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Announcements

Announcements

 

​These are the latest announcements from the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities. You can click on the heading of the Announcement below for a more detailed view.

HCBS Final Settings Rule & IL Statewide Transition Plan (STP)

In 2014, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published final regulations that pertain to Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) programs.  The regulations require that any setting that provides Medicaid services demonstrate that characteristics of a community-based, rather than an institutional setting, and the regulations provide guidance to distinguish the two.  While every person gets different services that are unique to them, the new rules emphasize that community participation and integration should be the standard and that everyone should have access to more than one community.  Illinois is one of five states that still does not have approved statewide transition plan and per the federal government, the HCBS Settings Rule must be implemented by March 2022.  Background on the rule and resources for self-advocates can be found at this link:  https://www.illinois.gov/hfs/SiteCollectionDocuments/PNforTransitionPlan2020FINAL.pdf 

The revised Statewide Transition Plan is accessible through the HFS website:  https://www.illinois.gov/hfs/MedicalClients/HCBS/Transition/Pages/TransitionPlan.aspx#Subhead6 

WE NEED YOUR HELP to ensure that the settings rule is implemented fully and the state provides funding to support transition of HCBS services to meet the settings rule. 

Date Posted: 2/27/2020

Medical Advocacy: Understanding Rights and Interactions with People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Funding Decision Overview

Congratulations to the three projects that will be funded under the medical advocacy initiative:

  1. The University of Illinois at Chicago – Institute for Disability and Human Development (IDHD)
  2. Ray Graham Association 
  3. EP!C  

Date Posted: 7/17/2019

Community Cares Project Funding Decision Overview

​Public Act 100-1129, effective 1/1/19, allows for a county, municipality, or township to create a local referendum paid through a real estate tax levy to fund local developmental disabilities services overseen by a Developmental Disabilities board, also knows as a 377 board.  This legislation allows for smaller governmental units, such as municipalities and townships, to create these referenda whereas before it was only available at the county level.


Date Posted: 7/17/2019

PUNS Selection Update

​​The Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) created an email account for people to find out the status for being selected off the PUNS list.  Name, birthdate, and "please tell me where I am in getting selected off of PUNS" can be sent to DHS.DDD.PUNS@illinois.gov. 


Date Posted: 8/26/2019

COVID 19 Support Persons in Health Care Facilities (including hospitals)

​The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) clarifies that health care facilities (including hospitals) should allow patients with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities or cognitive impairments to be accompanied by a support person determined to be essential to their care. Individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD) may require accommodations in a health care facility that include permitting the presence of a support person, such as a guardian, family member, caregiver, or paid support worker, provided that essential precautions can be taken to contain the spread of infection.

https://www.dhs.state.il.us/OneNetLibrary/27896/documents/COVID19/20200515_IDPH_SupportPersons_HCF.pdf


Date Posted: 6/5/2020

ICDD FUNDS PROVIDERS TO MOVE TO COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT

ICDD has funded two projects under its Competitive Pay and Meaningful Days Call for Investment! Congratulations to Anixter Center and Envision Unlimited! These will be 2-year projects with an investment of $189,040.

The purpose of this initiative is to improve the employment outcomes of people with Developmental Disabilities (DD) who are currently receiving subminimum wages by supporting providers to build, expand and sustain effective skills, capacity and competencies related to integrated employment, integrated meaningful day activities, and person-centered services. This initiative is also in response to the City of Chicago's minimum wage ordinance which accelerates minimum wage increase and removes the allowance of sub-minimum wage by 2021.


Date Posted: 8/17/2020

InfiniTeach Vax for All project

The Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities (ICDD) is pleased to announce an investment in InfiniTeach to implement a project which is designed to address Covid 19 vaccine hesitancy and assist individuals with developmental disabilities and those around them to get vaccinated.



Date Posted: 7/22/2021