We beleive this opinion essay by Elaine Buschsbaum, former Chair of the New Jersey DD Council, is very thoughtful! 
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Partners Couple Creates Project Special Courage
See story of PIP grad Lisa Turner and her husband, incoming PIP student, in the Tulsa World. They discuss frustrations with the OK Health Care Authority and raising their young adult daughter.
You can also join Project Special Courage‘s Facebook page.
OK Standards to Be Licensed Behavior Analyst
OK DHS maintains a web site on board certification for profession as well as the forms that BA graduates professionals must submit.
If you need to speak about an OK practicing behavior analyst or have questions about the field, please contact: Michaela Bishop at (405) 521-6264 or michaela.bishop@okdhs.org.
Selecting a Support Coordination Agency
You may need assistance and coordination with the support you or your family member needs, including those funded by DDSD. The Boggs Center (NJ) on Developmental Disabilities offers this family guide.
Jobs as Costume Characters
Know someone who loves Capt. America, Gonzo or Ariel? The NJ DD Council has written a great story on how one young man translated is character passion into a job.
Resources for Inclusive, Interdependent Communities
Att eh DD Council, we are BIG fans of Jon McKnight and his colleagues and many of his books are in our library. Here are some online, free resources:
Community Organizing by John McKnight (2013)
The Classic Duo: Accountability and Community Development Can Help Unlock an Abundance of Resources by Dan Duncan (2012).
Gift of Individuals by Mike Green. Also see his geat article on community building, “The Right Ducks.”
Also see Green’s Person-Centered and Community-Centered Inclusion Work.
TimeBanking is a way of giving and receiving to build supportive networks and strong communities. One hour helping another earns one TimeBank Hour (also called time credits, service credits or time dollars.) TimeBanking builds on the magic of “pay it forward,” one good turn leading to another and another.
Finally, a very BIG resource is the 46 chapter Community Toolbox — worth your time to go through!
Intimacy & Relationships: Sexuality
Be advised each of the videos contain mature matter and frank discussions about sexuality and parental guidance is advised:
The Intimacy Questions: Relationships and Disability
“Can You Have Sex?” Asking People with Disabilities None -of-Your- Beeswax Questions
Social Security: “Child Disability Starter Kit”
Social Security provides a fact sheet and starter kit if you are considering applying for a child (under age 18) to receive Social Security Income (SSI) benefits. This is different from SSDI (disability pay for working adults).
A few things to know before you get started:
Social Security has a strict definition of disability for children.
- The child must have a physical or mental condition(s) that very seriously limits his or her activities; and
- The condition(s) must have lasted, or be expected to last, at least 1 year or result in death.
A state agency makes the disability decision. They will ask for information from medical and school sources and other people who know about the child.
If the state agency needs more information, they will arrange an examination or test for the child, which we will pay for.
Social Security also consider the family’s household income, resources and other personal information.
Institutionalized Lives
The videos here may contain graphic images and parental guidance is advised.
Suffer the Little Children (1968) of Pennhurst State Home (PA)
Forgotten People by Mental Disability Rights International.
Olmstead: A Case for Community Support
Where’s Molly? The full-length documentary is available for viewing the the OK DD Council.
Matthew’s Story from Not Home: A Documentary About Kids Living in Nursing Facilities.
OK Public Housing
The Public Housing Program, under the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) was established to provide decent and safe rental housing for eligible low-income families, including persons with disabilities.
Eligibility is determined by:
1) Annual gross income. Income limits vary from town to town and county to county!
2) Whether you qualify as elderly, a person with a disability, or as a family
3) U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status.
You will be asked to provide references, which will be checked, to make sure you and your family will be good tenants.
How DO I Apply?
If you are interested in applying for public housing, contact your local HA.
HUD also addresses these questions:
1. As a person with a disability, what are my housing rights? What are my rights as they relate to HUD Public Housing?
2. What kind of housing assistance is available to persons with disabilities?
3. I feel I may have experienced housing discrimination because of my disability. What can I do?
A directory of OK Public Housing Authority offices is here.