Home Based Services Extended for the Disabled

On September 24, 2009, the New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (NYS OMRDD) received approval from the Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to continue to operate the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waiver for another five-year renewal period, running from October 1, 2009 through September 30, 2014. In addition to continuing to operate existing programs, OMRDD is planning to increase the types and amounts of services that can take place in the homes of individuals rather than in residential facilities.  This effort will help to make it possible for individuals with disabilities to remain in their own homes while still receiving the benefit of some services that, to this point, had only been available to individuals living in OMRDD certified residential settings.  As always, the initiatives are designed to foster an individual’s independence and to help them become more active and participatory members of their communities. Below is a partial list of the services. 

Intensive Behavioral Services
For those individuals with severe behavioral issues this service will allow them and their families to access intervention services that were difficult for families to obtain in the past.  This service will allow for professionals in this area to come to the home of these individuals and work with them and family members with strategies that will help to reduce the demonstrated behavior.  

Community Habilitation
This service is intended to be a more efficient mechanism for the delivery of habilitative services in the community (non-certified settings). Community Habilitation will facilitate community inclusion, integration, and relationship building. It is designed to offer a self-direction option to provide individuals with enhanced opportunities to choose and manage their own staff to the extent possible

Pathway to Employment
Will provide time limited supports for participants to explore work that might lead to paid competitive employment and/or self-employment/microenterprise.

Community Transition Services
This service is intended to support an individual transitioning from a provider-operated living arrangement to a living arrangement in a private residence where the individual is directly responsible for his/her own living expenses.  This includes shared living arrangements where a disabled individual may chose to live with a non-disabled person who may or may not be a member of his or her immediate family.

Self-Directed Service Options
OMRDD will enhance self-direction opportunities offered under the waiver by expanding the use of the co-management model in which individuals have more opportunities to choose and manage the staff that supports them through a formal agreement between the provider and the individual.


To read the full press release on the OMRDD site click here.

Workshop Recap: Understanding Psychological Learning Disability Testing

On Tuesday November 10th Sinergia's Metropolitan Parent Center held a workshop entitled “Understanding Psychological Testing: Getting the Most from Your Child’s Evaluation.” The workshop was conducted by Dr. Ed Petrofsky, a licensed psychologist who specializes in dyslexia / learning disability testing as well as assessments of behavioral and emotional concerns. Dr. Petrofsky covered the different types of psychological tests that are currently used and discussed the various components for each test. For information on upcoming workshops visit our calendar of events.

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Sinergia Participates in Race to Deliver

Sinergia 's Day Habilitation and Up-Living Programs have but one mission: to assist individuals in improving their quality of life and integration into their community.  One of the more recent success stories we have is about the individuals who participated in the Race To Deliver, sponsored by God’s Love We Deliver, who are prominent figures in the program.  Frank, Sol, Vanessa Jay, Terri, Edith, Maria, Joseph and Michael have been active participants in activities that have improved their health and fitness. By joining the YMCA, Riverbank State Park and enjoying fitness walks in their community, they have improved their overall health and became motivated to participate in the 4-mile walk.

During the race, which was held in Central Park on Sunday, November 22nd, Sol was cheerful and kept greeting other marathoner’s and was determined to complete the race, which he did with a big smile on his face.  Frank, who in the past has been adamant about not leaving his residence, was free spirited and engaging during  the walk.  Once he got to the finish line he said, “I will do this again”.  Joseph and Michael kept a steady pace and were leaders among some of their peers and staff.  Terri, Vanessa and Edith walked a brisk walk and kept far ahead of their peers.  Maria and Jay, were stars among the group and completed the 4 mile walk with a smile on their faces.  Needless to say, the staff, coordinators and administrators of Sinergia are very proud of all the participants,  not only for completing the walk-a-thon but for also giving back to their community and helping others in need.

Peter Sartori
Up Living Assistant Coordinator, Sinergia

Workshop Recap: Behavior Management for Parents of Children with ADHD

On November 13th, Criando Nuestros Hijos, one of Sinergia's Metropolitan Parent Center (MPC) programs, hosted a workshop on Behavior Management Strategies for Parents of Children with ADHD. The presenter, Miriam Cusicanqui-Messoud, LMSW at St. Lukes Roosevelt Hospital, provided an introductory parent skills training that focused on a methodology that emphasizes the liberal use of praise and rewards, having clear household rules and consistent follow through. Research supports the effectiveness of behavior therapy for parents and has shown that teaching parents these techniques is one of the best predictors of success in adulthood (See US News & World Report article "ADHD Medication: Can Your Child Go Without? Behavioral therapy for ADHD—and parent retraining, too—can be good alternatives to medication).

MPC parents receiving this type of therapy have reported incredible improvement in their child’s behavior and helped to maintain their child in a less restrictive environment.

For a full list of upcoming workshops visit Sinergia's calendar of events.

Workshop on housing for people with disabilities

Sinergia cordially invites you to:

"ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS"

 A workshop on housing options and services for people with disabilities

Learn how to get access to housing-related services, activities and programs including Supportive Housing, SRO’s, NYCHA, Section 8 and others. Get help ensuring compliance with local, state and federal housing laws, ordinances in various developments and new housing constructions.

Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Time: 11:00 am –1:00 pm
Location: Morningside Heights Public Library‘s Community Room, 2900 Broadway @113th Street
Directions:
Train: 1 or B train to 110th Street
Bus: M11-Amsterdam Ave. or M104-Broadway
Contacts: Housing Advocates Michael Cortes & Maria Pabón, (212) 678-4700; email: mcortes at sinergiany.org

Senate Bill Fights to Ban Use of "Mentally Retarded"

Rosa's Law Would Eliminate "Mental Retardation" and "Mentally Retarded" From the Federal Lexicon

The ongoing campaign to mainstream individuals with disabilities and reduce the stigma attached to outdated labels such as “mentally retarded”, “retarded”, and “retard” picked up some considerable support with the introduction of “Rosa’s Bill”.   U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD) introduced to the Senate a bipartisan bill on November 17, 2009 that would eliminate the terms "mental retardation" and "mentally retarded" from the federal law books. U.S. Senator Michael B. Enzi (R-WY), ranking member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, is the Republican sponsor of the bill.

The bill is called "Rosa's Law", after a constituent of Sen. Mikulski's, a child diagnosed with an intellectual disability. The bill calls for the terms "mental retardation" and "mentally retarded" to be replaced with "intellectual disability" and "individual with an intellectual disability" in federal education, health and labor law. The bill does not expand or diminish services, rights or educational opportunities. It simply makes the federal law language consistent with that used by the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization and the President of the United States, through his Committee on Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities.  It was the family of 8 year-old Rosa Marcellino, including her 13 year-old brother and 12 and 10 year-old sisters, that provided the impetus for the law as they grew less and less tolerant of the language they heard even their friends use when speaking of Rosa.  The family started the movement locally by insisting that the words “mentally retarded” be removed from Rosa’s school documents.   The issue was then brought to the attention of a local Maryland politician who in turn brought it to the attention of Senator Mikulski.  Sinergia supports legislation such as this and looks forward to the day when all people are looked at as individuals first and foremost.

See video of Sen. Mikulski's speech at the hearing here.

Photo: Del. Bob Costa, R-Deale, poses with Rosa Marcellino, 7 of Edgewater on the photo to the left, at a hearing for “Rosa’s Law” in the Maryland General Assembly in January 2009.

New Workshop for Parents of Toddlers with Speech Delays

The NY City Council Autism Initiative at SINERGIA is holding a workshop entitled “Helping Mothers to Promote Their Child’s Communication Through Play,” on Tuesday Nov. 17, 2009 from 10am to 12noon.
This Parent-Child Center workshop seeks to inform parents of the possibility of transforming playtime into an opportunity to support children with language delays, at risk of developing autism, and/or children already diagnosed with pdd/autism, to develop their communication and social abilities.

►Does your child take an interest in other children?

►Does your child ever use his/her index finger to point, to indicate interest in something?

►Does your child ever bring objects over to you (parent) to show you something?

►Does your child ever imitate you (e.g. you make a face and your child imitates it?)

►Does your child respond to his/her name when you call?

►If you point at a toy across the room, does your child look at it?

If you answered "no" to several of these questions, you will benefit from the information provided in our workshop.


Date & Time:  Tuesday, November 17, 2009 from 10AM – 12Noon

Place:  Sinergia, 134 West 29 St., 4th Floor, between 6th and 7th Avenues

Transportation:  Subways # 1, N, Q, R, to 28th or 34th Streets

Contact: Call Gina Peña-Campodónico to confirm your attendance at 212-643-2840 x 305

Made possible with funds from The New York City Council.

Note: If you are interested, you may be eligible to participate in a in free Hunter College’s Communication and Play Lab Early Intervention study for parents with 16- to 30-month old children, using playtime to encourage a child's development. It will identify strengths and weaknesses in the the way a child communicates, and determine which techniques work best for the child.

Update: 
The workshop was very successful as evidenced by the large turnout of parents who eagerly participated and had many questions and comments to share.  It was conducted by Michael Siller, Ph.D. an assistant professor of psychology at Hunter College (City University of New York). Dr. Siller studies the development of social and communication skills in young children. He is particularly interested in how parent-child play interactions contribute to the social, emotional, and communication development of young children with autism spectrum disorders. He directs the Communication and Play Lab at Hunter College. For pictures visit our Facebook page.