Anderson Center for Autism’s NYS grant, Maine’s new waiver helps bridge the transition “cliff,” signs of autism in the womb and more developmental disability news for the week ending June 21, 2024.

New York

Lyft Healthcare now approved transportation provider for Medicaid patients (via MAS) Medicaid patients now have access to Lyft rides to and from medical appointments. (Not sure in which newsletter I found this pdf!)

Disabilities Beat Podcast: NYS CDPAP will be run by one business The podcast speaks with a policy expert who was on the ground in Albany during deliberations on the highly controversial decision. (WXXI)

MTA Stations Will Exhibit Student Artwork for Disability Pride Month (Brooklyn Eagle)

Hochul provides funding for specialized autism workforce A $3 million state grant will go to Anderson Center for Autism to rebuild the carriage house that hosts its workforce training. (Spectrum Local News)

Biden-Harris Administration Announces $343 Million to Improve Transportation Accessibility Grant recipients include NYC’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority. (U.S. Dept. of Transportation)

Outside of New York

Emergency housing for NJ kids with disabilities so scarce ‘families often just give up’ The program is “woefully underfunded” and labor is scarce. (Northjersey.com)

New NJ student loan redemption program to support home and community-based workers (nj.gov)

CT, Mass, WA Warn Against Sending Children to Shrub Oak Intl. School After an investigative report, these states are warning school districts about the New York boarding school for autistic students. (ProPublica)

Maine’s new waiver to help with post-school ‘cliff’ Its Lifespan Waiver would provide services to people with I/DD at age 14 to help them move into adulthood without losing that care. (newscentermaine.com)

Washington State Schools Missed 8,500 Kids for Special Ed Referrals During COVID The findings mirror other early analyses showing substantial drops in the number of children with disabilities who began receiving crucial support during the pandemic. (the74million.org)

Floridians with disabilities have a new legal pathway to make their own decisions The option for supported-decision making goes into effect July 1. (Florida Phoenix)

DOJ says Utah violates civil rights by ‘segregating’ adults with intellectual disabilities The focus here is on sheltered workshops and “day facilities.” (ksl.com)

Employment

New Employment and Disabilities Study This national study found that 42% of the sample was unemployed but wanted a job, while 39% were underemployed and just 21% have competitive integrated employment. (Science Direct)

Residential Treatment

Residential Treatment Facilities Put Kids With IDD At Risk, Senate Investigators Say The findings focus on four of the nation’s largest providers of residential treatment facilities — Universal Health Services, Acadia Healthcare, Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health and Vivant Behavioral Healthcare. (Disability Scoop)

Autism

Scientists Reveal the First Sign of Autism: ‘Key Discovery’  A look at what happens in the womb. (Newsweek)

Mealtimes can be tough when your child is autistic or has ADHD. Here are 5 tips to try You might find this article a little simplistic, but maybe there’s some tidbit that can help. (The Conversation)

Entertainment

‘A Little Something Extra,’ Starring Actors With Disabilities Wins Big at French Box Office The feel-good movie, which could be on its way to the U.S., is about a son and his father who rob a shop and leave town to lay low, finding themselves at a summer camp for young adults with disabilities. (Variety)