Coalition to End Homelessness Applauds Malloy’s Affordable Housing Initiative: Historic State Investment to Stem the Tide of Homelessness

Posted on February 2, 2012 by

For the first time in decades, the State of Connecticut is making a historic investment in revitalizing over 14,000 units of public housing.  In addition, the Governor has proposed funding for 150 additional rental assistance certificates for scattered site supportive housing.

“Updating the state’s housing portfolio will help to bring market pressures to bear to make housing more affordable…and not only for public housing residents, but for entire neighborhoods”, says Carol Walter, Executive Director of the Coalition.  “This is a pivotal time for Connecticut, as we desperately need the jobs that this investment would create.”

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New natural gas cabs rolling out for wheelchair users video | The New Haven Register

Posted on January 30, 2012 by

ORANGE — Ron Vollo is getting a front-row seat for the latest thing in wheelchair-access public transport.

As the vehicle, all orange, white and shiny, pulled up in his driveway, Vollo and his wife, Dorothy, weren’t quite sure what to make of it.

… After months of preparation, Metro Taxi of West Haven is rolling out the first of its 70 new, wheelchair-friendly taxis that run on compressed natural gas.

For more on this story, visit: New natural gas cabs rolling out for wheelchair users video- The New Haven Register – Serving New Haven, Connecticut.

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Bethany homeowner tax credits applications

Posted on January 28, 2012 by

BETHANY – Applications for tax credits for homeowners over 65 years of age and those totally disabled will be taken at the Assessor’s office between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. beginning Feb. 1 to May 15.

The Elderly Homeowners Program is a real estate tax credit program for homeowners who are at least 65 years of age as of Dec. 31 and meet certain income guidelines.Those guidelines require that annual income for single people, including Social Security benefits, should not exceed $32,300. Married couples can be eligible if their income, including Social Security benefits, does not exceed $ 39,500.

Applicants should bring all proof of their 2011 income including a copy of their 2011 Income tax return, if filing, and proof of Social Security income (Form 1099). Also, the applicant must own and reside at the property for which tax relief is sought, or must hold a tenancy for life use of the property and be liable for the tax bill. This must be the applicant’s principal or legal residence.

For more on this story, visit: Bethany homeowner tax credits applications  | News Briefs Jan. 26 – News – The Bulletin.

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Study raises concerns about how standardized test are done in the state

Posted on January 28, 2012 by

A study released Thursday suggests that increases in standardized test scores are, to some degree, dependent on the exclusion of disabled students from those tests.

Connecticut Voices for Children, an advocacy and educational public policy think-tank, released a study concluding that, due to a 2009 shift in federal and state policy, disabled students were excluded from the Connecticut Mastery Test, which caused a significant jump in test scores state-wide.

In 2009, a federal ruling allowed states to create a modified standardized assessment for students with disabilities. In Connecticut, that resulted in a modified assessment and, according to Robert Cotto, senior policy fellow with Connecticut Voices for Children, that shift accounts for much of the gains made in CMT scores that year.

For more on this story, visit: Connecticut Voices for Children study raises concerns about how standardized test are done in the state (document) – News – The Bulletin.

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CT Health Foundation says faith-based groups key to ending ‘scream rooms’ | The Middletown Press

Posted on January 23, 2012 by

Since awareness of time-out rooms in public schools came to light to many earlier this month, numerous child and education advocacy groups long against their use came to the forefront decrying and calling for an end to their use.

While calls for their closure abound, alternatives as to what to do with the most unruly and violent students are not as forthcoming.

For more on this story, visit: CT Health Foundation says faith-based groups key to ending ‘scream rooms’ – The Middletown Press : Serving Middletown, CT.

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Advocates concerned about possible Medicaid cuts | Connecticut Post

Posted on December 29, 2011 by

A Department of Social Services effort to pare back a program that gives Medicaid benefits to low-income single adults has been decried by health advocates who say it undermines efforts to provide more people with health coverage.

In October, DSS Commissioner Roderick Bremby wrote to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services office in Boston, asking for a waiver to change the low-income adult program, making it more difficult to qualify for coverage and allowing the state to cap enrollment. In Bremby’s letter, he said the program as it exists is financially unsustainable.

For more on this story, visit: Advocates concerned about possible Medicaid cuts – Connecticut Post.

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Despite Cerebral Palsy, Business Owner Succeeds | Oxford, CT Patch

Posted on December 18, 2011 by

Everyone faces challenges in their lives but 33 year old Matthew Smith of Woodbury, owner of Litchfield County Computer, LLC, was born with cerebral palsy and has faced more than most. Yet, Smith has not let his condition get in his way.

Smith started his computer care business in 2004 and now has about 200 clients in Oxford, Danbury, Brookfield, Woodbury, Southbury and Middlebury.

For more on this story, visit: Despite Cerebral Palsy, Business Owner Succeeds – Oxford, CT Patch.

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Workers locked out at Milford nursing home – Connecticut Post

Posted on December 14, 2011 by

MILFORD — Unionized nursing home employees locked out of their jobs at West River Health Care Center walked in front of the Orange Avenue facility Tuesday, protesting the action. Many of them wore signs stating they had been locked out. Occasionally, chants of “corporate greed” and other mantras would emanate from the crowd of employees.

For more on this story, visit: Workers locked out at Milford nursing home – Connecticut Post.

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Call for Submissions: The Art of Children, Adolescents and Young Adults — Touched by Mental Illness

Posted on December 13, 2011 by

The National Alliance on Mental Illnesses of Connecticut (NAMI-CT) and Young Audiences of Connecticut, an affiliate of VSA,(YAC/VSA) are joining forces to raise awareness and bring hope to children, adolescents and young adults who have been ‘touched in some way by mental illness.’

For the purposes of this exhibit ‘touched’ in some way by mental Illness means that either you or a friend, family member or acquaintance is living with mental illness and that person has had a significant impact on your life.

For the purposes of this exhibit ‘mental Illness’ is defined as any of the following: Attention deficit/Hyperactive disorder (ADHD), Anxiety disorders, Bi-Polar disorder (manic depression), Depression, Obsessive – Compulsive Disorder (OCD) or Schizophrenia.

For more on this story, visit: VOICES Call for Art « VSA Connecticut.

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Advocates Crash Meeting about Personal Care Assistants’ Bargaining Rights

Posted on December 12, 2011 by

Advocates for disabled people and the constitution crashed the first meeting Friday of an executive working group tasked with finding the best way for personal care assistants to collectively bargain.

At issue are two executive orders signed by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy in September that provide a path for state day care workers and personal care attendants to organize and gain collective bargaining rights.

The orders established working groups to make recommendations to the governor regarding the best way to structure bargaining rights for the groups.

For more on this story, visit: CT News Junkie | Advocates Crash Meeting.

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