Legislature(1993 - 1994)
02/17/1993 03:00 PM House HES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
JOINT SENATE AND HOUSE HEALTH, EDUCATION
AND SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEES
February 17, 1993
3:00 p.m.
SENATE MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Steve Rieger, Chairman
Senator Bert Sharp, Vice Chairman
Senator Loren Leman
Senator Judy Salo
SENATE MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Mike Miller
Senator Jim Duncan
HOUSE MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Con Bunde, Co-Chairman
Representative Gary Davis
Representative Harley Olberg
Representative Tom Brice
Representative Irene Nicholia
HOUSE MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Cynthia Toohey, Co-Chairman
Representative Al Vezey
Representative Pete Kott
Representative Bettye Davis
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
Presentation by the Governor's Council on Disabilities and
Special Education
WITNESS REGISTER
ERNEST DUMMANN, Chairman
Governor's Council on Disabilities
and Special Education
6701 Greenwood Street, #1
Anchorage, Alaska 99518
SUSAN LOUDON
Governor's Council on Disabilities
and Special Education
Fairbanks, Alaska 99701
JANELL MEADE
Inter Agency Coordination Council
1030 `B'
Juneau, Alaska 99801
JOE WINDERS
800 `F' Street, C-2
Juneau, Alaska 99801
LESLIE YAMAMOTO, Member
Governor's Council on Disabilities
and Special Education
P.O. Box 83496
Fairbanks, Alaska 99708
DAVID JACOBSON
ACCESS Alaska
3550 Airport Way, #3
Fairbanks, Alaska 99709
DAVID MALTMAN, Executive Director
Governor's Council on Disabilities
and Special Education
Department of Health and Social Services
P.O. Box 240249
Anchorage, Alaska 99524-0249
DR. JILL WHEELER, Chairperson
Interagency Coordinating Committee
Governor's Council on Disabilities
and Special Education
Anchorage, Alaska
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 93-13, SIDE A
Number 001
CHAIRMAN RIEGER called the Joint Senate and House Health,
Education, and Social Services Committees meeting to order
at 3:10 p.m. He announced the committee would be hearing a
presentation by the Governor's Council on Disabilities and
Special Education.
ERNEST DUMMANN, CHAIRMAN, GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL ON DISABILITIES
AND SPECIAL EDUCATION, explained that the council acts as an
advocacy group for the needs of the disabled population in
the state of Alaska. He noted the council also gives
recommendations to policy makers. Mr. Dummann said he has a
son, Shawn, who is severely disabled, operates at an age two
level, and will require some assistance or help from the
community for his entire life. Mr. Dummann introduced Susan
Loudon.
SUSAN LOUDON said she and her husband live in Fairbanks.
Her son attends the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, and her
sixteen year old disabled daughter, Crista, lives at home.
Ms. Loudon explained that her daughter experiences epilepsy,
mild cerebral palsy, and episodes of paralysis every eight
to ten days. The services she has received over the years
have been designed to meet her specific needs. She noted
Krista is part of the first Project Teach Early Infant
Learning Program. Krista, while attending regular classes
in a private school, received physical, occupational and
speech therapy. In junior high school she began
prevocational training at a day care center. Now, as a high
school junior, she is on the honor roll and benefits from an
individualized curriculum which focuses on her unique
strengths and abilities. Supportive services includes a
wheel chair, a computer, educational respite care, and
individual care during the time that she is paralyzed. Ms.
Loudon said as Krista transitions into adulthood, the goal
is to see her included in the community, working and
enjoying life with her friends and family.
MS. LOUDON said she hopes the committee will meet Krista
next month during the Key Campaign. Communities all over
the state are working towards making individual services
available to people with disabilities. Ms. Loudon said new
strategies to improve the delivery of services are on the
horizon and will have to be considered by the legislature.
For example, providing vouchers for families to shop or to
contract for services would give individuals opportunity to
be included in their community life.
MS. LOUDON said many hours have been spent working with
individuals and groups throughout the state. The flood of
reports, studies, white papers, analysis, and position
papers have been condensed to provide the legislature with a
working document. She said the council's recommendations
will be helpful in making informed decisions which affect
the policy area. In conclusion, she said she is encouraged
that as we meet the challenge to communicate, care and to
change, as put forth by Governor Hickel in his State of the
State Address, Alaska's families will be able to improve the
quality of life allowing for full inclusion of people with
disabilities in their own community.
JANELL MEADE was next to come before the committee. She
explained that she gave birth to a daughter, Heather, last
November. She has a rare genetic condition known as
"Prouder Willie Syndrome." Ms. Meade discussed how the
Infant Learning Program has done so much for her family.
Heather also receives respite care. She said the programs
have really helped her family.
Number 193
JOE WINDERS was next to come before the committee. He
introduced his son, four year old Steven, who was born three
and a half months too soon and weighed 1.5 pounds. He said
there wasn't much of a chance of him living but he pulled
through with the intensive medical care he received from
Providence Hospital. Steven did loose his sight and hearing
and they are not sure if he will ever walk. Mr. Winders
explained his family has received great benefits from the
Infant Learning Program, as they taught him and his wife how
to deal with a handicapped child. He explained that Steven
cannot hear, therefore, he cannot speak. The help received
from Medicaid has been wonderful. Mr. Winders said Medicaid
will deduct from benefits if he makes more than $1,000 per
month. His family is slowly going into debt. Mr. Winders
explained he was released from the hospital around New Years
with pneumonia which cost $5,000. He said he is applying
for charity to pay his bill. Mr. Winders said he hopes
legislation will pass so that he can earn what he must to
live and still be covered by Medicaid.
Number 250
LESLIE YAMAMOTO, MEMBER, GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL ON DISABILITIES
AND SPECIAL EDUCATION, explained she has been on the council
for two and a half years and is a parent of a six year old
child, Stewart, who is severely developmentally delayed and
has a secondary diagnosis of autism. She explained he has
participated in the Infant Learning Program and made
remarkable gains that he couldn't have made without the
weekly input. Stewart is currently developing at a level
that was never thought possible. She informed the committee
that he has been in special education for three years and is
continuing to develop and make gains. Ms. Yamamoto said she
and her husband also appreciate the help from the Respite
Care Program.
MS. YAMAMOTO referred to Mr. Winders' problems and said the
council has been working on a program called Project Choice.
She said Project Choice was created by the legislature to
explore Medicaid options and waivers. The options and
waivers could pay for home and community support of people
with disabilities and the aging. She referred to the
achievements of Project Choice and said they have made
application to the federal government for four waivers. The
first waiver would serve 102 children with complex medical
conditions who qualify for hospital or nursing home care.
The second waiver would serve 92 people with developmental
disabilities who qualify for the institutional level of
care. The third waiver would serve 30 adults with
disabilities who would qualify for the nursing level of
care. The fourth waiver would serve 124 adults, age 65 or
older, who qualify for a nursing home level of care. The
program is currently in need of four staff people to be
trained and to administer the program. The program is a
program that would use federal dollars which are currently
used for people in institutions. What the program is asking
is to reroute the dollars, at a tremendous savings, and keep
the kids at home. Ms. Yamamoto thanked the committee for
listening to her testimony.
Number 334
DAVID JACOBSON, of Fairbanks, informed the committee that he
experiences a disability that happened in his adulthood. He
said he has a traumatic brain injury. He said he feels he
represents about 2,000 other individuals in Alaska who have
had a similar experience. Many people with brain injuries
are capable of being productive members in our society;
however, in Alaska the programs don't exist to assist them.
He discussed counseling and emotional support that is needed
for many people. Mr. Jacobson said he was fortunate that he
was given the opportunity to go back to work through the
Independent Living Program, which is a type of service where
individuals are encouraged to develop their independent
living skills and to be productive in a system that gives
flexibility. He discussed problems in funding the
Independent Living Program.
Number 386
REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE requested more information on the
options and waivers.
SENATOR ELLIS referred to Ms. Yamamoto's testimony regarding
the need for four staff positions for the Project Choice
Program and said he had thought the request was for five
positions. He asked where the extra position is in the
budget.
DAVID MALTMAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL ON
DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
SOCIAL SERVICES, indicated that he would forward the
information to Senator Ellis.
SENATOR ELLIS referred to SB 5, which relates to Medicaid
waivers and options, and said it brings on waivers and
options more expansively and it could happen at an earlier
time frame than what Project Choice is proposing.
Number 404
REPRESENTATIVE BRICE said it is his understanding that there
are waiting lists around the state for the Infant Learning
Program. He asked if it was true and, if so, where.
MR. MALTMAN explained that the history in funding the
programs is such that in many areas those programs are fully
funded for a certain segment of children. In other areas of
the state, the service doesn't exist. In most areas of the
state, children are being underserved. (Mr. Maltman's
testimony was hard to hear as he was answering from the
audience).
SENATOR SALO asked how people find out about the Infant
Learning Program. She also asked what needs to be done to
improve the equity of availability throughout the state on
Infant Learning Programs.
DR. JILL WHEELER, CHAIRPERSON, INTERAGENCY COORDINATING
COMMITTEE, GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL ON DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL
EDUCATION, noted she also works at the University of Alaska,
Anchorage, and her primary roll at the university is in
personal preparation in early childhood special education.
She explained that there isn't a single point of entry.
Parents can be referred by physicians, a neighbor, or
anyone. Dr. Wheeler referred to Senator Salo's second
question and said she believes the Governor's Council on
Disabilities and Special Education, though its charge as the
Interagency Coordinating Council, is developing a program of
early intervention services. It is a system of all the
services that can be provided to children and families
across the state of Alaska. She continued to discuss the
early invention system as to how it will be developed and
who will participate. Dr. Wheeler indicated she would send
both House and Senate HESS Committees their position paper.
SENATOR SALO indicated that she would also like more
information on Project Choice.
Number 467
There being no further business to come before the committee
members, CHAIRMAN RIEGER adjourned the meeting at 3:45 p.m.
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