, may be updated so we encourage you to check the site regularly.

From - Wiener Associates, 10/29/07             

Low-Income Social Security Recipients Must File 2007 Tax Return to Receive Economic Stimulus Check

What is the stimulus package?  

To help spur a slowing economy, the IRS will send tax rebate checks beginning in May 2008 and continuing through the summer. Up to 20 million Americans who rely primarily on Social Security income qualify for a rebate check.

How do people qualify for a stimulus tax rebate check?  

Generally a person has to have more than $3,000 in income. Even if a person does not have any earned income they can still qualify for a stimulus tax rebate check if their Social Security benefits, Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits, and/or railroad retirement benefits equal at least $3,000 annually.

To qualify, they must file a 2007 tax return on IRS Forms 1040 or 1040A with the IRS (even if their income is normally low enough that they are not required to file).

If they file a tax return, how much are they eligible for?

In most cases, they will get payments ranging from $300 to $600.  Payments increase by $300 for families with dependent children under the age of 17, up to a maximum stimulus payment of $1,200.

By what date does the 2007 tax return have to be filed and when will the checks be

received?

The IRS encourages filing a return if possible, by the regular April 15 deadline to get the rebate check in May 2008. Those filing later than April 15, with or without a tax-filing extension, may delay receipt of the rebate check. Those who qualify for a stimulus check will receive one by the end of 2008 if they file by October 15, 2008. No rebate checks will be issued after 2008 ends.

Will the stimulus payment affect eligibility for needs-based benefits programs?  

Receiving a payment under the stimulus package does not effect eligibility for or amount of needs-based benefits programs (i.e. Food Stamps).  Specifically, the payment does not count as income in the month it is received and does not count as a resource (asset) for 60 days after the month in which it was received.

See Money Back in Michigan below for free tax help and filing information.

Money Back in Michigan and Free Online Tax Preparation 

The Michigan League for Human Services is pleased announce the publication of the 2008 edition of Money Back in Michigan, an outreach effort that promotes awareness of various federal and state tax credits and deductions available to low and moderate-income households. This packet is designed to assist organizations that serve low income individuals and families by providing timely information about credits for which they may qualify. It includes flyers that can be distributed or displayed in local offices, libraries, community centers, and retail businesses. Click here for the English version or Spanish version of the   

publication.

The tax credits explained in this packet make a difference in the well-being of the thousands of Michigan workers who rely on income from low-wage jobs to support their families, have experienced economic dislocation, or have been feeling mounting pressure from rising housing, utility, fuel and health care costs. The tax credits bring money back into their households, either by reducing the taxes they owe or by providing a refund to the family. The credits are available both to individuals who file income tax returns and those who are exempt from filing, and some credits can be claimed after the normal income tax filing deadline.

The Michigan Statewide Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition, which is now convened and staffed by the Michigan League for Human Services, has a useful Web site, www.MichiganEIC.org that we believe you will find very useful. This Web site has information about local outreach coalitions and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites. It also provides access to the Michigan Poverty Law Program’s I-CAN! E-File, a free Web-based e-filing system for taxpayers with household income under $50,000.

The League urges you to share this information with your clients and with those in your community who work with low-income individuals and families. Further, because so many low-income filers pay commercial tax preparers for expensive ‘‘rapid refund’’ loans, please emphasize the importance of using free VITA services or filing online for free with I-CAN!E-File. By sharing this information you will be helping to put money back into low-income households. Money Back in Michigan can be downloaded from http://www.MiLHS.org, and is also available by calling the League at (517) 487-5436. (posted 1/25/08)

2008 Tax Guides Available -  This authoritative income tax guide will prove to be invaluable for tax preparers, parents and others concerned with tax deductions stemming from the care and support of a minor child or adult child or other persons with intellectual or cognitive disabilities or other developmental disabilities. Issued annually for more than two decades, this edition of the Tax Guide was prepared by Thomas F. Kendziorski, Esq., Executive Director, Attorney at Law, The Arc of Oakland County, Inc. Cost per copy to members of The Arc Michigan is $7.00 and $10.00 for non-members. Click for Order Form: MS Word or PDFfile. (posted 1/18/08)

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