New York has a new coffee shop employing people with I/DD, Chicago families with students with disabilities receive one-time grant, there’s pushback on Disney’s new Disability Access Service rules, and more news for the week ending April 26, 2024.
New York
Sleepy Coffee, Too, a new java spot opens in Sleepy Hollow The cafe, which employs young adults with developmental disabilities, opens April 26. (lohud)
Disabilities Beat: Personal care in New York is about to change This podcast is with the chief policy officer at Western New York Independent Living about the coming changes to CDPAP. (WBFO)
Outside of New York
Why it’s harder to care for a disabled child in NJ: State funding is ‘broken,’ parents say The funding allowed for at-home care is “divorced from reality.” (Northjersey.com)
Chicago’s low-income families of students with disabilities eligible for new $500 grants They’ll be awarded to up to 8,000 people. (Chalkbeat)
Disability advocates raise concerns over Jillian’s Law that would change involuntary commitment in TN A bill would make it so anyone deemed unfit to stand trial would be automatically committed. (WPLN)
Why incarcerated D.C. youth keep calling for special education in federal prisons (Wamu.org)
Indianapolis Teacher Allegedly Encouraged ‘Fight Club’ Discipline Against Boy With Disability This story is a nightmare. (Disability Scoop)
Colorado selling weed-themed license plates for disability funding (CBS News)
Caregiving
Feds Finalize New Rules For Medicaid Home And Community-Based Services Under a final rule released this week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is establishing minimum payment thresholds for direct care providers. (Disability Scoop)
Autism
Percentage of students with autism on the rise The increase corresponds to the overall rise in the number of children in the U.S. being diagnosed with autism. (K12dive.com)
Elections
Justice Department Launches Updated Voting Rights and Elections Website (U.S. Dept. of Justice)
Churches Don’t Have to Be Accessible. That’s Bad News For Voters. In 2024, millions of Americans will vote at ADA-exempt religious sites. (Mother Jones)
SSI
Social Security Tweaks Rules For SSI The agency finalized a rule this month adjusting how it handles so-called “in-kind support and maintenance” in the form of a rental subsidy. (Disability Scoop)
Essays
The IEP recommended a special education classroom. We chose an inclusion school. (Chalkbeat)
Insurance
The newest employer perk: Disability coverage for your kids I’m just putting this one out here, but it’s very early days and raises questions. (Axios)
Parks
Everything to Know About Disney’s Disability Access Service (DAS) Changes — and Why They’re Dividing Fans The updates goes into effect on May 20 at Walt Disney World and June 18 at Disneyland. (People)
