Issue Area: Developmental Disabilities

"Reach for the Stars", by Gina Colantuoni, depicts a young woman sitting in a wheelchair with her arms outstretched towards the night sky full of stars and the moon.

The Disabilities Rights Center is committed to ensuring access to appropriate services for individuals with developmental disabilities. Through representation at Administrative Appeals and in state and federal courts, the DRC assists individuals who have been inappropriately denied eligibility for services or have been found eligible for services but are not receiving the services to which they are entitled.

Access to Medicaid Entitlements and Services:
DRC has a priority of assuring that federal and state Medicaid services, especially those designed to meet the needs of long-term impairments, are available to all eligible individuals. Services, when made available and delivered appropriately, not only prevent deterioration and dependence, but promote enhanced independence and productivity and overall quality of life.

White Paper: Examining Preventable Deaths in the Developmental Service System: A Call to Action - Keeping Vulnerable Citizens Safe from Harm

Developmental Services Quality Council

Developmental Services Quality Council report on statewide and regional quality indicators for employment

Governor's Study Commission on Area Agencies

SB 138 Workforce Development Committee Report: This 2007 report includes numerous recommendations relative to compensation for direct support providers.

SB 138 Quality Improvement Report: Initial Findings 2008

DHHS/BDS High Cost Review Committee Report, April 2010, made up of DHHS, BDS AA officials and one vendor representative

March 28, 2009 powerpoint presentation: Right To Prompt and Quality Services for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Presented by Richard A. Cohen at the Advanced Leadership Series of ABLE NH.

The Braddock Report 2011, the State of the States in Developmental Disabilities, is available from the Coleman Institute.

Roberta Gallant's Memories of Laconia State School

Brochures about your rights in the Developmental Services system

June 2009: Review of the Circumstances Surrounding the Death of VH, Former Client of NH’s Health and Human Services/Area Agency System

page last updated: November 30, 2011

The Law: Statutes, Regulations:

DRC Cases:

April 2009: NH Supreme Court AFFIRMS the Rights of Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
April 2004: DD Waitlist Case NH Supreme Court decision: Nonsuit without Prejudice
11-24-03: Supreme Court Case: Eligibility for DD Services The NH Supreme Court ruled that an individual with a specific learning disability is eligible for area agency services when his ability to function is substantially impaired. The court stated that such a person was eligible even when other non-developmental disabilities such as mental health or alcohol problems may also be contributing to his functional impairments.

Developmental Disabilities Resources

Administration on Developmental Disabilities, US Department of Health and Human Services
Alliance for Full Participation
American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
The Arc
Area Agencies for Developmental Services contact information
Autism and Asperger's resources
College: Think you can't go? Think again! Think College!
Community Support Network, Inc. (CSNI)
TheDesk.Info, information about Medicaid for people with cognitive disabilities. All the information is available in audio and video clips.
Developmental Services Quality Council
Early Education and Intervention Network of New Hampshire
Epilepsy Foundation
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Legal Issues Resource Center
Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities: This site has lots of resources on self advocacy, independence, etc.
- See especially Making Your Case,a self-study course designed to help people with developmental disabilities and their families create positive change through advocacy.
National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disability Services
National Center on Severe and Sensory Disabilities
National Down Syndrome Congress
National Down Syndrome Society
NH Department of Health and Human Services
- Bureau of Developmental Services
Northern New England Down Syndrome Congress
Peer Support: People First of NH
TASH: Equity, Opportunity, and Inclusion for People With Disabilities Since 1975.
UCP (United Cerebral Palsy)

	Disabilities Rights Center
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Main Section The Law Resources The Disabilities Rights Center is committed to ensuring access to appropriate services for individuals with developmental disabilities. Through representation at Administrative Appeals and in state and federal courts, the DRC assists individuals who have been inappropriately denied eligibility for services or have been found eligible for services but are not receiving the services to which they are entitled. Access to Medicaid Entitlements and Services: DRC has a priority of assuring that federal and state Medicaid services, especially those designed to meet the needs of long-term impairments, are available to all eligible individuals. Services, when made available and delivered appropriately, not only prevent deterioration and dependence, but promote enhanced independence and productivity and overall quality of life. White Paper: Examining Preventable Deaths in the Developmental Service System: A Call to Action - Keeping Vulnerable Citizens Safe from Harm Developmental Services Quality Council Developmental Services Quality Council report on statewide and regional quality indicators for employment Governor's Study Commission on Area Agencies SB 138 Workforce Development Committee Report: This 2007 report includes numerous recommendations relative to compensation for direct support providers. SB 138 Quality Improvement Report: Initial Findings 2008 DHHS/BDS High Cost Review Committee Report, April 2010, made up of DHHS, BDS AA officials and one vendor representative March 28, 2009 powerpoint presentation: Right To Prompt and Quality Services for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Presented by Richard A. Cohen at the Advanced Leadership Series of ABLE NH. The Braddock Report 2011, the State of the States in Developmental Disabilities, is available from the Coleman Institute. Roberta Gallant's Memories of Laconia State School Brochures about your rights in the Developmental Services system June 2009: Review of the Circumstances Surrounding the Death of VH, Former Client of NH’s Health and Human Services/Area Agency System page last updated: November 30, 2011 The Law: Statutes, Regulations: RSA 171-A: Services for the Developmentally Disabled The DD Waiver: New Hampshire's Section 1915(c) Medicaid Waiver for Developmental Services. October 2002 RSA 126-G, Family Support Services He-M Rules for Services for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 DRC Cases: April 2009: NH Supreme Court AFFIRMS the Rights of Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities April 2004: DD Waitlist Case NH Supreme Court decision: Nonsuit without Prejudice 11-24-03: Supreme Court Case: Eligibility for DD Services The NH Supreme Court ruled that an individual with a specific learning disability is eligible for area agency services when his ability to function is substantially impaired. The court stated that such a person was eligible even when other non-developmental disabilities such as mental health or alcohol problems may also be contributing to his functional impairments. Developmental Disabilities Resources Administration on Developmental Disabilities, US Department of Health and Human Services Alliance for Full Participation American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities The Arc Area Agencies for Developmental Services contact information Autism and Asperger's resources College: Think you can't go? Think again! Think College! Community Support Network, Inc. (CSNI) TheDesk.Info, information about Medicaid for people with cognitive disabilities. All the information is available in audio and video clips. Developmental Services Quality Council Early Education and Intervention Network of New Hampshire Epilepsy Foundation Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Legal Issues Resource Center Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities: This site has lots of resources on self advocacy, independence, etc. See especially Making Your Case,a self-study course designed to help people with developmental disabilities and their families create positive change through advocacy. National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disability Services National Center on Severe and Sensory Disabilities National Down Syndrome Congress National Down Syndrome Society NH Department of Health and Human Services Bureau of Developmental Services Northern New England Down Syndrome Congress Peer Support: People First of NH TASH: Equity, Opportunity, and Inclusion for People With Disabilities Since 1975. UCP (United Cerebral Palsy)

Disabilities Rights Center

Developmental Disabilities

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