11/06/2023
Hello Parents.
For the past year I have been on the Olmstead Planning Committee for the State of Nevada. Our document is now available for public view and comment. The links take you to the ADSD page with the final draft. Please review the goals and objectives and make a comment. I have included my comments here:
Many of the objectives in the Olmstead Planning document address improving general public and agency knowledge of services for adults with disabilities in Nevada. I have three concerns about the goals in the document: no identified definition of “person centered services”, lack of accountability for providers, and the lack of awareness of a need to develop a system that services adults with autism. First, the definition of “person centered services” is to be determined later by a different committee. I think it should have been written by this committee. I also think it should include that services meet the needs of the person with a disability. For example, if someone has autism, their service provider should be trained and capable of providing basic autism specific strategies. I think that meets “person centered services”. Much as I think a provider should know how to use a wheelchair, if their client uses a wheelchair. Second, in the document there is a general tone of working with providers instead of establishing accountability. Many other states have accountability processes driven by their state agency that does not depend upon the adult with a disability to report the problem to the state agency. According to our document the adult or their family is required to file a complaint and the state will investigate and try to mitigate retaliation. Third, the current system does not provide basic autism specific strategies such as: applied behavioral analysis or functional behavioral assessments. In addition, in the event of a behavioral incident there is no emergency protocol requiring the state to provide evidenced based strategies to support adults with autism.
Help me get the word to ADSD. As a member of the planning committee I was told that these issues were not addressed, because the majority of people at the town halls did not bring these issues to the attention of the Olmstead Planning Committee. I believe this is true - ADSD serves lifelong and profound autism is only a small part of the community. I encourage you to advocate for better community based services. Please let your voice be heard here: https://socialent.com/resources/adsd-olmstead-planning-process/ All comments entered at the website before November 9 will be included in the final document, which is provided to legislators to help with decision making.
https://socialent.com/resources/adsd-olmstead-planning-process/
Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 established a mandate that public entities ensure people with disabilities are offered the opportunity to live in the most integrated settings possible. In the landmark Olmstead v. L.C. decision (1999), the U.S. Supreme Court reaffirmed t...
