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Looking to Collaborate with Atlantis

8/11/2023

Val's Take

So the first thing I should say is that Mike Oxford with Atlantis gave me a little TUTORIAL on OLMSTEAD in our conversation in late July.
"Hey, I already know a lot about Olmstead --- Buddy" (and actually I do know a lot --- But I don't know everything).

History of Using the ADA's "Integration Mandate" in the Context of LONG TERM CARE

Mike credits legendary Disability Rights Attorney Steve Gold with being the first to use the Integration mandate in the context of LONG TERM CARE --- to get some residents out of nursing homes back east.
That rationale was ultimately used in Olmstead which involved a Mental Health Institute in Georgia.

Further --- Steve Gold served as an attorney for Atlantis and ADAPT (begun in DENVER).

Interim Director of Atlantis --- Mike Oxford

As far as I know, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) was the first to use Olmstead in a LARGE WAY in the context of INCARCERATION.

This involved a 2010 Settlement Agreement with the State of Georgia to provide housing and services for THOUSANDS of GEORGIA INMATES with DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (DD) and/or SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS (SMI) upon release.

Attorney Steve Gold: A Leader in Fighting for Disability Rights

Supportive Housing is a big Key to keeping people with disabilities out of institutions

8/7/2023

Nebraska is one of the states that has incorporated the Supreme Court's Olmstead decision into State Statute.

Originally when I was thinking about a "STATE STATUTE" ---- I was thinking something very broad to reflect the broadness of the Olmstead decision itself.

I think the broad application of Olmstead can paralyze States and for that matter Advocates.

There is much more a realization in 2023 than there was in 1999 that SUPPORTIVE HOUSING is a BIG KEY to keeping people with disabilities out of INSTITUTIONS.

For some people that HOUSING needs to be PHYSICALLY ACCESSIBLE often for a wheelchair --- but potentially other issues as well.

For people with "COGNITIVE DISABILITIES" --- SUPPORTIVE HOUSING in "MENTAL HEALTH" ---

Is often SCATTERED SITE HOUSING + ASSERTIVE COMMUNITY TREATMENT (ACT).

One of the things that Mike Oxford -- Interim Director of Atlantis pointed out to me was that the Colorado Dept. of Healthcare Policy & Financing has beefed up CASE MANAGEMENT for people TRANSITIONING OUT OF NURSING HOMES.

THAT'S A GOOD THING
There had been some HORROR STORIES involving people transitioning from the Nursing Home to the Community without proper supports.

Horror Stories of Homelessness --- It Doesn't Have to be This Way

When we think about people who are HOMELESS or BEING RELEASED FROM INCARCERATION with "NEURO-DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES" and/or "PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS" who qualify for MEDICAID:

WE PROBABLY NEED BEEFED UP MEDICAID CASE MANAGEMENT.

We have FOCUSED on "MEDICATION ADHERENCE" for several decades now in Mental Health and that has not resolved our Mental Health Crisis.

Two BIG CHALLENGING REALITIES:

The medication is often not as good as we would like.
- Can have many NEGATIVE SIDE-EFFECTS --- especially the current generation of medications that WORK ON THE BRAIN GLOBALLY.
- Genetic Testing may be in order for some people as well as
- Paying for a Neuro-Pharmacologist
A lot of this is DEVELOPMENTAL and people have gotten WORSE by not ACCOMMODATING their DIFFERENCES in:
1. Executive Functioning, and
2. Energy

The FAILURE TO ACCOMMODATE has been on MULTIPLE LEVELS:

The Person,
The Family
The School
The Employer, and
The Society

Have not really been aware of these EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING and ENERGY ISSUES nor how to accommodate them.

THAT IS CHANGING.

The NEED for "SUPPORTIVE HOUSING" does not exist in a vaccuum and is related to many other VARIABLES.

Translational Research & Medicine
Public Education regarding Neuro-Developmental Differences involving EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING & ENERGY
ACCOMMODATIONS for EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING & ENERGY DIFFERENCES/DISABILITIES that are available in:
- EDUCATION, and
- EMPLOYMENT

Additionally, many people with "HYPER-CONNECTED BRAINS" do have "SPECIAL TALENTS" that should be DEVELOPED to benefit the person as well as the community.

Looking to Collaborate with Atlantis

Supportive Housing is a big Key to keeping people with disabilities out of institutions

Olmstead Law & Order Thursday

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