Home

Announcements

Please visit this page frequently for news updates from SUFU.

For all statewide events please call or e-mail us to reserve your seat!

A message will be on our toll-free number the evening before the event with directions and a confirmation that the event is still taking place.

SUFU toll free: 1-877-207-4077

Monique Stairs: 476-5500 or SUFUNorth@sufumaine.org

Irene Mailhot: 623-3210 or sufucentral@sufumaine.org

Julie Moulton: 933-4422 or sufusouth@sufumaine.org

Attention Self Advocates

It is very important to contact your legislator as well as legislators on the Health and Human Services Committee. The Governor is asking the legislature to approve a new state budget. He is asking for a lot of cuts to MaineCare funded programs. There has also been very little information and details given to anyone about how these proposed cuts might affect people with developmental disabilities. The following is a list of what some of the cuts he is asking for may look like and what it might mean for people who have developmental disabilities.

1. Suggestion to get rid of case management services because this is considered an “optional Medicaid service.”
   • Could lead to no support and no services for people who have developmental disabilities.
   • Could lead to people on the wait list having nobody watching if an emergency happens.
   • Could lead to rights violations on Person Centered Planning and case management.
   • Nobody will be keeping track of who really needs services and when people have unmet needs.
   • We will lose matching money from the federal government.
2. Suggestion to cut funding of some types of housing.
   • Could cause the closing of homes and loss of accessible housing.
   • Could lead to making group homes bigger by adding more people to live together in one home.
   • Could force people to move in with elderly parents or relatives.
   • Could increase the waiting list for waiver services.
   • Could put Maine at risk for violating the ADA and the Olmstead decision.
3. Suggestion to get rid of occupational therapy, physical therapy and dental services for adults, limit brand name prescriptions to 2 per month, and limit the number of times people can go to a doctor or emergency room.
   • Could lead to poor health, nutrition, and inability to move around.
   • Could shorten the lifespan of some people.
   • Some people require a lot of prescriptions that help them be safe and independent. You cannot get some of these in generic form, the need to switch medications could increase seizures, medical problems, and psychological problems.
   • People will be left without needed medical care and could experience poor health or even death.
   • Hospitals will have to choose between turning patients away or picking up the cost of their health care.
4. Suggestion to cut rates for developmental services through “payment reform”, and put a cap on services an individual can get.
   • Could decrease the amount, variety, and individual quality of services available. Some people who may need more supports may not be able to get those.
   • Could increase the amount of people who will need to use MaineCare, food stamps, food pantries, shelters and heating assistance.
   • Could force people with complex medical needs to be placed in nursing homes.

If you would like support to contact your legislator please call one of the Speaking Up For Us Advisors between 8 AM and 4 PM and we will be happy to assist you in calling or writing a letter.

Our contact information is:

Irene Mailhot - 623-3210

Julie Moulton - 933-4422

Monique Stairs - 476-5500

Toll Free: 1-877-207-4077

Please do not put off talking to legislators, they need the facts and they need to hear them from you, the people who use services or are on the wait list.

If you call or write please let us know which legislator you spoke to or got in touch with.

2012 Advocacy Day Program

The Maine Developmental Disabilities Council will host Advocacy Day at the State House Welcome Center during the Legislative Session beginning in January, 2012 on the following Thursdays:

        January 12    February 9      March 8     April 5

        January 26    February 23    March 22    April 19

Disability Advocacy Day is an ongoing activity organized by the Maine Developmental Disabilities Council in concert with other members of the Maine Disability Advocacy Coalition. This program provides an opportunity for self-advocates, family members, and other interested parties to become more familiar and comfortable taking an active role in the legislative process.

Everyone interested in learning about the legislative process and talking to your legislators about issues important to people with disabilities and their families is welcome!

For more information about the Advocacy Day program or to inquire about scheduling an additional date, please contact Erin Howes at the Council office.

Email: Erin.Howes@maine.gov  Phone: 1-800-244-3990

The 2012 SABE National Conference will be held in Minnesota from Augusta 30th to September 2, 2012. The web page is up, and details will be added as they are available. Start saving now!!!

Employment for ME Summit

Leslie Pohl, Project Assistant for CHOICES CEO Project, at the USM Muskie School of Public Service, was kind enough to send us the following information to share:

As a result of your pre-registering for the Employment for Me Summit that was held at the Augusta Civic Center on November 15th, we are pleased to inform you that the following is the web address for highlights of the Summit as well as many of the materials that were distributed that day.

http://www.employmentforme.org/providers/training11152010.html

News from our Allies

From Bill Hughes

Program Manager

DHHS/Developmental Services

We have added a place on our web site to put information regarding the Supports Intensity Scale initiative. It is a work in progress, however I decided to get it out to folks as we add other items and organize it. You can find the Developmental Services - Supports Intensity Scale information here.

Are you looking for Home Support and/or Community Support or Community Case Management? The resources below were developed to help you.

The Provider Interview was designed by the Disability Rights Center Advocate and members of SUFU. It is designed for people with developmental disabilities and their families to use when they are looking for a service provider. The sample interview includes questions to use when looking for Home Support and Community Supports. People are encouraged to print it, add their own questions and use it to interview providers when shopping for services.

Download the "Interview Questions for Provider Agencies" as a .pdf file here or

Download the "Interview Questions for Providers Agencies" as .doc file here.

The Community Case Management interview was designed by Brenda Wood at DHHS and can be used by individuals shopping for Community Case Management services.

Download the "Interview Questions for Adult Community Case Management Agencies as a .pdf file here or

Download the "Interview Questions for Adult Community Case Management Agencies as a .doc file here.

Coming soon: A sample interview for people looking for Employment Supports.

Alternatives to Guardianship

Learn how to:

• Help preserve an individual's right to make decisions about his or her life.

• Find the least restrictive way(s) to provide an individual with the care, supervision, and support he or she needs.

The following links will take you to a website with information and a tutorial to help you learn about Alternatives to Guardianship and/or a booklet you can print and read.

View "A Guide to Understanding Adult Guardianship and Guardian Alternatives in Maine" website and tutorial here

or

Download "A Guide to Understanding Adult Guardianship and Guardian Alternatives in Maine" ( 3MB PDF file) 

Happy, Healthy & Well

This program is a collaboration of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Adults with Cognitive and Physical Disability (DHHS OACPD), the University of Southern Maine's Muskie School of Public Service, Maine Nutrition Network (MNN) and Center for Learning (CFL), as well as Speaking Up For Us (SUFU) of Maine.

Please check out the Happy, Healthy & Well website.

On-line Self-Advocacy courses for people with Developmental Disabilities and parents of young children with Developmental Disabilities. Partners in Policymaking was created in Minnesota by the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities in 1987.

There are 4 online courses available to help people gain skills and learn more about the issues facing them. 

Partners in Time -  a self-study course designed to help parents of children with developmental disabilities navigate the special education system and help their children make the most of their potential.

Partners in Education - Learn about a child's right to a free appropriate public education and the laws that protect those rights. Parents can also learn how their children can benefit from an inclusive education.

Making Your Case - a self-study course designed to help people with developmental disabilities and their families create positive change through advocacy.

Partners in Employment - a self-study course designed to help people with developmental disabilities find meaningful jobs and jumpstart their careers.

Ask about how you can join SUFU!  SUFUCentral@sufumaine.org