News

Florida COVID vaccine plan mostly bypasses developmentally disabled population But help may be on the way When Pat Shepard went to get her COVID-19 shot, her 48-year-old daughter with developmental disabilities and severe medical problems asked why she couldn’t get hers, too. At first, her doctor said she didn’t see why not, only to learn that

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ proposed $96.6 billion budget unveiled Thursday got high marks from most, but not all, health-care providers that treat poor, elderly and disabled Floridians. The Governor did not recommend Medicaid rate cuts for nursing homes or hospitals in his proposed spending plan for the 2021-2022 fiscal year, drawing praise from associations that lobby

Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed more than $140.5 million in health care spending from the state’s new budget Monday as he brought the spending plan in line with reduced revenues stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. In trying to balance the 2020-2021 budget, which takes effect Wednesday, DeSantis vetoed scores of health care-related projects but also cut

The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council issued a statement Monday recognizing Gov. Ron DeSantis‘s decision to leave the funding for the iBudget Waiver and the Agency for Persons with Disabilities untouched. “The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council  is pleased by Governor DeSantis’ decision to preserve funding for the iBudget Waiver through the Agency for Persons with Disabilities,” the

Floridians with disabilities rally in the Capitol Courtyard as lawmakers try to figure out how to deal with the waiting list for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Legally, they’re entitled to services, but the legislature has ways of getting around that. Valerie Breen, who runs the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, discusses the situation. Listen to

Floridians with disabilities rally in the Capitol Courtyard as lawmakers try to figure out how to deal with the waiting list for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Legally, they’re entitled to services, but the legislature has ways of getting around that. Valerie Breen, who runs the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, discusses the situation. Read the

Hundreds of Floridians concerned about the quality of care and services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities as well as those who are transportation disadvantaged gathered at the state Capitol today for the 2020 Developmental Disabilities and Transportation Awareness Day. Hosted by the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council (FDDC), The Arc of Florida, the Florida

Could the fact that Monday night’s Capitol Press Corps Skits were the 65th iteration of this annual lampooning of Florida politics be portentous?  As one wag put it after the show came to an end: “When the House and Senate videos get more laughs than the skits themselves, maybe it’s time for them to retire.” Gov. Ron

Sixty Days — A prime-time look at the 2019 Legislative Session: The Last 24 The House has been moving forward with a proposal that would allow compensation to college athletes for the use of their image or likeness, and now the Senate is doing the same, but with less enthusiasm. Though it cleared the Education