IN THIS ISSUE:

1. Case Tip: Medicaid coverage for transition-aged youth
2. IDEA reauthorized
3. Toddler Talk project for young children with ASD
4. Latino Autism Support Group
5. Help save Medicaid with personal stories
6. HealthWatch Updates and Contacts
7. Suggestions for the Update? Contact Us!

CASE TIP:

1. What will happen to my child's Medicaid coverage when she turns 19? What does "disability determination"
and "redetermination" mean?

For continuity of coverage, make sure your child applies for disability once she turns 18, rather than waiting until her Medicaid coverage ends at age 19.

Shortly after your daughter's 18th birthday, she should go to the Social Security office in your community and apply for disability through the Social Security Program. If the Social Security office finds her to be disabled under their eligibility guidelines, then she can automatically get Medicaid. If, however, she is not found to be disabled and wants to continue to receive Medicaid coverage, then she will need to seek an alternative pathway into Medicaid.
"Disability determination" is the process used by the state
to evaluate whether or not a transition aged youth is disabled for Social Security purposes. The following is excerpted from the Social Security Administration website (www.ssa.gov/disability):

Under the law, children who are eligible for SSI benefits in the month before they turn age 18 must have their
eligibility "redetermined." The redetermination will be done during the one-year period beginning on your child's 18th birthday, or in place of a Continuing Disability Review (CDR) whenever we determine the individual's case is subject to a redetermination. We will use the rules for adults filing new claims when making the redetermination.

2. INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT OF 2004 – On November 17, 2004, the House-Senate Conference Committee agreed on changes to reauthorize the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). On Friday, November 19, 2004, the House and Senate voted to reauthorize the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004. The bill will be submitted to the President who is expected to
sign it within ten days. Once signed, it becomes law. Click here to learn more: http://www.ideallives.com/news.php

3. Toddler Talk Project: If you know a family who has a child under three years of age with a diagnosis of autism, PDD-NOS, Asperger's Syndrome or who is suspected of having autism spectrum disorder,please share this information with them so that their family may participate in this voluntary study.

Waisman Center researchers Susan Ellis Weismer, Ph.D., and Morton Gernsbacher, Ph.D are investigating early language development in toddlers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Toddlers under 3 years of age who have an ASD diagnosis (autism, PDD-NOS, Asperger's) or who are uspected of having ASD are invited to participate. Participation will involve in-home developmental assessment by members of the research team. The team will be conducting home visits in numerous counties throughout Southeastern Wisconsin.
Families will receive $20.00 for completing developmental survey forms and $50.00 for participating in home visit assessments.

Please contact Chris Hollar, the project coordinator, at (608) 263-3123 or chollar@wisc.edu for more information or about enrolling in the research project.

4. Latino Autism Support Group
Saturday December 11, 2004
1:00 pm - 3:30 pm
La Causa Resource Center
804 W. Greenfield Av
Milwaukee, WI
Phone: Info: 414-374-4645 x124; 384-5417;
Email: nelsinia@yahoo.com

Facilitator: Nelsinia Ramos-Rojas
Other: Meetings entirely in Spanish; on-site child care
available, if requested in advance.

El Grupo Latino de Autismo provee información general y apoyo a padres, familiares, y/o cuidadores de niños o adultos entre el espectro autista. Las reuníones son en español y refrigerios son proveidos en cada sesión. Cuidado de niños está disponible si se solicita con anticipación.

5. Help Save Medicaid with Personal Stories

A message/invitation from Families USA
[HealthAction@familiesusa.org]:

Do you know a senior, a child, a person with a disability, or a working family in your state that has Medicaid coverage? If so, we would love to hear from you and them! Please contact Alexandra Zavala, Communications Outreach Coordinator, at 1-800-593-5041 ext. 3614 or at azavala@familiesusa.org.

We are embarking on a campaign to protect the Medicaid program from federal cuts. To communicate our message clearly and in a way that resonates with a broader audience--including the news media, state legislators, Senators, and the general public--we need to humanize
this debate. And the best way to do that is by enlisting the help of those who depend on Medicaid.

Seniors, children, people with disabilities, and working families in your state can speak on behalf of the thousands of Medicaid beneficiaries across the country who are so vulnerable to program cutbacks. Their voices can and should be heard in Washington, DC by Senators who can put a stop to any attempt to cut Medicaid funds.

We are looking for people who believe that Medicaid is a vital health care lifeline. We are looking for people who can agree to speak to reporters in person and have their pictures taken to better illustrate our message. We are looking for those who can help spread the word that the federal government wants to cut their one and only source of health coverage and that this is not only unfair, it is
morally wrong. We are looking for those who can talk about their fears of becoming uninsured and having to choose between paying for rent and food and paying for health insurance. We are looking for hardworking Americans who play by the rules and depend on Medicaid for their health care. We are looking for children, who do not choose to become sick, and seniors, who cannot be blamed for living
a long life. We are looking for the faces of Americans across the country.

If you can help, or if you know others who can connect us with people on Medicaid in your state, please contact us. You can reach us through Alexandra Zavala, Communications Outreach Coordinator, at 1-800-593-5041 ext. 3614
or at azavala@familiesusa.org.

Help us save the safety net for 51 million Americans. HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!

HEALTHWATCH CONTACTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

If you are interested in joining your regional HealthWatch
committee, or want more information about their work, please contact the following people:

Southern Region: Barbara Katz, ABC for Health, Inc., 608.261.6939 ext 207, barbk@safetyweb.org

Southeastern Region: Brad Holman, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, 414.266.3189, bholman@chw.org

Northern Region: Deb Blackstone, 715.361.2890 dblacks@shsmh.org The CSHCN Northern Regional Center has moved. We are in the Riverside Clinic Building (for Rhinelander folks, that's the old clinic building next to the old hospital). Our new phone number is (715)
361-2890. The mailing address (P.O. Box 301, Rhinelander, WI 54501) will remain the same for the time being. Email is the same.

Northeastern Region: Steve Gerczak, St. Vincent Hospital,
920.433.8154, sgerczak@stvgb.org

Western Region: Rose Marsh, Chippewa County Dept of Public Health, 1-800-400-3678, rmarsh@co.chippewa.wi.us

7. SUGGESTIONS OR TIPS FOR THE UPDATE? CONTACT US!

We need your help to develop content and tips for our CKSN Update.
Please let us know about your ideas or success stories. Email your suggestions to barbk@safetyweb.org

The CKSN Update is a bi-weekly electronic newsletter of the Covering Kids with Special Needs project that ABC for Health, Inc. is implementing with its partners, the Title V Children with Special Needs Regional Centers and Family Voices - Wisconsin. If you would like to submit news and information in future CKSN Updates, please send it to the attention of Barbara Katz. All submissions should be limited to 150 words.

ABC for Health is a Wisconsin-based, nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to linking children and families, particularly those with special health care needs, to health care benefits and services. ABC for Health's mission is to provide information, advocacy tools, legal services and expert support needed to obtain,
maintain and finance health care coverage and services.

Barbara Katz, moderator
Parent Consultant
ABC for Health, Inc.
608.261.6939 ext. 207
barbk@safetyweb.org