Disabilities / Public News Service

Roughly 120,000 Montana families receive some form of public assistance. Many are caregivers or single parents and 97% are employed. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, October 21, 2024

New report shows who gets Montana public assistance and why

A new report from the Headwaters Foundation in Montana showed at least half the people who receive public assistance are only enrolled for one year…

Alex Watters works at Morningside University in Sioux City, Iowa. He says he's had to turn down promotions and other opportunities to keep his income below the threshold that allows him to receive benefits as a quadriplegic. (Alex Watters/IDDC)

Monday, October 21, 2024

Iowans with disabilities see employment gains but challenges remain

State data show more Iowans with disabilities are employed. And advocates with the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council point out that - during …

The Americans with Disabilities Act, adopted in 1990, helped usher in a wave of acceptance and new standards. But officials in states like North Dakota say there's still some outdated language used in public institutions that serve these populations. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, October 21, 2024

In ND, disability language is on the ballot this fall

Ballot questions, like one dealing with property taxes, are getting attention this election season in North Dakota. But another gets to the heart of …

A rest stop along Interstate 80 near Adair, Iowa, was one of the first in the state to include an adult-size changing table. (Tony Leys/KFF Health News)

Iowa interstate rest stops equipped with adult changing tables

By Tony Leys for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Big Sky Connection reporting for the KFF Health News-Public News Service Collabor…

Voter turnout has surged among citizens with disabilities, with a 5.9% point increase in 2020 compared to the 2016 elections, according to the American Association of People with Disabilities. (Adobe Stock)

How Nevadans with disabilities can vote in this year's election

Advocates in the Silver State want to ensure all Nevadans can cast their ballot this election, including those with disabilities. Dora Uchel-…

When someone experiences a stroke, 1.9 billion brain cells are lost during every minute, according to Jefferson Health. (Adobe Stock)

'Time is brain': New program streamlines stroke care in SD

When it comes to stroke care, experts say, "time is brain." Now, a program launching in South Dakota will coordinate and strengthen stroke care …

Provider organizations said companies leaning too much on algorithms and artificial intelligence to scan resumes might be excluding people with disabilities from being hired and establishing a successful career. (Adobe Stock)

Improvements still sought as jobs outlook brightens for people with disabilities

North Dakota is above the national average in seeing individuals with disabilities as part of the workforce but the people tracking the numbers said e…

Voters with disabilities who are unable to leave their home or facility where they are residing, may be able to obtain assistance from a Special Elections Board to assist them in voting, according to Disability Rights Arizona.(Adobe Stock)

Last day to register in AZ focuses on voters with disabilities

Today is the last day in Arizona to register online to vote in next month's election. And that means voting rights advocates in the battleground …

The Center for Research on Disability reported of the 444,000 people with disabilities in Connecticut, only 114,000 (25%) of them were employed. (Adobe Stock)

CT disability rights advocates worry about employment barriers

Connecticut disability rights advocates are concerned about state and federal barriers to employment. At the state level, Medicaid is the only …

New York State has 700 home health agencies, independent living centers and other businesses acting as providers for the state's Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP). (Adobe Stock)

NY disability rights advocates worry about assistance program changes

New York disability rights advocates are voicing concerns about changes to what's known as the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program…

The Fair collaborated with the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) and other local organizations to devise ways to make Sensory-Friendly Mornings beneficial and fun. (State Fair of Texas)

State Fair of TX hosts Sensory Sensitive Mornings

Big Tex is up and the Ferris wheel is spinning at the 138th State Fair of Texas. And again, this year the Fair is making special accommodations for …

In 2023, the Minnesota Legislature set aside $500,000 for local election offices to improve voting access for those with disabilities. (Adobe Stock)

Volunteers sought as early voting kicks off in MN

Early voting begins today in Minnesota and the state has implemented policy moves with the intent of making voting easier. Nonpartisan civic …

NV Energy's proposal sought to increase its rate of return to investors from 9.5% to 10.4%. The Public Utilities Commission approved a 9.65% return, according to the Nevada Conservation League. (Adobe Stock)

Utility regulators deny NV Energy rate change for northern NV customers

Nevada leaders and community groups are pleased with this week's decision by state utility regulators to reject NV Energy's request to raise its basic…

Around 2,250 adults with serious mental illness each year, on average, receive psychiatric treatment at the University of Louisville Hospital. (Adobe Stock)

DOJ report finds Louisville overuses its psychiatric hospitals

A U.S. Department of Justice investigation has found Kentucky is failing to provide access to community-based mental health services for people who …

Income, location and trust issues can contribute to health disparities in the Latinx community. (Krakenimages.com/Adobe Stock)

TX nonprofits address health disparities in Latino community

Nonprofits across Texas are coming together to address disparities in health care for the Latinx community. A report by the Commonwealth Fund shows …

The Commonwealth Fund finds personal care attendants are facing nationwide shortages driven by low wages and retention, high turnover, and recruitment challenges. (Adobe Stock)

CT home health care workers still facing payroll issues

Despite a changing of the guard, Connecticut home health care workers still face payroll issues. Personal care attendants dealt with late paychecks …

Disability health-care costs in Pennsylvania are more than $41 billion per year, or up to 37% of the state's health-care spending, according to the CDC. (Maria Vitkovska/Adobe)

Access for all: Making voting easier for Pennsylvanians with disabilities

Disability Voting Rights Week is an annual call to action that occurs during the second week of September. It focuses on advocacy, celebrating …

At least one-third of schools are fully accessible in eleven of New York City's 32 community school districts. Once the projects currently in the pipeline are done, at least one-third of schools will be disability accessible. (Adobe Stock)

NYC public schools still not fully ADA compliant

Although classes are back in session, all New York City public schools still aren't entirely disability accessible. Reports find more than two …

Around 19% of students with disabilities attend four-year colleges and universities, compared with 40% of students without disabilities. Students with disabilities are more likely to attend two-year colleges or vocational schools, according to the Iris Center. (Adobe Stock)

NV secures $10 million grant to enhance outcomes for students with disabilities

A Nevada program is aiming to centralize transition services and improve outcomes for children with disabilities. It will help create a centralized …

Project ECHO is a lifelong learning and guided practice model providing professional development and offering best practices. (Adobe Stock)

Utah State University looks to improve early identification of autism in children

Utah lags behind the national average of identifying children for autism. In an effort to improve the state's standing, the Institute for Disability…

Colorado is investing in key infrastructure to power and maintain electric vehicles, including connecting new solar canopies to the electric grid, and adding more charging stations. (Adobe Stock)

Clean buses coming to Colorado transit systems

The Colorado Department of Transportation is investing nearly $32 million to help local governments and other stakeholders transition to electric vehi…

The objective of the Health Connector program is to ensure enhanced and equal access to healthcare options for all residents, according to Dallas County officials. (Dallas County Health Department)

Iowa transportation program aims to reduce missed health appointments

County health officials in rural Iowa are using a new app to connect people to their doctors and cut down on missed appointments. The Health …

A new transportation tool will help people find ride options in Seattle and surrounding areas. (IanDewarPhotography/Adobe Stock)

Fed grant supports transportation planning tool in WA

A grant from the federal government is helping improve transportation planning options in the Puget Sound region. The nonprofit Hopelink received a $…

The US Census Bureau says in a couple of decades older Americans will outnumber children for the first time in history. (WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobe Stock)

Poll shows sheer numbers of older caregivers in U.S.

One in four people over age 50 is taking care of at least one person with a health issue or disability, according to a new poll. In Virginia…

SEIU 775 represents more than 50,000 caregivers in three states, including Washington. (ake1150/Adobe Stock)

WA home care workers push for better wages, benefits

Washington home caregivers are negotiating with the state on wages and benefits. The caregivers' union, SEIU 775, is in talks with the Consumer …

TennCare offers medical coverage to roughly 1.3 million Tennessee residents. (Dmytro/Adobe Stock)

TN offers free diapers through Tenncare, CoverKids

Some Tennessee parents now have access to monthly supplies of free diapers under the state's Medicaid program. TennCare provides coverage for …

Graduates of the 2024 Youth Leadership Academy. (Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council)

Iowa mints new disability advocacy leaders

Thirteen students, ranging in age from 14 to 21, have just graduated from the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council Youth Leadership Academy…

President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act on July 26, 1990. (Wikimedia Commons)

CA advocates raise awareness for Disability Pride Month

July is Disability Pride Month, and today is the 34th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Federal data show that more …

Although the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing barriers to employment for people with disabilities, it created new opportunities through remote work. (Adobe Stock)

34 Years of the ADA

New York disability-rights advocates are celebrating the 34th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The 1990 …

Most of the buses in Minnesota's rural transportation system are ADA-compliant and equipped with wheelchair lifts for passengers with disabilities. (Arrowhead Transit)

Rural MN communities gain expanded public transportation options

Traveling around rural Minnesota can be difficult but in more than half the state, nonprofit transit systems are helping people get where they need …

SEIU members from the across the country met with the Biden-Harris administration at the White House. (Vacclav/Adobe Stock)

WA nursing home workers get White House boost in union struggle

Nursing home workers in Washington state have come back from the White House with renewed resolve to fight for their union contract. A delegation of …

Easterseals' mission is to provide programs and therapies that help remove barriers and foster independent living for people with disabilities. (Adobe Stock)

Nonprofit agency says corporate donations keep programs going

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Century 21 had raised more than $30 million. The correct amount is more than $3…

The United States has 403 centers for independent living, according to the National Council on Independent Living. (Adobe Stock)

Disability advocates call for more independent living in Nevada

Advocates for individuals with disabilities want the state of Nevada to further embrace what is known as the "independent living" model. Dawn Lyons…

A $1.25 million Department of Education grant will allow Wayne State University to provide 37 scholarships to train adaptive physical educators over the next five years. (Adobe Stock)

Wayne State adapts physical education program for students with disabilities

Wayne State University has received a $1.25 million grant to prepare adapted physical education specialists to serve students with disabilities…

Health experts recommend people age 50 and older get a hearing test every five years. (Adobe Stock)

Hearing-aid use could reduce risks of dementia

Correcting hearing loss by using hearing aids is a simple and effective way to reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia during aging…

In Colorado, more than 195,000 people work in agriculture across 38,900 farms and ranches. The industry supplies $47 billion to the state's economy annually. (Adobe Stock)

Addressing mental health needs of Colorado farming communities

In the past year, the Colorado AgrAbility Project added four behavioral health specialists to help the state's agricultural producers, workers and …

About 25% of people covered by Medicare in 2023 used a telehealth service that year, according to data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (Jeff Bergen/Adobe Stock)

Clock ticking on Medicare telehealth provisions

Telehealth has been key to health care in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic but some of the flexibilities for this type of care for Medicare patients …

Nearly 60% of people who borrowed medical equipment from Owen's Outfitters in June were enrolled in Medicaid or Medicare, according to data from the organization. Roughly 9% of clients were uninsured. (Eleanor Turner, The Legacy Foundation)

SD medical supply library prepares to go mobile

A lending library for medical and mobility supplies opened in Sioux Falls just last fall and now its parent nonprofit is making moves to go mobile…

Inaccessibility isn't just a huge stumbling block to student learning; it's also against the intent of U.S. law, which requires a free appropriate public education for students with disabilities, according to Utah State University. (Adobe Stock)

Utah State University to open center for digital accessibility within education

A new center coming to Utah State University this fall will provide accessible digital materials to students with disabilities. Cynthia Curry…

The Federal Transit Administration's Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility Pilot Program has supported access to health with $24 million over five years, according to the agency. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Federal grant will upgrade SD rural transit system

The Biden administration announced nearly $8 million in grants to improve public transportation, including a large and rural system in South Dakota…

Colorado hospitals and clinics have reported sharply increased numbers of uninsured people seeking care. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado posted 2nd-highest loss of Medicaid coverage in nation in May

In May, Colorado ranked second in the nation for the percentage of residents dropped from Medicaid health insurance rolls - including 500,000 who …

Roughly 57% of New Hampshire's population with disabilities has at least some college education, compared with 50% nationally, according to the University of New Hampshire.(Adobe Stock)

NH groups push to end 'special' term for people with disabilities

Disability groups in New Hampshire are calling for an end to the word "special" to describe people with disabilities. They said terms like "special" …

Garret Frey was honored with the Lifetime Advocacy Award from the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council in 2023. (Courtesy of Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council)

Iowan with disability wins federal support

The U.S. Office for Civil Rights has issued a ruling ensuring that an Iowa man with disabilities is able to live in his home and receive round-the-…

Utilities are shutting off power in an effort to keep downed and damaged power lines from sparking blazes and fueling the West's more frequent and intense wildfires. (Adobe Stock)

CO Nursing homes left in dark as utilities cut power to prevent wildfires

By Kate Ruder for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection reporting for the KFF Health News-Public News Service…

Of the 17 states that have enacted music therapy legislation, 11 have placed the law in its own statute chapter, and others have grouped it with other forms of therapy. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Group aims to get music therapy licensure in Wyoming

Advocates in Wyoming trying to get music therapy licensure recognized in the state are hitting roadblocks. Members of the Wyoming Music Therapy …

The living wage for a person in Maine who lives alone with no dependents is $22.04, or $4.65 more than the median wage for a home health aide, according the MIT Living Wage Calculator. (Adobe Stock)

Low wages, burnout cited for ME direct-care worker shortage

A critical shortage of direct care workers in Maine is leaving residents without needed health services, according to a new report. It showed more …

Around 67% of LGBTQ+ people reported needing a mental health service over the past two years, compared with 39% of non-LGBTQ+ people, according to KFF. (Chris Allan/Adobe Stock)

WY theater company talks health care on stage

As Pride Month winds down, health advocates want members of the LGBTQ+ community to know about health care options, despite any challenges to …

The Summer Earn and Learn program in Texas helps thousands of students with disabilities jumpstart their careers and gain familiarity with different working environments. (Halfpoint/Adobe Stock)

TX students with disabilities gain workforce training through summer internship

Teens and young adults in Texas who have disabilities have an opportunity to get a paid internship this summer. The Texas Workforce Commission …

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PNS Daily Newscast: Afternoon Update - October 22, 2024

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Disabilities

New report shows who gets Montana public assistance and why

Iowans with disabilities see employment gains but challenges remain

In ND, disability language is on the ballot this fall

Iowa interstate rest stops equipped with adult changing tables

How Nevadans with disabilities can vote in this year's election

'Time is brain': New program streamlines stroke care in SD

Improvements still sought as jobs outlook brightens for people with disabilities

Last day to register in AZ focuses on voters with disabilities

CT disability rights advocates worry about employment barriers

NY disability rights advocates worry about assistance program changes

State Fair of TX hosts Sensory Sensitive Mornings

Volunteers sought as early voting kicks off in MN

Utility regulators deny NV Energy rate change for northern NV customers

DOJ report finds Louisville overuses its psychiatric hospitals

TX nonprofits address health disparities in Latino community

CT home health care workers still facing payroll issues

Access for all: Making voting easier for Pennsylvanians with disabilities

NYC public schools still not fully ADA compliant

NV secures $10 million grant to enhance outcomes for students with disabilities

Utah State University looks to improve early identification of autism in children

Clean buses coming to Colorado transit systems

Iowa transportation program aims to reduce missed health appointments

Fed grant supports transportation planning tool in WA

Poll shows sheer numbers of older caregivers in U.S.

WA home care workers push for better wages, benefits

TN offers free diapers through Tenncare, CoverKids

Iowa mints new disability advocacy leaders

CA advocates raise awareness for Disability Pride Month

34 Years of the ADA

Rural MN communities gain expanded public transportation options

WA nursing home workers get White House boost in union struggle

Nonprofit agency says corporate donations keep programs going

Disability advocates call for more independent living in Nevada

Wayne State adapts physical education program for students with disabilities

Hearing-aid use could reduce risks of dementia

Addressing mental health needs of Colorado farming communities

Clock ticking on Medicare telehealth provisions

SD medical supply library prepares to go mobile

Utah State University to open center for digital accessibility within education

Federal grant will upgrade SD rural transit system

Colorado posted 2nd-highest loss of Medicaid coverage in nation in May

NH groups push to end 'special' term for people with disabilities

Iowan with disability wins federal support

CO Nursing homes left in dark as utilities cut power to prevent wildfires

Group aims to get music therapy licensure in Wyoming

Low wages, burnout cited for ME direct-care worker shortage

WY theater company talks health care on stage

TX students with disabilities gain workforce training through summer internship