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Public Policy

The goal of the Disability Policy Collaboration is to impact national public policy for people with developmental disabilities, including those with cerebral palsy and intellectual disability, and their friends, families and loved ones.

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ADA Information: Olmstead Update

UCP Applauds President's New Freedom Initiative and Olmstead Executive Order

Sec. Thompson stated in his speech on July 25, 2001: "We can make real progress only if we first listen to the people who know the barriers better than anyone else could." Therefore, UCP submitted written comments on August 26, 2001 regarding the New Freedom Initiative. And, on September 5, 2001, UCP gave oral testimony at the National Listening Session and submitted a formal letter to Secretary Thompson siting a comprehensive listing of recommendations on the Executive Order to Implement the Supreme Court Decision in L.C. v. Olmstead. The full letter of recommendation can be downloaded at the end of the article.

September 4, 2001

The Honorable Tommy Thompson Secretary
Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC 20201

RE: Recommendations on the Executive Order to Implement the Supreme Court Decision in L.C. v. Olmstead

Dear Mr. Secretary:

I am writing to outline several recommendations on the Executive Order to Implement the Supreme Court Decision in L.C. v. Olmstead. I have focused my comments on the following topics:

  • Assuring a living wage and sufficient job benefits for Medicaid community based service workers

  • Additional steps to recruit and retain a competent and highly motivated work force of community based workers

  • Eliminating the unjustified institutionalization of young people with disabilities

  • Aligning the Medicaid mandatory home health benefit with the ADA and the realities of living with a disability in the 21st Century

  • Assuring Americans with disabilities have an equal opportunity to live in their own communities; factors to consider in regards to reforming Medicaid; factors to consider in regards to reforming Medicare.

In closing, I would like to express our deep gratitude to you and President Bush for seizing on this critical moment in our country to create an era of New Freedom and Opportunity for Americans with disabilities of all ages. UCP applauds your efforts to reach out to get the very best thinking of people with disabilities, older Americans, families, disability service organizations, States and others on how to realize this crucial goal in our nation. We hope the comments and recommendations we have shared with you through this correspondence will contribute to this process and stand ready to be of any further assistance.

Please do not hesitate to have your staff contact Judy Chesser, our Public Policy Director, at 202-973-7150 with any question or request for additional information.

Sincerely,

Kirsten A. Nyrop
Executive Director

Cc: Senator John B. Breaux
Senator Richard J. Durbin
Senator Tom Harkin
Senator Joseph I. Lieberman
Senator Arlen Specter
Congressman Michael Bilirakis
Congressman John D. Dingell
Congressman Greg Ganske
Congressman Henry A. Waxman