Advocate for the Disabled

Coping with Stress from the CDC

2020-08-24T20:34:00.000-04:00

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html

Pandemics can be stressful

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a new disease and what could happen can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Public health actions, such as social distancing, can make people feel isolated and lonely and can increase stress and anxiety. However, these actions are necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Coping with stress in a healthy way will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger.

Stress during an infectious disease outbreak can sometimes cause the following:

Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones, your financial situation or job, or loss of support services you rely on.
Changes in sleep or eating patterns.
Difficulty sleeping or concentrating.
Worsening of chronic health problems.
Worsening of mental health conditions.
Increased use of tobacco, and/or alcohol and other substances.

Take care of your mental health

You may experience increased stress during this pandemic. Fear and anxiety can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions.

Get immediate help in a crisis

Call 911
Disaster Distress Helplineexternal icon: 1-800-985-5990 (press 2 for Spanish), or text TalkWithUs for English or Hablanos for Spanish to 66746. Spanish speakers from Puerto Rico can text Hablanos to 1-787-339-2663.
National Suicide Prevention Lifelineexternal icon: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for English, 1-888-628-9454 for Spanish, or Lifeline Crisis Chatexternal icon.
National Domestic Violence Hotlineexternal icon: 1-800-799-7233 or text LOVEIS to 22522
National Child Abuse Hotlineexternal icon: 1-800-4AChild (1-800-422-4453) or text 1-800-422-4453
National Sexual Assault Hotlineexternal icon: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or Online Chatexternal icon
The Eldercare Locatorexternal icon: 1-800-677-1116 TTY Instructionsexternal icon
Veteran’s Crisis Lineexternal icon: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or Crisis Chatexternal icon or text: 8388255

Find a health care provider or treatment for substance use disorder and mental health

SAMHSA’s National Helplineexternal icon: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) and TTY 1-800-487-4889
Treatment Services Locator Websiteexternal icon
Interactive Map of Selected Federally Qualified Health Centersexternal icon

Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations

How you respond to stress during the COVID-19 pandemic can depend on your background, your social support from family or friends, your financial situation, your health and emotional background, the community you live in, and many other factors. The changes that can happen because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ways we try to contain the spread of the virus can affect anyone.

People who may respond more strongly to the stress of a crisis include:

People who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 (for example, older people, and people of any age with certain underlying medical conditions).
Children and teens.
People caring for family members or loved ones.
Frontline workers such as health care providers and first responders,
Essential workers who work in the food industry.
People who have existing mental health conditions.
People who use substances or have a substance use disorder.
People who have lost their jobs, had their work hours reduced, or had other major changes to their employment.
People who have disabilities or developmental delay.
People who are socially isolated from others, including people who live alone, and people in rural or frontier areas.
People in some racial and ethnic minority groups.
People who do not have access to information in their primary language.
People experiencing homelessness.
People who live in congregate (group) settings.

Take care of yourself and your community

Taking care of your friends and your family can be a stress reliever, but it should be balanced with care for yourself. Helping others cope with their stress, such as by providing social support, can also make your community stronger. During times of increased social distancing, people can still maintain social connections and care for their mental health. Phone calls or video chats can help you and your loved ones feel socially connected, less lonely, or isolated.

Healthy ways to cope with stress

Know what to do if you are sick and are concerned about COVID-19. Contact a health professional before you start any self-treatment for COVID-19.
Know where and how to get treatment and other support services and resources, including counseling or therapy (in person or through telehealth services).
Take care of your emotional health. Taking care of your emotional health will help you think clearly and react to the urgent needs to protect yourself and your family.
Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including those on social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.
Take care of your body.
- Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditateexternal icon.
- Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals.
- Exercise regularly.
- Get plenty of sleep.
- Avoid excessive alcohol and drug use.
Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.
Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.
Connect with your community- or faith-based organizations. While social distancing measures are in place, consider connecting online, through social media, or by phone or mail.

Know the facts to help reduce stress

Knowing the facts about COVID-19 and stopping the spread of rumors can help reduce stress and stigma. Understanding the risk to yourself and people you care about can help you connect with others and make an outbreak less stressful.

Take care of your mental health

Mental health is an important part of overall health and wellbeing. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It may also affect how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices during an emergency.

People with pre-existing mental health conditions or substance use disorders may be particularly vulnerable in an emergency. Mental health conditions (such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia) affect a person’s thinking, feeling, mood or behavior in a way that influences their ability to relate to others and function each day. These conditions may be situational (short-term) or long-lasting (chronic). People with preexisting mental health conditions should continue with their treatment and be aware of new or worsening symptoms. If you think you have new or worse symptoms, call your healthcare provider.

Call your healthcare provider if stress gets in the way of your daily activities for several days in a row. Free and confidential resources can also help you or a loved one connect with a skilled, trained counselor in your area.

Get immediate help in a crisis

Call 911
Disaster Distress Helplineexternal icon: 1-800-985-5990 (press 2 for Spanish), or text TalkWithUs for English or Hablanos for Spanish to 66746. Spanish speakers from Puerto Rico can text Hablanos to 1-787-339-2663.
National Suicide Prevention Lifelineexternal icon: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for English, 1-888-628-9454 for Spanish, or Lifeline Crisis Chatexternal icon.
National Domestic Violence Hotlineexternal icon: 1-800-799-7233 or text LOVEIS to 22522
National Child Abuse Hotlineexternal icon: 1-800-4AChild (1-800-422-4453) or text 1-800-422-4453
National Sexual Assault Hotlineexternal icon: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or Online Chat external icon
The Eldercare Locatorexternal icon: 1-800-677-1116 TTY Instructionsexternal icon
Veteran’s Crisis Lineexternal icon: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or Crisis Chatexternal icon or text: 8388255

Find a health care provider or treatment for substance use disorder and mental health

SAMHSA’s National Helplineexternal icon: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) and TTY 1-800-487-4889
Treatment Services Locator Website external icon
Interactive Map of Selected Federally Qualified Health Centersexternal icon

Suicide

Different life experiences affect a person’s risk for suicide. For example, suicide risk is higher among people who have experienced violence, including child abuse, bullying, or sexual violence. Feelings of isolation, depression, anxiety, and other emotional or financial stresses are known to raise the risk for suicide. People may be more likely to experience these feelings during a crisis like a pandemic.

However, there are ways to protect against suicidal thoughts and behaviors. For example, support from family and community, or feeling connected, and having access to in-person or virtual counseling or therapy can help with suicidal thoughts and behavior, particularly during a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Learn more about CDC’s work in suicide prevention.

Other Resources:

National Suicide Prevention Lifelineexternal icon: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for English, 1-888-628-9454 for Spanish, or Lifeline Crisis Chatexternal icon.
SAMHSA Suicide Preventionexternal icon
Suicide Risk Factors and Warning Signsexternal icon
Five Action Steps for Communicating with Someone Who May Be Suicidalexternal icon

Recovering from COVID-19 or ending home isolation

It can be stressful to be separated from others if you have or were exposed to COVID-19. Each person ending a period of home isolation may feel differently about it.

Emotional reactions may include:

Mixed emotions, including relief.
Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones.
Stress from the experience of having COVID-19 and monitoring yourself, or being monitored by others.
Sadness, anger, or frustration because friends or loved ones have fears of getting the disease from you, even though you are cleared to be around others.
Guilt about not being able to perform normal work or parenting duties while you had COVID-19.
Worry about getting re-infected or sick again even though you’ve already had COVID-19.
Other emotional or mental health changes.

Children may also feel upset or have other strong emotions if they, or someone they know, has COVID-19, even if they are now better and able to be around others again.

Special Education Update

2020-06-23T09:26:00.001-04:00

Special Education Update

On March 16, 2020, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy issued an Executive Order which, among many other things, closed schools and moved education to home-schooling and online learning. This included Special Education services. Governor Murphy has since announced that Extended School Year (ESY) will be permitted to take place in-person beginning on July 6th, and the state has outlined specific guidelines to ensure the safety of all students, staff, and families. Please note that schools are deciding on an individual basis whether or not they will have in-person or virtual ESY.

Since the stay-at-home order, we have heard from thousands of families with students in special education who are struggling to provide learning opportunities to their children and effectively deal with the lack of support services and therapies their child would typically receive each day. It has been an extremely challenging time for all the families.

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2020/jun/12/Providing%20Additional%20Services%20for%20Students%20with%20Disabilities%20Who%20Will%20Graduate%20or%20Exceed%20Eligibility%20for%20Special%20Education%20Services.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3YnL0GsOFPZUd5_hEHSodFrbDsOijstNQP0HvL1Tbj_uxdiudwVKUr-X4

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2020/jun/12/Guidance%20for%20Summer%20Learning%20Programs.pdf

Department of Human Services will implement a temporary $3 per hour wage increase for these professionals for three months

2020-04-30T10:29:00.001-04:00

https://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/news/pressreleases/2020/approved/20200429b.html

HS-NJ giving Direct Support Professionals a temporary increase in salary of $3. an hour for 3 months. That comes out to approximately an extra $1440. for a 40 hour work week for 3 months.

I think they should have done better as it's a far cry from the $25,000. we heard with the Federal Stimulus for front line workers which largely benefited the politicians with ongoing enormous increases in their salaries.

Remember at Election time who is getting the help during Covid-19 and who is not.

2020-04-29T20:10:00.000-04:00

https://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/news/pressreleases/2020/approved/20200428.html

Remember at Election time who is getting the help during Covid-19 and who is not.

The key statement in this news release: Under federal policies implementing the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, households that already receive the federal allowable maximum SNAP benefit are not eligible for supplemental payments.

In other words, those who have very low or no incomes will not get any extra help with food. The cost of food due to this virus is very high causing lack of lower priced items sold, lack of or limited sale of basic items like Rice, empty shelves in the supermarkets, etc. Instead of giving an extra $100 across the board to everyone to make it even for all to afford food, the State of NJ gave “more money to people who have more money” instead.

When you get the lower amount of Snap, it is because you have higher income (more disposable income) and often have affordable living arrangements like housing. With all the businesses closed, these people are not spending their disposable income on having their nails and hair done, putting gas in their car, buying random items, etc. So, they have more disposable than before. These are the people who were given more Snap benefits.

People who have very low or no income and who use all their low income on housing and utilities with no disposable income, got no extra Snap for food. These are the people who are at the maximum Snap. It doesn’t go far when food is 2 to 4 time what it was before the Virus with nothing on sale and increased prices or lack of affordable items to buy. These people are mostly the very poverty stricken and developmentally disabled and their families. These are the scapegoats of our backwards society.

The Courts are locked down and can not enforce court orders for support leaving many single mothers without the added support to get by with their living expenses. Think of the people who are suffering the most during this anxiety producing time with the loss of income to pay for a roof over their head and to put food on the table for their family.

Then they wonder why we have such a high homeless population. Even with all the Millions of dollars in donations going to food pantries, they have very little to give out to all those in need with long lines of cars that most people have never seen before because the need is so great for so many.

Our Governor in NJ Phil Murphy wants to give Illegal Aliens a $600. a week Stimulus. Then why not give every low income taxpaying American currently working a $600. a week Stimulus too?

Many of the currently unemployed do not want to go back to work because they are making so much money staying home collecting the riches laid out by our government that was distributed in such an unbalanced way.

The Stimulus 2020 helped some get ahead, but left many behind in the dust to fend for themselves. This has caused a lot of anger and unrest in this Country. We have to remember this at election time.

Gov. Murphy ‘outraged’ by bodies piled up at N.J. nursing care during coronavirus

2020-04-17T20:21:00.002-04:00

Very sad that this was not handled properly. Facilities were not equiped to handle this Virus and new protocols will have to be put in place for the future if another outbreak occurs.

https://www.nj.com/coronavirus/2020/04/gov-murphy-outraged-by-bodies-piled-up-at-nj-nursing-care-during-coronavirus-outbreak-ag-to-investigate.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_content=nj_facebook_njcom&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=njcom_sf&fbclid=IwAR3muBhGkdtY2sldbrYkMb9sJAUXgedEWJk8kSBe2no-UsvkCTwvofAgfxY

Gov. Murphy ‘outraged’ by bodies piled up at N.J. nursing care during coronavirus outbreak. AG to investigate.

Updated Apr 17, 11:00 AM; Posted Apr 16, 1:39 PM

By Brent Johnson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Gov. Phil Murphy said he’s “outraged” that bodies of residents who died at a Sussex County nursing home during the coronavirus outbreak were “allowed to pile up at a makeshift morgue" and called for the state’s top law enforcement officer to investigate.

“New Jerseyans living in our longterm care facilities deserve to be cared for with respect, compassion and dignity,” Murphy said during his daily coronavirus briefing Thursday in Trenton. “We can and must do better.”

“This is just completely beyond the pale,” the governor added. "A story like this shakes you to the bones.”

Murphy said he’s asked state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal to “look into the matter” at Andover Subacute and Rehabilitation Center I and II. The governor said Grewal will also review all longterm care facilities in New Jersey “that have experienced a disproportionate number of deaths” during the pandemic.

“I know he will take any and all appropriate action,” Murphy said. “Our full focus must be on mitigating the spread of the virus and minimizing the impact of all who remain, in this case at the Andover facility, as well as all of our other longterm care facilities.”

Plus, the governor said the state Department of Health will enforce “critical safety measures and protocols” at the Andover facility and has sent a team there to assist the center’s staff and residents.

And the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid has sent “out-of-state surveyors” to do a “full survey” of the the facility, state Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said.

The Andover center — which officials say is the state’s largest longterm care facility — has been the subject of news reports in recent days after authorities discovered 17 dead bodies there last weekend.

On Sunday, authorities received a request for 28 body bags at the home and discovered five bodies being stored in a room, officials said. Staff also reported three other bodies had been “released earlier in the day,” state Persichilli said Thursday.

Continued on web site...

When it Comes Time to Ration Health Care, What Will People with Disabilities Receive?

2020-04-06T21:57:00.001-04:00

When it Comes Time to Ration Health Care,
What Will People with Disabilities Receive?

As the sun beams through the window on a beautifully warm spring day in May 2020, doctors at the regional medical center are dealing with three new critically ill COVID-19 patients. An otherwise healthy 35-year-old parent of 2 young children. A successful 45-year-old Wall Street executive. A highly decorated 38-year-old Special Olympics athlete with Down Syndrome and who is also a beloved employee at a local retail establishment. All three are now in respiratory distress and will soon require a ventilator to breathe. The hospital’s exhausted ICU doctors turn to look at each other with agony in their eyes and despair on their faces because they know the hospital only has two ventilators available and they must decide which patient will...

We all watch as the number of reported COVID-19 cases rise. We all watch as the number of reported COVID-19 deaths rise too. At some point in all this, although we are not sure when, “flattening the curve” has become a common phrase in our lives. We learn of news accounts from around the world where health care is rationed, patients triaged, and harsh bright line criteria are used to decide who gets treated... and who is left to die. We watch doctors and governors beg for ventilators on national television. We shake our heads and say to ourselves, “they can’t possibly ration healthcare here” and we hope and pray we are right.

In the meantime, states are beginning to develop disaster preparedness plans and doomsday scenarios with respect to dispensing limited healthcare resources as cases continue to climb. Late last week, New Jersey began this process too when it created a bioethics panel to evaluate what to do if the demand for resources exceeds available supply.
Where will people with disabilities be counted in this process? Worse yet: what if they are not?

Over the weekend the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued a bulletin reminding officials and covered entities, like health care providers, of laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, and religion. According to OCR such anti-discrimination provisions apply to the provision of health care services during COVID-19. Accordingly, people with disabilities cannot be denied medical care based on stereotype or a subjective assessment of the quality of a person’s life. Treatment decisions must be made on objective medical criteria only.

However, some State plans indicate, “persons with severe mental retardation, advanced dementia or severe traumatic brain injury may be poor candidates for ventilator support.” While such provisions are clearly illegal, we cannot allow such explicit or implicit language to find its way into New Jersey’s Bioethics Plan. Our founding partner, Herb Hinkle, argued leading bioethics cases in the courts and served as a consultant to New Jersey’s Bioethics Commission.

It is important for parents, families and disability advocates to be heard – and heard quickly because no one has the luxury of time right now. We must demand policymakers include language in whatever plan is ultimately developed which specifically prohibits the consideration of disability, stereotyped utilitarian assessments, or other discriminatory factors when making difficult heath care decisions. We must say to our policymakers and government officials: “Don’t leave us behind.” “Don’t give up on us.” “Our lives matter.”

Please contact the New Jersey Commissioner of Health, Judith M. Persichilli, at 609-292-7838, Governor Phil Murphy at 609-292-6000, and your State Legislators which can be found at https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/legsearch.asp.

While we still can, this is the time for parents and families to raise awareness and to advocate as a community for New Jersey’s most vulnerable.

FIND YOUR NJ STATE LEGISLTORS NOW

ABOUT OUR FIRM

Hinkle Prior & Fischer is a full service disability law firm. Our entire practice focuses on serving people with disabilities and their families.

CONTACT US

2651 Main Street
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
(609) 896-4200
(215) 860-2100

Offices: Lawrenceville • Cherry Hill • Florham Park • Paramus • Wall

Disclaimer: Information contained in this publication is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for legal services.

Stimulus 2020 and Unemployment

2020-04-03T19:50:00.000-04:00

We should all feel for the workers out there risking themselves working essential services for the rest of the population. Some work in Supermarkets, pharmacies, post offices, hospitals, labs, banks, take-outs, or as home health aides and caregivers, etc.

Some of these workers are part-time and may only make $200. a week or so. These people will not be getting the unemployment stimulus that many are getting in our Country which will give them their unemployment plus an extra $600. a week.

Imagine getting $175. in p/t unemployment plus a $600. a week bonus totaling $775. for sitting home doing nothing or just watching TV and snacking. This will be a 4 month weekly bonus with an extended 39 week unemployment allowance.

People of higher incomes will get up to $713. in NJ unemployment plus the $600. a week bonus and they may still be getting less than what they previously made.

The stimulus left out much of the disabled population and kids over 16. It does not give anything for higher income workers who are on the front line risking themselves full time for everyone else’s essentials or medical needs.

The Stimulus 2020 was not very well thought out.

Stimulus 2020 Let's see if those just as needy get included

2020-04-03T14:50:00.000-04:00

Let's see if those that are just as needy as everyone else gets included, at this most extreme time of our lives, with the financial hardship of Covid-19.

https://www.wavy.com/news/health/coronavirus/kaine-supports-bill-to-extend-500-dependents-stimulus-credit-for-college-students-young-adults-with-disabilities-older-teens/

The Stimulus Package of 2020 is Very Unfair to the Poorest Americans

2020-03-31T21:49:00.000-04:00

The Stimulus Package of 2020 is very unfair to the poorest, most vulnerable Americans. Single parents, which are for the most part single mothers, are shortchanged. Why are kids 17 and over not included in the Stimulus? If a parent claims a child 17 years and older on their taxes, they do not get the $500.00 allowed for parents with children 16 and under.

Some of these children, 17 years and older, are disabled. Many also have deadbeat fathers and now, due to this virus, it will be more prevalent. These families will suffer more from the unfairness which excludes them from their child getting any stimulus. All children, 17 and older, especially the school age kids, need as much or more than children 16 and under. Why are they excluded from the stimulus? This is wrong.

Also, the States are allowing more in Snap benefits to people with higher incomes who get lower Snap benefits. They are now giving the full amount of Snap to these people.

Why not give more to the recipients who have low income and full Snap benefits? It is a misconception that all people on some Government assistance are on all the programs the government has to offer. Some people on Snap live only on SSI and/or part-time work and the money goes mostly to their rent and utilities. The Snap benefit is their only way of having a meal because their SSI and/or part-time job leave them with no disposable income. Many SSI recipients are developmentally disabled, some suffered extreme mental and/or physical abuse, some are seriously physically disabled or cognitively impaired, some are medically debilitated, some are disabled vets, etc. These are the poorest Americans who suffered very disadvantaged lives.

Right now the cost of food is astronomical. Because of the people hoarding food and not eating out, the supermarkets only have the more expensive food items in stock. The cost of food shopping has increased 2-4 times what it used to be before Covid-19 started just a few weeks ago. So, why are the poorest and most vulnerable Americans not getting more food assistance? Why are just those with higher incomes and more disposable incomes getting more food assistance?

Thank You To All The Staff Working With The Developmentally Disabled During The Covid-19 Pandemic

2020-03-21T22:54:00.000-04:00

Giving a great big Thank You to all the Staff working hard in Group Homes who are risking themselves for the Developmentally Disabled Clients during this stressful time with the Covid-19 Virus Outbreak.

This is a very difficult time for all of us, but the Developmentally Disabled have had their schedules disrupted for an unknown period of time. Many of these children and adults can not conform to the rules to avoid getting the virus, like avoiding touching the face and mouth, etc. Some kids have skin picking issues which is a common problem exposing them even more so to infections. Some have behavior issues needing close contact. Some are medically frail and need treatments and medications.

Staff are working extra hard through this outbreak to make sure everyone is safe, fed, and taken care of. We appreciate all you do, especially because being in this field requires a person who really cares. Thank you for helping our kids.

Developmentally Disabled Covin-19 Pandemic

2020-03-21T14:46:00.003-04:00

The Developmentally Disabled are being given a low priority at a time like this with the Covin-19 pandemic leaving them very vulnerable and without the help they urgently need.

https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/developmentally-disabled-new-yorkers-stuck-in-hospital-after-covid-19-recovery-ny-oem/2336523/

Covin-19 Outbreak and the Disabled Population

2020-03-15T10:12:00.000-04:00

All Group Homes and Nursing Care Facilities are on Lock Down due to the Covin-19 outbreak. No family members nor outsiders are allowed in facilities. This is for their utmost safety and everyone else’s. They stopped community outings also.

The group homes are taking measures for hand washing and keeping a 6 foot distance when possible. This will be very difficult with the more severely disabled population who need intensive care. We have to hope the changes will not effect their mental well being too dramatically. Many kids with autism can not endure changes and it may be more difficult for them to cope. The trained staff who know them well will have to find ways of handling this or resort to prn medications to relieve their anxieties.

Hopefully all the facilities are abiding with keeping the environment ultra-clean because it is said that this Virus can last 3 days on surfaces. We do not know how long these measures will be in effect but everything that can be done to protect the disabled residing in these institutions and others working around them will help in the long run until this Virus takes it's course.

ABLE ACCOUNTS FOR THE DISABLED

2020-02-24T19:55:00.000-05:00

What are ABLE accounts?

ABLE accounts are tax-advantaged savings accounts intended to encourage and assist individuals with disabilities and their families to save private funds to supplement benefits provided through private insurance, Medicaid, supplemental security income (SSI), employment, and other sources.

Most individuals with disabilities depend on Medicaid to access disability related services needed to maintain health, independence, and quality of life. Establishing an ABLE account allows beneficiaries to save money for disability related expenses while maintaining eligibility for means tested Federal benefit programs. Money saved in an ABLE account will not affect an individual's eligiblity for SSI (up to $100,000) and will allow the beneficiary to maintain eligibility for Medicaid and other public benefits.

https://savewithable.com/nj/home.html

Happy New Year 2020

2020-01-02T20:29:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year to all the Special Needs Parents who have very limited lives staying home caring for their disabled children. Often we get to watch the New Year's celebration on TV, but over the years even that loses its thrill. We can find ways of making the holiday nice by making a special meal for our family, or going to a restaurant, or fast food chain, or even ordering a pizza. We are lucky to have the internet today to stay in touch with friends and those that have similar lifestyles as we do. It really helps our morale if we connect with the right people. I hope 2020 brings joy and happiness for all.

Hard Working Staff for the Developmentally Disabled

2019-12-10T22:50:00.002-05:00

With all the bad going on, and all the news stories about how Developmentally Disabled people are being abused by the staff at Group Homes, we have to step back and realize that there are many good, caring, and wonderful staff who work with this population too.

We have be grateful that the majority of workers who care for the Disabled really have big hearts and do their best to make a difference in the lives of those who need daily assistance. Considering that even with the small wage increases they are getting, they still do very challenging and burdensome work. It is a job that can be very physically and mentally fatiguing. The workers can easily become exhausted, but as with a caring parent, they go the extra mile to care for those who rely on them.

I, myself had many long term workers for my children who were wonderful and caring. They often gave back more than what they made. These workers became part of my family and some spent Holidays with us because you develop a relationship and bond over the years. Many of the workers I had are still part of our lives today, so I was very lucky and blessed to have such wonderful and special people who assisted me in helping my children over the years.

I want to thank all the hard working employees who care for the disabled population and do all they can to make their lives better. Thank you for putting a smile on their faces and going the extra mile for them when they need you.

ADDING INSULT TO INJURY

2019-10-20T20:00:00.003-04:00

ADDING INSULT TO INJURY...

THIS CAN NOT POSSIBLY HELP A BABY AFFLICTED WITH AUTISM...

https://www.consumerreports.org/food-safety/most-baby-foods-contain-arsenic-lead-and-other-heavy-metals/

Most Baby Foods Contain Arsenic, Lead, and Other Heavy Metals, Study Finds

All have been linked to lower IQs in children. What parents should know, and can do right now, to keep their kids safe.

By Jessica Branch

October 19, 2019

A report out this week saying that baby food sold in the U.S. often contains potentially dangerous substances known as heavy metals has many parents wondering what, if anything, they can feed their babies, and just how serious the risks are.

Here’s what you need to know about the new research, what Consumer Reports and other experts say needs to be done to fix the problem, and, until then, some safer alternatives for infants.

The new study comes from Healthy Babies Bright Futures, a national alliance of scientists and child health advocacy organizations. The organization looked at 168 products across 61 brands, measuring the amount of arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury in one sample of each product. Thirteen categories of food were tested, including infant cereals, fruits, vegetables, juices, and snack foods, such as puffs.

Overall, they found at least one of the substances in 95 percent of the products. Such heavy metals have been linked to lower IQs and learning problems in children in the short term, and to type 2 diabetes, heart disease, certain cancers, and reproductive problems later in life.

The new testing supports Consumer Reports’ previous research on the safety of foods intended specifically for infants and toddlers, the group most at risk for health problems related to heavy metals. “These new findings are similar to ours both in the types of foods that pose the greatest risk and the levels of these heavy metals in various foods,” says James E. Rogers Ph.D., director of food safety research and testing at CR. Our tests had found elevated levels of inorganic arsenic (the toxic form) and other heavy metals in almost half of the fruit juices we tested, and our study of 50 packaged foods for infants and toddlers detected measurable levels of contaminants in every single product.

In the recent study from Healthy Babies Bright Futures, some foods also stood out as being particularly risky. Products made with rice, particularly cereals, were the top sources of heavy metals, especially inorganic arsenic. Four of the seven rice cereals tested by the group had arsenic levels above the proposed Food and Drug Administration limit of 100 parts per billion (ppb). Fruit juices, carrots, and sweet potatoes were also often contaminated with higher levels of heavy metals.

What’s more, 83 percent of the foods tested contained more lead than the 1 ppb limit recommended by public health advocates; 1 of every 5 had more than 10 times that amount.

“For a number of these metals, there’s no known safe level,” says Jane Houlihan, research director at Healthy Babies Bright Futures and a co-author of the report. “Any amount that accumulates over time in a baby’s diet can be a concern.”

These heavy metals are neurotoxins and may affect children’s brain development. “Your body can excrete some of these metals over time, but while they’re circulating through the body, they can cause harm,” Houlihan says. “And some do build up in the body.”

As a result, babies’ IQs may be lowered and they can develop learning and attention issues, research suggests. A study commissioned by the group that looked at food consumed by babies from birth to 2 years attempted to quantify the cumulative effect of on the mental ability of the nation’s children. It concluded that exposure to those heavy metals in foods accounted for a collective loss of 11 million IQ points, with foods containing rice accounting for 20 percent of the points lost.

https://www.consumerreports.org/food-safety/most-baby-foods-contain-arsenic-lead-and-other-heavy-metals/

Autism Facts and Figures -- Autism Speaks Link

2019-10-07T20:37:00.000-04:00

https://www.autismspeaks.org/autism-facts-and-figures?fbclid=IwAR3CPXeVI42eNR6FHPreKugBxPzzhoKaiS6DT6gmAS-lYvxDtejFabgHYN4

Prevalence

In 2018 the CDC determined that approximately 1 in 59 children is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
- 1 in 37 boys
- 1 in 151 girls
Boys are four times more likely to be diagnosed with autism than girls.
Most children were still being diagnosed after age 4, though autism can be reliably diagnosed as early as age 2. 
31% of children with ASD have an intellectual disability (intelligence quotient [IQ] <70 25="" 44="" 71="" above="" and="" are="" average="" borderline="" have="" i.e.="" in="" iq="" nbsp="" range="" scores="" the="" to="">85).
Autism affects all ethnic and socioeconomic groups.
Minority groups tend to be diagnosed later and less often.
Early intervention affords the best opportunity to support healthy development and deliver benefits across the lifespan.
- There is no medical detection for autism.
Causes
- Research indicates that genetics are involved in the vast majority of cases.
- Children born to older parents are at a higher risk for having autism.
- Parents who have a child with ASD have a 2 to 18 percent chance of having a second child who is also affected.
- Studies have shown that among identical twins, if one child has autism, the other will be affected about 36 to 95 percent of the time. In non-identical twins, if one child has autism, then the other is affected about 31 percent of the time.
- Over the last two decades, extensive research has asked whether there is any link between childhood vaccinations and autism. The results of this research are clear: Vaccines do not cause autism.
Intervention and Supports
- Early intervention can improve learning, communication and social skills, as well as underlying brain development.
- Applied behavior analysis (ABA) and therapies based on its principles are the most researched and commonly used behavioral interventions for autism.
- Many children affected by autism also benefit from other interventions such as speech and occupational therapy.
- Developmental regression, or loss of skills, such as language and social interests, affects around 1 in 5 children who will go on to be diagnosed with autism and typically occurs between ages 1 and 3.
Associated Challenges

An estimated one-third of people with autism are nonverbal.
31% of children with ASD have an intellectual disability (intelligence quotient [IQ] <70 25="" 71="" are="" borderline="" challenges="" daily="" function="" in="" nbsp="" p="" range="" significant="" the="" with="">
Nearly half of those with autism wander or bolt from safety.
Nearly two-thirds of children with autism between the ages of 6 and 15 have been bullied.
Nearly 28 percent of 8-year-olds with ASD have self-injurious behaviors. Head banging, arm biting and skin scratching are among the most common.
Drowning remains a leading cause of death for children with autism and accounts for approximately 90 percent of deaths associated with wandering or bolting by those age 14 and younger.

Associated Medical & Mental Health Conditions

Autism can affect the whole body.
Attention Deficient Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects an estimated 30 to 61 percent of children with autism.

More than half of children with autism have one or more chronic sleep problems.
Anxiety disorders affect an estimated 11 to 40 percent of children and teens on the autism spectrum.
Depression affects an estimated 7% of children and 26% of adults with autism.
Children with autism are nearly eight times more likely to suffer from one or more chronic gastrointestinal disorders than are other children.
As many as one-third of people with autism have epilepsy (seizure disorder).

Studies suggest that schizophrenia affects between 4 and 35 percent of adults with autism. By contrast, schizophrenia affects an estimated 1.1 percent of the general population.
Autism-associated health problems extend across the life span – from young children to senior citizens. Nearly a third (32 percent) of 2 to 5 year olds with autism are overweight and 16 percent are obese. By contrast, less than a quarter (23 percent) of 2 to 5 year olds in the general population are overweight and only 10 percent are medically obese.
Risperidone and aripiprazole, the only FDA-approved medications for autism-associated agitation and irritability.
Caregivers & Families
- On average, autism costs an estimated $60,000 a year through childhood, with the bulk of the costs in special services and lost wages related to increased demands on one or both parents. Costs increase with the occurrence of intellectual disability.
- Mothers of children with ASD, who tend to serve as the child’s case manager and advocate, are less likely to work outside the home. On average, they work fewer hours per week and earn 56 percent less than mothers of children with no health limitations and 35 percent less than mothers of children with other disabilities or disorders.
Autism In Adulthood
- Over the next decade, an estimated 500,000 teens (50,000 each year) will enter adulthood and age out of school based autism services.
- Teens with autism receive healthcare transition services half as often as those with other special healthcare needs. Young people whose autism is coupled with associated medical problems are even less likely to receive transition support.
- Many young adults with autism do not receive any healthcare for years after they stop seeing a pediatrician.
- - More than half of young adults with autism remain unemployed and unenrolled in higher education in the two years after high school. This is a lower rate than that of young adults in other disability categories, including learning disabilities, intellectual disability or speech-language impairment.
  - Of the nearly 18,000 people with autism who used state-funded vocational rehabilitation programs in 2014, only 60 percent left the program with a job. Of these, 80 percent worked part-time at a median weekly rate of $160, putting them well below the poverty level.
  - Nearly half of 25-year-olds with autism have never held a paying job.
  - Research demonstrates that job activities that encourage independence reduce autism symptoms and increase daily living skills.
  Economic Costs
- - The cost of caring for Americans with autism had reached $268 billion in 2015 and would rise to $461 billion by 2025 in the absence of more-effective interventions and support across the life span.
  - The majority of autism’s costs in the U.S. are for adult services – an estimated $175 to $196 billion a year, compared to $61 to $66 billion a year for children.
  - On average, medical expenditures for children and adolescents with ASD were 4.1 to 6.2 times greater than for those without autism.
  - Passage of the 2014 Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act allows tax-preferred savings accounts for people with disabilities, including autism, to be established by states.
  - Passage of autism insurance legislation in 48 states is providing access to medical treatment and therapies.
  For more information, download Autism and Health: A Special Report by Autism Speaks.

Facts About Developmental Disabilities

2019-09-29T19:26:00.001-04:00

https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/developmentaldisabilities/facts.html

Facts About Developmental Disabilities

Very sad when drug addicted people work for the disabled as caregivers

2019-09-22T20:26:00.003-04:00

Very sad when drug addicted people work for the disabled as caregivers...

https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-pinellas/group-home-worker-accused-of-taking-kratom-leaving-man-with-down-syndrome-to-die-in-hot-van

Man with Down syndrome dies after group home worker who drove him takes nap in hot van

Posted: 4:23 PM, Sep 20, 2019

Updated: 2:34 PM, Sep 21, 2019

By: WFTS Digital Staff

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. -- A group home worker in Pinellas County is accused of leaving a 35-year-old man with Down syndrome to die in a hot van.

In May 9, the worker with Crossroads of Pinellas -- identified as 26-year-old Joshua Russell -- was taking care of the man with Down syndrome and was driving him back to the group home after a hospital visit. On their way back from the hospital, Russell decided to make a stop at his house and left 35-year-old John Lapointe inside the van.

While at his own home, Russell consumed kratom. Russell told deputies he took the substance to feel "more alert."

After taking the kratom, Russell hopped back inside the van and resumed his drive. During the drive back, Russell started to feel tired and nauseous. He then parked the van in the driveway, turned the vehicle off and took a nap.

Russell later woke up sweating from the van's heat and noticed Lapointe was not breathing.

Russell tried CPR but could not revive Lapointe, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said.

Russell, who was armed, called his mother and told her he was going to kill himself after realizing what he just did. His mother told Russell he should not kill himself.

His mother called 911, and the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office responded to their location on 82nd Avenue near Oaskhurst Road in Seminole.

When deputies arrived on scene, paramedics had already pronounced Lapointe dead and Russell left the area on foot and was armed. When deputies located Russell, the 26-year-old told them he was going to kill himself.

Eventually, deputies were able to place Russell in custody. Sheriff Gualtieri said the van's inside temperature at the time of Lapointe's death was about 125 degrees.

"You know this poor guy baked in that car, that’s what happened," said Gualtieri.

Russell is charged with aggravated manslaughter of a disabled adult.

...safety problems revealed...

2019-09-10T20:06:00.000-04:00

https://www.nj.com/healthfit/2018/08/group_home_operator_for_disabled_will_get_no_new_a.html

Murphy administration demands action from major group home operator after safety problems revealed

Posted Aug 9, 2018

By Susan K. Livio | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Gov. Phil Murphy's administration has halted new admissions at New Jersey's largest group home operator for people with developmental disabilities and demanded "immediate correction of all concerns" involving safety and staffing shortages uncovered in 18 months of inspections.

The state Department of Human Services intends to appoint an independent monitor and to continue random unannounced inspections at all 62 properties operated by for-profit Bellwether Behavioral Health, state Department of Human Services spokesman Tom Hester said.

The state stopped referring people to Bellwether on July 12, Hester confirmed, a decision revealed after an Aug. 3 report aired on public radio station WNYC about ongoing problems at a group home in Branchburg.

"The New Jersey Department of Human Services demands the best services for the individuals it serves. To that end, the Department -- aware of concerns regarding Bellwether -- conducted surprise inspections at Bellwether facilities last year, followed by additional re-inspections this year," Hester said in a statement.

According to the report, Bellwether homes in Branchburg in Somerset County drew 156 rescue squad calls over two years, including seven involving employees accused of assaulting residents. Police are routinely called several times a day to intervene when staffing is low, the report said.

In addition to having the largest capacity of any group home provider in New Jersey, at 494 beds, Bellwether has also recorded the largest number of allegations of abuse and neglect. According to state data from March 2017 to March 2018, the state investigated 71 complaints, and substantiated 33. Six residents were repeatedly victimized, the data said.

A spokesman for Bellwether, formerly Advoserv, said Tuesday the company is working closely with the state to rectify any problems.

"Our primary concern is to ensure the health and safety to all of the individuals entrusted to us and to provide quality care to these individuals, which is why we are working closely with state officials to address all of their concerns," Bellwether spokesman Brian Burgess said.

"The State has imposed a temporary moratorium on new admissions. We have been in constant communication with the State and we have already submitted a detailed quality improvement plan, which the State is in the process of reviewing."

Since the private equity fund Wellspring Capital Management of New York bought the group home provider in 2015, Burgess said the company has made meaningful improvements. They include spending $1.9 million for additional staffing, supervision and oversight when Bellwether phased-out the use of mechanical restraints in every home in New Jersey.

"We have also invested heavily in new training programs to improve the quality and expertise of staff and have made several new hires in the areas of compliance, quality, recruiting and retention to deliver the best possible care to our residents," he added.

Thomas Papa, formerly the deputy chief financial officer for the department's Division of Developmental Disabilities, is Bellwether's senior vice president for governmental affairs, according to state records and his social media profile.

Hundreds of pages of inspection reports from January 2017 to May 2018 reviewed by NJ Advance Media reveal a wide range of problems, from deficiencies in the physical environment such as rotting food, broken furniture and missing pillows, shower curtains and toilet paper. But there were ample instances of mistakes by management and staff: mismanaging medication, misusing physical restraints and failing to document injuries.

Bellwether's issues will be among the first tests of the new Stephen Komninos Law, fought for by families whose loved ones suffered abuse and neglect in group homes. The law, named for a man who died in the care of Bancroft in Haddonfield 11 years ago, doubles annual unannounced inspections, requires employees to undergo drug tests and mandate group home operators more quickly disclose information to families after a loved one is hurt.

In the WYNC report, one former resident of the Branchburg group home, Abdulaye Saccoh, had lost 100 pounds and suffered a broken bones and multiple cuts and bruises. He stopped attending vocational training. The family said its complaints went unheeded.

Fatou Saccoh of Trenton told NJ Advance Media her brother, who once lived at North Jersey Developmental Center in Totowa before the state closed it in 2014, moved to a group home operated by Willowglen Academy in Sussex County about eight months ago and is doing much better.

She said without the help of Disability Rights New Jersey, a legal advocacy group, it would have taken much longer to convince the state that her brother was in danger in Bellwether homes, which demonstrated it was unable to manage his behavior. The Saccoh family started raising concerns about his apparent injuries and increasing anxiety in 2013.

"We said he needed to be out of that home. The state said he was too aggressive," Fatou Saccoh said. "Finally he is back to the person he was before."

Was she satisfied that the state halted admissions, after more than a year of her and her family questioning her brother's care? Fatou Saccoh, a former special education teacher, said no.

"I will not be satisified until they shut down," she said. "Or, they bring in a new team of professionals."

Bellwether operates in New Jersey, Virginia and Delaware, supervising the care of 600 clients, according to its website. Under the name Advoserv, the provider lost contracts to manage housing for disabled residents in states such as Florida, New York and Maryland after several deaths and a barrage of complaints, according to series of articles by ProPublica.

In March, the family of Susan Osborne, 58, filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Superior Court in Essex County after she choked to death on a hamburger while under the care of Bellwether home last year.

Facilities and Group Homes for the Disabled Closing

2019-08-20T20:42:00.004-04:00

More and more facilities and group homes for the disabled are being closed or converted for non-disabled persons. Government cutbacks to group homes and facilities are becoming rampant across the Country. The "fee for service" and Medicaid cuts will have a serious impact on the well being of our disabled children.

https://www.inquirer.com/news/pennsylvania-centers-disability-closures-polk-white-haven-residents-20190814.html?fbclid=IwAR2-IIg2QpSTQ3BrKPpJN2z4E7fbPCoPZSecLAdOLmOiJT98_1_lnRq9Ef4

Autistic boy stabbed with syringes, and nurse loses license

2019-08-17T19:01:00.000-04:00

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/nurse-loses-license-stabbing-autistic-boy-needles-64998033

Autistic boy stabbed with syringes, and nurse loses license

ByTHE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Aug 15, 2019, 3:41 PM ET

New Jersey regulators have revoked the nursing license of a woman caught on security cameras stabbing an autistic teenager with syringes when he failed to comply with her instructions, officials said Thursday.

The state attorney general's Division of Consumer Affairs announced in a news release that the New Jersey Board of Nursing had revoked the registered nursing license of Naomi Derrick because of the 2016 episode at an Atlantic City hospital's psychiatric unit. Officials said they also plan to begin proceedings to revoke Derrick's license for respiratory therapy.

A phone call to a listing for Derrick was not immediately returned Thursday.

"Intimidating and terrorizing a developmentally disabled child who is completely dependent on your care is a horror that should not be visited upon anyone," said Paul R. Rodríguez, acting director of the Division of Consumer Affairs.

The department release said that a co-worker witnessed Derrick threaten the boy with needle-stabbing during her shift in May 2016. It also said several stabbings were captured by security cameras in the teen's room.

During a hearing over the incident, Derrick said she only showed the boy the needle as a threat. Department officials said she claimed an examination of the boy the next day showed no bruising or bleeding.

Derrick had asked the department to suspend her license instead of revoking it, arguing she had no complaints during her previous eight years as a nurse. The woman said another nurse had instructed her verbally that the threats were the best way to get the teen to comply with her.

Derrick said the boy would call her names, pull her hair, throw sheets at her and leave his room to visit other patients during sleeping hours.

She had been charged in 2017 with aggravated assault, terroristic threats, child endangerment and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. Atlantic County prosecutors allowed her to enter a pretrial program in January.

In addition to losing her license, Derrick was also ordered to pay 10% of the cost of the investigation.

ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN GROUP HOMES UNCOVERED

2019-08-06T19:35:00.000-04:00

There are more and more reports of abuse and neglect of the Disabled in Group Homes being uncovered. Some of the abuses are so extreme and sickening and went on for long periods of time. There has to be better background checks to rule out people with past drug abuse and animal cruelty charges, which in this case was implicated. People or Organizations that run these Group Homes also have to be held accountable if they hire questionable people that have obvious criminal pasts, but hire them anyway. We have to protect our innocent disabled population who are so vulnerable and defenseless.

https://www.wthr.com/article/13-investigates-uncovers-pattern-abuse-neglect-group-homes-disabled

Fake News and Articles for the Disabled

2019-07-23T20:32:00.000-04:00

Even the Developmentally Disabled population is getting ‘fake news’. Be careful of what you read in disability publications because they tell ½ truths and have one sided stories.

Some of these tales are controversial because there is more to what you read than meets the eye.

Editors, like in other publications have to make for good reading and often make stories sound more enlightening than they really are. They also state things that may not be true at all. It just makes for good reading and chatter.

These tales can give false expectations and set unrealistic long term goals for many frustrated individuals and their families.

Some of the stories you read can cause harm because the stories may be too good to be true.

So, take some of the stories as fiction until you personally play into the system to find out for yourself how services work in your particular situation.

Realize that no two situations are alike and not every organization works the same. No two people are the same, although there may be similarities, everyone is different in their own way.

Be realistic in your expectations and let things play out naturally. If you push too hard it can cause stress with goals that are not achieved.

So, never compare yourself with “story tellers” in published magazines. You have to brush these stories off if you can not relate to them in any way.

"Woman was Fatally Impaled by a Metal Straw" from NY Times article

2019-07-11T22:54:00.000-04:00

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/11/world/europe/metal-straws-death.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur&fbclid=IwAR2r5pNHkjaxzavWuDB_edS2xbh0erWgqpi0b7WkapCMMZyjSkJFOhEzldc

Fatal Accident With Metal Straw Highlights a Risk

The disturbing death of a woman in Britain renewed a debate that has followed bans on plastic straws around the world.

Please read the article....

Advocate for the Disabled

Coping with Stress from the CDC

Take care of your mental health

Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations

Take care of yourself and your community

Healthy ways to cope with stress

Know the facts to help reduce stress

Take care of your mental health

Recovering from COVID-19 or ending home isolation

Special Education Update

Department of Human Services will implement a temporary $3 per hour wage increase for these professionals for three months

Remember at Election time who is getting the help during Covid-19 and who is not.

Gov. Murphy ‘outraged’ by bodies piled up at N.J. nursing care during coronavirus

Gov. Murphy ‘outraged’ by bodies piled up at N.J. nursing care during coronavirus outbreak. AG to investigate.

When it Comes Time to Ration Health Care, What Will People with Disabilities Receive?

Stimulus 2020 and Unemployment

Stimulus 2020 Let's see if those just as needy get included

The Stimulus Package of 2020 is Very Unfair to the Poorest Americans

Thank You To All The Staff Working With The Developmentally Disabled During The Covid-19 Pandemic

Developmentally Disabled Covin-19 Pandemic

Covin-19 Outbreak and the Disabled Population

ABLE ACCOUNTS FOR THE DISABLED

Happy New Year 2020

Hard Working Staff for the Developmentally Disabled

ADDING INSULT TO INJURY

All have been linked to lower IQs in children. What parents should know, and can do right now, to keep their kids safe.

Autism Facts and Figures -- Autism Speaks Link

Prevalence

Causes

Intervention and Supports

Associated Challenges

Associated Medical & Mental Health Conditions

Caregivers & Families

Autism In Adulthood

Economic Costs

Facts About Developmental Disabilities

Facts About Developmental Disabilities

Very sad when drug addicted people work for the disabled as caregivers

...safety problems revealed...

Murphy administration demands action from major group home operator after safety problems revealed

Facilities and Group Homes for the Disabled Closing

Autistic boy stabbed with syringes, and nurse loses license

Autistic boy stabbed with syringes, and nurse loses license

ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN GROUP HOMES UNCOVERED

Fake News and Articles for the Disabled

"Woman was Fatally Impaled by a Metal Straw" from NY Times article

Fatal Accident With Metal Straw Highlights a Risk