LA Times investigation finds $1B unspent even as families cry out for help
LA Times investigation finds $1B unspent even as families cry out for help
Plus: Democratic VP pick's son could inspire change in disability policy; School year to open in 39 states without enough special education staffers
Medical Motherhood’s news round up
Snippets of news and opinion from outlets around the world. Click the links for the full story.
• From the Los Angeles Times: “Nearly $1 billion in funds left unspent by centers for disabled Californians”
Nearly $1 billion allocated for regional agencies that purchase supportive services for Californians with developmental disabilities went unspent in a recent year and was ultimately returned to the state, even as some disabled people and their families said they needed more help.
California provides assistance to people with autism and other developmental disabilities through a system of nonprofits called regional centers, which are contracted with the California Department of Developmental Services. Twenty-one of them exist across the state, each serving a distinct area. More than 400,000 California children and adults are served through the regional centers annually.
The system has been criticized for persistent gaps in spending on services for Californians of different races and in different regions. Families have complained it can be difficult to navigate.
Even after Californians get the green light from regional centers for services, that assistance may not ultimately be provided if staffing agencies or other service providers cannot find workers to do the job. In recent years, regional centers have spent roughly two-thirds of the amount they have authorized for supportive services, according to an analysis of state data provided by the Assn. of Regional Center Agencies.
[…]That same year, 30% of families of children receiving regional center services who responded to a survey said they were only “sometimes” or “seldom” satisfied with the support and services they received.
[…]Advocates said there is no shortage of unmet need. A report released two years ago by Public Counsel, a public interest law firm, found that at some regional centers, more than 40% of children and teens were not getting any services purchased through the agencies.
Last year, an independent state commission issued a report calling it a “system in distress.” Among its findings: The vast differences in how different centers assess people for services and decide what is offered “means the level of care can vary significantly for different individuals — even if they have similar needs.”
Mark of Disability Voices United said “the bottom line is that people with developmental disabilities aren’t getting the services they are entitled to. We are tired of excuses.” […]
• From Disability Scoop: “Nationwide Shortage Of Special Educators Plagues Districts”
As the school year kicks off, there are not nearly enough teachers trained to support students with disabilities across much of the country.
A new report from the U.S. Department of Education shows that 39 states and Washington, D.C. have a shortage of special education teachers.
The only states that have not reported shortages in this specialty for the 2024-2025 school year are Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Utah and Vermont.
[…]Demand for special education is on the rise, with Education Department data showing that a record number of students qualified for services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act during the 2022-2023 school year, the most recent year that figures are available.[…]
• From USA Today: “Tim Walz's son Gus has a learning disorder. Can his visibility help disabled Americans?”
[…]Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris' running mate, has spoken openly and lovingly about his 17-year-old son, Gus, who has ADHD, along with a nonverbal learning disorder and an anxiety disorder. Walz and his wife, Gwen, both former teachers, said recently in a statement to People magazine that they never considered Gus’ conditions an obstacle.
[…]When Walz delivered his acceptance speech inside the packed United Center arena Wednesday night, Gus watched from the audience with his mother and sister, Hope, and sobbed.
"That's my dad!" he exclaimed.
[…]Advocates for Americans with learning disabilities believe the Walz family's openness about their son and their willingness to speak publicly about the experience will raise much-needed visibility that could help others who are going through similar experiences.
“It’s a good thing when people in politics, who are running for office, are comfortable discussing disability issues and don’t view it as a topic that is taboo or something that we shouldn’t discuss,” said Zoe Gross, director of advocacy for the Washington-based Autistic Self Advocacy Network.
[…]Walz is not the first vice presidential nominee who has a child with a disability. Sarah Palin, the Republican nominee in 2008, has a son, Trig, who has Down syndrome. Trig was an infant when his mother was running for vice president. Palin cradled him in her arms on stage after delivering her acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention. Amy Coney Barrett, appointed to the Supreme Court in 2020, also has a son with Down syndrome.
[…]Sen. Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq War veteran who lost both of her legs and partial use of her right arm when her Black Hawk helicopter was hit by a grenade, said Walz’s openness about his son will benefit all Americans with disabilities.
“For so long, disability was a hidden thing – you took care of your loved ones, but you didn’t talk about it publicly,” Duckworth, D-Ill., said after speaking to disability advocates at the Democratic convention. “Many disabled people stayed in the home, are not out in the workplace, and we really need to normalize those people with disabilities in a normal society so that you can get the job, you can show people you can do the job.”[…]
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