Supporting Children with Disabilities Lessons from the Pandemic: Proceedings of a Workshop (2022) / Chapter Skim
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9 Looking Forward
9 Looking Forward
Pages 77-84
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From page 77... ...
At this workshop, she said, speakers have identified changes that need to be made in the short- and long-term, as well as transformational changes that are necessary to address the underlying systemic issues that have been made so much starker by the pandemic. Houtrow offered her reflections on common themes among the presentations, and then identified action steps that could be taken in order to improve the health and wellbeing of children with disabilities moving forward.
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From page 78... ...
When we don't engage with people with lived expertise, she said, we fall back on assumptions about the value or quality of life of people with disabilities, and we set up to perpetuate discrimination and oppression. Engaging people with lived expertise, said Houtrow, can be summed up in the disability justice movement cry, "nothing about us without us." Partnerships and Coalitions Nearly all speakers mentioned the importance of partnerships and coalitions, said Houtrow; some highlighted existing structures that need to be supported while others called for new coalitions and working relationships between entities such as schools and public health systems.
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From page 79... ...
Specific suggestions made by speakers were to clarify Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment care coordination benefit, and increase the Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentage. Coordination and Communication Speakers discussed the need for improved coordination and communication in multiple areas, said Houtrow.
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From page 80... ...
Houtrow offered suggestions for improvement in four areas: poverty, healthcare coverage, education, and discrimination. Poverty Houtrow offered several specific policy suggestions for improving the financial stability of children with disabilities and their families and ending the cycle of poverty: • Convert the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit to a fully refundable credit that concentrates benefits to the families with the lowest incomes; • Increase the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; • Increase housing vouchers; • Expand the Earned Income Tax Credit to increase payments; • Reduce burden of accessing programs that support economic stability through single-point-of-entry; • Eliminate Sub-minimum wage; • Extend FMLA coverage; • Expand Vocational Rehabilitation programs (partnering with schools and Title V services)
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From page 81... ...
Federalizing Medicaid also massively decreases administrative burdens. In addition, she said, it is critical to pay providers appropriately for their services, including preventative services, care coordination, team-based care, and addressing family needs.
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From page 82... ...
Mov ing forward, we need to view access to the Internet not as a utility but as a basic essential service that is necessary for healthcare, education, and work. FIGURE 9-1 Word cloud of topics at the workshop.
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From page 83... ...
LOOKING FORWARD 83 Houtrow closed by saying that this workshop has shown that there are ample examples of successful programs, services, and supports that should be continued to help improve the lives of children with disabilities and help them thrive in our communities. Now, the challenge is to "all row in the same direction to achieve our transformational goals." She adjourned the workshop.
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