Posts Tagged ‘Gina Macris’
Vaccinations Accelerate For RI “DD” Group Homes
by Gina Macris, Developmental Disability News At least 1,300 residents and staff of group homes for adults with developmental disabilities in Rhode Island have been vaccinated against COVID-19 since Jan. 16, with another 500 vaccinations scheduled for today and plans underway for additional clinics next week, according to a spokeswoman for group home operators, Tina…
Read MoreCOVID-19 Vaccinations Begin at RI DD Group Homes
by Gina Macris, Developmental Disability News Rhode Islanders with developmental disabilities aged 65 and over and their group home caregivers are receiving the COVID-19 vaccine through the CVS/Walgreen partnership, according to a spokeswoman for the state Department of Health. More than 300 group home residents and staff were vaccinated over the weekend of Jan. 16-17,…
Read More$7/hr pay hikes for RI Developmental Disabilities workers by 2024, per Federal Judge
By Gina Macris, contributing writer, Developmental Disabilities News Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. of the U.S. District Court has tightened his reins on Rhode Island’s developmental disability system in an order that gives the state two and a half years to raise the hourly wages of direct care workers nearly $7, to $20 an…
Read MoreAdvocates call for Vaccination of High-Risk DD Population/Caregivers
By Gina Macris, contributing writer, Developmental Disability News While there is growing research that COVID-19 puts people with developmental disabilities at a higher risk for serious illness or death than virtually any other compromised group, Rhode Island’s disability rights advocates remain uncertain whether the state will follow through on intentions to include this population in…
Read MoreRI Developmental Disabilities providers to get $10 Million emergency aid from Cares Act funds
By Gina Macris, Developmental Disability News The state of Rhode Island has agreed to set aside $10 million from the federally-funded CARES Act as a short-term safety net for private providers of developmental disability services, who are in “financial distress” as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The state negotiated the sum with the providers,…
Read MoreRI Faces High Cost for it’s ADA Violations
by Gina Macris, Developmental Disabilities News RI Faces High Cost For Fixing DD ADA Violations After funding services for adults with developmental disabilities below their actual costs for nearly a decade, the state of Rhode Island is about to experience sticker shock. The system of private agencies that provides most services for adults with developmental…
Read MoreNew Consent Decree Coordinator wanted to break through the silos in 2014 civil rights compliance
By Gina Macris, Developmental Disabilities News Photo: RI State House, Country Time Rhode Island is looking for someone to coordinate its compliance with a 2014 federal civil rights agreement affecting adults with developmental disabilities – for the sixth time in as many years. The state created the position of Consent Decree Coordinator at the insistence…
Read MoreRhode Islanders with Developmental Disabilities – staffing and visitation during COVID19 pandemic
by Gina Macris, Developmental Disabilities News – special to RINewsToday Court To Hear Plan To Shore Up RI DD Providers A federal court monitor says Rhode Island must release $2 million a month designated for adults with developmental disabilities to keep service providers afloat between December and June. The money would be used exclusively to…
Read MoreRI Needs Overhaul of Developmental Disabilities System
RI needs overhaul of Developmental Disabilities system to comply with 2014 agreement By Gina Macris, Developmental Disabilities News, contributing writer During the next three years, Rhode Island must completely restructure its services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and increase financial support accordingly to fully comply with a federal civil rights consent decree by…
Read MoreOpinion: RI must do better by people with I/DD
By Terri Cortvriend to Developmental Disability News, Gina Macris, founder The COVID-19 pandemic has hit hardest the areas and populations that were already struggling, since they had the fewest resources for adaptation and safety. We’ve seen the outsized effects on the poor and on minorities. Another group that it has been disproportionately hurt is adults…
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