June 1 is the beginning of hurricane season. And while a natural disaster could strike at any time of the year, Floridians are urged to be more alert between June 1 and December 31.
There are many useful resources to help Floridians prepare a plan in case a hurricane or other natural disaster occurs. Listed below are several resources, many of them written specifically for individuals with disabilities, their families, and caregivers. Make your plan today. Click here for more information.
In Celebration and Loving Memory of
Mike Capps
December 29, 1943 - April 27, 2012
Our dear friend and colleague Mike Capps passed away April 27, 2012. In the disability world, we often see many people walking different paths that do not match the talk. Mike "walked his talk" every day. Seeing people with disabilities working in competitive employment was a passion and mission for Mike. He spoke his mind passionately and vehemently because he knew that he was fighting for every person’s right to work. The disability community will sorely miss one of their biggest allies.
Mike was a refreshing addition to the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council's all-female office. His insightfulness and humor made it a pleasure to work with him. We are all so proud to have called him our friend. His delightful southern drawl and easy way about him will live on in our hearts and impact our work for years to come. We miss you Mike!
The Council Members and Staff
Your Vote, Your Voice
Individuals with developmental disabilities, their families and their friends, are being urged to have a stronger voice in the political process through a targeted voter registration campaign, “Your Vote, Your Voice”. This initiative is designed to empower persons with developmental disabilities and their families, caregivers and friends to make their voices heard by registering to vote and voting in the 2012 elections. The “Your Vote, Your Voice” campaign consists of various educational and advocacy materials such as a voting guide, sample social media posts for advocates to share, and a PowerPoint presentation that group leaders can use when encouraging people in their local communities to register to vote. Click here to view and download all the “Your Vote Your Voice” campaign materials.
Remember, to vote in an election, you must be registered in the state by the book closing date, which is normally the 29th day before each election. The book closing dates for 2012 are:
• July 16, 2012………………… Primary Election
• October 9, 2012………………General Election
For more information on how you can register and vote go to http://elections.myflorida.com.
FDDC State Plan 2012-2016
On August 15, 2011, after two years of hard work, the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council completed and submitted their 5 Year State Plan to the Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD), the national agency that has oversight of the Council. This has been a long journey, and we have had input and assistance from many people in the disability community. Click here to review the State Plan.
Learn About Health Care
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced a new website called HealthCare.gov. This new tool lets consumers take control of their health care by connecting them to information about quality, affordable health care coverage. HealthCare.gov is the first central database of health coverage options--from Medicare to the new Pre-Existing Conditions Insurance Plan, with information from more than 1,000 private insurance plans. HealthCare.gov answers questions that relate to people with disabilities and health care, and also has information about insurance plans and community services in every state.
The Affordable Care Act - How It Helps You
Learn how the Affordable Health Care Act can help increase your health security and give you more control over your own health care.
Below is an implementation timeline for the Affordable Care Act
http://www.healthcare.gov/law/timeline/index.html
Click here for information on the Affordable Health Care Act
Click here for information on Health Reform for Americans with Disabilities
Disability.gov
The U.S. Department of Labor has launched Disability.gov, a redesigned federal Web site that connects the more than 50 million Americans with disabilities to thousands of trusted resources on disability-related issues, programs and services. Formerly known as DisabilityInfo.gov, the site has been completely redesigned and updated with new social media tools, such as a blog and a Twitter feed, to encourage feedback and interaction among visitors. Disability.gov is not just for Americans with disabilities, but also for parents of children with disabilities, employers, workforce and human resource professionals, veterans, educators, caregivers and many others.
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