What’s on our minds as we kick off November? We’re getting ready for our upcoming Medi-Cal event with Disability Rights California that will dive into the changes taking effect January 1, digging into disability rights for immigrant families, thinking about resilience, and more. Keep reading for this week’s news and highlights from the Undivided community.
Wait, will my child lose access to Medi-Cal services?
There’s a lot happening with Medi-Cal in the coming year, and some of these changes could hit pretty close to home for families.
Will Regional Center services be affected? What about IHSS? And if your child receives CCS, could changes to the program affect their coverage? Read our month-to-month guide to what’s changing.
Permission slip: It’s okay to be tired of “resilience.”
With so much changing, and so many challenges to our kids’ rights, it’s normal to feel tired, period. We feel it, too. As Undivided Head of Content and Community, and a mother of a daughter with disabilities, Lindsay Crain puts it into words:
“Somewhere along the way, we’ve been expected to become experts in every system our children depend on. And when those systems fail, the responsibility for making them work falls right back on us.You can’t self-care your way out of a system that requires you to carry everything. Our well-being should not be the price we pay for getting our children what they need.”
Your FMS Can Make or Break Your Child’s Self Determination Program Experience
If your child is in Regional Center’s Self-Determination Program (SDP), you’ll need to work with a financial management service (FMS). Think of an FMS as the go-between that helps handle payments for your child’s services. But how do you choose one? What exactly do they do? And where do you turn when things get confusing? Read our brand-new article to learn more about how FMSs work in California.
Can my child get disability benefits if I’m not a U.S. citizen?
Navigating immigration rules can feel scary and overwhelming, especially when you’re raising a child with a developmental disability. Could seeking services put your family at risk? Does your immigration status affect eligibility for special education, Medi-Cal, or Regional Center services? As Christofer Arroyo, deputy director at SCDD tells us, “I recognize it’s work. It’s hard enough putting food on the table and working and doing all the things we have to do. Life isn’t easy, especially with many of the things people are dealing with today. That said, these options do exist.”
Find more information in our new article.
Weekend watch list: Undivided Conversations
Self-Determination Program Tips – Sunday, November 8, 10:00 a.m. PT
Spend your Sunday watching this SDP refresher! Christine Tolbert, the Self-Determination Program Manager for the California State Council for Developmental Disabilities, answers some essential questions how families can use SDP to secure supports and services for their kids. Watch on Facebook and YouTube.
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If your child is an IHSS recipient in California, your login is changing. Learn the details in this Instagram reel→
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This week in our private Facebook group for parents: Halloween highlights, parent conferences, including students with disabilities in high school graduation, and more. Join the discussion→
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Flexibility is key to making the Self-Determination Program in California work. Hear more from Independent Facilitator Iris Barker on our YouTube channel→
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In case you missed the National Disability Caregivers Conference, Undivided CEO Seth Besse’s presentation on navigating benefit systems is now available to watch. Check it out on LinkedIn→
Undivided Voices Podcast Season 3, Episode 6: How to Help Kids with Disabilities Build Friendships and Belonging
Missed our live conversation with Dr. Zach Rossetti? You can now tune in as a podcast! We chat about what real friendship looks like, why inclusion alone isn’t enough, and how to make room for meaningful connections at school and beyond. Plus, how to support friendship goals in your child’s IEP. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts.
